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Religious leaders decry Houthi attacks, vow support for Saudi Arabia
Pakistan’s religious affairs minister and leaders of major religious groups on Saturday condemned an attempted Houthi drone strike near Makkah, standing with Saudi Arabia and vowing support for the security of the Kingdom and Islam’s two holiest sites.
The leaders were addressing a “All Parties Conference on the Protection of Haramain Sharifain,” an Arabic word for the two holy mosques in Makkah and Madinah, as fresh attention on Pakistan’s defense pledges to Saudi Arabia has come with mounting Houthi attacks on the Kingdom.
“Pakistan is ready to live up to its commitments under the defense agreement with Saudi Arabia,” Pakistan’s Minister for Religious Affairs, Sardar Muhammad Yousuf, told Arab News following the summit.
The Government of Pakistan has already signed a deal with the Kingdom… “We are prepared for this,” he added adding that Islamabad was committed to the pledges made under the accord and its implementation was well underway.
12/13/23 Saudi Arabia said its air defenses intercepted and destroyed a drone launched by Yemen’s Houthis south of Makkah on Tuesday evening before it could reach the airspace over Islam’s holy city.
The Houthis denied trying to strike the city or any other religious sites, while a Saudi-led coalition in the region said the protection of Makkah and other holy sites was a “red line”.
The speakers of the conference emphasized that the whole nation of Pakistan stood behind Saudi Arabia and will fully support the Kingdom in safeguarding its territory and the sanctity of Islam’s holy sites.
Yousuf also denounced Houthi drone and missile strikes on Saudi Arabia.
“Drone and missile attacks have been recently launched [against the Kingdom] and we strongly condemn them,” he stated. “The government of Pakistan and the people of Pakistan will give full support to their brotherly country Saudi Arabia and the defense of Harmain Sharifain …, giving full support for their defense.”
The conference was organized by Senator Abdul Karim, who said it had unanimously denounced the assaults and asked for a unified reaction from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
The summit took place amid a severe increase in warfare between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, who have stepped up drone and missile raids on Saudi territory in recent weeks. Pakistan has also denounced the assaults and pledged its solidarity to the Kingdom.
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Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by four wickets as Farhan, Sadaqat star in Rawalpindi
Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by four wickets in the first T20 International at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Friday with captain Sahibzada Farhan’s dominant 89 and Maaz Sadaqat’s half-century leading the home side to a successful chase of 183.
Sri Lanka elected to bat and made 182/8 in their allowed 20 overs, and Pakistan completed the mark despite a late wobble to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Farhan scored 89 off 53 balls and Sadaqat made 50 off 29 balls as they accumulated 92 runs for the second wicket to put Pakistan in the driving seat for victory.
Sadaqat, Farhan at the helm
Pakistan made a fast start to their chase with Farhan and Fakhar Zaman contributing 54 runs in the first five overs. Sadaqat came to the crease when Fakhar was removed by Eshan Malinga, 21 runs off 13 balls.
The left-hander joined Farhan in a fiery partnership that put Sri Lanka’s bowlers under pressure. Sadaqat scored 50 off 29 balls with three sixes and four fours until Maheesh Theekshana had him leg before wicket.
Farhan’s fifty off 33 balls came up as he continued to anchor the innings, routinely striking the boundaries as Pakistan advanced near the objective.
Sri Lanka’s hopes were briefly renewed in the 16th over as they took three wickets in short succession to take Pakistan from 144/1 to 156/4. Dushmantha Chameera and Theekshana scalped the wickets of Hasan Nawaz and Saim Ayub respectively.
Farhan was the main man in the chase hitting 6 sixes and 10 fours before getting out for 89 with only 4 runs to get.Pakistan overcame Sri Lanka by four wickets in the first T20 International at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Friday, with captain Sahibzada Farhan’s dominant 89 and Maaz Sadaqat’s half-century leading the hosts to a successful chase of 183.
Sri Lanka elected to bat and made 182/8 in their allowed 20 overs, and Pakistan completed the mark despite a late wobble to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Farhan scored 89 off 53 balls and Sadaqat made 50 off 29 balls as they accumulated 92 runs for the second wicket to put Pakistan in the driving seat for victory.
Sadaqat, Farhan at the helm
Pakistan made a fast start to their chase with Farhan and Fakhar Zaman contributing 54 runs in the first five overs. Sadaqat came to the crease when Fakhar was removed by Eshan Malinga, 21 runs off 13 balls.
The left-hander joined Farhan in a fiery partnership that put Sri Lanka’s bowlers under pressure. Sadaqat scored 50 off 29 balls with three sixes and four fours until Maheesh Theekshana had him leg before wicket.
Farhan’s fifty off 33 balls came up as he continued to anchor the innings, routinely striking the boundaries as Pakistan advanced near the objective.
Sri Lanka’s hopes were briefly renewed in the 16th over as they took three wickets in short succession to take Pakistan from 144/1 to 156/4. Dushmantha Chameera and Theekshana scalped the wickets of Hasan Nawaz and Saim Ayub respectively.
Farhan was the man of the chase, smashing four sixes and 10 fours before he departed for 89 with four runs to go.
Latest News
Isaias weakens to Category 1 hurricane after Florida landfall, NHC says
Hurricane Isaias weakened quickly Friday, losing windspeed and dropping to a Category 1 storm after making landfall in Destin, Florida, the US National Hurricane Center said. But it warned of danger from storm surges and floods as power links severed.
The storm was about 65 miles (105 km) west-northwest of Panama City, Florida, with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 kph), the NHC stated in its last statement.
The agency warned of a life-threatening storm surge along the Gulf Coast as catastrophic hurricane conditions and flash floods pushed inland.
The organization said the hurricane is likely to move across Alabama and into the Tennessee Valley this weekend.
When the hurricane touched land, Poweroutage.us showed nearly 380,000 people in Florida and more than 210,000 in Alabama without power.Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said on X that emergency declarations have been issued in Florida and Alabama to ensure government resources are ready to respond to Isaias.
Emergency services in Florida told citizens to take shelter and wait for hurricane conditions across the northern part of the state as Isaias made landfall as a category 2 storm.
Business
Petrol price cut by 66 paisa, diesel rises 52 paisa per litre
The daily pricing method has resulted in more frequent revisions in petroleum rates. In the current revision of fuel prices, the federal government has decreased the petrol price by 66 paisa per liter but increased the rate of high-speed diesel (HSD) by 52 paisa.
Petrol would be available for Rs398.30 a liter after the amendment as compared to Rs398.96, while high-speed diesel will be sold at Rs396.24 a liter against Rs395.72.
The revised tariffs will be effective from October 10 to 12, 2026, according to Petroleum Division announcement. The revision comes amid instability in international oil markets and a move toward more frequent evaluations of domestic fuel pricing.
Price reviews daily
The government has initiated a daily review of petroleum pricing to respond more rapidly to the changes in international oil prices.
Under the new framework, OGRA will fix petrol and high-speed diesel prices on daily basis on the basis of the average rates in the international market during the prior seven days on an ex-depot basis.
Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said the daily estimates will be based on a seven-day average of international pricing, in line with international traditions.
OGRA has also started releasing daily petroleum prices on its website to provide transparency and allow for changes in foreign markets to be reflected in domestic rates faster.
The regulator can announce revised rates without having to have the previous consent of the prime minister or the federal government for each and every change. But the pricing announced Friday will not change over the weekend.
The switch to daily pricing comes as global oil markets swing with increasing tensions in the Middle East and worries over energy supplies.
After the outbreak of hostilities between Iran, Israel and the United States on 28 February, the government moved to weekly gasoline price reviews. In the past, petroleum products were amended on a fortnightly basis.
Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have created uncertainty in energy markets. The key canal handled approximately a fifth of the world’s oil and other energy supplies before the conflict and any disruption is a huge issue for worldwide markets.
As per the new structure, OGRA will be bound to post Platts daily reference prices. The procedure also limits the scope for modifications in petroleum levies: the ceiling on levies is determined by the federal cabinet and the levy’s rate requires the permission of the Finance Division.
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