Latest news with #Kirmani
Business Recorder
28-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Rs1.2bn allocation made to revive citrus industry
LAHORE: The Punjab government has allocated a huge sum of Rs1.2 billion for citrus revival initiative in the province to provide technical guidance to growers and to introduce improved citrus varieties. Pakistan's annual citrus exports have dropped from $200 million to $130 million and urgent efforts are needed to provide technical guidance to growers and to introduce new, improved citrus varieties, said Deputy Convener Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha while speaking at the second meeting of the Chief Minister's Citrus Development Task Force. He proposed support for nursery businesses and the establishment of a development board focused on orchard revival in Sargodha. He also stressed the need for the swift completion of a modern citrus laboratory and the creation of a monitoring unit for orchard evaluation. The meeting was held at Agriculture House, Lahore. It was chaired by Punjab Minister for Agriculture and Livestock, Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani. During the meeting, various proposals for the development of the citrus sector were reviewed. Attendees included Deputy Convener of the Citrus Development Task Force Punjab, Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha, Secretary Agriculture Punjab, Iftikhar Ali Sahoo, and Secretary Industries, Commerce, and Investment Punjab, Umar Masood. Kirmani emphasized that boosting citrus production is a key priority for the government of Punjab. He noted that kinnow, in particular, is a signature fruit of the province. However, climate change has led to the deterioration of citrus orchards, making them more susceptible to diseases. This has resulted in a decline in fruit size and shelf life, particularly in kinnow. Several practical initiatives were agreed upon during the meeting, including the establishment of a Citrus Park, integration of citrus orchards into the Kissan Card platform, recruitment of 100 agricultural interns and 100 youth for a three-year citrus revival project, and the provision of subsidies similar to those offered in the wheat support programme. Minister Kirmani also underscored the need to regulate fruit nurseries through licensing and registration. He instructed the Bank of Punjab to introduce a loan scheme for farmers operating citrus nurseries. He stressed the importance of enhancing citrus exports and improving the value chain to meet international standards. Under the Chief Minister's Kissan Package, Rs1.2 billion has been allocated for the citrus revival initiative. This funding aims to establish certified nurseries, create new orchards, and boost both citrus production and exports to strengthen the national economy. The minister further stated that the primary goal of the citrus revival programme is to utilize modern agricultural technology to produce certified citrus plants and provide technical support to farmers. The overarching objective is to improve both the yield and quality of citrus through certified plant material. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
The Hindu
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Reviews of Mohinder Amarnath's Fearless and Syed Kirmani's Stumped
Athletes are image conscious, both during their playing days and long after. Some may want to be remembered for their high skill and art, some for their nature, both pleasing and rebellious, and some for the legacy they leave behind and the many lives they touch and careers they inspire. And when athletes write memoirs, it is often a careful extension of this very image. They may be honest and forthright in their assessments of their own selves and the eras they played in and lived through, but all of it is bound by the persona that the sportspersons want to project. Two recent books by Indian cricketing legends — Fearless by Mohinder Amarnath (with Rajender Amarnath) and Stumped by Syed Kirmani (with Debashish Sengupta and Dakshesh Pathak) — lend credence to this argument. The stories, in fact, flow from the cover images. Amarnath's is of him executing the pull without the protection of a helmet, a shot synonymous with the batter and considered among the most daring strokes. The overarching theme in the book is of his many pitched battles against deadly fast bowlers like Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding and Imran Khan, his many selection controversies, the machinations of the higher-ups and his multiple comebacks. Kirmani's is a rather sedate and inexpressive photograph of him staidly waiting for the red cherry to nestle in his gloves. It seems like an ode to the book title, the tagline (Life Behind and Beyond the Twenty-Two Yards), and the sad fact that the great wicket-keeper's time in Test whites ended two shy of 200 dismissals. Defining moments It helps that the defining moment in Amarnath's and Kirmani's careers is also the defining moment in India's cricket history — the 1983 World Cup triumph. Both men capture in rich detail the victory of Kapil Dev and his band of merry men over the marauding and all-conquering West Indian side led by Clive Lloyd. But where the works diverge is in how they lead up to the success. Amarnath, admittedly, had a storied upbringing, for he was the son of independent India's first Test captain Lala Amarnath. Fearless recounts vividly the growing up days of Amarnath junior and his two brothers (Surinder, an international cricketer, and Rajender, a First Class player) under the giant shadow of their father and his steadfast goal to make Test cricketers out of all three. Amarnath's journey is laid out meticulously and chronologically, chapter by chapter, from tour to tour. There are also charming anecdotes from his childhood and school-cricket days that bring more than a chuckle, including the one where he escapes to Delhi from his boarding school in Jalandhar in a crowded train, hungry and with little money. Kirmani's, in contrast, zooms. Where it takes Amarnath 254 pages to reach the seminal point of his cricketing life (the 1983 win), Kirmani arrives in 35. This is, in fact, the biggest quibble one can have with the book — along with multiple factual inaccuracies, a feature, to a lesser degree, of Fearless too — for it limits Kirmani's retelling of his entire career to just 74 pages! The 90-odd sheets that follow are biographical accounts of the man. Surely, someone who played 88 Tests — 19 more than Amarnath — in a short span of just 10 years had more to tell? A glaring miss But history informs us that as much as memoirs are dressed up and promoted as 'tell-alls', they are also conspicuous by their many silences. What both books lack is a compelling picture of the eras Amarnath and Kirmani played their cricket in. While the volumes are no doubt windows into their respective sporting lives, they could have also shed more light on the culture of the sport back in the day. In the aftermath of India's 1983 World Cup win, the West Indies landed in India and blanked the hosts 3-0 in Tests (six-match series) and 5-0 in One Day Internationals as Marshall and Holding ran riot. In his six visits to the crease in Tests, Amarnath, a hero of the tour to the West Indies earlier in 1983, bagged five ducks. Lloyd's men were in India for nearly three months. Amarnath has given it the short shrift and dedicated all of four pages out of 428. Another jarring note, quite at odds with the title of the book, is his reluctance to name players and officials whose many acts and deeds he didn't approve of. Memoirs can also be for reflection and catharsis, and used as a tool to eventually make peace with all that happened. But Fearless and Stumped don't necessarily offer a sense of closure, both for Amarnath and Kirmani, and the reader. Fearless Mohinder Amarnath with Rajender Amarnath Harper Collins India ₹799 Stumped Syed Kirmani with Debashish Sengupta and Dakshesh Pathak Penguin India ₹499
India Today
14-05-2025
- Sport
- India Today
Virat Kohli retired from Tests due to excess cricket? Ex-World Cup winner weighs in
Former Indian wicketkeeper Syed Kirmani has suggested that Virat Kohli's retirement from Test cricket may have been due to the demands of playing excessive cricket. On May 12, the 36-year-old Kohli announced his retirement from the longest format, bringing an end to a nearly 14-year Test career that spanned from 2011 to retired as India's fourth-highest run-scorer in Test cricket, joining an elite list that includes Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar. Kirmani, a member of India's 1983 World Cup-winning team, said the decision was entirely Kohli's own and that he was not under any external pressure when making don't feel he is after records. It might be the excess of cricket that led to this. Records don't matter to him. I don't think he had any sort of pressure on him while making this decision,' Kirmani told PTI Videos. 'Questions like why he's retiring, or whether he's out of form or under pressure, don't make any sense. It's a player's individual decision,' Kirmani said. 'Should have played a bit more' Kohli faced a challenging time during the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. Despite scoring a century in the second innings of the Perth Test, his overall performance was below par. Across five Tests, he managed just 190 runs at an average of struggles continued upon his return to domestic cricket, where he failed to make an impact for Delhi in their Ranji Trophy match against Railways at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Meanwhile, Syed Kirmani expressed that Kohli still had plenty of cricket left in him and felt he should have extended his career a little still had a lot of cricket left in him. Everybody has to retire, but he should have played a bit more. However, I respect his decision. I wish him luck for the future,' Kirmani said. "Virat brought consistency to the game, which made him different. He is a source of inspiration and motivation to youngsters who aspire to represent the nation, his adaptability and temperament is commendable. He is phenomenal and iconic,' Kirmani added. With Kohli's retirement, India have a big task in hand as they pick the Indian squad for their upcoming five-match Test series against England. Tune InMust Watch
Business Recorder
14-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Ministers hail unity, outline four-year agriculture plan
LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Agriculture Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani, Minister for Information Azma Bukhari, and Parliamentary Secretary Shazia Kamran on Tuesday praised the unity demonstrated by the nation in response to Indian aggression, calling it a commendable show of solidarity that boosted the morale of the Pakistan Army. 'Our armed forces, the Chief of Army Staff, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, and the Chief Minister of Punjab have made the entire nation proud,' they stated. The ministers also acknowledged the responsible role played by the Pakistani media, noting that their positive attitude and restraint significantly contributed to national resilience and success. Speaking at a joint press conference, Agriculture Minister Kirmani highlighted the vital role of agriculture in Pakistan's economy. He said the Punjab government has prioritized the transformation of all agricultural sectors within just one year and has laid out a practical plan for the next four years. Key initiatives include the adoption of modern seed technology, increased mechanization, and the promotion of high-efficiency irrigation systems. Under the Kissan Card Scheme, over 600,000 farmers have so far benefited, with Rs. 65 billion disbursed in interest-free loans. Of this, Rs. 23 billion has already been repaid by the farmers. In the upcoming phase of the scheme, the number of beneficiaries will rise to between 750,000 and 1 million. The scope of the Kissan Card has been expanded to cover the purchase of diesel in addition to seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides. The loan limit has been increased from Rs. 150,000 to Rs. 300,000, and all service charges are being eliminated. In a separate support measure, farmers - regardless of Kissan Card status - are receiving Rs. 5,000 per acre under the Wheat Support Program. As part of the Chief Minister's Green Tractors Program, 20,000 tractors will be distributed in the next fiscal year. Furthermore, 2,000 agricultural graduates will be recruited through the agricultural graduates internship program, and 10 agri-malls will be constructed across the province. To further boost the sector, the agriculture department's budget is being increased from Rs. 64 billion to between Rs85–95 billion. The minister pointed out that last year, the provincial government ensured the availability of urea, seeds, and DAP fertilizers at reduced rates to help farmers lower their production costs. Efforts are also underway to secure federal support for the reduction or elimination of import duties on agricultural inputs and machinery, as well as the introduction of new seed technologies. A formal request has been sent to the Prime Minister in this regard. As part of the mechanization drive, the government is working to increase the availability of locally manufactured agricultural machinery. Interest-free loans will be offered to both farmers and service providers. Minister Kirmani noted that the addition of 200 to 300 new harvesters is expected to bring a significant transformation to harvesting practices. On the crop cultivation front, early cotton sowing has been completed on 900,000 acres, while more than 2.2 million acres out of the 3.5 million-acre target have already been cultivated. Turning to the livestock sector, the minister said Livestock Cards have been issued to promote better animal care. Under the Breed Improvement Program, the government aims to enhance milk and meat production by providing subsidized semen of local breeds. To combat Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), the government will establish ten disease control compartments annually, with two dedicated FMD control zones set to be launched in the next fiscal year. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
NDTV
13-05-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
"Virat Kohli Still Had A Lot Of Cricket Left In Him": 1983 World Cup Winner
Virat Kohli still had plenty to offer in Test cricket and should have played on longer, reckoned former India wicketkeeper Syed Kirmani, who lauded the star batter's temperament in a glowing tribute. Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket on Monday, drawing the curtain on a stellar red-ball career. He represented India in 123 Tests, scoring 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries. "He still had a lot of cricket left in him,' Kirmani, a member of the 1983 World Cup-winning team, told PTI Videos. 'Everybody has to retire, but he should have played a bit more. However, I respect his decision. I wish him luck for future.' Kohli led India to 40 wins in 68 Tests -- the most by any Indian skipper to date. Kirmani lauded Kohli not just for his accomplishments on the field but also for the inspiration he provided to the next generation of cricketers. "Virat brought consistency to the game, which made him different. He is a source of inspiration and motivation to youngsters who aspire to represent the nation, his adaptability and temperament is commendable. He is phenomenal and iconic,' he said. Speculation about Kohli's future in the format had intensified after the tour of Australia earlier this year. "I don't feel he is after records. It might be the excess of cricket that led to this. Records don't matter to him. I don't think he had any sort of pressure on him while making this decision,' Kirmani said. 'Questions like why he's retiring, or whether he's out of form or under pressure, don't make any sense. It's a player's individual decision.' Kohli's departure adds to a growing list of senior Indian players stepping away from Test cricket, following Ravichandran Ashwin in December and Rohit Sharma last week. On the trend of players announcing retirements via social media, Kirmani said: "There is nothing wrong in that, there are press conferences, there is so much of artificial intelligence, players announcing on their Instagram so that it is globally known, so in a way it helps." (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
