ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry presented a summary to the the top economic decision-making body, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC), on Wednesday to scale up the Makkah Route project designed to ease Hajj journeys of pilgrims arriving in the kingdom from various Muslim countries.
Under the Makkah Route project initiated by Saudi Arabia, all immigration requirements of pilgrims are to be fulfilled at the airport of origin. This saves pilgrims several hours upon reaching the kingdom since they can just enter the country, having gone through immigration already at home. The project also includes other Muslim countries, such as Indonesia and Malaysia.
Pakistan implemented a pilot project in 2019 at the Islamabad International Airport. The government now plans to extend the facility to potential pilgrims in Lahore and Karachi, making the two cities part of the expanded initiative.
“One of the pre-conditions for scaling up of Makkah Route Project was grant of special exemption on the import of technical equipments in Pakistan by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” the ECC said in a handout after its Wednesday meeting, deciding that the Federal Board of Revenue would hold a separate consultation with the religion ministry to work out the details of the matter before seeking the ECC’s approval on it.
Pakistan planned last year to widen the scope of the Makkah Route initiative, but the Hajj was performed on a limited scale amid rising coronavirus infection globally.
Pakistan’s religion ministry proposes expansion of ‘Makkah Route’ project
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Pakistan’s religion ministry proposes expansion of ‘Makkah Route’ project
- Under the project initiated by Saudi Arabia, all immigration requirements of Hajjis are to be fulfilled at airport of origin
- A pilot project was launched at Islamabad airport last year but Pakistan now proposes to expand the facilities to Lahore and Karachi
PCB sets Feb. 11 as date for player auction for Pakistan Super League 11th edition
- The squad composition would be a minimum of 16 players and a maximum of 20
- The number of foreign players would be five to seven depending on the squad size
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday announced that the player auction for the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will be held on Feb. 11, setting the stage for franchises to begin assembling squads for the country’s premier Twenty20 tournament.
The development came after a workshop regarding PSL player auction at the Qaddafi Stadium, which was presided over by PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and PSL CEO Salman Naseer.
The workshop was attended by PSL officials, all eight franchise representatives, members of Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad, PCB officials and other capped players.
“The HBL PSL management shared a detailed presentation on the mechanics of the retention and the auction process and consulted with all the participants,” the PCB said.
“It was agreed that the HBL PSL player auction will take place on Wednesday, 11 February.”
The squad composition would be a minimum of 16 players and maximum of 20 players per franchise. The number of foreign players would be five to seven depending on the squad size, according to the PCB.
It would be mandatory for the franchises to play minimum of three and maximum of four foreign players in the playing XI. The teams are also required to have minimum of two uncapped Under 23 players in the squad and one in the playing XI.
Players either retained or picked in the auction will be engaged for two-year contracts with their respective franchise teams, the board said, adding that franchise teams will be able to retain a maximum of seven players for the 12th edition of the tournament.
“I’m delighted that a consultative and productive session was held between the franchises, players and management today resulting in informed and strategic decisions which will pave the way for bright future for the HBL PSL,” Naqvi said.
“The Player Auction model is a landmark step for the HBL PSL, offering players better financial opportunities through an increased salary purse and a transparent acquisition process, while making the league more competitive and attractive.”
PSL CEO Naseer said the player auction system modernizes player recruitment by promoting fairness, transparency, and market-driven value, strengthening the PSL’s appeal for both players and franchises.
“Today’s workshop saw all views being taken into consideration and this rich feedback will be reflected in our execution of a successful player auction scheduled next month,” he said.
PSL has become a key pillar of the country’s cricket economy, providing financial stability to the PCB and serving as a talent pipeline for the national team. The 11th edition of the league is set to begin from Mar. 26 while the final is expected to be played on May 3, as per the PCB’s schedule.
