Latest news with #PakistaniRupees
Hans India
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Massive landslide kills seven in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan
As many as seven local volunteers were killed and seven others injured after a massive landslide hit individuals who were working to restore the flood-damaged water channel in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan (PoGB) region, officials said on Monday. All the seven injured people were taken to nearby hospitals, where emergency services were activated to manage the crisis. The volunteers were reportedly working to repair Danyor Nullah which had been damaged due to recent floods in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit when a sudden mudslide buried them under the rubble. Police said four people were brought out from the debris in critical condition during the rescue operation, Pakistan's leading news channel Geo News reported. PoGB government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq said that the search and rescue operation had been completed. Monsoons rains have wreaked havoc across Pakistan, with floods and landslides claiming lives of over 260 people. Several people are still missing along with massive damage to the infrastructure. Last month, PoGB's local leader Gulbar Khan said that at least 10 people were killed and four others were injured in the region in floods caused by monsoon rains. In addition, infrastructure worth over Pakistani Rupees (PKR) 20 billion was damaged in the floods. He said that 300 houses were destroyed while 200 were partially damaged. Furthermore, 30-40 per cent of water channels and 15 to 20 kilometres of roads were damaged. While addressing a press conference, Khan said that the floods had a major impact on seven districts of the region, destroying roads, water channels, homes and agricultural land, Pakistan's The News International reported. He stated that the limited resources are "insufficient to recover from the scale of this disaster" and requested the Pakistani government to provide assistance. The leader mentioned that they have requested the federal government to provide PKR seven billion for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the damaged infrastructure.
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First Post
7 days ago
- Business
- First Post
Pakistan Cricket Board reportedly ready to bail out national hockey team, but at a significant cost
If the report turns out to be true, the Pakistan Cricket Board will sponsor the national hockey team's participation in the FIH Pro League, but the hockey federation will have no say in the matter. The PCB will control every financial decision. read more Pakistan hockey team may finally get to play in FIH Pro League with PCB's help. Image: @AmmadButt96 on X Pakistan hockey team's participation in the upcoming season of the FIH Pro League could be made possible with the help of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), a media report has claimed. The Pakistan hockey team has been invited by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) to take part in the next edition of the FIH Pro League alongside India after New Zealand pulled out last month. Initially, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) was given time till 12 August to confirm its participation, but a report in the Dawn on Tuesday stated that the hockey association has managed to secure an extension till 20 August as they are currently involved in negotiations with the national government. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Pakistan hockey team will reportedly need 700 million Pakistani Rupees (approximately $2.5 million) to compete in the FIH Pro League, and have been forced to approach the Pakistan Sports Board due to a lack of funds. The matter has now reached the doors of Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, as we reported earlier. However, a latest report in Telecom Asia on Monday has claimed that the Pakistan Cricket Board has agreed to fund the Pakistan hockey team. The Telecom Asia report further added that PCB's help will come at a significant cost as the cricket board has decided to 'handle all financial and administrative responsibilities' of the Pakistan hockey team, effectively taking over their entire campaign. 'It's confirmed. PCB will take care of all the financial and administrative aspects of it, with no interference from the PHF. PCB will appoint its own personnel and possibly contract event organisers to execute the planned move,' the source told Telecom Asia. 'If the PCB funds the Pro League, PHF will have no control over financial transactions.' As per sources, PHF wants to maintain its control over the matter, but doesn't have many options. Also, the PCB's proposed funding will reportedly come from government funds earmarked for youth development, now repurposed to support hockey's pressing requirements.
Hans India
27-07-2025
- Climate
- Hans India
10 killed as torrential rainfall lashes Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan
As many as 10 people were killed and four others injured in floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains across Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB), local media reported on Sunday. In addition, infrastructure worth over Pakistani Rupees (PKR) 20 billion was damaged in the floods. As torrential monsoon rainfall continues to batter Pakistan, the death toll since the onset of monsoon has reached 266, according to the latest report issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), local media reported on Friday. While addressing a press conference, Gilgit-Baltistan's local leader Haji Gulbar Khan said that the floods had a major impact on seven districts of the region, destroying roads, water channels, homes and agricultural land. He said that the limited resources are "insufficient to recover from the scale of this disaster" and requested the Pakistani government to provide assistance, Pakistan-based The News International reported. He said that they have requested the federal government to provide PKR 7 billion for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the damaged infrastructure. Meanwhile, multiple sections of Fairy Meadows Road in PoGB were blocked due to landslides after heavy rains, as aerial operation remained suspended due to adverse weather conditions, the leading Pakistani media outlet Geo News reported on Saturday. According to the Chilas deputy commissioner, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has dispatched teams to the site, while search operations for missing persons are underway. According to the Met Office, rain is likely to continue until July 31 in Muzaffarabad, Neelum Valley and Rawalakot areas of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) and PoGB's Hunza and Skardu regions. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) issued a nationwide alert on widespread rain, wind, and thundershowers, and warned of heavy to heavy rainfalls in several regions, raising concerns over potential flash floods, urban flooding, and landslides. Heavy downpours have also raised fears of urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sialkot, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Okara, Nowshera, and Peshawar. Meanwhile, heavy downpours early Wednesday morning submerged low-lying areas in Lahore and several other cities across Punjab province, hampering daily activities and electricity supply in multiple neighbourhoods. Furthermore, rainfall also disrupted dozens of power feeders as water accumulated on major roads, severely affecting mobility and local infrastructure. Relentless rainfall also lashed Lahore, inundating several underpasses and streets and crippling the drainage systems.
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First Post
25-07-2025
- Business
- First Post
Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif to make final call as hockey team faces financial hurdles to participate in Pro League
Pakistan hockey team needs approximately $2.5 million to compete in the FIH Pro League 2025-26 but they are struggling to raise funds and the federation is now dependent on PM Shehbaz Sharif. read more Pakistan hockey team has been invited to take part in FIH Pro League, but need to raise required funds first. Image: Imran butt on X Pakistan hockey team's participation in the upcoming FIH Pro League 2025-26 now depends on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's decision, as the Pakistan Hockey Federation struggles to arrange the required $2.5 million to take part in the tournament. The FIH Pro League is a top-tier hockey contest in which the world's best teams play against each other over two legs. Pakistan had initially failed to qualify for the Pro League after losing to New Zealand in the 2024-25 FIH Nations Cup. However, they have been offered a chance to join the tournament by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) on Wednesday after New Zealand pulled out of the contest. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Pakistan hockey faces financial crisis Pakistan have to confirm their participation by 12 August, but the cost involved in participating in the tournament is proving to be a stumbling block. As per an estimation by the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), the team will need 700 million Pakistani Rupees (approximately $2.5 million) to complete the whole campaign. However, the cash-strapped PHF finds itself unable to raise the money, approaching the Pakistan Sports Board for the funds. Reportedly, the Pakistan Sports Board has informed the hockey federation that it doesn't have enough funds. The PSB has also asked PHF to clarify where the funds allocated to them since last year have been spent. 'Concerning the invitation to participate in the FIH Pro League, [the] members authorised the PSB president Rana Sanaullah to take the final decision. It was agreed that a formal letter, outlining the rationale and objectives of participation, would be sent by the PSB President to the Prime Minister,' Pakistan Sports Board said after a meeting with the hockey federation, as per Dawn. Now the ball is in Pakistan PM Shebaz Sherif's court as he is likely to take a final call on the team's participation in the hockey Pro League tournament. Incidentally, Pakistan also missed participation in the inaugural Pro League in 2019 due to a financial crisis. They were later fined 170,000 euros by the PHF.
Hindustan Times
11-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Pak hikes defence spending by 20% in budget amid tense relations with India
Pakistan on Tuesday increased its defence budget by 20 per cent, allocating PRs. 2,550 billion (USD 9 billion) for the fiscal year 2025-26, amid tensions with India. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb presented the PRs. (Pakistani Rupees) 17,573 billion worth federal budget for the fiscal year 2025–26 in the National Assembly. He also presented the budget document as a finance bill in the National Assembly. In his speech, the minister said that the government has 'decided to allocate PRs. 2,550 for the defence of the country'. He didn't provide any further details about the defence spending as traditionally the defence budget is not discussed by the parliament. Last year, the government allocated PRs. 2,122 billion for defence, reflecting a 14.98 per cent increase over PRs. 1,804 billion budgeted for the fiscal year 2023-24. 'This budget is being presented at a historic time when the nation showed unity [and] determination,' the minister said at the start while mentioning the recent Pak-India conflict. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, with India carrying out precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7. The on-ground hostilities from the Indian and Pakistan sides that lasted for four days ended with an understanding of stopping the military actions following talks between the directors general of military operations of both sides on May 10. The defence sector expenses are the second-biggest component of the annual expenditure after the debt payments. The government allocated PRs. 8,207 billion for debt servicing, which constitutes the single biggest expense. The increase in the defence expenditure is expected to get the broad support of the lawmakers during the budget debate and voting on the finance bill. Aurangzeb also announced a 4.2 per cent GDP growth target for the economy which is higher than the 2.7 per cent achieved in the current year ending on June 30. He said that debt and interest servicing would cost PRs. 8,207 billion. Other key expenses include PRs. 971 billion for civil administration, PRs. 1,186 billion for subsidies, PRs. 1,055 billion for pensions and PRs. 1,000 billion for the Public Sector Development Programme. He said that the target for inflation was 7.5 per cent and the fiscal deficit target was 3.9 per cent as the government also announced to contain the deficit and achieve a primary surplus. The minister said that the government has set an ambitious tax collection target for the Federal Board of Revenue at PRs. 14,131 billion, an 8.95 per cent increase from last year's goal. Aurangzeb said that the main success of the government was that inflation was reduced to 4.7 per cent in the outgoing fiscal whereas it was 29.2 per cent two years ago, while the government achieved a current account surplus of USD 1.5 billion. He said the forex reserves will touch USD 14 billion by the end of the year and remittances were expected to reach USD 38 billion.
