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Asia Cup 2022: India beat Pakistan by 5 wickets in Dubai fixture

India's Hardik Pandya (C) celebrates with teammate Virat Kohli after dismissing Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan during the Asia Cup Twenty20 international cricket match in Dubai on August 28, 2022. (AFP)
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Updated 28 August 2022
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Asia Cup 2022: India beat Pakistan by 5 wickets in Dubai fixture

  • India wins toss, elects to field first against Pakistan in Asia Cup 2022 clash
  • Pakistan’s playing XI features pacers Shahnawaz Dahani, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah
Updated 28 August 2022
Shahjahan Khurram

ISLAMABAD: India defeated Pakistan on Sunday in the high-octane Asia Cup 2022 clash, with thriller going down to the last over. 

Hardik Pandya hit an unbeaten 33 to star in the match as India defeated Pakistan. Chasing 148 for victory, Ravindra Jadeja, who hit 35, and Pandya put on a key fifth-wicket stand of 52 as India reached their target with two balls to spare in Dubai.
Pace bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Pandya shared seven wickets to set up victory for India in their opening match of the six-nation tournament after they bowled out Pakistan for 147.

For Pakistan, right-arm pacer Naseem Shah put the Men in Blue on the backfoot earlier in the innings by bowling impressively. He finished with figures of 2/27 from his four overs. Spinner Mohammad Nawaz was the other Pakistani bowler who stood out, taking three important wickets to finish with figures of 3/33. 

Pakistan's middle-order was exposed by India after skipper and opening batter Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman failed to score impressively. Both scored 10 runs each as Mohammad Rizwan scored top-scored with 43 from 42 balls while Iftikhar Ahmed pitched in with a valuable 28 from 22 balls. 

 

 

 

                     UPDATES

INDIA 148/5 (19.4 OVERS)

Nawaz to Pandya, SIX!

Nawaz to Pandya, no run

Nawaz to Karthik, 1 run

Nawaz to Jadeja, OUT!

At the end of 19 overs, India are 141/4

Haris Rauf to Hardik, FOUR!

Haris Rauf to Hardik, no run

Haris Rauf to Hardik, FOUR!

Haris Rauf to Hardik, FOUR!

Haris Rauf to Jadeja, 1 run

Haris Rauf to Hardik, 1 run

After 18 overs, India are 127/4

Naseem Shah to Jadeja, no run

Naseem Shah to Jadeja, SIX!

Naseem Shah to Jadeja, 1 leg bye

Naseem Shah to Jadeja, no run

Naseem Shah to Jadeja, no run

Naseem Shah to Jadeja, FOUR runs

Naseem Shah to Jadeja, 1 wide

At the end of 17 overs, India are 116/4

Haris Rauf to Jadeja, 1 run

Haris Rauf to Jadeja, 2 runs

Haris Rauf to Jadeja, 1 wide

Haris Rauf to Hardik, 1 run

Haris Rauf to Hardik, 2 runs

Haris Rauf to Hardik, no run

Haris Rauf to Hardik, no run

At the end of 16 overs, India are 107/4

Dahani to Jadeja, 1 run

Dahani to Jadeja, 3 wide

Dahani to Hardik, 1 run

Dahani to Hardik, 2 runs

Dahani to Jadeja, 1 run

Dahani to Hardik, 1 run

Dahani to Jadeja, 1 run

At the end of 15 overs, India are 97/4

Naseem Shah to Hardik, FOUR!

Naseem Shah to Jadeja, 1 run

Naseem Shah to Hardik, 1 run

Naseem Shah to Hardik, 2 runs

Naseem Shah to Yadav, OUT!

Naseem Shah to Yadav, no run

At the end of 13 overs, India are 89/3

Dahani to Yadav, 1 run

Dahani to Jadeja, 1 run

Dahani to Yadav, 1 run

Dahani to Jadeja, 1 run

Dahani to Jadeja, 1 wide

Dahani to Jadeja, no run

Dahani to Yadav, 1 run

At the end of 12 overs, India are 83/3

Shadab to Yadav, 1 run

Shadab to Yadav, 2 runs

Shadab to Yadav, 2 runs

Shadab to Jadeja, 1 run

Shadab to Jadeja, no run

Shadab to Jadeja, no run

At the end of 13 overs, India are 83/3

Shadab to Yadav, 1 run

Shadab to Yadav, 2 runs

Shadab to Yadav, 2 runs

Shadab to Jadeja, 1 run

Shadab to Jadeja, no run

Shadab to Jadeja, no run

At the end of 11 overs, India are 77/3

Nawaz to Jadeja, 1 run

Nawaz to Yadav, 1 run

Nawaz to Jadeja, 1 run

Nawaz to Jadeja, FOUR runs

Nawaz to Yadav, 1 run

Nawaz to Yadav, no run

At the end of 11 overs, India are 69/3

Shadab to Yadav, 1 run

Shadab to Yadav, no run

Shadab to Yadav, FOUR!

Shadab to Yadav, no run

Shadab to Jadeja, 1 run

Shadab to Yadav, 1 run

At the end of 10 overs, India are 62/3

Nawaz to Yadav, 1 run

Nawaz to Jadeja, 1 run

Nawaz to Jadeja, SIX!

Nawaz to Jadeja, no run

Nawaz to Yadav, 1 run

Nawaz to Kohli, OUT

At the end of 9 overs, India are 53/2

Shadab to Kohli, 1 run

Shadab to Kohli, no run

Shadab to Jadeja, 1 run

Shadab to Jadeja, no run

Shadab to Kohli, 1 run

Shadab to Kohli, no run

At the end of 8 overs, India are 50/2

Nawaz to Rohit Sharma, OUT!

Nawaz to Rohit Sharma, no run

Nawaz to Rohit Sharma, SIX!

Nawaz to Kohli, 1 run

Nawaz to Rohit Sharma, 1 run

Nawaz to Kohli, 1 run

At the end of 7 overs, India are 41/1

Shadab to Kohli, 1 run

Shadab to Rohit Sharma, 1 run

Shadab to Rohit Sharma, no run

Shadab to Rohit Sharma, no run

Shadab to Kohli, 1 run

Shadab to Kohli, no run

At the end of 6 overs, India are 38/1

Haris Rauf to Rohit Sharma, no run

Haris Rauf to Rohit Sharma, no run

Haris Rauf to Rohit Sharma, 4 leg byes

Haris Rauf to Kohli, 1 run

Haris Rauf to Kohli, FOUR

Haris Rauf to Kohli, no run

At the end of 5 overs, India are 29/1

Dahani to Kohli, 1 run

Dahani to Kohli, no run

Dahani to Kohli, FOUR!

Dahani to Rohit Sharma, 1 run

Dahani to Rohit Sharma, no run

Dahani to Rohit Sharma, no run

At the end of 4 overs, India are 23/1

Haris Rauf to Kohli, no run

Haris Rauf to Kohli, SIX!

Haris Rauf to Kohli, no run

Haris Rauf to Rohit Sharma, no run

Haris Rauf to Kohli, 1 run

At the end of 3 overs, India are 15/1

Naseem Shah to Kohli, 1 run

Naseem Shah to Rohit Sharma, 1 run

Naseem Shah to Kohli, 1 run

Naseem Shah to Kohli, 2 runs

Naseem Shah to Kohli, no run

Naseem Shah to Kohli, no run

At the end of 2 overs, India are 10/1

Dahani to Kohli, 1 run

Dahani to Kohli, FOUR

Dahani to Kohli, 2 runs

Dahani to Kohli, no run

Dahani to Kohli, no run

Dahani to Kohli, no run

At the end of 1 over, India are 3/1

Naseem Shah to Rohit Sharma, no run

Naseem Shah to Rohit Sharma, 1 wide

Naseem Shah to Kohli, 1 run

Naseem Shah to Kohli, no run

Naseem Shah to Kohli, no run

Naseem Shah to Rahul, OUT!

Naseem Shah to Rohit Sharma, 1 run

                    PAKISTAN 147 ALL OUT (19.5 overs)

Arshdeep Singh to Dahani, OUT

Arshdeep Singh to Dahani, SIX runs

Arshdeep Singh to Dahani, 2 runs

Arshdeep Singh to Haris Rauf, 3 runs

Arshdeep Singh to Haris Rauf, no run

At the end of 19 overs, Pakistan are 136/9

Bhuvneshwar to Dahani, 2 runs

Bhuvneshwar to Dahani, SIX

Bhuvneshwar to Dahani, no run

Bhuvneshwar to Naseem Shah, OUT

Bhuvneshwar to Shadab, OUT

Bhuvneshwar to Shadab, FOUR

At the end of 18 overs, Pakistan are 124/7

Arshdeep Singh to Haris Rauf, FOUR!

Arshdeep Singh to Haris Rauf, no run

Arshdeep Singh to Haris Rauf, no run

Arshdeep Singh to Haris Rauf, FOUR 

Arshdeep Singh to Haris Rauf, 2 runs

Arshdeep Singh to Nawaz, OUT

After 16 overs, Pakistan are 111/5

Chahal to Asif Ali, no run

Chahal to Asif Ali, 2 runs

Chahal to Shadab, 1 run

Chahal to Asif Ali, 3 runs

Chahal to Shadab, 1 run

Chahal to Asif Ali, 1 run

At the end of 15 overs, Pakistan are 103/5

Hardik to Asif Ali, 1 run

Hardik to Asif Ali, 2 runs

Hardik to Shadab Khan, 1 run

Hardik to Shadab Khan, 1 wide

Hardik to Shadab Khan, 1 wide

Hardik to Khushdil Shah, OUT!

Hardik to Shadab Khan, 1 run

Hardik to Mohammad Rizwan, OUT!

At the end of 14 overs, Pakistan are 96/3

Avesh Khan to Rizwan, 1 run

Avesh Khan to Rizwan, no run

Avesh Khan to Rizwan, FOUR! 

Avesh Khan to Khushdil Shah, 1 run

Avesh Khan to Khushdil Shah, no run

Avesh Khan to Khushdil Shah, no run

At the end of 13 overs, Pakistan are 90/3

After 13 overs, Pakistan are 

Hardik to Mohammad Rizwan, 2 runs

Hardik to Mohammad Rizwan, no run

Hardik to Khushdil Shah, 1 run

Hardik to Khushdil Shah, no run

Hardik to Khushdil Shah, no run

Hardik to Iftikhar Ahmed, OUT!

After 12 overs, Pakistan are 87/2

Chahal to Iftikhar Ahmed, 1 run

Chahal to Iftikhar Ahmed, no run

Chahal to Iftikhar Ahmed, SIX!

Chahal to Mohammad Rizwan, 1 run

Chahal to Iftikhar Ahmed, 1 run

Chahal to Iftikhar Ahmed, 2 runs

At the end of 11 overs, Pakistan are 76/2

Jadeja to Iftikhar Ahmed, 1 run

Jadeja to Mohammad Rizwan, 1 run

Jadeja to Mohammad Rizwan, no run

Jadeja to Iftikhar Ahmed, 1 run

Jadeja to Mohammad Rizwan, 1 run

Jadeja to Mohammad Rizwan, FOUR!

At the end of 10 overs, Pakistan are 68/2

Chahal to Mohammad Rizwan, 1 run

Chahal to Iftikhar Ahmed, 1 run

Chahal to Mohammad Rizwan, 1 run

Chahal to Iftikhar Ahmed, 1 run

Chahal to Iftikhar Ahmed, no run

Chahal to Mohammad Rizwan, 1 run

 

 

At the end of nine overs, Pakistan are 63/2

Jadeja to Mohammad Rizwan, 1 run

Jadeja to Mohammad Rizwan, no run

Jadeja to Iftikhar Ahmed, 1 run

Jadeja to Mohammad Rizwan, 1 run

Jadeja to Iftikhar Ahmed, 1 run

Jadeja to Iftikhar Ahmed, no run

At the end of eight overs, Pakistan are 59/2

Chahal to Iftikhar Ahmed, 1 run

Chahal to Mohammad Rizwan, 1 run

Chahal to Iftikhar Ahmed, 1 run

Chahal to Iftikhar Ahmed, FOUR!

Chahal to Mohammad Rizwan, 1 run

Chahal to Mohammad Rizwan, no run

At the end of seven overs, Pakistan are 51/2

Hardik to Mohammad Rizwan, 1 run

Hardik to Iftkhar Ahmed, 1 run

Hardik to Iftkhar Ahmed, FOUR!

Hardik to Iftkhar Ahmed, no run

Hardik to Mohammad Rizwan, 1 run

Hardik to Iftkhar Ahmed, 1 run

At the end of six overs, Pakistan are 43/2

Avesh Khan to Iftikhar Ahmed, 1 run

Avesh Khan to Fakhar Zaman, OUT!

Avesh Khan to Mohammad Rizwan, 1 run

Avesh Khan to Mohammad Rizwan, FOUR!

Avesh Khan to Mohammad Rizwan, SIX!

Avesh Khan to Fakhar Zaman, 1 run

At the end of five overs, Pakistan are 30/1

Hardik to Mohammad Rizwan, no run

Hardik to Mohammad Rizwan, no run

Hardik to Mohammad Rizwan, 2 runs

Hardik to Mohammad Rizwan, no run

Hardik to Fakhar Zaman, 1 run

Hardik to Fakhar Zaman, FOUR!

At the end of four overs, Pakistan are 23/1

Arshdeep Singh to Mohammad Rizwan, no run

Arshdeep Singh to Mohammad Rizwan, no run

Arshdeep Singh to Mohammad Rizwan, FOUR!

Arshdeep Singh to Mohammad Rizwan, no run

Arshdeep Singh to Mohammad Rizwan, no run

Arshdeep Singh to Mohammad Rizwan, no run

At the end of three overs, Pakistan are 19/1

Bhuvneshwar to Fakhar Zaman, no run

Bhuvneshwar to Fakhar Zaman, FOUR!

Bhuvneshwar to Babar Azam, OUT!

 

 

Bhuvneshwar to Babar Azam, no run

Bhuvneshwar to Mohammad Rizwan, 1 run

Bhuvneshwar to Mohammad Rizwan, no run

At the end of two overs, Pakistan are 14/0

Arshdeep Singh to Babar Azam. FOUR!

Arshdeep Singh to Mohammad Rizwan, 1 run

Arshdeep Singh to Babar Azam, 1 run

Arshdeep Singh to Babar Azam, 1 wide

Arshdeep Singh to Babar Azam, no run

Arshdeep Singh to Babar Azam, 1 wide

Arshdeep Singh to Babar Azam, no run

At the end of one over, Pakistan are 6/0

Bhuvneshwar to Mohammad Rizwan, no run

Bhuvneshwar to Babar Azam, 1 run

Bhuvneshwar to Babar Azam, FOUR!

Bhuvneshwar to Mohammad Rizwan, 1 run (Pakistan get off the mark)

Bhuvneshwar to Mohammad Rizwan, LBW appeal but ruled not out

Bhuvneshwar to Mohammad Rizwan, no run

 

 

Topics: Pakistan v India Asia Cup 2022 pakistan india match live updates

Ex-PM Khan’s party stages nationwide protest against alleged rigging, vows to continue until mandate restored

Updated 59 min 40 sec ago
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Ex-PM Khan’s party stages nationwide protest against alleged rigging, vows to continue until mandate restored

  • The party says the April 21 by-elections were manipulated by the authorities in favor of its political rivals
  • Its leaders have promised to reclaim their ‘stolen’ mandate by protesting for democracy and rule of law
Updated 59 min 40 sec ago
Aamir Saeed

ISLAMABAD: Jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party on Friday held nationwide protests against alleged rigging and vote fraud in by-polls held on April 21 over about two dozen national and provincial assembly seats, vowing to continue until its mandate was restored.

PTI leaders believe election results were manipulated in favor of their political rivals in the recent contest after already rejecting the outcome of the February 8 national polls. The party complained of harassment and state crackdown soon after the downfall of its administration in a no-trust vote in April 2022.

Khan has now directed his party from a high-security prison in Rawalpindi, where he has spent several months after being incarcerated last August, to protest against the rigging until its mandate is restored.

“It will not end here,” Shoaib Shaheen, a PTI leader who spearheaded a protest rally in Islamabad, told Arab News. “We held our peaceful protest demonstration today despite police’s harassment and threats to arrest the workers and leadership.”

Hundreds of male and female protesters responded to the PTI’s protest call in different cities including Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad. The demonstrators were carrying the party flags and Khan’s portraits, demanding his release from the jail. Some of them were also wearing Khan’s face masks to express solidarity with him.

The PTI has already formed a six-party opposition alliance for a nationwide movement against the alleged vote fraud. The alliance held its first protest gathering in Pishin, Balochistan, earlier this month and announced next major public gatherings in Karachi and Faisalabad.

“The nationwide protests would continue until our mandate is restored,” Shaheen said. “This is not just a protest but movement for restoration of democracy and rule of law in Pakistan.”

The party maintained it had won over 180 National Assembly seats in the February 8 polls, but its mandate was just reduced to 90 seats. It also complained of being denied its due share in the reserved seats for women and religious minorities in parliament since all of its candidates had contested as independents after the Supreme Court took away the party’s iconic symbol of a cricket bat days ahead of the national polls.

“We are being denied all our democratic, legal and even basic human rights,” Shaheen said. “All Pakistanis should join us in the movement for restoration of political and economic stability in the country.”

The PTI delegations have frequently been denied by the sitting government.

Prior to the Friday protest, the Islamabad Capital Territory police imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), preventing large gatherings to ensure maintenance of public order.

“Strict action will be taken against those who violate the law,” the police said in a social media post. “Blocking of roads and disruption of normal life will not be tolerated. The law is equal for all and action will be taken against violation.”

Topics: protest PTI

Global logistics giant shows interest in developing Pakistan’s first green transshipment terminal

Updated 26 April 2024
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Global logistics giant shows interest in developing Pakistan’s first green transshipment terminal

  • APM Terminals sent a delegation to meet Pakistani officials and discuss the modernization of its ports
  • The integrated container logistics company also develops and operates ports in countries across the world
Updated 26 April 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: A delegation from a leading logistics company, A.P. Moller-Maersk (APM) Terminals, expressed interest in developing the first transshipment terminal in Pakistan while holding a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday.

Maersk is an integrated container logistics company operating in 130 countries. APM Terminals has been developing and operating advanced ports and container terminals for over half a century and has 60 strategically located ports and container terminals around the globe and several more in development.

The company delegation arrived in Pakistan earlier this week to discuss the possibility of developing and modernizing the South Asian nation’s ports and held separate meetings with Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Minister for Maritime Affairs Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh.

“The prime minister expressed interest in cooperation between Pakistan and Denmark in the fields of agriculture and environment-friendly energy projects,” Radio Pakistan reported after Sharif’s meeting with the delegation led by the company CEO Keith Svendsen.

“Svendsen expressed satisfaction on the investment and business friendly policies of Pakistan,” it added. “He showed interest in the first green transshipment terminal of Pakistan in Karachi.”

The construction of the project would allow large cargo ships to utilize the Karachi port, helping the country earn greater revenue.

Previously, the country’s finance minister told the delegation Pakistan was keen to explore future projects and investments with APM, especially in the maritime sector.

“The government is fully committed to facilitate an environment conducive to business and investments,” he told them.

Svendsen and his delegation also met the maritime affairs minister on Thursday and discussed investment prospects in Pakistan’s ports and terminals sector.

“The delegation head highlighted Moller-Maersk’s prominent global position and its robust relationship with Pakistan, which reflects a market share of approximately 20 percent in containerized import-export activities,” Radio Pakistan said.

“Recognizing the immense growth potential, Keith Svendsen proposed investments to enhance integrated supply chain solutions, including the upgrading of ports and logistics infrastructure. The delegation pledged support for the advancement of maritime affairs in Pakistan and for nurturing a skilled workforce in this sector.”

On Monday, Pakistani and United Arab Emirates (UAE) officials performed the groundbreaking of a $175 million Bulk and General Cargo terminal as part of a new 25-year concession agreement signed between AD Ports Group and Karachi Port Trust (KPT) in Feb. 2024 to outsource operations of the terminal.

Under the terms of the agreement, Karachi Gateway Terminal Multipurpose Limited (KGTML), a joint venture between AD Ports Group, as a majority shareholder, and Kaheel Terminals, a UAE-based company, will develop, operate and manage the Bulk and General Cargo Terminal, berths 11 to 17 at Karachi Port’s East Wharf.

Topics: Maersk Maersk in Pakistan

Pakistan extends Afghan refugee cards until June 30 amid deportation drive

Updated 26 April 2024
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Pakistan extends Afghan refugee cards until June 30 amid deportation drive

  • The drive targeting ‘illegal immigrants,’ mostly Afghan nationals, was launched last year amid security concerns
  • The Pakistan government says the POR cardholders will be repatriated to Afghanistan in the third deportation phase
Updated 26 April 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan government on Friday approved the extension of Proof of Registration (POR) cards for Afghan refugees for another two months amid an ongoing deportation drive against unregistered foreigners in the country.

POR cards are identification documents issued by Pakistani authorities to Afghan refugees. These cards serve as official recognition of the refugees’ legal status in the country, allowing them to access various services such as education, health care and banking.

The Pakistan government extends these cards on a periodic basis, often depending on the political and security situations involving both countries. The extension of these cards is typically subject to review by the Pakistani government, in consultation with international organizations like the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

“The federal cabinet has approved the extension of the validity of Proof of Registration cards for Afghan refugees from April 1, 2024, to June 30, 2024, on the recommendation of SAFRON [the Ministry of State and Frontier Regions],” announced an official statement issued after the cabinet meeting.

“The cabinet was informed that this extension would allow POR cardholders to benefit from facilities such as schools, bank accounts and other services in Pakistan,” it added. “These POR cardholders will be sent back to their home countries in the third phase of the program for repatriating foreigners residing illegally in Pakistan.”

Pakistan initiated a deportation drive targeting “illegal immigrants,” predominantly Afghans, late last year, citing security concerns amid a spike in militant attacks.

The move stirred unease among registered Afghan refugees, many of whom pointed out they were anxious about their uncertain future.

Pakistani officials have attributed several lethal attacks on both security forces and civilians to Afghan nationals, expressing their commitment to repatriate all Afghan refugees, including many born in Pakistan to families who settled during the 1980s following the Soviet invasion.

The Afghan authorities in Kabul have objected to the deportation drive, disputing that Afghan nationals had any role in the ongoing security deficit in Pakistan.

They have also maintained that Pakistan should have consulted them over the issue and given more time to Afghan nationals before sending them back to their country.

Topics: Pakistan Afghan Ties

Pakistan PM to attend WEF meeting in Riyadh from April 28-29 — foreign office

Updated 26 April 2024
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Pakistan PM to attend WEF meeting in Riyadh from April 28-29 — foreign office

  • PM Sharif is expected to discuss inclusive growth, regional collaboration and energy issues at the gathering
  • He will also attend the Islamic Summit Conference in Gambia on May 4 to discuss Islamophobia and Palestine
Updated 26 April 2024
SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia on the invitation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to attend a two-day World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Riyadh starting April 28, the foreign office of Pakistan said on Friday.

The two countries share cordial relations and have witnessed high-level official exchanges in recent years to further consolidate their ties, with Saudi foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan visiting Pakistan earlier this month to discuss a spectrum of issues with the administration in Islamabad.

Prior to that, the Pakistani prime minister met the Saudi crown prince in Makkah to discuss the kingdom’s commitment to expedite its investments worth $5 billion.

“Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar will attend the World Economic Forum Special Meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy to be held in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from 28-29 April 2024,” foreign office spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, said during her weekly media briefing.

“They have received the invitations from HRH Muhammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Professor Klaus Schwab, the Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum,” she continued.

Baloch said the occasion would allow the Pakistani delegation to interact with foreign leaders and heads of international organizations.

“The high-level participation in the Forum will afford an important opportunity to present Pakistan’s priorities specifically in global health architecture, inclusive growth, revitalizing regional collaboration and the need for striking a balance between promoting growth and energy consumption,” she added.

The prime minister will also attend the 15th session of the Islamic Summit Conference organized by the OIC on May 4-5 in the Gambian capital of Banjul to discuss a variety of regional and global issues, including Palestine, Islamophobia, climate change and the status of minorities, state-run APP reported.

The session will be held under the slogan “Enhancing Unity and Solidarity through Dialogue for Sustainable Development,” according to a press release issued by the OIC General Secretariat.

The Islamic Summit Conference attended by Sharif will be preceded by a preparatory meeting of senior officials on April 30 and May 1, who will discuss the documents of the session and submit a report to a preparatory meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM).

“The preparatory CFM meeting will be held on May 1-2 to consider the results of the senior officials meeting and in turn, submit its report to the Summit,” the OIC said.

“Leaders of the member states will discuss the political issues of the Islamic world, most notably the Palestinian cause, and the economic, humanitarian, social and cultural issues, in addition to the issues of youth, women, family, science and technology, information, Muslim communities and minorities in non-OIC member states, and legal matters,” the OIC said.

The Summit will also tackle issues related to hate speech and Islamophobia, the promotion of dialogue, climate change and food security.

“The 15th session will issue a final communique that includes the OIC positions on the issues submitted to the Summit, a resolution on Palestine and Al-Quds Al-Sharif, and the Banjul Declaration,” the OIC added.

The Islamic Summit is a principal organ of the OIC focused on the formulation, development, and implementation of decisions made by 57 member states. The Summit is attended by concerned heads of state such as prime ministers, presidents, emirs and other equivalent heads.

Topics: Pakistan Saudi Ties Arab News Pakistan WEF Riyadh

Demand for solar power rises in Pakistan as import glut crashes panel prices

Updated 26 April 2024
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Demand for solar power rises in Pakistan as import glut crashes panel prices

  • Businessmen say solar panel prices have dropped by over sixty percent due to bulk import, rate cuts by China
  • Islamabad currently only generates around five percent of its energy from renewable solutions like solar power
Updated 26 April 2024
Aamir Saeed

ISLAMABAD: The price of solar panels has plummeted by over sixty percent in Pakistan in recent weeks due to bulk imports from China because of lower rates, importers said this week, with more consumers switching to the renewable source of power to reduce electricity bills. 
The cost of producing solar panels in China, which accounts for about 80 percent of global consumption, plummeted by 42 percent in the last year, giving manufacturers there an enormous advantage over rivals in places like the United States and Europe. Multiple European solar manufacturers have announced plans to close factories in recent months, under price pressure from Chinese imports. China accounts for 80 percent of solar module production capacity after years of subsidies.
Pakistan has ideal climatic conditions for solar power generation, with over nine hours of sunlight in most parts of the country. Utilizing just 0.071 percent of the country’s area for solar photovoltaic (solar PV) power generation would meet Pakistan’s electricity demand, according to the World Bank.
But currently, only 5.4 percent of Pakistan’s installed power generation capacity of 39,772 megawatts comes from renewables like wind, solar and biomass, while fossil fuels still make up 63 percent of the fuel mix, followed by hydropower at 25 percent, according to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA).
But this may change with an acute drop in the price of panels, importers said. 
“A solar plate of 580 watts that I bought [last year] for 75,000 rupees [$270] has dropped to 25,000 rupees [$90] now,” Muhammad Yahya, a solar importer in Islamabad, told Arab News on Thursday. “That means it’s one-third of [earlier price].”
“The rates of the inverters are the same and keep fluctuating, but the main thing is solar panels and the rates of the solar panels are now 33 percent lower.”
Prices of solar panels dropped in China following import curtailment from major buyers including India, US and Europe while the Pakistani government had abolished a 17 percent sales tax to encourage solar imports, Yahya said, explaining the reduction in panel prices:
“People who would import through illegal channels, they [the government] blocked them, this helped stop the illegal import, and led to a bulk import, and secondly the rates [of solar panels] have dropped in China.” 
Another solar panel importer in Islamabad, Abdul Moiz, agreed that the rate drop in China and curtailment of imports to India and other major buyers had led to bulk imports to Pakistan.
“America and India have stopped their imports [from China], that’s why the majority of the imports are now directed toward Pakistan,” Moiz told Arab News.
“CLIMATE CHANGE”
Despite the benefits, including to the environment of zero carbon emissions from solar panels, Pakistan is far behind in meeting its goal of shifting to 60 percent renewable energy by 2030 with 50 percent reduction in projected emissions.
Experts say procedural and bureaucratic delays in construction approvals and unattractive tariffs for selling power to the national grid coupled with a lack of political will and little government investment had blocked the progress of the solar industry in the past. For households, a big impediment, before the Chinese rate cuts, was the steep initial investment.
But that has changed, with electricity consumers describing the drop in solar panel prices as a ‘big relief’ in reducing their electricity bills.
“After its [solar panel] installation, our [electricity] cost has reduced to thirty percent,” Imran Ali Gul, a manager at a local hotel who has installed a 16kw system, told Arab News. “That’s why we preferred to get the solar system installed.”
Aamir Hussain, chairman Pakistan Alternative Energy Association, told Arab News Pakistanis purchased and installed solar panels of around 1800 megawatts last year, which was expected to jump to 3,000 megawatts this year due to the lower prices of the panels and increased customer demand.
 “Pakistan will be spending over $3.5 billion [this year] on solar panels imports only as this doesn’t include import of batteries, inverters and other auxiliary items,” Hussain said. “Pakistan needs to follow consistent policies regarding renewable energy to meet its national and international obligations for the greenhouse gas emissions.”
Experts also said Pakistan, one of the most vulnerable nations to climate change impacts, needed to swiftly move to end its reliance on fossil fuels.
“There is no denying of the fact that climate change has wreaked havoc globally, so the studies suggest that in order to meet the global targets of reducing our temperature etc, in addition to transition of existing fossil fuel power plants, we should cap these fossils as well,” Manzoor Ahmed, a researcher at the Policy Research Institute for Equitable Development in Islamabad, told Arab News.
“So, given this roadmap, given our commitments in terms of net zero emissions or COP conferences where we agreed to meet global targets, we have no choice but to shift to renewables and we must do it.”

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