Pakistan | News

Faisal Karim Kundi, Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, stated on Monday that Pakistan Day represents the historic point when Muslims of the Subcontinent resolved to secure a separate homeland.

LAHORE - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday hoisted the national flag to mark the Pakistan Day during a simple but a dignified ceremony held here.

Pakistan, along with Turkiye and Egypt, is engaged in “active back-channel diplomacy” to “bridge the gap between” the US and Iran, an official in the administration confirmed to Dawn on Monday. The official said that through “active back-channel diplomacy”, involving US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Pakistan, Turkiye and Egypt were engaged in “quiet communication” to restore peace. The source said a “strategic synergy” between Ankara, Cairo and Islamabad had established a “vital diplomatic conduit, demonstrating that regional cooperation is the most effective antidote to escalation”. This “mediation effort” was more than just crisis management, the source said, adding that there were reports of tangible progress toward resolving outstanding issues and finding a sustainable end to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The development has emerged after US President Donald Trump said he had given orders to postpone any military strikes against Iranian...

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm and national unity across the country on Monday.

ISLAMABAD - Federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar on Monday, in connection with Pakistan Day, paid homage to Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Allama Muhammad Iqbal, and the founding leaders who fulfilled the vision of a separate homeland for the Muslims of the Subcontinent.

ISLAMABAD - Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Monday congratulated the nation on the occasion of Pakistan Day, describing 23rd March as a timeless symbol of “unshakeable resolve, loyalty, and national solidarity”.

Pakistan has emerged as one of several regional countries being credited in diplomatic circles for contributing to efforts aimed at easing tensions between the United States and Iran, as signs of de-escalation begin to surface.

Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, Akamatsu Shuichi, on Monday extended his warmest felicitations to the leadership and the people of the country on the auspicious occasion of Pakistan Day.

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif have paid tribute to the national heroes and to the martyrs and ghazis who sacrificed for the creation and stability of Pakistan, according to Radio Pakistan. In their messages on Pakistan Day, they said undoubtedly, with the blessing of freedom, Pakistan stands as a testament to the wisdom, determination, perseverance, and sacrifices of our ancestors. The President and Prime Minister said the entire nation stands resolute in upholding its proud traditions and remains ever ready to face any challenge. “Despite numerous challenges, the government has steered Pakistan’s economy towards sustainable growth,” PM Shehbaz said, emphasising that sustainable peace in South Asia is linked to the just resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir issue. He added that “Pakistan will continue to extend moral, political, and diplomatic support to its brothers and sisters in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir”. President Zardari, reflecting on t...

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Monday urged the nation to renew its commitment to securing a dignified place for Pakistan in the global community, as the country marked Pakistan Day.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Monday underscored the need for national unity in the face of rising regional tensions, urging citizens to stand firmly with Pakistan.

Pakistan Day was observed across the country on Monday with traditional zeal and patriotic fervour, though ceremonies remained simple in line with austerity measures announced by the government amid a global oil crisis.

The Armed Forces on Sunday extended heartfelt congratulations to the nation on the 86th anniversary of Pakistan Day, reaffirming their commitment to national security, democratic values and the country’s continued progress.

RAWALPINDI: The Armed Forces of Pakistan reaffirmed their commitment to defence, internal security and national sovereignty on the occasion of Pakistan Day, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Monday. Pakistan Day — observed on March 23 every year — commemorates the passing of the Lahore Resolution on March 23, 1940, when the All-India Muslim League demanded a separate nation for the Muslims of the British Indian Empire. A press release by the military’s media wing said that the army remained “united and unwavering” in its resolve to eradicate threats to Pakistan’s security in the face of ongoing terrorist threats. The armed forces remain committed to protecting national sovereignty, and maintaining internal security against “all forms of aggression and terrorism”, the statement added. According to the statement, Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir, Chief of Naval Staff Naveed Ashraf and Chief of Air Staff Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu extended their...

Mavra Bari had intended to take part in a march for International Women’s Day in Islamabad, but spent it in a cramped prison cell. What was meant to be a celebration was instead a terrifying 12-hour ordeal in a suffocating space, with a broken toilet and the smell of damp concrete and sweat. Over 30 others — women, men and children — were also held. “We were in a horrible prison,” said Bari, a 36-year-old sociologist and activist. “We were beaten.” An AFP journalist saw detainees when they were released. All looked shaken from the experience, and some had signs of ill-treatment, such as bruises and swelling. Outside the police station, one man said tearfully: “My daughter came here just to observe the march… She did nothing wrong.” On the face of it, the Women’s Day march, like those elsewhere in the world, should have posed little concern for the authorities in Islamabad. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif himself posted on X on March 8 that women’s empowerment was “central to our government’s vision for Pakistan...

Pakistan has ranked number one on the Global Terrorism Index for the first time, recording a six per cent increase in terrorism-related deaths, 1,139, in 2025, it emerged on Sunday. The Global Terrorism Index 2026 published by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) provides a comprehensive summary of the key trends and patterns in terrorism over the last two decades. The report ranks 163 countries (99.7pc of the world’s population) according to the impact of terrorism. The indicators include the number of terrorist incidents, fatalities, injuries and hostages. The Global Terrorism Index. — Screengrab via report According to the report, Pakistan’s “strained” relationship with neighbouring countries, particularly Afghanistan, and rising violence from the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) have created “significant security” risks for the country. “Deaths from terrorism in Pakistan are now at their highest level since 2013, with the country recording 1,1...

Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir on Saturday asserted that terrorists operating from Afghanistan would not be allowed to undermine Pakistan’s security, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). He made the remarks while visiting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kurram, where he offered Eid prayers with the troops and officers there, and prayed for the country’s enduring stability and prosperity. “He (Field Marshal Munir) emphasised that terrorists operating from sanctuaries across the border in Afghanistan will not be allowed to undermine Pakistan’s security,” the military’s media wing said in a statement. Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace and stability, COAS Munir reiterated that “Afghan soil must not be used by hostile elements for activities against Pakistan”. The ISPR statement said: “Appreciating the valour and spirit of the soldiers, the field marshal lauded their achievements during Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, aimed at dismantl...

Eid ul-Fitr is being celebrated across Pakistan with traditional enthusiasm, as citizens and political leaders offered special prayers in their respective hometowns and cities.

The sighting of the Shawwal crescent in Pakistan has confirmed that Eid al-Fitr will be observed nationwide on Saturday, marking the conclusion of the holy month of Ramazan.

Energy expert Vaqar Zakaria believes solar power makes “excellent economic sense” — and he lives by it. For over five years, his rooftop panels have slashed his bills, sometimes to zero, even allowing him to sell surplus electricity back through net metering. Last month, he took it further. After buying two electric vehicles, he has almost “declared independence” from the national grid. With more panels and doubled batteries, even his cars run on sunshine. “I am moving away from their fuel, and I don’t need their power,” said the CEO of Hagler Bailly, Pakistan, an Islamabad-based environmental consultancy firm, over the phone from Islamabad. “I call it the hand of God driving my car,” Zakaria said. He is already seeing economic gains from his investment. “The electricity I generate, including battery costs, comes to about Rs12 ($0.043) per unit, while it can be sold to the Islamabad Electric Supply Company at around Rs26 ($0.092) per unit.” However, he adds that he does not currently claim this benefit, as it...