Pakistan

Ishaq Dar has reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to diplomatic engagement to help ease mounting tensions in the Middle East, warning that recent developments have significantly destabilized an already sensitive regional environment.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei is dead, the Gulf is on fire, and global markets are in chaos. One weekend, precisely the last of February and the first of March 2026, changed everything. We are now living in the midst of a war that is escalating with every airstrike, missile and bomb. It began on Feb 28, when the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran in a massive operation to destroy the country’s military and nuclear capabilities. Tehran responded with missile and air strikes across the Middle East, including in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Israel. Iran has also vowed to hit the US and Israel with a force “never seen before”. Meanwhile, in a video address earlier today, President Donald Trump warned Iran’s Revolutionary Guard to lay down arms or “face certain death”. He added that America was standing with the people of Iran. But how did we get here? Here is a timeline: 2025: The Iran-Israel standoff Even though the roots of the matter go back a lo...

President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday addressed a joint sitting of Parliament amid a ruckus by members of the opposition, saying that Pakistan would not “allow any entity, domestic or foreign to use neighbouring territory to destabilise our peace”. This was his ninth address to a joint session of Parliament in his capacity as president. His address was punctuated with sloganeering from the opposition, who chanted, “Go, Zardari, go” and “Khan ko reha karo (free Imran Khan)”. At one point, the opposition gathered in front of the speaker’s dias and continued to raise slogans. @dawn.today President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday addressed a joint sitting of Parliament amid a ruckus by members of the opposition, saying that Pakistan would not “allow any entity, domestic or foreign to use neighbouring territory to destabilise our peace”. This was his ninth address to a joint session of Parliament in his capacity as president. His address was punctuated with sloganeering from the opposition, who chanted, “Go, Zardari, go...

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Monday approved the establishment of the province’s first cybercrime investigation unit and made e-tagging mandatory for all vehicles, including motorcycles. According to an official press release, during a special meeting to crack down on digital terrorism and bring cyber networks under strict surveillance, the Punjab CM said the state’s surveillance across Punjab would be significantly intensified in the coming days. She also directed the establishment of a “micro security iron shield” within seven days. Further, CM Maryam also gave the go-ahead for the establishment of a “Punjab Cybercrime Investigation Unit (CCIU)” and also approved the appointment of its head, the handout said. Further, she also approved a special protection cell for women affected by cybercrime. She also approved district-level cybercrime centres across Punjab, saying that no “safe routes” would be allowed for criminal groups in the province, it added. During the meeting, the Punjab CM said ...

According to the monthly review of price indices released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the National Consumer Price Index for February 2026 increased by 0.27 per cent over January 2026 and was up by 6.98pc from the corresponding month of 2025. Graph courtesy of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics Analysts at Topline Securities noted that this increase is in line with their estimate of 6.75-7.25pc. Arif Habib Limited observed that this is the highest increase since October 2024. The report showed that the Urban Consumer Price Index for February 2026 increased by 0.27pc over January 2026 and by 6.79pc from the corresponding month last year The main contributors that increased from the previous month in terms of food were tomatoes (23.05pc), fresh fruits (11.48pc), pulse mash (8.19pc), beverages (1.65pc), meat (1.45pc), pulse moong (1.25pc), mustard oil (1.20pc), dry fruits (0.78pc), wheat products (0.68pc), readymade food (0.44pc) and pulse gram (0.34pc). The main contributors that increased from the pr...

Kuwait’s air defences mistakenly shot down three US F-15 fighter jets during active combat on Monday, US Central Command (Centcom) said on Monday, describing it as an apparent friendly-fire incident during the conflict with Iran. All six crew members ejected from the aircraft safely were recovered and are in stable condition, Centcom said. “During active combat - that included attacks from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles, and drones — the US Air Force fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defences,” Centcom said. It said that Kuwait had acknowledged the incident and that an investigation was underway. Video images showed a US warplane falling out of the sky over Kuwait early on Monday, while a person could be seen parachuting. The location was verified by Reuters as filmed in the Al Jahra area of Kuwait. In a separate incident, smoke was seen rising from the vicinity of the US Embassy compound in Kuwait City, and fire trucks and ambulances were in the area, a witness told Reuters. There w...

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday restored the bail of journalist Sohrab Barkat in the last remaining case registered against him by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), setting aside a trial court’s order that had cancelled his post-arrest bail. Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir heard the petition filed by Barkat challenging a decision by the trial court revoking his bail. After hearing arguments, the IHC nullified the impugned order and directed the authorities to release the journalist forthwith, if not required in any other case. Barrister Saad Rasool appeared on Barkat’s behalf and contended that the trial court had erred in cancelling the bail despite compliance with all conditions previously imposed. Allowing the petition, the high court observed that the order of the trial court could not be sustained and restored the bail, effectively clearing the way for Barkat’s release. The case against Barkat has been registered over accusations of spreading misinformation about sta...

More than 300 students completed specialized training under the Prime Minister’s Overseas Employment Programme of the National Vocational & Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC), with a visa issuance ceremony held in Islamabad on Monday.

The Punjab government has unveiled a series of sweeping security reforms, including compulsory electronic tagging of all vehicles, motorcycles included, to ensure permanent and more effective monitoring across the province.

Maryam Nawaz Sharif has directed authorities to step up security arrangements throughout Punjab in response to ongoing security challenges.

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) was moved on Monday with a plea seeking the immediate shifting of incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital for specialised eye treatment, alleging that jail authorities have been conducting medical examinations in complete secrecy. A similar plea was submitted in the Supreme Court on February 25, following Imran undergoing a government-facilitated follow-up treatment for his eye ailment. Monday’s criminal miscellaneous application was filed under Section 561-A CrPC by senior counsel Sardar Latif Khosa. The petition claimed that Imran — now 73 years old and incarcerated since August 2023 — has been left with only approximately 15 per cent vision in his right eye. The application cites a report submitted to the SC by amicus curiae Barrister Salman Safdar, which confirmed that despite the petitioner’s repeated complaints of “blurred and hazardous vision,” no timely or adequate medical intervention was undertaken by jail authorities, ultimately ...

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday dissolved the bench hearing the appeals of human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha against their conviction in a controversial tweets case, and ordered the file to be placed before Chief Justice Sardar Sarfaraz Dogar for the constitution of a new bench. A sessions court had sentenced the two lawyers to a total of 17 years in prison on multiple charges in January, a day after they were arrested in Islamabad in connection with a separate case. Justice Muhammad Asif issued the order on an application filed by the appellants seeking the early hearing of their appeals and suspension of their sentences. During the proceedings, the counsel for the appellants, Riasat Ali Azad, argued that despite the matter being taken up on February 19, no effective date had been assigned for the hearing, prolonging the incarceration of his clients. The court was informed that proceedings involving the same appellants had previously been enter...

Following an early crash and a temporary market halt, the KSE-100 benchmark index resumed trading, recovered slightly by midday, but plunged sharply by 16,089.17 points, posting its largest-ever single-day decline. As trading began Monday following a weekend marred by geopolitical instability, the market crashed by over 15,000 points, causing the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) to halt trading. According to Chief Executive Officer Topline Securities Mohammed Sohail, the “market overreacted initially amid selling by a few funds and leveraged players”. As trading resumed around 10:30am, the index was down 12,334.88 points from its previous close of 168,062.16 points, marking a fall of 7.34 per cent. Sohail added that after the halt, some buying was seen as investors realised the market had already fallen by 20pc from its recent peak and had attractive values. By 11:07am, the market recovered more, with the index down 9,164.62 points, marking a fall of 5.45pc. However, by closing the index hit 151,972.99 points, s...

India and Canada on Monday reached a string of agreements, including on critical mineral cooperation and a “landmark” uranium supply deal for nuclear power, the countries’ leaders said in New Delhi. The pacts, which also covered technology and promoting the use of renewable energy, were announced after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney hailed a fresh start in the relationship between their nations. “Our ties have seen a new energy, mutual trust, and positivity,” Modi said. Ties effectively collapsed in 2023 after Ottawa accused New Delhi of orchestrating a deadly campaign against Sikh activists in Canada, accusations India rejected. Carney’s visit — his first to India since taking office last year — is not only aimed to reset strained ties, but also to push efforts to diversify trade beyond the United States. “There has been more engagement between the Canadian and Indian governments in the last year than there has been in more than two decades combined,” Carney said in New...

The Embassy of Pakistan in Abu Dhabi has launched an initiative aimed at “facilitation and outreach” efforts for Pakistani nationals residing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) amid heightened tensions in the Middle East. In a post on X, the embassy said, “The Embassy of Pakistan in Abu Dhabi has launched an online registration form for the Pakistani community residing in the UAE for the sake of facilitation and outreach”. The nationals were directed by the embassy to register here. The embassy has set up facilitation desks in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, which will “operate round the clock”. The embassy also issued directives for Pakistani nationals stranded in transit in the UAE due to flight disruptions and airport closures to register here. In a post on X, the embassy said, “All Pakistani citizens who are presently in transit are requested to fill out this form carefully and completely”. “The information provided will help the Embassy coordinate with relevant authorities and airlines to extend necessary assistance...

The Karachi Traffic Police closed multiple roads in the city’s West and South districts on Monday, in view of the prevailing security situation. Ten people were killed in Karachi and two in Islamabad as protests erupted countrywide against the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli attacks. In response, law enforcement personnel resorted to teargas shelling and baton-charge to control the situation. A ban on gatherings and rallies was also extended across Sindh. A road closure alert was issued at 8:51am for both sides of the road from Sultanabad Traffic Section towards Mai Kolachi, as well as both sides of MT Khan Road, from Jinnah Bridge towards PIDC and from PIDC towards Jinnah Bridge. A map showing planned road closures and alternative traffic routes in Karachi’s West and South districts. — via Karachi Traffic Police Traffic from Jinnah Bridge was being sent towards II Chundrigar Road as an alternative route. Traffic from Boat Basin was being U-turned at Mai Kolachi Ph...

At least three people died and 14 were injured following a mass shooting at a bar in Austin, Texas, early on Sunday, police said. The suspect was killed in an exchange of fire with law enforcers at the scene, police said, adding that 14 people were in hospital, three of whom were in a critical condition. The man suspected of the shooting had a history of mental health issues, officials said, while the FBI was looking into a possible terrorism link. Law enforcement officials said the suspect had a history of mental health conditions, according to an internal update from the National Counter-terrorism Centre reviewed by Reuters. A law enforcement official told Reuters that the shooter wore a shirt with an Iranian flag and IRAN spelled out in green, white and red across the front. Authorities are investigating whether the suspect was motivated by the joint US-Israel strike on Iran, the official told Reuters. The shooter was identified as Ndiaga Diagne, a naturalised US citizen from Senegal, according to the Coun...

The Pakistan Stock Exchange experienced a dramatic fall on Monday, with the KSE-100 index dropping by 15,607 points amid escalating geopolitical tensions involving Iran, Israel, and the United States.

Trump administration officials acknowledged in closed-door briefings with congressional staff on Sunday that there was no intelligence suggesting Iran planned to attack United States forces first, two people familiar with the matter said. The US and Israel launched their most ambitious attacks on Iran in decades on Saturday, assassinating Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, sinking Iranian warships and hitting more than 1,000 targets so far, officials say. But Sunday’s remarks to Congress appeared to undercut one of the key arguments for the war made by senior administration officials. They told reporters the day before that US President Donald Trump decided to launch the attacks in part because of indicators that Iranians might strike US forces in the Middle East “perhaps preemptively”. Trump, one of the officials said, was not going to “sit back and allow American forces in the region to absorb attacks”. Pentagon briefings lasted more than 90 minutes Pentagon officials briefed Democratic and Republican s...

KARACHI: At least three people died in Rizvia Society of the city’s Nazimabad No. 1 area after consuming toxic liquor, police said on Monday. According to a statement issued by police, six people were currently under treatment after consuming the illicit liquor. All the affected persons belonged to North Nazimabad No.1 and its adjoining areas. A suspect has been arrested in relation to the incident, the statement said. “16 small and three large bottles of illicit liquor were recovered from the possession of the suspect,” the police said in its statement, adding that a case has been registered and raids were underway. The statement said that, as per the Rizvia Society Police, the illicit liquor was purchased from different places. Sindh Inspector General (IG) Javed Alam Odho took strict notice of the incident and has sought an immediate and detailed report from the Central district senior superintendent of police (SSP), according to a statement issued by his spokesperson. IG Odho directed that a transparent, i...