The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), in collaboration with Media Cast, held a ceremony in Islamabad on Tuesday to formally lay the foundation for the Pakistan Hockey League, with its inaugural season scheduled to take place in 2027.

The league will feature six franchise teams competing over a 15-day period. The teams will include local hockey players alongside prominent international stars.

The Pakistan Hockey League aims to revive hockey in the country through active participation from the private sector and sponsors. The initiative is expected to establish a sustainable commercial structure for hockey in Pakistan while providing local players with opportunities to learn from leading international players and coaches.

Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Rana Mashhood, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Digital Media Fahd Haroon, Special Assistant on Political Affairs Talha Burki, PHF President Mohiuddin Wani and Media Cast CEO Salman Danish attended the ceremony.

Several prominent hockey figures, including Hassan Sardar, Shehnaz Sheikh, Shahbaz Senior, Tahir Zaman and Khawaja Junaid, also participated in the event.

The former hockey stars described the Pakistan Hockey League as a significant milestone towards the revival of the sport in the country.

The initiative is expected to provide a platform for local talent, attract private investment and strengthen Pakistan’s hockey ecosystem through international exposure and professional competition.

The post Pakistan Hockey League launched, inaugural season set for 2027 appeared first on Daily Pakistan English News.

PESHAWAR – Grade-21 police officer Abbas Ahsan has been assigned responsibility for policing affairs in 12 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), according to an official notification issued by the provincial Inspector General of Police (IGP).

According to the notification, Abbas Ahsan was previously serving as Additional Inspector General (AIG) Headquarters. He has now been entrusted with overseeing policing matters in 12 districts across the province.

The notification was issued by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Police Officer Zulfiqar Hameed.

The post Abbas Ahsan assigned policing responsibilities for 12 KP districts appeared first on Daily Pakistan English News.

MAKKAH –  A Pakistani national has been executed in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, after being convicted of heroin smuggling, the Saudi Ministry of Interior announced.

According to the ministry, security authorities investigated the case and referred it to the competent court. After the charges were proven, the court sentenced the accused to death. The sentence was carried out following approval by the Supreme Court and the issuance of a royal order.

The Saudi Ministry of Interior said strict penalties would continue to be imposed on individuals involved in drug smuggling.

Two Bangladeshi Nationals, Including a Woman, Executed in Makkah

In a separate case, two Bangladeshi nationals, including a woman, were also executed in Makkah.

According to the Saudi Ministry of Interior, the two individuals were accused of involvement in an immoral act. Security authorities arrested them and, after completing investigations, formally charged them before referring the case to the competent court.

The court found both individuals guilty and sentenced them to death. The sentences were subsequently carried out, the ministry said.

Saudi Supreme Court Overturns Death Sentence of Sri Lankan National

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court has overturned the death sentence of a Sri Lankan national in a separate case.

According to Sri Lankan media reports, 24-year-old Sivarasa Anujan had been sentenced to death over allegations of publishing an offensive post.

Sri Lankan Deputy Foreign Minister Arun Hemachandra said an appeal had been filed against the ruling.

He added that the development had been made possible through the Sri Lankan government’s sustained diplomatic and legal efforts.

The post Pakistani national executed in Makkah for heroin smuggling appeared first on Daily Pakistan English News.

BANGKOK – Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb met International Monetary Fund (IMF) Deputy Managing Director Nigel Clarke to discuss Pakistan’s economic progress and reform priorities on the sidelines of the World Bank Group and IMF Annual Meetings in Bangkok.

During the meeting, Aurangzeb appreciated the partnership with the IMF and stressed the importance of strong political commitment and consistent implementation of economic reforms.

The finance minister also highlighted Pakistan’s return to international capital markets and the strong participation of investors.

He briefed the IMF deputy managing director on targeted fuel subsidy measures introduced to protect vulnerable segments of society and maintain social cohesion.

The meeting also highlighted an increase in foreign exchange reserves, the achievement of primary fiscal surpluses for three consecutive years, and a decline in public debt as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP).

Both sides discussed the importance of ensuring sustainable economic growth, maintaining policy continuity and safeguarding spending on health and education while upholding fiscal discipline.

Emphasis was also placed on maintaining adequate foreign exchange reserves and increasing government revenues.

The meeting further underscored the importance of mobilising resources for investment in human capital, infrastructure and public services to support Pakistan’s long-term economic development.

The post FinMin Aurangzeb meets IMF deputy managing director to discuss Pakistan’s economic progress appeared first on Daily Pakistan English News.

RAWALPINDI – Pakistan captain Sahibzada Farhan on Tuesday broke India opener Abhishek Sharma’s record for the most runs scored in a three-match bilateral T20 International (T20I) series between two full-member nations.

Farhan, who was appointed Pakistan’s full-time T20I captain ahead of the series against Sri Lanka, made a memorable start to his first home assignment as skipper by scoring half-centuries in all three matches.

The right-handed batter amassed 238 runs at an impressive average of 79.33 and a strike rate of 165.27, earning the Player of the Series award.

With this achievement, Farhan surpassed Abhishek Sharma’s previous record of 229 runs in a three-match bilateral T20I series between full-member nations. The Indian opener set the benchmark during India’s home series against Afghanistan earlier this year, scoring at an average of 76.33, including a century and a half-century.

Farhan began the Sri Lanka series with a match-winning knock of 89 off 53 balls, striking 10 fours and four sixes. His innings helped Pakistan chase down a target of 183 and secure a four-wicket victory.

The 30-year-old continued his outstanding form in the second match, scoring 73 off just 44 deliveries. His contribution helped Pakistan post a massive total of 215 for three wickets. Sri Lanka managed only 133 for seven in their 20 overs, handing Pakistan a series-clinching victory.

Farhan maintained his consistency in the final match, smashing 76 off 47 balls to help Pakistan set a competitive total against Sri Lanka. However, his efforts could not prevent a defeat as the visitors successfully chased down the target to claim a consolation victory.

Despite Pakistan losing the final match, Farhan’s remarkable consistency across the series secured him the record and the Player of the Series honour.

The post Sahibzada Farhan smashes Abhishek Sharma’s record for most runs in three-match T20I series appeared first on Daily Pakistan English News.

ISLAMABAD – The processing time for applications under the Prime Minister’s Apna Ghar Scheme has been reduced to 15 working days, while the number of required documents has been cut from 25 to just five to facilitate applicants.

The decision was announced during a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to review access to financing and loans for housing, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and the agricultural sector.

Federal ministers Rana Tanveer Hussain, Dr Musadik Masood Malik, Attaullah Tarar, Riaz Hussain Pirzada, Ahsan Khan Cheema and Shaza Fatima Khawaja attended the meeting, along with Prime Minister’s Adviser Haroon Akhtar, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kiani, chief executive officers of several banks and senior officials of relevant institutions.

The meeting was briefed on lending figures for the housing, agriculture and SME sectors. Officials said banks were strengthening their institutional capacity to extend financing to all three priority sectors. Work was also underway to promote developer financing, for which a committee had been established.

Rs448 Billion in Housing Loans Approved

The meeting was informed that 75,198 loans worth Rs448 billion had so far been approved under the Prime Minister’s Apna Ghar Scheme. Of these, loans amounting to Rs76 billion had been disbursed to 14,000 people.

For the current year, a target has been set to provide Rs700 billion in housing finance for 125,000 residential units.

To make the process easier for applicants, the processing period for housing finance applications has been reduced to 15 working days, while the documentation requirement has been cut from 25 documents to just five.

Agricultural Loans Reach Rs1,352 Billion

The meeting was informed that total agricultural lending had reached Rs1,352 billion, benefiting approximately 3.455 million people.

By June 2027, the government aims to increase agricultural lending to Rs1,500 billion and the number of beneficiaries to 4.5 million.

In the SME sector, loans worth Rs1,137 billion have been provided to more than 352,000 business owners.

The targets for June 2027 include increasing SME lending to Rs1,500 billion and expanding the number of businesses receiving loans to 575,000.

Officials also briefed the meeting on measures being taken to revise SME regulations and further simplify and improve housing finance procedures.

PM Calls for Timely Financing to Boost Economy

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the timely provision of loans to the housing, SME and agricultural sectors was essential for strengthening the national economy.

He appreciated banks that were actively contributing to financing these priority sectors and urged those with unsatisfactory performance to improve their lending efforts so they could also benefit from government encouragement.

The prime minister directed the relevant ministries, secretaries and the State Bank of Pakistan to consult stakeholders associated with SME financing, agriculture and housing finance.

He instructed the authorities to complete the consultation process by the end of the current month and submit recommendations aimed at making ongoing schemes more effective and results-oriented.

PM Orders Revival of PASSCO Warehouses

The prime minister also directed officials to arrange the operation of inactive PASSCO warehouses and silos under a public-private partnership model.

He said collaboration with the private sector should help expand storage capacity and enable farmers to store their agricultural produce safely.

Shehbaz Sharif appreciated Allied Bank’s model of establishing grain storage warehouses and providing loans to farmers against their stored commodities. He directed officials to expand the model with greater private-sector participation.

The prime minister also welcomed Allied Bank’s investment plan for a proposed SME park.

PM Seeks Further Simplification of Housing Scheme

The prime minister directed officials to simplify the documentation and information submission process for people seeking to benefit from the Apna Ghar housing scheme.

He also called for easier access to clear and unencumbered property title deeds required for housing finance.

In addition, he instructed the committee dealing with developer financing to finalise and submit its recommendations as soon as possible.

The post Big relief for homebuyers as govt slashes Apna Ghar loan requirements appeared first on Daily Pakistan English News.

LAHORE – Students and government employees across Pakistan may enjoy three consecutive days off in November, as the weekly holidays are expected to coincide with Iqbal Day.

According to details, Pakistan observes a public holiday on November 9 every year to mark the birth anniversary of Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal, the national poet and philosopher known as the Poet of the East.

Under this year’s official calendar, Iqbal Day will fall on Monday, November 9. With Saturday and Sunday preceding the occasion, government employees are expected to enjoy three consecutive days off.

Educational institutions are also expected to remain closed from November 7 to 9, giving students a three-day holiday break.

The post Three-day holiday break expected in November appeared first on Daily Pakistan English News.

LAHORE – Unknown armed men opened fire at the Lahore residence of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Member of the Punjab Assembly (MPA) Sardar Aun Hameed Dogar, who represents Muzaffargarh. A case has been registered, and police are investigating the incident.

According to police, the firing took place at around 11 p.m. on October 8 at the lawmaker’s residence in Tariq Garden, Lahore. CCTV footage of the incident has also emerged.

According to the First Information Report (FIR), unidentified armed men fired multiple rounds from automatic weapons from outside the residence, damaging windowpanes, walls and other property. Two vehicles parked inside the house were also hit by bullets.

The FIR stated that Sardar Aun Hameed Dogar’s wife and children were inside the house at the time of the shooting. The family members took shelter to save their lives, while the armed suspects fled the scene after the attack.

Lahore police said the case was registered on October 9 at Kahna Police Station on the complaint of the MPA’s brother-in-law, Muhammad Junaid Shoaib Dogar. The case was registered under Sections 324 and 440 of the Pakistan Penal Code. Investigations are underway to identify and arrest the unidentified suspects.

Speaking about the incident, Sardar Aun Hameed Dogar confirmed that his Lahore residence had been targeted. He said he was not in Lahore at the time and was instead present in his constituency, while his family was at home.

He said the room where his wife and children were present was also targeted by gunfire, adding that they had been saved by the grace of Allah.

“We have been living in this house since 2016,” he said.

The MPA further confirmed that a case had been registered over the firing incident. According to him, police are investigating the matter.

The post Gun attack on PML-N MPA’s Lahore residence, family present inside appeared first on Daily Pakistan English News.