On a day-on-day basis, the PSX commenced the week on a distinctly negative note, with the benchmark KSE-100 index closing at 167,691, down 5,479 points (-3.16%), marking the fourth-largest single-day decline in history. On Tuesday, the bourse witnessed another highly volatile session as the index extended its corrective phase, reflecting persistent fragility in investor sentiment. The PSX witnessed a strong recovery on Thursday, with the benchmark index gaining 4,267 points (+2.59%) to close at 168,893.90. The market ended the week with a range-bound, yet volatile session and the index settled at 168,062, down 831 points (-0.49%). Arif Habib Limited (AHL) noted that the KSE-100 faced a sharp sell-off during the week, closing at 168,062 points, down 2.9% week-on-week (5,108 points), amid persistent selling pressure, heightened geopolitical concerns and cross-border tensions.

Middle East on brink as Iran retaliates against US–Israel strikesWarmongers are back to work as Iran has once again been attacked by Israel and the United States. Tehran has retaliated by showering missiles and drones on Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, and the aggressor, the Jewish state. Iran now has no choice but to fight it out at the cost of its annihilation for the sake of upholding nationalism. This calls for all warring sides to adhere to diplomacy by silencing guns in the larger interest of peace and security. The 12-day Iran-Israel showdown and its aftermath only proved that trigger-happiness is suicidal, and does not come to address irritants in the long-run.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has condemned the Afghan Taliban for targeting civilians inside Pakistan.A statement posted by the interior ministry on X quoted him as saying that Pakistan’s Armed Forces had responded befittingly to the open aggression by the Afghan Taliban. “The cowardly enemy struck in the darkness of night. The Afghan Taliban made a despicable attempt to target innocent civilians,” he said.“The nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the Armed Forces. The Afghan Taliban made a terrible mistake by attacking. We will not allow our security to be compromised,” the interior minister added.

Oilers’ depth scoring drives win, Andrew Mangiapane’s multi-point night, and Connor McDavid’s 100th pointIf you’re wondering what exactly is going on with the Edmonton Oilers right now, you’re not alone. CONNOR McDAVID HITS 100 POINTS FOR THE NINTH TIMEIf you were looking for yet another reason to love Connor McDavid , then how about adding a sixth-straight 100-point season to your list? That’s a wild stat to think about, considering Connor McDavid has only been in the league for a decade. All I know for sure is that this seems like another good time to mention how lucky we are that we get to watch Connor McDavid do his thing on a nightly basis. After a night when Connor McDavid scored a goal that tied the Kings up in pretzels and added a helper for his partner in crime, it’s hard to argue that he doesn’t deserve it.

“President Trump is absolutely right to highlight the grave concern posed by Iran, a country that chants ‘death to America,’ possessing intercontinental ballistic missiles,” said White House spokesperson Anna Kelly. In his address on Tuesday, 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. In an interview with India Today TV released on Wednesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi denied that Iran was expanding its missile capabilities. Trump has threatened to attack Iran if it executes people arrested during nationwide anti-government protests in January or fails to agree a deal on its nuclear programme in talks with the US. “Iran can launch a very long-range missile because of its space launch programme,” said Albright, the president of the Institute for Science and International Security think tank.

LAHORE, Feb 26: Maryam Nawaz Sharif strongly condemned what she termed a “cowardly attack” by militants along the Pakistan-Afghan border and lauded the Pakistan Armed Forces for delivering an immediate and forceful response. In an official handout issued from Lahore, the Punjab chief minister praised the swift retaliation by security forces, stating that the enemy was given a “crushing reply within moments.” She asserted that militants, their handlers and supporters had faced humiliation in the past and would continue to do so. Maryam Nawaz emphasized that Pakistan’s geographical boundaries are a “red line,” warning that any violation would be met with resolute action. She reaffirmed that the entire nation stands united with its armed forces in safeguarding the country’s sovereignty and dignity. “Pakistan’s desire for peace must not be mistaken for weakness,” she said, vowing that the nation would defend its homeland at all costs.

This contradiction — between the spirit of Ramazan and market behavior — demands urgent attention. In a predictable market, supply chains would anticipate this seasonal surge. The reasons are familiar: fragmented agricultural markets, poor storage infrastructure, intermediaries’ cartels and limited real-time price monitoring. Successive governments — federal and provincial — respond with traditional tools: price magistrates, official price lists and Ramazan bazaars offering subsidized goods. It would mean treating consumers not as seasonal beneficiaries of charity but as citizens entitled to functioning markets.

Asif MahmoodIndian Prime Minister Modi is visiting Israel at a time when ideological alignments in the region are becoming increasingly visible. In my view, the political philosophy of Hindutva and the doctrine of Zionism represent assertive and exclusionary national projects. Similarly, strands within the Hindutva movement have articulated the idea of an undivided civilizational India, encompassing territories beyond the boundaries of the present Republic of India. In Israel, debates over settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories have often been framed in historical and religious language. Israel’s policies in the Palestinian territories have been repeatedly debated at the United Nations, particularly regarding settlements, occupation, and compliance with international humanitarian law.

The Minister for Finance and Planning & Development, Gilgit-Baltistan, Col (R) Abrar Ismail today eloquently presented the case of Gilgit-Baltistan for granting a special status in the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award at the Pakistan Governance Forum 2026. The prestigious event was graced by the Prime Minister of Pakistan and attended by the Chief Minister of Sindh, federal ministers, provincial ministers, heads of development partner agencies, and key policy specialists from across the country. It is hoped that, in light of the compelling arguments presented, Gilgit-Baltistan will receive its due and just share in the forthcoming NFC deliberations. The Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan also highlighted major governance reforms and key development successes achieved by the regional government, which were widely appreciated and lauded by the distinguished gathering. The forum was attended by key government heads from gb, the Secretary Finance, secretary school education, secretary water & power, chief economist p&d, secretary tourism, secretary mines, director mines, director pmru and others

Addressing the Pakistan Governance Forum 2026, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja underscored that digital reform now sits at the heart of governance, economic revival, and social inclusion. Her remarks reflect an emerging consensus within policymaking circles: the future of Pakistan depends on how swiftly and effectively it embraces a paperless and cashless model. Pakistan, long burdened by bureaucratic inertia and procedural delays, stands to gain immensely from such a shift. The passage of the Digital Pakistan Act and the approval of the National AI Policy further anchor these reforms within a legislative framework. Digital governance is not a luxury; it is a necessity in an increasingly interconnected world.

ISLAMABAD : The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has removed objections to the appeals filed by the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and his wife, Bushra Bibi, against their convictions in the Toshakhana-II case. The court directed that the appeals of the PTI founder and Bushra Bibi be assigned numbers and scheduled for regular hearing. The IHC also approved two miscellaneous applications filed by the founder and his spouse. Additionally, the court accepted their request to remove objections to the main appeals and granted an extension of time to address procedural objections. With the objections now cleared, the appeals against their convictions in the Toshakhana-II case are set to proceed for further hearing.

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Sardar Latif Khosa on Wednesday said that Imran Khan has assigned Sohail Afridi the task of organising a street movement. “I will not blame Imran Khan’s sisters at all. In the cases I represented Imran Khan, I secured 100 percent relief for the PTI founder. He added that Imran Khan’s sisters are worried about their brother’s health and that no compromise can be made on Imran Khan’s health. He reiterated that Imran Khan has assigned Sohail Afridi the task of leading a street movement.

ISLAMABAD : The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) has ruled that tax authorities are legally empowered to conduct raids at any time without prior notice. The verdict was issued by Justice Aamer Farooq while deciding an appeal related to tax raids. It observed that Parliament has granted broad powers to tax authorities to ensure enforcement of tax laws, and the judiciary cannot add conditions that the legislature has not explicitly included in the statute. The ruling further affirmed that tax officials are fully authorized to seize computers, documents and financial records during such operations. Subsequently, the FCC upheld the decision of the Sindh High Court and dismissed the appeal.

Social media influencer Dr. Nabiha Ali Khan’s husband Haris Khokhar’s stance on her allegations has come to light. In a video statement, Haris Khokhar said that Dr. Nabiha is suffering from doubts and delusions that cannot be cured. According to him, there was no serious difference between the two and she was happier with him […]

The Romanian Embassy on Monday marked four years since the beginning of Russia’s latest attack on Ukraine, declaring that the situation must not be mischaracterized as a “Ukrainian crisis” but recognized as a clear act of aggression and an international armed conflict initiated by Russia. The embassy noted that Ukraine is exercising its inherent right to self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter in response to Russia’s armed attack. It further highlighted grave violations of international humanitarian law resulting from the war, including the unlawful deportation and forced transfer of thousands of Ukrainian children. Reaffirming its principled stance, Romania reiterated its consistent and unequivocal condemnation of Russia’s aggression. As a neighbouring country and a member of the European Union and NATO, Romania reaffirmed its firm support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders.