Our good friend Umar Marwat sends this photo to be shared at ATP. Maintenance crew is seen using construction cones as hats on Motorway M2 (also see here and here). I wish the company who has hired this staff can atleast provide them with decent hats to save themselves from breeze and sun.
Reference: http://www.paktribune.com/
Shoaib Akhtar was among 26 Pakistan players to return negative dope tests ahead of the Champions Trophy.All but four of the provisional squad for the tournament were tested by World Anti-Doping Agency accredited officials on July 19, with the samples sent to a doping control centre in Penang, Malaysia. All came back negative.The four remaining players who were unavailable because of other commitments, including Younus Khan, will be tested soon.
Shoaib was named in the provisional list of 30 after the PCB delayed the naming of the squad due to a row over the payment of a seven million rupees fine by the fast bowler.That fine was imposed as part of disciplinary action taken against Shoaib by the PCB. He was initially banned for five years, but that was subsequently reduced to 18 months on appeal and later suspended by the Lahore High Court until a fuller hearing can be held.
Shoaib and fellow paceman Mohammad Asif both tested positive for nandrolone in 2006, but had respective bans of two years and one year removed on appeal.Asif is not in the provisional squad after testing positive for nandrolone during the Indian Premier League. His B sample is due to be tested next Wednesday.
Pakistan are the hosts of this year`s Champions Trophy, which is slated to begin on September 11.
Reference: http://pakistaniat.com/
Seems like every Pakistani child knows that its Karakoram Range and K-2 peak, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) doubtful though. On top of it, proof reading culture is not very popular in Pakistan. In the latest release of Rs 50 note the K2 peak has been written as the ‘Karakoram Peak’.
Earlier this month, SBP launched newer note of Rs. 50 and re-launched note of Rs. 5. The notes were approved by federal cabinet (I’m forgetting if this is the graduate cabinet or there are exceptions included?). A thorough briefing on security features embedded in notes was given by Dr. Shamshad Akhtar as well. The back side of Rs. 50 note displays a beautiful view of World’s second tallest peak and the all-famous K-2, situated in the Karakoram range. A sales executive in Peshawar raised the point and a very valid one. As The News report:
SBP should clarify the situation. Its efforts to promote Pakistan’s landmarks such as the K2 peak on its currency notes are praiseworthy, but it should be careful not to distort facts.Either its just an innocent mistake or we really do need to straighten out some facts here.
Reference: http://pakwatan.com/
ISLAMABAD, President Pervez Musharraf will be visiting China to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics on August 8, the Foreign Ministry said on Monday.Briefing newsmen in Islamabad, Foreign Office spokesman Muhammad Sadiq said the President will visit china at the invitation from the Chinese Government.The president will also hold meetings with the Chinese leadership including President Hu Jintao, the spokesman said.
“Leaders from various countries have also confirmed their participation at the opening or closing ceremonies of the games and the president will have an opportunity to meet these leaders on the occasion”.
The spokesman expressed the confidence that participation of the President Musharraf in the mega event and his interaction with Chinese leaders will provide further impetus to our close and traditional ties with China.
Reference: http://www.paktribune.com/
Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik has no qualms with the new experiment by the International Cricket Council.
“I welcome this move because it is going to have positive effects on the game,” Malik was quoted as saying by IANS on Tuesday.
“Umpires are only human and can make mistakes, which is why it is good that players have been provided a chance to appeal. Technology can be really helpful,” the Pakistan skipper added.
The review system was put to use in the first Test between India and Sri Lanka in Colombo. While Sri Lanka used it to good effect, the Indians were left hard done by it as they lost by a huge innings and 239-run margin.Many players are of the same opinion as Malik, pointing out that umpiring errors are dramatically reduced, but many on the other hand oppose the system for it reduces the human element involved in umpiring.
Reference: http://pakwatan.com/
WASHINGTON :US President George W. Bush is expected to discuss counterterrorism strategy with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in talks starting today.Bush said ahead of the talks that he was “troubled” by the movement of extremists from Pakistan to Afghanistan and would discuss the threat with Gilani, who is making his first White House visit since he took over the helm in March.
Gilani is well aware of the stakes for the trip — it comes amid mounting fears that the US is prepared to launch military raids into tribal.
“It is in the interest of Pakistan to curb extremism and terrorism,” Gilani told reporters before leaving for the three-day official visit.
But he will be under pressure to explain his government’s counterterrorism strategy — or, as some experts see, the lack of one.
Reference: http://www.paktribune.com/
KARACHI: Playing down security concerns in Pakistan during the Champions Trophy in September, coach Geoff Lawson has urged all the international teams to tour the country and make the biennial event a resounding success.
“I have been in Pakistan since last year and I know the ground realities of how safe it is in this country. Anybody can make statements sitting outside no matter if it’s Australia, England or New Zealand,” he said referring to the three teams, which have been vociferously opposing to having the tournament in Pakistan.
LAHORE, Lahore won the Sports Board Punjab Under-15 Hockey Championship by defeating Bahawalpur here at the National Hockey Stadium on Sunday.
In the final of the tournament, Lahore 3-1.
Lahore team displaying excellent game and was winning by three goals to nil at the end of the first half.
For Lahore, Asfar Yaqoob, Mohammad Rizwan and Mohammad Usman netted one goal each while Muzammal made goal for Bahawalpur.
Earlier, Sargodha beat Faisalabad 3-0 to obtain the third position in the championship.
After the successful run of Goal and Race in Pakistan, UTV and Eveready Pictures combination is back with yet another offering for Bollywood cinema’s most rapidly growing overseas market.This time its Aziz Mirza’s, Kismat Konnection that released across Pakistan. A red carpet premiere was held at Karachi’s Nishat cinema to mark the event.
“Kismat Konnection has done very well. It’s had a bigger opening than Race. This is our third film with UTV and it’s our hatrick hit we could say. My exhibitors are calling this film Kismat collection, so we are obviously very happy that we’ve given Pakistan another fantastic film to watch,” said Tanya Anand, Executive Director Eveready Pictures.
With Kismat Konnection running to packed houses and all shows of the film sold out till after the weekend; the Shahid and Vidya love story certainly seems have struck a chord with audiences in Pakistan.
“Vidya Balan is a very cute actress. I think, I put her in the slot of good actresses around. She has earned a name for herself very soon,” said Ayesha Omer, VJ.
“The star cast is amazing, Shahid looks very handsome and Vidya is very cute. The songs are very good especially Atif Aslam’s song Bakhuda,” said Adnan Siddiqi, actor.
But film buff’s in Karachi regret having once again missed out on a star studded premiere of yet another Bollywood release.
“The only thing is, we miss the actual Bollywood stars on the red carpet and the premieres. If that can be looked into it would be fantastic,” said Sidra Iqbal, Television host.
“No Indian star has yet come for the premiere in Pakistan. But I think in the future that may happen as well,” said Nadia Hussain, model.
Star studded premiere or not, it’s not just audiences in Karachi who are delighted about getting a chance to see the latest Bollywood release on big screen but also directors who feel that reciprocal cinematic exchanges between India and Pakistan will effectively serve to revive the cinema industry of Pakistan.
“I am feeling very nice, yesterday it was the premiere of my film here and saw the same people there too. I am glad that film culture is returning to Pakistan, people are coming back to theatres, which is an encouraging sign.
Kismat Konnection is really doing well here and I hope same happens for Pakistani films in India,” said Mehreen Jabbar, Director.
It’s not just Ramchand Pakistani and Kismat Konnection that audiences in Karachi can enjoy on big screen over the next few weeks.
