Lahore, Nov 5: Setting up tandoors on roadsides is a lucrative business in Lahore these days, especially after the launch of the “Sasti Roti” scheme by the Punjab government. Under the scheme, those running tandoors or road-side dhabas would get a 20-kg bag of flour at Rs 250.

After the launch of the scheme, the number of registered tandoors and hotels in Lahore has reached almost 3300, against around 1450 till one and-a-half months back.

Lahore, Nov 4: The Pakistan cricket team suffered a jolt last evening when its star batsman Muhammad Yousuf announced that he would be joining the Indian Cricket League (ICL) promoted by a business house.

PCB Director (Cricket Operations) Zakir Khan confirmed that Yousuf had joined the ICL.

“We went to Yousuf’s residence and his wife told us that he had left for India to play in the ICL. We are waiting for facts before taking any action against him,” the Daily Times quoted Zakir as saying.

But, the ICL is yet to make an official announcement in this regard.

Earlier Yousuf was named in a squad to play three one-day matches against West Indies in Abu Dhabi this month.

Lahore, Nov 4 : Indian Test batsmen VVS Laxman and Gautam Gambhir have improved their ICC Test rankings after their superb performance in the third Test against Australia at Ferozeshah Kotla. While Laxman is now placed at 11th position, Gambhir is placed at 18th position.

Meanwhile, former skipper Rahul Dravid has dropped out of top 20 for the first time in 11 years in the ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen. Pushed down by eight places, Dravid is now placed at 26th position.

Lahore, Nov 3 : Senior Pakistan batsman Mohammad Yousuf has flown to India to join the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) despite his selection on Monday in the national team for three one-day internationals.

''He didn''t tell us he was going to India. We heard about it ourselves two hours back. We called up his home and his wife has confirmed he has gone to India to play in the ICL,'' Pakistan Cricket Board operations director Zakir Khan told a news conference on Monday.

Lahore, Nov 3: The Pakistan unit of the Taliban, the Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) has reportedly said that none of its affiliate organisations was under the influence of Al Qaeda, and that it was ready to hold peace talks with the Pakistan government.

Neither the TTP nor any of its affiliate organisations is under the influence of Al Qaeda, the Daily Times quoted TTP spokesman Maulvi Omar as saying.

“The TTP had nothing to do with Al Qaeda,” he reiterated.

The TTP was sincere in peace talks with the government, he said and added that any effort to resolve the disputes in the Tribal Areas by force would prove to be fruitless.

Lahore, Nov 2 : Quite to the surprise to many, a Hindi movie was erroneously dubbed on CDs supposed to be containing Haj-related information.

The error was detected only when they landed in the hands of the ultimate users.

The CDs were forwarded to all four provincial offices and travel agents across the country. They were recorded at a private firm in Rawalpindi.

Each CD cost the pilgrims Rs 50.

Some of these CDs, bought from a stall at the Haji camp in Karachi, contained an Indian film, confirmed Karachi Haj Director Abdul Sattar Sameeto.

“I have informed the ministry about the CDs,” the Daily Times quoted Sameeto as saying in a TV interview.