Migrant boat with 80 passengers, including several Pakistanis, capsizes near Morocco — FO

Islamabad: A delegation of the Pakistan Business Council (PBC) Dubai on Friday held a meeting with Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Faisal Niaz Tirmizi and shared their plans to enhance business to business (B2B) ties between the two countries, the Pakistani embassy said.
The UAE is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner after China and the United States, and a major source of foreign investment valued at over $10 billion in the last 20 years, according to the UAE foreign ministry.
It is also home to more than a million Pakistani expatriates. Policymakers in Pakistan consider the UAE an optimal export destination due to its geographical proximity, which minimizes transportation and freight costs while facilitating commercial transactions.
The PBC delegation, which comprised its newly elected Board of Directors and was led by Shabbir Merchant, met Ambassador Tirmizi at the Embassy of Pakistan in Abu Dhabi.
“The delegation of Pakistan Business Council presented their vision and strategy in enhancing the business-to-business relationship between Pakistan and the UAE,” the Pakistani embassy said in a statement. “They also sought embassy’s support in materializing their vision.”
The PBC assists Pakistan-related companies and professionals in establishing businesses or working in the UAE through business networking and connections, and information exchange.
The Pakistani ambassador assured the delegates of the embassy’s support in strengthening economic and trade relations between Pakistan and the UAE, according to the Pakistani embassy.
This week, Pakistan’s consul general, Hussain Muhammad, met the PBC officials in Dubai, where Merchant shared with him the council’s strategic roadmap for 2025-2026.
Muhammad appreciated PBC’s efforts in promoting Pakistan’s economic potential in the UAE and stressed the need for business leaders to explore opportunities in Pakistan’s diverse sectors, including information technology, manufacturing, agriculture and tourism.
Pakistan and UAE have stepped up efforts in recent years to strengthen their business and investment relations. In January last year, Pakistan and the UAE signed multiple agreements worth more than $3 billion for cooperation in railways, economic zones and infrastructure, a Pakistani official said, amid Pakistani caretaker prime minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar’s visit to Davos for the World Economic Forum’s summit.

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday announced a 15-player squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, recalling Fakhar Zaman after an injury ruled out Saim Ayub.
Pakistan is scheduled to host the tournament from February 19 till March 9 and the PCB has until February 11 to make any changes to the squad. After that, replacements will only be permitted on medical grounds, subject to approval by an International Cricket Council (ICC) committee.
There are four changes in the 15-player squad that last played a one-day international (ODI) series in South Africa late last year. Abdullah Shafique, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Saim Ayub and Sufyan Moqim have been replaced by Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khushdil Shah and Saud Shakeel.
The same squad will feature in the tri-nation ODI series, featuring New Zealand and South Africa in Lahore and Karachi, in the lead up to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
“The selectors have continued to adopt a horses-for-courses approach in assembling this squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025,” Asad Shafiq, member of the National Selection Committee, said in a statement shared by the PCB.
“Our focus has been on selecting players who have consistently excelled in domestic competitions under similar conditions, demonstrating their readiness to perform in a global event.”
The squad, captained by Mohammad Rizwan with Salman Ali Agha as vice-captain, includes three members from the 2017 title-winning side: Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf and Fakhar Zaman. Babar and Fakhar, along with Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Saud Shakeel also featured in the last 50-over Cricket World Cup 2023.
Following the World Cup 2023, Pakistan have played three ODI series, defeating 50-over world champions Australia 2-1, Zimbabwe 2-1 and South Africa 3-0.
Opener Fakhar Zaman, who scored a century in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 final against India, makes a comeback after overcoming injury and illness that had sidelined him from international cricket since June 2024. Fakhar demonstrated his return to complete fitness and form during the Champions T20 Cup 2024 in December, where he was the third-highest run-scorer with 303 runs at an impressive strike-rate of over 132. In 82 ODIs, Fakhar has scored 3,492 runs with 11 centuries and 16 half-centuries at an average of 46.5 and strike-rate of 93.4.
Pakistan Test vice-captain Saud Shakeel has been rewarded for his consistent and strong performances in home Tests by earning a place in the side. The left-hander played his 15th and last ODI against England in Kolkata in the ICC Men’s 50-over World Cup 2023 but has scored 577 runs in 13 Test innings at home this season with two centuries and two half-centuries against Bangladesh, England and the West Indies.
All-rounders Faheem Ashraf and Khushdil Shah return to the 50-over squad, adding versatility and providing captain Mohammad Rizwan with additional options. Faheem’s 34th and last ODI was in September 2023 and since then he has been one of the most consistent domestic performers across all formats, while Khushdil last represented Pakistan in ODIs in August 2022 and has earned the selectors nod after scoring 176 runs in the Champions One-Day Cup as well as scoring 132 runs and taking nine wickets in the Champions T20 Cup.
“One of the standout qualities of this side is its flexibility, an essential trait in today’s modern-day cricket. We are confident that this squad strikes the right balance between youth and experience, and has all bases covered,” Shafiq said.
“Saim Ayub has not been included in the squad due to an ankle injury, but we remain optimistic about his recovery.”
PAKISTAN SQUAD
Batters: Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir
All-rounders: Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain)
Wicketkeeper-batters: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Usman Khan
Spinner: Abrar Ahmed
Fast bowlers: Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi