At UNRWA summit, Pakistan reaffirms commitment to humanitarian aid, reconstruction efforts in Gaza

LAHORE: Glenn Phillips warmed up for the Champions Trophy with his first one-day international century as New Zealand beat Pakistan by 78 runs in the opening game of the tri-nation cricket series on Saturday.
Phillips smashed an unbeaten 106 off 74 balls, including six boundaries and seven sixes, at a newly renovated Gaddafi Stadium. The No. 6 batter propelled New Zealand to 330-6 in its 50 overs on a flat wicket with Daryl Mitchell (81) and Kane Williamson (58) also getting the feel of the wickets for the upcoming Champions Trophy with half centuries.
In reply, Fakhar Zaman, playing his first international in more than seven months because of illness, made a belligerent 84 off 69 but the rest of the top-order batters struggled against spin.
Pakistan was bowled out for 252 in 47.5 overs.
Phillips capped a perfect day by trapping Zaman leg before wicket with his off-spin and also took a brilliant diving catch to dismiss Babar Azam early in Pakistan’s run chase.

Babar struggled in his new role as opener in ODIs for the first time since 2015 and scored a painstaking 10 runs off 23 balls.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner (3-41) clipped the top-order with his left-arm spin while Bracewell took 2-41.
New Zealand, which is already sweating on the fitness of fast bowler Lockie Ferguson, had another injury scare when the ball hit Rachin Ravindra in the face as he misjudged a catch of Khushdil Shah in the outfield and had to leave the field.
Fast bowler Matt Henry chipped in with 3-55.

No. 10 batter Abrar Ahmed hit an unbeaten 25 that included three successive boundaries off Henry.
Phillips unleashed his power-hitting against Pakistan’s two premier fast bowlers – Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah — in the last five overs that cost the home team 84 runs.
Pakistan, which lost the toss, had kept New Zealand in check at 246-5 before Phillips cut loose against the two pacers.
Williamson, playing his first ODI since November 2023, took his time to settle down. He reached the slowest ODI half century of his career in 82 balls before he edged Afridi after sharing a 95-run stand with Mitchell.
Mitchell survived a close run-out at the non-striker’s end before he had scored when Babar couldn’t hit the stumps from close range, but settled in well to score nearly a run-a-ball before chipping a catch to mid-wicket against a low full toss from Ahmed (2-41).

Pakistan suffered a major blow in the latter half of the innings when Haris Rauf (1-23) had to leave the field due to side strain after he fell in his follow-through during his seventh over. He took no further part in the match.
Phillips switched gears when he smashed three sixes against Agha, who filled in for Rauf, and then hit an audacious reverse scoop against Afridi which went for a flat six over third man.
Phillips reached his hundred in an expensive 25-run last over of Afridi, who ended up with 3-88 in 10 overs. Michael Bracewell hit 31 in 23 balls.

Gaddafi Stadium is one of the three venues to be upgraded for the Champions Trophy.
Karachi and Rawalpindi will also host Champions Trophy matches in Pakistan.
Lahore hosts the second game of the tri-nation series between South Africa and New Zealand on Monday. Karachi then hosts the remaining two games, including the final on Feb. 14.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb attended the funeral ceremony of the late Prince Karim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan IV on Saturday in Lisbon, Portugal, according to an official statement.
The ceremony at the Ismaili Center in Lisbon was attended by over 300 guests, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and former Spanish King Juan Carlos I.
The late Aga Khan, who led the global Ismaili community for nearly seven decades, passed away earlier this week at the age of 88. His death was announced by the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and the Ismaili religious community.
Following his passing, his eldest son, Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini, 53, was named the Aga Khan V, the 50th hereditary Imam of the community, in accordance with his father’s will.
“Federal Minister for Finance & Revenue, Muhammad Aurangzeb, attended the funeral of the late Prince Karim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan IV, the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, in Lisbon, Portugal,” said the statement from Pakistan’s foreign office.
“During the meeting with Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan V, the 50th Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, the Minister conveyed condolences on behalf of the Government and people of Pakistan,” it added.
Aurangzeb lauded the late Aga Khan’s contributions to philanthropy and development, describing his passing as a monumental loss not only for his family and followers but also for underprivileged people worldwide. He also recalled Prince Karim Aga Khan’s special attachment to Pakistan and its people.
The AKDN, founded by the late Ismaili leader, has been instrumental in various development projects in Pakistan, particularly in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral regions.
Initiatives such as the Aga Khan Rural Support Program have focused on poverty alleviation, health care, education and cultural preservation, significantly contributing to the socio-economic development of these areas.
The Ismaili community in Pakistan, numbering in the hundreds of thousands, has benefited from these initiatives, which have also had a positive impact on the national economy through improved infrastructure and human development.
Prince Karim Aga Khan IV will be laid to rest during a private burial ceremony in Aswan, Egypt, on Sunday.