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Dawn - 15:34 Mar 11, 2026
The Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) has forecast that Eidul Fitr is expected to fall on March 21 as the chances of sighting the Shawwal moon on March 19 remain low. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Suparco said that the new moon of Shawwal 1447 AH was expected to be born on March 19 at 6:23am. “At the time of sunset on March 19, 2026, the age of the new moon will be approximately 12 hours and 41 minutes, with an estimated 28-minute interval between sunset and moonset along Pakistan’s coastal belt,” it added. Based on these astronomical parameters, the statement said, the “chances of sighting the Shawwal crescent on the evening of March 19 2026 are low”. “Consequently, 1st Shawwal 1447 AH is anticipated to fall on Saturday, March 21, 2026, marking the conclusion of the holy month of Ramazan,” it added. However, it continued, “the final decision regarding the sighting of the Shawwal crescent and the commencement of Eidul Fitr 1447 AH will be made by the Central Ruet-e-Hilal ... -
Dawn - 14:32 Mar 11, 2026
On the 12th day of the US–Israel war against Iran, the maritime domain, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, clearly emerged as the principal flashpoint, shaping both the military trajectory of the war and the strategic calculations of the US as the contest over oil flows and shipping lanes began to define the central logic of the conflict. In the past 24 hours, at least three separate attacks were recorded against commercial vessels operating in or near the Strait of Hormuz, reinforcing the perception that Iran is now enforcing its threat to disrupt maritime traffic through direct kinetic pressure. The incidents occurred in quick succession and involved vessels from three different flag states, which pointed to the widening risks to global shipping. A Thailand-flagged bulk carrier, Mayuree Naree, was struck by an unidentified projectile roughly 11 nautical miles north of Oman inside the strait, triggering a fire that forced most of the crew to evacuate before the blaze was eventually contained. Shortly afterwa... -
Dawn - 13:45 Mar 11, 2026
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Wednesday emphasised that Pakistan must gradually move toward a “more balanced financial system”, in which capital markets would complement the banking sector in meeting the economy’s financing needs. The finance czar expressed these views while chairing a meeting of the Capital Market Development Council (CMDC), according to a press release issued by the finance ministry. The meeting was convened to review the “progress on reforms aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s capital markets, with particular focus on the development of the corporate debt market and expanding the role of capital markets in financing economic growth”, the press release said. It added that in his opening remarks at the meeting, the finance minister underscored that a “strong and well-functioning capital market was vital for sustainable economic development” as it enabled corporations to access long-term financing while offering diversified investment opportunities to both institutional and retail inve... -
Dawn - 13:34 Mar 11, 2026
Bangladesh pace sensation Nahid Rana claimed his first five-wicket haul in one-day internationals to lead his team to a crushing eight-wicket win over Pakistan in their opening match on Wednesday. Rana returned figures of 5-24 to skittle out Pakistan for 114, a total Bangladesh overhauled in 15.1 overs of the 50-over contest in Mirpur to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Opener Tanzid Hasan hammered an unbeaten 67 off 42 balls and put on a second-wicket partnership of 82 with Najmul Hossain Shanto, who made 27, in a statement win. Saif Hassan fell early for four, while Litton Das remained unbeaten on three with Tanzid. Earlier, Nahid laid the platform for victory with his outstanding spell in his seven overs to bowl out Pakistan for their lowest ODI total against Bangladesh, eclipsing the previous 161 during the 1999 World Cup. The 23-year-old Nahid ripped through Pakistan’s top order, becoming the first Bangladeshi bowler to dismiss the opposition’s top five batters in an ODI innings. Nahid removed ... -
Dawn - 11:56 Mar 11, 2026
China warned the United States on Wednesday that the excessive use of artificial intelligence (AI) in its military could plunge the world into a Terminator like dystopian future. US President Donald Trump’s administration has sought the unconditional use of AI startups in the military. The Pentagon has confirmed Elon Musk’s Grok system is cleared for use in a classified setting, and blacklisted Anthropic after it refused to allow its Claude AI model to be used for mass surveillance and autonomous lethal warfare. “Such choices as the unrestricted application of AI by the military, using AI as a tool to violate the sovereignty of other nations, allowing AI to excessively affect war decisions, and giving algorithms the power to determine life and death, not only erode ethical restraints and accountability in wars, but also risk technological runaway,” a spokesman for China’s defence ministry, Jiang Bin, said on Wednesday. “A dystopia depicted in the American film The Terminator could one day come true,” he said.... -
Dawn - 11:27 Mar 11, 2026
WASHINGTON: United States lawmakers from both parties raised concerns on Tuesday about the strategy and potential consequences of the US-Israeli war against Iran following a classified congressional briefing. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said the Trump administration’s plans for the war appear “incoherent and incomplete” following the two-hour closed-door briefing. “So they are going to spend hundreds of billions of your taxpayer dollars, get a whole bunch of Americans killed, and a hardline regime — probably a MORE anti-American hardline regime — will still be in charge,” Murphy said on X following the briefing. Murphy said he could not disclose classified information but that the plans discussed left him deeply concerned about the administration’s strategy. He said the briefing suggested that destroying Iran’s nuclear weapons program is not among the listed war goals. He also said regime change in Tehran is not part of the strategy, raising questions about what the administration ultimately hopes to achi... -
Dawn - 11:02 Mar 11, 2026
Iran’s new Supreme Leader Ayatullah Mojtaba Khamenei is injured but “safe and sound”, the son of the president said on Wednesday, offering the first official explanation for why the 56-year-old has not been seen since his appointment at the weekend. “I heard news that Mojtaba Khamenei had been injured. I have asked some friends who had connections,” Yousef Pezeshkian, who is also a government adviser, wrote in a post on his Telegram channel. “They told me that, thank God, he is safe and sound,” added the son of President Masoud Pezeshkian. Mojtaba, until now a low profile if powerful behind-the-scenes figure, was named Iran’s number one following the assassination of his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in an air strike at the start of the US-Israeli war against the Islamic republic. But there had been mounting questions about his whereabouts and physical condition after his appointment by the Assembly of Experts clerical body, with the new supreme leader yet to be seen, let alone speak, in public. State televis... -
Dawn - 10:42 Mar 11, 2026
Prime Minister’s Spokesperson for Foreign Media Mosharraf Zaidi on Wednesday said that Pakistan would be there for Saudi Arabia “before it is needed”, adding “no matter what, no matter when”. In an interview with Bloomberg TV, Zaidi was asked about whether Pakistan would come to Saudi Arabia’s aid “militarily or otherwise” amid war triggered in the Middle East following US-Israeli strikes on Iran. “The question is not whether Pakistan might come to Saudi Arabia’s aid. Both countries, even before the strategic mutual defence agreement, have operated on a principle of being there for the other before they need the other. So, there is no question that we might; we will. No matter what, no matter when,” he said. He maintained that the “real question” was what Pakistan was doing to make sure that things did not escalate to a point where “any of its closest partners are further embroiled in a conflict that potentially undermines stability and prosperity, not just for the region at large but especially for the Pakis... -
Dawn - 09:42 Mar 11, 2026
Tanker drivers in Pakistan said they were facing long waits at depots due to a shortage of fuel, as the government played down fears of another rise in prices. The US-Israeli war with Iran has disrupted shipping and damaged oil and gas facilities in the Middle East, raising global oil prices as countries scramble to deal with concerns over supply. Dozens of tankers, which supply fuel across Pakistan, were seen parked at the side of the road on Tuesday at depots near Lahore. “There is no petrol at the depot for the past four days,” said one tanker driver, Abdul Shakoor. “Iran has closed the border from their side. The depot is lying empty,” he told AFP. The country depends on oil and gas from the Gulf, and vessels transporting fuel were given naval escorts this week to ensure continuity of supplies during the Middle East crisis. Last week, the government hiked prices by about 20 per cent, triggering long lines and panic buying at filling stations across the country. Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said in... -
Dawn - 09:38 Mar 11, 2026
Iran’s Assembly of Experts on Sunday named Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new supreme leader after the assassination of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in strikes by the US and Israel on Iran. Mojtaba has been termed as a discreet figure who offers continuity of his father’s leadership. His appointment has drawn contrasting reactions from Washington and Jerusalem, reflecting differing strategies in responding to Iran’s evolving leadership. Here is how different international media outlets covered the news: Fox News — Iran crowns ‘nepo baby’ as supreme leader: Mojtaba Khamenei’s rise questioned by critics The mullahs spent 45 years denouncing hereditary dynasties and they just crowned a king. Khamenei junior. The boss’ son. He’s 56, no resume except his last name. Al Jazeera — Iran names Mojtaba Khamenei as new supreme leader after father’s killing Mojtaba Khamenei has never run for office or been subjected to a public vote, but has long been a highly influential figure in the inner circle of the suprem... -
Dawn - 09:18 Mar 11, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Secretariat has implemented comprehensive austerity and fuel conservation measures aimed at ensuring prudent utilisation of public resources, reducing energy consumption, and supporting the government’s national austerity drive. Under the measures, the salaries of MNAs has been cut by 25 per cent. According to a notification issued on Wednesday, only 20pc of staff will perform their duties in person, while the remaining 80pc will work virtually from home through a rotational roster. It stated that employees working from home would remain available through telephone, email, WhatsApp, and other communication tools, and would be required to report to the office within one hour’s notice if directed by their reporting officers. It added that employees working from home would not be entitled to diet allowances or overtime charges, and no employee would be permitted to leave their station without prior approval of the competent authority. The secretariat further said that a four-day ... -
Dawn - 09:07 Mar 11, 2026
Pakistan’s benchmark KSE-100 index closed in the red on Wednesday, shedding 318.65 points, or 0.2 per cent, to settle at 155,858.47 points compared with its previous close of 156,177.12 points. The index began the session on a strong note, staging a sharp rebound during early trading. By 10:55am, the index had climbed more than 2,000 points as investor sentiment improved following the previous day’s rally. However, the momentum gradually faded through the day, and by 1pm the index had largely erased its gains, reflecting cautious trading activity. Overall, the session remained volatile, with the benchmark fluctuating between an intraday high of 158,624.51 points and a low of 155,652.35 points. Trading activity was led by The Bank of Punjab, which rose 2.53pc to Rs27.97 on a volume of 37,706,784 shares. It was followed by K-Electric Limited, which fell 3.10pc to Rs7.49 with 37,690,039 shares traded, and Cnergyico PK Limited, which edged up 2.02pc to Rs7.06 on a volume of 27,351,074 shares. The earlier rally ca... -
Dawn - 08:29 Mar 11, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday imposed a fine of Rs100,000 on the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for employing “delaying tactics” in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust corruption case against former premier Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi. The development came as a division bench comprising IHC Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif presided over the hearing on pleas filed by the couple seeking the suspension of their sentences and appeals against their convictions. Prior to the hearing, the anti-graft watchdog, in a sharp legal response submitted to the court, had raised a preliminary jurisdictional objection, arguing that the appellants’ application under Section 426 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) was premature. The bureau contended that the appeals filed by Imran and Bushra had not yet been formally admitted for regular hearing by the high court. Citing legal precedents, it maintained that the phrase “pending appeal” in Section 426 of t... -
Dawn - 07:16 Mar 11, 2026
GWADAR: Five labourers from Sindh were injured in a grenade attack on a house in the coastal town of Pasni late Tuesday night, police said. Unknown people riding motorbikes hurled a grenade at a residential quarter in Ward No. 9, resulting in an explosion in the house’s courtyard, according to police reports. As a result, five people said to be from Sindh were injured while a portion of the quarter was damaged. Police rushed to the site soon after the blast and shifted the injured to the district hospital. “The condition of one injured is serious, while others are stable despite receiving multiple injuries,” a police official said. They all belonged to Larkana and Qambar Shahdadkot, and were staying in Gwadar to work as labourers. Police are investigating the incident. No one has claimed responsibility for the grenade attack as yet. There has been a rise in militancy in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the past year. However, there was a decline in militant attacks following the launch of retaliatory “Op... -
Dawn - 06:37 Mar 11, 2026
The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday rejected suggestions of unequal treatment after the West Indies and South Africa squads were stranded in India for more than a week following the T20 World Cup. Airlines have cancelled or rerouted flights because of the war in the Middle East, throwing international travel into chaos. Cricket West Indies said on Tuesday its squad had waited nine days for a charter flight that was “repeatedly delayed”, calling the uncertainty “increasingly distressing”. Former England captain Michael Vaughan also criticised the situation, noting on social media that England departed 36 hours after their semi-final exit last week while the West Indies and South Africa remained in Kolkata more than a week after being knocked out of the tournament. The ICC said it “rejects any suggestion that these decisions have been driven by anything other than safety, feasibility and welfare”. “We understand that players, coaches, support staff and their families who have completed their IC... -
Dawn - 05:53 Mar 11, 2026
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said Indian energy giant Reliance Industries was backing a deal to build the first new major oil refinery in the United States in half a century. Trump made the announcement via his Truth Social platform, saying the company America First Refining would construct the new facility at the Port of Brownsville, Texas. “This is a historic $300 billion dollar deal — the biggest in US history,” Trump wrote, framing the project as a cornerstone of his energy agenda, but offering no details on the plan. “Thank you to our partners in India, and their largest privately held Energy Company, Reliance, for this tremendous Investment,” he said, without specifying the company’s commitment. Reliance is India’s biggest privately held conglomerate and its Jamnagar refinery is the world’s largest. The America First Refining website says the company is a project of Element Fuels, which first announced plans in 2024 to build a Brownsville refinery at a cost of between $3-$4bn. The facility would... -
Dawn - 04:24 Mar 11, 2026
• Petition before IHC relates to appeal against conviction in Toshakhana case • Latif Khosa asked to assist the court with relevant jail rules at the next hearing ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Tuesday directed the Advocate General Islamabad to facilitate the signing of the power of attorney of senior lawyer Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan by the founder of PTI, Imran Khan, through the superintendent of Adiala jail. A division bench comprising Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro also directed senior counsel Latif Khosa to come prepared with the relevant jail rules at the next hearing. The court issued the directions during the hearing of a miscellaneous application seeking the transfer of the PTI founder to a hospital for treatment in connection with the appeal against his conviction on the Election Commission of Pakistan’s compliant for concealing Toshakhana gifts in his assets declaration. During the proceedings, Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, Latif Khosa and other lawyers appeare... -
Dawn - 04:11 Mar 11, 2026
WASHINGTON: The US military’s operations against Iran have already cost billions of dollars, with munitions expenditure reaching $5.6 billion to $6bn in just the opening days of the conflict, multiple news outlets reported. According to reports, these estimates were shared with Congress on Monday, though the Pentagon declined to comment publicly on the figures. The New York Times reported that Pentagon officials informed lawmakers that the first week of operations cost roughly $6bn, with around $4bn spent on munitions and missile interceptors. CBS News noted that the $5.6bn figure covers only the first 48 hours of the conflict, while The Washington Post confirmed a similar cost for the same period. The Hill also verified that the Pentagon had provided these figures to congressional members. Reuters, citing US administration sources, reported $5.6bn in munitions costs during the initial days of the conflict. Analysts warn that total operational costs could exceed $10bn within 10 days, driven by high-intensity ... -
Dawn - 02:38 Mar 11, 2026
TEHRAN: Rescuers work in the rubble of a residential building after air strikes in the Resalat area.—Reuters • Energy secretary claims US Navy escorted ship through ‘troubled waters’, later deletes X post • Araghchi shoots down Trump’s signal for talks, says will fight as long as necessary • Israel says ‘not done with offensive’ yet; Hegseth claims unleashing ‘most intense strikes’ yet • US ‘unhappy’ with Israeli strikes on Iranian oil facilities • Pakistan continues diplomatic efforts; slams invasion of Lebanon TEHRAN / WASHINGTON: The US continued to put out more mixed signals on Tuesday, as US President Donald Trump told Fox News that it was possible he would be willing to talk with Tehran, while his Pentagon chief vowed to ramp up strikes against Iran, promising “the most intense day of strikes” yet. Iran’s forces, however, vowed to fight on, declaring that not one litre of oil would be exported from the Gulf while its war with the United States and Israel continues. The vow came as the US energy secretar... -
Dawn - 19:17 Mar 10, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Three ships carrying petrol have arrived in Pakistan while one has already discharged its diesel cargo to replenish the fuel stocks in the country amid global shortages, it emerged on Tuesday. The berthing for three ships that are yet to discharge their cargoes is scheduled for the coming days this week. According to a statement issued by the Port Qasim Authority (PQA), a marine tanker, Torm Damini, reached Pakistan on March 8 and has offloaded 37,000 tonnes of diesel. Meanwhile, another tanker, Nave Atropos, carrying 50,000 tonnes of petrol, has reached Port Qasim and is scheduled to berth on Wednesday, the statement said. The process is expected to take around 30 hours. Another tanker, Spruce 2, carrying 55,000 tonnes of petrol, is expected to berth on Thursday. A fourth ship, Sea Clipper, carrying 34,000 tonnes of petrol, will berth on March 13 or 14, the statement said. It added that another vessel, bringing petrol for the state-owned Pakistan State Oil, is expected to arrive after March 16. LP...
10418 items