Islamabad, Feb.

Islamabad  - Ethnic tribal rebels in Pakistan's insurgency- hit south-western province of Balochistan claimed Saturday that they were holding captive a UN top official kidnapped in the region earlier this week, a local media report said.

The private news agency Online said the Baloch Liberation United Front (BLUF), a secular and nationalist guerrilla organization in Balochistan, had claimed responsibility for the abduction of the local head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Islamabad - The World Bank (WB) is to provide a loan of two billion dollars to cash-strapped Pakistan, a senior official of the bank said on Saturday.

"The Bank Group plans to provide up to two billion dollars in credits during this fiscal year to support economic growth and the government's poverty-focused programs," said WB's country director for Pakistan Yusupha Crookes.

"These projects will support the immediate challenges in education, health, safety nets and community-led development, while laying the foundation for investment in infrastructure to foster long term growth and job creation," he added.

Islamabad - Ethnic tribal rebels in Pakistan's insurgency-hit south-western province of Balochistan claimed on Saturday that a UN top official kidnapped earlier this week from the region was in their captivity, a media report said.

According to country's private news agency Online, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a secular and nationalist guerrilla organization in Balochistan, has accepted the responsibility for the abduction of the local head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Lahore, Feb. 7 : With numerous controversies surrounding the apex cricket body of the country, former top cricket officials have started criticizing the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) openly, and have charged the current set-up of the Board of ruining national cricket and maligning it on the international circuit.

Former Pak cricket team manager Talat Ali Malik has said that the present management of PCB has ruined Pakistan cricket.

"They have ruined it. They don't know how to run the cricket affairs. Pakistan cricket has become a laughing stock around the globe," The Daily Times quoted Malik, as saying.

Lahore, Feb. 7 : Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Asif has handed over the important documents regarding his Dubai case to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Asif, who was arrested on Dubai Airport over the drug possession charges in June 2008, is facing a PCB inquiry.

Asif, accompanied with his lawyer, appeared before the three-member committee on Friday, The News reported.

The committee included, PCB director HR Wasim Bari, director media Asif Sohail and medical officer Sohail Saleem.