ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has recorded 53 more coronavirus-related deaths in the past 24 hours, taking the overall death toll to 11,886. According to the latest statistics of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), the COVID-19 has claimed 53 more lives and 1,302 fresh infections were reported. In the past 24 hours, as many as 1,684 patients have recovered from the virus …

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has designed a project for the establishment of an international standard cricket stadium in Kalam, the famous tourist resort in Swat district. The proposed stadium will be established on 120 acres already available. The project will be completed with an estimated cost of Rs358 million in two years. Besides other facilities, the proposed stadium will …

MELBOURNE: The Australian Open will begin as scheduled on Monday even though a worker at one of the Melbourne hotels used to quarantine players and their entourages tested positive for Covid-19, tournament director Craig Tiley said on Thursday. The day’s warm-ups at Melbourne Park were called off after the case was annou­nced late on Wednesday, and those who underwent quarantine …

CHENNAI: Rishabh Pant’s batting heroics in Australia were rewarded on Thursday when skipper Virat Kohli confirmed the 23-year-old will keep wicket in the opening Test against England in Chennai, beginning on Friday. India have been torn between Pant and Wriddhiman Saha, who is widely considered the better keeper but was dropped after managing only 13 runs in the opening Test …

RAWALPINDI: The anti-corruption unit of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) hauled up a young man on Thursday for allegedly involvement in corrupt practices during the second Test between Pakistan and South Africa here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. According to reliable sources, the man presumably in his early 20s, was being monitored by the authorities for a while but on …

KARACHI: Stocks fell flat on the last trading day of the shortened four-day week (Feb 5 being Kashmir Solidarity Day). The KSE-100 index closed in red by 27.84 points, or 0.08 per cent, at 46,905 points on Thursday. The index again tested the three-year-high 47,000 level, but strong resistance put up by the bears did not allow it to hold …

Pakistan, resuming at 145-3, were bowled out for 272 in their first innings in the second Test against South Africa at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Friday. Pakistan lost overnight batsman Babar Azam off the second ball of the day, without adding to his 77, while Fawad Alam scored another three before falling for 45. Faheem Ashraf scored a brilliant 78 …

ISLAMABAD: The privatisation process of Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) would be completed by September, Secretary Industries and Production informed the Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday. The two-member SC bench comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan was hearing the case of PSM employees seeking promotions. The Additional Attorney General informed the court that Planning …

ISLAMABAD: The Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCoE) on Thursday did not approve payment of Rs399 billion to independent power producers to let all the members satisfy their conscience in three days if the finalised deals are prudent and no wrong decision is being imposed. Presided over by Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar, the committee also desired that sponsors …