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Dawn - 17:45 Mar 04, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The government on Wednesday deplored the opposition’s decision to boycott an in-camera briefing convened on national security, advising it to rethink its policy on issues linked to national interests. Earlier in the day, the government had invited the heads of all parliamentary parties to an in-camera briefing on national security convened by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at his office. However, the PTI had decided not to attend any meeting unless a meeting with its founder Imran Khan was arranged. Talking about the development in the National Assembly, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said the opposition should demonstrate seriousness on issues of national interest. He said political differences aside, this was the time to send a message of complete unity in Pakistan on matters of national interest. The minister said the session was organised neither to promote the agenda of any political party nor to benefit anyone individually. “It was a matter of Pakistan’s security an... -
Dawn - 17:29 Mar 04, 2026
Multiple anti-state, Indian and Afghan accounts on social media platform X have been sharing a video since March 2, claiming that it shows Allama Raja Nasir, opposition leader in the Senate, saying Pakistan allowed the United States to use its airspace against Iran. However, the clip is doctored using artificial intelligence (AI). Israel and the United States launched joint military strikes on Iran on February 28, and assassinated Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, significantly escalating tensions in the Middle East. Iran called the strikes unprovoked and illegal, and responded with missiles fired at Israel and at least seven other countries, including Gulf states that host US bases. The war entered its fifth day on Wednesday, with no let-up in attacks by the US, Israel or Iran. Meanwhile, Washington has said it was winning in the war against Iran, adding that the US military could fight as long as needed. On March 2, an anti-state account on X shared a clip of Nasir speaking on a talk show with the ... -
Dawn - 17:28 Mar 04, 2026
Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir on Wednesday said that peace between Pakistan and Afghanistan could only prevail if the Taliban regime “renounced their support for terrorism and terrorist organisations”. According to a statement by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), CDF Munir made the remarks as he visited Wana in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s South Waziristan to review the prevailing security situation and operational preparedness along the Western border. “He reiterated that peace could only prevail between both sides if the Afghan Taliban renounced their support for terrorism and terrorist organisations,” the statement said. It said that CDF Munir laid a floral wreath at the martyrs’ monument to pay homage to those who had rendered supreme sacrifices in defence of the motherland. “He offered fateha and reaffirmed that the sacrifices of shuhada remain the cornerstone of Pakistan’s security and resilience,” it added. During the visit, CDF Munir was given a comprehensive b... -
Dawn - 17:19 Mar 04, 2026
New Zealand’s Finn Allen blasted the fastest century in T20 World Cup history in Kolkata on Wednesday as his side hammered South Africa by nine wickets to reach the final. Chasing 170 to win the first semi-final, Allen hit an unbeaten 100 off just 33 balls, to obliterate the previous mark of 47 balls by Chris Gayle, as New Zealand raced home with 7.1 overs to spare. Allen went on a rampage as he finished with two fours, two sixes and a four off successive balls to hit the winning runs and reach his hundred with a roar of delight at Eden Gardens. Tim Seifert hit 58 in a 117-run opening stand with Allen off just 9.1 overs to set up the victory romp. Seifert hit two sixes and seven fours while Allen bludgeoned eight sixes and 10 fours in a brutal display of controlled power hitting. “Obviously, we wanted to start looking straight and obviously try and put them on the back foot early,” said Allen. “I think it’s easy for me when Timmy’s (Seifert) going like that, I can kind of just watch and then hit it when it’s ... -
Dawn - 16:47 Mar 04, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board of governors on Wednesday unanimously approved the agreement between the agency and Pakistan for the application of safeguards at Unit 5 of the Chashma nuclear power plant, according to the Foreign Office. The statement from the FO was shared on the social media platform X by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. “This important development reflects the international community’s continued confidence in Pakistan’s commitment to the peaceful use of nuclear energy and its adherence to global non-proliferation and safeguards obligations,” the FO said. It added that the plant had a gross capacity of 1,200 MW and the pressurised water reactor was expected to become operational by 2030. “Upon completion, the unit will provide a substantial source of low-carbon electricity to Pakistan’s national grid, contributing to energy security, climate goals and sustainable economic growth,” the FO said. It further said that Pakistan currently operat... -
Dawn - 15:53 Mar 04, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is set to take a series of major measures —including weekly petroleum price revision, compensating oil companies for elevated costs of insurance and import premiums, and fuel conservation measures like mandatory work from home — to keep the markets liquid amid the drying out of trade movement following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. A summary is being submitted to the federal cabinet’s Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) in this regard for action without delay as petroleum prices appeared to surge, informed sources told Dawn. However, even before the ECC takes these decisions, the state-run Pakistan State Oil (PSO), under the government’s assent, has launched two import tenders each for petrol and diesel outside the Strait of Hormuz as a precaution, although both product stocks are among the highest in the country at present. Both petrol and diesel have over 500,000 tonnes of stocks, enough for 26 and 25 days’ cover. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has already been requested to provide oil... -
Dawn - 14:39 Mar 04, 2026
Harry Brook conceded on Wednesday that India were favourites to win the T20 World Cup on home soil, but warned them that England’s “perfect performance” was “just around the corner”. The previous two winners of the T20 World Cup — India won in 2024, England in 2022 — will go head-to-head in a blockbuster semi-final at Mumbai’s famed Wankhede stadium on Thursday night. The match will be played in a cauldron-like atmosphere — temperatures are forecast to be in the mid-30s Celsius with a capacity crowd of 35,000 Indian fans raising the roof. Hundreds of millions more will follow on TV and streaming sites across the cricket-obsessed nation. Asked if it gets any better than that, Brook said: “It’s up there for sure. “It’s a dream come true for most of us to play in a World Cup semi-final against the home nation on a very iconic ground,” the England captain told reporters at the Wankhede stadium, minutes before his side’s final training session ahead of the semi-final. “We’re obviously going into the game very conf... -
Dawn - 14:10 Mar 04, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The leaders of parliamentary parties, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, were on Wednesday given an in-camera briefing on the regional situation. PM Shehbaz had invited parliamentary leaders and party heads to “sit down and develop a course of action so we can move forward”, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said on Tuesday while addressing the National Assembly. The briefing began shortly after 11:30am at the Prime Minister House and concluded after more than two hours. It mainly discussed the ongoing ‘Operation Ghazab lil-Haq’ against terrorist hideouts and the Middle East conflict. “The meeting was given an in-camera briefing regarding the Pakistan-Afghanistan situation, the hostilities in Iran, Middle East and the Gulf, and Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts,” read a statement from the PM Office (PMO). It added that the parliamentary leaders of the participating political parties “freely expressed their views”. “The participants underscored the need for national unity, consensus and unanimity in the... -
Dawn - 13:31 Mar 04, 2026
The United States military has joined Israel and attacked more than 1,000 targets in Iran and assassinated many of its top officials, including supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Below is a look at the legality of the US attacks, which critics say exceed the president’s authority and fail to comply with international law. What has Trump said? US President Donald Trump has provided varying objectives and justifications. He has said he felt Iran was going to strike first and the attack was meant to eliminate imminent threats to the United States, its military bases overseas and allies, although he did not provide details and some claims were not backed by US intelligence reports. Trump also said Iran could obtain a nuclear weapon within one month, but he did not provide evidence, and this contradicted his claims in June that the US military had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear programme. Presidential power to use the military The attacks on Iran are pushing the boundaries of Trump’s constitutional authority, ac... -
Dawn - 13:14 Mar 04, 2026
EU expresses solidarity with Spain following Trump’s trade threat; Madrid says it ‘won’t be vassals’
The European Union (EU) stands in full solidarity with Spain, European Council President Antonio Costa said on Wednesday, following US President Donald Trump’s threats to cut trade with Madrid over its stance against Washington’s attacks on Iran. “I have just held a call with President Sanchez to express the EU’s full solidarity with Spain. The EU will always ensure that the interests of its member states are fully protected,” Costa said on the social media platform on X. Trump lashed out at the government of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Tuesday, criticising its refusal to grant use of the Rota naval base and Moron air base, as well as his refusal to join Nato allies in a pledge to boost defence spending. “So we’re going to cut off all trade with Spain. We don’t want anything to do with Spain,” Trump said. Meanwhile, the European Commission said it was “ready” to defend EU interests. “We stand in full solidarity with all member states and all their citizens and, through our common trade policy, stand ready... -
Dawn - 12:39 Mar 04, 2026
Jamaat-i-Islami Pakistan Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has announced nationwide protests on Friday against US-Israel attacks on Iran and to express solidarity with the neighbouring country, according to a press release issued by the party’s information secretary. The statement said that JI emir met Iranian Ambassador Reza Amiri Moghadam in Islamabad and addressed a press conference following the meeting, in which he strongly criticised the US, Israel, and India and described them as an “evil trinity”. It added that Rehman also termed the Board of Peace led by US President Donald Trump, of which Pakistan is a member, as deceptive and demanded the government withdraw from it. The statement added that during the meeting, the JI emir also conveyed condolences over the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other Iranian leaders in US-Israeli strikes. “He offered prayers for the departed and assured the ambassador that the people of Pakistan and Jamaat-i-Islami stand firmly with Iran in the current... -
Dawn - 12:28 Mar 04, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Wednesday cautioned over oil stocks amid global uncertainty due to the US-Israel and Iran war, but said that there was no emergency-like situation in Pakistan. Briefing the Senate Standing Committee on Finance, the minister suggested conserving fuel as a preventive measure. “We are not going for rationing of fuel as there is no fuel shortage in the country, but things could become serious if the war drags on,” Aurangzeb said in response to the query by Saleem Mandviwala, the chairman of the committee. The committee was informed that there were petrol and diesel stocks for 28 days, crude oil stocks for 10 days, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) for 15 days. “But some cargoes have been stuck in Qatar and to offset this short supply, the output from local gas fields was being enhanced,” he added. The committee was informed that the finance ministry would hold daily meetings with the relevant departments to monitor the country’s fue... -
Dawn - 12:00 Mar 04, 2026
Gold prices climbed 2 per cent on Wednesday, rebounding from their lowest in more than a week reached in the previous session, as the dollar took a breather and mounting tensions in the Middle East drove investors toward safe havens. However, gold prices in Pakistan registered a significant drop of Rs10,000 per tola, settling at the rate of Rs 539,962 per tola. Spot gold gained 2.2pc to $5,198.58 per ounce by 10:17 GMT, after falling more than 4pc on Tuesday. U.S. gold futures for April delivery added 1.7pc to $5,211.20. The U.S. dollar fell 0.2pc, making greenback-priced gold more affordable for buyers using other currencies. “After the past few days of position unwinds and dollar strength, markets are back to a more typical macro risk-off stance, with silver higher too. A pause in the rise of the dollar and Treasury yields helps with their opportunity costs,” said Jamie Dutta, market analyst at Nemo.money. “Gold and silver’s safe-haven characteristics can shine again.” Spot silver advanced 5.3pc to $86.39 p... -
Dawn - 11:58 Mar 04, 2026
Operatives from Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence signalled openness to the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to talks on ending the war, the New York Times reported on Wednesday, citing officials briefed on the matter. The offer was made through an unnamed country’s spy agency, the NYT said, citing Middle Eastern officials and officials from a Western nation who spoke on condition of anonymity. The White House and the CIA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Officials in Washington are sceptical as to whether Iran or the Trump administration is really ready for an “off-ramp”, at least in the short term, the report added. Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva on Tuesday ruled out for now any negotiations with the United States, days after the US and Israel launched joint strikes on his country. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Tehran wanted to talk but it was too late, as the United States continued its military operation against Iran. -
Dawn - 11:42 Mar 04, 2026
Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam was dropped from the squad for a One-Day International series against Bangladesh, despite scoring a century in his last ODI series. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced a 15-man squad on Wednesday that excluded Babar who made an unbeaten 102 against Sri Lanka in November. He endured a torrid time at the Twenty20 World Cup, however, managing just 91 runs across four innings as Pakistan exited at the Super Eight stage. Left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi will captain the side for the three-match series starting next week in Dhaka. The PCB called up six uncapped players including Abdul Samad, Maaz Sadaqat, Saad Masood and Shamyl Hussain who played against the England Lions in Abu Dhabi before the series was called off due to the conflict in the Middle East. Pakistan squad: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Hussain Talat, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim Junior, Muhammad Ghazi ... -
Dawn - 09:53 Mar 04, 2026
Pakistan’s benchmark KSE-100 index was trading in the red, down 1,354.88 points by the close of the session on Wednesday, taking back the recovery seen earlier in the day. In early trade on Wednesday, the index briefly slipped more than 2,300 points around 9:20am, touching an intraday low of 154,790.73 before regaining ground by 10:30am, trading 381.98 points higher. This volatility suggests that investor confidence still remains cautious, following a turbulent start to the week. On Tuesday, the market staged a sharp rebound of 5,159.10 points to close at 157,132.09, recovering a significant portion of Monday’s record 16,000-plus point plunge, the largest single-session decline in the history of the Pakistan Stock Exchange. The turbulence reflects broader global uncertainty. Escalating US-Israel clashes with Iran have pushed oil prices to a 19-month high and weighed on international equities, as investors grapple with the risk of a prolonged conflict in the Middle East. Topline Securities noted that the “over... -
Dawn - 08:12 Mar 04, 2026
On Sunday afternoon, protesters in Islamabad pressed shoulder to shoulder, most of them dressed in black, and chanted slogans that rippled through the crowd. “Death to America, death to Israel,” they shouted in unison. Among them was also Kazim Hussain, who clutched a portrait of Ayatollah Khamenei. The student, also an activist affiliated with Shia group Imamia Students Organisation (ISO), believes that the crisis unfolding in Iran was not a distant geopolitical conflict playing out beyond Pakistan’s western border. For him, it is deeply personal and emotionally moving. “This is not just an attack on Iran. It concerns all Shia Muslims,” he said, raising his voice above the chants as the crowd marched toward the US embassy. “The death of Ayatollah Khamenei will not end the movement. It has strengthened it.” Kazim’s words reflect a growing wave of anger and grief within Pakistan’s Shia community following the assassination of Iran’s supreme leader amid escalating attacks by Israel and the United States, as wel... -
Dawn - 07:57 Mar 04, 2026
The US State Department said on Wednesday it had ordered non-emergency personnel from US consulates in the cities of Karachi and Lahore and their families to leave Pakistan due to security concerns. “The Department of State ordered non-emergency US government employees and the family members of US government personnel from US Consulates Lahore and Karachi to leave Pakistan due to safety risks,” the US Mission in Pakistan said in a statement. It said there was no change to the status of its embassy in Islamabad. The advisory noted “an ongoing threat of drone and missile attacks from Iran and significant disruptions to commercial flights” amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. While there is also an additional consulate in Peshawar, the updated travel advisory did not mention anything about it. Following the onset of hostilities between Iran and the US and Israel since February 28, the State Department has issued similar instructions for its staff in multiple regional countries. These include Jordan, Bah... -
Dawn - 07:41 Mar 04, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday formally requested that Saudi Arabia provide an alternative oil supply route through Yanbu to maintain its fuel supply chain in the wake of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz following the United States-Israel attack on Iran. The request was made by Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik to the Saudi ambassador to Pakistan, Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki during a meeting. The Saudi ambassador assured full support in this regard, according to a statement by the petroleum division. During the meeting, both sides discussed matters of mutual interest and bilateral cooperation. The minister apprised the ambassador about the current situation and the implications of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz on global energy markets. He stated that Pakistan is closely monitoring the evolving situation on a daily basis, as the majority of Pakistan’s energy supplies transit through the strait. The minister emphasised that Pakistan’s government was actively endeavouring to ensure continui... -
Dawn - 05:45 Mar 04, 2026
The Pakistan Embassy in the United Arab Emirates (USE) announced the temporary suspension of its in-person consular services “until further notice” on Wednesday in view of the evolving regional situation. A circular issued by the embassy referred to an advisory by the UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation recommending remote work for the private sector, discouraging workers from remaining in open areas. The embassy termed the measure “precautionary”, saying it had been taken “in the interest of the safety and well-being of community members and embassy staff alike”. It provided emergency contact numbers for community members to remain in touch if they needed assistance: +971 2 4447800 (Landline) +971 50 121 0260 (Mobile) +971 50 124 8934 (WhatsApp) The embassy added that updates regarding resumption of services would be communicated “in due course” through official channels. It advised Pakistani nationals to follow the instructions of local authorities and stay informed through official announceme...
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