Pakistan

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111 units to be relocated out of city in first phase

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Teen cousin confesses to strangling minor victim after luring her away

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Meat, fruit and vegetables sold at arbitrary rates in open market

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On the eleventh day of the war, the conflict in the Middle East is shifting into a phase of sustained attrition — one in which Iran appears determined to exploit endurance, lower operational costs and employ a network of proxies to offset the technological and financial advantages of the United States and Israel. Though the kinetic activity across the main theatre has remained comparatively limited during the past 24 hours, the effects of the operations continue to be strategically significant. Until now, Iran’s striking of Israel’s Haifa refinery complex a couple of days ago with Shahed-136 drones, in retaliation for Israeli attacks on oil depots around Tehran, remains the most consequential single event shaping current Israeli strategic calculus. Firefighting crews have now reportedly contained roughly 95 per cent of the blaze at Haifa, but several primary storage tanks have suffered structural damage and operations at the facility are expected to remain suspended for at least two weeks. On the other side o...

The government completed its 5G spectrum auction in Islamabad on Tuesday, with 480 megahertz sold for $507 million at the end of the third round of bidding. The three bidders — Zong, Jazz and Ufone — competed heavily at 2600 megahertz for the key frequency band needed for the 5G service. Zong acquired 110MHz, Ufone 180MHz and Jazz 190MHz during the auction. Pakistan offered 700 MHz for $32.5m, 1800 MHz for $16.8m, 2100 MHz for $70m, 2300 MHz for $10m, 2600 MHz for $12.50m and 3500 MHz for $6.5m per lot. The bidding process was launched in the presence of Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Information Minister Attaullah Tarrar, former IT minister Syed Aminul Haque, and the chairperson of the National Assembly Standing Committee on IT and Telecom, along with some members of the committee. All three telecom companies were required to acquire at least 100 MHz. Among the telcos, Jazz purchased the most spectrum, not only in 5G-compatible bands but also in the frequencies used for long-distance telephone services...

ISLAMABAD: Senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on Tuesday assured the National Assembly Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis that there was no situation requiring a mass evacuation of Pakistani nationals from the Middle East. The head of the MoFA’s Crisis Management Cell gave a detailed briefing to the NA committee about the number of Pakistanis stranded in various Middle Eastern countries due to the ongoing conflict and about the efforts being made to repatriate them. In the meeting, presided over by PPP MNA Syed Agha Rafiullah, the committee members expressed their serious concerns over the manifold increase in airline fares, particularly by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). The ministry official informed the committee that Pakistanis were facing fuel shortages and transport problems in various countries, adding that the absence of public transport had created further difficulties for them. “Gulf missions reported large registered populations but comparatively manageable eva...

Official sources dismissed on Tuesday reports that a three-member delegation sent by the government was holding talks with the Afghan Taliban in Kabul amid border tensions. The sources noted that “Afghan propaganda accounts” had been making such claims on social media. Afghanistan-based Tolo News also reported the same, citing an anonymous source. But, official sources in Pakistan said there was no truth to these reports and Pakistan had not sent any such delegation to Kabul. The sources asserted that Pakistan’s position was very clear that the Afghan Taliban would have to stop facilitating Fitna-al-Khawarij and take decisive action against them. There would be no talks with the Afghan Taliban until then, Pakistan would continue actions against the hideouts of Fitna-al-Khawarij in Afghanistan, the sources said. Fitna-al-Khawarij is a term that the state uses for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The reports of alleged talks and the subsequent dismissal by the official sources have come against the ...

Partab Shivani, a Hindu in Pakistan, has fasted on and off during Ramazan for years, but this time is different as he practices abstinence for the entire holy month. Every year, he and his friends in Mithi arrange Iftar to foster peace and solidarity between the two religions. “I believe we need to promote interfaith harmony. First, we are humans — religions came later,” Shivani, a 48-year-old social activist, told AFP, adding that he also reads the teachings of the Buddha. “His message is about peace and ending war. Peace can spread through solidarity and by standing with one another. Distance only widens the gap between people,” he added. This photograph taken on February 26, 2026 shows Mohan Lal Malhi (2L), a Hindu caretaker of a Sufi shrine, breaking his fast during Ramazan at Mithi in the Tharparkar district of Sindh. — AFP Most of the country’s Hindu population, which comprises two per cent population, lives in rural areas of Sindh. In Mithi itself, most of the 60,000 inhabitants are Hindu. Many of the ...

Let’s face it — half the joy of Eid shopping is buying for the kids. Tiny kurtas. Mini kameezes. Pocket-sized waistcoats. Dresses that twirl dramatically for no reason at all. Children in festive wear just feel like Eid. But somewhere between “Awww” and “Let’s take a thousand photos,” we sometimes forget one important thing: Kids do not care about structure, layering, or perfect pleats. They care about running around, eating less, climbing furniture, and running again. So, when it comes to dressing children for Eid, the golden rule is simple — comfort first, everything else after. The non-negotiable Adults can tolerate a slightly tight sleeve or a heavy dupatta for a few hours. Children cannot. And they shouldn’t have to. Eid mornings are long. There are guests, hugs, food, visits, and photos. If an outfit is itchy, stiff, too layered, or difficult to move in, it won’t survive the day — and neither will your patience. Choose breathable fabrics. Soft cotton blends, lightweight silk-cotton mixes, airy lawn, or ...

The Sindh government on Tuesday announced its own set of austerity measures to curtail the economic impact of the ongoing regional tensions, stating that schools will observe a spring vacation and government offices will work from home on Fridays. Addressing a press conference, Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said schools across the province will have a “spring vacation from March 16 to 31, while colleges and universities will switch to online classes”. However, he noted, no ongoing exams will be postponed. The minister also clarified that, contrary to some media reports, government functioning will not stop on Fridays. Instead, government officials will work from home (WFH). “Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday — you have to work. On Friday, you have to work from home,” he said. The Sindh minister affirmed that the province endorsed all the decisions announced by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday. “The Sindh government has launched its austerity campaign,” he added. He declared that the prov...

Oil prices fall after topping $119 a barrel on Monday Trump predicted the war in the Middle East could be over soon G7 ready to act on oil surge but holds off tapping reserves Oil prices plummeted 7 per cent on Tuesday after soaring to a more than three-year high in the previous session as US President Donald Trump predicted the war in the Middle East could end soon, easing concerns about prolonged disruptions to oil supplies. Brent futures were down $6.75, or 6.8pc, to $92.21 a barrel at 10:12 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was down $6.41, or 6.8pc, to $88.36 a barrel. Both contracts fell as much as 11pc earlier. Volumes in Brent dropped to about 213,000 contracts, the lowest amount since February 27, just before the start of the conflict. Volumes in WTI fell to 212,000, the lowest since February 20. Oil surged to more than $119 barrel on Monday to its highest since mid-2022 as supply cuts by Saudi Arabia and other producers stoked fears of major disruptions to global supplies. Prices late...

The Pakistan Army destroyed what security sources described as “important posts and centres” during an operation carried out in the Arandu and Kurram sectors, according to PTV News.