Chinese citizens donate to families of policemen martyred in Karachi consulate attack

Deputy Chief of Mission of the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan Lijian Zhao on Monday announced that a Chinese citizen had decided to donate one month's salary to the families of the policemen who were martyred in an attack on the Chinese Consulate in Karachi last week.

Zhao, while addressing a donation ceremony in Islamabad alongside Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, said the donor believed that Pak-China friendship was not simply empty words but "rooted in the hearts of the people of the two countries".

The Chinese official said they would like to give terrorists the message that their efforts at sabotaging Pak-China friendship will never succeed.

The deputy chief of mission said that the event was voluntarily organised by a community of Chinese citizens in Pakistan, and thanked those who were making donations.

"They are here today to try to show their love to the two policemen who sacrificed their lives in the attack on the Chinese Consulate in Karachi," Zhao said, adding that they also wished to show their regard for law enforcement officials and the government for their "heroic contribution" and "their love for the Chinese people".

Zhao also thanked the information minister for attending the event, saying it showed the "great importance attached to the initiative by the Pakistani government".

He had tweeted on Sunday highlighting a news report in a Chinese publication about donations for the martyred police officials. Zhao was reportedly among those who had contributed.

Lijian Zhao 赵立坚

✔@zlj517

Chinese donations for Pakistan police have shown that China-Pakistan friendship is higher than mountains & deeper than sea. The friendship has never been empty talks, but deeply imprinted in hearts of Chinese & Pakistani people. @CathayPak @ForeignOfficePk http://en.ce.cn/main/latest/201811/25/t20181125_30862548.shtml?from=singlemessage&isappinstalled=0 …

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2:52 PM - Nov 25, 2018

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The information minister appreciated the Chinese initiative to collect donations for the martyrs of the consulate attack. He said the gesture clearly reflected the strong bonds between the two countries, Radio Pakistan reported.

Chaudhry claimed that inimical foreign elements are behind the attack, adding that these forces cannot sabotage deep-rooted and time-tested Pak-China relations.

He said that the world fully knows who stands for peace and stability in the region and who is trying to sabotage it.

The changing dynamics of Karachi

The seventh edition of I Am Karachi (IAK) Talks took place in Karachi last week, with four key speakers including renowned playwright Anwar Maqsood, transgender model and activist Kami Sid, one of the founding members of Karachi Literature Festival Dr Asif Farrukhi and popular TV host Iqrar ul Hasan in attendance. They weighed in on the subject in question - ‘Karachi is changing’ - amidst an engaging audience.

For Anwar Maqsood, Karachi is a cosmopolitan city that welcomes everyone with open arms, gives them opportunities to educate themselves and spaces to live but the one thing that the city lacks is a sense of ownership.

The television host and playwright said that he appreciates IAK for working towards restoring a sense of ownership in the city’s young and old alike. The brains behind thought-provoking theatre plays such as Pawney 14 August, Sawa 14 August, Siachen and the most recent Kyun Nikala had the audience hooked while discussing the census controversy.

He claimed that the findings of last year’s census gathering exercise showed that in Karachi, they only counted the population of men – as the exercise was called ‘mardamshumari’.

IAK Talks is a series of inspirational discussions between citizens who are champions in their own league, who dare to dream and strive towards achieving those dreams with determination, who are role models of patience, perseverance and persistence. The purpose of these talks is to create a platform that motivates people to work together for the betterment of Karachi, according to a press release.

The speakers who were present at this year’s conference were given 20 minutes each to share their insights into the city’s constantly changing dynamics – from inclusivity to violence to resilience to tolerance.

One of the founding members of the Karachi Literature Festival (KLF), Dr Asif Farrukhi, took the audience on a tour of old Karachi with his tales, reflecting that he often hears people complain about how everything used to be better back then.

“They say the mangoes were sweeter, the watermelons were sweeter, even the pumpkins were greener…but the haalaat were not so bad either,” he noted.Also an author and a recipient of the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz awards, Farrukhi said that the changes in Karachi should not always be seen as something negative.

Iqrar-ul-Hasan took the stage next amidst a roaring crowd and spoke about how his show had steadily gathered a healthy following that led him to start a movement.

The movement was simple. He got people to sign up as volunteers and then worked with them to improve their neighborhoods and cities. In Karachi, for example, he said that hundreds of people joined him last December to clean up the city’s walls.

To date, he added, more than 1.2 million people across the country have joined him as volunteers.

Host of the evening, comedian Shehzad Ghias did a good job in keeping the audience entertained by poking fun at himself and the city which has given its people a lot of joy, good food but also left many without a cell phone. Towards the end, Ghias invited president IAK, Amin Hashwani to say a few words.

“Karachi badal raha hai, Karachi is changing…we know that… it has been changing for the last 70 years. The question is how is it changing; is it negative or positive?” he questioned. “There is a quote by Confucius which says: ‘to put the world in order we must put the nation in order; to put the nation in order we must first put the family in order; to put the family in order we must first cultivate our personal life’. We must first set our hearts right.”

He went on to explain that this needs to begin from those who are in position of influence, privilege and power as well as belong to the educated class. “Eventually, these are the people who will bring about a change. When you read history, it is always the elite and intellectuals who lead a revolution and the masses follow,” he concluded.

'No action planned against private schools in Karachi'

KARACHI: 

The Sindh government has decided not to take any action against private schools operating in residential areas throughout the city. Announcing the decision, Sindh Chief Minister’s Adviser Barrister Murtaza Wahab, assured the parents, students and management of private schools that there were no plans to initiate any action in this regard and they should continue with their educational activities without any fear.

Talking to media, he also refuted the reports that action was planned after the winter vacations of schools. Panic gripped parents and students as well as the owners of private schools as media on Monday reported that Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) had decided to take action against private schools operating residential localities of Karachi. These reports also said that SBCA had served notices to thousands of private schools and tuition centres to either relocate themselves within a month’s time or face the consequences.

The notice reminded that most of the schools are operating in buildings approved for residential purposes and asked the owners and management is relocate their schools to premises or places which are approved for commercial activity.

“Private schools association of Karachi is also requested to ensure shifting of their schools/educational institutions/tuition centres on proper designated premises/plots during winter vacation,” the SBCA notice said.

The SBCA had also published a notice in newspapers warning people carrying business or commercial activities contrary to approved building plan or land status.

The Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani admitted that SBCA notification regarding schools was released due to a misunderstanding. While speaking to the media after attending a court hearing challenging his election on Tuesday, Ghani said that the SBCA rules did permit establishment of schools in residential areas, but added that the schools are supposed to follow a procedure. He added that the students and their parents need not worry about the future of the schools.

He, however, advised the owners and management of all the private schools established and operating in the residential areas to get the get their school premises regularised through SBCA.

He also admitted that SBCA officials played a role in the construction of illegal structures throughout Karachi in the past few years. “However, since the time I have assumed charge I have made it clear that the authorities would no longer tolerate encroachments in the city or the province,” he said.  Several illegal structures have already been demolished and the process is still going on. He said that he would take action against SBCA officials found involved in bribery or who were denying permission to people despite the required legal formalities being fulfilled.

Peace groups hail opening of Kartarpur corridor

Karachi’s Sikh community and civil society activists have welcomed the groundbreaking of the long-awaited corridor connecting Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in the Kartarpur area of Narowal district to Dera Baba Nanak in India’s Gurdaspur district and said the initiative is a positive step and will help reduce tensions between Pakistan and India.

The Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur is located in the Narowal district of the Punjab province near the Indian border and is revered by Sikhs due to the belief that Sikhism founder Guru Nanak had died there.

Pakistan Sikh Council

Leaders of the Pakistan Sikh Council on Wednesday welcomed the groundbreaking of the Kartarpur corridor project and said a long demand of the Sikh community had been fulfilled.

Sardar Ramesh Singh, the council’s patron-in-chief, said the decision had won the hearts of the Sikh community worldwide.

Giving credit to the civil and military leadership for the opening of the Kartarpur corridor, he said they were thankful to the governments of both countries for fulfilling a long- pending demand of the community.

“For the Sikh community, it is a historic day,” Singh said. “On the 550th birthday of Guru Nanak ji, there can be no bigger happiness than this for the community members living on both sides of the border.”

He credited the civil and military leaders for the opening of the corridor, saying that it would allow Sikh pilgrims to cross the border and visit the historical gurdwara there without a visa.

In 2019, Sikhs around the world will be commemorating the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. He demanded the Pakistani government should form a special committee for the celebration of the Sikh community’s religious day and include government officials and Pakistani Sikh leaders in it.

He also demanded of the government to nominate the chairman of the Evacuee Trust Property Board from the Sikh community. “It will also help the community to celebrate the Guru Nanak’s 550 birth anniversary,” he said.

Civil society groups

The Pakistan-India Peoples Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD) and members of the Peoples SAARC (Pakistan Chapter) also welcomed the Pakistan government’s move to invite Indian peace activists and journalists to attend the opening ceremony of the Kartarpur corridor.

In a statement, the peace activists termed the step a better diplomatic move to ease the tensions between the two neighbouring countries. In recent years, formal diplomatic dialogue between Pakistan and India has been halted and visa restrictions for the citizens of both the countries have been intensified. Even medical visas are seldom issued by the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.

People-to-people contact is essential for easing the tensions and the opening up the Kartarpur border for Sikh pilgrims is a good development, the statement said.

The longstanding summit meeting of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation was to be held in 2016 in Islamabad, but due to increased tensions between Pakistan and India, the latter and some other regional countries had postponed it. The activists demanded of the governments of both Pakistan and India to fix a date for holding the SAARC summit in Islamabad.

IDEAS 2018 kicks off in Karachi

KARACHI: The tenth International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS 2018), one of the most prestigious, biennially held event in the country kicked off at Karachi’s Expo Centre on Tuesday.

The four-day defence exhibition which will continue till November 30 was opened by President Arif Alvi. Around 262 high-level delegations from 51 different countries are attending the exhibition. 

Organised under the aegis of Defence Export Promotion Organisation (DEPO), the IDEAS 2018 brings together defence industry players from different parts of the world.

"There will be 522 exhibitors from 50 countries this year," the media director of DEPO, Commodore Tariq Javed said in a media briefing.

Besides, Pakistan itself other major exporters of defence technology including China, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Jordan, Poland, Russia, South Korea, Turkey, UAE, Ukraine, USA will have their exclusive country pavilions.

The guest countries are expected to showcase their latest technological innovations while a large number of senior civil and military delegations and trade visitors from across the globe will attend the event.

The event will encompass series of activities ranging from world's advance defence technology demonstrations, an international seminar, three conferences by the Pakistan armed forces, the IDEAS Karachi Show to a counter-terrorism demonstration.

Networking and business expansions through business to business (B2B) and business to government (B2G) engagements and the signing of MoUs are said to be additional features of the exhibition.

Two Russian naval ships will also be visiting Pakistan for port call during IDEAS 2018.

New inventions of Pakistan defence industry including those from Global Industrial Solutions, Pakistan Ordnance Factories, Military Vehicles Research and Development Establishment, Shibli Electronics,Universal Smart Military Systems and Daudson Armoury will also be inaugurated and showcased during the exhibition.

The first two days of the exhibition have been earmarked for delegations, trade visitors and networking activities. Commodore Tariq Javed said this will be followed by an international seminar on emerging global and regional environment and the role of grey hybrid warfare therein from Pakistan's perspective. Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Zubair Mahmood Hayat would be the keynote speaker at the seminar with national and international subject matter experts to present their scholarly papers on the topic, he said.

Exclusive land, maritime and aviation conferences by Pakistan Army, Navy and the Air Force respectively was said to be another significant component of IDEAS 2018.

An air show by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is also scheduled at Nishan-i-Pakistan, Sea View, on November 29. 

The fourth day of the exhibition will be open for public. "It will, however, be only for those who may have already registered themselves online to visit the exhibition," said Commodore Tariq Javed mentioning that security of the participants, national and international visitors besides public in general will not be compromised in any manner.

This year PAF is participating in the mega event with locally made state-of-the-art military hardware, including Air Defence Command and Control Centres and integrated simulators, a press release issued by Directorate of Media Affairs of PAF said.

Manufactured by the personnel of PAF, these simulators are being used by PAF to modernise its operational training environment.

Pakistan Aeronautical Complex Kamra would also setup their stall at the venue along with a static display of JF-17 Thunder and Super Mushshak aircraft.

Further, PAF will also present an air show at Sea View on November 29. Besides JF-17 Thunder and F-16 fighter aircraft, Sherdil aerobatics team will present a scintillating aerial display.

With exports in gloom, Karachi’s carpet weavers abandon looms

The labourers work under financial strain as an average carpet takes between a month and 45 days to prepare for which they get barely Rs10,000. PHOTOS:

KARACHI: The carpet weaving industry in Pakistan developed soon after Independence when migrants set up their workshops in the newly found country. This cottage industry prospered and tourists flocked to purchase handmade carpets from markets in the fast-developing port city. According to a local trader, Muhammad Saleem, ambassadors posted in Karachi still buy Pakistani carpets for gifts. However, in the past two decades the businesses have taken a nosedive. With rising cost of production, decreasing government support and India’s competitive edge in the international market, the industry is struggling to stay afloat.
At the local level, mostly Iranian carpets are prepared. Of the total cost, 75% is spent on workers while 25% is spent to purchase the material. As the prices of wool, silk and other necessary items used to prepare carpets have increased, the cost of production has also increased manifold. But, the wages of workers have remained stagnant.

Workers in a factory of Orangi Town said that they earned a daily wage of Rs250 for a 12-hour shift while the young and most hard-working workers drew a maximum of Rs350 per day. An average four by eight feet carpet takes between a month and 45 days to prepare, which means that the workers are hardly able to earn Rs10,000 a month. The workers said that many workers had stopped working as carpet makers because of the low pay. Most workers have switched over to garment factories or adopted other professions. According to these workers, the industry cannot be restored without raising the pay of the carpet-makers.

Orangi Town, Korangi, Landhi, Malir and other sparsely populated areas of Karachi had a number of cottage industries involved in carpet weaving, which along with the larger factories and exporters, made carpets at the household level. While traders have managed to continue despite the rising prices, many small enterprises have shut down.

International exhibitions

The large factories too, aren’t faring well. Experts say that the participation of Pakistani exporters in traditional international exhibitions is very low. The Pakistan Carpet Manufacturers and Exporters Association Chairperson Naeem Sajid told The Express Tribune that international shows were an effective marketing platform to promote Pakistani carpets. But, he added, companies participating in them have to incur heavy expenditures. Apart from charges for stalls, a lot of money is spent on logistics which is beyond the reach of not just the small-sized exporters, but also the medium-sized exporters, he said.

Sajid said that while the government provides a few financial concessions to its carpet industry in important trade fairs, the Indian government is heavily investing in promoting its industry. In fact, the Indian government also provides concession for daily expenditures like boarding and lodging.

There are also other reasons why India has managed to capture the international market.

Competitive India

Exports worth more than USD450 million have slipped out of Pakistan’s hand and won by India in the past two decades. One of the reasons for this is that Pakistan has been unable to keep up with changing trends. The industry continues to focus on traditional carpets while India has managed to adopt modern patterns in its designs. The carpet exports by India were 1.430 billion dollars in 2017-2018 wherein United States of America, Germany, United Kingdom Australia and United Arab Emirates remained its largest buyers. On the other hand, the carpet exports from Pakistan remained restricted to USD75 million in the last financial year.

Pakistani artist’s work auctioned for Rs34 million in London

Ambiente, the second most important fair held in Germany, is the largest annual fair of interior designs and decorators in which modern imagination of carpets and its designs and products are introduced. While 46 carpet companies of India are participating in the fair, as of now no Pakistani company has signed up for occasion.

The strain in Pakistan’s relationship with India and Afghanistan has further brought down the business of local traders. The Afghan refugees in Karachi used to make carpets for the local industry, but now they conduct their business through India.

The way forward

The art of carpet weaving is diminishing. Muhammad Saleem said that traders at the local level who sell readymade carpets were slowly winding up their business. There were more than 200 shops selling carpets in the handicraft market and other markets of Saddar but now 70% of them of have closed down. Saleem was also intent on winding up his business.

This art, which has become rare in Karachi and is almost extinct in other cities of Sindh, is struggling to survive in Punjab. Sajid said that the while it was not possible to immediately restore falling exports, Pakistan could take advantage of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and access the Chinese market. He added that if government support was provided, then the lost art could not only become popular again but the lost market for exports could also be rediscovered. 

Water dearth continues to irk locals in Karachi

The incumbent government has failed to fulfill its promise as shortage of water has continued to irk people in Pakistan’s biggest city Karachi.

The locals including children are fetching water from the hand pumps without any precautionary measures.

On the other hand, the water tankers are charging mammoth amount for the supply. The women said that they are facing this issue for very long time.

The masses demanded the district government and water commission to resolve the matter.

Earlier, the Auditor General (AG) of Pakistan Anwar Mansoor Khan had informed Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC)—during hearing of suo motu notice pertaining to extraction of groundwater by mineral water companies—that cost of 1.5 litre bottled water, including packages, stands at Rs8.79.

The top judge added that he was contemplating over plummeting the prices of bottled water.

The apex court ordered closure of Naubahar Bottling Company while directing remaining ten to address ‘manufacturing flaws’ within span of 10 days.

AQIS ‘high-profile militant’ held in Karachi

KARACHI: A ‘high-profile’ militant linked with the banned Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) has been apprehended in Karachi, it emerged on Monday.

A security official who wished not to be named told Dawn that Umar Jalal Chandio alias Kathio was detai­ned from Gulshan-i-Iqbal recently.

Jalal hailed from Mirpurkhas. He shifted to Kotri where he remained neighbour of Tahir Minhas alias Sain. Minhas was one of the main accused in the Safoora bus carnage in which over 47 members of the Shia Ismaili community were shot dead in 2015.

Minhas along with other militants was arrested in 2015 by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD).

A joint investigation team (JIT) in its report on the Safoora carnage revealed that Jalal was appointed AQIS’s local emir after the arrest of previous AQIS’s chief Abdul Rehman in 2001 in Karachi.

According to JIT, when Minhas was associated with AQIS, Jalal Chandio asked him to move to Karachi.

During a press conference in 2015, Raja Umar Khattab of the CTD had stated: “Jalal was associated with Al Qaeda’s Arab network while Haji Sahib (code name) was active in Karachi and the Wadh area of Balochistan where the group’s mainly Baloch youths were involved in kidnapping for ransom, terrorism and attacks on Nato forces’ containers.”

Your guide to routes in Karachi on Rabiul Awwal 12

The Karachi police have announced a traffic and security plan on Tuesday for Rabiul Awwal 12 processions, which will pass through MA Jinnah Road and other areas of the city.

Three Eid Miladun Nabi processions will be held on MA Jinnah Road and alternate routes have been provided for traffic regulation.

The main procession will commence at 2.30pm from Shaheed Masjid, Kharadar, and Memon Masjid on Wednesday. MA Jinnah road will be closed for traffic coming from Lea Market, Agha Khan Jamat Khana, Kharadar, Crane Chowrangi, G Allana road and Mai Kolachi. It will be directed on alternate routes.

The traffic coming from Keamari via Jinnah Bridge towards Merriweather Tower will also be diverted towards alternate roads. All routes, streets, and lanes on both sides of the route of the procession will be closed for traffic.

Traffic coming from University Road and Guru Mandir towards MA Jinnah road will not be allowed to proceed. Empress Market will be closed for traffic too.

People should use alternate routes to avoid inconvenience and for any assistance or help, contact 1915.

Registration suspended of two more Karachi schools over failure to return excess fees

The Sindh government suspended the registration of two more schools in Karachi over their failure to return additional fees to parents.

The directorate said that their registration will remain suspended until the amount is returned to the parents.

On November 15, the Sindh Education Department told private schools in Karachi to return the extra money they have charged students within seven days or else their campuses will be sealed. The Sindh High Court and Supreme Court earlier ordered that schools are not allowed to increase their fee by more than 5% a year.

Registrations of five schools— Beaconhouse School System, The City School, Smart School, Foundation Public School and Head Start— have been cancelled so far.

However, the schools say this suspension is in violation of the courts’ orders. “[The notification] holds no legal value and is in violation of the Supreme Court and the Sindh High Court’s orders,” read a joint statement. They said that they have been ordered to deposit they money with the Supreme Court registrar within three months, by December 31.

They have to pay all the extra money they charged above the allowed 5% fee increase.

Earlier, Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah issued the notice to the schools and said that the fee should be returned or adjusted in future payments.

Adviser to the Sindh Chief Minister on Law Murtaza Wahab said nobody is above the law. “The law should be enforced and relief should be provided to the parents,” he said.

The court’s order to return the fee came after parents filed petitions against the 12 to 60% hike in school fees in violation of the Sindh Private Educational Institutions Ordinance, 2001, which allows schools to increase fees by no more than 5%

Rangers arrest two accused involved in murder of policeman

KARACHI: Two accused involved in the murder of policeman, were nabbed by Pakistan Rangers Sindh in an operation in Landhi’s Sherpao Colony on Wednesday (today).

According to spokesperson of the paramilitary forces, arrested accused namely, Yaseen and Imran have confessed murdering police constable, Mujahid upon resisting robbery in the month of April.

During interrogation, the accused admitted their involvement in street crimes and dacoities in the metropolis, reads the statement of Sindh Rangers.

In another raid on November 4, Pakistan Rangers Sindh had arrested a man pretending to be an army officer from Mubina Town of the city.The pseudo army officer was wanted in several criminal incidents.

Eight criminals were rounded up during operations in different areas of Karachi, said the forces’ spokesperson. Weapons, looted items and drugs were also recovered from their possession.

The paramilitary force arrested two street criminals, Hanif alias Mamu and Saad, from near Eidgah, Nazimabad. In another raid in Sukkhan area, Rangers nabbed Ali Reza and Asad for possessing illegal weapons.

About a week ago, Pakistan Rangers Sindh apprehended five outlaws during raids in various parts of the metropolis, reads statement issued by the paramilitary force.

As per details, five lawbreakers were taken into custody from areas of Garden and Mubina town, who were later identified as Mehar Ali, Rasheed, Muhammad Shahzad, Muhammad Yaseen and Khadim Hussain.

Sindh government had extended policing powers of Rangers in Karachi for 90 days through a notification issued on 11th of October, with effect from October 8, 2018 until January 5, 2019.

Under the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997, Rangers have legal cover to take independent action against criminals and suspected terrorists within Karachi division for 90 days.

Rangers and police had launched an operation in Karachi on September 5, 2013 following the directives of the then prime minister Nawaz Sharif in the wake of the rising incidents of terrorism, kidnapping for ransom, extortion and targeted killings.

Pepsi Tour, presented by Salt Arts, to hit Karachi this month

As they say life must go on and what is life without music? The short answer is embracing it will provide solace at a time of great sorrow.

With that in mind, one must commend both Pepsi and Salt Arts for the Pepsi Tour. It was originally supposed to begin from Faisalabad but due to the security situation unraveling across the country earlier this month, the show was postponed. Instead, it began from Islamabad at the PNCA on November 10.

Now the Pepsi Tour, featuring 10 bands, is coming to Karachi and is scheduled to take place on November 17 at the Beach Luxury Hotel (poolside). It will then head to Lahore while dates for Multan and Islamabad are yet to be announced.

Given the fact that all the bands featured on Pepsi Battle of the Bands got a big boost and a national profile, this tour is a great way to showcase emerging bands to fans across multiple cities – outside of a TV show.

It is equally possible that one of your favourite bands, who may not have made it to the final round, will be playing; so watch out for the show. In the meantime, Karachi has welcomed Khumariyaan to the city by buying all the tickets for their live gig tonight that is put together by Salt Arts. Watch out for these live music events. It may not change the darkness that has overtaken the country but it can certainly provide some comfort and dare I say it, fun, even if it is momentary.

Afridi released by Karachi Kings

LAHORE: Flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi was released by Karachi Kings as all six Pakistan Super League (PSL) teams finalised their retentions for the next season on Tuesday.

The Player Draft will be held on November 20. The fourth edition of PSL begins from February 14. Last year’s champions Islamabad United retained all three Platinum players in Luke Ronchi, Shadab Khan and Faheem Ashraf.

With Mohammad Hafeez going back into the Draft, Peshawar Zalmi opted for the pace duo of Wahab Riaz and Hassan Ali in their Platinum roster.Zalmi will use their lone Platinum pick at the Draft to pick a foreign player. Seasoned wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal moves to Diamond as Player Ambassador.

Karachi Kings retained Mohammad Amir, Babar Azam and Black Caps opening batsman Colin Munro as their Platinum picks with South African all-rounder Colin Ingram moving to Diamond as Player Ambassador.

New signing Sunil Narine, who moved from Lahore Qalandars to Quetta Gladiators as part of a blockbuster trade, joins Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed to complete Quetta’s Platinum retentions.

Star Australian all-rounder Shane Watson moves to Diamond as Player Mentor. Lahore Qalandars, who have the first pick at this season’s Draft, retained opening batsman Fakhar Zaman as their only Platinum player, while leg-spinner Yasir Shah was retained in Diamond.

The sixth team’s (previously Multan Sultans) retentions include star Pakistani all-rounder Shoaib Malik in Platinum and left-arm pacer Mohammad Irfan in Diamond as Player Ambassador.

Islamabad United (10 retentions)

Platinum: Faheem Ashraf, Luke Ronchi, Shadab Khan

Diamond: Mohammad Sami, Asif Ali

Gold: Rumman Raees (Relegation request successful)

Silver: Sahibzada Farhan, Zafar Gohar, Waqas Maqsood, Hussain Talat (Ambassador)

Peshawar Zalmi (8 retentions)

Platinum: Wahab Riaz, Hassan Ali

Diamond: Kamran Akmal (Ambassador), Darren Sammy

Gold: Liam Dawson

Silver: Umaid Asif, Khalid Usman

Emerging: Sameen Gul

Karachi Kings (8 retentions)

Platinum: Babar Azam, Mohammad Amir, Colin Munro

Diamond: Colin Ingram (Ambassador), Imad Wasim, Usman Khan Shinwari

Gold: Ravi Bopara, Mohammad Rizwan

Quetta Gladiators (9 retentions)

Platinum: Sarfraz Ahmed, Sunil Narine

Diamond: Shane Watson (Mentor), Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Nawaz

Gold: Rilee Roussow (Ambassador), Umar Akmal

Silver: Anwar Ali (Relegation request successful), Saud Shakeel

Lahore Qalandars (8 retentions)

Platinum: Fakhar Zaman

Diamond: Yasir Shah

Gold: Anton Devcich, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Rahat Ali

Silver: Agha Salman, Sohail Akhtar, Hassan Khan

Sixth Team, Previously Multan Sultans (8 retentions)

Platinum: Shoaib Malik

Diamond: Mohammad Irfan (Ambassador), Junaid Khan

Gold: Shan Masood

Silver: Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Irfan Khan, Umar Siddiq

Emerging: Mohammad Junaid.

International squash returns to Karachi with three back-to-back events

KARACHI: After consistent efforts, international squash returns to Karachi following a long layoff when the city plays host to three mega competitions that run from Nov 20 to Dec 10.

According to details, the US$23,500 DHA Cup International Squash Championship for men’s and women’s will take place at the DA Creek Club from Nov 20 to 24. The men’s event carries a lucrative prize money of US$18,000 while US$5,500 has been set aside for women’s.

This will be followed by the prestigious US $73,000 Pakistan Open Squash Championship at the same venue from Nov 28 to Dec 2. According to prize money break-up, US$53,000 will be up for grabs in the men’s event while US$20,000 will be at stake in the women’s.

The 13th Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) International Squash Championship for men’s marks the culmination of the series of events which is being played at Roshan Khan-Jahangir Khan Squash Complex from Dec 6 to 10. It will be a US$18,000 event.

“Participation of players from 17 foreign countries marks the revival of game in the metropolis that has served as a hub and had the honour of staging numerous international events including the World Open and World Team championships,” squash maestro Jahangir Khan told Dawn on Tuesday.

The nations whose players will be vying for honours include Egypt, Malaysia, Kuwait, Qatar, Hong Kong, Iran, Portugal, Sri Lanka, Mexico, France, Spain, England, Peru, the Czech Republic, Japan, Finland and the United States besides the hosts.

The former 10-time British Open champion who played a major role in return of international events attributed it to team work — the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF), Pakistan Air Force, Pakistan Navy, DHA, Sindh Squash Association (SSA) among hosts of other.

It is pertinent to mention that international Pakistan Open has returned to the city after 13 years. Frenchman Thiery Lincou defeated David Palmer of Australia to win the Pakistan Open in the city in 2005.

Jahangir added that PAF will look after the security of foreign players.

According to him, Pakistan has been allowed to field two wildcards in the DHA, Pakistan Open and the CNS.

The squash legend expressed his gratitude to the PSF President Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan and senior vice-president Air Marshal Shahid Alvi for promotion of the game in the country.

Jahangir heads the organising committee which includes tournament director and SSA secretary Rashid Ahmed, director referees Tahir Khanzada, coordinator Shahjehan Salahuddin, Umer Bangash besides management of DHA PAF and Pakistan Navy.

The foreign players are expected to start arriving in the city from Monday and the glasswall squash courts at the DA Creek Club have been refurbished.

Sindh Rangers Holds Free Medical Camps In Thar, Badin

As many as 2000 patients were treated free of cost by Pakistan Rangers Sindh on Tuesday at free medical camps organised in Thar and Badin.

As many as 2000 patients were treated free of cost by Pakistan Rangers Sindh on Tuesday at free medical camps organised in Tharand Badin.

The camps were held at the areas of Nagarparkar, Zero Post and Diplo Goth, said a statement issued here on Tuesday.

The team comprising of pediatricians, general physician and ENT specialist inspected the patients and provided them initial treatment and medicine.

People expressed gratitude to the Rangers officials and lauded their efforts for organising the medical camps.