He said this during an address to the nation, delivered on the eve of Eidul Fitr. The premier began his address by extending Eid greetings to the nation.

He also referred to a global fuel crisis resulting from the US-Israeli war on Iran, which began on February 28. The government announced unprecedented austerity measures last week to cope with the crisis and also hiked petroleum products’ prices earlier this month.

PM Shehbaz said in view of the present situation, the festival demanded humanity, national unity and collective responsibility. “And I believe the joy of Eid in its true sense is sharing it with those in need,” he added.

The premier said the world was facing an “extraordinary challenge” today, adding that the values of selflessness, hard work and compassion were the only means to resolving the crisis.

He said the war going on in the Middle East had severely impacted the global peace and economy, as well as the common man. “The situation has become even more dangerous in the aftermath of attacks on energy installations of brotherly countries,” he added.

“And the risk of this crisis intensifying and prolonging increases with every passing moment.”

PM Shehbaz noted that the price of oil from the Middle East had skyrocketed in the international market. “It was available for $72 per barrel a few weeks ago, but in just three weeks, the price has breached the historic mark of $158 per barrel,” he said.

He warned that if the situation continued to worsen, a further increase in fuel prices would be imminent.

The premier said the crisis was giving rise to an “inflation storm”, adding that he realised that an increase in petrol and HSD prices earlier in March by Rs55 per litre had badly affected a common man’s life.

He lauded the nation for its “patience and courage” during these challenging times, thanking the people for their “cooperation”.

PM Shehbaz said on March 13, oil prices in the international market had significantly increased again. Thereafter, he continued, a recommendation for increasing the price of petrol by Rs50 per litre and that of HSD by Rs74 per litre was made.

“But I rejected this recommendation,” he said, explaining that he realised the burden that the people were bearing following the Rs55 per litre increase.

So, he said, “I decided that the federal government will bear the burden of around Rs24 billion, resulting from the rise in oil prices. For this, we made necessary cuts in our budgets and limited development expenditure”.

He further said another increase had been witnessed in oil prices in the “week starting today”, following which it was again recommended to him to increase the price of petrol by Rs76 per litre and that of diesel by Rs177 per litre.

But, he said, he rejected the recommendations, particularly considering that Eid was so close.

“So, once again, the federal government will bear the additional burden of Rs45bn,” PM Shehbaz said.

The premier said that for the last two weeks, the federal government had spent Rs69bn from its “savings and development budgets” to prevent an increase of Rs127 per litre in the price of petrol and Rs252 per litre in that of HSD.

However, he added, it was not a lasting solution.

He also noted that the measures did not just benefit the deserving and needy, but also those who were well off.

“To stop this unjust practice, I have issued instructions to relevant ministries to form a comprehensive and transparent mechanism to ensure that the relief is limited to the deserving,” he announced.

KARACHI: The Sindh government’s decision to limit wedding guests to 200 has sparked fears, leaving many in a dilemma and unsure whether to invite or attend functions.

The provincial government, as part of its “austerity” drive in the wake of the Middle East war, took a host of measures, including limiting number of guests at wedding ceremonies or any other party to 200 with one-dish serving.

Families who had already sent invitations to their loved ones months in advance are now worried about financial implications of reducing the number of guests, having already booked venues and caterers.

The Karachi Marriage Hall Owners Association (KMHOA) expressed grave concern over the government’s decision and said it was not practical to implement it.

Talking to Dawn, KMHOA president Rana Raees demanded that the government reconsider its decision as it would lead to a great deal of difficulty for both hosts and guests of the wedding functions.

He said it would not be easy for people to pick and choose their guests. “The invited guests will also be confused whether to attend the function,” he added.

Mr Raees said that it would also be very difficult for the management of marriage halls to stop the excessive guests from attending the function.

Distress and inconvenience

A mother of a bride-to-be said that the provincial government’s decision had caused distress and inconvenience to her and many others. “It’s like we’re being punished for something we can’t control,” she sighed.

A groom-to-be said that he had no idea the government would impose such a restriction. “We’ve already sent invites to over 500 guests and paid for the marriage hall and caterer accordingly,” he added.

The decision left many feeling helpless and frustrated. “What’s the point of even having a marriage function if we can’t invite our extended family and friends?” asked a groom’s father.

“It’s not just about the number of guests, it’s about celebrating a once-in-a-lifetime occasion with the people we love.”

The government’s decision has also raised questions about its effectiveness in implementing the measures to conserve fuel.

KMHOA chief Rana Raees said that number of guests didn’t impact energy consumption. “Guests arrive from homes with lights and gas off, saving energy, and food is cooked in one place, saving gas,” he added.

He said that the families attending marriages also carpool, saving fuel. “The decision will hurt the marriage hall industry only and pressure the public and workforce.”

He urged the provincial government to withdraw the notification.

“If the government is serious about controlling the fuel consumption, why are markets and public transport still crowded?” asks Dr Azka, whose cousin’s marriage was scheduled after Eid.

“It’s unfair to single out marriage functions and penalise people for something that’s not entirely their fault,” she said.

As the criticism mounts, the government is being urged to reconsider its decision and give people a fair chance to adjust their plans.

“At the very least, they should give us a deadline of two months so we can make necessary arrangements,” said a man who had already invited 800 guests to his daughter’s marriage next month. “Marriage halls were booked months in advance. It’s not possible to suddenly reduce the guest list without incurring significant losses,” he added.

The door to bribery

Talking to Dawn, Leader of Opposition in Sindh Assembly Ali Khurshidi said that the provincial government’s decisions were in line with the national policy for fuel consumption. However, he said, the authorities should not be too strict in compliance of wedding guest restrictions.

He said that given the realities on the ground it would be difficult for the authorities to enforce complete implementation of the restriction as people were not ready to compromise on celebrations of special moments.

The opposition leader said that the provincial government should ensure that police and district administration officials would not start making money.

A senior official, who did not wish to be named, said that no mechanism for implementation of wedding guest restriction was so far devised. He said that decision in this regard would be taken after Eid holidays.

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2026

The central bank released its report on payment systems for the October-December 2025 quarter on Thursday.

Out of the 3.4 billion retail transactions carried out during the period, 92pc were conducted through digital channels. The percentage for the same period during October-December 2024 was 88pc.

The number of retail transactions went up by eight per cent from the previous quarter, while its value rose by seven per cent, reaching Rs167 trillion.

The number of payments through the digital channel reached 3.1bn, amounting to Rs64tr, reflecting the growing adoption of digital payment methods across the economy.

App-based payments

Mobile app-based payments continued to dominate the digital landscape, with 2.6bn transactions conducted through apps offered by branchless banking (BB) players, banks, and EMIs.

These transactions represented 83pc of all digital payments and amounted to Rs40tr in value, supporting a wide range of services including person-to-person transfers, bill payments, and account and wallet-based merchant payments across online platforms and physical retail outlets.

Internet banking also recorded a steady growth, with transaction volume and value growing by 11pc and 22pc, respectively.

During the quarter, Raast Instant Payment System continued to maintain a strong momentum, processing 645.7 million transactions amounting to Rs18.5tr. Person-to-Person (P2P) transactions rose to 603m, increasing by 13pc and valued at Rs15.7tr.

On the other hand, Raast P2M transactions shot up to 33.6m, amounting to Rs167.6bn.

Over nine million transactions worth Rs 2.6tr were processed by government and corporates using the Raast Bulk Service.

Point-of-sale terminals and e-commerce activity using cards continued to expand, collectively processing around 1.7m card-based transactions per day.

Meanwhile, a nationwide network of 20,976 ATMs facilitated 277m transactions amounting to Rs4.9tr during the period.

In addition, 20,143 bank branches and 763,262 banking agents provided over-the-counter (OTC) services such as cash deposits, withdrawals, fund transfers, and bill payments.

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2026

He announced cash rewards and CC-1 certificates for police officers from Kachhi, Hub, Quetta, Sibi and Kohlu and Ziarat districts.

Presiding over a meeting on Thursday to review law and order situation in the province, the IGP expressed satisfaction over the performance of police personnel.

He said that last year only 587 proclaimed offenders were arrested, while in 2026, during the special campaign launched on Jan 26, 497 proclaimed offenders were arrested till March 18, which reflects the dedication and coordinated efforts of the police force.

The IGP also announced cash awards for the districts that showed good performance during the campaign.

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2026

“I should also remark that the attacks against Turkiye and Oman – both of which have good relations with us — targeting certain locations in these countries, were in no way carried out by the armed forces of the Islamic republic or the other forces of the Resistance Front.

“This is a ploy by the Zionist enemy (Israel), employing the false flag tactic to create discord between the Islamic republic and its neighbours, and it may also occur in some other countries,” Khamenei said in a statement published on his Telegram channel and official Iranian media on the occasion of Nowruz, the Persian New Year.

This is Mojtaba’s second message since becoming Iran’s supreme leader following the assassination of his father and the previous supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Ali Khamenei was assassinated on February 28, when the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran, triggering a conflict that has expanded to the rest of the Middle East as well and the impact of which is being felt elsewhere, too, amid a global fuel crunch.

During the war, Gulf countries have also come under attack, and while Tehran accepts responsibility for some of the attacks targeting US bases and assets, it denies having a role in others. Iran has previously also denied responsibility for attacks in Turkiye and Oman.

Mojtaba also extended greetings to the Iranians on the occasion of Nowruz and Eidul Fitr.

He also extended condolences to the families of the “martyrs” of the ongoing war, which he said was imposed on Iran.

Mojtaba recalled that on the war’s first day, “with tearful eyes and sad and broken hearts, we bade farewell to” Ali Khamenei. He also recalled the children killed in the strike on a school in Minab and other “martyrs of this war”.

He said that the current war was taking place after the enemy suffered from an illusion that it could create “fear and despair” by killing the head of the establishment and a number of influential military figures.

However, he said, the people dealt the enemy a “confusing blow” to the point where “he began to utter numerous contradictory words and many absurdities, which is a sign of lack of mindfulness and the existence of cognitive weakness”.

He also advised the country’s media to refrain from focusing on weaknesses, saying that “one of the enemy’s courses of action is his media operations, which in these days, in particular, intends to undermine national unity and consequently national security by targeting the minds and souls of some among the people”.

He further said that people’s livelihoods and welfare should be considered a “focal point” against the “economic war waged by the enemy”.

He announced that this year’s slogan would be “resistance economy in light of national unity and national security”.

Talking about Iran’s neighbours, he said, “I consider our eastern neighbours to be very close to us. For a long time, I have known Pakistan to be a country that was especially beloved by our martyred leader, a sentiment that was evident in the emotion in his voice during Friday prayer sermons over the devastating floods that threatened the lives of our religious brothers there.

“For various reasons, I have always held this view myself and have not refrained from expressing it in various meetings,” he said.

He took the opportunity to urge Pakistan and Afghanistan to “establish better relations with each other”, adding that he was “ready to take the necessary steps”.

He ended his statement by expressing the hope that the new year would be “ a good year full of triumph and all kinds of spiritual and material relief for our nation, our neighbours, and Muslim nations, and especially for the elements of the Resistance Front”.

The anti-immigrant firebrand called an open Iftar in London’s Trafalgar Square earlier this week an “attempt to overtake, intimidate and dominate our way of life”.

Monday’s open Iftar has been the subject of political debate in recent days, with Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer criticising a Conservative MP for opposing the event.

“We have to stop this kind of mass demonstration, provocative demonstration, in historic British sites, because that’s what it is,” Farage said on Thursday.

Asked during a visit to Scotland whether he favoured banning all mass religious observances, Farage, leader of Reform UK, replied “yes”.

Pressed on whether that included Jewish or Catholic observances, he added: “I’ve never seen Jewish services taking place in places of historic Christian worship, or anywhere else.

“We have to get this right. We can’t stop individuals from praying, we wouldn’t want to stop individuals praying, but mass prayer is banned, mass Muslim prayer is banned, in many Muslim countries in the Middle East itself,” he said.

Trafalgar Square is one of London’s most iconic public spaces, home to landmarks and monuments including Nelson’s Column, and often hosts events from rallies and demonstrations to cultural celebrations and film shoots.

The debate ignited when the Conservative justice spokesperson Nick Timothy wrote on X: “Mass ritual prayer in public places is an act of domination.”

“Perform these rituals in mosques if you wish. But they are not welcome in our public places and shared institutions,” he added.

Starmer called on Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch to sack Timothy over the comments, which had received the backing of far-right agitator Tommy Robinson.

Badenoch said the Tories want to see religious observances in public places, but they must be “inclusive and also respectful of British culture”.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who is Muslim and attended the prayer service, called Timothy’s comments a “disgrace” to the Conservative Party, and a “megaphone dog whistle”.

Reform has led national surveys for over a year, although some polls have shown them falling back slightly in recent months. The next general election is not due until 2029.

So-called culture wars have increasingly become part of the political discourse in Britain in recent years.

The ongoing war, launched by the US and Israel against Iran, has expanded across the Middle East with Tehran targeting US bases and assets in other countries in the region, including Azerbaijan, and Tel Aviv targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said on the social media platform X that the premier held a telephone conversation with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev “to exchange greetings on the auspicious occasion of Eidul Fitr”.

“The two leaders also discussed the ongoing hostilities in Iran and the Gulf region,” the statement said.

“The prime minister reiterated [his] strong condemnation of the attacks against Azerbaijan and expressed full solidarity and support with the brotherly people of Azerbaijan in these challenging times.”

It added that both leaders called for an immediate de-escalation, urging “dialogue and diplomacy” to resolve outstanding issues.

Additionally, PM Shehbaz conveyed “heartfelt” Eidul Fitr wishes to Aliyev and the people of Azerbaijan. The sentiments were “warmly reciprocated” by Aliyev for the people of Pakistan, according to the statement.

During the call, they also expressed satisfaction with the positive trajectory of Pakistan-Azerbaijan relations and reaffirmed their mutual resolve and commitment to further strengthen bilateral ties, the PMO added.

In a separate post on X, PM Shehbaz reiterated the same.

“I reiterated my strong condemnation of the attacks against Azerbaijan and reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering solidarity with our Azerbaijani brothers and sisters,” he said.

“We agreed on the urgent need for de-escalation and resolution of tensions through dialogue and diplomacy, while reaffirming our shared commitment to further strengthening Pakistan-Azerbaijan brotherly ties,” he added.

Two weeks ago, PM Shehbaz had also taken to X to express “serious concern” over the attacks on Azerbaijan.

Phone call with Malaysian PM

Meanwhile, the premier also held a phone call with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

“While praying for peace and harmony of the Ummah, the two leaders called for de-escalation of the ongoing hostilities in Iran and the Gulf region and agreed to continue to work together for advancing peace efforts in this regard,” a statement by the PMO said.

“Both leaders expressed satisfaction at the positive momentum in bilateral ties and reaffirmed their shared resolve to further strengthen Pakistan-Malaysia fraternal relations,” it added.

PM Shehbaz also felicitated the Malaysian premier, government and people on the occasion of Eidul Fitr.

In a post on X, the premier reiterated that the two discussed the “evolving situation in Iran and the Gulf region, and agreed on the urgent need for de-escalation and continued joint efforts to promote peace through dialogue and diplomacy”.

“We also expressed satisfaction at the positive momentum in Pakistan-Malaysia relations and reaffirmed our shared commitment to further strengthening our fraternal ties,” he said.

The premier had previously briefed Ibrahim on “recent developments regarding Afghanistan” in a call on March 5. The pair had also expressed “deep concern” at the situation in the Middle East.

Call with Uzbek president

In their phone call, PM Shehbaz and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev “exchanged views on the ongoing hostilities in Iran and the Gulf region and stressed upon the need for an immediate de-escalation and use of dialogue and diplomacy for resolution of all disputes”, said the PMO.

The premier exchanged Eid greetings with Mirziyoyev in their “most cordial conversation”, the statement said.

“The prime minister conveyed his heartfelt wishes to the president, and the brotherly people of Uzbekistan on this blessed occasion of Eid, which the Uzbek leader warmly reciprocated,” it read.

The two leaders “expressed satisfaction on the highly successful outcomes of the Uzbek president’s visit to Pakistan last month”, the PMO stated.

PM Shehbaz noted that “regular follow-up on the key decisions taken by both leaders would ensure further strengthening of the bilateral ties”.

In a post on X about the phone call, the premier said, “I expressed satisfaction at the highly successful outcomes of his recent visit to Pakistan and underscored the importance of continued follow-up to further strengthen our bilateral partnership.”

“We also discussed the situation in Iran and the Gulf region, and agreed on the urgent need for de-escalation and resolution of all disputes through dialogue and diplomacy,” he said.

Phone call with Egyptian president

About the PM’s phone call with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the PMO said in a statement on X that the premier conveyed Eidul Fitr greetings to el-Sisi and the “brotherly people of Egypt”.

“President el-Sisi reciprocated the sentiments for the prime minister and the people of Pakistan,” the statement added.

It further stated that PM Shehbaz reaffirmed the strong and brotherly relations between Pakistan and Egypt and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation with Egypt across all areas of mutual interest.

He also appreciated Egypt’s constructive diplomatic role in regional and international issues, particularly its significant contribution to peace efforts in the Middle East, the statement said.

“Both leaders exchanged views on the evolving situation in Iran and the Gulf region, and, while expressing their serious concerns over the ongoing hostilities, they agreed to continue diplomatic efforts for de-escalation and for the restoration of peace and normalcy,” it read.

Phone call with Bangladesh PM

On his own account, PM Shehbaz posted that he had held a phone call with Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rehman “to convey warm Eidul Fitr greetings to him and the people of Bangladesh”.

“We fondly recalled the historic, fraternal and familial bonds between our two countries. I reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening our bilateral cooperation across all spheres,” he said.

The PM added: “We also exchanged views on regional developments and the situation in the Middle East, and agreed on the importance of dialogue and diplomacy for peace and stability.”

Phone call with Lebanese PM

According to the PMO, the premier also spoke to his Lebanese counterpart, Nawaf Salam.

“In their warm and cordial conversation, the prime minister conveyed Eidul Fitr greetings to Prime Minister Salam and the brotherly people of Lebanon. Prime Minister Salam reciprocated these sentiments,” the statement said.

It added that PM Shehbaz reaffirmed “Pakistan’s strongest condemnation of the ongoing Israeli aggression against Lebanon, that had resulted in the tragic loss of innocent lives, and caused injuries and displacement of civilians”.

The prime minister expressed firm solidarity with the government and people of Lebanon in these difficult circumstances. He also reiterated “Pakistan’s steadfast support for Lebanon’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity”, it added.

“He called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and underscored the need for dialogue and diplomacy to restore peace and stability in the region.

“While acknowledging the longstanding fraternal ties between Pakistan and Lebanon, both leaders agreed to maintain close coordination in the days ahead,” the statement read.

A day earlier, the premier had also held phone calls with Turkiye President President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Jordan’s King Abdullah II, with the situation in the Middle East coming under discussion.

In a press release, the department said that it conducted a joint intelligence-based operation (IBO) with rangers and the federal intelligence agency, “arresting five members of the BRG, and foiling a terrorist plan on railway tracks in Karachi”.

The CTD said, in its statement, that the group has carried out “six low-intensity explosions in Jacobabad, Shikarpur districts of Sindh, resulting in partial damage to the railway track and train carriage”.

It said that the group had claimed responsibility for the attacks on its social media accounts.

It added that the CTD, working in collaboration with the “civilian federal intelligence agency [..] identified the network and monitored them day and night”.

The CTD recovered explosives, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), weapons, and ammunition from the suspects.

The department said that during the interrogation, the suspects revealed that they were responsible for a train bombing in Jacobabad on June 6, 2025, an explosion near a railway station in Shikarpur on July 28, 2025, an attack on Jaffar Express in Shikarpur on October 7, 2025, and another explosion near a railway track on January 26 this year.

At least seven people were injured in the Oct 7 attack on the Jaffar Express in Shikarpur.

The CTD said the terrorists received training in Lehri, Balochistan, adding that they were given explosives from Lehri, which were transported with the “help of their families, thereby avoiding law enforcement agencies”.

The statement added that a team has been formed to arrest the facilitators and associates of the terrorists.

“The interrogation of the suspects is ongoing, and further revelations are expected,” the statement concluded.

Addressing a press conference, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Sindh CTD Azfar Mahesar said the development was a “major dent” in the group’s operations.

He claimed that the group was receiving funding from neighbouring India, and stressed that the arrest had “exposed another terror nexus orchestrated by India”.

He also shared that Sindh “did not record any major terrorism incidents in the past year,” maintaining that attacks carried out by the group were “low-intensity”.

Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar lauded the CTD team for the operation and vowed that the terrorists would be given an “exemplary punishment,” as per a statement issued via his spokesperson.

In January, intelligence and law enforcement agencies had thwarted a massive terrorist plot in Karachi, seizing a huge cache of explosives, cylinders, plastic containers, and sev­eral types of detonators mounted on a ‘ready-to-explode’ truck, in an operation conducted on the outskirts of the port city.

The operation — jointly conducted by the intelligence agencies and the CTD — averted a potentially major tragedy, with a staggering 2,000kg of explosive material being defused. In total, the seized explosives comprised 30 plastic drums and five cylinders, rigged with different detonators.

“The lack of necessary facilities and opportunities is forcing the province’s bright minds to migrate to other provinces,” Mr Mandokhail said during a meeting with vice-chancellors of various public sector universities of the province.

He stressed the need for formulating a comprehensive policy to reverse this trend and to pave the way for “brain gain” instead of brain drain.

“Universities and their campuses in the province’s remote districts are currently facing a severe shortage of facilities,” the governor said.

He said the government will provide professors, associate professors, and assistant professors with both job security and benefits to enable them to work wholeheartedly.

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2026

“Today, Al-Aqsa has been taken from us. It’s a sad and painful Ramazan,” Wajdi Mohammed Shweiki, a silver-haired Palestinian man in his 60s, told AFP.

“It’s a catastrophic situation for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for Palestinians in general and for all Muslims across the globe.”

Since Israel and the United States started the war on Iran on February 28, Israeli authorities have closed access to Jerusalem’s world-renowned holy sites over security concerns — Al-Aqsa Mosque for Muslims, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for Christians and the Western Wall for Jews.

As Iranian missile barrages head towards Israel, the authorities have banned gatherings of more than 50 people nationwide to limit potential casualties. In a sign of the risks, police said this week that shrapnel fragments had fallen on the Old City.

Researchers say this is the first time the Al-Aqsa Mosque — the third holiest site in Islam — has been closed during the last 10 days of Ramazan and for Eidul Fitr since Israel’s annexation of east Jerusalem in 1967.

As the holiday marked the end of Ramazan, worshippers denied access to the site arrived with prayer mats under their arms at dawn under the watchful supervision of Israeli police.

The crowd tried to push through the city gates, but the few dozen police officers repelled them, occasionally with kicks or slaps to the head and at least twice with tear gas.

Eventually, the worshippers managed to take up a position next to Herod’s Gate as the police relented for a few minutes and allowed the street prayers to take place.

An imam standing on a plastic stool delivered a short sermon.

“Pray, invoke Almighty God and hope that your prayers will be answered,” he told the worshippers.

“O God, grant victory to the oppressed.”

The Israeli police then pushed back the worshippers, who dispersed without resistance into the narrow streets, buying still-warm bread from street stalls as they went.

‘Broken heart’

The gathering of just a few hundred worshippers was a far cry from the typical way Eid is usually marked in Jerusalem, when some 100,000 people flock to Al-Aqsa.

The Israeli police said that “despite the high-alert status, police allowed prayers to be conducted on the street outside the Old City of Jerusalem without intervention”.

“However, officers were required to enforce… life-saving guidelines when crowds later exceeded authorised capacity and seemingly attempted to breach security perimeters into the Old City,” they said.

But while Israeli authorities claim the closure of Al-Aqsa is for safety reasons, there is fear among some Palestinians that it could be part of efforts to rewrite the strict rules governing access to Jerusalem’s holy sites.

“The occupier, under the pretext of security and for its own interests, has closed the mosque,” cleric Ayman Abu Najm, who had come from Beit Hanina, a Palestinian neighbourhood in east Jerusalem, said.

“In the history of the occupation, this is the longest period during which the Al-Aqsa Mosque has been closed.”

For some Muslims, the inability to access Al-Aqsa this year was felt as a deep personal loss.

“Ramazan without the Al-Aqsa Mosque is a very sad feeling, a feeling of having a broken heart,” said worshipper Zeyad Mona.

The exchange between the two neighbours took place at a high-level UN event held ahead of World Water Day on March 22, according to a statement issued by Pakistan’s UN mission on Thursday.

The spat followed a video message by Minister of Climate Change Dr Musadik Malik, who said India’s decision to place the treaty “in abeyance” undermined decades of cooperation and violates international law.

Indian Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni, told the world body that New Delhi would continue to hold the treaty “in abeyance until Pakistan … credibly and irrevocably ends its support for all forms of terrorism” — an allegation that Islamabad has already repeatedly rejected as baseless.

The Indian envoy also claimed that there have been fundamental changes over the last 65 years, adding that “technology for dam infrastructure, growing need for clean energy, climate and demographic changes warrant amendments to the treaty”.

He insisted that India had made several efforts to engage Pakistan to discuss these changes but “all our efforts to discuss modifications to the treaty with Pakistan were rebuffed”.

Pakistan has multiple times offered India to hold a dialogue to settle their disputes, including the water issue.

In a Right of Reply, Pakistan’s Second Secretary Aleena Majeed dismissed India’s claims and reaffirmed Pakistan’s legal position.

She rejected India’s attempt to link the water dispute to terrorism, calling such accusations “entirely baseless” and aimed at deflecting attention from India’s own record of state-sponsored violence and cross-border aggression.

“India’s attempts to deflect attention through unfounded allegations of terrorism cannot conceal its record of sponsorship of terrorism across its borders, perpetration of state terrorism in occupied Jammu and Kashmir, global state-backed assassination campaign including in North America, and state patronage of violence against its minorities,” Majeed said.

She also assailed India’s “sponsorship of terrorist groups” that have carried out attacks in Pakistan.

“The unilateral holding in abeyance of the Indus Waters Treaty by India represents a grave departure from this legal and historical legacy,” she said, adding that a 2025 Court of Arbitration award confirmed the treaty remains fully in force and binding.

“We reiterate our firm and unequivocal rejection of all attempts to weaponise water and to use it for political gains. Pakistan remains firmly committed to international law and to the faithful performance of treaty obligations,” Majeed said.

‘Fight for water rights is fight for women’s rights’

In his statement made before the envoy’s exchange, Malik highlighted: “For us, water is nature. Water is humanity. Water is our civilisation. For us, water is agriculture.”

He emphasised that 25–30 per cent of Pakistan’s GDP and nearly half of its workforce depended on agriculture, which is entirely linked to water availability.

The climate minister warned that the unilateral politicisation of water is not just a legal issue but a humanitarian one.

Highlighting recent climate disasters, he said floods in Pakistan have killed nearly 6,000 people, displaced 40 million and disrupted education for millions of children.

“When we fight for water rights, we are also fighting for women’s rights,” Malik told the event, which had the theme of Water and Gender Equality.

He noting that over 61 per cent of women’s employment is tied to agriculture, underlining the link between water access, gender empowerment, and national prosperity.

Malik also highlighted Pakistan’s climate and water management policies, including integration of gender inclusion, community participation, and youth engagement in sustainable development strategies.

He announced the launch of a Green Virtual University, a platform for research and innovation on agriculture, water, and climate resilience.

The minister said that World Water Day is not just a celebration of water but also a reaffirmation of water rights, women’s rights, and the rights of vulnerable communities, stressing that Pakistan will continue to defend these rights at every international forum.

The IWT, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, allocates the three western rivers — Indus, Jhelum and Chenab — largely to Pakistan, and the three eastern rivers — Ravi, Beas and Sutlej — to India.

The treaty has survived wars, crises, and political tensions for more than six decades and is considered a rare example of durable water-sharing cooperation between the two neighbours.

In April 2025, India announced a unilateral suspension of its obligations under the IWT — linking the move to the Pahalgam attack — which has now brought the decades-old water accord into the centre of broader geopolitical tensions.

In its daily weather forecast, the weather body said a westerly wave was “continuously affecting” most parts of the country.

It said “rain/thunderstorm with strong winds” was likely in Karachi Division and various other Sindh districts tomorrow.

The same was forecast for Larkana, Qambar-Shahdadkot, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Sukkur, Jamshoro, Hyderabad, Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, Matiari, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Naushahro Feroze, Shaheed Benazirabad and Dadu districts.

However, in a three-day weather outlook for Karachi, the PMD said the weather in the city tomorrow was expected to be “mostly cloudy with chances of isolated thunderstorm/rain at outskirts”.

Daytime temperatures will range between 29 and 31 degrees Celsius, while night temperatures could drop to as low as 17-19°C.

Humidity levels in the morning were expected to remain between 80-90 per cent, falling to 50-60pc in the evening.

On March 22 (Sunday), the metropolis was likely to have “partly cloudy” weather, PMD said. The mercury will range between 31-33°C during the morning and between 20-22°C.

For Sindh, PMD warned that lightning strikes may occur at isolated places during the forecast period. It advised farmers to manage their crops accordingly.

Separately, in light of the situation, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) directed relevant authorities to “take all necessary mitigation measures”, as per a notification.

On Wednesday, 20 people died, and eight were injured in rain-related incidents as a result of a thunderstorm that swept through Karachi.

According to measurements taken up to 11pm on Wednesday, Korangi saw the most rainfall, at 55.6mm. This was followed by Nazimabad at 29.6mm and PAF Masroor Base (Mauripur) at 22mm.

In a post on X, the ministry said, “The claim of so-called Ministry of Defence/spokesperson of Taliban regime that Pakistan has violated the temporary pause — initiated itself by Pakistan in view of Eidul Fitr — is frivolous.

“No violation of the temporary pause has taken place along the western border by Pakistan and all such claims are absolutely false,” the statement on the “fact check” asserted.

“Such propaganda may probably be initiated by detractors within Taliban regime, aimed at creating false pretext for some Afghan Taliban regime-directed terrorism or other action,” it contended.

The ministry stressed that irrespective of who has initiated the propaganda and false claims, “Pakistan has already declared it clearly that any act of terrorism, cross-border attack, drone attack, etc by Afghan Taliban regime and its proxies will result [in] forthwith termination of the temporary pause and immediate resumption of Operation Ghazab lil-Haq with renewed intensity.”

The ministry’s “fact checker” account also shared a statement issued by the Afghan defence ministry, accusing Pakistan of violating the ceasefire on the “first day of Eid”, which Kabul marked on Thursday.

Operation Ghazab lil-Haq was launched on the night of February 26, following unprovoked firing by the Afghan Taliban from across the border.

Islamabad on Wednesday announced that Pakistan had decided on a five-day “temporary pause” in the ongoing Operation Ghazab lil-Haq against the Afghan Taliban in view of Eidul Fitr and at the “request of brotherly Islamic countries”.

Kabul had followed suit, with the Afghan Taliban hours later declaring a temporary suspension of their military operations against Pakistan.

Both sides’ statements had mentioned de-escalation requests from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkiye as part of the reasons behind the decision.

In his statement, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar had warned that “in case of any cross-border attack, drone attack or any terrorist incident inside Pakistan, Operation Ghazab lil-Haq shall immediately resume with renewed intensity”.

Across Iran, the Persian New Year arrived without usual festivities associated with it. Celebrations were scaled down, with war, blackouts and economic strain shaping public sentiment. Markets remained open but subdued, and even among diaspora communities, observances lacked the usual fervour.

‘Rare moral boost’

Against this backdrop, a reported Iranian air defence success provided a rare morale boost.

Iranian systems are said to have damaged a US F-35 during a combat mission, forcing it to make an emergency landing at Al-Dhafra Airbase in the United Arab Emirates. While the operational impact appears limited, the symbolic value of hitting a stealth fifth-generation aircraft would be considerable.

The Iranian media is projecting it as evidence that advanced US platforms can be challenged. Under stressful situations, such narratives serve to reinforce resilience.

Meanwhile, an Israeli reservist working for the Iron Dome air defence system was arrested on allegations of spying for Iran. The individual is reported to have maintained covert contact with Iranian handlers over an extended period and to have shared sensitive operational details in return for payment.

While the full extent of the breach remains unclear, the case has been described by investigators as among the more serious incidents of its kind, underscoring the increasing role of intelligence operations alongside the ongoing military confrontation.

Evolving military balance and a diplomatic shift

The military balance, however, has continued to evolve. The imminent arrival of the USS Tripoli and USS Boxer, with their embarked Marine forces, is expected to boost US capabilities in the region, thereby expanding Washington’s options in the Gulf, including potential operations linked to securing maritime routes or seizing strategic islands. This would increase the risk of direct confrontation in the littoral space.

At the same time, a notable diplomatic shift has emerged. Several Western and allied countries, after initially expressing reluctance, have signalled their willingness to support efforts aimed at ensuring maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz.

While details remain unclear, the move suggests a gradual hardening of positions after weeks of hesitation. For Washington, this provides some support to its effort to internationalise the issue, though questions remain about the scale and sustainability of such involvement.

Diverging war aims

Despite this, divergences in war aims are becoming more visible. The US focus remains on reopening the Strait and containing the conflict, whereas Israeli objectives appear broader, with indications that long-term strategic change in Iran remains part of its calculus. This gap is complicating coordination and adds another layer of uncertainty to the trajectory of the war.

On the ground, Iran continues to rely on a strategy of endurance and horizontal escalation. Pressure is being maintained through missile and drone operations, as well as proxy activity across multiple fronts. Developments in Lebanon and Iraq indicate that these fronts remain active, reinforcing the pattern of distributed pressure that has defined the conflict in recent days.

The economic dimension is also becoming more pronounced. Disruptions linked to energy flows, supply chains and insurance costs are beginning to accumulate, with potential knock-on effects extending beyond the region. These pressures are likely to intensify if the conflict continues along its current trajectory, particularly if energy infrastructure and maritime routes remain contested.

The situation at the end of Day 21 reinforced the assessment that the conflict was steadily expanding in scope while becoming harder to control.

The combination of domestic strain in Iran, incremental coalition building on the US side, and continued military pressure across multiple theatres suggests that the coming days, particularly around the Nowruz period, could prove decisive in determining whether the war stabilises or moves into a more dangerous phase.

Header image: An Iranian flag flutters as a digger arrives to help remove the debris from destroyed buildings following a military strike on the Iranian capital Tehran on March 15, 2026. — AFP/ File

Some in Australia’s Muslim and Jewish communities are angry over a fine line walked by the centre-left government since Israel began its military campaign in Gaza, expressing concern for Palestinians, repeatedly urging a ceasefire, and backing Israel’s right to self-defence.

Video images showed protesters interrupting proceedings about 15 minutes after Albanese and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke joined worshippers at Lakemba Mosque in western Sydney to mark the end of Ramazan.

Demonstrators booed, told Albanese and Burke to “Get out!” and called them “genocide supporters”, referring to Israel’s killing of Palestinians in Gaza.

“Dear brothers and sisters, keep calm a little bit,” one of the organisers told the crowd, urging people to sit down and stop filming the exchange.

“It is Eid. It is a joyful day.”

A security guard was seen tackling one heckler to the ground before escorting him away.

“Shame on you!” yelled protesters who followed Albanese and Burke when they left.

The mosque event was “incredibly positive”, Albanese said later, despite the incident.

“If you got a couple of people heckling in a crowd of 30,000, that should be put in that perspective,” he told reporters, adding that the community had dealt with a couple of hecklers.

He added that some frustration stemmed from the government’s designation this month of Hizbut Tahrir as a prohibited hate group on the basis of laws prompted by a deadly mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on December 14.

Protesters also turned out in February, when Israeli President Isaac Herzog visited at Albanese’s invitation to express solidarity with Jewish Australians allegedly targeted by gunmen inspired by the Islamic State during the Bondi attack.

Thousands attended a rally in Sydney, where 27 people were arrested after clashes with police.

Eid this year has been dampened by fallout from the war that began with the US and Israel launching strikes on Iran. With fighting going on between Hezbollah and Israel as well, Lebanon has also been dragged into the regional conflict.

Israel’s strikes across Lebanon’s south, east and its capital Beirut have killed more than 1,000 people and the Israeli military’s evacuation orders have forced more than a million people to flee their homes.

In downtown Beirut, displaced Lebanese tried to shield themselves from bouts of heavy rain on Friday, crouching under flimsy tents just a few meters away from the grandiose Mohammad al Amin Mosque, where worshippers spent their morning praying.

Samah Hjola, a Lebanese mother of two sheltering under a tarp hung between two minivans, told Reuters her fond memories of previous Eid holidays felt like a different lifetime.

“Our circumstances used to be different; (we were) at home, my children had new clothes for the Eid,” Hjola, 33, said.

“There is a huge difference between being at home and being in a tent or, rather, in a bus.”

‘Eid is gone.’

Some displaced families had hoisted their tents atop wooden planks to lift them off the wet ground.

Late on Friday morning, Israeli jets broke the sound barrier over Beirut, sending two colossal booms echoing over the city. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a question on the purpose of the manoeuvre.

The sounds, which can easily be mistaken for air strikes, caused panic across the city as residents thought new bombing raids had begun.

In a Beirut school that had been turned into a shelter for the displaced, a musical band performed in front of dozens of children, seeking to alleviate the sombre reality of being far from home.

Volunteers cooked meals for the families staying there and floated balloons from the school’s upper floors onto children in the courtyard.

For the adults, it was hard to shake the dark mood.

“There’s no Eid, you can’t mention Eid,” said Abed Nasser, a 53-year-old displaced man.

“Eid is gone for us, and everything called a good life is gone. We live in sorrow for those who are gone. We live in tragedy, seeing the displaced unable to get by,” he said.

‘A heaviness in people’s hearts’

Further south in the Lebanese port city of Sidon, families visited the graves of loved ones, an Eid tradition.

People from southern Lebanese villages displaced by Israel’s expanding ground operations and evacuation orders told Reuters this week they were heartbroken that they would be unable to pay their respects on account of the war.

Worshippers filtered quietly out of a mosque in Sidon after prayers.

“Honestly, there’s a heaviness in people’s hearts. The joy is incomplete,” said Suleiman Youssef.

“I think people need joy, they need happiness. People want to be happy. This country needs safety and stability. We all hope the coming days will be better, and that the war will end as soon as possible.”

Header image: A displaced girl from Tyre prays in front of a grave at a Shia cemetery, on the day of Eidul Fitr, marking the end of Ramazan, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel amid the US-Israeli war on Iran, in Sidon, Lebanon, March 20, 2026. — Reuters

• Tehran strikes Qatari LNG plant, Saudi and Kuwaiti refineries
• Trump warns of ‘furious response’ if attacks on Qatar continue
• Rules out troop deployment, but officials say reinforcements under review
• Hegseth sets no timeline for war; White House to seek $200bn more from Congress
• Global energy markets shaken; Brent jumps to $119, gas prices up 35pc
• Riyadh asserts it reserves right to retaliate after refinery drone strike
• Netanyahu says Israel ‘acted alone’ in striking Iran gas field
• Claims Tehran no longer able to enrich uranium or build missiles

DOHA: As Washington rushed to arm its Gulf allies with a $16.46 billion military package, Iran issued its starkest warning yet, vowing “zero restraint” if its energy infrastructure is targeted again, pushing the Middle East closer to a regional war.

The developments came after Iranian attacks on the world’s largest LNG plant in Qatar and refineries in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait sent shock waves through energy markets on Thursday, with the United States stressing that there was no deadline to end the Middle East war.

Amid growing fears over the economic damage from the war, US President Donald Trump said there would be no repeat of Israel’s attack on Iran’s key South Pars gas field, but he warned of a furious US response if Tehran did not halt strikes on Qatar.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netan­yahu later claimed that Israel had acted unilaterally in striking Iran’s massive South Pars gas field. “Israel acted alone against the Asaluyeh gas compound… President Trump asked us to hold off on future attacks, and we’re holding out,” he has said at a televised press conference.

He also claimed in a news conference that Iran no longer has the capacity to enrich uranium or make ballistic missiles after 20 days of US-Israeli air attacks, Reuters reported.

Oil markets have already been shaken by Iran’s blocking of the Strait of Hormuz.

But the international benchmark Brent surged 10 per cent to $119 a barrel before falling back to $112, while European gas prices rose 35pc, after Iranian missiles hit Qatar’s huge Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas complex in retaliation for the Israeli strike on South Pars on Wednesday.

Interestingly, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington could consider lifting sanctions on Iranian oil already in transit. Talking to Fox Business, he added that the US government could also release more oil from its strategic reserves to help ease price pressure.

Meanwhile, QatarEnergy said that the nighttime attack on Ras Laffan, a repeated target since the start of the war on Feb 28, caused “extensive damage”.

Its CEO told Reuters the Iranian attacks had knocked out a sixth of Qatar’s LNG export capacity, worth $20bn a year, and that repairs would take three to five years.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Moham­med bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said the attack was “clear proof” that Iran was going past its vow to only target US interests in the Gulf. And attacks blamed on Iran spread. A drone crashed into the Samref refinery in Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea port of Yanbu, the Saudi defence ministry said. The government reserved the “right to take military actions” in response.

In Kuwait, drone attacks sparked fires at the Mina Abdullah and Mina Al-Ahmadi refineries, which have a combined capacity of 800,000 barrels per day. Blasts were also heard in Bahrain’s capital of Manama, according to AFP.

‘Successive punishment’

Even in Israel, the media said an oil refinery in the port of Haifa was hit on Thursday, after the military warned of missiles launched by Iran. Israel’s Kan 11 public broadcaster aired images on television showing a thick plume of dark smoke rising from the area of the refinery.

Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency also reported that Tehran had launched missiles at Israel, adding that Tel Aviv’s “successive punishment continues”.

The Israeli military said that its fighter jets had struck several Iranian naval vessels in the Caspian Sea the previous day, AFP reported. The targets included ships equipped with missile systems, support vessels and patrol craft, the military said, adding that a port command centre was also hit in the operation.

The targeted Iranian ships were also equ­ipped with aerial surveillance systems and anti-submarine missiles, the military said.

Meanwhile, US and Israeli attacks in the morning in Iran’s north-western city of Tabriz killed several people, including four taekwondo athletes, Al Jazeera reported.

A US-based rights group reported more than 3,000 people killed in Iran by the US-Israeli strikes, a figure that could not be independently verified.

US F-35 damaged

Separately, a US F-35 fighter jet made an emergency landing at a US air base in the Middle East after it was struck by what is believed to be Iranian fire, CNN reported, citing two sources familiar with the matter. The strike would be the first time Iran has hit a US aircraft since the war began.

On the US military aid to the UAE and Kuwait, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has “determined and provided detailed justification that an emergency exists that req­uires the immediate sale” of the military equipment, thereby waiving the requirement that Congress give its approval.

The biggest single sale is of lower-tier air and missile defence sensor radars — which are designed to track high-speed targets and give data to a missile defence network — for $8bn, according to a statement from the State Department.

The next largest is to the United Arab Emirates for a long-range discrimination ra­­dar — which tracks ballistic missile threats — and related equipment at a cost of $4.5bn.

The UAE has also received approval to buy systems designed to defeat small, un­­m­anned aircraft for $2.1bn, advanced air-to-air missiles for $1.22bn, and F-16 warplane munitions and upgrades for $644 million.

‘Zero restraint’

Trump indicated he did not know in advance about Israel’s raid on South Pars, which supplies about 70pc of Iran’s domestic needs. But he said he had told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to hit more gas fields in Iran.

“We get along great. It’s coordinated, but on occasion, he’ll do something” that the United States opposes, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, where he met Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. “I told him, ‘Don’t do that’, and he won’t do that,” he said. He also said on Thursday that there was no current plan to send troops into Iran. At his meeting with Takaichi, Trump said he had no plans to deploy ground forces. “I’m not putting troops anywhere,” he said.

However, a US official and three other people familiar with the planning told Reuters that Trump was considering sending thousands more US troops to the Middle East.

Iran responded to the threats with defiance. The military’s Khatam Al-Anbiya operational command vowed the “complete destruction” of Gulf energy infrastructure if the Israeli attack was repeated, according to a statement carried by Fars news agency.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on social media there would be “ZERO rest­raint” if Iran’s infrastructure was hit again.

There is growing concern among the world’s major economies over fallout from the conflict. Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the Netherlands said they would “contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz” but gave few details.

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the “reckless escalation” in attacks and called for “direct talks between the Americans and Iranians on this matter”.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office warned that “attacks on critical infrastructure risked pushing the region further into crisis”, after talks with Macron and Nato chief Mark Rutte.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also urged restraint, warning that the conflict risked spiralling “out of control” with “potential tragic consequences” for civilians and the global economy.

Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said there is no time frame for ending the war, but that “we’re very much on track” and Trump would choose when to end fighting.

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2026

The 24-carat gold coin is the latest effort by Trump and his allies to put the president’s name on buildings, government programmes and US currency since his second White House term began in January 2025.

During a presentation by a US Mint official to the Commission of Fine Arts, discussion turned to what diameter the 24-carat coin should be, up to three inches (7.6cm).

Chamberlain Harris, a White House aide whom Trump appointed to the commission this year, said the biggest possible coin would be Trump’s preference.

“The larger the better,” she said, shortly before the coin was approved by the entire panel.

The US Mint will now produce final dimensions for the coin. Trump has already approved the design and it is expected that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will order the coin to be minted.

The coin would depict a stern-looking Trump leaning over a desk and staring forward. It is based on a photograph displayed in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington.

The White House referred questions to the Treasury Department.

“As we approach our 250th birthday, we are thrilled to prepare coins that represent the enduring spirit of our country and democracy, and there is no profile more emblematic for the front of such coins than that of our serving President, Donald Trump,” US Treasurer Brandon Beach said in a statement to Reuters.

The US Mint did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Trump gold coin drew criticism from some Democrats and members of another federal arts committee.

“Monarchs and dictators put their faces on coins, not leaders of a democracy,” Jeff Merkley, a Democratic US senator, told Reuters in a statement.

“Trump’s administration moving to put his face on a commemorative coin is his latest effort to distort the meaning of America’s 250th birthday.”

Donald Scarinci, a member of the bipartisan Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee, a separate federal panel that refused to consider the gold coin proposal last month, acknowledged this is not the first time a sitting president’s image has been on a commemorative coin.

In 1926, 150 years after America’s colonies issued the 1776 Declaration of Independence from British rule, an image of Republican President Calvin Coolidge, in office at the time, appeared on a commemorative coin, although his profile was overlaid by an image of George Washington, America’s first president.

Scarinci said the Trump coin is different from the Coolidge coin because it will be much larger and will feature Trump alone.

The Trump administration has also proposed a different, $1 coin featuring Trump’s image that would go into circulation this year.

Legal loophole as gold coin not currency

Scarinci said the $1 coin would be in clear breach of a law that prohibits the image of a sitting or former president being on a dollar coin until three years after their death.

There is a potential loophole, however, when it comes to the gold coin, because unlike the dollar coin, which would be in circulation, the gold coin is a non-circulating collector coin.

Scarinci said under the law, both his panel and the Commission of Fine Arts are meant to approve any coins.

“But we still fully expect them to plough ahead and mint both coins,” Scarinci said.

Since he reentered the White House in January 2025, Trump has affixed his name to prominent Washington buildings, a planned class of Navy warships, a visa programme for wealthy foreigners, a government-run prescription drug website and federal savings accounts for children.

LAHORE: The Airport Traffic Controllers of Pakistan Airport Authority (PAA) have reportedly prevented around 30 passenger aircraft from entering the Iranian war zone.

“Owing to severe weather conditions, several aircraft were on the verge of drifting into Iranian war-zone airspace on Wednesday and Thursday. Timely guidance from the air traffic controllers, particularly coordination with the Karachi Flight Information Region, helped avert a major disaster,” an official source in the Airport Traffic Controllers here said.

“Most of the aircraft came under the pressure of extreme weather near the Iran border, creating a highly risky situation. However, the professionalism demonstrated by the Lahore air traffic controllers ensured that the planes were safely diverted away from the danger zone, although no response was received from Tehran Air Traffic Control despite repeated attempts,” he said.

These flights were arriving and going to Saudi Arabia, Dubai, and other countries. “The Lahore air traffic control, in coordination with the Karachi FIR, managed to assist aircraft in navigating out of severe weather conditions. The affected route stretching from the Lahore sector westward via Kalat to Panjgur and Gwadar experienced extremely poor weather. Aircraft began losing stable control and were drifting toward Iranian airspace, which is currently closed due to the war situation,” he said and added the air traffic controllers handled the situation with exceptional skill, preventing the aircraft from entering the restricted zone.

“Because of adverse weather, eastward routes were also inaccessible, and pilots informed the control tower that continuing on those paths was unsafe. Many aircraft were forced toward the Panjgur area, where they encountered severe turbulence and weather disturbances. However, the Karachi Flight Information Region played a crucial role in guiding them safely back onto their designated routes,” the official said.

A spokesperson for the Pakistan Airport Authority (PAA) told Dawn that situations of this nature were part of routine air traffic management. “Air Traffic Controllers are trained in accordance with international standards to ensure the safe and efficient handling of flights, particularly during adverse weather or other unusual conditions,” he said.

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2026

Days after lashing out at US allies including Japan for failing to heed his calls to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Trump praised Tokyo’s efforts related to the Middle East war in vague terms.

“I believe that, based on statements (which) were given to us yesterday, the day before yesterday, having to do with Japan, they are really stepping up to the plate,” Trump told reporters as he hosted Takaichi in the Oval Office.

After a long pause Trump then added “unlike Nato,” repeating his criticisms of the US-led military alliance with mainly European countries. Trump gave few details about what help Japan might provide in securing the crucial waterway, through which one-fifth of the world’s oil normally passes. But his tone towards Takaichi was far more friendly than the tongue-lashings he has given to allies, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, on the issue in recent days.

“I’m very proud of you. We’ve become friends,” Trump said of Japan’s first female premier, whom he backed ahead of a landslide election victory in February. The 64-year-old conservative was meanwhile seen giving Trump, 79, a big hug as she arrived earlier at the White House, according to footage released by one of Trump’s aides.

Sending its Self-Defence Forces abroad is politically sensitive in officially pacifist Japan, as many voters support the US-imposed, war-renouncing 1947 constitution.

But just over an hour before the Trump meeting, Japan and five other allies including Britain and France said they were ready “to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.”

Trump said it would be “appropriate” for Japan and other allies to contribute — and noted that Japan gets around 90 per cent of its oil through the strait.

World War II

But diplomacy is rarely simple with Trump. And he proved so again when he was asked by a Japanese reporter why allies weren’t included in talks about the Iran strikes before they happened.

“Who knows better about surprise than Japan? Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor?” Takaichi sat back a little in her chair and her eyes widened as Trump mentioned Tokyo’s December 7, 1941 attack on the US Pacific fleet in Hawaii, which prompted the United States to enter World War II.

The Japanese premier meanwhile appeared to be keen to make the most of her time with the US president, which will also include a dinner. She was twice seen ostentatiously looking at her watch as the press conference in the Oval Office neared its end.

But the meeting appeared to highlight once again Takaichi’s ability to charm Trump, following a similarly friendly meeting in Tokyo in October during which she said she would nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Another reason Tokyo can ill afford to annoy Trump is that the United States has for decades — with 60,000 troops on Japanese soil — been the guarantor of Japan’s security.

The US security umbrella is particularly relevant in the face of an increasingly assertive China. Polls published last week however suggest that Takaichi’s honeymoon following her election win is souring at home as pricier oil and gas from the Iran war risk making life more expensive for firms and families alike.

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2026

“War has aged us… We have lived through what no one else has,” the tall teen from south Lebanon told AFP in Beirut.

“I miss my school, my friends… I lost two cousins and two friends in a massacre in Shehabiyeh,” he added, referring to a deadly Israeli strike in his town that killed at least seven people on March 11.

Kiki is among more than a million people Lebanese authorities have registered as displaced since the country was drawn into the Middle East war on March 2.

On that day, Hezbollah launched rockets towards Israel to avenge the assassination of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Israel, which never stopped bombing Lebanon despite a 2024 truce that sought to end the last fighting with Hezbollah, responded with widespread strikes, ground operations along the border, and an evacuation warning for swathes of the country.

For many young Lebanese caught in the crossfire, their formative years have been jeopardised by repeated conflicts and crises.

“My childhood is gone,” said Kiki.

“Material losses can be made up for, but people do not come back.”

Since 2019, Lebanese have been battling a financial crisis that has locked them out of their bank deposits, while the Covid pandemic made life even harder for everyone.

Beirut’s port exploded the following year in one of the world’s largest non-nuclear blasts, destroying swathes of the Lebanese capital, and killing more than 220 people.

‘Dreams on hold’

The first time Zahraa Fares experienced war was in 2024, when she was just 14.

“We were still discovering what we like to do, what activities we enjoy, how we like to spend our days, then we were displaced… and could not do anything”, said the now-16-year-old, who escaped the southern city of Nabatiyeh.

Fares, who said she now feels “mentally crushed”, found relief in an acting workshop in Beirut’s Lebanese National Theatre intended to support war-affected youth like herself.

Wassim al-Halabi, a 20-year-old Syrian who fled the war in his country nine years ago and is still living in Lebanon, has found himself stuck in another conflict.

Working in a restaurant since the 2024 war forced him out of university, Halabi said he was “starting from zero to be able to stand on my two feet again, but war started again”.

“Our dreams are now on hold until the war ends.”

Lebanese authorities on Thursday said Israeli strikes have killed more than 1,000 people since March 2.

The toll includes 118 children.

“Cumulative trauma, cumulative adverse experiences and ongoing instability and unpredictability certainly put these children at higher risk… of developing psychiatric disorders and negative mental health outcomes,” Evelyne Baroud, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, told AFP.

“Witnessing violence, physical assaults, killings, forced displacement, losing one’s home, loss of a parent, all of these carry a very high risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder.”

Generational trauma

Lebanon has been mired in conflicts and crises for decades, the worst of which was the 15-year civil war that erupted in 1975 and which divided the country into warring sectarian fiefdoms.

For many years since the end of that war, which killed 150,000 people and left 17,000 more missing, bitter political divisions continued to plague Lebanon.

The war also saw an Israeli invasion and occupation of southern Lebanon until 2000.

While young Lebanese grew up hearing stories of war from their parents, they never expected to have to live through one themselves.

“My mother used to tell us about how they would be displaced, hear airstrikes, but I was not able to properly imagine it,” Fares said.

“I used to ask myself ‘how could they shelter in a school?’ but now I see it with my own eyes.”

At a gathering in Beirut to express solidarity for victims of the war, 18-year-old Laura al-Hajj wondered: “Why do I have so many concerns at my age?”

“We carried burdens that are much bigger than us, and beyond our age… I now just worry about being alive tomorrow.”

Hajj said she feels like “from generation to generation, we are all living through wars”.

“No child should have to go through what we went through. “

“Violence in Pakistan, on the basis of incidents occurring in another country, will not be tolerated,” the military’s media wing quoted Field Marshal Munir as saying during a meeting with Shia clerics.

According to ISPR, the army chief interacted with the Shia clergy earlier this week in Rawalpindi, where “matters of national security and the role of ulema in societal harmony came under discussion”.

The outreach came as the military seeks to manage the domestic environment amid the US-Israeli war against Iran.

Army chief interacts with Shia clerics, calls for unity and countering sectarian narratives

Protests that erupted in early March, following the start of the war and the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, led to several casualties and a security crackdown, particularly in Karachi and Gilgit-Baltistan.

The ISPR statement said FM Munir emphasised that religious sentiments must not be exploited to incite violence in the country.

A participant, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the army chief addressed the clerics for about an hour.

The source said FM Munir adopted a stern tone, describing Iran as being under pressure from major powers and asserting that Pakistan’s territory was not being used against it.

At the same time, he drew a clear line on internal stability. According to the participant, the army chief told clerics that developments elsewhere must not be used to disturb Pakistan’s internal environment, and warned that those involved in recent unrest would face strict punishment.

He referred to protests on March 1, including incidents in GB where security personnel lost their lives, and said those responsible would be dealt with firmly, including through military courts, the source added.

The ISPR statement said the army chief also highlighted Pakis­tan’s “efforts and proactive diplomacy in seeking regional de-escalation”, and stressed unity, tolerance and national cohesion, particularly in countering mis­­infor-mation and sectarian narratives.

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2026

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 requires considerable follow-up.

Doing some quick back-of-the-envelope calculations, he compared the petrol-run vehicles he used until a few months back to the EV he purchased a month ago. “The total cost of operating the EV comes to about Rs2 ($0.0071) per km using power generated at home, compared to the Rs27 ($0.096) per km I was paying earlier for running vehicles on the fossil fuel.”

This figure does not include the regular maintenance costs his earlier cars required — lubricating oils, oil and air filters, and brakes.

“An EV requires near-zero maintenance,” he added.

While Zakaria can afford a full shift off the grid, most households cannot.

“The solar landscape will remain unchanged unless power companies introduce profit-sharing models that turn consumers into ‘prosumers’ — both producers and users of energy — supported by microfinance to help cover upfront costs,” he said. Achieving this would require the privatisation of utilities.”

For now, with or without batteries, solar energy has become a popular alternative for many households. “What’s happening in Pakistan is quite significant, as electricity consumers’ dependence on the national grid is falling,” explained Rabia Babar, data manager at Renewables First, an Islamabad-based think-and-do tank for energy and environment.

Grid-based electricity demand, she pointed out, dropped 11 per cent in FY25 compared to FY22 levels, largely because more people and businesses are switching to solar.

“During the day, far less electricity is being drawn from the grid, which means gas-fired power plants are being used much less than before.”

The turning point

Haneea Isaad, an energy finance specialist at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, recalled the time in 2022, as the turning point when people realised they needed a cheaper alternative. “The prices of liquefied natural gas shot up after Russian forces entered Ukraine and the country faced a gas shortage, resulting in widespread power outages. Electricity prices almost tripled in just a couple of years.”

Those who could afford to, Isaad said, opted for a one-time investment in installing solar panels instead of paying for expensive and unreliable electricity.

According to EMBER,  an independent clean energy think tank, solar’s share in the energy mix has risen from 2.9pc in 2020 to 32.3pc by the end of 2025.

It is this quiet solar revolution that may help ride out the current energy crisis triggered by the United States-Israel war on Iran, which led to the shutting of the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by Renewables First and the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, published earlier this week.

“Pakistan’s solar revolution is quietly redrawing the country’s energy map, cutting grid dependence, reducing LNG exposure, and building a buffer against global market shocks that most of its neighbours are yet to find,” said Babar, one of the co-authors of the report.

In fact, the report says that Pakistan has avoided over $12 billion in oil and gas imports since 2020 due to its rapid solar growth — and could save another $6.3 billion in 2026 alone at current prices.

Lead analyst Lauri Myllyvirta, co-founder of CREA, said the solar boom has cut import bills and now acts “like an insurance policy” against oil and LNG shocks from the Gulf.

Industries are also turning to solar, significantly reducing their need for LNG significantly.

“This shift has had a direct impact on government policy. Pakistan has gone back to its LNG suppliers to renegotiate long-term contracts for the diversion of surplus cargoes to international markets, which are now oversupplied due to the sharp reduction in gas consumption,” said Babar.

Pakistan has been importing LNG since 2015, after domestic reserves declined. It has been mainly used in the power sector — accounting for nearly a quarter of Pakistan’s electricity supply — followed by the industrial sector.

Supplied from Qatar via the Strait of Hormuz, LNG has become less attractive due to high prices for industry and the growing shift to solar in homes. With some LNG landing in Pakistan before the conflict began and domestic gas filling the gap from affected cargoes, supplies may be enough to last until mid-April.

“Pakistan has historically been vulnerable to volatile global LNG prices, which strain on foreign exchange reserves when prices spike,” Babar said.

Isaad agreed. “Solar has provided a buffer. With the power sector also relying on coal imports from Indonesia and South Africa, supply pressures are unlikely to pose a problem in the near term. Seasonal hydropower and mild weather are also likely to prevent an immediate spike in LNG based power demand. For now, Pakistan has been spared — unlike Bangladesh and India, which have been hit the hardest in South Asia.”

Not out of the woods yet

But the solar panels have not shielded Pakistanis from the rising oil prices. The country saw a 20pc jump — the highest in its history — with petrol and diesel costing Rs321.17 ($1.15) and Rs335.86 ($1.20) per litre, respectively. As transport drives the economy, higher oil prices quickly pushed up fares and the cost of groceries.

In response, Zakaria said the crisis highlights a clear path forward: embrace EVs, reduce diesel dependence, and expand renewables. “Begin with two-wheelers,” he suggested, though a full EV mass transit system would be ideal for Pakistan. He added that shifting freight from trucks to rail could significantly cut fuel costs.

He said he supports the oil rationing and austerity measures taken by the government.

Last week, addressing the nation, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced these measures on television.

“The entire region is currently in a state of war,” he said, outlining steps, including a four-day workweek for government employees and spring holidays for schools from March 16 to the end of the month. He also said 50pc of government staff would work from home on a rotating basis and recommended similar arrangements for the private sector.

Higher education institutions have shifted to online classes to save fuel, as have meetings across federal and provincial governments. Fuel allowances for government offices have also been reduced.

Under the government’s austerity measures, federal and provincial cabinet members will forgo two months’ salaries and allowances, while lawmakers’ pay will be reduced by 25pc. Ministers, parliamentarians, and officials may travel abroad only when essential — and must fly economy. Weddings will be capped at 200 guests, served with a single-dish meal.

The human cost

But these measures have brought little relief to Saba Nasreen’s household finances. The 52-year-old mother of two, who works as a domestic help, said, “Rising fuel prices have literally crippled us; when fuel costs go up, food prices follow. We hardly buy fruit or meat; now even milk and vegetables are beyond our range,” she said.

With Eid ul-Fitr — the Muslim festival marking the end of Ramadan — just days away, she said, “This will be the first Eid in as long as I can remember that I won’t be making sheer khurma for my daughters,” referring to the traditional sweet vermicelli dish prepared in many Muslim households across the subcontinent. “The price of a box of vermicelli has doubled this year, from Rs 150 ($0.53) to Rs 300 ($1.07),” she said, adding, “In any case, the attack on Iran has already dimmed our festivities; I’m not happy inside, my heart feels heavy.”

For many, the solar revolution offers hope — but for households like Nasreen’s, the struggle continues.

This article was originally published in Inter Press Service and has been reproduced here with permission.

Header image: The Sindh government has started distributing solar home systems to 200,000 low-income households under the Sindh Solar Energy Project to improve electricity access. Credit: Sindh People’s Housing for Flood Affectees

On Feb 28, when an illegal attack was launched by the US and Israel on Iran, the rates for 10 grams and one tola stood at Rs472,018 and Rs550,562, based on a global gold price of $5,278 per ounce.

On Jan 29, 2026, Pakistan witnessed its highest-ever gold rates, with 10 grams priced at Rs491,135 and one tola at Rs572,862, as the global gold price reached $5,505 per ounce.

“History shows that the precious metal has often lost its luster when intense conflicts escalate into full-scale wars among countries,” said Qasim Shikarpuri, president of the All Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewellers Association (APSGJA), while speaking to Dawn on Thursday.

Prices slip below Rs500,000 per tola

He said gold prices would plunge further if the war intensifies, adding that another factor behind the decline is the loss of value in Dubai, once considered one of the largest gold markets with strong investor interest.

“The war has changed the dynamics of Dubai. I recently returned from there, where the airport is witnessing low passenger footfall, especially among arrivals. Investors and foreigners are leaving via connecting flights,” he said.

“Foreign investors are selling gold in Dubai as they try to secure their safety and return to their homelands at any cost,” he added. “Previously, gold prices in Dubai used to rise by two to three dollars per ounce due to strong demand. Now, investors holding inventory are willing to sell at up to $40 below the market price to liquidate their assets and exit the market.”

He noted that gold was previously smuggled out of Pakistan due to higher prices in Dubai, but the situation has now reversed as investor activity there has declined, with some awaiting a return to normalcy.

In Pakistan, some investors are taking a risk by buying gold at lower prices, hoping for a rebound after the Middle East conflict subsides, Shikarpuri said.

However, the drop in domestic gold prices has offered limited relief to jewellery buyers, given that rates remain high despite a significant decline from January levels.

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2026

• Badenoch defends shadow justice secretary for calling public prayer ‘an act of domination’
• Labour accuses Tories of ‘divisive politics’; Starmer says party seems to have ‘a problem with Muslims’
• Controversy centres on popular ‘Open Iftar’ event

LONDON: Conservative lea­der Kemi Badenoch defen­ded her party’s shadow justice secretary, Nick Timothy, after he described Islamic prayers held in public spaces as “an act of domination”, triggering sharp criticism from political opponents and community leaders.

The controversy erupted after Timothy shared images on social media showing prayers during a Ramazan gathering at Trafalgar Square in London. He wrote that mass public prayer was “an act of domination” and “straight from the Islamist playbook”.

Amid criticism, including from Mayor Sadiq Khan, Tim­othy restated in The Daily Telegraph that expressions of non-Christian faith pose a “challenge”.

Even Prime Minister Keir Starmer said after the controversy that it seemed the Conservative party “has a problem with Muslims”.

After the launch of the Cons­ervatives’ election campaign in London, Badenoch backed Timothy’s stance when questioned on agreeing with him or with others concerned about gender-segregated prayers.

“They are both correct,” Badenoch said. “This is a country that has always tolerated minority faiths and allowed people, including people of ethnic minorities, to live freely. But this debate which Nick is having is not about freedom of religion. It is about how religion is expressed in a shared public space, and whether those expressions fit within the norms of a British culture.”

She added: “As a woman, especially, and as a woman of an ethnic minority who grew up in a country where Islam was very visible, I’m very unc­omfortable with seeing women pushed to the back, in the middle of Trafalgar Square.”

Badenoch expressed a critical view, stating that while religious celebrations in the square are welcome, they should align with national values and norms, as some practices may be excessive.

The Trafalgar Square gathering concluded a series of 18 nationwide Open Iftars during Ramazan. Similar events took place at the National Gallery, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and Silverstone Circuit. The event has run annually for six years without controversy.

In his Telegraph article, Timothy argued the event should no longer be permitted at the historic site.

“A memorial to national ind­e­pendence, Trafalgar Squ­are belongs to us all. To use it as a stage for this act of domination and division is completely wro­ng, and it should never be allo­wed to happen again,” he wrote.

Anna Turley, the Labour Party chair, criticised Baden­och for supporting her shadow justice secretary instead of dismissing him for comments against Muslims.

She accused the Conserva­tives of promoting divisive politics and aligning with extreme views. Turley said that many Brits, including Conservatives, would be appalled, indicating how far the Tories have sunk.

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2026

LAHORE/RAWAL­PINDI: After multiple incidents in which drones were intercepted in the garrison city, the Punjab government on Thursday handed over an anti-drone gun to the Punjab Civil Defence Department to intercept unmanned aerial vehicles in Rawalpindi Division.

Besides the garrison city, the home department plans to equip civil defence units across Punjab with similar systems to counter drones and similar aircraft, which have been described as “emerging security threats”.

According to details, the home department has provided the civil defence with a modern anti-drone gun, EMG-150, which can jam and bring down drones within a range of two to three kilometres.

The gun, which weighs 6kg, is equipped with eight frequency bands, enabling it to counter all types of drones and uses a high-gain directional antenna for precise targeting. The advanced system also allows operators to divert the drone’s path or safely bring it down.

Similarly, the system is capable of jamming multiple satellite navigation signals, including GPS, Gali­leo, Glonass and BeiDou. It is equipped with a powerful jamming system with a maximum output of 200 watts and can operate in temperatures ranging from -22°C to +65°C.

The civil defence’s bomb disposal and anti-drone squads are being trained by the National Radio and Telecommunication Cor­po­ration to effectively ope­rate the anti-drone systems.

Security of Chinese nationals

Meanwhile, the high command of the Rawal­pindi police recommended more anti-drone systems to protect foreign nationals and sensitive installations.

A recent meeting of the regional coordination committee, chaired by the regional police officer in Rawalpindi, recommended anti-drone systems at sensitive locations, such as workplaces of Chinese engineers, and to secure sensitive installations and public gatherings from unauthorised surveillance and attacks.

During the meeting, police officials suggested the availability of anti-drone guns at workplaces of Chinese nationals, while also stressing the importance of anti-drone systems to secure government buildings and sensitive installations from sabotage and espionage.

The meeting particularly focused on the protection of Chinese nationals working in Rawalpindi and said that a coordinated and interdepartmental strategy was essential for their well-being. It was decided to maintain an updated and accurate record of Chinese nationals regularly to prevent any security lapses, whereas special emphasis was given to tracing and safeguarding Chinese nationals who were travelling or residing unesco­rted, unregistered or otherwise unaccounted for.

It was decided to pro­mptly identify and document such individuals to ensure their safety and protection. The deployment of permanent reserve forces was also considered to provide foolproof security to Chinese nationals at sensitive locations.

The meeting also asked the Special Branch to conduct a comprehensive study to detect and minimise potential threats, with a focus on unguarded or inadequately protected personnel, facilities, and project sites.

The Special Branch was also directed to conduct random and thorough security checks at all housing societies, including verification of their employees and private security guards, to boost security measures.

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2026