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Dawn - 10:48 Mar 03, 2026
RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) said on Tuesday that the country’s airspace remained “fully open, safe, and completely available for all civil aviation traffic”. The clarification came after the authority issued a notice to airmen (Notam) regarding specific air routes in Karachi and Lahore regions, saying they would remain unavailable from March 3 to March 31 between 9am and 3 pm daily. The Notam said “selected ATS (air traffic service) routes segments” in the Karachi (OPKR) and Lahore (OPLR) flight information regions (FIRs) would remain unavailable during the above-mentioned period due to “operational reasons”. This screengrab shows the Notam issued by the PAA on March 3. 2026. In a subsequent statement, the PAA said that the Notam was a “routine operational advisory”. “It announces the temporary unavailability of specific ATS route segments within the Karachi and Lahore FIRs during daily windows (0900-1500 PKT) from March 3 to 31. These segments are closed from ground level to unlimited a... -
Dawn - 09:47 Mar 03, 2026
A PPP delegation met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Tuesday to discuss the political situation in the country as well as the regional situation. A press release issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said that a delegation of PPP parliamentarians met with the premier today. “The Pakistan People’s Party is an important coalition party of the government,” PM Shehbaz said according to the statement. “The PPP supported the government at every step in important decisions for national development and progress, for which it is grateful.” The meeting discussed the current political situation in the country as well as the prevailing regional situation in the Middle East, but the statement did not provide details of the discussions. The PPP delegation included Senator Sherry Rehman, Raja Pervez Ashraf, and Members of the National Assembly Naveed Qamar and Aijaz Jakhrani. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal and Azam Nazeer Tarar, and PM’s A... -
Dawn - 09:38 Mar 03, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday directed the registrar’s office to fix PTI founder Imran Khan’s plea — seeking permission to undergo medical treatment at Shifa International Hospital — for hearing on March 10. The IHC also fixed the main appeal in the Toshakhana criminal case — in which the PTI founder was first arrested on Aug 5, 2023 — for hearing on March 10. A division bench comprising Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro heard the matter along with objections raised by the Registrar’s Office. Senior counsel Latif Khosa, assisted by Salman Akram Raja and other lawyers, appeared before the court. The bench inquired about the nature of objections raised by the Registrar’s Office on the miscellaneous application. Responding to the court, Khosa submitted that one of the objections pertained to the non-provision of a certified copy of the power of attorney. Justice Tahir observed that two of the objections were valid. The court subsequently directed the office to ... -
Dawn - 08:12 Mar 03, 2026
The Sialkot Stallionz have officially changed their name to the Multan Sultans, Pakistan Super League (PSL) CEO Salman Naseer announced on Tuesday. In a press conference, Naseer said that the group’s name change request, put forward by the team’s new CEO, Gohar Shah, had been officially accepted. According to him, the name change request was Shah’s first act as CEO of the franchise, as the name ‘Multan Sultans’ had not previously been available. “You saw him (Shah) amongst other bidders at the team auction for the Multan Sultans,” the PSL CEO said. “There was a lot of desire, passion, and I think Gohar was the most disappointed when he couldn’t get the team.” The PSL CEO added that the option to change team names had been kept in all auction processes, including the ability to request a name that was not one of the six provided. “At the time, I think Multan was not available, so he chose Sialkot,” Naseer said, adding that as soon as Shah came in as CEO of the franchise, he had applied for a name change, discu... -
Dawn - 07:26 Mar 03, 2026
Pakistani nationals hauled suitcases across the border from Iran, describing missiles being launched and travel chaos as they scrambled to leave the country after the US and Israel launched strikes over the weekend. AFP journalists saw a steady trickle of people passing through large metal gates at the remote border crossing between Iran’s Mirjaveh and Taftan in Balochistan. Powerful explosions have rocked Iran’s capital Tehran since Saturday, with embassies from countries around the world telling their citizens to leave. “All our Pakistani brothers who were in Tehran and other cities had started to leave and were arriving at the terminal, which caused a lot of crowd pressure,” 38-year-old trader Ameer Muhammad told AFP on Monday. Cargo trucks wait to enter the Pakistan-Iran border crossing at Taftan, Balochistan province on March 2, 2026 amid ongoing US-Israel strikes on Iran. —AFP/File “Due to the crowds, there were major transport problems.” The isolated Taftan border lies around 500 kilometres from Quetta... -
Dawn - 06:42 Mar 03, 2026
Oil prices rose for a third day on Tuesday as the widening US-Israeli conflict with Iran and threats to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz heightened fears of supply disruptions from the key Middle East producing region. Brent crude futures were at $79.44 a barrel, up $1.70, or 2.2 per cent, by 04:00 GMT. On Monday, the contract surged to as high as $82.37, its highest since January 2025, though it pared those gains to settle 6.7pc higher. US West Texas Intermediate crude jumped $1.17, or 1.6pc, to $72.40 a barrel. In the previous session, the contract initially climbed to its highest since June 2025 before sliding back to still settle up 6.3pc. “With no quick de-escalation in sight, the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed and Iran showing a willingness to target energy infrastructure in the region, upside risks remain and they grow the longer the conflict drags on,” Tony Sycamore, ING market analyst, said in a note. The US and Israeli air war against Iran widened on Monday with Israel attacking Lebanon an... -
Dawn - 05:55 Mar 03, 2026
Karachi’s MT Khan Road was closed again on Tuesday in response to the prevailing security situation in the city, according to the traffic police. Ten people were killed in Karachi on Sunday as protests erupted against the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli attacks. A ban on gatherings and rallies has also been extended across Sindh. An alert issued by the Karachi Traffic Police for District South at 5:38am said that both sides of MT Khan Road remained closed from the PIDC signal towards Jinnah Bridge for security reasons. As an alternative route, traffic from PIDC has been diverted towards Khajoor Chowk and Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed Road, and from Jinnah Bridge towards II Chundrigar Road, it said. Subsequently, the police issued another alert at 9:21am for traffic congestion on both sides of II Chundrigar Road from Jinnah Bridge towards Tower and Shaheen Complex due to the MT Khan Road closure. A map showing road closures in Karachi on March 3. — screengrab via Google Maps I... -
Dawn - 03:03 Mar 03, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Multiple Pakistani television channels, websites and mobile applications came under coordinated cyberattacks on Sunday night, prompting the National Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) to launch a formal investigation. Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima presided over a meeting of the National CERT, which was held in Islamabad on Monday to assess the cyberattacks. Cybersecurity experts and officials reviewed preliminary findings and agreed to initiate a comprehensive probe into the breaches. Authorities said efforts were underway to determine the motive, origin and technical nature of the intrusions. CERT officials assured that a detailed report would be issued once the investigation was completed. The main attack happened at the state-owned satellite of the country, Pak-Sat, as a result of which several TV channels suffered transmission issues. However, no major government or private website was hit. Taking note of the situation, CERT issued an alert and advisory to all ... -
Dawn - 02:58 Mar 03, 2026
FUNERALS of several victims were held at the Markazi Imamia Masjid in Gilgit.—Photo by the writer • Prayers offered at Markazi Imamia Jamia Masjid Skardu and Central Imamia Masjid Gilgit • Three-day curfew imposed in both districts amid deteriorating law and order situation GILGIT: Funeral prayers for 13 people who were killed during protests after the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, were held in Skardu and Gilgit as authorities imposed a three-day curfew in both cities starting Monday to manage the prevailing law and order situation. A total of 13 people, including one security official, were killed during clashes on Sunday. Six people lost their lives in Skardu, while seven were killed in Gilgit. According to official and hospital sources, a young man who had sustained injuries during the protests in Gilgit succumbed to his wounds, raising the death toll to 13. More than 100 people were reported injured. Funeral prayers for five of the deceased were offered at the Markazi I... -
Dawn - 02:47 Mar 03, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has stressed that a competitive automobile industry can deliver significant benefits to consumers and the economy, including lower prices, improved quality, greater choice, and enhanced export potential. Unveiling a comprehensive report, “The Road to Fair Competition — A Study of Pakistan’s Automobile Industry”, the watchdog on Monday highlighted structural and regulatory challenges in the sector and recommended wide-ranging reforms, including a long-term policy roadmap, improved vehicle financing, and removal of regulatory distortions to foster competition and efficiency. The commission expressed the hope that the study will inform policymakers, regulators, and industry stakeholders and support the development of a modern, competitive, and globally integrated automobile sector in Pakistan. The automobile industry remains a cornerstone of Pakistan’s economy, contributing approximately 2.8 per cent to GDP and employing more than 215,000 people directly. A... -
Dawn - 02:39 Mar 03, 2026
This handout satellite image taken by 2026 Planet Labs PBC on Monday shows smoke billowing following an explosion from the port of Bandar Abbas along the Strait of Hormuz.—AFP KARACHI: Escalating military conflict in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have forced global shipping companies to adopt precautionary measures for the movement of goods by sea as well as for their staff and crew, while some firms have indicated the imposition of war-risk and contingency surcharges on cargo. The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic maritime corridor through which nearly 25 per cent of the world’s oil passes. Any disruption to traffic through the narrow passage linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman could lead to increases in crude oil and LNG prices as well as higher shipping insurance costs. “Given that a large proportion of Pakistan’s trade transits through the Gulf region and the fact that most major shipping lines have already announced service disruptions, Pakistan’s trade will suffer dela... -
Dawn - 02:28 Mar 03, 2026
• Says invasion will ‘hardly last longer than a month’, refuses to rule out ‘boots on ground’ • Claims potential successors to Khamenei identified by Washington have also perished • Larijani insists country prepared for long war; Tehran says over 500 targets hit, more than 550 Iranians killed in strikes • Top US general claims air superiority over Iran; says more losses expected after six soldiers killed, three planes downed WASHINGTON: Anyone trying to keep track of US President Donald Trump’s comments is bound to be confused by his constantly shifting stance on the invasion of Iran. The US president, who has been on a media blitz ever since he ordered the strikes in the early hours of Saturday, has changed his tune so many times, it is hard to keep track. Speaking to The Atlantic at 9.30am on Sunday, one day after launching the strikes that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and embroiled the region in war, President Trump said Tehran’s new leadership wants to talk with him and that he plans to do so. By 5.30pm,... -
Dawn - 02:06 Mar 03, 2026
• Shehbaz lauds Oman efforts for Iran-US deal, rues attack derailed peace process • Premier speaks to Kuwaiti crown prince, opposes escalatory actions; receives call from Syrian president ISLAMABAD: As war continued to rage in the Gulf on Monday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke to the rulers of Oman, Kuwait, and Syria to advocate diplomatic routes to restore peace in the region following the US-Israel strikes on Iran. In a conversation with Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, the PM discussed the prevailing regional situation in the wake of the attack on Iran and subsequent hostilities that had endangered the peace and security of the entire Gulf region. The PM said the escalation had taken place at a time when diplomatic efforts facilitated by Oman were underway to reduce the US-Iran tensions, according to a statement from his office. “The attacks had not only derailed the delicate diplomatic process, but had also undermined efforts to promote dialogue and de-escalation in the region,” he was quoted as sayi... -
Dawn - 19:46 Mar 02, 2026
ISLAMABAD: A senior security official on Monday dismissed speculation that after Iran, Pakistan could be the next target of US-Israeli military action, saying such perceptions were “devoid of facts” and were being spread by “agents of chaos”. According to a brief shared with Dawn, the official said Pakistan was unlike Iran, that it was fully integrated with the world and fully capable of defending itself. He said that those spreading “alarmist narratives” were pursuing “nefarious and vested interests.” His remarks came amid an escalating war in the Middle East in which Israel and the United States, for the second time in eight months, launched coordinated strikes against Iran. Tehran retaliated by targeting Israeli territory and American military facilities in neighbouring countries, raising fears of a wider regional conflagration. Following the US-Israeli airstrikes, there has been speculation and concerns that Pakistan could face similar aggression. Some analyses from Western think tanks had also speculated... -
Dawn - 17:11 Mar 02, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The ongoing talks between an International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff mission and authorities in Islamabad had to be converted to virtual mode on Monday due to the regional situation following the attack on Iran by the United States and Israel. The IMF mission, led by Iva Petrova, had to immediately relocate to Istanbul following an advisory issued by the money lending agency’s headquarters, disrupting a series of sectoral meetings planned for the day. The remaining schedule of meetings, however, will remain intact and will progress through video link between Islamabad and Istanbul. “An IMF mission led by Iva Petrova has started discussions with the authorities in Karachi and Islamabad on the third review of Pakistan’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement and the second review of the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF). Discussions will continue to be held virtually,” the Fund said in a statement. Earlier in the day, the two sides had a kick-off meeting presided over by Finance Minister... -
Dawn - 17:03 Mar 02, 2026
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has imposed each member of the squad for the T20 World Cup Rs5 million following their “underwhelming” campaign, ESPNcricinfo reported on Monday. According to the report, the fines were not for disciplinary reasons, but specifically for what the cricket board deemed “poor performance” at the event. “They were imposed immediately following Pakistan’s match against India in the group stages, where a meek showing resulted in a 61-run defeat,” it stated. The report further said that players were told that the fines might have waived off, if Pakistan had reached the tournament’s semi-finals. “The PCB has come down hard on players in the past, though sanctions have generally been framed as disciplinary,” the report said. “ESPNcricinfo has learned there were no disciplinary issues within the team throughout the tournament, and the fines have been levied specifically for the quality of their on-field performances,” it added. “That makes the sanctions handed out by the PCB particularly... -
Dawn - 16:56 Mar 02, 2026
President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that France would increase the number of its nuclear warheads and cooperate with eight European countries to help protect the continent as the clock ticks on his presidency. His speech at France’s Ile Longue nuclear submarine base came after US and Israeli attacks against Iran in a campaign that risks destabilising the Middle East. Macron updated France’s nuclear doctrine as Russia’s war against Ukraine grinds into a fifth year and Nato allies worry about Washington’s wavering commitment to Europe. “We must strengthen our nuclear deterrent in the face of multiple threats, and we must consider our deterrence strategy deep within the European continent, with full respect for our sovereignty,” Macron said. He announced “the gradual implementation of what I would call advanced deterrence”. Macron announced a series of concrete measures in a bid to bolster Europe’s security as France’s allies are concerned that a possible win by the eurosceptic far-right National Rally part... -
Dawn - 16:24 Mar 02, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Amid disruption to LNG imports from Qatar, the government on Monday decided to keep translating the impact of rising global oil prices to consumers under the existing fortnightly pass-through mechanism to avoid a fiscal bulge amid close monitoring of supplies. A meeting of the newly created 18-member cabinet committee, constituted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to monitor petroleum prices in the wake of the emerging situation in the region, was told that petrol and diesel stocks in the country were sufficient for almost a 30-day cover but Qatar Gas had closed its liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility after it came under Iranian attack. Official communication from Doha about the latest situation was, however, still awaited. LNG supplies would nevertheless not be available beyond a few cargoes that had already crossed the Strait of Hormuz towards Karachi. The 18-member cabinet body constituted by the prime minister included the ministers for petroleum and power; the State Bank of Pakistan governor; ... -
Dawn - 14:38 Mar 02, 2026
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday said Pakistan was making “full diplomatic efforts” to de-escalate the regional situation following attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran. “This recent escalation … has … significantly heightened tensions in an already volatile and fragile environment. We are making full diplomatic efforts and requesting all parties to de-escalate,” Dar said during a media briefing in Islamabad. He recalled Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Austria and noted that he held discussions with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), saying that the “feedback was positive”. He said that “serious developments” had taken place at a time when “diplomatic efforts were underway to reach a peaceful and negotiable … solution”. “But what triggered all of a sudden engulfed … almost all countries,” he said. He then referred to a high-level meeting chaired by the prime minister on Sunday, which reviewed the regional environment and the situation between Pakis... -
Dawn - 14:12 Mar 02, 2026
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei is dead, the Gulf is on fire, and global markets are in chaos. One weekend, precisely the last of February and the first of March 2026, changed everything. We are now living in the midst of a war that is escalating with every airstrike, missile and bomb. It began on Feb 28, when the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran in a massive operation to destroy the country’s military and nuclear capabilities. Tehran responded with missile and air strikes across the Middle East, including in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Israel. Iran has also vowed to hit the US and Israel with a force “never seen before”. Meanwhile, in a video address earlier today, President Donald Trump warned Iran’s Revolutionary Guard to lay down arms or “face certain death”. He added that America was standing with the people of Iran. But how did we get here? Here is a timeline: 2025: The Iran-Israel standoff Even though the roots of the matter go back a lo...
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