Current Final

Author: News Desk

  • Govt plans to freeze domestic fuel prices despite global spike

    Govt plans to freeze domestic fuel prices despite global spike

    The federal government has placed a ban on the export of all petroleum products and is exploring the possibility of holding back any immediate increase in domestic fuel prices despite continued upward trends in the global market. Authorities plan to use a Rs389 billion emergency fund to absorb potential price shocks.

    Recent calculations based on existing taxation and pricing formulas indicate that High-Speed Diesel (HSD) could increase by Rs56 per litre and petrol by Rs41. Retail prices currently stand at around Rs337 per litre for HSD and Rs322 per litre for petrol. Kerosene and light diesel oil are projected to rise by Rs7 and Rs53 per litre, respectively.

    While the next scheduled price review is March 15, ministers have suggested that adjustments could be considered as early as March 13. Sources told a private media outlet that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif conveyed during a consultative session, attended by federal and provincial officials as well as Field Marshal Asim Munir, that no further price hikes would be implemented in the near future regardless of Middle East market movements.

    During the session, it was reported that the government will utilise block allocations intended for emergencies to offset additional increases. The prime minister noted that the current fuel supply disruptions represented the most pressing emergency for the nation.

    The report quoted sources as saying that cabinet members remained divided over the prime minister’s stance. Technocrats, particularly those involved with the International Monetary Fund, expressed reservations about tapping into existing pricing buffers.

    In a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervez Malik stated that efforts were underway to manage petroleum prices under the prime minister’s directives and that a final decision would follow a review of global rates on Friday.

    Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kiyani confirmed that while prices will be reassessed, the government aimed to avoid imposing additional burdens on the public. He added, “The prime minister has also directed that the burden should not be passed on to the people.”

    Both ministers defended the March 7 price increase of Rs55 per litre, citing supply risks similar to disruptions experienced in Bangladesh and India.

  • Muslim advisor resigns from Trump religious panel after anti-Zionist commissioner’s dismissal

    Muslim advisor resigns from Trump religious panel after anti-Zionist commissioner’s dismissal

    Sameerah Munshi, the only Muslim woman serving on the Advisory Board of Lay Leaders for the Religious Liberties Commission, has resigned in protest of the White House’s removal of anti-Zionist Catholic commissioner Carrie Prejean-Boller. Munshi’s resignation letter, obtained by Middle East Eye on Thursday, cited what she described as “hostile” behavior towards Muslims and a lack of respect for religious beliefs.

    Prejean-Boller, who confirmed that she was fired on X on Thursday, said that her removal was due to her opposition to Israel’s genocide in Gaza and her insistence that Catholicism and Zionism are not compatible. Her dismissal followed a viral video clip from a February commission meeting, in which she argued against the compatibility of the two.

    Munshi, in her resignation letter, wrote: “If we are not free in America to abide by our religious beliefs and hold fast to them despite others’ disagreement, then in what country are we free to do so?” She added that the commission treated Muslim members with hostility and mocked their faith.

    The commission, established under the Department of Justice in May 2025, reports directly to the president. There are no Muslim commissioners, only three appointed as advisors: Munshi; Ismail Royer, director of the Religious Freedom Institute; and scholar Sheikh Hamza Yusuf. 

    Munshi said she began to feel isolated after testifying in September 2025 about students’ rights to protest Israel’s actions in Palestine. “After I testified about Palestine, I stopped receiving the witness lists before each hearing, so I don’t know if that was a coincidence, if it was organizational, just a miscommunication on their end, or if they literally held it against me about what I testified on,” she said.

    Munshi described developing a connection with Prejean-Boller after the meeting. “Carrie has been wonderful. We’ve become pretty good friends at this point, and we’ve shared a lot,” she said. She also noted that Prejean-Boller respects Muslims, a quality she said she has rarely seen in conservative circles.

    Prejean-Boller has also spoken out against the US-Israeli war on Iran, which Munshi cited as another reason for her resignation. Munshi wrote: “This government’s unlawful killing of children and civilians in Iran is at the urging of a genocidal state… It is painfully obvious through their actions that this administration has no regard for the Constitution’s protection of free expression and religious liberty, nor its detailing of war powers.”

    After the February hearing clip gained attention, Jason Bedrick of The Heritage Foundation claimed Munshi provided Prejean-Boller with talking points. 

    Munshi denied the claim, stating: “I deny providing her talking points. Me and Carrie were texting during the hearing… That morning I was in that meeting… it was a joke. It was a clown show in there. And I was frustrated. Carrie was frustrated. She told me to start recording her in case they didn’t call on her.”

    Prejean-Boller said she felt sidelined because of her advocacy for Palestinians and for wearing a Palestinian flag pin. “I had to do it. I knew that it had to be done because of what I’d seen, and the poor Palestinian people… I had to speak for them. I couldn’t just sit there in this fancy room with important people and allow them to just disregard Palestinians as human beings,” she said.

    Prejean-Boller added: “I am disgusted. I am absolutely disgusted with this president. He betrayed the American people, and he’s betrayed our constitution.” 

    The genocide Gaza has killed over 72,000 Palestinians, including 651 since a ceasefire brokered by the Trump administration. Lawmakers are now examining possible violations of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, including concerns over transparency, balance, and fair representation.

    Munshi clarified that her resignation was not due to fear or intimidation but a response to what she described as injustice within the commission.

  • Pakistan intensifies strikes on Taliban amid border tensions

    Pakistan intensifies strikes on Taliban amid border tensions

    Pakistan’s armed forces carried out overnight airstrikes against Taliban targets and terrorist infrastructure on Friday, destroying training camps, ammunition depots, and other support facilities across Afghanistan, reports quoted security sources as saying.

    “Pakistan’s Armed Forces have carried out successful airstrikes inside Afghanistan as part of the ongoing Operation Ghazab Lil Haq,” the sources confirmed. 

    Strikes reportedly hit the headquarters of the Afghan Taliban 313 Corps, the Tarawo terrorist training camp in Kandahar, an oil storage facility, and the Sher-e-Nau terrorist camp in Paktia province.

    Operations along the Pak-Afghan border in North and South Waziristan also destroyed multiple Taliban posts and forced militants to abandon positions, reports quoted sources.

    The operation was launched following unprovoked firing from across the border, with Islamabad accusing Kabul of providing space to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). UN monitoring reports over the past two years have noted TTP activity in eastern Afghanistan, though the Taliban deny offering support.

    In a separate development, Pakistan security forces shot down three rudimentary drones on Friday, allegedly deployed by militants linked to Afghan Fitna-al-Khawarij, in the Kohat district. 


    Authorities said the crude drones posed a potential security threat, and debris from the downed devices injured two civilians, who were shifted to a hospital for treatment. Reports quoted security sources as saying that the militants were backed by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan administration.

    Amid the ongoing military operations, Pakistan is engaging diplomatically with Beijing over the border tensions. Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Tahir Andrabi confirmed that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar recently held a call with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. He said Islamabad and Beijing “cherish a long-standing strategic partnership, founded in mutual trust and deep respect,” and that both countries share common views on Afghanistan.

    China’s ambassador to Kabul, Zhao Xing, and the special envoy Dr Yue Xiaoyong has been shuttling between Pakistan and Afghanistan to mediate and encourage both sides to return to the negotiating table. 

    According to China’s foreign ministry, the most urgent task is to prevent the fighting from expanding. Beijing’s ambassador to Kabul, Zhao Xing, met Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi this week, during which Afghan officials reiterated their commitment to improving security and protecting Chinese nationals in Afghanistan.

    Andrabi clarified that a visiting delegation reportedly holding talks with the Afghan Taliban was not part of any official effort, though he confirmed Dr Yue’s visit to Pakistan to discuss shared concerns, particularly terrorism emanating from Afghanistan. He also said he had no information regarding any Turkish delegation reportedly mediating between Islamabad and Kabul.

  • Smartphones on instalments about to become reality as 5G launches in Pakistan

    Smartphones on instalments about to become reality as 5G launches in Pakistan

    Pakistan is preparing a policy to allow citizens to purchase smartphones on instalments as part of efforts to expand access to digital services, IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja said on Thursday.

    Speaking at an event in Islamabad where additional telecom spectrum was released to operators, the minister said that the government was working on a framework that would enable people to obtain smart mobile devices through instalment plans.

    “Pakistan will soon have a policy to have smart mobile devices on instalments,” she said. “This will help the spread of smart phones among all segments of the society.”

    Fatima also said that a growing number of mobile phones used in Pakistan are now assembled or manufactured within the country, pointing to changes in the local mobile device sector.

    She said that internet access had become essential in Pakistan and noted that additional infrastructure had recently been added to support connectivity.

    “Internet is a basic need of Pakistan today and three new submarine cables have landed in Pakistan increasing the availability of internet,” the minister said.

    The remarks came during a ceremony where 480 MHz of spectrum was released to three telecom operators, increasing the country’s total available spectrum to more than 7,500 MHz. According to the minister, the move will expand network capacity.

    “Our capacity has now increased three times,” she said, adding that preparations for next-generation connectivity were already under way.

    “5G pilot launch will start in major cities from next week,” Fatima said. 

    The allocation of frequency slots took place at the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and was attended by senior management from Jazz, Ufone and Zong.

    According to officials present at the event, the telecom companies acknowledged the transparency of the spectrum auction process and said testing of 5G services had already started in several locations.

    She also said that the government was working to establish an AI Council that would bring together professionals to help shape policy on artificial intelligence. She added that the initiative forms part of broader government efforts aimed at strengthening the country’s digital economy and promoting work in emerging technologies.

    Addressing taxation on mobile phones, the minister said the IT ministry and the telecom regulator had advocated reducing taxes on mobile devices. However, she said decisions on such taxes are made by the Federal Board of Revenue.

  • Babar Azam gets relief from Lahore High Court in harassment case

    Babar Azam gets relief from Lahore High Court in harassment case

    The Lahore High Court (LHC) has cancelled the additional sessions judge’s order directing the registration of a case against Pakistan’s national cricketer Babar Azam.

    Justice Asjad Gharal heard Babar Azam’s petition challenging the order. 

    According to reports, lawyers representing the federal government, the Punjab government, and the complainant, Hamiza Mukhtar, presented their arguments during the hearing.

    Babar’s counsel, Barrister Haris Azmat, argued that the complainant had filed a baseless application in 2018 alleging sexual harassment. He added that the additional sessions judge issued the order without following proper legal procedures.

    After hearing the arguments, Lahore High Court declared the sessions court’s order null and void.

  • Was Netanyahu killed? Here’s what we know so far…

    Was Netanyahu killed? Here’s what we know so far…

    Multiple unverified claims about the death of Israeli Prime Minister (PM) Benjamin Netanyahu have circulated widely on social media, suggesting that he was killed in an Iranian airstrike amid the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict.

    Similar posts have targeted his brother Iddo Netanyahu and Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, alleging that they were also injured. 

    Many of the claims were shared alongside videos of airstrikes and AI-generated images, sometimes amplified by commentary from former US intelligence officer Scott Ritter.

    Reports cited by Tasnim News Agency did not provide evidence of an attack on Netanyahu or confirmation of injury. The articles referenced circumstantial factors, including the absence of recent videos of the prime minister and heightened security around his residence.

    Speculation appeared to gain traction because it had been nearly three days since the last video of Netanyahu was posted on his personal channel, and almost four days since recent images were shared publicly. Previously, at least one video, and sometimes up to three, were typically posted each day.

    Additional reports said that the security perimeter around Netanyahu’s home had been increased, reportedly to counter potential drone threats. Observers also pointed to the cancellation of a planned visit to Israel by Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, and Steve Witkoff, United States special envoy to the Middle East. A separate report from the Elysée Palace did not specify the date of a phone conversation between French President Emmanuel Macron and Netanyahu, releasing only a text transcript.

    Israeli officials and international media have described the claims as false. Netanyahu’s office dismissed reports of his death as “fake news.”

    Public updates show Netanyahu continuing his official duties. On March 10, he visited Israel’s National Health Command Centre, and on March 11, he conducted a visit to Ashdod Port to assess maritime trade operations during Operation Roaring Lion. Video footage of both visits was released publicly.


    Images circulating online that claimed to show Netanyahu after an attack were flagged as AI-generated.

  • PCB considering digital ticketing option for PSL 11: reports

    PCB considering digital ticketing option for PSL 11: reports

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is reportedly planning to introduce a digital ticket option for selected enclosures during Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 11.

    Reports suggest the option will be available for VIP and Premium enclosures in matches held in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi. Fans will be able to enter stadiums by simply showing their digital ticket.

    PCB has also decided to keep ticket prices affordable. League match tickets are expected to range from PKR 300 to PKR 3,000.

    The upcoming PSL 11 season will run from March 26 to May 3, 2026. This edition will feature two additional teams and expand the league’s footprint to more cities.

    For the first time in PSL history, matches will take place at Imran Khan Stadium in Peshawar and Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad, marking the return of top-level cricket to both cities.

  • Jeffrey Epstein confessed to being a father, DOJ files show

    Jeffrey Epstein confessed to being a father, DOJ files show

    Jeffrey Epstein confessed to being a father to a child borne by one of his victims, files released by the United States Department of Justice suggest.

    Documents reviewed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) include claims from a woman who told investigators that Epstein sexually assaulted her for several years beginning when she was 16.

    According to the FBI notes, dated January 2020, the woman said Epstein showed her a photograph inside his residence in New York City and identified the woman in the image as the mother of his child.

    The documents state: “In another suite of his residence, there was a picture of a blonde woman on the beach.

    “Epstein told [redacted] that this was the mother of his child.”

    The woman told the investigators that she met Epstein in 2005 while working as a teenage model. The notes further record that Epstein later showed her a sculpture of the same woman.

    “There was a torso sculpture, like a mold – EPSTEIN said this mold was of this woman,” the notes read.

    “EPSTEIN told [redacted] that this woman was perfect. EPSTEIN told [redacted] that her husband will be very lucky.”

    Claims that Epstein fathered children have surfaced in reports a few times. Earlier this week, an international media outlet reported that another alleged victim said she gave birth to a baby girl around 2002 when she was 16 or 17.

    The document said that the woman alleged the child was taken from her minutes after birth and that Ghislaine Maxwell was present during the birth. 

    “She was born, I heard her cries!” the woman wrote. “I saw this tiny head and body in between the doctor’s hands. Ghislaine said she was beautiful. Where is she?”


    The woman added: “I do not want to be tied to Jeffrey for the rest of my life! Playing the piano well is not a good reason to think someone has good genes or should have a baby! I am too young and he is too old!

    “The piano and music comments are made to convince me this is right and will create perfect offspring he [Epstein] calls them ‘superior gene pool?’ Why me?? My eye color, my eye color? I miss the person I was before I was made into what feels like a human incubator.”

    According to Daily Mail, several accounts have also described Epstein asking women to carry his child. One of the documents released by the FBI includes an image showing Epstein holding a woman in his New York home while she carried a baby.

    Epstein’s brother has previously stated that the financier did not have a child.

  • PMDC allows 19 medical, dental colleges to raise fee by up to Rs2.1 million

    PMDC allows 19 medical, dental colleges to raise fee by up to Rs2.1 million

    The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has allowed 19 private medical and dental colleges to increase their annual tuition fee up to Rs2,147,483, according to a notification issued by the council.

    The decision follows recommendations from the Committee on Medical Education formed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The council said requests from 20 other institutions seeking a fee increase were deferred due to missing documentation and other procedural requirements.

    Last year, the PMDC had set the maximum annual fee for private medical and dental colleges at Rs1.8 million, with a permitted annual increase of five per cent. For the current academic year, the tuition fee including ancillary charges had been capped at Rs1.89 million with the same five per cent annual increase.

    The council later decided that future fee revisions would consider the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Colleges were also allowed to submit applications seeking additional increases if they provided justification for higher operational costs.

    According to the notification, the institutions allowed to increase fees include CMH Medical College Kharian, Shahida Islam Medical and Dental College Lodhran, Akhtar Saeed Medical and Dental College Lahore and Rawalpindi, Central Park Medical College Lahore, Niazi Medical and Dental College Sargodha, University Medical and Dental College Faisalabad and Al Aleem Medical College Lahore.

    Other institutions granted permission include Multan Medical and Dental College, FMH College of Medicine and Dentistry Lahore, Rehman Medical and Dental College Peshawar, Suleman Roshan Medical College Tando Adam, HBS Medical and Dental College Islamabad, Abbottabad International Medical Institute, Independent Medical College Faisalabad, Islamabad Medical and Dental College, University College of Medicine and Dentistry Lahore and Azra Naheed Medical and Dental College Lahore.

    The PMDC has said applications from 20 colleges were deferred after the institutions failed to submit required documents, including audit reports.

    Meanwhile, 72 medical and dental colleges did not apply for any increase in fees.

    Parents of medical students have called on the PMDC to clarify the notification, saying it does not explain whether the approved fee will be final or if colleges may add additional charges under other categories.

  • Oscars get heightened security after FBI warns of possible Iran strike

    Oscars get heightened security after FBI warns of possible Iran strike

    Security arrangements around the upcoming Academy Awards have been placed on alert after the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warned law enforcement about the possibility of a “surprise attack” linked to Iran.

    The ceremony is scheduled to take place on Sunday evening in Los Angeles and is expected to draw major figures from the film industry. Actors including Timothée Chalamet, Rose Byrne, Kate Hudson, Brad Pitt and Nicole Kidman are expected to attend the event.

    According to an alert cited by ABC News, the FBI informed law enforcement agencies across California in recent days that Iran could attempt retaliation for US military action by launching drones toward the West Coast.

    Authorities have not reported any confirmed threat linked directly to the ceremony, but officials say precautionary measures are in place ahead of the event.

    Oscars telecast producer Raj Kapoor said that the production team is coordinating with security agencies to ensure the ceremony proceeds as scheduled.

    “We want everybody to feel safe and protected and welcome, so it’s our job as a producing team to make sure that that translates,” Kapoor told journalists.

    He said that organisers are working with federal and local law enforcement agencies to coordinate security arrangements for the event.

    “This show has to run like clockwork. But we want everybody that is coming to this show, that is witnessing the show, that is even a fan of the show when they’re standing outside the barricades.”

    In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said that it had raised its level of vigilance amid developments linked to the conflict in the Middle East.

    “In light of current global events, the Department remains at an elevated level of readiness and is maintaining increased vigilance as we continue to protect our residents of Los Angeles County,” the department said.

    According to sources cited by Variety, security around the red carpet has been increased, though the measures are not visibly prominent.

    The alert comes amid rising tensions following a joint illegal strike by the United States (US) and Israel on Iran on February 28. The attack led to the killing of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, after which Iran launched strikes on American bases in the Middle East and military targets in Israel. Airspace across several Gulf states was later closed following the escalation.