ISLAMABAD: The first semifinal of the Paris Olympics Hockey Qualifiers will be played between Pakistan and Germany in Oman on Saturday, Radio Pakistan reported, with Pakistan one win away from making it through to the Paris Olympics.
Pakistan secured a spot in the semifinals of the qualifiers after their last group match against Malaysia concluded in a 3-3 draw on Thursday.
“Pakistan are now just one victory away from securing qualification for the Paris Olympics, as the top three teams from the qualifiers will secure the spot,” Radio Pakistan reported.
Paris will host the XXXIII Olympic Summer Games from July 26 to August 11 this year.
Pakistan cruised into the final four of the qualifiers on the basis of a better goal average than China. In an earlier group match, Great Britain emerged victorious with a 6-0 score against China, creating an opportunity for Pakistan to reach the final four even if their upcoming game against Malaysia concluded in a draw.
Pakistan will now play Germany in the semifinal on January 20 while Great Britain will face New Zealand in the other semifinal.
Earlier on Tuesday, Pakistan secured their first win in the Paris Olympics Qualifiers by defeating China 2-0.
Pakistan had lost their first match against England on Monday by 6-1. Abdul Hanan Shahid managed to score the lone goal for Pakistan, while England demonstrated with superior strategy and execution.
Last year, the International Hockey Federation stripped Pakistan of hosting rights for the Olympic Qualifier tournament due to “non-cooperation and interference in the PHF’s affairs” by the government, marking a setback for the South Asian country which was once counted among the global powerhouses of the sport.
According to the FIH, China, Spain and Pakistan were supposed to host the qualifiers from January 13 to 21. The matches in Pakistan were scheduled to be held in Lahore.
Field hockey, Pakistan’s national sport, once propelled the country to Olympic gold and global glory, but the game has waned in popularity and participation over the past two decades.
According to the latest rankings released by the IHF last August, Pakistan is ranked at number 15 in the world in field hockey.
Hope alive as Pakistan hockey team one win away from qualifying for Paris Olympics
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Hope alive as Pakistan hockey team one win away from qualifying for Paris Olympics
- Pakistan secured semifinal spot against Germany with 3-3 draw in last group match against Malaysia
- Earlier on Tuesday, Pakistan secured their first win in the Paris Olympics Qualifiers by defeating China 2-0
Pakistan mulls space-based monitoring to support port expansion, maritime safety
- Minister says satellite technology could aid port planning and environmental protection
- Islamabad seeks to modernize ports as it eyes transshipment role, Central Asian trade
KARACHI: Pakistan is considering the use of space-based monitoring systems to support port expansion, maritime safety and environmental protection, the country’s maritime affairs minister said on Wednesday, as he visited the headquarters of the national space agency.
The visit comes as Islamabad seeks to position itself as a transshipment hub by upgrading cargo handling, streamlining import and export processes and offering its southern ports on the Arabian Sea to landlocked Central Asian states as trade gateways.
“Advanced space-based monitoring systems can play a vital role in safeguarding seas, improving maritime management and strengthening responses to environmental threats,” Maritime Affairs Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said, according to a statement released after his visit.
Chaudhry was briefed on satellite-based assessments identifying potential sites for new ports, as well as tools for maritime traffic monitoring and disaster response.
Pakistan has been working to expand and modernize its port infrastructure to improve efficiency and attract regional cargo flows, particularly as it seeks to enhance connectivity through its coastline along the Arabian Sea.
During the visit, officials from the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) outlined the use of high-resolution satellite imagery, artificial intelligence and digital modelling to monitor ports, track cargo dwell time, detect oil spills and support search-and-rescue operations at sea.
“We can benefit from continuous monitoring of coastal ecosystems to assess water quality, sediment dispersion and overall environmental health,” Chaudhry said, adding that data-driven approaches were essential for informed policymaking in the maritime sector.
He also highlighted the growing risks posed by climate change, including rising sea levels, coastal erosion and extreme weather events, and said stronger cooperation between maritime authorities and scientific institutions was needed to protect coastal communities and infrastructure.
SUPARCO officials said the agency was ready to develop artificial intelligence-based solutions for ports and maritime operations, including systems to address customs-related inefficiencies and improve emergency response times.
The minister said the ministry and SUPARCO would move toward formalizing cooperation through a structured framework to support joint initiatives.
