<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" version="2.0"><channel>
                        <title>Latest News, Breaking News &amp; Top News Stories | The Express Tribune</title>
                        <atom:link href="https://tribune.com.pk" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/>
                        <link>https://tribune.com.pk</link>
                        <description>latest news</description>
                        <lastBuildDate>Wed, 22 Jul 26 02:04:09 +0500</lastBuildDate>
                        <language>en-US</language>
                        <sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
                        <sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
                        <generator>https://laravel.com/</generator><item>
			<title>Sangeeta reveals why Naeema Butt was dropped from her film</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619565/sangeeta-reveals-why-naeema-butt-was-dropped-from-her-film</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619565/sangeeta-reveals-why-naeema-butt-was-dropped-from-her-film#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 20:07:21 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Qaisar Kamran]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619565</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Industry veteran cites latter's attitude, interference as reasons for decision]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Veteran Pakistani actress, filmmaker, and director Sangeeta has made surprising revelations about actress Naeema Butt, saying she was initially cast in her upcoming Punjabi film but was later removed due to her attitude and interference in the casting process.

Speaking in a recent interview, Sangeeta revealed that Naeema Butt was originally selected for an important role in her upcoming film Mukho. However, things changed when the actress began suggesting which male actors should be cast opposite her. Sangeeta said she does not tolerate unnecessary demands or unprofessional behavior from actors. According to the veteran director, creative decisions, especially casting are the responsibility of the director, and she was not willing to compromise on that.

&quot;It&#39;s true that I initially cast Naeema Butt, but I&#39;m a director who doesn&#39;t tolerate unnecessary tantrums from actors,&quot; Sangeeta said.

She further explained that after Naeema started giving suggestions about casting heroes, she politely apologized, asked for the advance payment back, and Naeema returned the amount.

Sangeeta added that while Naeema Butt is a talented actress and is doing well in television dramas, she is still relatively new to the industry.

&quot;I have been working in this field for nearly 50 years. How can someone who has just entered the industry tell me how to cast my film?&quot; she remarked.

The veteran actress also said that the role Naeema lost was a strong and promising character, but she decided to withdraw the offer because of the actress&#39;s behavior. Reflecting on the past, Sangeeta noted that artists of her generation never displayed such attitudes or created unnecessary issues on set.

Sangeeta is currently directing her new Punjabi feature film Mukho, a Punjab Government-backed project. The film stars Saima Noor, Moammar Rana, Meera, Hassan Murad, Fajar, and several other actors, many of whom will be seen in fresh and different roles.

She revealed that the film was completed within a short period after intensive day-and-night shooting schedules. Expressing hope for the revival of Pakistani cinema, Sangeeta said she wants Mukho to play a role in bringing audiences back to theaters.

The film is scheduled to hit cinemas on December 25, 2026.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/211784664476-0/211784664476-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Maritime minister woos Chinese firms</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619559/maritime-minister-woos-chinese-firms</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619559/maritime-minister-woos-chinese-firms#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 19:56:03 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619559</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Says Gwadar Port offers logistics, warehousing and free zone opportunities]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan has invited Chinese investors to expand investment in its ports, logistics and maritime sectors, with the government committing to transform the country into a regional transit trade, logistics and industrial hub, according to a statement on Tuesday.

Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry made the pitch at the Regional Transit Trade Hub Initiative in Beijing, organised by Jiang Tonland International Holdings.

Chaudhry said Pakistan and China share an &quot;All-Weather Strategic Partnership&quot; entering a new phase centred on connectivity, trade facilitation, logistics, industrial development and sustainable economic growth.

The minister said the global trading system was being reshaped by digitalisation, smart logistics, resilient supply chains, green shipping and multimodal transport, making regional partnerships and innovation increasingly important.

Chaudhry described Gwadar Port as a flagship project of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and said it offered investment opportunities in port operations, logistics, warehousing, free zone development and maritime industries.

He said maritime institutions, including the Karachi Port Trust, Port Qasim Authority, Gwadar Port Authority and the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation, were implementing reforms to develop the country into a modern maritime, logistics and industrial hub serving regional markets.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/171784663822-5/171784663822-5.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>PSX slightly up after early rally loses steam</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619558/psx-slightly-up-after-early-rally-loses-steam</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619558/psx-slightly-up-after-early-rally-loses-steam#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 19:56:03 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619558</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[KSE-100 index rises 206 points as ceasefire hopes lift sentiment]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) ended the trading session on Tuesday with a thin increase as profit-taking and uncertainty about geopolitical developments wiped off most of the early gains, which were sparked by a strong rally over hopes of a ceasefire between the US and Iran.

The benchmark KSE-100 index surged 2,442 points to touch the intra-day high of 178,370.46 before retreating to the low of 176,062.70. It eventually settled at 176,133.57, up 205.83 points, or 0.12%, from the previous close.

The market had climbed 1,902.30 points, or 1.08% by 9:39am, driven by reports of mediation efforts and possible backchannel diplomacy between Washington and Tehran, which improved investor sentiment. The early optimism could not last longer as investors turned cautious in the absence of any concrete positive development on the geopolitical front, triggering profit-taking and limiting fresh long positions.

JS Global analyst Nawaz Ali said expectations of a ceasefire between the US and Iran lifted investor sentiment and kept the market largely in positive territory throughout the session. However, profit-taking emerged at elevated levels as investors remained cautious about building fresh long positions in the absence of concrete positive developments on the geopolitical front.

According to Ahmed Sheraz of KASB KTrade, the bourse witnessed another highly volatile trading session, with the benchmark index opening on a positive note and rallying more than 2,000 points intra-day before profit-taking erased most of the gains. He said investors were cautious and balanced optimism from selective buying against lingering geopolitical uncertainties and the corporate earnings season.

Oil prices stayed broadly stable, offering little fresh direction to the market, while investors continued to monitor developments in the Middle East and global markets, Sheraz said.

Market activity remained healthy, with total traded volumes reaching one billion shares and traded value hitting Rs35.7 billion. Lucky Cement, Engro Holdings, UBL, MCB Bank and Meezan Bank provided the biggest positive support to the benchmark index. On the other hand, OGDC, Cnergyico Pk, Maple Leaf Cement, Bank Alfalah and Attock Refinery weighed on the index amid some selling pressure. Looking ahead, Sheraz said market volatility was likely to persist as investors awaited corporate earnings announcements while keeping a close watch on geopolitical developments and global oil prices.

Arif Habib Limited (AHL) Deputy Head of Trading Ali Najib said market gains were capped by rumours of a deadlock between Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) over the Rs1.7 trillion gas-sector circular debt along with speculation about delay in the refinery policy.

According to Najib, the limited financing appetite among local banks also weighed on sentiment. In terms of index contribution, Lucky Cement, Engro Holdings, UBL, MCB Bank and Meezan Bank collectively added 290 points. On the flip side, OGDC, Cnergyico Pk, Maple Leaf Cement, Bank Alfalah and Attock Refinery erased 164 points.

Any further signs of de-escalation between the US and Iran could support investor confidence, while delays in IMF-related reforms may keep sentiment cautious. Meanwhile, attractive stock valuations and the ongoing corporate earnings season may continue to provide selective buying opportunities, Najib added.

Overall trading volumes jumped to one billion shares compared with Monday&#39;s total of 675.9 million. The value of traded shares stood at Rs35.7 billion.

In the ready market, shares of 494 companies were traded. Of these, 268 stocks closed higher, 191 dropped and 35 remained unchanged. Cnergyico Pk was the volume leader with trading in 263.6 million shares, losing Rs0.65 to close at Rs9.96. Foreign investors bought shares worth Rs1.29 billion, the National Clearing Company reported.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/1449646-psx-1499142110/1449646-psx-1499142110.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Pakistani elected IAF vice president</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619557/pakistani-elected-iaf-vice-president</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619557/pakistani-elected-iaf-vice-president#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 19:56:03 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619557</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Election seen as boost to value-added exports]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Former Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA) chairman Ijaz A Khokhar has been elected vice president of the International Apparel Federation (IAF), becoming the first Pakistani to hold the position.

The announcement was made during the IAF General Assembly, where members unanimously approved his nomination, according to PRGMEA.

The development comes as Pakistan strives to increase exports of value-added textile products to reduce reliance on low-margin yarn and fabric shipments. Industry stakeholders believe representation at the IAF could provide Pakistan with greater access to global policy discussions on supply chains, sustainability, compliance standards and emerging market trends.

Established in 1972, the IAF is the world&#39;s leading organisation representing apparel manufacturers, national associations and related industries. It has members in more than 40 countries, representing over 100,000 companies employing around 20 million people worldwide.

Pakistan&#39;s textile and apparel sector remains the country&#39;s largest export industry, contributing nearly 60% of total merchandise exports and employing millions of workers. However, exporters continue to face challenges including high energy costs, rising financing expenses, regional competition and increasingly stringent environmental and social compliance requirements imposed by international buyers.

According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, textile and clothing exports reached approximately $17.9 billion during FY2025-26, with value-added segments such as garments, knitwear and bedwear accounting for the largest share of export earnings. The government has also identified value-added manufacturing as a key driver for achieving long-term export targets.

Industry representatives said Pakistan&#39;s presence in the IAF leadership could help strengthen engagement with international brands and apparel associations while providing greater visibility to the country&#39;s manufacturing capabilities. Khokhar has previously served on the IAF Executive Board and as the federation&#39;s regional president. He currently serves as chief coordinator of PRGMEA.

The IAF works with apparel manufacturers and industry bodies on issues including sustainable supply chains, trade facilitation, technological innovation, responsible sourcing and harmonisation of industry standards. The organisation also provides a platform for dialogue between manufacturers, brands and policymakers on challenges affecting the global apparel industry.

Exporters have increasingly stressed the need for Pakistan to move further up the textile value chain by expanding garment production, improving productivity and adopting internationally recognised sustainability standards to remain competitive against regional exporters such as Bangladesh, Vietnam and India.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/181784663822-6/181784663822-6.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Gold gains Rs4,700/tola on US-Iran truce hopes</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619556/gold-gains-rs4700tola-on-us-iran-truce-hopes</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619556/gold-gains-rs4700tola-on-us-iran-truce-hopes#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 19:56:03 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619556</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[International market surges over 1% on easing tensions, softer Fed stance; rupee inches up]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Gold prices in Pakistan rose sharply on Tuesday, mirroring gains in the international market, where the precious metal climbed more than 1%. The uptick came on hopes of a diplomatic breakthrough between the United States and Iran that could ease tensions in energy markets and moderate expectations of aggressive rate hikes by the Federal Reserve.

In the local market, the price of gold per tola reached Rs429,236, registering a significant hike of Rs4,700, according to the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association. Similarly, the 10-gram gold was sold at Rs368,000 after increasing by Rs4,029.

On Monday, gold had closed at Rs424,536 per tola following a modest gain of Rs300. The latest jump reflects strong investor sentiment driven by global developments.

Internationally, spot gold advanced 1.7% to $4,077.09 per ounce by 11:20 am EDT (1520 GMT), as per Reuters. US gold futures for August delivery rose 1.6% to $4,080.20. The market movement comes as investors anticipate a potential de-escalation in US-Iran tensions, which could stabilise oil prices and influence monetary policy expectations.

Interactive Commodities Director Adnan Agar noted the positive momentum in the gold market. &quot;The gold market has moved up a bit.&quot; The high was $4084, the low was $4,003, and later the market was around $4,070. &quot;Today (Tuesday), the market was trying to push towards the upside,&quot; he said.

Agar highlighted the key technical levels to watch for. &quot;We just need to see if the market closes above $4,200 again; if it does, there are chances it will move further upside. If it doesn&#39;t, then the downside risk remains,&quot; he added.

Analysts are closely monitoring the evolving US-Iran situation. Tehran has reportedly received a proposal from mediators for a 10-day ceasefire, bringing some calm to the region for now. However, any escalation in tensions or disruptions in energy supplies could weigh on gold prices, while signs of a temporary ceasefire are likely to support further upside.

Investors are also awaiting the US Federal Reserve&#39;s rate decision and comments next week. Traders currently see a 68% chance of a rate hike in September. The broader market dynamics suggest that gold&#39;s appeal as a safe-haven asset remains intact amid geopolitical uncertainties and policy anticipation.

Meanwhile, silver prices in the local market also increased, reaching Rs6,396 per tola with the addition of Rs219. Pakistani rupee ended marginally firmer at Rs277.92 against the US dollar, up Rs0.03 from the previous day. Globally, the greenback stayed near one-week high amid mixed Middle East signals and ceasefire hopes.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/191784663823-7/191784663823-7.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>ME conflict clouds economic outlook</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619555/me-conflict-clouds-economic-outlook</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619555/me-conflict-clouds-economic-outlook#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 19:56:03 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Shazia Tasneem Farooqi]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619555</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Threatens to fuel inflation, widen external pressures and complicate monetary policy]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan&#39;s economy is entering a more uncertain phase as the Middle East conflict, sticky inflation and rising external risks threaten to disrupt the fragile macroeconomic stability achieved so far.

The conflict has already triggered volatility in international oil markets, with concerns over energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz raising the risk of higher import costs for oil-dependent economies such as Pakistan.

According to an economic assessment by AKD Securities, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) is expected to maintain its policy rate at the upcoming Monetary Policy Committee meeting, with the central bank likely to adopt a cautious stance amid heightened geopolitical and economic uncertainty.

The report authored by Director Research Muhammad Awais Ashraf noted that Pakistan&#39;s foreign exchange reserves had improved significantly, reaching around $14 billion, while the current account remained largely contained. However, it cautioned that the outlook could deteriorate if geopolitical tensions persist and international energy markets remain volatile.

For Pakistan, prolonged disruption could have serious implications given the country&#39;s dependence on imported energy. Higher oil prices would increase the import bill, place pressure on the current account and potentially reverse some of the recent gains in external-sector stability.

The brokerage also highlighted the risk of higher inflation. It expects inflation to rise to around 5.9% in FY27 from an average of 7.1% in FY26, primarily because of disinflationary trends already visible in the domestic economy. However, it warned that the forecast could come under pressure if global commodity prices remain high for longer.

The report said the impact of the Middle East conflict would extend beyond oil prices, with potential spillovers into food and other commodity markets. Any sustained increase in import costs could feed into domestic inflation and complicate the monetary policy outlook.

The exchange rate could also face fresh headwinds if elevated energy prices persist. A sustained increase in the import bill would raise demand for foreign exchange and could offset the benefits of stronger remittance inflows. Any renewed pressure on the rupee would, in turn, raise the domestic cost of imported fuel and other essential commodities, creating a secondary inflationary impact.

On the external front, the brokerage said Pakistan&#39;s current account position remained manageable, supported by improved remittances and stronger services inflows. However, higher energy prices could quickly widen the external financing requirement and put pressure on the rupee.

The report also pointed to the potential impact on Pakistan&#39;s trade with Gulf economies. While the country&#39;s direct merchandise trade exposure to the region is relatively limited, remittances from Gulf-based Pakistani workers remain a crucial source of foreign exchange. A prolonged regional crisis could therefore affect both economic activity and the flow of remittances, depending on its impact on Gulf economies.

Any lengthy disruption to economic activity in Gulf countries could affect employment opportunities for Pakistani workers and, consequently, remittance flows. At the same time, heightened uncertainty could weigh on investor sentiment and delay investment decisions, particularly if the conflict begins to affect regional trade and transport routes.

The brokerage noted that the situation also posed risks to Pakistan&#39;s fiscal outlook. Higher oil prices could put renewed strain on subsidies and domestic fuel prices, while weaker economic activity could affect revenue collection.

While higher petroleum prices may increase government revenue through petroleum-related taxes and levies, the benefit could be outweighed by the challenge of shielding consumers from a sharp rise in domestic fuel prices. Any decision to absorb part of the international price shock would increase the burden on public finances, while passing the full increase on to consumers could accelerate inflation and weaken household purchasing power.

Meanwhile, the report expects Pakistan&#39;s real interest rates to remain substantially positive in FY27, with inflation projected to remain below the policy rate. This could provide some room for monetary easing, although the timing and pace of any rate cuts would depend heavily on developments in global energy prices and the domestic inflation outlook.

The geopolitical shock could therefore complicate the SBP&#39;s policy calculus. While subdued domestic demand and easing inflationary pressures could justify lower interest rates, a renewed surge in imported inflation or pressure on the exchange rate could limit the central bank&#39;s room to ease monetary policy.

The Strait of Hormuz remains a key risk factor in this regard. Continued disruption to shipping through the strategic waterway could amplify the impact on global energy markets and sharply increase transportation and insurance costs. For Pakistan, this would compound existing external-sector vulnerabilities and make the path towards sustained macroeconomic stability more challenging.

The report said the economic impact would depend on the conflict&#39;s duration and intensity. While improved reserves and external buffers could absorb a short-lived shock, a prolonged crisis could reverse gains in inflation, external stability and investor confidence. The brokerage expects the SBP to maintain a cautious policy stance, balancing growth support against renewed inflationary and external pressures.

It said Pakistan remained vulnerable to international energy prices, remittance flows and fiscal stress, with sustained stability depending on the government&#39;s ability to manage the fallout from geopolitical tensions.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/201784663823-8/201784663823-8.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>KUFPEC eyes cooperation in petroleum sector</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619554/kufpec-eyes-cooperation-in-petroleum-sector</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619554/kufpec-eyes-cooperation-in-petroleum-sector#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 19:56:03 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619554</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik met Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company (KUFPEC) Vice President Tareq Ebrahim to discuss expanding cooperation in Pakistan&#39;s petroleum sector, according to an official statement issued on Tuesday.

Malik described Kuwait as one of Pakistan&#39;s closest friends and reaffirmed the government&#39;s commitment to strengthening the more than 50-year partnership in the energy sector.

Ebrahim said KUFPEC sees strong potential for expanding its presence in Pakistan&#39;s upstream energy sector.

The minister assured KUFPEC of the government&#39;s full support and reiterated Pakistan&#39;s commitment to providing a conducive environment for international investment.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/151784663823-3/151784663823-3.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>First PSX listing of new fiscal year approved</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619553/first-psx-listing-of-new-fiscal-year-approved</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619553/first-psx-listing-of-new-fiscal-year-approved#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 19:56:03 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Usman Hanif]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619553</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Credit information provider Tasdeeq secures SECP nod for public listing]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has approved the issuance, circulation and publication of prospectus for the initial public offering of Tasdeeq Information Services Limited, marking the first IPO clearance for fiscal year 2026-27.

The approval comes after the regulator&#39;s new management, which assumed office in February 2026, accelerated the processing of public offerings. Ten companies listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange during the previous fiscal year, raising a combined Rs18.39 billion. &quot;The listing number was a two-decade high,&quot; highlighted Shankar Talreja, Director Research at Topline Securities.

Tasdeeq is a credit bureau licensed by the State Bank of Pakistan. It collects, maintains and disseminates credit information about individual and commercial borrowers for member financial institutions, enabling lenders to assess risk and make informed decisions. The company also offers a consumer-facing application that allows individuals to check their own credit scores.

Under the approved structure, Tasdeeq will offer 150 million ordinary shares at a face value of Re1, representing approximately 15.79% of the post-IPO paid-up capital. The issue will be conducted through the book-building method at a floor price of Rs1.90 per share, with a maximum price band of about 57.89% above the floor, or Rs3 per share.

Seventy-five per cent of the issue, or 112.5 million shares, is reserved for institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals. The remaining 25%, amounting to 37.5 million shares, will be offered to retail investors at the strike price determined through book building. The retail portion is fully underwritten. In a parallel pre-IPO placement, minority shareholders have agreed to sell 69 million ordinary shares, equivalent to roughly 7.26% of the post-IPO capital, at Rs2.35 per share. The transfer of these shares is scheduled within five working days after the general public subscription, subject to final regulatory clearances.

Topline Securities is acting as the lead manager and book runner. The draft prospectus had been placed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange website in late June for public comments.

Market participants view the listing as significant beyond just raising capital. Mohammed Awais Ashraf, Director of Research at AKD Securities, noted that an SBP-regulated credit bureau strengthens the shift from collateral-based to data-driven lending. By processing borrower histories and generating credit scores and analytics, such infrastructure improves screening and supports automated loan decisions, particularly for individuals.

Pakistan&#39;s equity market has outperformed regional peers and other asset classes for a third consecutive year in FY26, supported by greater political stability and improving macroeconomic indicators. The re-rating has revived interest in public listings. Ashraf said a growing IPO pipeline deepens the market, expands investment choices and reinforces investor confidence even when raising capital remains the primary objective for the issuers.

Shankar Talreja stressed that the listing is encouraging for companies that want to access the equity market because valuations are attractive. &quot;Some need growth capital, some need working capital, and the overall impact on economic activity is positive,&quot; he said.

Zirar Khalid, who covers the credit market at Topline, explained the company&#39;s core function in practical terms. Whenever banks, microfinance institutions or digital lenders such as easypaisa evaluate a loan application, they typically request a credit report from Tasdeeq. The firm maintains extensive data on individuals and businesses and operates an application that allows consumers to view their own credit standing. The regulator said recent reforms, streamlined requirements, faster approvals and greater digitalisation have lowered barriers for companies seeking listing at the bourse. As part of its capital-market development agenda, the SECP continues to hold nationwide IPO roadshows in collaboration with market stakeholders to educate potential issuers on the listing process and the benefits of raising equity through the stock market.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/161784663823-4/161784663823-4.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Pakistan, China ink EV charging pact</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619552/pakistan-china-ink-ev-charging-pact</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619552/pakistan-china-ink-ev-charging-pact#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 19:56:03 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619552</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Battery storage policy to reduce 
oil imports, 
says SAPM]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan and China have signed an agreement to strengthen the electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem through local manufacturing and technology transfer, as the government prepares to roll out a new Battery Energy Storage System Policy.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan witnessed the signing of an MoU between StarCharge, StarCharge Energy Pakistan and Bahum Global Ltd, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Industries and Production on Tuesday.

Speaking on the occasion, Khan said the government is committed to transforming Pakistan&#39;s transportation sector through electric mobility. He said the forthcoming Battery Energy Storage System Policy would pave the way for an EV revolution by encouraging local manufacturing, attracting foreign investment and creating a sustainable industrial ecosystem.

He emphasised that the transition to EVs would significantly reduce Pakistan&#39;s dependence on imported petroleum products, helping lower the import bill while promoting environmental sustainability and energy security.

The SAPM said the government is facilitating the establishment of EV charging infrastructure across the country to support growing adoption. He said the expansion of charging stations would make electric mobility more accessible for consumers.

Khan described EVs as the future of transportation and a key driver of Pakistan&#39;s industrial transformation. He said strategic partnerships with leading Chinese companies would facilitate local manufacturing of EV batteries, promote technology transfer, strengthen domestic industrial capabilities and generate employment opportunities for Pakistani youth.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/131784663822-1/131784663822-1.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Consortia selected for bond, Sukuk issuances</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619551/consortia-selected-for-bond-sukuk-issuances</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619551/consortia-selected-for-bond-sukuk-issuances#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 19:56:03 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619551</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[FinMin holds meeting with international banks as part of process to establish diversified financing framework]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Federal Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb held a virtual meeting from Washington DC with the senior leadership of consortia of international banks under Pakistan&#39;s Global Medium-Term Note Programme and International Sukuk Programme.

The meeting marked the commencement of a strategic partnership with selected financial institutions. Following an evaluation process conducted in accordance with the criteria and procedures prescribed in the Request for Proposals (RFPs), Pakistan concluded the competitive process for the appointment of consortia of international banks for its Medium-Term Note and Sukuk programmes. For Eurobonds, the consortium of financial institutions includes Standard Chartered Bank, Citibank, Deutsche Bank, Emirates NBD Capital and MUFG Securities Asia Ltd. For the sale of international Sukuk, the consortium of banks comprises Standard Chartered, Dubai Islamic Bank, Citibank, Emirates NBD Capital and Mashreq Bank. And for the rupee-denominated US dollar-settled bonds, the consortium includes Standard Chartered, Citibank and Deutsche Bank.

The consortia have been appointed for three years and will support Pakistan&#39;s sovereign capital market issuances of both conventional and Islamic financing instruments. Upon completion of the required documentation and all applicable formalities, the government intends to utilise these structures for frequent issuances, as and when required, in line with its financing strategy.

According to a statement, this selection is not a one-off event, but rather part of a structured and ongoing process aimed at establishing a stable, diversified and sustainable external financing framework. The first-time inclusion of MUFG Securities Asia and Mashreq Bank further broadens Pakistan&#39;s engagement with the global financial institutions.

Pakistan&#39;s re-engagement with international capital markets is supported by the country&#39;s improving macroeconomic environment. Sustained fiscal consolidation, the rebuilding of external buffers, strengthening debt sustainability indicators and the continued implementation of structural reforms have reinforced investor confidence and economic credibility.

The positive reassessment of Pakistan&#39;s macroeconomic outlook is also evident from the significant compression in sovereign credit spreads, with market pricing increasingly reflecting strong underlying credit fundamentals and confidence in the country&#39;s reform trajectory.

&quot;The government&#39;s objective extends beyond raising financing to developing a diversified, market-oriented funding platform that broadens the investor base, optimises financing costs and strengthens Pakistan&#39;s long-term presence in international capital markets,&quot; the statement added.

Aurangzeb discusses refinery modernisation

Separately, the finance minister met with a delegation of Honeywell Technologies, led by its Vice President Barry Glickman, in Washington. Aurangzeb welcomed Honeywell&#39;s proposed modernisation and expansion of Pakistan&#39;s refinery sector, noting its potential to enhance the country&#39;s refining capacity and reduce reliance on imported petroleum products.

The meeting included discussions on Honeywell&#39;s technology and equipment solutions as well as potential financing through the US Exim Bank, the US International Development Finance Corporation, export credit agencies and leading international banks. The minister emphasised that the proposed initiative would support Pakistan&#39;s energy security, industrial development and sustainable economic growth.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/untitled-design-2026-04-14t113023-3461776148225-0/untitled-design-2026-04-14t113023-3461776148225-0.png" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Bureaucrats to get Rs1.8b allowance</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619550/bureaucrats-to-get-rs18b-allowance</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619550/bureaucrats-to-get-rs18b-allowance#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 19:56:03 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Shahbaz Rana]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619550</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Approved despite austerity measures, 7% raise; second special perk in 4 years]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The federal cabinet has approved another special allowance for top bureaucracy &ndash; the second in four years &ndash; and sanctioned Rs1.8 billion budget in the middle of a further extension in austerity measures and a 7% raise for all government employees.

The decision was taken during the special cabinet meeting that approved the budget on June 12, but the cabinet division released the details as late as July 17.

In the same meeting, the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led cabinet approved only a 7% increase in salaries for all government employees, including these possibly couple of hundred bureaucrats who will enjoy two special allowances, and also extended the austerity measures to the current fiscal year 2026-27.

The well-connected bureaucrats&#39; salaries and perks have been on the rise, but the rest of the public sector employees are not compensated in the middle of biting inflation. Without first strengthening the regulator, the people are also exposed to imported inflation and now daily fluctuation in fuel prices &ndash; a new phenomenon.

The name of the new allowance is &quot;All Pakistan Services (APS) Provincial Governments&#39; Cadre Posts&#39; Parity Allowance&quot;. It is the second special allowance that PM Sharif approved after he gave a 150% executive allowance to the bureaucrats in June 2022.

The cabinet also approved a Rs1.8 billion allocation to pay the allowance with effect from July 1 &ndash; a sum that suggests the allowance would be at least equal to 100% of the basic pay.

The secretary establishment division and secretary cabinet did not respond to questions about the purpose and rate of the new allowance. They also did not respond to questions about whether any need assessment study was conducted, particularly in light of the last major 150% increase in the salaries of the bureaucrats through the executive allowance.

The sources said the logic for giving both allowances was the same: that there were huge perks and privileges that bureaucrats were enjoying in the provinces, and they did not want to serve in the federal government. They said there was also discrimination in the pay structures of the federal government, judiciary, and special organisations like the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

However, instead of bringing pay structure reforms, the government of PM Sharif is creating more distortions that can be exploited by other service groups to claim the same benefits.

Under Article 240 of the constitution, All-Pakistan Services (APS) are specialised civil services whose members serve in posts and capacities common to both the federal government and the provincial governments. The Pakistan Administrative Service and Police Service of Pakistan are considered all Pakistan Services.

A recent World Bank report has highlighted how the provinces misused the additional money under the National Finance Commission award by increasing salaries and pensions multiple times.

PM Sharif-led cabinet further directed that the establishment division, in consultation with the cabinet and finance divisions, would submit a case to the prime minister, seeking his approval regarding the quantum and structure of the allowance, including eligibility criteria and other parameters, to ensure fairness and equity amongst the officers of the All-Pakistan Services who are posted in Islamabad.

The cabinet has also approved to calculate the 150% executive allowance on the basis of the running basic pay as on June 30, 2026, by delinking it from 2017 pay levels, providing another significant relief to the bureaucrats serving in grade 17 to 22.

The government had granted the executive allowance to all officers posted by the Establishment Division against sanctioned posts of section officers, deputy secretaries, joint secretaries, senior joint secretaries, additional secretaries, additional secretaries in-charge, special secretaries and secretaries in the federal secretariat, the Prime Minister&#39;s Office and the President&#39;s Secretariat.

Later, the executive allowance was extended to other service groups who protested against the discrimination &ndash; an episode that might be repeated again in the case of the All-Pakistan Service Allowance.

Austerity too continues

In the same cabinet meeting, the premier also approved extending the austerity measures taken during the past few years. However, the cabinet also approved a back-door exemption to buy goods in relaxation of its own decision.

The cabinet authorised the Austerity Committee constituted by the Finance Division from time to time to grant relaxation from these austerity measures, where there was sufficient justification, on a case-to-case basis, according to the decision.

Despite austerity in place, the austerity committee has been granting exemptions to buy cars for bureaucrats and ministers, and allowing purchases of furniture and renovation of offices.

The cabinet also approved the continuation in FY2026-27 of a complete ban on purchase of all new durables, a complete ban on purchase of all vehicles, and single dish in the case of meals and tea and biscuits on other occasions to be served at government events and meetings. But the austerity committee has been relaxing these measures from time to time.

The cabinet has also extended the ban on creation of new posts, including contingent paid and temporary posts; continuation of contingent paid and temporary posts beyond one year; treatment abroad at government expense; and all non-obligatory visits abroad where government funding is involved.

However, during the last couple of months, the cabinet has approved the creation of new positions in the Ministry of Interior.

The cabinet decided that these austerity measures will also be applicable to state-owned entities, and instructions have been given under the State-Owned Enterprises Governance and Operations Act, 2023, stated the cabinet division.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/121784663823-0/121784663823-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Sindh police to go digital in crime fighting push</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619548/sindh-police-to-go-digital-in-crime-fighting-push</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619548/sindh-police-to-go-digital-in-crime-fighting-push#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 19:39:46 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619548</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Sindh police are moving to establish a digital forensic laboratory to strengthen criminal investigations as law enforcement grapples with increasingly tech-driven crimes, IGP Javed Alam Odho said on Tuesday.

Chairing a review meeting at the Central Police Office, IG Odho said modern crimes could no longer be tackled through conventional methods, stressing the need for technology-based, evidence-driven investigations.

Senior officers, including the additional IGP of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), DIGs of headquarters, IT, telecommunications and transport (T&amp;T), training, and AIGs attended the meeting, where officials reviewed proposals for the lab&#39;s establishment.

The project director IT briefed participants on the proposed scope, technical requirements and operational framework of the facility. Officials were informed that nearly 97% of investigation cases now involve digital devices such as mobile phones and computers, while globally around 90% of criminal cases rely on digital evidence.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/41784663161-0/41784663161-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>2016 protest case: five MQM workers remanded in custody</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619547/2016-protest-case-five-mqm-workers-remanded-in-custody</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619547/2016-protest-case-five-mqm-workers-remanded-in-custody#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 19:39:46 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619547</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Police seek time to arrest accomplices as top party leaders named 
in case]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Tuesday granted physical remand of five Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) workers in a case dating back to 2016 involving allegations of blocking a major thoroughfare and raising slogans against the state.

The suspects - Syed Hameed Pasha, Muhammad Tahseen, Muhammad Umar, Mirza Waseem and Afaq Alam - were produced before the administrative judge at the Anti-Terrorism Complex inside Karachi Central Jail by Brigade police.

The investigating officer sought remand until August 1, stating that further arrests were required and identification parades needed to be conducted. The court approved the request and directed police to produce the accused again on July 23 along with a progress report. According to the prosecution, the accused had blocked Shahrah-e-Quaideen near Mazar-e-Quaid on May 12, 2016, and allegedly raised slogans against the government and state institutions.

The case also names several senior MQM figures, including the party&#39;s founder, chairman Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Dr Farooq Sattar, former provincial minister Rauf Siddiqui, former MNA Kunwar Naveed, former Karachi mayor Waseem Akhtar, Qamar Mansoor and Mahmood Hussain, along with unidentified individuals.

Police told the court that efforts were under way to apprehend other suspects and complete the investigation.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/51784663161-1/51784663161-1.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Generator fumes kill two labourers in Korangi</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619546/generator-fumes-kill-two-labourers-in-korangi</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619546/generator-fumes-kill-two-labourers-in-korangi#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 19:39:46 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619546</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Four others collapse after sleeping in smoke-filled room following power outage]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Two young labourers died while four others were hospitalised after a room filled with generator fumes in Bhittai Colony near Korangi Crossing on Tuesday, police said.

The incident occurred within the jurisdiction of Zaman Town police station, where six workers residing in a house in Sector B were overcome by smoke from a generator while they slept.

According to police, the victims had switched on an LPG generator following a power outage early in the morning and went to sleep. Hours later, a man entering the house found them unconscious and alerted others, prompting their immediate transfer to a nearby hospital via ambulances.

Hospital officials said two of the victims, identified as 18-year-old Nadeem and Waqas, were in critical condition and could not be revived despite efforts to save them. The remaining four - Dilbar, Ameen, Ubaid and Faizan - regained consciousness after receiving treatment.

PS Zaman Town SHO Ayaz Khan said the affected labourers were employed at a local eatery and were living together in the quarters. Most of them belonged to Nawabshah, while one was a resident of Hyderabad.

A neighbour told police that electricity supply had been suspended in the area early in the morning, after which the workers turned on the generator before going to sleep, leading to the accumulation of toxic fumes inside the room.

Police visited the site and sealed the premises after conducting an initial investigation. Police said further inquiry into the tragedy was underway.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/61784663162-2/61784663162-2.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Woman's death sparks chaos at hospital</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619545/womans-death-sparks-chaos-at-hospital</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619545/womans-death-sparks-chaos-at-hospital#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 19:39:46 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619545</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A woman died during treatment at a private hospital in Gulistan-e-Jauhar on Tuesday, triggering protests by her family who accused doctors of negligence and vandalised parts of the health facility.

The deceased, identified as 57-year-old Jameela, a resident of Scheme 33, had been admitted for a procedure to remove kidney stones, according to her family.

Hospital operations were suspended following the unrest, with administration evacuating patients and attendants before shutting the main gate. Police arrived at the scene in heavy numbers and restored order.

The victim&#39;s son, Ammar Saleem, alleged that his mother had walked into the hospital for what was described as a routine operation on Monday afternoon. He said the procedure was carried out later that night, but her condition deteriorated soon after.

He claimed doctors failed to provide clear information and later informed the family of complications during surgery, including fluid accumulation in the chest. The patient was subsequently shifted to the intensive care unit and later placed on a ventilator.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/71784663162-3/71784663162-3.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>16 more kids infected with HIV as Valika audit ordered</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619544/16-more-kids-infected-with-hiv-as-valika-audit-ordered</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619544/16-more-kids-infected-with-hiv-as-valika-audit-ordered#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 19:39:46 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619544</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Ombudsman cites mismanagement; parents decry drug shortages, poor care]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Sindh ombudsperson has ordered an audit of Kulsoom Bai Valika Hospital after 16 more children were diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, raising fresh concerns over the worsening outbreak and alleged administrative lapses at the health facility.

The hearing, chaired by Ombudsperson Mohammad Sohail Rajput, was held with senior officials and parents of affected children in attendance, including Labour Secretary Sajid Jamal Abro, SESSI Commissioner Hadi Bux Kalhoro, senior medical staff and hospital administration.

According to officials, the total number of cases has increased with the detection of 16 new infections, while fears persist that more cases may surface. Parents of the affected children complained of lack of cooperation from the hospital administration, shortage of medicines, inappropriate staff behaviour and delays in reimbursement of treatment costs.

Expressing dissatisfaction over the hospital&#39;s management, the ombudsperson observed that apparent financial mismanagement may have contributed to the spread of the virus among children. He directed authorities to improve administrative oversight and ensure accountability.

Rajput ordered the immediate hiring of trained staff and recommended induction of professionals from the public health sector into senior positions. He also instructed officials to arrange deputation of doctors from Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital for a period of six months.

The ombudsperson further directed the hospital administration to ensure timely provision of medicines, dietary supplements and other essential supplies, and ordered the establishment of a help desk at the hospital&#39;s entrance to facilitate patients.

Rajput also ordered that a reputable audit firm be engaged within two weeks to conduct a comprehensive audit of the hospital&#39;s financial and administrative affairs.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/81784663161-4/81784663161-4.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>NADRA official goes missing</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619543/nadra-official-goes-missing</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619543/nadra-official-goes-missing#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 19:39:46 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619543</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A NADRA officer and son of senior journalist Sohail Sangi has gone missing under mysterious circumstances, prompting concern among media bodies and rights organisations.

Fayyaz Ahmed Janjhi, who serves at NADRA&#39;s Ayesha Manzil office, was last seen on Sunday evening when he left work at around 6pm in his white Suzuki Alto. According to his brother, Riaz Sohail, his mobile phone became unreachable shortly after he departed, and his whereabouts remain unknown since.

The family has reported the incident to police, while senior officials, including the Sindh police chief, have been informed. The SSP District Central has initiated an inquiry into the disappearance.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/91784663161-5/91784663161-5.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Court presses for answers in Gul Plaza fire probe</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619542/court-presses-for-answers-in-gul-plaza-fire-probe</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619542/court-presses-for-answers-in-gul-plaza-fire-probe#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 19:39:46 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619542</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Rejects updates, orders full report amid blame game]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A sessions court on Tuesday directed the investigating officer (IO) to submit a comprehensive report at the next hearing in the Gul Plaza blaze case, expressing dissatisfaction over the pace of the investigation.

The directive came during proceedings before the additional district and sessions judge South, who was hearing interim bail applications of union president Tanveer Pasta and other accused.

IO DSP Aamir Waraich submitted a progress report but sought more time to file the final charge sheet, stating that he would request an extension from the magistrate.

The court questioned the delay and remarked that merely submitting progress updates was insufficient, directing the officer to appear with a complete report at the next hearing.

The judge also cautioned the IO against making careless statements to the media, warning that such remarks could negatively impact public perception of the investigation. The court adjourned the hearing until August 4 and directed the IO to present a detailed report on progress in the case.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/101784663162-6/101784663162-6.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Sindh links fuel subsidy decision to Centre</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619541/sindh-links-fuel-subsidy-decision-to-centre</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619541/sindh-links-fuel-subsidy-decision-to-centre#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 19:39:46 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619541</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[CM Shah flags fresh economic strain after US-Iran war escalation]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Tuesday said fresh challenges had emerged in the wake of renewed hostilities following the US-Iran conflict, adding that a decision on petroleum subsidies would be taken in consultation with the federal government.

Speaking to the media after attending an international insurance conference, the chief minister said his government would continue to enforce limits on fuel consumption introduced in March as part of austerity measures.

He said Sindh had raised objections to the Jalalpur Canal project at the Council of Common Interests (CCI), stressing that the scheme was not new and had previously been contested by the province. &quot;All provinces are bound by the Water Accord, but we have reservations regarding IRSA&#39;s procedures,&quot; he said, while also accusing India of engaging in &quot;water aggression.&quot;

CM Shah announced that a task force would be formed to assess water-related challenges and evaluate potential losses to Sindh.

On agriculture, the chief minister added that wheat production was lower in three provinces compared to Punjab, which typically compensates for the shortfall. He said reduced support prices in Sindh had impacted output despite record national production, questioning the rationale behind wheat imports when sufficient stock was available domestically.

Highlighting reforms in the insurance sector, CM Shah said Sindh had made motor third-party insurance mandatory for all registered vehicles through the enforcement of the Provincial Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2026.

Under the new law, compensation of Rs700,000 has been fixed in case of death and up to Rs500,000 for permanent disability in road accidents, with insurance companies required to settle claims within 45 days. He added that digital motor third-party insurance policies had been issued for all vehicles since March 2026.

Earlier, addressing the conference, the chief minister described the event as &quot;insightful and informative,&quot; adding that it brought together local and international experts to share valuable perspectives.

He stressed that strong human resources were key to industrial growth and welcomed the increasing interest of students in actuarial studies. He said the Sindh government recognised the insurance sector&#39;s importance in economic development, job creation, and risk mitigation, as well as its contribution to provincial revenue.

CM Shah also highlighted initiatives aimed at farmers&#39; welfare, including exemption of crop insurance from sales tax, acknowledging the growing challenges posed by climate change.

He said the government was expanding social protection programmes through targeted insurance, welfare and healthcare initiatives, citing the Universal Accidental Insurance Scheme under which heirs of citizens aged 18 or above receive Rs100,000 in case of accidental death.

The chief minister added that amendments addressing long-standing sales tax issues in the insurance sector had been introduced through the Finance Bill 2026, reaffirming the government&#39;s commitment to working with industry stakeholders to improve policies.

&quot;We aim to make Sindh a business-friendly, fast-growing and sustainable province,&quot; he said.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/111784663161-7/111784663161-7.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Deadly clash sparks highway protest</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619537/deadly-clash-sparks-highway-protest</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619537/deadly-clash-sparks-highway-protest#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 19:36:29 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Yawar Hayat]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619537</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[One man killed, brother hurt; three suspects arrested; six cops suspended]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A young man was killed and his brother critically injured in a violent clash between two groups in the Panian area of Haripur on Tuesday, prompting a seven-hour blockade of the Hazara Motorway&#39;s Silk Route by residents demanding justice.

The deadly clash was triggered by a minor dispute over sitting outside a house.

The protest ended only after police assured demonstrators that action would be taken against the accused and officers allegedly involved in misconduct.

According to local sources, the altercation escalated into a violent confrontation in which one brother lost his life while the other sustained critical injuries. Family members and local residents alleged that police released the nominated suspects after accepting bribes, sparking widespread public outrage.

The victim&#39;s relatives, joined by residents of the area, blocked the Silk Route highway for nearly seven hours, demanding the immediate arrest of all suspects, an impartial investigation and action against police officials accused of negligence and corruption.

Following mounting public pressure, Haripur District Police Officer (DPO) Shafiullah Gandapur suspended the Station House Officer (SHO) of Panian Police Station along with five other police officials and ordered a departmental inquiry into the incident.

Police also confirmed the re-arrest of three nominated suspects after the protest began. According to local sources, a police official identified as Basharat was suspended and confined to the quarter guard over allegations of accepting a Rs10,000 bribe in connection with the case.

Late in the evening, PML-N MNA Babar Nawaz Khan held negotiations with the protesters. The sit-in ended after successful talks between police and demonstrators, and traffic on the Silk Route was restored.

Police said three of the 12 nominated suspects had been arrested, while efforts were under way to apprehend the remaining accused.

DPO Gandapur said disciplinary proceedings had been initiated against officials found negligent in the discharge of their duties. &quot;The law is equal for everyone, and no one will be allowed to escape justice,&quot; he added.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/haripur-protest1784666089-0/haripur-protest1784666089-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Flash floods wreak havoc in Rawat</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619536/flash-floods-wreak-havoc-in-rawat</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619536/flash-floods-wreak-havoc-in-rawat#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 19:36:29 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619536</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Torrential rain triggered severe flooding in the Rawat area, where a rain-fed stream near Daducha Dam overflowed into nearby settlements, inundating large parts of Barwala and Khanpur and causing widespread damage to homes and infrastructure.

According to local residents, floodwater entered houses and a mosque after the stream burst its banks following heavy rainfall. Several sections of the main road were also submerged, disrupting traffic and leaving many residents stranded.

Residents said the strong flood currents caused a number of houses to collapse, forcing affected families to abandon their homes and move to safer locations. They described the situation in villages near Daducha Dam as critical.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/flash-flood1784665003-0/flash-flood1784665003-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Fare dispute sparks street altercation</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619535/fare-dispute-sparks-street-altercation</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619535/fare-dispute-sparks-street-altercation#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 19:36:29 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619535</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A foreign woman was allegedly involved in a physical altercation with a taxi driver over a fare dispute near Pindora Bazaar on Syedpur Road, within the jurisdiction of New Town Police Station, prompting passers-by and local residents to intervene and defuse the situation.

A video of the incident, which has since circulated widely on social media, appears to show the woman confronting the driver in the middle of the road. The footage allegedly shows the driver lying on the ground while the woman holds him by his clothing and arm. She also appears to attempt to pin him down by placing her knee on his chest and abdomen.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/22037-TaxiReuters-1401116455/22037-TaxiReuters-1401116455.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Man dies after fatal wife stabbing</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619534/man-dies-after-fatal-wife-stabbing</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619534/man-dies-after-fatal-wife-stabbing#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 19:36:29 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619534</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A man accused of attempting suicide by ingesting acid after stabbing his wife to death with a knife during a domestic dispute in Kahuta has died in the hospital during treatment.

According to police sources, the accused, Shakeel, had killed his wife, Fauzia, by stabbing her on the neck over a domestic dispute. After the incident, he tried to commit suicide by consuming acid, after which, he was shifted to Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi, in a critical condition, where he died during treatment.

According to the FIR, six days before the incident, the victim had told her brother that her husband was torturing her and threatening to kill her. The FIR further states that on the day of the incident, at around 3.30pm, Ali&#39;s niece, Ayesha, reported that there had been an argument between Shakeel and Fauzia.

Ali stated that after he shouted at Shakeel, he tossed the knife on the table and ran towards the stairs. He then reportedly picked up a bottle of acid and drank it, collapsing on the spot.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/Capture1701675589-0/Capture1701675589-0.png" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>'CSS decline reports misleading'</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619533/css-decline-reports-misleading</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619533/css-decline-reports-misleading#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 19:36:29 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[haider.naseem]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619533</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[FPSC dismisses claims of 45% decline in aspirants, terming figures misinterpreted]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) has rejected claims that the number of Civil Superior Services (CSS) candidates has declined by 45%, describing such assertions as misleading and based on an incorrect comparison of examination statistics.

In a press statement, the commission said the perception that young people were losing interest in the CSS examination was inaccurate, adding that figures cited in some media reports had been interpreted out of context.

According to the FPSC, comparisons between the number of applicants in 2022 and 2025 were not made on a like-for-like basis. It explained that 64,081 candidates registered for the Mandatory Preliminary Test (MPT) in 2025, while 18,139 candidates subsequently submitted applications for the CSS written examination.

The commission said 12,792 candidates appeared in the 2025 written examination, of whom 354 qualified. Following the interview stage, 342 candidates were declared suitable for appointment, while 170 candidates were ultimately allocated to various occupational groups and services

The FPSC maintained that the participation of tens of thousands of candidates in the MPT each year clearly demonstrated that interest in joining Pakistan&#39;s civil service remained strong.

It further stated that several media reports had overlooked the MPT registration figures and had also failed to take into account the results of the Special CSS Examination 2023.

According to the commission, 141 candidates were allocated to various services through the Special CSS Examination 2023. It added that the special examination had particularly benefited women, minorities and candidates from underdeveloped regions.

The FPSC emphasised that a career in the civil service continued to be a cherished ambition for many young Pakistanis.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/fscp1784663914-0/fscp1784663914-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Rickshaw driver held in child abduction bid</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619532/rickshaw-driver-held-in-child-abduction-bid</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619532/rickshaw-driver-held-in-child-abduction-bid#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 19:36:29 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619532</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Civil Lines police have arrested a rickshaw driver for allegedly attempting to abduct a 10-year-old girl and take her to an unknown location.

According to police, the girl&#39;s father, Muhammad Amir, a resident of Dhoke Chiragh Din, told investigators that when he returned home from work, he found that his daughter had gone out to buy an ice cream but did not return.

He said the girl had informed him a few days earlier that a rickshaw driver identified as Tahir had repeatedly asked for her phone number. He had warned his daughter not to share her contact details with anyone.

After searching the neighbourhood without success, the father approached the police, expressing suspicion that the suspect had lured his daughter away. A case was registered and an investigation was launched.

Police officials said CCTV footage from the area showed the girl in the company of the rickshaw driver at a nearby shop. Acting on the evidence, investigators traced and detained the suspect for questioning.

During interrogation, the suspect disclosed that the girl had been sent towards a Metro Bus station. Police subsequently recovered the child, who was found asleep at the station.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/1161246-kidnapxx-1471033636/1161246-kidnapxx-1471033636.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Rescuers suspend hunt for drowned child</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619531/rescuers-suspend-hunt-for-drowned-child</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619531/rescuers-suspend-hunt-for-drowned-child#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 19:36:29 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Saleh Mughal]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619531</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Rising water levels and strong currents hamper search operations]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The body of a six-year-old boy who was swept away in Nullah Leh in the Gulistan Colony area has still not been recovered, despite a four-day search operation by Rescue 1122.

Rescue divers, who spent four consecutive days searching in the polluted water, have reportedly developed skin allergies due to prolonged exposure. On the fourth day, rescue teams extended the search from Soan Bridge to Gorakhpur and up to Phase-VIII of a private housing society along the Soan River. However, with water levels and flow increasing because of continued rainfall, authorities decided to suspend the operation.

According to Rescue 1122, the incident occurred at around 11am on Saturday when six-year-old Muhammad Zahid fell into Nullah Leh near Gulistan Colony&#39;s Line No. 3. His father, 36-year-old Mehrban Khan, immediately jumped into the drain in an attempt to save him, but both were swept away by the strong current.

Rescue teams rushed to the scene and launched a search operation. Later that day, they recovered the body of Mehrban Khan, but the child remained missing.

The search resumed at sunrise on Sunday and continued into the following days, but despite extensive efforts, rescuers failed to locate the boy. Each day&#39;s operation was suspended after sunset due to darkness.

On the fourth day, the search area was expanded significantly, but the child could still not be found. Following four days of unsuccessful efforts, Rescue 1122 decided to suspend the operation because of dangerous conditions caused by rising water levels and strong currents.

District Emergency Officer Rescue 1122 Rawalpindi, Engineer Sibghatullah, confirmed that several rescue personnel had developed skin allergies after spending prolonged periods in the contaminated water of Nullah Leh.

He said the search area had been extended from Soan Bridge to Gorakhpur and Phase-VIII of a private housing society along the Soan River, but persistent rainfall had made the operation increasingly hazardous. As a result, no search operation would be conducted on the fifth day unless conditions improve.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/rescue-11221783548578-0/rescue-11221783548578-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Quetta woman gives birth to rare quintuplets</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619530/quetta-woman-gives-birth-to-rare-quintuplets</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619530/quetta-woman-gives-birth-to-rare-quintuplets#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 19:35:26 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Syed Ali Shah]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Balochistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619530</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A rare and remarkable childbirth at a hospital in Quetta has brought joy to a local family after a woman successfully delivered quintuplets, hospital officials confirmed on Tuesday.

According to the hospital administration, the mother gave birth to five babies in a single delivery, three girls and two boys. Doctors said the complex delivery was carried out successfully, and both the mother and all five newborns are in stable condition.

Medical officials stated that the mother and her babies have been shifted to the hospital&#39;s special care unit, where they are under continuous observation and receiving appropriate medical attention as a precautionary measure.

The family, which already had three children, has now grown to eight children following the rare multiple birth. Relatives and well-wishers expressed happiness over the safe delivery and wished the mother and newborns good health.

Hospital authorities described the birth as an uncommon medical event, noting that a dedicated team of obstetricians, pediatricians, nurses, and support staff managed the delivery and is closely monitoring the health of the mother and infants.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/11784662561-0/11784662561-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Quetta gripped by severe water crisis</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619529/quetta-gripped-by-severe-water-crisis</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619529/quetta-gripped-by-severe-water-crisis#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 19:35:26 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Sardar Hameed Khan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Balochistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619529</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The capital of Balochistan has been plunged into a severe water crisis, with groundwater levels dropping to dangerously low levels and official supplies from the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) either completely halted or severely restricted in many residential areas.

Residents of neighborhoods including Samungli Road, Jinnah Town, Sariab, Qambarani Road, Sirki Road, Satellite Town, Sabzal Road, and Khayaban-e-Agha are enduring extreme hardship. In the scorching summer heat, elderly people, women, and young children are forced to travel long distances on foot to fetch water.

Many households have received no tap water for the past six months, severely disrupting daily life. Speaking to The Express Tribune, frustrated citizens said they regularly pay their WASA bills, yet receive no water in return. Despite lodging multiple complaints, the issue remains unresolved, with officials offering only verbal assurances.

With official supplies failing, private water tankers have become the only lifeline for residents. However, this has led to rampant exploitation.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/21784662561-1/21784662561-1.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>MPAs raise concerns over security operations</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619528/mpas-raise-concerns-over-security-operations</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619528/mpas-raise-concerns-over-security-operations#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 19:35:26 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Ahtesham Bashir]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619528</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Treasury, opposition members call for relief for affected civilians, political consultation]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Members of both the treasury and opposition benches in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Tuesday expressed serious concerns over ongoing security operations in Bannu and other parts of the province, urging the government to take elected representatives into confidence and ensure relief and facilities for civilians affected by the operations.

The assembly suspended its regular agenda to hold a special debate on the deteriorating law and order situation and ongoing counterterrorism operations.

Speaking during the session, lawmakers including Adnan Khan, Humayun Khan, Shafiullah Khan, Sajjad Birkwal, Hamidur Rehman, Mehr Sultana and others said an undeclared operation was underway in Bannu, causing severe hardships for local residents. They maintained that elected representatives had not been consulted regarding the operation and called on the government to clarify its nature and objectives.

The members questioned the effectiveness of military operations that have continued since 2010, asking what tangible results had been achieved despite repeated campaigns against terrorists. They said people remained victims of terrorism while the province&#39;s law and order situation continued to deteriorate.

The legislators expressed concern over worsening security conditions in the southern districts and criticized the government&#39;s handling of the situation. Some members remarked that if the provincial administration was unable to restore peace and maintain its writ, it should explain its strategy or step aside.

They also criticized decision-making without public consultation, saying important security-related matters were being decided behind closed doors, eroding public trust. The lawmakers emphasized that the people looked to the provincial assembly for leadership during difficult times and urged all political parties to rise above partisan interests to work collectively for lasting peace.

Several members highlighted the plight of families displaced by security operations, saying they often faced immense difficulties during evacuation. They urged the government to provide timely financial assistance, rehabilitation and essential facilities to all affected residents.

Meanwhile, a group of disgruntled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers accused their own provincial government of deliberately attempting to sideline the party&#39;s jailed founder, Imran Khan.

According to the dissident legislators, a meeting was held in which it was decided to write a letter to PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan. In the letter, they stated that the provincial assembly&#39;s sole political agenda should be the release of the party founder and called for a comprehensive strategy to secure his freedom.

The lawmakers claimed they had previously been assured that a meeting would be arranged with Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, Mahmood Khan Achakzai and the party&#39;s central leadership, but no progress had been made.

They further alleged that Imran Khan was being deliberately ignored at official events, claiming that his photograph was absent from the Peshawar Premier League inauguration and a ceremony at the University of Swat, and that no programme highlighting his contributions was presented.

The disgruntled PTI members also accused the provincial government of developing unusually close ties with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). They alleged that significant budgetary allocations had been made for opposition parties and that opposition leaders, including the provincial governor, had received prominent attention during a recent cricket stadium event. The provincial government has not yet responded publicly to these allegations.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/31784662561-2/31784662561-2.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>US judge blocks Trump administration from stripping immigrants of work permits</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619527/us-judge-blocks-trump-administration-from-stripping-immigrants-of-work-permits</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619527/us-judge-blocks-trump-administration-from-stripping-immigrants-of-work-permits#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 19:26:38 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619527</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[US judge blocks USCIS policies enforcing new immigration restrictions after lawsuit by rights groups and unions]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A federal judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked President&nbsp;Donald Trump&#39;s administration from stripping tens of thousands of asylum seekers and immigrants who have Temporary Protected ​Status of their ability to work in the United States.

US District Judge Nathaniel Gorton in Boston sided with a &zwnj;coalition of immigrant rights groups and labor unions that sued to block US Citizenship and Immigration Services from moving forward with a series of policies designed to implement new immigration-related restrictions enacted by Congress last year.

Gorton&#39;s order will be in place until he decides whether to issue a longer-term pause of the ​Trump administration&#39;s policy. The judge said he would rule on that by August 5. USCIS did not immediately respond to ​a request for comment.

Trump&#39;s signature tax and spending law that was passed by the Republican-led Congress in ⁠July 2025 for the first time imposed fees to apply for asylum and restricted employment authorisation for people with Temporary Protected Status, ​or TPS.

That is a designation that lets migrants from countries stricken by war, natural disaster or other catastrophes live and work in the ​United States while it is unsafe for them to return to their home countries.

The Trump administration has sought as part of the Republican president&#39;s hardline immigration agenda to end TPS for people from more than a dozen countries. The U.S. Supreme Court&nbsp;last month allowed&nbsp;it to do so in the case of ​thousands of Haitian and Syrian immigrants.

The plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed by the liberal legal group Democracy Forward argued that USCIS had ​unlawfully implemented the new law&#39;s provisions and that its policies needed to be halted, particularly one that would lead to thousands of TPS holders from &zwnj;El Salvador, ⁠Sudan and Ukraine potentially losing their ability to work starting on Wednesday.

Among those policies are ones that the plaintiffs say wrongly cut short the time TPS holders would be authorised to work by retroactively applying the new restrictions to people from El Salvador, Sudan and Ukraine.

Skye Perryman, Democracy Forward&#39;s president and CEO, said in a statement that Gorton&#39;s ruling ensures that thousands of families will not lose their ​livelihoods while courts consider whether the ​administration&#39;s policies are legal.

While the ⁠administration has been terminating TPS for other countries, it extended TPS for people from those three nations in January. TPS remains valid for El Salvador through September 9 and for Sudan and Ukraine ​through October 19.

The plaintiffs argued the new USCIS policies were invalid because the public never received notice ​and a chance ⁠to comment on them before they were adopted, as required by the Administrative Procedure Act, and applied the 2025 law&#39;s TPS work authorisation provisions retroactively without statutory authorisation.

Gorton on Tuesday declined to block USCIS from collecting the fee for now, but said the agency cannot strip people who ⁠fail to ​pay it of work permits or impose other penalties.

The case was filed in ​Boston, a venue&nbsp;popular among litigants&nbsp;challenging Trump&#39;s agenda, and landed before one of the few judges on the court who was not appointed by a Democrat, Gorton, an ​appointee of Republican President George H W Bush.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/us-judge-trump-r1784662463-0/us-judge-trump-r1784662463-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Pakistan seeks $10 billion in US backstop facility to boost reserves, source says</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619526/pakistan-seeks-10-billion-in-us-backstop-facility-to-boost-reserves-source-says</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619526/pakistan-seeks-10-billion-in-us-backstop-facility-to-boost-reserves-source-says#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 19:25:12 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619526</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Loan request follows Pakistan's Iran war diplomacy, aims to boost reserves, ease rupee pressure]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan has asked the United States for a $10 billion exchange stabilization facility, according to a source briefed on the matter, which, if approved, could provide a lifeline for the cash-strapped South Asian economy.

The request, which is being reported for the first time, follows Pakistan&#39;s role in brokering talks over the Iran war, which raised its diplomatic profile and stirred hopes that it could seek economic gains from Washington and other partners.

In the request to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Islamabad is seeking a Bilateral Exchange Stabilization Support Facility between the US and the Pakistani government worth $10 billion with a maturity of up to five years.

Read: PM sees new era in relations with US

The facility, if agreed to, would bolster Pakistan&#39;s reserves, ease pressure on the rupee and reduce its reliance on multilateral financing, even as Islamabad undertakes tighter fiscal and monetary policies in line with its International Monetary Fund programme.

Pakistan remains under $7 billion IMF discipline that has required politically unpopular tax increases, spending restraint and reforms.

Pakistan&#39;s finance ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters&#39; request for comment outside of Asia business hours. The US Treasury also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Exchange stabilization facilities are rare US Treasury backstops, usually routed via the Exchange Stabilization Fund, that provide dollars, swaps or guarantees to support reserves and steady currencies.

These facilities are different from the permanent standing dollar swap lines that the US Federal Reserve has with some major central banks and act as an international supply line of US dollars to underpin financial stability.

A 2025 Argentina package was the first new foreign-government exchange stabilization facility operation since Uruguay in 2002, aside from Mexico&#39;s long-standing swap line, dating to the 1940s and now sized at $9 billion.

Pakistan narrowly avoided default in 2023 with a $3 billion IMF standby deal and later secured a $7 billion Extended Fund Facility, but its reserves still depend on official financing, rollovers and deposits from China and Saudi Arabia.

That leaves Islamabad exposed to shifts in bilateral support and IMF disbursement delays, and that vulnerability got exposed in April when Pakistan repaid about $3.5 billion, one-fifth of its reserves, to the United Arab Emirates, with Saudi Arabia providing $3 billion in fresh support.

Pakistan&#39;s central bank said in January that reserves could return to near their 2021 record, reaching $20 billion by the end of 2026.

Recasting ties with Washington

A US exchange stabilization facility would carry weight as both a liquidity backstop and political signal, easing pressure on reserves and the Pakistani rupee, while reducing the South Asian country&#39;s dependence on IMF tranches and ad hoc rescues.

IMF-backed reforms have stabilized the economy at a political cost, including higher taxes, spending restraint and limited room for development or welfare spending.

Global ratings agency Fitch said in April that Pakistan&#39;s adherence to its IMF programme has supported the country&#39;s funding capacity, while rebuilt foreign exchange buffers provide a cushion against economic shocks from the Middle East conflict.

But deeper constraints remain. Fitch cautioned that rising energy costs and potential supply disruptions could sharply erode the country&#39;s foreign exchange reserves.

Read: Pakistan-US ties based on shared interests, commitment to advancing peace: President Zardari

Foreign investment in Pakistan has remained thin, deterred by recurring external crises, policy uncertainty, security risks, past profit-repatriation curbs and a narrow export base, while the country&#39;s credit rating remains deep in speculative-grade territory, keeping borrowing costs high and market access limited.

Pakistan has sought to use its ties to the Trump administration to address some of these issues, with economic cooperation that has so far spanned crypto, real estate and mining.

Pakistan has signed a stablecoin agreement for cross-border payments with an affiliate of World Liberty Financial, the main crypto business of President Donald Trump&#39;s family, pursued a memorandum of understanding to redevelop the closed PIA-owned Roosevelt Hotel in New York with the US government, and courted US mining investment, including in Reko Diq, where the US Export-Import Bank has announced $1.2 billion in financing.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/aaa-canva-1200x900-161761057586-0/aaa-canva-1200x900-161761057586-0.png" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>A dervish civil servant</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619521/a-dervish-civil-servant</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619521/a-dervish-civil-servant#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 19:06:00 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Haroon Rashid Siddiqi]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619521</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The history of Pakistan&#39;s bureaucracy is replete with power struggles and institutional decay. Yet, in the fledgling years of the state, there existed a rare breed of officers who regarded public service not as an avenue for privilege but as a sacred trust.

Among the finest was Shujaat Ali Siddiqi (19011980), a man whose life embodied integrity, courage and humility. A distinguished officer of the 1928 batch of the Indian Audit and Accounts Service, Siddiqi stood second in the competitive examination behind Chaudhri Muhammad Ali. While Chaudhri Muhammad Ali, like Malik Ghulam Muhammad and Iskander Mirza, rose to the highest political offices, Siddiqi consciously remained a servant of principle rather than power.

Known in British India as an elegantly dressed officer, Siddiqi underwent a profound spiritual transformation after performing Hajj in 1946. He abandoned Western attire for a simple kurta-pajama, sherwani and Jinnah cap, grew a flowing beard, and came to be affectionately known as Haji Sahab. That outward simplicity reflected an inner discipline which became the defining feature of his public life.

At Partition, Siddiqi was Controller General of Military Accounts at Meerut and was transferred to New Delhi as Deputy High Commissioner. Zahid Husain, the most senior Muslim civil servant of the time and an officer of the Indian Audit and Accounts Service, was serving as Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh University while on leave preparatory to retirement when appointed Pakistan&#39;s first High Commissioner to India. Both God-fearing civil servants were entrusted with establishing the High Commission in New Delhi and assisting refugees amidst unprecedented communal violence, working tirelessly under trying conditions. After Zahid Husain was transferred to Karachi to establish the State Bank of Pakistan, Siddiqi assumed charge as High Commissioner, serving passionately despite grave personal danger, so perilous that rumours of his death once reached his family in Karachi. Soon after, he returned to Pakistan as Military Accountant-General.

Qudratullah Shahab portrayed Siddiqi memorably in Shahab Nama, describing a man whose inner purity reflected his outward conduct. Occupying the high offices of Military Accountant-General and Auditor-General of Kashmir, Siddiqi remained deeply devoted to his faith. Shahab recalled that the moment the azan was heard, Siddiqi himself would rise to lead congregational prayers, exemplifying a sincerity that transcended formal duty.

That spirituality made him fearless. Nurul Hasan Jafery, Establishment Secretary in 1978, recounted in his published article &#39;Muntashir Yaadain&#39; an incident from his early career under Siddiqi. As a young officer, Jafery openly disagreed with his superior&#39;s orders to penalise striking employees. Expecting an adverse Annual Confidential Report, Jafery was astonished years later to discover Siddiqi had commended his defiance, writing: &quot;He is a headstrong officer, and it is a good quality in him that he holds his ground if he believes something to be correct.&quot;

Siddiqi&#39;s commitment to accountability was equally remarkable. When the Ministry of Finance questioned him over a newspaper delivered to his residence and a visit to Lyallpur (now Faisalabad), he replied with total transparency. The newspaper was delivered early to his home, read in his private time, carried to the office library, and sold as raddi at month&#39;s end in accordance with standing instructions. The cashier entered proceeds into official records, which were open for inspection. Regarding Lyallpur, Siddiqi explained he used his personal rapport with the Deputy Commissioner to facilitate refugee rehabilitation. As the Deputy Commissioner&#39;s guest, he claimed no daily allowance and even offered to refund his railway fare if the Ministry considered the journey unjustified.

His moral courage was unwavering. When Iskander Mirza (IPS, Indian Political Service), then Defence Secretary, attempted to interfere in financial matters regarding an accounts discrepancy, Siddiqi responded firmly. He reminded Mirza that he fell under the Ministry of Finance in financial matters and asserted his department had no &quot;Mir Jafars or Mir Sadiqs&quot;, a bold historical allusion few would dare make. When Mirza became Governor-General, he retaliated by making Siddiqi Pakistan&#39;s first Officer on Special Duty (OSD). Siddiqi accepted the slight without bitterness, considering transfers a small price for preserving an unblemished conscience.

His dealings with Governor-General Ghulam Muhammad (Indian Audit and Accounts Service) revealed another dimension. As Finance Minister, Ghulam Muhammad sought a favour for a junior official, which Siddiqi firmly refused on merit and service rules. Siddiqi was posted out. Yet when Ghulam Muhammad, gravely ill and spiritually distressed during his final days as Governor-General, sought religious counsel, Siddiqi harboured no resentment, presenting him a janamaz, tasbeeh and wazeefa to seek Divine forgiveness.

In 1948, Siddiqi authored Public Finance in Islam, a pioneering work that anticipated debates on Islamic economics and fiscal ethics. Following retirement, he published the fortnightly religious journal Wafaq (fostering harmony within the Muslim Ummah), financing it personally until his death in Karachi in 1980.

Although bypassed for Auditor-General of Pakistan for refusing to bend to power, his character endured. A devoted subordinate, Muhammad Siddiq, titled his biography Zauq-e-Parwaz, reflecting his long association with Siddiqi and detailing anecdotes of his moral striving. Siddiqi lived with his bags perpetually packed for transfer, yet his soul remained firmly anchored in the eternal.

As another devotee poignantly wrote upon his passing:

Jis zameen ki khaak mein pinhaan hua tera wajood

Us zameen ke zarre bargazeedah ho gaye]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/Haroon-Rashid-Siddiqi1624736949-0/Haroon-Rashid-Siddiqi1624736949-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Vanity, prisoner's dilemma and the logic of conflicts</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619520/vanity-prisoners-dilemma-and-the-logic-of-conflicts</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619520/vanity-prisoners-dilemma-and-the-logic-of-conflicts#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 19:06:00 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Dr Shujjat Ahmed]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619520</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Prisoner&#39;s Dilemma, from game theory, illustrates why two rational individuals may fail to cooperate even when it serves their best interests. In a classical example, two criminals are arrested for the same serious crime. Police, playing a good/bad cop routine, engineer betrayal to get to the truth. Both would benefit by cooperating and remaining silent. Yet each individual would think rationally in self-interest, which makes betrayal a dominant strategy, both speak against each other and get sentenced.

Conflicts involve at least two opponents. Their individual choices shape outcome; unless one has the competence to decisively achieve defined strategic objectives, muddled aims make the conflict a war of attrition trapped in micro-battles without winner or loser or end. What emerges is a rationality trap similar to Prisoner&#39;s quandary, where self-interest harms both sides, but cooperation would benefit both. The solution lies not on battlefield but in human nature.

To understand this dilemma, a distinction between rational and rationality must be made. A rational choice is rooted in reason not emotion, aligned with one&#39;s goals and coherent under given circumstances. Rationality, by contrast, is our faculty to process information and devise actions to achieve outcomes, for example, in an arms race where both sides incur escalating costs for armament regardless.

Human behaviour is complex and unpredictable. To me, rationality serves merely as a vassal for our deeper innate force of existence, which is our ability to make choices and create one&#39;s own unique life. Rumi (1273 CE) beautifully describes this: &quot;You are what you seek&quot; (Har chiz keh dar jostan-e ?ni, ?ni). This life-force is what I call &#39;Tangible Rationality&#39;, the rationality in the eye of the beholder, to which a person remains hostage till death. This is distinct from bounded rationality, and is the full expression of who we are.

Tangible Rationality is multi-dimensional and dynamic in nature. Each dimension shapes choices in its own way, ultimately converging in a unique action that maximises situation-specific benefit, with these dimensional agents being:

&#39;Anchored Agent&#39;: instinctively rooted in human nature and evolved through social, religious, moral, philosophical, legal, political frameworks and work-life obligations. In practice, neither its boundaries are absolute nor universally accepted; societal changes dilute past practices and shift rational compass: for instance, sati (when a wife was cremated with her deceased husband) was considered rational, later criminalised and abandoned; and societal shifts even override divine commandments (e.g., same-gender relations remain prohibited, but are now allowed in some countries, and their marriages are legally recognised).

&#39;Mechanical Agent&#39;: an amoral calculator indifferent to human emotions and ethical implications, focusing on maximising benefits like machine logic. Imagine profit-seeking through malpractice, elite capture and resource exploitation in self-interest, or aggression in pursuit of domination.

&#39;Pensive Agent&#39;: pivotal dimension where pertinent information and outputs of anchored and mechanical agents are integrated and evaluated. Options are scrutinised against trade-offs, personal preferences and cost-benefit analyses. The individual or group is aware of gravity of their decision and its impact on themselves and others.

Prisoner&#39;s Dilemma fails because criminals did not fully employ Tangible Rationality. Instead, they relied on Mechanical Agent for gain, chose self-interest and betrayed their partner. If Pensive Agent had been engaged, they would not have committed the crime in the first place.

The Prisoner&#39;s Dilemma is a microcosm of a far larger game we all play. Here, we consider a game between the prisoners: human beings and the prison: our needs and wants being survival, pleasure, power and at the top of this escalation ladder, Vanity.

Human existence necessitates survival through food, shelter and reproduction. There is no defection from these basic needs. Moving up the ladder is seeking pleasure by chasing wealth, status and indulgence, which begins defection through unfair means that harm others. Self-interest overcomes collective interest. Next stage is power, dominance, generational wealth and legacy. Once again, self-interest becomes a rational choice for the individual who defects via breaking rules, corruption, betrayals and exploiting others. Finally, Vanity: limitless need for superiority and admiration. The zenith of self-manifestation where shame becomes a rational choice, even callously destroying people&#39;s lives and institutions, and world order.

No example of human Vanity on grand scale illustrates this more starkly than the Iraq War of 2003. The US intelligence, later shown to be flawed, was backed by the UK, with no direct threat in sight, and no link to 9/11 event. Anchored Agent of international law and moral prohibition against unprovoked invasion was set aside. Mechanical Agent of strategic gains: oil, regional dominance, geopolitical leverage, became calculus. Pensive Agent trade-off of gains against chaos and destruction sealed the act of aggression. Decision where Tangible Rationality manifested in its most devastating form: hundreds of thousands of dead, region destabilised, ISIS emerged, and WMD were never found.

Fast forward today: Vanity resurfaced as US and Israel struck Iran in February 2026, justified by an alleged imminent threat from Iran (an assessment contradicted by an internal evaluation recently disclosed), with no direct danger to either nation. Yet war was launched and continued despite consequences spreading across the world. Once again, Anchored Agent was bypassed, Mechanical Agent of regional dominance drove calculus, and Pensive Agent sealed it. This was not a strategy, but a self-definition, and the choice was not about winning, but being the actor who wins, regardless of cost.

What fuels the move up the ladder was described by Hobbes (1651 CE) as &quot;a perpetual and restless desire of power after power, that ceaseth only in death&quot;. Russell (1950 CE) characterised human fallibility in four infinite desires (greed, rivalry, vanity, and love of power) and said these &quot;can never be fully gratified&quot; and would &quot;keep him restless even in Paradise&quot;. It is this restlessness and perpetual seeking that Rumi understood as the essence of human existence.

What we seek is what we are. And what the most powerful seek, in the end, is themselves - the world bears the cost of that seeking. How to avoid this? Strengthening national and international institutions, peer review of intelligence assessments, and diligent appraisal of consequences for a hyper-connected world, not just self-interest.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/shujaat-ahmed1756067289-0/shujaat-ahmed1756067289-0.jpeg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Spain won the World Cup; Fifa lost something more important</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619519/spain-won-the-world-cup-fifa-lost-something-more-important</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619519/spain-won-the-world-cup-fifa-lost-something-more-important#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 19:06:00 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Faisal Kutty]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619519</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Spain deserved to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup. From the opening match to the final whistle, it played the tournament&#39;s most complete football. Patient without being predictable, disciplined without sacrificing imagination, Spain eventually overcame an extraordinary Emiliano Mart&iacute;nez, whose goalkeeping almost single-handedly kept Argentina alive. Ferran Torres&#39; extra-time winner settled the final, while Lionel Messi embraced 19-year-old Lamine Yamal in a poignant passing of the torch between two generations of football greatness.

Those are the moments that should define this World Cup.

Instead, the tournament also exposed uncomfortable truths about FIFA and the widening gap between the values it proclaims and the standards it applies. FIFA likes to describe football as the world&#39;s game. It speaks the language of neutrality, inclusion and universality. Every qualified nation, it says, belongs on football&#39;s biggest stage on equal terms.

The 2026 World Cup suggested otherwise.

No team illustrated that contradiction more clearly than Iran. Unlike other teams, it faced extraordinary logistical obstacles because of US visa restrictions. The Iranian delegation based itself in Mexico and travelled to the US for matches rather than operating under the same conditions as most other teams. Visa problems also affected officials, journalists and supporters, limiting participation in an event that FIFA insists belongs to the entire world.

None of this was Iran&#39;s doing. Nor was it solely the responsibility of the US.

FIFA chose the hosts. It awarded the tournament knowing that immigration policies and geopolitical tensions could directly affect participation. Once a country qualifies, FIFA has a responsibility to ensure that every team competes under conditions that are as equal as reasonably possible. Instead, it largely treated the matter as someone else&#39;s problem.

That response reflected a broader pattern.

Russia remained excluded from international football because of its invasion of Ukraine. Israel, despite its devastation of Gaza, continued to participate in World Cup qualifying.

If FIFA believes that armed conflict or violations of international law can justify excluding one state from competition, it must explain why similar standards do not apply elsewhere. If it believes sport should remain separate from politics, then that principle should also be applied consistently.

Selective neutrality is politics by another name. That perception has consequences extending far beyond football. Across much of the Global South, there is a growing belief that international institutions often apply one standard to powerful states and another to everyone else. Whether discussing international law, human rights or global governance, accusations of double standards have become increasingly common. During this World Cup, FIFA did little to challenge that perception. If anything, it reinforced it.

The symbolism extended beyond questions of sanctions.

Throughout the tournament, FIFA President Gianni Infantino appeared increasingly comfortable alongside political leaders, particularly President Trump. The visible closeness between FIFA&#39;s leadership and political power raised legitimate questions about whether the organisation has become too willing to blur the line between sporting governance and political theatre.

That was unfortunate because the football deserved better.

This was, in many respects, an outstanding World Cup. Spain played magnificent football. Messi reminded us why he remains one of the greatest players the game has known. Yamal confirmed that football&#39;s future is in exceptional hands.

Those are the memories supporters should carry home.

FIFA, however, should leave this tournament with different memories. It should ask whether a governing body that speaks so often about universality can continue to tolerate unequal access to its own competition; whether neutrality means applying the same principles to every conflict or simply avoiding difficult decisions; and whether the world&#39;s most popular sport can continue to claim moral authority if its governing institutions appear increasingly selective in the values they choose to defend.

Spain won the World Cup.

Whether FIFA emerged with its credibility intact is a far more difficult question.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/faisal-kutty1746388821-0/faisal-kutty1746388821-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Delayed justice</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619518/delayed-justice</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619518/delayed-justice#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 19:06:00 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619518</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Justice delayed may not always amount to justice denied, but it inevitably comes at a cost that no court order can fully repair. More than three decades after a Karachi Transport Corporation (KTC) bus struck and permanently disabled a young pedestrian, a civil court has finally ordered the Sindh government to pay Rs10 million in compensation to the victim. The verdict is significant because it sends a clear message that negligent driving and institutional irresponsibility carry consequences.

The judgment is important because it reinforces the principle of accountability. Reckless driving is frequently dismissed as an unfortunate accident rather than the predictable outcome of negligence. Every year, countless families lose loved ones or see them permanently disabled. Yet meaningful accountability remains rare. Criminal prosecutions are often delayed and civil claims languish for years while victims are left to shoulder the financial and emotional burden alone. A substantial compensation award changes that calculus. It establishes that those responsible cannot simply move on after causing irreversible harm. Financial liability may not restore a lost limb or a lost life, but it does create a deterrent. Equally, it reminds government agencies that they cannot evade responsibility. Yet while the judgment deserves to be welcomed, it is impossible to overlook the extraordinary delay. The accident occurred in 1992. The lawsuit was filed in 1994. The final decision arrived only after the case was transferred following amendments to the Sindh Civil Courts Act, more than three decades later. By then, an entire generation had passed.

Such delays undermine confidence in the justice system and diminish the value of legal remedies. Compensation awarded after 30 years is not the same as compensation awarded when it could have meaningfully supported rehabilitation and treatment.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/Editorial-New1131222/Editorial-New1131222.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>And now Burnham</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619517/and-now-burnham</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619517/and-now-burnham#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 19:06:00 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619517</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Former Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham strode through the gates of Buckingham Palace on Monday and into 10 Downing Street as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the seventh person to have held the post in the past decade. He began the day by chopping mushrooms at a homeless shelter - signaling his desire to make homelessness one of his signature issues - before meeting with the king to formally accept the premiership. Hours later, he was on the phone with US President Donald Trump, discussing the FIFA World Cup and the Hormuz Strait.

As Mayor of Manchester, Burnham established a reputation as an everyman. His speech outside No 10 continued to build on that image - no lectern, no notes, no teleprompter. And it began with a striking admission of the revolving-door nature of his job. &quot;I am acutely conscious that I am the sixth person in the last ten years to walk up this street, the seventh prime minister since 2016,&quot; he told the nation before outlining his vision for the future.

Why that matters is because Burnham&#39;s predecessor, Keir Starmer, was widely derided for lacking vision. Burnham, just by virtue of having a plan, is already looking to be one of the best British prime ministers in a decade. With only three years to the next election and the far-right Reform Party leading in the polls, it is up to him to make sure that Britain can break out of the cycle of political turbulence in which it has been trapped since the Brexit referendum in 2016. If he fails, it will only increase cynicism among voters.

Indeed, Burnham&#39;s first step - setting out a 10-year plan - suggests he is at least hoping to win reelection, which would not only require hitting the ground running, but also successfully projecting any achievements, which is another thing that critics say the Starmer cabinet failed to do.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/Editorial-New1131222/Editorial-New1131222.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Grand dialogue a must</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619516/grand-dialogue-a-must</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619516/grand-dialogue-a-must#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 19:06:00 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619516</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[PTI&#39;s offer of a national grand dialogue is worth appreciating and must pave the way for addressing the lingering political instability. The onus, however, is on the coalition government to take the extra few steps towards extending an olive branch to the opposition. That, of course, entails providing them with their due political space, letting the law take its course without any coercion in deciding the pending litigations, and subsequently releasing political prisoners including Imran Khan. That is neither an impossible task to attain nor an ill-advised route to undertake if reconciliation is to be ensured in the larger national interest.

The point is that all previous attempts to talk it out could not see the light of day because of preconditions from both sides. Thus, PTI Secretary-General Salman Akram Raja&#39;s call for a huddle involving all political parties, the security establishment, civil society and other stakeholders is an opportunity in disaster to move forward. The roadmap should be to restore the confidence of the masses in Parliament, establish the writ of the law and undo the discrepancies that have undermined the supremacy of the judiciary.

This time around, PTI&#39;s call for talks carries a spirit of adaptability. It has categorically said that it will &quot;not talk to the powers-that-be&quot; and at the same time will not &quot;compromise&quot; on constitutional rights. This is a departure from its earlier stance, as the party was adamant that it would only talk to those who matter, derailing all attempts for a political dialogue. As this initiative has come on the eve of a proposed street agitation marking the third year of the PTI chief&#39;s incarceration, it should lead to some ice-breaking, causing the political mercury to come down.

PTI, TTAP and the government would be better advised to make their positions clear and let a grand rapprochement set in. The evolving regional situation marred by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has made life miserable for commoners due to the resulting rise in oil prices. Moreover, a spike in terror incidents is further crippling the situation at home. The country cannot afford political bickering anymore.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/Editorial-New1131222/Editorial-New1131222.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Kabir's lesson for the age of AI</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619515/kabirs-lesson-for-the-age-of-ai</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619515/kabirs-lesson-for-the-age-of-ai#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 19:06:00 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Dr Intikhab Ulfat]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619515</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Few verses in South Asia&#39;s intellectual tradition have travelled across centuries with as much relevance as Bhagat Kabir&#39;s celebrated couplet:

Guru Govind dou khade, kake lagoon paay?

Balihari guru aapne, Govind diyo batay.

&quot;If both my teacher and God stood before me, whose feet should I touch first? I bow first to my teacher, for it was the teacher who showed me the way to God.&quot;

Read literally, the verse may appear unsettling. Read as Kabir intended, as metaphor and spiritual insight, it becomes one of the finest tributes ever paid to education. Kabir was not placing the teacher above the Divine. He was acknowledging a profound truth: before one can seek ultimate truth, one must first learn how to seek. The teacher does not replace the destination; the teacher reveals the path.

When I completed my PhD, I dedicated my thesis to one of my teachers, and Kabir&#39;s words inspired that dedication. It was not a theological statement but an intellectual acknowledgement. Whatever ability I possess to question, investigate, analyse and distinguish evidence from opinion was cultivated by teachers who encouraged curiosity rather than conformity. My thesis carried my name, but its foundations had been laid much earlier by teachers who taught me not merely what to think, but how to think.

That distinction has become even more important today. We live in an age where artificial intelligence can write essays, translate languages, solve problems and summarise books within seconds. Information has never been more abundant. Yet the central question of education has changed. It is no longer simply, &quot;Where can I find information?&quot; but &quot;How do I know what is true, reliable and worth believing?&quot;

This is where Kabir&#39;s wisdom becomes strikingly contemporary.

Artificial intelligence can retrieve information, but it cannot replace wisdom. It can generate convincing answers, but it cannot cultivate intellectual humility. It can process vast data, yet it cannot teach integrity, judgment or moral responsibility. These qualities emerge through thoughtful teachers who challenge assumptions, encourage scepticism, nurture imagination and show that learning is an ethical as well as an intellectual pursuit.

History confirms this reality. Socrates left behind no books, yet transformed philosophy through Plato. Plato shaped Aristotle, whose influence extended far beyond his lifetime. In Islamic civilisation, knowledge flourished through living chains of teachers and students. Great centres of learning became great not only because they possessed manuscripts, but because they produced minds capable of interpreting them.

This reverence for teachers transcends cultures. Confucius in China, Socrates in Greece, the Guru in the Indian tradition and the Mu&#39;allim in Islamic thought all represent the same principle: education is fundamentally a human relationship. Facts may be transmitted electronically, but wisdom still travels through conversation, mentorship and example.

Unfortunately, modern society often swings between two flawed extremes. One turns teachers into unquestionable figures; the other reduces them to service providers measured only by examinations or employment outcomes. Both views diminish education. A true teacher is neither an object of worship nor merely an employee. A teacher is a guide - a lamp that illuminates the road without claiming to be the destination.

This is precisely what Kabir wished to convey. His verse is not about placing the teacher above God; it is about recognising that every meaningful journey begins with someone who teaches us how to walk. The teacher is not truth itself, but the first guide towards truth.

When I look back at the dedication page of my PhD thesis, I realise it was never only gratitude to one individual. It was an acknowledgement of a timeless fact: every scholar carries the invisible fingerprints of teachers.

Kabir understood this centuries ago. In an age fascinated by artificial intelligence, his couplet reminds us that the greatest intelligence has always been, and will remain, profoundly human.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/Dr-Intikhab-Ulfat1721332256-0/Dr-Intikhab-Ulfat1721332256-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Petrol pump owners announce nationwide shutdown after talks with govt fail</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619513/petrol-pump-owners-announce-nationwide-shutdown-after-talks-with-govt-fail</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619513/petrol-pump-owners-announce-nationwide-shutdown-after-talks-with-govt-fail#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 18:08:48 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619513</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Rejects government's daily fuel price review mechanism, says strike will continue until its demands are accepted]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The All Pakistan Petrol Pumps Owners Association (APPPOA) on Tuesday announced a nationwide shutdown of petrol pumps from Tuesday night after talks with the government over its demands ended without a breakthrough.

Amid volatility in global oil prices following renewed hostilities in the Middle East, the government last week switched to a daily fuel price review mechanism. Under the new system, daily prices are based on a seven-day average of international market rates to align with international standards.

Addressing a press conference, the association&#39;s chairman, Humayun Khan, said representatives of the All Pakistan Petrol Pump Association from all four provinces, as well as Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir, had met Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik and presented two key demands.

Read: Govt raises petrol price by Rs4.93, HSD by Rs7.15 per litre for July 22

&ldquo;Our two main demands were that our commission should be converted to a percentage-based system and that the daily revision of fuel prices should be abolished and reverted to a monthly mechanism,&rdquo; he said.

He said the talks had failed to resolve the association&#39;s concerns.

&ldquo;Our problems remain unresolved. If you look at the situation with the oil marketing companies (OMCs), dealers across Pakistan are currently going through extremely difficult circumstances,&rdquo; he said.

Criticising the government&#39;s decision to revise petroleum product prices on a daily basis to align them with international rates, Khan said dealers across Pakistan had been incurring losses for the past two to three months.

&ldquo;The price was increased yesterday and we are hearing that it will be increased again today. The government has shifted the burden onto petrol pumps, OMCs and refineries to escape public criticism, saying it is no longer their responsibility,&rdquo; he said, adding that the authorities were misleading the public by increasing prices every day.

&ldquo;The public understands this very well. Whether you increase prices by Rs100 at once or by Rs5, Rs10 or Rs20 every day, the result is the same,&rdquo; Khan added.

The chairman said the association had urged the government to resolve the issue in a manner that was fair to both the public and petrol pump owners but, despite every effort, &ldquo;we have come to realise that this government does not want to resolve the problems of the business community.&rdquo;

He announced a nationwide shutdown, including in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir, adding that the association was also in contact with oil tanker owners, who would soon announce their own strike.

Also Read: Govt shifts to daily POL pricing amid global headwinds 

He urged the government to listen to the concerns of the business community, describing petrol pump owners as the biggest stakeholders in the petroleum industry. He lamented that whenever the government formulated a policy, petrol pump owners were not taken into consultation.

He said the shutdown would continue until all of the association&#39;s demands were accepted.

Earlier, talks between the government and the association failed to produce a breakthrough, with both sides ending the meeting without any progress.

In a video message, association leader Nauman Butt said negotiations with the petroleum minister had failed to yield any positive outcome, while discussions on dealers&#39; margins and the implementation of daily fuel price revisions also remained inconclusive.

He said the association had decided to shut petrol pumps across the country from midnight on July 22 and would continue the nationwide strike until its demands were accepted.

The association directed all petrol pump owners to participate in the strike fully and appealed to them to keep their outlets closed from midnight on July 22.

Read More: Daily fuel revisions trigger commuting chaos

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance announced its support for the strike called by the association.

In a statement, the alliance&#39;s president, Malik Shehzad Awan, urged the federal government to accept what he described as the legitimate demands of the All Pakistan Petrol Pump Association and the Petroleum Dealers Association.

Awan said transporters, petrol pump owners and the dealers&#39; association were heading towards a nationwide strike due to what he called the federal government&#39;s flawed policies.

He also rejected the government&#39;s decision to revise petroleum product prices daily.

&ldquo;The strike by the All Pakistan Petrol Pump Owners Association and the Petroleum Dealers Association will bring our transport operations to a halt,&rdquo; he said.

He urged the federal government to &ldquo;come to its senses&rdquo; and make decisions after taking stakeholders into confidence.

Awan also said the federal and provincial governments were providing no relief to goods transporters.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/petrol-pump111784658630-0/petrol-pump111784658630-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Pentagon running short on funds, largely due to Iran war: Report</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619512/pentagon-running-short-on-funds-largely-due-to-iran-war-report</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619512/pentagon-running-short-on-funds-largely-due-to-iran-war-report#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 18:01:49 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Anadolu Agency]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619512</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Budget strain cuts military training as renewed Iran fighting threatens to drive defence costs even higher]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Pentagon is confronting an urgent funding shortfall driven largely by the war in Iran, with key military accounts expected to run dry within weeks as US President Donald Trump expands the conflict, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday, citing US officials.

The budget strain has already forced the military to scale back training and maintenance that support readiness, the report said. The collapse of the ceasefire with Iran is expected to increase costs further after four US service members were killed during renewed fighting, raising expectations of a broader conflict.

The White House has requested $67 billion in emergency funding, but Congress remains deadlocked. With the House set to begin a month-long recess, additional military funding is unlikely in the near term.

&ldquo;Everybody needs to look at this situation and get rid of the complacency that they have,&rdquo; Rep. Pat Harrigan, a Republican member of the House Armed Services Committee, said in an interview.

After publication of the original report, Pentagon press secretary Sean Parnell said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth would &ldquo;do whatever is necessary&rdquo; to maintain military readiness and called defense funding &ldquo;essential.&rdquo;

Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine are scheduled to press the administration&rsquo;s funding request before the Senate Appropriations Committee, while White House budget director Russell Vought is expected to brief Republican lawmakers.

Prolonged conflict

Trump launched the air campaign in late February, predicting it would end within weeks, and later suggested numerous times that the war was nearly over or won, but the conflict has stretched on for months. Iran&rsquo;s closure of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted global oil and fertilizer trade, adding to economic instability.

Read More: Trump says US will strike reported Iranian nuclear site at Pickaxe Mountain &#39;very heavily&#39;

Vought told lawmakers the war had cost about $30 billion so far, though analysts estimate the total is significantly higher because it excludes rebuilding US bases damaged by Iranian attacks.

The prolonged conflict has placed heavy demands on the US Navy and Air Force, with funding for ongoing operations projected to run out by the end of the month.

To keep operating until the new fiscal year begins on Oct. 1, the Pentagon has shifted money from training, maintenance, and weapons procurement, leading to canceled exercises and deferred upkeep.

The Defense Department has also asked Congress to approve the transfer of $4.3 billion from training and weapons programs to higher-priority needs, but lawmakers have yet to act. A Trump administration official said the White House is also considering redirecting additional funds to Pentagon operations, though that would come at the expense of other programs.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/1397793-pentagon-1493574516/1397793-pentagon-1493574516.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Govt raises petrol price by Rs4.93, HSD by Rs7.15 per litre for July 22</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619510/govt-raises-petrol-price-by-rs493-hsd-by-rs715-per-litre</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619510/govt-raises-petrol-price-by-rs493-hsd-by-rs715-per-litre#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 17:45:43 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619510</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Petrol will cost Rs320.73 per litre, while high-speed diesel has been fixed at Rs367.21]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The federal government on Tuesday increased the prices of petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs4.93 and Rs7.15 per litre, respectively, for July 22.

According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Petroleum, the price of petrol has been fixed at Rs320.73 per litre, while HSD will now cost Rs367.21 per litre.

Amid volatility in global oil rates on the back of renewed hostilities in the Middle East, the government decided to switch to a&nbsp;daily&nbsp;fuel price review mechanism on Friday. The daily pricing is based on a seven-day weekly&nbsp;average&nbsp;of international market prices to align with international standards.

Read:&nbsp;Govt shifts to daily POL pricing amid global headwinds

On Monday, the government raised the price of high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs5.71 per litre while cutting the price of petrol by 35 paisas per litre for one day.

The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority will update petroleum product prices daily on its website to ensure&nbsp;transparency&nbsp;and allow the immediate impact of international price fluctuations to be passed on to consumers.

Officials said international oil prices had&nbsp;surged&nbsp;again following the renewed conflict between Iran and the United States and concerns over the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, threatening global oil supplies, including those to Pakistan.

Domestic fuel prices had initially declined following the Iran-US peace deal but started rising again after fresh hostilities resumed.

The renewed conflict has also raised concerns over potential fuel&nbsp;shortages&nbsp;in the country.

High-speed diesel is widely used in the transport and agriculture sectors, while petrol is primarily consumed by motorcycles and cars. Officials said petrol demand has increased following restrictions on the use of indigenous gas in Punjab.

...................

More to follow.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/673967-8257282-updates1784576940-0/673967-8257282-updates1784576940-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>US, Mexico resume USMCA trade talks as Trump hits Canada with new tariffs</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619509/us-mexico-resume-usmca-trade-talks-as-trump-hits-canada-with-new-tariffs</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619509/us-mexico-resume-usmca-trade-talks-as-trump-hits-canada-with-new-tariffs#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 17:39:33 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619509</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[US and Mexico begin first formal USMCA talks since Washington declined to extend the trade pact on July 1]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[US and Mexican ​trade negotiators will meet for a third round of bilateral talks on Tuesday to try to push forward with revising the North American trade agreement, just as President &zwnj;Donald Trump slaps Canada with a new set of punitive duties.

The talks, which exclude Canada, are set to run for three days and are the first formal discussions on changes to the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement since the Trump administration&nbsp;declined to extend&nbsp;the six-year-old regional trade pact on July 1.

The move started a clock to wind down USMCA within 10 years unless the three countries can agree on improvements. Industry groups have urged Trump to keep intact the trilateral structure and largely tariff-free ​access that underpins nearly $1.6 trillion in annual trade.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, who is due to join the talks on Wednesday, said that Trump&#39;s &quot;number one goal&quot; for USMCA was to see ​lower U.S. trade deficits with Canada and Mexico and more manufacturing reshored to the US.

The US goods trade deficit with Mexico grew last year by $28 billion, ⁠or 17%, to $197 billion, according to data from the US Census Bureau, which comes under the Commerce Department. The US trade gap with Canada fell by $12.9 billion or 21% last year to $48.3 billion.

&quot;We want ​the outcomes to make sense. We want to have more auto manufacturing here, and we&#39;re seeing it,&quot; Greer told CNBC on Tuesday, citing some moves by automakers to open new assembly capacity in the US, ​including Toyota&#39;s&nbsp;expansion of a Texas plant&nbsp;to build trucks now assembled in Mexico.

&quot;So that&#39;s the outcome that he wants,&quot; Greer added. &quot;I think also if we can have an arrangement with Mexico, with Canada, that we are trying to emphasize Canadian, Mexican, US content in goods traded in North America, that&#39;s a good outcome because that helps get supply chains back here in North America.&quot;

During bilateral USMCA talks with Mexico in May, USTR proposed requiring that 50% of the value of ​North American-built vehicles originate in the United States, a significant departure from current rules and a difficult adjustment for automakers with highly integrated regional supply chains.

Year-end goal 

Mexico&#39;s new ambassador to the US, Roberto Lazzeri, ​said on Friday that Mexico was expecting to reach a new deal by the end of the year, and that he believes the US. and Canada are aiming for the same goal.

&quot;Every moment that we&#39;re losing, I think &zwnj;we are ⁠losing competitiveness, market share and investment, so it&#39;s in the best interest of all three of us to get to a position of resolution soon,&quot; said Lazzeri, a former investment banker and finance ministry official.

He added that Mexico shares the Trump administration&#39;s goal of bringing more manufacturing to North America, including to the US Another key goal for Mexico is to win some relief from Trump&#39;s 25% national security tariffs on Mexican autos and 50% on its steel and aluminum products, duties also applied to Canada.

Tariff setback for Canada 

The talks come a day after the Trump administration announced new tariffs on&nbsp;nearly $20 billion worth&nbsp;of Canadian goods ​over Ottawa&#39;s retaliatory tariffs on US autos, steel, aluminum ​and liquor and its high dairy tariffs.

That move ⁠deepens a rift that has kept Canada largely sidelined in the USMCA negotiations, as Greer has decried&nbsp;little movement&nbsp;towards concessions.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a statement that his government had made comprehensive proposals to resolve trade disputes with Washington, adding that Trump&#39;s past tariffs violated the North American trade pact.

Read More: US imposes new 50% tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian products

Greer ​has meanwhile lauded Mexico for its lack of retaliation to US tariffs and &quot;pragmatic&quot; approach to negotiations that include work to align Mexico&#39;s export controls ​with those of the US, ⁠steps to protect intellectual property rights and moving to curb the export of avocados grown on illegally deforested land.

Autos and economic security 

The talks in Mexico City will dig into technical details of US-Mexico trade in autos, steel, aluminum, agriculture and labor, according to Greer&#39;s office.

The discussions will also focus on &quot;economic security,&quot; USTR&#39;s term for raising regional trade protections to keep China and other Asian countries from using Mexico and Canada to access the lucrative ⁠US market on ​preferential terms.

China&#39;s growing footprint in Mexico&#39;s car market represents a potential irritant in the talks. Reuters on Monday reported that new ​distribution figures showed Chinese car sales&nbsp;rose 30%&nbsp;in the first half of 2026, despite 50% tariffs imposed in January, with Chinese brands raising their market share to 17% from 14% a year earlier.

People familiar with the talks have said that the US wants ​its North American partners to erect similar trade barriers to non-regional goods, including vehicles, auto parts, steel, aluminum and other components.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/mexico-r1784656585-0/mexico-r1784656585-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Burnham targets lower energy bills in first move as UK prime minister</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619499/burnham-targets-lower-energy-bills-in-first-move-as-uk-prime-minister</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619499/burnham-targets-lower-energy-bills-in-first-move-as-uk-prime-minister#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 16:45:02 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[REUTERS]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619499</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[He appointed allies who helped him rise and removed senior figures loyal to former leader, including Reeves.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[British Prime Minister&nbsp;Andy Burnham&nbsp;said on Tuesday he would cut taxes on electricity bills, the first of several early moves to signal his intent to ease cost-of-living pressures and ​quell anger over successive governments&#39; failure to bring change.

On his second day in his new job, Burnham said his government would&nbsp;remove the value-added tax&nbsp;from domestic electricity &zwnj;bills from October 1, cutting around &pound;45 from the average annual bill of around &pound;1,862 ($2,490) that households pay.

With bond&nbsp;investors watching closely&nbsp;for&nbsp;how any fiscal support would be paid for, he said the move would be funded by savings from the cancellation of a &pound;1.8 billion&nbsp;digital ID programme, announced on Sunday.

&quot;We&#39;re taking immediate action to cut taxes on energy bills, put more money in people&#39;s pockets and bring back hope,&quot; he said in a statement, having pledged to give people more &quot;breathing ​space&quot; in their lives.

Burnham tries to move quickly to offer support

Burnham, a 56-year-old former Greater Manchester mayor, wants to move quickly to show people he is &quot;serious about helping them ​out&quot;.

He said on Monday his&nbsp;early policies&nbsp;might not &quot;take all of the pressure off&quot; people struggling with rising prices and that a longer-term plan would be ⁠set out later in the year.

But his calls for the governing Labour Party to get behind his agenda might have fallen on deaf ears. An ally of former prime minister&nbsp;Keir Starmer, Darren ​Jones, said the digital ID scheme was unfunded, questioning whether the new leader had the money to cover his policy move on energy bills.

Read More: Britain&#39;s new prime minister, Andy Burnham, vows to end years of instability

&quot;The government will have to set out how it will pay ​for its new policies at the budget,&quot; Jones said on X.

Markets are listening&nbsp;keenly to how Burnham and his unexpected pick for finance minister, the former defence secretary&nbsp;John Healey, plan to finance the support, after&nbsp;borrowing costs rose&nbsp;on Monday.

First cabinet meeting 

At his first cabinet meeting of top ministers, Burnham again stressed that fiscal discipline was the touchstone for his new government as was a push to make life more affordable.

&quot;(It&#39;s) a second chance at a first impression,&quot; ​he told his ministers, according to his spokesperson.

Healey, who&nbsp;quit as defence minister&nbsp;under Starmer in protest at the lack of funding for the sector, reinforced the message about fiscal discipline and warned his ​cabinet colleagues they would have to look hard at their budgets.

Both Burnham and Healey acknowledged the move on electricity bills might not remove cost-of-living pressures, but the finance minister said it &quot;does indicate that we&#39;re offering a bit of &zwnj;help&quot;.

That went some ⁠way to answer the criticism from energy experts, who questioned whether the change would have a deep impact on households, especially when gas prices have risen due to the&nbsp;conflict in the Middle East, making it likely that the price cap on energy bills will rise in October.

Energy bills have been one of the main drivers of Britain&#39;s cost-of-living crunch after the wholesale gas price, which heavily influences British electricity prices, surged after Russia&#39;s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The Conservative government at the time spent billions of pounds to shield households through the energy price guarantee. But while prices eased from ​mid-2023, they remain up to 60% higher than ​before the energy crisis.

Ruth Curtice, chief executive ⁠of the Resolution Foundation, said the move could benefit higher income families because the cuts were not targeted. &quot;With bills still set to rise over &pound;150 this October, this money would have been better spent on more targeted support,&quot; she said in a statement.

Revolving door of leaders 

Burnham has said he will unveil ​more early policies, telling reporters on Monday he wanted his new government &quot;to do some things that people will feel and feel quite quickly&quot;, especially ​those on the lowest ⁠incomes.

Also Read: Andy Burnham becomes UK&#39;s seventh prime minister in a decade

It is a strategy he hopes can win back voters to Labour and fight a challenge from the populist Reform UK, led by Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage.

There is a lot at stake.

Dubbed the &quot;King of the North&quot; for his dogged defence of Greater Manchester, Burnham is the most popular leader of Britain&#39;s main political parties, for now.

But Britain&#39;s&nbsp;revolving door of prime ministers&nbsp;over the past decade has underlined how quickly parties can move ⁠against leaders who ​are not seen as delivering for voters.

In his&nbsp;first speech as prime minister&nbsp;on Monday, Burnham said his ambition was ​to end rough sleeping in Britain.

To ease pressures on families, he is also expected to look at possible caps to bus fares &mdash; something he did in Manchester &mdash; and other measures, to back up his assertion that &quot;I will put the care of ​people at the heart of everything I do&quot;.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/andy-cabinet1784654576-0/andy-cabinet1784654576-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Ceferin skipped World Cup final</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619498/ceferin-skipped-world-cup-final</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619498/ceferin-skipped-world-cup-final#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 16:36:48 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619498</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[UEFA-FIFA tensions rise over controversial decisions]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Aleksander Ceferin, the head of UEFA, boycotted the World Cup final to show unhappiness with FIFA, British media reported Monday.

The relationship between European football&#39;s governing body and the game&#39;s global federation is under strain.

One cause was FIFA&#39;s unexplained decision to suspend a red card for United States striker Folarin Balogun before a World Cup game against Belgium after US President Donald Trump asked FIFA head Gianni Infantino to &quot;review&quot; the sending off.&nbsp;

UEFA was unhappy that Infantino bowed to perceived political pressure from the host and called the decision by FIFA&#39;s disciplinary committee &quot;unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable&quot; and said it &quot;crossed a red line&quot;.

Other sources of tension were FIFA&#39;s acquiesence when US authorities refused to allow Somali referee Omar Artan to enter the country. UEFA responded by appointing Artan to officiate its Super Cup final next month.

FIFA was also unable to ensure Iran was treated the same way as other teams playing in the United States. Coach Amir Ghalenoei said his team were the &quot;most oppressed&quot; at the World Cup. US Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said he &quot;danced a happy dance&quot; when Iran were knocked out.

UEFA has also, so far, refused to adopt some of FIFA&#39;s World Cup innovations, such as hydration breaks, the &quot;mistaken identity&quot; VAR protocol, which led to the sending off of Breel Embolo in Switzerland&#39;s quarter-final loss to Argentina, or the cards for players who cover their mouths talking to an opponent.

Ceferin also criticised the enlarged 48-team tournament before it kicked off.

&quot;We have a lot of matches that are completely uninteresting,&quot; he was quoted as saying in a newspaper in his native Slovenia.

Ceferin has also been publicly critical of World Cup ticket prices.&nbsp;

UEFA has said that it would continue to offer two &#39;fan first&#39; ticket categories at the 2028 Euros in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It said that 40 percent of tickets would either be priced below 30 pounds (35 euros or $40) or below 60 pounds. It has also promised not to adopt dynamic pricing.

Ceferin did attend the opening match of the tournament in Mexico City on June 11.&nbsp;]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/img-95151784651885-0/img-95151784651885-0.jpeg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>How a 64-team World Cup could transform soccer's economics</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619497/how-a-64-team-world-cup-could-transform-soccers-economics</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619497/how-a-64-team-world-cup-could-transform-soccers-economics#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 16:30:09 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619497</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The format could add roughly another week to the tournament]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The first 48-team&nbsp;World Cup&nbsp;has barely finished, but Gianni Infantino has already acknowledged the possibility that soccer&#39;s biggest tournament could one day grow larger still, a move that could fundamentally alter the economics of the sport.

Speaking to Swiss television during the tournament, the FIFA &zwnj;president said a 64-team World Cup was among the&nbsp;ideas that could be examined&nbsp;once the finals were over, reopening debate over how large the game&rsquo;s showpiece event can realistically become.

The logistical implications of another expansion are obvious. A bigger tournament would require more stadiums, more hotels, more transport and, most likely, more time.

But the financial implications could prove even more significant. By making qualification easier for many of the game&rsquo;s biggest nations, a 64-team tournament could reduce the commercial value of qualifying competitions while increasing the importance of FIFA&rsquo;s own flagship event.

If broadcasters place less value on qualifying campaigns, soccer&#39;s six regional confederations could become increasingly dependent on FIFA&rsquo;s own distributions, potentially shifting more financial influence &mdash; and power &mdash; towards the global governing body.

&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think it&rsquo;s a good idea for the World Cup itself, and it&rsquo;s not a good idea for our qualifiers either. ⁠So I&rsquo;m not supporting that idea,&rdquo; UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said last year. The European governing body&rsquo;s position has not changed since then.

Asian Football Confederation President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa has also voiced opposition, questioning last year where further expansion might end.

FIFA did not reply to requests for comment.

&quot;I think it is important that when you want to organise a World Cup, you do it for the whole world &mdash; not just Europe and South America,&quot; Infantino said when discussing the idea of an expanded tournament. &ldquo;If you don&rsquo;t give smaller countries a chance to participate in the World Cup, they&rsquo;ll lack the incentive to keep improving.&rdquo;

CHALLENGES ON AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT SCALE

The 2026 tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States was the first since 1998 to move away from the 32-team format, expanding to 48 nations and 104 matches over more than five weeks.

If the competition retained the same basic structure, with four-team groups followed by a 32-team knockout stage, a 64-team World Cup would comprise 128 matches &mdash; 24 more than in 2026 and double the total staged under the old 32-team format.

Unless FIFA compressed the schedule or staged more games simultaneously, that could add roughly another week to a tournament already lasting more than five weeks.

Plans are in place for Spain, Portugal and Morocco to stage most of the 2030 finals, with Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay each hosting a single &zwnj;opening-round match to ⁠mark the tournament&rsquo;s centenary.

Accommodating 64 teams across six host nations presents a formidable organisational challenge. Doing so in a single country could prove even more demanding.

Saudi Arabia, due to host the tournament alone in 2034, already faces significant scheduling questions. Ramadan is expected to begin in mid-November that year, making the November-December window used for the 2022 World Cup in neighbouring Qatar difficult to replicate and potentially forcing another unprecedented reshaping of the global football calendar.

A 64-team tournament would magnify those challenges, requiring more stadiums, training facilities, hotels, transport capacity and volunteers while placing additional pressure on infrastructure in a country still developing its tourism industry.

The Saudis have proposed 15 venues for the existing 48-team format, with eight stadiums in Riyadh, four in Jeddah and others in Khobar, ⁠Neom, and Abha. Construction and renovation work is already under way ahead of the 2027 Asian Cup.

DOMESTIC PRESSURE

An expanded World Cup would also place greater strain on an already congested international calendar and increase pressure on domestic leagues, many of which have aligned themselves with Europe&rsquo;s traditional August-to-May season.

Japan&rsquo;s J-League is about to begin its&nbsp;first August-to-May campaign, while U.S. Major League Soccer plans a similar switch from next year. Any future winter World Cup would therefore disrupt an ever-growing number of competitions rather than primarily Europe&rsquo;s ⁠major leagues, as was the case in 2022.

World Cups can be costly for national federations, even rich ones like France. The French Football Federation had been expecting to spend 24.5 million euros ($28 million) at this year&#39;s World Cup, with federation president Philippe Diallo saying Les Bleus would probably need to at least reach the semi-finals not to lose money.

At the April FIFA Congress in Vancouver, Diallo said FIFA needed to provide greater financial support to participating nations.

If a ⁠48-team tournament is already stretching the finances of participating federations, a longer 64-team event could increase those costs further.

Player welfare concerns would also intensify, with more matches adding to the workload of elite players. A 64-team tournament would give more nations access to football&rsquo;s biggest stage but could also reignite debate over competitive balance, tournament length, fan costs and whether the World Cup risks losing some of the exclusivity that has long underpinned its appeal.

Whether the idea progresses beyond discussion may depend in part on how the first 48-team World Cup is ultimately judged.&nbsp;]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/img-95081784651546-0/img-95081784651546-0.jpeg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Fernandez: We gave our all for Argentina</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619496/fernandez-we-gave-our-all-for-argentina</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619496/fernandez-we-gave-our-all-for-argentina#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 16:26:16 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP/REUTERS]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619496</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[He was dismissed late after a second yellow against Cubarsi]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Enzo Fernandez insists Argentina represented themselves in the &quot;best possible way&quot; at the World Cup despite the Chelsea midfielder&#39;s red card in the final and a host of ugly incidents in their controversial campaign.&nbsp;

Fernandez was sent off for a second booking after clattering into Spain&#39;s Pau Cubarsi in the closing stages of normal time in Sunday&#39;s 1-0 loss.

The 25-year-old&#39;s premature exit was the latest in a series of clashes to cast a shadow over Argentina&#39;s run to the final.

World soccer&#39;s governing body FIFA has appointed a disciplinary and ethics prosecutor to investigate the post-match brawl &zwnj;that erupted after Spain&#39;s 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina in a chaotic World Cup final.

Tensions boiled over after Spain&nbsp;secured their second World Cup&nbsp;title courtesy ⁠of an extra-time winner from winger Ferran Torres. Argentina had already been reduced to 10 men in the 93rd minute of normal time when Enzo Fernandez was sent off for a second yellow card.

Leandro Paredes appeared to throw punches at members of the Spain squad as they celebrated their victory, with FIFA subsequently launching an investigation into potential disciplinary breaches following the unsavoury post-match scenes.

They also turned their backs on Spain when the Spanish received their medals and the trophy.

Argentina&#39;s players also caused controversy by displaying a banner reading &quot;Las Malvinas son Argentinas&quot; (The Falklands are Argentine) after beating England in the semi-finals.

Argentina invaded the British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic in 1982.

But Britain regained the archipelago in a brief war after then prime minister Margaret Thatcher dispatched a naval taskforce.

Fernandez took to Instagram to defend his country for their World Cup performance, but made no mention of his sending off in his message to supporters.

&quot;As time goes by, you realise there is something much bigger than just a result,&quot; he said.

&quot;For years, this group has represented the team in the best possible way. It teaches that competing isn&#39;t just about winning; it&#39;s about giving your all for the jersey and never giving up.&quot;

Fernandez was a member of the Argentina team that beat France to win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

But Fernandez&#39;s hopes of a second successive title were shattered after his dismissal as Ferran Torres&#39;s 106th-minute strike settled a dour final marred by Argentina&#39;s defensive tactics.

&quot;It has been a privilege to be part of a group that always stepped up, competed at the highest level, and defended these colours with pride, humility, and commitment,&quot; he said.

&quot;I want to thank all the Argentina fans. Thank you for always being there, for supporting us in every match, for the affection, for the unconditional support, and for making us feel at home anywhere in the world.

&quot;Wearing my country&#39;s jersey is the greatest honour of my career, and I will continue to give my all every time I get to defend it.&quot;

Meanwhile, Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez will consider his international future in the aftermath of the final heartbreak.

The 33-year-old Aston Villa star, who won the World Cup four years ago, said on Instagram: &quot;I dreamed of winning it again; I dreamed of bringing it back to Argentina and making history once more.

&quot;Honestly, the pain is hard to put into words. Now I have to reflect on many things, see how to move forward, and decide if it&#39;s time to step aside.

&quot;I am truly sorry. I gave it my all to help my country and my team-mates.&quot;&nbsp;

At the final whistle, Argentine midfielder Leandro Paredes &zwnj;clashed ⁠with several Spanish players, including defender Eric Garcia and midfielder Gavi, triggering a&nbsp;broader brawlbetween the two sets of players.

The teams exchanged ⁠shoves and had to be physically separated, with Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni trying to calm down ⁠the players at the end of the ill-tempered encounter.

No timeframe was given for ⁠the conclusion of the investigation.&nbsp;]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/img-95131784651277-0/img-95131784651277-0.jpeg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Thousands welcome home Argentina squad, without Messi</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619495/thousands-welcome-home-argentina-squad-without-messi</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619495/thousands-welcome-home-argentina-squad-without-messi#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 16:21:39 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619495</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Scaloni and team were welcomed with a red carpet outside the aircraft]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Thousands of fans braved the cold and rain Monday to give a rapturous welcome to the Argentine football squad who landed back home without star Lionel Messi, after their World Cup final loss to Spain.

It was not the homecoming Argentines had hoped for, four years after millions celebrated their team&#39;s tournament victory in 2022, but fresh scenes of joyful chaos filled the street as they danced, sang and set off fireworks to thank the players.

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) said earlier that some squad members would not be on the flight, and iconic team captain Messi was not seen descending from the aircraft in images broadcast on local television.

Coach Lionel Scaloni and the rest of the team were welcomed with a red carpet outside the aircraft and a military band.

They then boarded a bus, waving to frenzied fans along the way.

Despite falling short of a second straight championship, &quot;Argentines will celebrate anyway,&quot; said housewife Marga Ledezma. The 36-year-old thanked Messi for &quot;all the years he made us happy,&quot; urging him not to quit playing for Argentina, but admitting this would be difficult as he was 39.

Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain in a game that has been criticized in international media for a plethora of fouls and displays of poor sportsmanship from the Albiceleste.

&quot;I think they criticize us because we know what it&#39;s like to suffer, that we get up, we fall down again, and we keep going,&quot; said Ledezma.

Many fans highlighted that the real victory for Argentina was the 2-1 semi-final win over England, played against the backdrop of a lingering dispute between the countries over the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands.

Some carried flags declaring &quot;The Falklands are Argentine.&quot; FIFA is investigating the Argentine team after players held up a banner bearing the phrase after their win against England which sparked a backlash from London.

&#39;The pain is immense&#39;

&quot;This team united us all, and we should be grateful for that. We will always be there for them, rain or shine. I would say thank you to Messi and that he gave it his all,&quot; said Leonardo Barrientos, 36, who works in a textile workshop.&nbsp;

Maria Ortiz, 28, came to welcome the team with her two-year-old, and said Spain &quot;deserved the win&quot; but she was &quot;happy for what the team gave us.&quot;

Messi wrote on Instagram on Monday that &quot;the pain is immense and it&#39;s going to take a long time for this wound to heal.&quot;

&quot;I&#39;ll also hold on to all the good memories,&quot; he wrote alongside a photo of himself. &quot;Today it&#39;s hard to appreciate what we achieved, but this squad reached two consecutive World Cup finals.&quot;

Spain beat Argentina 1-0&nbsp;after extra time in Sunday&#39;s final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal to deny the 2022 champions back-to-back World Cup titles.

The result ended Argentina&#39;s bid to become the first men&#39;s ⁠team since Brazil in 1962 to retain the trophy.

Messi, 39, &zwnj;also ⁠congratulated Spain and said Argentina could take pride in reaching consecutive World Cup finals. He became only the second player, after Brazil&#39;s Cafu, to appear in three men&#39;s World Cup finals, having played in the deciders in ⁠2014, 2022 and this year.

The Inter Miami forward remains Argentina&#39;s most decorated player, having led the country to the 2022 World Cup, Copa America titles in ⁠2021 and 2024, and the 2022 Finalissima. He is also an eight-times Ballon d&#39;Or winner and widely regarded as one of the ⁠greatest footballers.

&quot;Once again, we managed to come together as a country and stand united,&quot; Messi added, &quot;sharing the immense pride of being Argentine.&quot;

With the tournament over, President Javier Milei announced that a future date agreed with the team would be set as a public holiday to celebrate their performance in the World Cup. No further details have been announced.

While crestfallen after the loss, thousands of Argentines headed to the traditional celebration point at the Obelisk in Buenos Aires where they partied for hours on Sunday evening.

Late at night, brief clashes broke out at the monument and police used water cannons, tear gas, and rubber bullets to disperse revellers. Fifteen people were detained, according to police sources.&nbsp;]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/img-95001784650989-0/img-95001784650989-0.jpeg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Garcia to leave Belgium job</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619494/garcia-to-leave-belgium-job</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619494/garcia-to-leave-belgium-job#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 16:17:56 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619494</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Mannaert will be in charge of choosing Garcia’s successor]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Rudi Garcia has left his role as Belgium coach after his side were knocked out of the World Cup quarter-finals, the Belgian football federation (RBFA) said on Monday.&nbsp;

Garcia, 62, took over the Red Devils in January 2025 before guiding them to a last-eight loss to eventual tournament winners Spain.

The Frenchman replaced Domenico Tedesco and also helped Belgium secure their place in Nations League A with an ageing generation of big names players such as midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, forward Romelu Lukaku and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

&quot;We sincerely thank Rudi Garcia and his staff for their dedication, professionalism and commitment over the past 18 months,&quot; the RBFA said.

&quot;And wish them every success in the future,&quot; it added.

Garcia&#39;s spell in charge was his first job in international football having had notable stints with Lille, Roma and Marseille.

In 2023, he lasted just five months at Napoli before being sacked after only 16 games.

At the World Cup, he was unable to take Belgium further than the last eight. Their third-place finish in 2018 remains their best performance at the competition.

&#39;Revival&#39;

Tedesco had only managed to take the squad to the last 16 of Euro 2024. His predecessor Roberto Martinez lost his job after a group stage exit at the World Cup four years ago.

&quot;Rudi Garcia has undoubtedly contributed to the revival of the Red Devils,&quot; RBFA sporting director Vincent Mannaert said,

&quot;He was appointed national coach in a difficult sporting and financial context.&nbsp;

&quot;Thanks in particular to his commitment and experience, team cohesion was restored and an excellent result was achieved at the last World Cup, Lannaert added.

Belgium finished top of their group and hammered co-hosts the US 4-1 in the last 16 in a game overshadowed by President Donald Trump asking FIFA to suspend Folarin Balogun&#39;s red card ban.

&quot;I leave Belgium in League A of the Nations League and among the 8 best teams in the world,&quot; Garcia said on Instagram.

&quot;Only Spain, the new world champions, against whom we were the only team to score a goal in eight matches, prevented us from going even further in the most prestigious of competitions,&quot; the former Lille midfielder added.

Garcia kept faith with the likes of de Bruyne, Lukaku and Courtois, all 33 or older for the competition, from their fabled &quot;Golden Generation&quot; which also included Eden Hazard and Vincent Kompany.

He also placed faith in a younger generation of players such as attackers Jeremy Doku and Charles De Ketelaere and defender Nathan Ngoy.

&quot;I&#39;m ready once again, to pursue new ambitions with a national team or at club level,&quot; Garcia said.

&quot;I wish Belgium all the best as they continue the generational change that I took pleasure in helping to start,&quot; he added.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/img-95031784650796-0/img-95031784650796-0.jpeg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Ferguson salutes old rival Keegan</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619493/ferguson-salutes-old-rival-keegan</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619493/ferguson-salutes-old-rival-keegan#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 16:14:26 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619493</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[He passed away after battling cancer]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has saluted Kevin Keegan for building Newcastle&#39;s &quot;greatest team&quot; following his old rival&#39;s death aged 75.

Keegan passed away on Monday after battling cancer, with Ferguson joining the tributes for one of football&#39;s most endearing characters.

Ferguson and Keegan were involved a fierce battle for Premier League supremacy, with United famously pipping Newcastle to the title in 1996.

Frustrated by Ferguson&#39;s comments in the media towards the end of that tense title fight, Keegan memorably ranted at the Scot in a iconic television interview.

But despite that row, Ferguson remained friendly with former Liverpool and England striker Keegan, who earned his admiration with an impressive rebuilding job at Newcastle.

The Magpies were in danger of relegation to the third tier when Keegan took over, but he saved them from relegation before winning promotion to the Premier League in 1993.

Keegan made Newcastle so dynamic that they were dubbed &quot;the entertainers&quot; for an eye-catching style that pushed Ferguson&#39;s team all the way in the title race.&nbsp;

&quot;I had the utmost respect for him. We had many duels when he was manager of Newcastle, but I have to say the job he did at Newcastle was fantastic,&quot; Ferguson told Track Radio on Tuesday.

&quot;He re-energised that club and he brought that enthusiasm and fanaticism that great supporters can give. That&#39;s the job he did.

&quot;And he also brought three great players to the club &ndash; (David) Ginola, (Faustino) Asprilla, Philippe Albert &ndash; and added a bit of class to the team, and I must say the challenges we had with Newcastle at that time at United were huge.&quot;

&#39;Emotion and excitement&#39;

Although Newcastle did not win the title under Keegan, who eventually quit in 1997, Ferguson believes the title runners-up were the best team in the club&#39;s history.

&quot;Kevin carried the love of the game on his sleeve, there&#39;s no question about that, and that carried right on to the fans, to the players,&quot; he said.

&quot;That period at Newcastle was of emotion, it was excitement. They brought these great players to the club too and they added to it, and it gave Newcastle &ndash; I think &ndash; their best ever team.&quot;

Keegan&#39;s passion boiled over in April 1996 during his emotional blast at Ferguson, whose mind games had rattled the manager, during a Sky Sports interview following a Newcastle win at Leeds.

&quot;I&#39;ve kept really quiet but I&#39;ll tell you something, he went down in my estimation when he said that,&quot; Keegan said jabbing his finger towards the camera.

&quot;We have not resorted to that. You can tell him (Ferguson) now, we&#39;re still fighting for this title and he&#39;s got to go to Middlesbrough and get something. And I&#39;ll tell you, honestly, I will love it if we beat them. Love it.&quot;

Keegan&#39;s rallying cry didn&#39;t stop Newcastle blowing a 12-point lead as United took the title.

However, Ferguson revealed the pair bumped into each other at a pub near Wentworth Golf Club a few weeks after that season.

They spent the night around a piano with all thoughts of the rivalry forgotten.

&quot;The great thing about him, he held no grudges. That was a fantastic quality he had and we had a great night,&quot; Ferguson said.

&quot;All aside whatever happened in previous weeks, that was soon forgotten. I really respected him for that.&quot;]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/img-95101784650566-0/img-95101784650566-0.jpeg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Israeli airstrike kills family of six in Gaza, medics say</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619492/israeli-airstrike-kills-family-of-six-in-gaza-medics-say</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2619492/israeli-airstrike-kills-family-of-six-in-gaza-medics-say#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 26 16:13:47 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2619492</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Reuters video showed rescuers battling flames and removing bodies from the Gaza family home after strike]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[An Israeli airstrike on Tuesday killed a father, his wife and their four children in Gaza City, setting their home ablaze, health officials said, in the latest deadly attack since a US-backed ceasefire was agreed more than nine months ago.

Medics said the Israeli strike on the family house in the Sabra neighbourhood killed Firas Al-Masri, his wife Salsabeel, their three daughters and their son.

The Israeli military confirmed the strike, saying its target was a Hamas militant and that it was still assessing the outcome of the attack.

A video obtained by Reuters showed rescue workers struggling to put out fires in the house and remove bodies wrapped in white shrouds.

Masri&#39;s father, Abu Yusuf Al-Masri, told Reuters the explosion occurred while the family was asleep, as he mourned the loss of his son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren.

&quot;We were unable to save our grandchildren and children from the flames and the devastation. Around five or six (people) were martyred, most of them children and women, without mercy and without any prior warning,&quot; he said, standing outside the family home.

&quot;There is no relative calm and there is no safe place, at all,&quot; the grey-bearded man added.

Heavy toll since October 

In four separate strikes since Friday, the Israeli military said it had killed four militants from Hamas and Islamic Jihad, three of whom it said had taken part in the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that sparked the war and had held Israeli hostages seized in the assault.

Later on Tuesday, two separate Israeli airstrikes targeted a vehicle in the central Gaza Strip and an association in Gaza City, killing at least six people and wounding others, Palestinian medics said, taking the death toll for Tuesday to 12.

Read More: Children among 11 killed in Gaza

The Israeli military did not immediately comment on either of the two later incidents.

The latest deaths add to a toll of more than 1,160 Palestinians, mostly civilians, killed by Israeli attacks since an October ceasefire between Israel and Hamas militants took effect, according to Gaza health officials.

Hamas does not usually disclose its losses.

The truce halted full-scale fighting but has not stopped near-daily Israeli strikes. Israel says it is targeting militants. Four Israeli soldiers have been killed by militants in Gaza over the same period.

Mediators including Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and the United States have been trying to advance US President Donald Trump&#39;s plan for ending the conflict in Gaza, which calls for Hamas disarmament and Israeli withdrawals, but there has been little sign of progress.

The war began when Hamas-led fighters attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel&#39;s subsequent offensive has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials.

Nearly all of Gaza&#39;s 2 million people now live on a tiny strip of land along the coast, mainly in makeshift tents or damaged buildings, facing dire conditions under Hamas control.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/gaza-r-final1784652393-0/gaza-r-final1784652393-0.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item>	</channel>
                </rss>
