Month: July 2026

Islamabad: Pakistan women’s junior Hockey Team has qualified for the Women’s Junior Asia Cup 2026, marking its return to the continental event after a gap of 14 years.

The qualification was officially confirmed by the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) through a formal letter sent to the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF).

In a congratulatory letter, AHF President Fumio Ogura informed the PHF that Pakistan secured qualification on the basis of its impressive performance and final ranking in the Women’s Junior AHF Cup 2026.

Congratulating the players, team officials and coaching staff on the achievement, PHF officials described the qualification as a significant milestone in the revival of women’s hockey in Pakistan and an encouraging step towards a brighter future for the sport in the country.

Islamabad: Pakistan on Wednesday strongly condemned continued threats by Houthi militia against commercial shipping in the Red Sea and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, warning that it reserved the right under international law to use necessary force to protect its maritime interests from any hostile acts.

Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi, in a statement, reaffirmed that any hostile act against Pakistani-flagged vessels or Pakistani maritime interests would be regarded as a grave threat to Pakistan’s national security and sovereign interests.

“Consistent with the Charter of the United Nations and international law, Pakistan reserves its right to take all necessary measures, including lawful use of force, in the exercise of self-defence to protect its maritime assets and national interests,” he remarked.

He highlighted Pakistan’s unequivocal condemnation of the continued threats issued by the Houthis militia against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and commercial shipping in the Red Sea. Such actions threaten regional security, undermine freedom of navigation, challenge the rules-based maritime order and jeopardise uninterrupted flow of global commerce, he added.

“Threats against commercial shipping and trading with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are unacceptable and violate established principles of international law. Pakistan is particularly concerned by reports of threats directed against vessels engaged in lawful commercial trade with the Kingdom,” the spokesperson remarked.

He said that Pakistan was deeply concerned over attempts to drag the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia into the conflict in the Middle East and reiterated its unwavering support for the security, sovereignty, territorial integrity and prosperity of the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

“While remaining steadfast in its commitment to dialogue, diplomacy and regional de-escalation, Pakistan calls upon all parties to respect international law and ensure the safety and security of international maritime shipping,” Spokesperson Andrabi added.

Islamabad: The prices of gold witnessed a significant increase in the local market on Wednesday, with 24-karat gold per tola gaining Rs4,600 to settle at Rs433,836, according to rates issued by the All Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewellers Association.

Similarly, the price of 10 grams of 24-karat gold increased by Rs3,944 to Rs371,944, whereas 10 grams of 22-karat gold rose by Rs3,615 to Rs340,961.

In the international market, the price of gold increased by $46 to $4,114 per ounce.

Meanwhile, the price of silver per tola increased by Rs7 to Rs6,403, while the price of 10 grams of silver rose by Rs6 to Rs5,489.

The price of silver in the international market also increased by $0.07 to $59.24 per ounce, the association reported.

Islamabad: Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) Central Spokesperson Shazia Marri on Wednesday criticised the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government over its handling of the aftermath of recent heavy rains, calling for immediate relief and compensation for affected families.

In a statement, Marri said the recent rainfall had exposed shortcomings in the province’s infrastructure, including roads, drainage systems and other civic facilities, causing hardship for residents.

She said despite being in power for an extended period, the provincial government had failed to improve basic public infrastructure and services, blaming the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government of prioritising political rhetoric over public welfare.

The PPPP spokesperson also criticised the PTI’s performance on governance and institutional matters, stating the party had failed to meet public expectations and had focused on political confrontation instead of addressing citizens’ concerns.

Expressing grief over the loss of lives in Peshawar and other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa due to the recent rains, Marri extended condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the recovery of those injured.

She also expressed sympathy with families that suffered financial losses, saying the PPP stood with those affected during the difficult period.

While acknowledging that natural disasters could not be prevented, Marri said their impact could be minimised through effective planning and timely response.

She termed the provincial government’s emergency preparedness “disappointing” and said providing prompt relief to affected citizens was the responsibility of every government.

She called for immediate rescue and relief operations, a transparent assessment of damages and adequate compensation for victims.

She also urged the provincial government to strengthen its emergency response system and prioritise the protection of lives and property.

Islamabad: Pakistan’s Nauman Khan will face top seed and defending champion Muhammad Zakria of Egypt in the pre-quarterfinals of the World Squash Junior Individual Championships 2026 after emerging as the country’s sole survivor in the boys’ individual event at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada.

According to information made available here by Pakistan Squash Federation, Nauman secured his place in the last 16 with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over England’s Gabriel Chak in the Round of 32. After winning the opening game 11-9 and dropping the second 9-11, the Pakistani player regained control to claim the next two games 11-6 and 13-11.

Muhammad Umair Arif, seeded 25/32, exited the championship after suffering a 3-0 defeat to France’s Amir Khaled Jousselin. The French player won 11-1, 11-3 and 11-2. Yahya Khan also bowed out after losing 3-0 to Egypt’s Seifeldin Rafaay. Despite a spirited effort in the third game, he went down with game scores of 11-3, 11-2 and 11-3.

Meanwhile, Abdullah Nawaz, seeded 13/16, was eliminated by the United States’ Barendan Tagliarini in a 3-1 contest. Abdullah won the opening game 11-5 before his opponent fought back to take the next three games 11-3, 11-8 and 11-6.

Nauman will now take on Egypt’s Muhammad Zakria, the tournament’s top seed and defending world junior champion in the pre-quarterfinal scheduled for Thursday. The match will be played on the Glass Court at White Oaks Resort.

Pakistan’s hopes in the boys’ individual event now rest on Nauman Khan as he looks to upset the defending champion and book a place in the quarterfinals.

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights, Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar on Wednesday said that nations investing in knowledge and human capital were the ones shaping the future, and called for strengthening education, scientific research and innovation across the Muslim world.

Addressing the Inter-Islamic Forum for the Advancement of Education, Scientific Research and Innovation at the OIC-COMSTECH Secretariat, he said access to quality education and scientific knowledge empowered individuals, reduced inequality, promoted tolerance, strengthened democratic values and contributed to peace, justice and sustainable development.

He reaffirmed the government’s unwavering support for initiatives promoting higher education, scientific research, technological advancement, innovation and human resource development.

The forum, organized by OIC-COMSTECH, brought together distinguished policymakers, parliamentarians, diplomats, university leaders, scientists and scholars from Pakistan and across the Muslim world to explore avenues for enhancing collaboration in higher education, scientific research and innovation.

Among the participants were Mohamed Adan Khalif, Governor of Mandera County, Kenya; Tuan Jaziri Alkaf, Senator of Malaysia and Chairman of MyProdigy Foundation Malaysia; Prof. Dr. Shahid Mahmud, Honorary Advisor, OIC-COMSTECH; Dr. Salma Noor, Founder and Patron of Dream Team CBO; Vice Admiral (R) Abid Hameed HI(M), Rector, Bahria University, besides ambassadors, vice chancellors, eminent scientists, scholars and delegates from Kenya, Malaysia and other OIC member states.

In his welcome address, Coordinator General OIC-COMSTECH Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary welcomed the distinguished guests and participants, emphasizing that education, science, technology and innovation remained the most effective instruments for achieving sustainable development and socio-economic progress in the Muslim world.

He highlighted COMSTECH’s expanding portfolio of initiatives, including scholarships, fellowships, research collaboration, capacity-building programmes and the COMSTECH Consortium of Excellence, which connects leading universities across OIC member states to promote academic mobility, joint research and scientific cooperation.

He reaffirmed COMSTECH’s commitment to strengthening partnerships among universities, governments, research institutions and international organizations to build a vibrant knowledge economy across the Islamic world.

Senator Tarar commended OIC-COMSTECH for its remarkable achievements under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary in creating educational and research opportunities for thousands of students, researchers, scientists and universities across the Islamic world.

The minister appreciated COMSTECH’s scholarship and fellowship programmes, faculty and student exchange initiatives, research collaborations and capacity-building programmes in emerging scientific fields.

He particularly praised the organization’s support for scholars and students from Palestine, Yemen, Bangladesh, Africa and other OIC member states, describing these efforts as a true manifestation of Islamic solidarity and Pakistan’s commitment to serving the Ummah through education and knowledge.

Senator Tarar also acknowledged COMSTECH’s efforts in expanding the COMSTECH Consortium of Excellence, noting that it had become an important platform for collaborative research, innovation, academic mobility and the sharing of scientific expertise among leading universities of the Muslim world.

Earlier, Mohamed Adan Khalif, Governor of Mandera County, Kenya, and Tuan Jaziri Alkaf, Senator of Malaysia and Chairman of MyProdigy Foundation Malaysia, shared their perspectives on strengthening academic partnerships, innovation ecosystems and scientific collaboration among OIC member states.

Prof. Dr. Shahid Mahmud, Honorary Advisor OIC-COMSTECH, delivered the keynote address, highlighting the strategic importance of knowledge-based economies, research excellence and stronger institutional linkages in addressing the challenges facing the Muslim world.

Dr. Salma Noor, Founder and Patron of Dream Team CBO, also addressed the participants and emphasized the importance of empowering youth, women and communities through education, innovation and collaborative development initiatives.

In his closing remarks, Vice Admiral (R) Abid Hameed HI(M), Rector, Bahria University, appreciated OIC-COMSTECH for successfully organizing the forum and emphasized that stronger collaboration among universities, research institutions, governments and industry would pave the way for sustainable development and technological advancement across the Islamic world.

He reaffirmed Bahria University’s commitment to supporting initiatives that promote academic excellence, innovation and international cooperation.

The forum concluded with a vote of thanks by Mr. Murtaza Noor, Focal Person, Outreach, CCoE and Media, OIC-COMSTECH, followed by the presentation of a commemorative shield to Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar and a group photograph of the distinguished participants.

The participants reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in education, scientific research, innovation and technology, and expressed confidence that the forum’s recommendations would translate into meaningful partnerships and impactful initiatives for the sustainable development of the Muslim world.