ISLAMABAD: Pakistan cueists Asjad Iqbal and Awais Munir have qualified for the Mongolia Snooker World Cup 2024 quarterfinals scheduled to be played today, Wednesday, at Ulaanbaatar where they go up against China and Iran, state-run media reported.
The Mongolia Snooker World Cup 2024 is taking place from Sep 15-22. The tournament is part of the International Billiards and Snooker Federation’s schedule which has been held annually in Mongolia’s capital since 2019.
“In the quarterfinals to be played on Wednesday, Asjad will face Gao Yang (China) while Awais will be up against Ali Gharahgozlou (Iran),” the Associated Press of Pakistan reported on Tuesday.
According to local media reports, the Pakistani snooker players did not face any defeat in their matches and qualified for the Round of 16.
On Sep 15, Munir beat Iran’s Siyavosh Mozayani 3-1 with frame scores of 9-63, 78-34, 59-50, and 73-13 while Iqbal defeated Qatar’s Ali Alobaidi 3-1 with frame scores of 59-36, 26-63, 58-19, and 70-58.
Snooker has gained substantial popularity in Pakistan over the years, becoming one of the country’s most followed cue sports. Its rise can be attributed to the availability of snooker clubs across the countries, offering affordable access to the game. Pakistani players have also achieved significant success in international snooker, further boosting its appeal.
The breakthrough moment for snooker in Pakistan came in 1994 when Mohammad Yousuf won the IBSF World Snooker Championship, putting the country on the global snooker map. His success inspired many young players to take up the sport.
Pakistani players to face Chinese, Iranian opponents in Snooker World Cup quarterfinals today
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Pakistani players to face Chinese, Iranian opponents in Snooker World Cup quarterfinals today
- Asjad Iqbal and Awais Munir have won all their matches during the tournament played in Mongolia
- Snooker has gained substantial popularity in Pakistan, becoming one of its most followed cue sports
ADB, Pakistan sign over $300 million agreements to undertake climate resilience initiatives
- Pakistan ranks among nations most vulnerable to climate change and has seen erratic changes in weather patterns
- The projects in Sindh and Punjab will restore nature-based coastal defenses and enhance agricultural productivity
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed more than $300 million agreements to undertake two major climate resilience initiatives, Pakistan’s Press Information Department (PID) said on Tuesday.
The projects include the Sindh Coastal Resilience Sector Project (SCRP), valued at Rs50.5 billion ($180.5 million), and the Punjab Climate-Resilient and Low-Carbon Agriculture Mechanization Project (PCRLCAMP), totaling Rs34.7 billion ($124 million).
Pakistan ranks among nations most vulnerable to climate change and has seen erratic changes in its weather patterns. In 2022, monsoon floods killed over 1,700 people, displaced another 33 million and caused over $30 billion losses, while another 1,037 people were killed in floods this year.
The South Asian country is ramping up climate resilience efforts, with support from the ADB and World Bank, and investing in climate-resilient infrastructure, particularly in vulnerable areas.
“Both sides expressed their commitment to effectively utilize the financing for successful and timely completion of the two initiatives,” the PID said in a statement.
The Sindh Coastal Resilience Project (SCRP) will promote integrated water resources and flood risk management, restore nature-based coastal defenses, and strengthen institutional and community capacity for strategic action planning, directly benefiting over 3.8 million people in Thatta, Sujawal, and Badin districts, according to ADB.
The Punjab project will enhance agricultural productivity and climate resilience across 30 districts, improving small farmers’ access to climate-smart machinery, introducing circular agriculture practices to reduce residue burning, establishing testing and training facilities, and empowering 15,000 women through skills development and livelihood diversification.
Earlier this month, the ADB also approved $381 million in financing for Pakistan’s Punjab province to modernize agriculture and strengthen education and health services, including concessional loans and grants for farm mechanization, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education, and nursing sector reforms.
