Pakistan and Germany on Thursday signed a debt payment suspension agreement worth 26.213 million euros. The agreement is part of the Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI). Pakistan and Germany celebrate 60 years of development cooperation in the coming months with the signing of the agreement. Germany’s KfW maintains a portfolio of over 600 million euros worth of financial cooperation with Pakistan.
The ICC’s International Panel of Umpires has promoted Faisal Khan Afridi to its ranks after an in-house evaluation and appraisal process. Faisal has been replaced by Shozab Raza, who will continue to serve on the PCB Elite Panel of Umpires. Following his impressive decision-making and man-management skills demonstrated in domestic matches, Faisal got selected in the international panel.
Karachi University has announced to offer full scholarships to all members of the green team T20 World Cup squad. KU offered the scholarships because the green team has won back-to-back games against India and New Zealand. The KU will cover all academic expenses for all members of the Pakistan T20 World Cup squad.
Industry players are reportedly working on national roaming services for Pakistan’s cell phone subscribers. When national roaming is operational and in place, users of one network will have the opportunity to use the services of another network. The collaboration aims to make Pakistani mobile phone users’ connectivity more convenient and more useful, especially while on the move.
PTV decided to take anchorperson Nauman Niaz “off-air” following a spat with Shoaib Akhtar during a live telecast on PTV Sports. The decision was made on the recommendation of a committee of inquiry set up by PTV to investigate the incident. Geo News quoted sources as saying that the recommendation was made during a meeting of the inquiry committee.
Across the globe, Pakistanis and Kashmiris are marking Black Day today, a protest against the illegal occupation of their territories by India in 1947. Kashmir Black Day is observed every year on October 27 to commemorate a grave human tragedy that took place in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
The Information Ministry has set up a committee to investigate the Shoaib Akhtar-Dr Nauman’s controversy. Fawad Chaudhry took note of the issue when Akhtar left his position as a panelist during the Game on Hai live broadcast. The inquiry committee has also convened a meeting today to cross-check on-air and off-air statements
The former Rawalpindi Express, Shoaib Akhtar, walked off the set after being asked to leave the show by the host at state-owned PTV Sports. He resigned from his job as a cricket analyst soon after the break on the live tv show ‘Game On Hai’. Shoaib Akhtar said he was insulted during Pakistan’s win against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup post-match show on Tuesday.
The Federal Shariat Court in Pakistan has officially declared Swara a violation of Islam. Swara is a tradition where girls, usual minors, are given in marriage as compensation to an aggrieved family. According to a three-judge panel headed by FSC Chief Justice Noor Mohammad Meskenzai, it is against the injunctions of Islam to give away minor girls to settle disputes.
Prime Minister Imran Khan announced on Monday that Pakistan would not initiate any new coal power plants in the future to combat Climate Change. Moreover, the country is on the road to converting its 60 percent energy production to renewable energy resources by 2030. The prime minister lauded the organizers for holding a Middle East Green Initiative Summit aimed at dealing with climate changes.