PESHAWAR: A charter helicopter belonging to Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MPCL) crashed in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Saturday after developing a technical fault, killing six people, including two foreigners, and injuring eight other crew members, police said.
Mari Petroleum is a leading Pakistani oil and gas company, primarily involved in the exploration, development and sale of hydrocarbons. The company’s principal activities include oil and gas drilling, along with providing energy solutions to the local market.
Rohanzeb Khan, a senior police official, said the crash took place in Pakistan’s restive North Waziristan that shares a border with Afghanistan and has experienced significant security challenges.
“The helicopter crashed near the Shawa Oil Field, a remote hilly area in the North Waziristan tribal district,” he told Arab News over the phone while confirming the death toll. “Initial information suggests the cause of the crash was a technical fault and no evidence of sabotage was found.”
“There were two to three foreigners onboard the helicopter but their identity is yet to be confirmed,” he added.
According to a statement released by the petroleum company, the helicopter was flown by three Russian pilots and carrying 11 passengers when the crash took place due to engine failure.
According to the Associated Press, two of the pilots have also lost their lives.
“The helicopter’s tail rotor hit the ground while making an emergency landing,” the police official said while sharing details of the crash.
However, he said further investigations were underway to ascertain the facts related to the incident.
Ali Amin Gandapur, the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where North Waziristan is located, expressed grief over the loss of “six precious human lives” in the crash, directing the district administration to ensure prompt medical treatment to those wounded in the mishap.
Six dead as Mari Petroleum helicopter crashes in Pakistan’s North Waziristan
https://arab.news/mvwfr
Six dead as Mari Petroleum helicopter crashes in Pakistan’s North Waziristan
- Police say the incident happened due to technical fault, with no evidence of sabotage
- The helicopter was flown by Russian pilots, two of whom have reportedly lost their lives
Pakistan Cricket Board approves stadium upgrades, targets PSL matches in new regions
- PCB is working to stage T20 league matches and future international games at Muzaffarabad Stadium
- It reviews the success of PSL roadshows in London and New York to boost the league’s global profile
KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has approved major upgrades to stadiums in Karachi and Lahore and cleared plans for a new state-of-the-art venue in Islamabad, as it looks to expand the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and spread top-level cricket to new regions, officials said on Tuesday.
The decisions were taken at a video-link meeting of the PCB Board of Governors chaired by Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, which formally approved the second phase of renovation of Karachi’s National Stadium and the upgrading of the Lahore City Cricket Association (LCCA) Ground along the lines of England’s Oval.
Pakistan has stepped up investment in cricket infrastructure in recent years as it seeks to strengthen its domestic system, attract international events and grow the PSL, its premier T20 league, into a more geographically inclusive and internationally visible league.
“We are making every effort to stage PSL 11 matches at Muzaffarabad Stadium and to host international matches there as well,” Naqvi said, according to a PCB statement.
The board also endorsed plans to construct a modern cricket stadium in Islamabad, while officials briefed the meeting on preparations for future International Cricket Council (ICC) men’s and women’s tournaments and efforts to strengthen domestic cricket at the grassroots level.
The meeting also reviewed the success of recent PSL promotional roadshows in London and New York, which the PCB sees as part of a broader push to position the league as an international brand and attract overseas audiences and investment.
