Pakistan

Gold prices were largely steady on Friday, on track for their seventh straight month of gains as uncertainty over US tariff policies and tensions between the US and Iran boosted the metal’s safe-haven appeal. Spot gold edged down 0.1 per cent to $5,181.18 per ounce by 08:37 GMT. The metal has climbed 6.5pc so far in February, bringing gains for the seven months to a whopping 58pc. US gold futures for April delivery were up 0.1pc at $5,198.10. The benchmark 10-year yield fell to a three-month low on the day, decreasing the opportunity cost of holding non-interest-paying gold. “There are two things (supporting gold). First is the tariff uncertainty which is there in the market right now, and on the other hand, the Iran and the US situation,” said ANZ analyst Soni Kumari. The United States and Iran held indirect talks in Geneva on Thursday over their long-running nuclear dispute, with the Omani mediator saying the two sides had made progress. They plan to resume negotiations with technical-level discussions sche...

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Friday approved a monthly stipend of Rs70,000 for agriculture interns as part of a broader strategy to engage youth and modernize the province’s agricultural sector.

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday raised objections to a plea seeking the transfer of PTI founder Imran Khan to a hospital. The application was filed by PTI lawyer Sardar Latif Khosa on February 25, pursuant to Order XXXV Rule 6 of the Supreme Court Rules 2025, after Imran underwent government-facilitated follow-up treatment for his eye ailment. PTI lawyers Khosa, along with Naeem Panjotha, appeared before SC Chief Justice Yahya Afridi on Friday, seeking the scheduling of PTI’s application. However, CJP Afridi told the lawyers that the “application was returned with objections a day earlier”. “Your petitions will remain pending until further orders,” he said to the lawyers. “There is no such application at the moment, on which proceedings can be held,” he added. Khosa informed CJP Afridi that the PTI counsels had requested an early hearing, adding that the court had ordered the former premier’s treatment. At this, CJP Afridi said that the court had not issued an order; rather, it was the government that ...

Türkiye has joined regional diplomatic efforts by initiating contact with Pakistan regarding the rising tensions with Afghanistan.

Iran said on Friday that in order to reach a deal, the United States will have to drop its “excessive demands”, tempering the optimism expressed after talks seen as a last-ditch bid to avert war. The Oman-mediated talks follow repeated threats from US President Donald Trump to strike Iran, and with the United States conducting its biggest military build-up in the region in decades. Trump, on February 19, gave Iran 15 days to reach a deal, and while Iran has insisted the discussions focus solely on its nuclear programme, the US wants Tehran’s missile programme and its support for armed groups curtailed. The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that Trump’s negotiating team would demand that Iran dismantle its three main nuclear sites and hand over all its remaining enriched uranium to the United States. Without specifying what demands he was referring to, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday told his Egyptian counterpart that “success in this path requires seriousness and realism from the other...

Major world powers and the United Nations on Friday called for restraint as tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan intensified following cross-border hostilities.

When states escalate, they are usually clear about their capacity and objectives. The Afghan Taliban, however, appeared to abandon that principle at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border last night, triggering an intense military confrontation — including airstrikes and artillery exchanges — across the Durand Line as well as deep into Afghan territory. The immediate backdrop of these tensions is not new. Islamabad has for years maintained that the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a Pakistani terrorist group affiliated with the Afghan Taliban, operated from Afghan soil because of the official patronage it enjoys there. Only hours before the latest crisis erupted, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi plainly stated that Pakistan’s quarrel was not with the Afghan people but with terrorist safe havens that threaten Pakistani lives. That was the political setting; it emphasised the need for patient engagement and discreet signalling. The Afghan Taliban, however, chose to announce what it described as “large-scale ...

“Pakistan is a responsible country which desires peace with honour”, said the Air Chief while addressing a ceremony at Air Headquarters to commemorate the 7th anniversary of Operation Swift Retort.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Friday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to peace with neighboring countries while warning that any threats to the nation would be met decisively.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday condemned Israel’s recent actions in the occupied West Bank of converting the territory’s areas into “state property”, highlighting that the country’s “expansionist mindset” held no regard for international law. The minister made the statement while addressing a meeting of the executive committee of the Organisation of Islamic Council (OIC) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The meeting was taking place against the backdrop of the Israeli government approving a proposal to register large areas of the occupied West Bank as “state property” for the first time since the occupation of the territory in 1967. Addressing the meeting, the foreign minister took note of the “latest illegal measures taken by Israel to convert areas of the occupied West Bank into so-called state property”, stressing that Israel’s actions reflected “an annexationist and expansionist mindset bereft of any regard for international law or humanitarian norms”. At the outset of his address, ...

The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday returned a petition requesting the transfer of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan to a hospital, raising procedural objections.

Pakistan’s armed forces on Tuesday reaffirmed their preparedness to counter any threat to national security as the country marked the seventh anniversary of Operation Swift Retort.

Pakistan’s benchmark index, KSE-100, closed in the red, down 830.92 points from its previous close of 168,893.08. The index saw significant volatility, swinging between an intraday high of 169,379.97 points and a low of 165,811.87 points. It dropped over 1,000 points during the morning session, recovered slightly by midday, but ultimately fell into the red to close at 168,062.16 points. Trading activity remained reasonable, with volumes recorded at 222,442,620 shares, at a value of Rs18,971,818,996. Among the most active stocks, Unity Foods Limited led the volumes chart, falling 9.96 per cent to Rs10.67 on 50,304,604 shares. It was followed by First National Equities Limited, which gained 1.32pc to Rs1.54 on 36,245,681 shares, and The Bank of Punjab, which declined 0.35pc to Rs31.70 on 30,604,655 shares. On the gaining side, Gulistan Spinning Mills Limited emerged as the top advancer, climbing 19.42pc to Rs6.15. Media Times Limited followed with an 11.04pc increase to Rs6.54, while Paramount Spinning Mills Li...

Amid heightened security along the Pak-Afghan border, Punjab Police have stepped up efforts to repatriate undocumented foreign nationals residing in the province.

Punjab Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb on Friday praised the Pakistan Armed Forces for what she described as a robust and measured response to recent attacks originating from Afghanistan.

Security was placed on high alert across Punjab and Karachi on Friday following Pakistan’s launch of “Ghazab Lil Haq”, an operation initiated in response to what officials described as unprovoked firing by Afghan Taliban forces at multiple points along the border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

PESHAWAR: Pakistan’s security forces carried out a robust retaliatory response following unprovoked aggression by Afghan Taliban in the border areas of South Waziristan Lower, security sources said on Friday. According to officials, an intense exchange of fire continued throughout the night along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. However, the situation has since calmed after the firing subsided by morning. Security sources stated that the Pakistan Army responded swiftly and in a coordinated manner by targeting multiple Afghan Taliban checkposts located across the border in Afghanistan’s Paktia province. During the operation, Pakistani forces reportedly took control of five key Afghan checkposts and raised the national flag at the captured locations. Among the posts brought under control were two opposite Shawal, two facing the Angoor Adda sector, and one located opposite Zarmilan, security sources confirmed. The operation, officials said, was aimed at restoring stability in the sensitive border region and effe...

The Pakistan Army has reportedly seized control of five additional border posts in Afghanistan’s Paktia province, hoisting the Pakistani flag as tensions along the frontier continue to rise.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister has reaffirmed the nation’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding its security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, emphasizing that both the public and the armed forces are prepared at all times to defend the country.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday warned that the Afghan Taliban would face serious consequences following what he described as an unprovoked attack on Pakistan that targeted civilian areas.