Dawn
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Dawn - 21:55 Mar 15, 2026
LAHORE: Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said on Sunday that the provincial government has decided to take legal action against those involved in a “malicious campaign” targeting it over the use of an official jet. Last month, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz faced severe criticism from the opposition and some journalists regarding the government’s purchase of the aircraft. The Gulfstream 19-seater jet is estimated to be worth between $38 million and $42m (over Rs10bn) and was acquired for the CM’s use. More recently, there have been claims and speculation on social media about Maryam’s son, Junaid Safdar, using the jet to travel to Europe for his honeymoon. In a post on X, the senior minister took note of a “deliberate malicious campaign of lies and fabricated stories about the use of the official plane of the Punjab government”, which she said was being run by “known pathological liars and peddlers of fake news”. The minister shared that the government had decided to take legal action against “ev... -
Dawn - 20:18 Mar 15, 2026
A video posted on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s X account is being seen as his response to the rumours of his death, which were earlier debunked by his office. The video was posted on Sunday evening, in which Netanyahu is seen getting himself a coffee and being asked about the rumours, Israeli news website Jerusalem Post reported. The post also had a caption stating: “They say I am what?” During the conversation taking place in what appears to be Hebrew, Jerusalem Post quoted Netanyahu as saying: “I love … coffee, I love my nation.” The report further elaborated that he also used the Hebrew slang word “met” during the conversation, which, according to Jerusalem Post, means “love” and is also the Hebrew word for “dead”. To simplify, his remarks could be translated to: “I am dead … for coffee.” According to Jerusalem Post, Netanyahu also asked the person filming him whether they wanted to count his fingers, seemingly mocking people speculating that a recent video of his was AI-generated and that h... -
Dawn - 19:29 Mar 15, 2026
1 dead as Lahore-bound Shalimar Express derails after colliding with goods train in Naushahro Feroze
KARACHI/LAHORE: At least one person died on Sunday after Lahore-bound Shalimar Express collided with a goods train at Lakha Road Railway Station in Sindh’s Naushahro Feroze district on Sunday. There are also reports of injuries, but the exact number is yet to be ascertained. In a statement, Sindh’s Rescue 1122 said a body was recovered from the site, while 13 injured people were rescued and provided with first aid. The rescue service listed the names and ages of the 13 injured, with the wounded aged between 15 and 60 years. Rescue 1122 said its Urban Search and Rescue teams from the Bandhi satellite station had reached the site of the incident soon after receiving the alert. Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi also confirmed to Dawn that a person had lost their life in the incident, saying that he was a temporary employee of the Pakistan Railways (PR) and that he was aboard the goods train and not Shalimar Express. He, however, claimed that none of the passengers aboard Shalimar Express were either killed or injur... -
Dawn - 18:14 Mar 15, 2026
LAHORE: Former Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed announced his retirement from international cricket on Sunday, bringing an end to a decorated two-decade-long career. In a statement issued by the Pakistan Cricket Board, Ahmed said he had “always tried to play fearless cricket and build a united team”. In a post on X, the PCB said Chairman Mohsin Naqvi presented a “special shield” to Sarfaraz on his international retirement, honouring his services to Pakistan cricket. Ahmed captained Pakistan in 100 international matches across formats (50 One Day Internationals, 37 T20Is, 13 Tests) and led the side to the No.1 ranking in T20I cricket. His captaincy saw the green shirts achieve a world-record streak of 11 consecutive T20I series victories and recorded six clean sweeps against the West Indies (2016 and 2018), Sri Lanka (2017), Australia (2018), New Zealand (2018) and Scotland (2018). He also led his side to victory during the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2006 and a historic win against arch-rivals India in the ICC Ch... -
Dawn - 18:12 Mar 15, 2026
Bangladesh clinched a three-match series against Pakistan 2-1 as the Green Shirts faced a narrow defeat in the third one-day international (ODI) match at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Sunday. Chasing a total of 291 runs, Pakistan’s batters fell short by 11 runs as a fighting 106-run knock by Salman Agha went in vain. Green Shirts lost early wickets as openers Sahizada Farhaan and Maaz Sadaqat went back to the pavilion after scoring just six runs each. Debutant Saad Masood scored 38 runs, while captain Shaheen Afridi added 37 runs to the scoreboard. Bangladesh’s Taskin Ahmed’s heroic 4-wicket haul was impressive as he also took the key wicket of Salman Agha, who was looking unswerving to outdo the winning mark. Mustafizur Rehman also grabbed three wickets, while Nahid Rana managed to secure two. Winning the toss, the visitors decided to bowl first in the series decider. Bangladesh’s openers provided a sturdy start to the innings with Tanzid Hasan scoring his maiden ODI century, which also... -
Dawn - 17:46 Mar 15, 2026
President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday met with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui in Karachi, where they discussed the importance of political harmony. This was confirmed in an official statement issued by the Presidency, with sources earlier stating that issues pertaining to Karachi uplift projects, particularly those underway with federal funding and relations between the PPP and MQM-P came under discussion during the meeting. According to the Presidency’s statement, the “importance of national unity, political harmony and continued democracy” was discussed during the meeting. “The president stressed unity and stronger efforts for peace and rule of law,” said a statement posted on X by the Presidency. “The meeting underscored the need for joint efforts to promote peace, stability, and the rule of law in the country,” the statement read. The leaders “exchanged views on the country’s overall internal security situation and matters rel... -
Dawn - 17:30 Mar 15, 2026
KARACHI/ BAJAUR: The Pakistan military carried out overnight strikes in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province, targeting “terrorist hideouts and military infrastructure,” as the military continues its operation against the Afghan Taliban, state-run Pakistan TV reported on Sunday, citing security sources. Operation Ghazab lil-Haq was launched in late February following unprovoked firing by the Afghan Taliban from across the border. According to Pakistan TV, the strikes “targeted facilities used by the Afghan Taliban and affiliated terrorist groups to support attacks against Pakistani civilians”. “Pakistan armed forces have successfully targeted military installations, including terrorist hideouts of Afghan Taliban and Fitna al-Khawarij,” Pakistan TV quoted the security sources as saying. Fitna al-Khawarij is a term the state uses to refer to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The outlet said that the armed forces destroyed “technical support infrastructure and an equipment storage facility in Kandahar”, wh... -
Dawn - 15:43 Mar 15, 2026
LAKKI MARWAT: Security forces killed five terrorists during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Lakki Marwat on Sunday, according to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The military’s media affairs wing said in a statement that the IBO was conducted on the reported presence of “khawarij belonging to Indian proxy, Fitna al Khawarij”. Fitna al Khawarij is a term that the state uses for banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). “During the conduct of the operation, own troops effectively engaged the khawarij location, and after an intense fire exchange, five khawarij were sent to hell,” the ISPR statement said. Weapons and ammunition were found in the possession of slain “India- sponsored khawarij, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area”, it added. “Sanitisation operation is being conducted to eliminate any other India-sponsored kharji found in the area, as the relentless counter-terrorism campaign under the vision ‘Azm-i-Istehkam’ (as approved by... -
Dawn - 15:06 Mar 15, 2026
The Pakistan Airport Authority (PAA) on Sunday said flight operations at Islamabad airport will be suspended for two hours on March 17 instead of March 16. Earlier in the day, the PAA said its previous notice to airmen (Notam) about the brief suspension of flight operations at Islamabad airport on March 16 was cancelled. “The earlier Notam regarding temporary airspace restrictions in the Lahore flight information region (FIR) and suspension of flight operations at Islamabad International Airport on 16 March (08:30am - 10:30am PKT) has been cancelled,” the PAA said on X. “Normal operations will continue,” it clarified. In a later Notam, the PAA said arrival and departure operations at the Islamabad airport would remain closed from 08:30am to 10:30am PKT on March 17 (Tuesday) instead. The Notam again cited “operational reasons” and advised arriving aircraft to “bring sufficient holding fuel to cater for delay”. The route segments that would be closed and other specifications remained the same as the previous No... -
Dawn - 14:20 Mar 15, 2026
On the sixteenth day of the US–Israel war on Iran, the conflict continued to rage across multiple theatres as Tehran and its regional allies sustained pressure through missile strikes, proxy attacks and maritime disruption. Meanwhile, the US and Israeli campaign showed limited progress in compelling Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which now appears to be their immediate objective. The overall pattern of the war now points to a steady widening of the battlefield. While US and Israeli forces retain clear superiority in the air and continue to conduct deep strikes inside Iran and across Lebanon, Iranian retaliation has not diminished, and the network of allied groups aligned with Tehran is gradually drawing additional fronts into the confrontation. During the past 24 hours, American and Israeli forces carried out further missile and air strikes against targets in central and western Iran, including industrial facilities, an airbase associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and infrastruct... -
Dawn - 13:34 Mar 15, 2026
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued directives on Sunday for the formulation of a strategy for exporting surplus food items to Gulf countries while making sure that Pakistan’s nutritional needs were not affected. The premier gave the instruction while chairing a meeting convened to review the “food situation” in the country and the export of commodities available in excess in view of the “changing regional situation”, a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said. The meeting was held against the backdrop of an ongoing war in the Middle East, which began with the US and Israel launching deadly attacks on Iran on February 28. The conflict has widened since, with Iran carrying out retaliatory strikes in Gulf countries to target US assets and bases. The conflict has also resulted in a global fuel crunch, with the disruption of traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic maritime corridor through which nearly 25 per cent of the world’s oil had been passing. Given the situation, the government has... -
Dawn - 12:33 Mar 15, 2026
The federal government has declared March 20 and March 21 as public holidays for offices on the occasion of Eidul Fitr, according to a Cabinet Division notification issued on Sunday. “The prime minister has been pleased to declare March 20 and 21, 2026 (Friday and Saturday) as public holidays on the occasion of Eidul Fitr, both for offices observing five- and six- day work weeks,” the notification, seen by Dawn, said. The Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) has forecast that Eidul Fitr is expected to fall on March 21 as the chances of sighting the Shawwal moon on March 19 remain low. However, the final decision regarding the sighting of the Shawwal moon and Eidul Fitr will be made by the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee. Suparco noted the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee was the “sole competent authority to announce the beginning of Islamic months on credible witness testimonies and verified observations from across the country”. Earlier, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) ... -
Dawn - 10:02 Mar 15, 2026
Newly appointed Sindh Governor Nehal Hashmi on Sunday vowed that the federal government would bring more job opportunities and improve education for youth across the province. Addressing his maiden press conference after his oath-taking ceremony in Karachi, Hashmi said: “It is of immense joy that we will bring the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP) to Sindh as well, with cooperation.” The governor recalled that he conveyed to PMYP Sindh Coordinator Fahad Shafiq that the “employment, education and training opportunities provided to Pakistan’s youth will also be extended here [in Sindh]”. Hashmi further said there would not just be “youth programme and computer training, but an entire comprehensive subject and chapter on education”. He assured that certifications would be completed on their set time and degrees would be awarded in a timely manner. Hashmi announced that free of cost Sehri and Iftar will be provided at Governor House to the deserving from Monday onwards. “This is not a party’s caravan but sh... -
Dawn - 10:02 Mar 15, 2026
DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Unidentified armed militants attacked the Khutti police checkpoint in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Dera Ismail Khan district late on Saturday night, triggering an exchange of fire with security personnel, police officials said. According to the police, the assailants carried out the attack under the cover of darkness using heavy weapons. Personnel stationed at the checkpoint responded swiftly and returned fire, forcing the attackers to retreat. During the exchange, one police constable sustained injuries. Officials said the militants managed to flee from the scene following the retaliatory action by the police. Soon after the incident, a heavy contingent of police and Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel, led by SP City Division Murtaza Khan Bangash, reached the site and cordoned off the area. The injured constable was taken to a hospital for medical treatment, and a search operation was launched in the surrounding locality to trace the attackers. Police said that hand grenades and explosive... -
Dawn - 08:28 Mar 15, 2026
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday noted the “alarming rise” in Islamophobia and warned that it exacerbates existing tensions and conflicts, threatening world peace. He made the remarks in a statement issued on International Day to Combat Islamophobia, which is observed on March 15. “In recent years, the alarming rise in Islamophobia has manifested in deeply troubling incidents across many parts of the world, including the desecration of the Holy Quran, attacks on women for wearing the hijab, vandalism of mosques, religious profiling, and the open expression of anti-Muslim hatred in public discourse and media,” Dar noted. “Islamophobia exacerbates existing tensions and conflicts, creating a vicious cycle that threatens international peace and security,” he warned. He reaffirmed, “On the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, we stand in solidarity with Muslims worldwide and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to combating prejudice, discrimination, hostility, and violence directe... -
Dawn - 06:39 Mar 15, 2026
LAHORE: In a bid to enable more and more people to travel by train on the eve of the upcoming Eid, Pakistan Railways (PR) has decided to operate four special trains from major stations to various destinations. According to a spokesperson for the PR, the first special trains will depart from Lahore for Karachi via Okara, Sahiwal and Khanewal on March 16. The second train will depart from Quetta for Rawalpindi via Sukkar, Rahimyar Khan, Khanewal and Lahore on March 17. The third train will depart from Karachi for Peshawar on March 17, followed by the fourth train that will depart from Karachi for Lahore on March 18. “The special train operations will help railways to facilitate a number of passengers intending to reach their homes for Eid celebrations,” said a PR official while talking to Dawn on Sunday. Pakistan Railways typically operates additional services during peak travel periods such as Eid, when thousands of people travel across the country to visit family and friends. Special trains help manage the su... -
Dawn - 06:26 Mar 15, 2026
KOHAT: Six terrorists were killed in a joint operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kohat district’s Lachi tehsil by the Counter-terrorism Department (CTD) and Kohat police, the police said on Sunday. In a statement, Kohat District Police Officer Shahbaz Elahi said that the CTD and police carried out the operation after receiving intelligence that terrorists were planning to orchestrate a large-scale attack in Lachi. Subsequently, a large contingent of CTD personnel and police launched “a search and strike operation”. During the operation, the suspects opened fire on the police, to which the teams responded,” he said, adding that six terrorists were killed in the exchange of fire. Weapons were recovered from the slain terrorists, Kohat DPO said, adding that a search operation was underway and the area had been cordoned off. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, in a statement, paid tribute to the police and CTD for the successful operation, praising their professionalism. “I am proud of the brave soldiers of the KP poli... -
Dawn - 05:38 Mar 15, 2026
UNITED NATIONS: At the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) at the United Nations this week, two Pakistani voices — one from the country’s parliamentary platform and the other from the moral authority of a Nobel laureate — placed access to justice for women at the centre of a polarised global debate. Speaking during the General Debate on behalf of Asifa Bhutto Zardari, Senator Bushra Anjum stressed that strengthening access to justice requires more than declarations — it demands institutional reform, representation within justice systems, and dismantling structural barriers. Quoting Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, she reminded delegates that “the discrimination against women can only begin to erode when women are empowered to claim their rights.” She highlighted Pakistan’s legal architecture: more than 480 specialised Gender-Based Violence Courts, legal aid mechanisms, family courts, ombudsperson institutions, and integrated protection services aimed at delivering remedies efficiently to wom... -
Dawn - 05:28 Mar 15, 2026
A man walks past scores of gas cylinders, while LPG (right) is filled at a shop in North Nazimabad. —Fahim Siddiqi / White Star KARACHI: Following the suspension of supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qatar due to Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the city’s gas crisis has worsened amid Ramazan’s peak demand, leaving fasting residents struggling during crucial Sehri and Iftar hours. Meanwhile, the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has introduced an unannounced supply schedule, compounding the peoples’ problems. Since the war has broken in Iran around two weeks ago, Karachi’s households have been struggling to cope with the worsening gas shortage across the city. A senior SSGC official, who preferred to be unnamed, told Dawn that the overall gas supply situation needed a lot of “adjustment” following the suspension of LNG supply from Qatar, adding that the gas utility had so far “successfully” managed to ensure gas supplies during Sehri and Iftar. However, with low gas pressure and disrupted supply... -
Dawn - 05:14 Mar 15, 2026
Remembrances took place in Christchurch to observe and honour the victims of two terror attacks on mosques that killed scores of worshipers seven years ago, media reports said Sunday. Fifty-one victims were killed and 40 injured at the Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre on March 15, 2019. in New Zealand’s deadliest-ever mass shooting. The day began with “the Walk the Talk for Unity” at the Bridge of Remembrance in the city centre, organised by the Sakinah Community Trust, a group founded by several widows of the victims, local broadcaster 1News reported. A memorial service at the Peace Bell in the botanical gardens began with a minute of silence, followed by the reading of the names of the 51 victims. It concluded with a laying of wreaths. Australian white supremacist Brenton Tarrant carried out the attacks at the Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre in Christchurch during Friday prayers. He was sentenced to life in prison in 2020 without the possibility of parole, in the first such ruling ever ha...
10732 items