The State Bank of Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves increased by $41 million during the past week. According to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan, the reserves increased by $41 million to $16.3411 billion during the week ending March 6. The central bank informed that Pakistan’s total foreign exchange reserves have increased to $21.5983 […]

Rawalpindi: The Rawalpindi bench of the Lahore High Court has reserved its decision after completing the hearing on the intra-court appeal regarding former Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed’s departure for Umrah. The appeal was heard in the Rawalpindi bench of the Lahore High Court by the Division Bench of Justice Jawad Hassan and Justice Tariq Mahmood Bajwa. During the hearing, the Additional Attorney General took the position that Sheikh Rashid’s name has been put on the stop list due to the GHQ attack case. He told the court that the Supreme Court has allowed many people to travel abroad despite trials in the past. After the completion of arguments, the Lahore High Court Rawalpindi Bench reserved the decision.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Saudi Arabia at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. At the Royal Terminal of Jeddah International Airport, the Prime Minister was received by the Deputy Governor of Makkah Region Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Riyadh Ahmed Farooq, Pakistan’s Consul General in Jeddah Syed Mustafa Rabbani and other diplomatic staff. The meeting between the Prime Minister and the Saudi Crown Prince will discuss the current situation in the region, the regional security situation and bilateral relations in detail and the Prime Minister will return after the meeting. This visit is demonstrating Pakistan’s positive role in the diplomatic field and Pakistan will continue to play this role.

The State Bank of Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves increased by $41 million during the past week. According to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan, the reserves increased by $41 million to $16.3411 billion during the week ending March 6. The central bank informed that Pakistan’s total foreign exchange reserves have increased to $21.5983 billion on March 6. According to the State Bank, commercial banks have reserves of $5.2572 billion.

Asif MahmoodThe meeting between British High Commissioner Jane Marriott and Mahmood Khan Achakzai, who is the Leader of the Opposition, has raised several questions. At a time when the region appears to be in a state resembling war, one must ask what the necessity of this meeting was. It appears that since Mahmood Khan Achakzai takes an unnecessarily harsh position regarding the establishment, Imran Khan chose to assign him this role. The path to Imran Khan’s release will pass either through the courts or through a political understanding among Pakistan’s political actors. These kinds of meetings by Mahmood Khan Achakzai will not bring any benefit to Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf.

These systemic weaknesses have prevented scientific research from translating into practical solutions for farmers and industry. The government’s proposed reform agenda, discussed during a high-level meeting with Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) Chairman Dr Syed Murtaza Hassan Andrabi, signals an important shift in policy thinking. Such specialized hubs can help Pakistan keep pace with rapidly evolving global agricultural technologies and enable researchers to address emerging challenges more effectively. Equally important is the recognition that agricultural research cannot remain confined within isolated institutional silos. Another vital component of the reform plan is the creation of a Digital National Agricultural Research Information System (NARIS) platform.

Despite 15 days of virtual talks between Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a staff-level agreement has not been reached, but the talks will continue for a few more days, while the IMF has declared the implementation of the program by the end of February 2026 as overall in line with the commitments. The IMF statement said that Pakistan has also made significant progress on the reform agenda to combat climate change and increase environmental resilience, and several reform measures have been completed under the RSF. The IMF has expressed concern over rising energy prices and financial pressures globally. The statement said that further talks between the IMF and Pakistan should continue for the next few days so that their final outcome can be brought out soon. The IMF statement further stated that there is concern about rising energy prices and financial pressures at the global level, further discussions between the IMF and Pakistan will continue in the next few days.

Epic fury abroad often masquerades as decisive action, but the ledger–of lives lost, cities shattered, and global resentment accrued–is brutally real. Perhaps most troubling is the feedback loop that sustains this epic fury. Anger abroad feeds anger at home; anger at home validates anger abroad. If the United States wishes to recalibrate its course, it must first account for the true price of its fury. Epic fury may be dramatic; it may be cathartic; it may even yield short-term gains.

Instant messaging app WhatsApp has rolled out a new feature for users under 13, allowing them to use the platform with their parents’ permission. WhatsApp said the change was made in recognition of the platform’s importance to its family as a platform for young people. However, the feature comes at a time when concerns about the risks posed to young people by phones and social media apps are growing. WhatsApp said the ‘parent-managed’ accounts were created as a result of feedback from parents who told the company about their underage children using the app. Parents and guardians will be required to create and manage accounts on the app, and children’s accounts will be linked to adult accounts.

Pakistani actor and digital content creator Meraj Haq has exposed host Adnan Faisal, who claimed that actress Hania Aamir demanded Rs 2 million for a podcast. Actress Hania Aamir is currently considered Pakistan’s biggest Generation Z star, having shown her acting chops in several hit dramas. Adnan Faisal alleged that Hania Aamir had demanded Rs 2 million for the show. Adnan Faisal again claimed that Hania Aamir had indeed demanded Rs 2 million for the podcast. He said that when he has not paid even a big name like Faisal Qureshi, why would he pay Hania Aamir?

For more than twelve years, Pakistan has failed to launch a serious shale oil and gas policy. The country holds vast oil and gas resources, both conventional and unconventional. In 2016, I completed a report examining the shale gas potential of Pakistan. The report also emphasised the immense long-term opportunity presented by shale oil and gas resources. For more than twelve years, Pakistan has failed to launch a serious shale oil and gas policy.

ISLAMABAD: The Cabinet Committee on Privatisation has approved the inclusion of Fauji Fertiliser Company (FFC) in the consortium. A meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Privatisation was held under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. The meeting approved the inclusion of Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited in the consortium. FFC will purchase 33.99 percent of PIA Equity Limited’s shares, with Arif Habib Corporation continuing to be the lead consortium member in the PIA privatisation process. The cabinet committee’s decision was sent to the federal cabinet for ratification.

WASHINGTON :- President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he was not worried about Iran-backed attacks on US soil, as the Federal Bureau of Investigation warned of Iranian drones potentially striking the US West Coast, ABC News reported. The US and Israel carried out strikes on Iran nearly two weeks ago, launching the Gulf region into a war. Tehran has carried out retaliatory strikes in response to the US-Israeli strikes that killed top Iranian officials, including the country’s supreme leader. When asked on Wednesday if he was worried ⁠that Iran may increase it retaliation to include strikes on US soil, Trump told reporters, “No, I’m not.”ABC News later reported that the FBI had warned police departments in California that Iran could retaliate for US attacks by launching drones at the West Coast. Reuters reported earlier this month that Iran and its proxies could target the US ⁠with attacks in response to US strikes.

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has indicated a possible further increase in petroleum product prices in the coming days. Speaking at a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance, Aurangzeb said the government is implementing austerity and cost-saving measures on the instructions of the prime minister, but petroleum prices are still expected to rise in the near future. During the meeting, officials from the Petroleum Division informed the committee that Pakistan currently has five refinery plants, most of which are outdated. Officials also revealed that two oil tankers carrying crude oil for Pakistan are currently stuck in the Strait of Hormuz. During the discussion, Senator Farooq H. Naek questioned who benefits from repeated increases in petroleum prices, stating that Pakistan’s poor cannot bear an additional Rs55 hike in fuel prices.

TEHRAN : Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has outlined Tehran’s conditions for ending the ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel, saying any resolution must recognise Iran’s rights, include reparations and guarantee the country will not face future attacks. The demand was articulated by Masoud Pezeshkian in a late-night tweet on Wednesday, where he referred to his conversations with the leaders of Pakistan and Russia. Earlier in the day, Iranian armed forces warned that they would launch massive retaliation if the United States were to strike Iran’s ports. “If the United States carries out its threat against Iran’s ports, no port, economic center, or point in the Persian Gulf will be out of our reach,” Shekarchi said. Iran responded by launching waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israeli and U.S. assets in the Middle East.