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Dawn - 12:25 Mar 24, 2026
The Pakistan Stock Exchange’s benchmark KSE-100 index on Tuesday gained over 1,200 points. The index gained 1,225.99 points, or 0.80 per cent, to close at 153,966.36 points, from the previous close of 152,740.37 points. The KSE-100 rose to an intraday high of 157,442.68 points at around 9:30am, then declined to an intraday low of 153,382.00 points at 2:36pm, before settling at 153,966.36. Topline Securities, in a statement, noted that the day began on a “hopeful note, as the local bourse took cues from the buoyant international markets”. “Easing geopolitical tensions and a dip in global oil prices set the stage for optimism, inviting bulls to charge early into the session,” it said. It said that the momentum picked up quickly and drove the index to a “strong intraday high of +4,702 points, reflecting renewed confidence across the board”. However, as the day unfolded, the enthusiasm began to fade, it said. Topline Securities said that the trading activity was “slim — a silent warning that the rally lacked stro... -
Dawn - 12:17 Mar 24, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) on Tuesday announced the successful commencement of oil production from its development well Pasakhi-13 in Hyderabad, marking Pakistan’s first successful horizontal oil well in a clastic reservoir. According to a statement by the company, Pasakhi-13 is currently producing 460 barrels of oil per day (BPD). The well was drilled to a measured depth of 2,966 metres, including a 546-meter horizontal section, the company said in a statement. Advanced geo-steering technology-enabled precise navigation within a narrow 3 metre drilling window, ensuring optimal placement within the reservoir’s sweet spot, it added. It stated that the well was completed and tested using a short-string electric submersible pump (ESP), specifically optimised for horizontal well configurations. Despite challenging reservoir conditions, the horizontal drilling approach has significantly enhanced reservoir exposure, resulting in nearly three times higher production compared to of... -
Dawn - 12:17 Mar 24, 2026
A panel at the University of Jammu in India-occupied Kashmir has recommended removing topics related to Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Allama Iqbal, and Muslim educationist and reformer Syed Ahmad Khan from its MA Political Science syllabus, Indian news website Scroll reported on Tuesday, citing The Indian Express. The decision follows protests held by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on the university campus on Friday against the inclusion of a chapter on Jinnah’s political thought in the syllabus, according to The Times of India. The ABVP is the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological parent of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Scroll added. The committee, headed by Professor Naresh Padha of the university’s physics department, forwarded the recommendation to the Board of Studies, which will meet on Tuesday to discuss the matter, it cited The Indian Express as saying. ABVP’s state secretary of India-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Sannak Shrivats — who led F... -
Dawn - 11:20 Mar 24, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The National Computer Emergency Response Team (National CERT) on Tuesday issued a cybersecurity advisory warning that hostile actors may exploit supply chains to target critical national infrastructure, including power, banking, and defence systems. The advisory highlights that even minor lapses during the delivery of hardware and software could trigger large-scale system failures. The alert comes amid growing global concern over supply chain vulnerabilities, where state-sponsored cyber espionage has increasingly extended into logistics and manufacturing stages. CERT cautioned that all hardware deliveries should be treated as potential security risks and subjected to strict inspection protocols. It further warned that unverified software updates could introduce hidden backdoors into the national digital infrastructure, posing long-term security threats. The advisory also flagged vendors with unknown ownership structures as a significant risk factor, urging institutions to ensure transparency and du... -
Dawn - 11:02 Mar 24, 2026
North Korea will never give up nuclear weapons, leader Kim Jong Un said, indicating that it will soon designate South Korea the “most hostile state”, according to a state media report on Tuesday. Kim also told the country’s legislature in a policy address on Monday that the United States was committing “state terrorism”, in an apparent reference to its military attacks on Iran. “We will continue to firmly consolidate our status as a nuclear-armed state as an irreversible course, while aggressively stepping up our struggle against hostile forces,” Kim told the Supreme People’s Assembly. “We will, in line with the mission entrusted by the Constitution of the Republic… further expand and advance our self-defensive nuclear deterrent,” Kim said, according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). While the United States and Israel have insisted that their attacks on Iran are to stop the Islamic republic from developing nuclear weapons — an aim Tehran denies — Pyongyang is thought to be light years ahead b... -
Dawn - 10:37 Mar 24, 2026
Pakistani Fintech company Sadapay on Tuesday said its application was unavailable for users after Amazon Web Services (AWS) in Bahrain were disrupted amid the US-Israel war on Iran. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East began with the US and Israel launching attacks on Iran, triggering a conflict that has expanded to the rest of the Middle East. As the war rages on, Gulf countries have also come under attack, including Bahrain. In a statement shared on its social media handles, the company said, “The SadaPay app is currently unavailable for all users. Our infrastructure runs on AWS in Bahrain, which has been disrupted since the drone strikes on March 1.” AWS is Amazon’s cloud computing unit and is critical for the operation of many well-known websites and government operations. It is also the company’s main driver of profits. It added that overnight, “conditions in the affected AWS region worsened, causing a full app outage for our users”. As per the statement, Sadapay said that it was “dealing with the d... -
Dawn - 10:24 Mar 24, 2026
KARACHI: K-Electric (KE) on Tuesday appointed Syed Taha as its new chief executive officer (CEO), replacing interim head Adeeb Ahmad. In a letter to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), the company said the appointment will come into effect on April 15. It said that Taha holds an engineering degree and an MBA in finance from the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi. He has been serving as the Managing Director and CEO of Pakistan State Oil (PSO) since February 2020. “Prior to joining PSO, he worked as an executive director in Oasis Energy, heading the program management office of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, Nigeria. “He has also worked previously as chief distribution officer of KE, as well as held several senior positions in different organisations,” the letter added. The incumbent interim CEO, Ahmad, was appointed on February 13 after KE’s previous CEO, Moonis Alvi, stepped down, days after getting a clean chit from the then-Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori in a workplace harass... -
Dawn - 10:15 Mar 24, 2026
The European Union (EU) and Australia struck a long-awaited free-trade deal on Tuesday, while also agreeing to boost defence cooperation and access to crucial rare-earth minerals in the face of global uncertainty over trade. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen’s visit to Australia comes as the 27-nation bloc and the import-reliant nation navigate renewed energy vulnerability sparked by the US-Israel war on Iran. The accord is the latest agreed by Brussels in a push to diversify trade as Europe faces challenges from the United States and China. Key sticking points on Australian use of European geographical names as well as how much beef can be exported to the continent were overcome to reach the deal after eight years of negotiations. Another compromise will see Australian winemakers allowed to use the term “prosecco” domestically, but they must stop using it for exports after 10 years. Australia will also be allowed to keep using some geographical names, such as feta and gruyere, in cases where producers have used ... -
Dawn - 10:14 Mar 24, 2026
KARACHI: Sindh’s Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah on Tuesday ordered all district administrations to remain on “high alert” in view of further expected rains in the province this week. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted showers in parts of Sindh between March 25 and March 29, with occasional gaps. Chairing a meeting, the chief secretary directed the Sindh Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) to issue an immediate advisory on the situation. All commissioners, deputy commissioners (DCs) and assistant commissioners participated in the meeting, which was attended virtually by most, and were directed to be present in the field for the next seven days. Noting the PMD’s prediction of rainfall, Shah directed the PDMA to issue an advisory on the situation. He also ordered the district administrations and local government institutions to remain fully mobilised and in the field. He directed the meeting to ensure the “availability and functionality of all necessary machinery for drain... -
Dawn - 09:03 Mar 24, 2026
Jamaat-i-Islami chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Tuesday once again criticised the government for its major hikes in petroleum prices — following the closure of Hormuz Strait — and termed them a burden on the common citizen. Earlier this month, the government hiked the prices of petrol and high-speed diesel by Rs55 per litre to manage the impact of the US-Israel war on Iran, which has triggered a global oil crisis affecting many countries, including Pakistan. Although Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif last week said he had twice rejected recommendations for further increasing petrol and HSD prices, they effectively remain unchanged at Rs321.17 and Rs335.86 per litre, respectively. Addressing a press conference in Lahore today, the JI chief said the 20 per cent increase in the petroleum development levy (PDL) had pushed prices to Rs120–125 per litre, affecting journalists, students, workers, and riders. “The government can reduce petrol prices by cutting the levy,” he suggested, adding that thermal power units using ... -
Dawn - 06:57 Mar 24, 2026
When Moninder Singh learned recently of assassination threats against his family in Canada, where a fellow Sikh activist was killed in 2023, he says he remained defiant. “We won’t be silenced,” the chairman of the Sikh Federation of Canada told AFP. Singh was speaking at the United Nations’ European headquarters in Geneva, where he has been appealing for international action against India’s alleged targeting of Sikh activists abroad, and against so-called transnational repression more broadly. Sikh activists accuse India of targeting members of their community around the world, including alleged killings using organised crime groups — charges India denies. The best-known case was the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a friend of Singh’s who was gunned down near the Sikh temple he led in a Vancouver suburb. Canada’s then-prime minister, Justin Trudeau, publicly accused India of involvement in that assassination, a charge later repeated by Canadian intelligence. India denied the allegations, which chilled t... -
Dawn - 05:56 Mar 24, 2026
Pakistan was ranked the world’s smoggiest country in 2025, with concentrations of hazardous small particles known as PM2.5 up to 13 times higher than the recommended World Health Organisation (WHO) level, research showed on Tuesday. Swiss air quality monitoring firm IQAir said in its annual report that 13 countries and territories kept average PM2.5 levels at the WHO standard of less than 5 microgrammes per cubic metre last year, up from seven in 2024. According to the findings of the report, in total, 130 out of 143 monitored countries and territories failed to meet the WHO guideline. Bangladesh and Tajikistan were second and third on the most polluted list. Screengrab showing a partial map of pollution levels in South Asia’s major cities, with the IQAir levels for Faisalabad displayed. — IQAir website Chad, statistically the smoggiest country of 2024, ranked fourth in 2025, but the decline in PM2.5 concentrations last year is likely to be the result of data gaps. Last March, the United States shut down a gl... -
Dawn - 05:07 Mar 24, 2026
WASHINGTON: Journalists at the US government-funded broadcaster Voice of America (VOA) have filed a lawsuit accusing the Trump administration of undermining the outlet’s independence and turning it into a tool for political messaging. The complaint, filed on Monday in the US District Court in Washington, focuses on VOA transmissions to audiences in Iran, China, North Korea, and Kurdish regions, alleging that coverage now reflects White House talking points rather than objective reporting. VOA, established during World War II to showcase press freedom and provide reliable news to populations with limited access to independent journalism, is facing strict internal control. According to the lawsuit, Trump loyalists placed in key editorial positions have directed what is reported, including limiting coverage of civilian casualties from US military actions and requiring pre-approval for all guest appearances on Persian, Kurdish, and Afghan services. The US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees VOA, defen... -
Dawn - 20:11 Mar 23, 2026
Gold prices in Pakistan slid by Rs43,600 per tola (24 karat) on Monday to Rs447,762 as international prices for the yellow metal fell by more than eight per cent to hit their lowest level in four months. This was after gold logged its biggest weekly loss in about 43 years last week, as an escalating Middle East conflict stoked inflation concerns and raised expectations of higher global interest rates. Spot gold declined 6.3pc to $4,203.21 per ounce by 07:57 GMT (12:57pm PKT), extending losses into a ninth straight session. It had shed more than 8pc to $4,097.99 earlier in the session to its lowest level since November 24. US gold futures eventually settled 3.7pc lower at $4,407.30. The metal dropped more than 10pc last week, its steepest weekly loss since February 1983, and has also retreated about 25pc from its record peak of $5,594.82 an ounce reached on January 29. US gold futures for April delivery dropped 8.1pc to $4,205.10. “With the Iranian conflict into its fourth week, and oil prices hanging around t... -
Dawn - 19:27 Mar 23, 2026
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... -
Dawn - 18:55 Mar 23, 2026
US President Donald Trump said on Monday he had given orders to postpone any military strikes against Iranian power plants for five days, hours ahead of a deadline that threatened further escalation in the conflict now in its fourth week. Trump claimed in a post on his Truth Social platform that the US and Iran had had “VERY GOOD AND PRODUCTIVE” conversations over the past two days about a “COMPLETE AND TOTAL RESOLUTION OF HOSTILITIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST”. The White House did not respond to questions about the content of the talks, who participated or where they were held. For its part, Iran has denied holding any talks with the US. But, later, when Trump spoke to the media in Florida, he asserted that if talks failed, “we’ll just keep bombing our little hearts out”. He claimed that the Iranian side had initiated contact with the US. “They called, I didn’t call,” he said. “They want to make a deal, and we are very willing to make a deal.” He also claimed that there were already “major points of agreement” with... -
Dawn - 18:51 Mar 23, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf founder Imran Khan underwent a third eye procedure at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) on Monday. In a statement issued by the hospital, the PTI founder was brought to Pims for a third dose of an anti-VEGF intra-vitreal injection. He remained vitally stable before, during and after the procedure. A senior doctor at Pims with knowledge of the matter said that the former premier was brought to the hospital as the third injection was due. After obtaining informed consent, and under standard monitoring, precautionary procedures and protocols in the operation theatre, the injection was administered under the guidance of microscopy by surgeons, Pims said. “The injection was administered and then he was kept there for a while to ensure that he was stable, and then it was allowed to shift him to Adiala Jail,” he said, adding that the injection was administered in the eye chamber. “As usually three injections are administered (in such cases), it is unlikely that a f... -
Dawn - 16:16 Mar 23, 2026
On the 24th day of the US-Israeli war on Iran, President Donald Trump’s decision to defer planned strikes on Iran’s power plants and energy infrastructure by five days introduced a tactical pause in an otherwise escalating conflict, essentially extending the 48-hour ultimatum into a more uncertain holding phase. The shift from threats of “obliteration” to claims of “productive conversations” appeared less the result of any Iranian concession and more a unilateral recalibration by Washington. Tehran has denied any real engagement and maintained its position that any strike on its energy infrastructure would trigger wide retaliation across US- and Israeli-linked targets in the Gulf, including energy, desalination and critical systems, alongside a potential full closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The pause, therefore, reflects a delay in decision rather than a change in positions. Pressures driving the adjustment Multiple pressures appear to have driven this adjustment. The economic cost of the war is rising sharp... -
Dawn - 15:34 Mar 23, 2026
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Monday predicted rainfall and thunderstorms across the country from March 24 to March 30 with “occasional gaps”. In a press release, the Met Office said, “A western disturbance is likely to approach southwestern parts of Balochistan on March 24 (evening/night) and likely to intensify from the night of March 27 and may persist till March 31.” Balochistan Under the influence of this weather system, the press release said, in Balochistan, “rain-wind/thunderstorm with few heavy falls (with isolated hailstorm) is expected in Panjgur, Turbat, Kech, Awaran, Makran Coast (Gawadar, Pasni, Ormara) Lasbela, Khuzdar, Kharan, Chaghi, Dalbandin, Kalat, Sibi, Kohlu, Barkhan, Naseerabad, Quetta, Loralai, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qila Abdullah, Qila Saifullah, Noshki, Harnai, Zhob, Kalat, Mastung from March 24 (evening) to March 25 (night) and from March 27 (night) to March 29 (morning) with occasional gaps.” Khyber Pakhtunkhwa For Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, it predicted that “rain-wind... -
Dawn - 15:22 Mar 23, 2026
Israel should extend its border with Lebanon up to the Litani River deep inside the country’s south, Israel’s finance minister said on Monday as Israeli troops bombed bridges and destroyed homes in the area in an escalating military assault. The comments by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich were the most explicit yet by a senior Israeli official on seizing Lebanese territory in a fight that Israel claims targets Hezbollah. Lebanon was pulled into the regional war on March 2 when Hezbollah fired missiles into Israel. Since then, Israel has ordered all residents to leave the area south of the Litani River as it pummels the area with air strikes, terming it a Hezbollah stronghold. Lebanese authorities say the Israeli air and ground assault has killed more than 1,000 people, and more than a million have been driven from their homes, with Israel having ordered residents to flee swathes of the country. ‘The new Israeli border must be the Litani’ Smotrich told an Israeli radio programme that the military campaig...
8986 items