The Pakistan

  A significant upgrade to Pakistan’s internet infrastructure took place on Tuesday with a new modern subsea cable connection. This 45,000-kilometer-long global internet network is known as the largest cable project in the world. The initiative is part of  Facebook Meta’s “Africa-2” cable project , of which Pakistan is also a participant. This project aims to significantly enhance internet speeds across the country and eventually address long-standing complaints of slow connectivity.  Pakistan has access to about 8 terabytes of bandwidth via seven submarine cables. The new 2Africa Cable connects 46 landing stations in Europe, Africa and Asia and is expected to become operational in Pakistan by the fourth quarter of 2025. Once active, Pakistani users can access one of the fastest 5G Internet services worldwide.   IT experts anticipate a substantial increase in internet speeds, with the new cable boasting a capacity of 180 terabits per second. This enhanced bandwi...

Pakistan’s passport has seen a significant improvement, now ranked 100th globally according to the Henley & Partners Passport Index. This marks a steady climb from 113th place in 2021, reflecting Pakistan’s improved diplomatic efforts, foreign policy outreach, and growing global cooperation. As a result of this upward shift, Pakistani passport holders can now travel to 32 countries either without a visa or by obtaining a visa on arrival. This includes select countries in Africa, the Caribbean, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. The improvement makes international travel slightly easier for Pakistanis, especially for tourism and short business trips. A key factor behind this progress is the new visa exemption agreement with the UAE, signed recently. Under this deal, official and diplomatic passport holders from both nations can travel without needing a visa, saving time and simplifying official travel. This move also indicates growing trust and cooperation between Islamabad and Ab...

  The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) held a ceremony in Islamabad on Wednesday to honor the country’s top-performing athletes and disburse significant financial support to sports federations. A total of Rs. 8.2 million was awarded to 36 athletes for their exceptional performances in international competitions, while Rs. 63.9 million was granted to 22 national federations under annual and special grant categories. The event was graced by Advisor to Prime Minister on Inter-Provincial Coordination Rana Sanaullah Khan, along with Federal Secretary Mohiuddin Wani and Director General of PSB Muhammad Yasir Pirzada. Addressing the gathering, Rana Sanaullah emphasised the importance of celebrating sporting achievements with national pride. “These ceremonies should be held with dignity to inspire our youth towards sports,” he remarked. “When young athletes perform at the global level, it not only uplifts the nation’s image but also sends a message that the government truly values their efforts...

  The World Bank Board of Executive Directors approved today $194 million for two projects to enhance educational opportunities for children and boost water security in Balochistan. “The GRADES-Balochistan project aims to reduce learning poverty in the province, while the Balochistan Water Security and Productivity Improvement Project will help address the province’s water security challenges and enhance climate resilience,”  said  Najy Benhassine, World Bank Country Director for Pakistan.  “The World Bank remains committed to supporting Balochistan through strategic investments in infrastructure and human development to build the foundations for more job creation, poverty reduction, and stronger resilience.” The  Getting Results: Access and Delivery of Quality Education Services in Balochistan (GRADES-Balochistan)  project ($100 million) will benefit 250,000 students with a focus on increasing enrollment and improving literacy and numeracy skills in early ...

  Two young and promising sailors for Pakistan had excellent regatta results. Muhammad Suleman was positioned in fourth place in the under-15 Optimist class. He narrowly missed the podium by two points, which is impressive in such a competitive fleet. Muzammil Hussain, who competed in the ILCA 4 fleet, came in sixth position, but he showed great potential and promise in this class. The Al Bareh Regatta showcases the real proof of racing skill; it often  features  challenging sailing conditions in terms of wind and sea, as with this early January event in Bahrain. The regatta is organized by the Bahrain Maritime Sports Association, which hosts sailors from the region and provides excellent race management, fun times with sailors competing against great conditions. This season creates great inspiration for and builds hope for rising talent in the sailing and water-sport world for Pakistan, for greater international achievements. Our young athletes are getting better and com...

  Pakistani entertainment channel ARY Digital is creating a significant buzz with the teaser release of its highly anticipated mega drama serial, Main Manto Nahi Hoon. Main Manto Nahi Hoon would star prominent figures such as Humayun Saeed, Sajal Aly, and Sanam Saeed, making it a potentially defining television series that could change the landscape of Pakistani TV. Since this release follows ARY’s ongoing success with Sher, the new mega drama, Main Manto Nahi Hoon, should rule the primetime when it airs in July 2025. Written by the highly regarded playwright Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar A list playwright with classic plays such as Mere Paas Tum Ho to his credit, and directed by the outstanding Nadeem Baig (Pyarey Afzal, Love Guru), Main Manto Nahi Hoon has the components of an exciting piece overtaking the typical soap drama format with high-level cinematic professionalism. The just-released teaser provides the viewer a powerful glimpse into a story filled with emotions, mystery, and co...

  Shandur, Upper Chitral: The much-anticipated three-day Shandur Polo Festival is set to begin today in the scenic Shandur Valley of District Upper Chitral. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority (KPCTA) has finalized all necessary arrangements to ensure the grand success of this internationally renowned event. The festival, often dubbed the "Roof of the World" due to its location at the world's highest polo ground at Shandur Pass (approximately 3,700 meters above sea level), will feature thrilling polo matches between traditional rivals: teams from Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral. These freestyle polo matches are a hallmark of the festival, showcasing the raw and unadulterated form of the sport. The Shandur Polo Festival is a collaborative effort involving the Pakistan Army, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tourism Authority, local district administrations, police, and Chitral Scouts. This joint endeavor aims to ensure the successful execution of the event and provide a...

  Pakistan men’s hockey team on Wednesday, stormed into the FIH Nations Cup semi-final despite Malaysia’s victory over Japan in the last Pool B match, held here at the National Hockey Stadium. The green shirts earlier played their last league-stage match against New Zealand and suffered a narrow 4-3 defeat, which put them languishing on the outcome of the subsequent fixture.  Malaysia, placed third in the standings with one point and a goal difference of negative one after two matches, needed to beat Japan by a margin of two goals to topple Pakistan’s goal difference to secure second spot, which would have earned them semi-final qualification. Although they managed to beat Japan 2-1, it meant that their goal difference could not surpass that of Pakistan, who joined New Zealand from Pool B to reach the final four. The green shirts will now face Pool A leaders France in the first semi-final on Friday, while New Zealand and Korea will lock horns in the other knockout fixture late...

  On June 18, 2017, cricket history was reshaped at The Oval in London as Pakistan, the tournament’s lowest‑ranked team, achieved a stunning upset by defeating arch‑rivals India in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy final. The magnitude of this victory—winning by 180 runs—marked the largest margin in any ICC final, firmly etching Pakistan’s name among the sport’s legends   Underdogs No More Pakistan’s campaign began underwhelmingly: they lost to India by 124 runs in the group stage. Yet, the team rallied in true champion fashion, stringing together victories against South Africa, Sri Lanka, and England to enter their maiden Champions Trophy final . Their semifinal win over hosts England was particularly commanding—a steady 8‑wicket triumph that set the tone for what was to come   Fakhar Zaman's Centurion Audacity The final belonged to debutant Fakhar Zaman, whose astonishing century of 114 off 106 balls lit up Pakistan's innings. A no‑ball call by Jasprit Bumrah gave him an i...

  Pakistan Railways action on ticketless passengers to increase revenue Pakistan Railways  has initiated an extensive campaign against fare avoidance and ticketless passengers. The campaign will not only stop fare evasion but also generate additional revenue to support and sustain the national railway. The national  railway  system has demonstrated success in its fare evasion campaign that involves railway police and train staff checking passengers and taking enforcement  action , wherever possible, against ticketless travel. Passengers found ticketless travel will be penalized by paying the full fare and a fine. If they refuse to pay they will be taken away by railway police. Lately, this initiative has brought in more than Rs 76 million from almost 59,000 fare evaders. The fees have been deposited in the railway’s account and demonstrates the impact of fare evasion on earnings for the national railway system. The initiative is part of Pakistan Railways overall...

  The federal government on Sunday announced a hike in fuel prices for the upcoming fortnight, raising petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) prices by Rs4.80 and Rs7.95 per litre, respectively. According to a notification issued by the Finance Division, the new prices, effective from June 16, 2025, have been set at Rs262.59 per litre for petrol and Rs258.43 per litre for HSD, based on recommendations from OGRA and relevant ministries. This marks the second consecutive increase in petrol prices, following a Re1 hike in the previous fortnight amid relatively stable global oil markets. The hike was mainly driven by higher international prices and adjustments in the Inland Freight Equalization Margin (IFEM), as per the price build-up data. The average Platts price (with incidentals and duty) for diesel surged by Rs5.44, while the IFEM saw a Rs1.72 increase. Diesel’s ex-refinery price rose by Rs5.91 per litre, while petrol’s ex-refinery cost increased by Rs1.12. Although the petroleum levy...

  South Africa beat Australia by five wickets in the World Test Championship final to end their long wait for a major global title. The Proteas had resumed their second innings on 213-2 and needed 69 runs to wrap up victory on day four at Lord's. Australia captain Pat Cummins struck in the third over of the day to dismiss opposite number Temba Bavuma, caught behind for 66, to inject a semblance of belief. Then with 41 runs required, Mitchell Starc bowled Tristan Stubbs through the gate to cause a little more anxiety in the South Africa dressing room. However, centurion Aiden Markram continued where he left off from the previous day as he put South Africa on the brink of victory with a superb 136. Markram, the only player to make a hundred in the match, missed out on the chance to hit the winning runs when he flicked Josh Hazlewood into the hands of Travis Head at mid-wicket with the winning post in sight. That left David Bedingham and Kyle Verreynne to see South Africa over the lin...

Sindh to Launch 1,000 Electric Buses in Phased Implementation in Pakistan The government of Sindh, Pakistan, has announced a phased rollout of 1,000 electric buses across the province, which is a big step towards sustainable urban mobility. The   electric bus project  is in line with the Sindh Mass Transit Authority’s aim to tackle greenhouse gas emissions and enhance public transport systems. The introduction of electric buses will take place in phases and begin in Karachi. This pilot project will offer clean, inexpensive, and environmentally  responsible  alternatives to polluting petrol-powered public transport. Given the increasing awareness of pollution and the climate crisis, this pilot project is a useful investment in the future of Sindh’s environment. Sindh’s Minister for Transport , Sharjeel Inam  Memon, indicated that the electric buses would reduce carbon emissions and increase accessibility for daily commuters. Charging stations and other supporting...

  Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday left for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on an official visit, along with a high-level delegation.     He will hold high-level meetings with the UAE leadership, including a bilateral meeting with the President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. A wide range of bilateral, regional, and global issues of mutual interest and concern will be discussed during the high-level interactions. The Prime Minister will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including the Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Federal Ministers, and other senior officers. In a statement, Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said the Prime Minister’s visit will serve to further strengthen the longstanding brotherly relations between Pakistan and the UAE, deepen economic ties, and foster multifaceted collaboration. He said this visit is a manifestation of Pakistan’s and UAE’s shared commitment to bolster...

As the first step in selecting players for  BBL 2025 , Cricket Australia has announced  Shaheen Afridi  and many other international stars. The use of a draft in the BBL is a fresh idea in recruiting overseas players and is expected to greatly boost the game’s international reputation. BBL Draft Features Pakistani Powerhouse Quartet The BBL 2025 will include four prominent Pakistani players who are eligible for choosing in the matches. Having Shaheen Afridi at the top of the bowlers list has made many BBL teams, especially Brisbane Heat eager to sign him. Apart from Afridi, Pakistan is represented by wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan, who hits the ball explosively as the Brisbane Heat wishes and as the BBL requires. Haris Rauf as a fast bowler and Shadab Khan as a tricky all-rounder give Pakistani teams several different tactical advantages. BBL Men’s Draft Nominations Showcase Global Talent The selection of players for the first BBL draft proves that cricket is played intern...