The Khojaly genocide was an integral part of Armenia’s long-standing policy of ethnic cleansing and occupation against Azerbaijan. At his initiative, the Khojaly tragedy was officially recognized as genocide, and 26 February was declared a National Day of Mourning—demonstrating a state-level commitment to this issue. This victory was not merely a military achievement; it was also a response addressed to the souls of the Khojaly victims. Today, the commemoration of the Khojaly genocide is no longer framed by a psychology of defeat, but by restored justice and achieved victory. The Khojaly tragedy is often recalled as a headline or a footnote.

ISLAMABAD :- A review mission of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is set to arrive in Pakistan today for a 15-day visit to assess the country’s economic performance under the ongoing loan programme. The mission will remain in the country until March 11, holding negotiations in two phases — first in Karachi and later in Islamabad. During the visit, the IMF team will evaluate Pakistan’s economic performance for the first six months of the current fiscal year, from July to December. Sources in the Ministry of Finance stated that most IMF targets have been achieved, with the exception of tax revenue collection. According to sources, the review will also cover provincial and overall fiscal frameworks, governance reforms, and anti-corruption measures.

ROME : Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met with his Italian counterpart Matteo Piantedosi during his official visit to Rome, where both sides discussed enhancing bilateral cooperation in internal security, curbing illegal immigration, and promoting legal migration channels. The Italian interior minister reaffirmed Italy’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Pakistan in areas of mutual interest and strengthening collaboration on regulated migration pathways. Both ministers appreciated the ongoing measures to prevent illegal immigration and human smuggling. Naqvi briefed his counterpart on the steps taken by the Government of Pakistan to curb illegal migration, highlighting enhanced surveillance at airports and sea borders, which he said had led to a significant reduction in unlawful departures. The Italian minister praised the policies of Pakistan’s Interior Ministry in tackling illegal immigration and commended Pakistani institutions for their successes against human trafficking and narcotics.

ISLAMABAD (APP) – In a major step toward a unified and digitally secure identity ecosystem, the Federal government has formally upgraded the National Identity Card (NIC) and Pakistan Origin Card (POC) frameworks under its vision of “One Nation – One Identity.”The amendments—issued through S.R.O. 331(I)/2026 and published in the Gazette on 24 February 2026—modernize Pakistan’s identity system with QR-based verification, enhanced biometric features, stronger fraud controls, and improved citizen facilitation. The Rules now define the QR code as a secure, machine-readable, two-dimensional barcode that stores encoded identity information and enables instant verification when scanned. With this reform, citizens will carry a uniform ID card, replacing the previously parallel formats of chip-enabled and non-chip cards. Overall, the 2026 amendments strengthen the backbone of Pakistan’s national identity system—enhancing digital trust, protecting against fraud, enabling real-time verification, and delivering meaningful facilitation measures for citizens.

In his speech, Trump pointed to Tehran’s support for militant groups, its killing of protesters and the country’s missile and nuclear programmes as threats to the region and the United States. “They want to make a deal, but we haven’t heard those secret words, ‘We will never have a nuclear weapon,'” Trump said in his speech. Trump ordered strikes on Iran last year, claiming in July that they had “obliterated” the country’s nuclear facilities. His aides have claimed more recently that Iran is very close to having the ability to make nuclear bombs. “As president, I will make peace wherever I can, but I will never hesitate to confront threats to America wherever we must,” Trump said

RAWALPINDI – The Adiala Jail administration on Tuesday arranged a meeting between Bushra Bibi and her incarcerated spouse Imran Khan. The couple met in the Conference Room of the Adiala jail. Bushra Bibi also met her family members before a meeting with the PTI founder. It is pertinent to mention here that Tuesday is the day for the party leaders and family members to meet the PTI founder Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi. Earlier, a list of six Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders was handed over to Adiala jail authorities.

ISLAMABAD: PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali has urged all parties to come together for improvement in politics, stressing the need to strengthen the defence of the country. The PTI leader said the party has some reservations on the issue of ‘Imran Khan Release Force’ and consultations have been held on it, adding it will have political implications; the CM takes the party into confidence on provincial matters. He made it clear that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf will not take any step that would harm democracy at any time. We want the release of the PTI founder through the court, not through any unconstitutional measure. PTI will continue to raise its voice on every forum, including the streets, the PTI leader said.

The White House eventually took down the video, and Trump said a staffer posted the video. The 78-year-old Green, who is Black, was also ejected last year after shouting at Trump during his address to Congress. White House aides and Republican campaign advisers had urged Trump to focus on Americans’ economic worries. Two White House officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Trump will discuss his plans but did not offer details. The White House officials said this year’s edition was crafted with room for unscripted moments.

LAHORE : Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has decided to introduce province-wide infrastructure and design standardisation to ensure uniform development and improved urban discipline. Under the plan, roads, green belts, signboards and footpaths across the province will follow a standardised design. Officials discussed the creation of an autonomous authority to oversee standardisation and urban design reforms to transform Punjab’s infrastructure landscape. The proposal to introduce uniform designs for roadside kiosks and small shop cabins along highways was also reviewed. Maryam Nawaz added that uniform infrastructure and road furniture designs enhance a city’s aesthetic appeal and create a cohesive urban identity across the province.

Islamabad: The 14th UAE Ambassador’s Cup Ramadan Football Tournament 2026 kicked off in Islamabad in the presence of a large gathering of diplomats, officials, and spectators.The opening ceremony was attended by the Ambassador of Kuwait, Ambassador of Lebanon, Ambassador of Zimbabwe, the Deputy Head of Mission of the United States, senior Pakistani government officials, members of the diplomatic […]

In an era defined by rapid technological disruption, the laptop distribution initiative represents more than a welfare program. Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal has once again placed education, digital empowerment, and ideological clarity at the center of Pakistan’s development discourse. The minister’s assertion that sustainable development requires at least 15 years of consistent policies is not without merit. Countries such as Malaysia, China, South Korea, and Singapore did not achieve transformation overnight; they followed uninterrupted development roadmaps. The country’s future depends not merely on political rhetoric but on unity, skills development, and a steadfast commitment to knowledge-driven growth.

LAHORE: FPCCI Leader and Patron-in-Chief UBG, Mr. S. M. Tanveer, has expressed serious concern over a bill tabled in the National Assembly seeking to amend the Trade Organization Rules (TORs) 2013. Any such confinement of trade bodies to municipal city limits may exclude industrial estates, SME clusters in tehsils, and rural export-oriented businesses from proper representation, he apprehended. Mr. Tanveer emphasized that altering the TORs 2013 would cause massive discouragement and disappointment, severely impacting trade bodies representing women entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises. “The movers of this idea are planning to reverse this theory in Pakistan to serve their vested interests,” Mr. Tanveer lamented. The Patron-in-Chief UBG urged lawmakers to reject the bill, allowing district chambers to continue serving as the backbone of the economy.

For a brief moment, it seemed that dialogue had replaced confrontation and that governance would take priority over rhetoric. At a stage when both the federal and provincial governments were cautiously rebuilding working relations despite sharp political differences, such remarks disrupt momentum. Administrative cooperation is essential for public service delivery in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Repeated confrontation between the KP government and the federation has, in the past, yielded more noise than results. At this stage, what serves both Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Pakistan is steadiness, not spectacle.

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is preparing to approach the IMF (International Monetary Fund) with a request to reduce the current fiscal year 2025–26 tax collection target by up to Rs100 billion with the minimum proposed reduction likely to be around Rs50 billion. The FBR has already revised the annual tax target from Rs14.131 trillion approved by the parliament to Rs13.979 trillion under its agreement with the IMF although parliament has yet to formally approve this revised figure. During July to January FBR collected Rs7.147 trillion against a target of Rs7.521 trillion resulting in a shortfall of Rs372 billion. Super tax collections are expected to reach between Rs217 billion and Rs220 billion this fiscal year, with nearly Rs175 billion already collected. Earlier, the FBR had projected up to Rs300 billion in additional revenue following a favourable court ruling on the super tax but it continues to face difficulties in achieving monthly targets.

Responding to various points raised by Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Raja Nasir Abbas, he urged the opposition to actively participate in the political process to help resolve national issues and reinforce democratic institutions. The government wants the opposition to play an effective role in the democratic process, he added. However, he regretted that the opposition was not willing to become part of the political process, leading to repeated deadlocks. He said that medical assistance was extended to the PTI founder as per the directions of the Supreme Court. Regarding cases against the PTI founder, he said the courts were the appropriate forum and could grant relief in accordance with the law.