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Dawn - 10:33 Mar 06, 2026
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday presided over a high-level meeting on petroleum products, directing provincial governments to take strict legal action against those hoarding the commodities. According to a handout by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the Ministry of Petroleum gave a detailed briefing about stocks of petroleum products in the country, in the context of the changing situation in the region. According to the briefing, sufficient reserves of petroleum products are available in the country to meet national needs, the statement said. It added that PM Shehbaz directed provincial governments to take strict legal action against those hoarding petroleum products. He said that any petrol pump involved in the illegal practice of creating an artificial shortage should be immediately closed, its licence cancelled, and legal action taken against it, it said. The premier also instructed the petroleum minister to visit the provinces and, in coordination with the provincial governments, prepare a stra... -
Dawn - 10:10 Mar 06, 2026
Pakistan’s benchmark stock index, the KSE-100, plunged 3,714.57 points on Friday, reversing some of the strong gains recorded in the previous session. The index declined to 157,496.10 points, 2.3 per cent down from its previous close of 161,210.67 points. The intraday high was 161,435.83 points while the intraday low hit 157,072.64 points, slightly lower than the closing mark. The fall comes a day after the benchmark staged a sharp recovery, closing Thursday in the green with a gain of 5,433.46 points. After Thursday’s positive session, investors came in to sell before the weekend, as fear grow the US-Iran conflict with Iran may turn into a prolonged war, according to Topline Securities. Friday’s session was marked by pronounced early volatility. The index dropped sharply around 9:20am, briefly recovered by 9:25am, and then fell again by 9:34am. It regained some momentum until about 9:40am before resuming a steady downward trajectory. Among the most actively traded stocks so far: K-Electric: down 2.98pc to Rs... -
Dawn - 09:11 Mar 06, 2026
A narrow vote in the House on Thursday rejecting limits on presidential war powers highlighted a growing clash between President Donald Trump’s approach to the conflict with Iran and Congress’s constitutional authority over military action. The House voted 219–212 against a resolution that would have required the president to seek congressional authorisation before expanding US military operations against Iran. A similar effort in the Senate failed earlier, leaving the administration free to continue its current campaign. The resolution, introduced by lawmakers from both parties, sought to reassert Congress’s authority under the Constitution to approve acts of war. Its defeat underscored the sharp partisan divide on Capitol Hill over the administration’s strategy. “Today, I voted for the War Powers Resolution to put an immediate stop to President Trump’s unlawful war with Iran,” said Representative Judy Chu, a California Democrat. She argued that the administration had presented “no imminent threat” that woul... -
Dawn - 08:33 Mar 06, 2026
The US Justice Department released FBI records on Thursday that summarise interviews of an unidentified woman in which she made accusations against US President Donald Trump related to an alleged sexual encounter. FBI agents interviewed the woman four times in 2019 as part of their investigation into accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The Justice Department had previously released a log confirming that the interviews took place, but released a summary of only one of those four meetings, in which she accused Epstein of molesting her when she was a teenager. The newly disclosed records, which were posted on the department’s website on Thursday, show she also claimed Trump attempted to force her to engage in sexual acts after Epstein introduced her to the future president in New York or New Jersey in the 1980s when she was between 13 and 15 years old. The White House did not immediately respond to questions about the disclosures. Politico, which first reported the disclosures, said White House press secreta... -
Dawn - 08:02 Mar 06, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The number of Trojan banker attacks on Android smartphones increased by 56 per cent in 2025 compared to the previous year, 2024. The claim was made by cybersecurity firm Kaspersky in a report titled “Mobile Malware Evolution.” This type of malware is designed to steal user credentials for online banking, e-payment services and credit card systems. Cybercriminals commonly distribute Trojan bankers through messaging apps as well as malicious webpages. The number of new Trojan banker installation packages for Android (unique APK files) also increased sharply across the globe, reaching 255,090 packages. This may indicate that these tools generate substantial profits for cybercriminals. Experts believe that threat actors will continue to expand delivery channels and develop new Trojan variants in an attempt to evade detection by security solutions. “Although Trojan bankers for smartphones are the fastest-growing type of malware, we also observed another important trend: preinstalled backdoors such as Tr... -
Dawn - 07:02 Mar 06, 2026
Punjab will establish “anti-drone units” in all districts of Punjab, said a statement from the provincial home department on Friday. The launch of an anti-drone unit was approved by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz last week. Emphasising a proactive approach, she said that instead of only reacting to terrorist incidents, authorities must adopt a policy of taking preemptive measures. According to the statement, the unit will conduct aerial surveillance of the district with the help of special drone fleets. An “anti-drone system” will also be provided in each district under the leadership of their district police officer (DPOs). Surveillance drones and anti-drone systems will be provided as per the needs of each district. “The anti-drone system will disable the drones of the enemy and miscreants with the help of jammers,” the statement added. The statement, quoting the home department spokesperson, stated that the decision was taken to meet modern-day counter-terrorism requirements and maintain an atmosphere ... -
Dawn - 06:21 Mar 06, 2026
Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto has reassured local Islamic groups that he will withdraw from United States President Donald Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ if the platform does not benefit Palestinians, a government statement said on Friday. The participation of Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, on the board, and its decision to contribute troops for a Gaza stabilisation force, has drawn criticism from experts and Muslim groups at home, who say it compromises its long-standing support for the Palestinian cause. Prabowo gathered the groups’ leaders for a meeting on Thursday evening where he reiterated his reasoning behind joining the board, according to a statement put out by the government communication office. Prabowo will withdraw from the board if it does not benefit Palestinian and Indonesian interests, the statement quoted Hanif Alatas of the Islamic Brotherhood Front as saying. “The president said that if he sees that there is no longer any benefit for Palestine … and that it is no... -
Dawn - 06:11 Mar 06, 2026
United States military investigators believe it is likely that US forces were responsible for an apparent strike on an Iranian girls’ school that killed scores of children on Saturday, but have not yet reached a final conclusion or completed their investigation, two US officials told Reuters. Reuters was unable to determine more details about the investigation, including what evidence contributed to the tentative assessment, what type of munition was used, who was responsible or why the US might have struck the school. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday acknowledged the US military was investigating the incident. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military matters, did not rule out the possibility that new evidence could emerge that absolves the US of responsibility and points to another responsible party in the incident. Reuters could not determine how much longer the investigation would last or what evidence US investigators are seeking before the assessment ... -
Dawn - 04:51 Mar 06, 2026
BANNU: A video footage showing armed men torturing a 15-year-old girl in Domel tehsil of Bannu has gone viral on social media. According to local sources, the girl identified as Hamshda was reportedly seen moving around in male clothing and adopting a masculine appearance. She was reportedly seen in Domel and Township areas. They said that despite repeated warnings from her family, she continued to wear clothes of men and roam around. They said that unidentified armed men allegedly abducted the girl and took her to an undisclosed location where she was subjected to torture. A video of the incident was also recorded and later circulated on social media. In the video, the girl is made to say that she will not go out in this manner or roam with boys in the future. She was reportedly released after being forced to promise not to repeat such actions. According to Domel police, no formal complaint has been received from any affected party so far, and no FIR has been registered in connection with the incident. Howev... -
Dawn - 03:10 Mar 06, 2026
KARACHI: Traders have been trying to revive trade links with Dubai, as the relationship was disrupted following the US-Israel attack on Iran, which turned Dubai into a war zone. Traders said two flights were likely to depart from Karachi and Lahore for Dubai tonight, but were unable to identify who these people are or why they want to enter Dubai while the war is still ongoing. Dubai is a global financial centre, while hundreds of Pakistani companies operate there to benefit from tax exemptions and other facilities not available in Pakistan. “We have collected foreign currencies and a person is expected to fly to Dubai to buy dollars against these currencies,” said Zafar Paracha, General Secretary of the Exchange Companies Association of Pakistan (ECAP). Foreign currencies such as Saudi Riyal, UAE Dirham, and all currencies other than US dollar are collected and sent to Dubai to purchase dollars. So far, a flight from Lahore was expected to depart at 3.30am for Dubai, and our representative carrying foreign c... -
Dawn - 03:06 Mar 06, 2026
WASHINGTON: A Pakistani man accused of planning to kill President Donald Trump told jurors on Wednesday that he did not willingly work with Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps to devise the plot, media said. The Justice Department accused Asif Merchant of trying to recruit people in the United States in the plan targeting Trump and other US politicians in retaliation for Washington’s killing of the Corps’ top commander, Qassem Soleimani. The Corps has a central role in Iran, with its combination of military and economic power and an intelligence network. “I was not wanting to do this so willingly,” the New York Times quoted Merchant as telling a court during his trial for terrorism and murder-for-hire charges, adding that he participated to protect his family in Tehran. Prosecutors reject Merchant’s claim of duress, cite lack of evidence to support ‘coercion’ defence Prosecutors rejected Merchant’s claim, citing a “lack of evidentiary support for a true duress or coercion,” according to a letter s... -
Dawn - 02:48 Mar 06, 2026
• Death toll from clashes in wake of Khamenei assassination reaches 20 • Cases over Gilgit, Skardu violence registered under anti-terrorism laws, says IGP • Insists attacks were organised, carried out with planning; JIT formed GILGIT: Suspects involved in attacks on military installations in Gilgit-Baltistan would be tried in military courts, GB Inspector General of Police Dr Nasir Akbar Khan said on Thursday. Addressing a press conference in Gilgit, he said that cases related to the recent violent incidents in Gilgit and Skardu following the assassination of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during US and Israeli attacks on Iran had been registered under anti-terrorism laws. The GB police chief said it was necessary to inform the public about the current situation after the recent violence in Skardu and Gilgit. He said anti-Pakistan elements were attempting to create internal and external disruption, put pressure on security resources and provoke sentiments among the public that could damage unit... -
Dawn - 21:28 Mar 05, 2026
Kristi Noem, who oversaw United States President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration crackdown and faced bipartisan criticism in hearings this week, will leave her role as homeland security chief at the end of the month. Trump will tap Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin to replace her, he said on his Truth Social platform, a move that would require US Senate confirmation. Noem, a former governor of South Dakota, became one of Trump’s most high-profile cabinet secretaries with social media posts that portrayed immigrants in harsh terms, highlighting cases of alleged criminal offenders and using vitriolic language. She faced criticism in January when she quickly labelled two US citizens fatally shot by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis as committing “domestic terrorism”. Videos that emerged after the deaths undercut the assertion by Noem and other Trump officials that the two deceased — Renee Good and Alex Pretti — were violent aggressors. The public backlash for deaths led the Trump administration to ... -
Dawn - 20:58 Mar 05, 2026
Pakistan expressed “serious concern” on Thursday on recent attacks targeting Azerbaijan and Turkiye, calling for restraint and emphasising the need for dialogue and diplomacy. The calls comes against the backdrop of an ongoing war between Iran and the US and Israel, which has expanded across the Middle East with Tehran targeting US bases and assets in other countries and Tel Aviv targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon. On Thursday, a drone struck an airport building in Azerbaijan’s exclave of Nakhichevan and exploded. Two people were injured in the incident, for which Azerbaijan held Iran responsible, but Iran has denied involvement in the incident and blames Israel. On Wednesday, Turkiye summoned the Iranian ambassador after a missile — apparently targeting a Cyprus base — landed in Turkish territory. Iran’s armed forces have also denied firing any missile towards Turkiye. Following the two incidents, the Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement that Pakistan expressed “serious concern” over the recent attacks target... -
Dawn - 20:16 Mar 05, 2026
The Indian Air Force (IAF) said on Friday that a fighter jet, which was on a training mission, crashed in the northeast Indian state of Assam. “The Su-30MKI which was on a training mission, crashed in the area of Karbi Anglong, Assam, approximately 60km from Jorhat,” the IAF said on X. Search operations are under way, the IAF added. Earlier, the IAF had said that the fighter jet had not returned or made contact at its expected time after taking off from Assam at 7:42pm local time (1412 GMT) on Thursday. “An IAF Su-30 MKI is reported overdue. The aircraft had taken off from Jorhat, Assam and was last in contact at 7:42pm. Further details are being ascertained. Search and rescue mission has been initiated,” it said in a post on X. The IAF has been beset by incidents involving fighter jet crashes in the recent past. Su-30 MKI’s crash comes around 10 days after the IAF lost a Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Tejas light combat aircraft as it overshot the runway at a frontline airbase, sustaining major damage to its ... -
Dawn - 18:30 Mar 05, 2026
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari gave his assent on Thursday to the NAB (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which allows for an extension in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairperson’s term by another three years. The president’s approval came hours after the bill was rushed through both Houses of Parliament amid the opposition’s outcry and a day before the term of incumbent NAB Chairman Lt General (retired) Nazir Ahmed was set to expire. Ahmad became the NAB chairman on March 4, 2023, after his predecessor Aftab Sultan resigned, citing “interference” and “pressure” as the reasons for his departure. An official source told Dawn that a notification extending the term of Lt General (retd) Nazir Ahmed for another three years had also been issued, and he would now hold the office till March 2029. Amendments Previously, a NAB chairman served a non‑extendable term of three years and was not eligible for reappointment under the NAB Ordinance. An amendment to its Section 6 now allows the chairman to serve a three... -
Dawn - 18:11 Mar 05, 2026
India clung on to beat England by seven runs in a thrilling T20 World Cup semi-final in Mumbai on Thursday, despite Jacob Bethell’s superb 105. After Sanju Samson’s scintillating 89 laid the platform for India to pile up a massive 253-7, England fell just short in what would have been a record chase, finishing on 246-7. Phil Salt (5), Harry Brook (7) and Jos Buttler (25) fell early, but Bethell, aided by Will Jacks (35) kept England in the hunt. The left-hander hit seven sixes and eight fours in his 48-ball thrash before his run out in the final over finally allowed India to celebrate in front of 35,000 jubilant fans in Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium. India will face New Zealand in Sunday’s final in Ahmedabad as they attempt to become the first team to retain the trophy and the first to win it on home soil. The hosts, having been asked to bat by Brook, earlier flayed England’s attack to all parts of the ground, hitting 19 sixes and 18 fours. Samson signalled his intent with a four and six off Jofra Archer’s first ... -
Dawn - 16:41 Mar 05, 2026
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday stated that “agenda-driven fake news targeting the character of our players is unacceptable and will not be tolerated”. The development comes after several Indian media outlets reported that an unnamed member of Pakistan’s squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup “misbehaved” with a female housekeeper at a hotel, ahead of their Super Eight match with Sri Lanka in Kandy. A similar report was also carried by ARY News, which alleged that the player in question was Salman Mirza. The report has since been taken down. However, the PCB’s statement did not make specific mention of any news reports or the allegations. “Agenda-driven fake news targeting the character of our players is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” it said. “The reporter must publicly apologise without delay; failing which, the PCB will take all necessary steps to ensure such malicious conduct is dealt with firmly and nipped in the bud,” the board said, without specifying which reporter it was referri... -
Dawn - 16:04 Mar 05, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The government on Thursday decided in principle to start weekly revisions for petroleum prices effective from March 8 and to implement measures such as distance learning and work-from-home for the conservation of fuel amid possible oil supply disruptions due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The national action plan was crystallised in consultation with the provinces at a meeting of the cabinet committee formed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for monitoring petrol prices due to the regional situation. The action plan will be presented to PM Shehbaz on Friday. Subject to his clearance and fine-tuning, it will then be taken up by the federal cabinet’s Economic Coordination Committee for formal approval and implementation. Back-to-back meetings of the three forums are scheduled for Friday, in that order, given the urgency of the matter. According to informed sources, the contingency measures had also been discussed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). During the meeting of the cabine... -
Dawn - 15:07 Mar 05, 2026
Turmoil in the Middle East has sent investors scrambling for safety once more, reigniting a debate over which assets truly offer protection in times of stress. The choice is complicated, as traditional refuges behave unpredictably. Gold has swung sharply, and the dollar — which has been out of favour in the past year — has bounced back. Here’s a look at how some of the favourites stack up: Greenback passes a test The dollar has arguably performed the best among safe havens this week. The dollar index, which tracks the US currency against six others, is up 1.5 per cent. The dollar has even gained against the Swiss franc and yen, which both typically outperform at times of market stress. That’s particularly notable as the dollar weakened when stocks fell following last April’s tariff turmoil, raising questions about its safe haven status. It’s short-term dollar cash that’s in demand, not other dollar assets, flow data shows. Of course, the US is a net energy exporter, so a crisis like this that sends benchmark ...
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