A mother paints the face of her son as they celebrate HolI in Mithi, Tharparkar district of Sindh on March 13, 2025. PHOTO: AFP Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday greeted the Hindu community celebrating Holi and called for stronger national efforts to promote interfaith dialogue, protect places of worship, and foster mutual respect. “Let … Read more

Travel advisory keeps country at Level 3, cites risks from regional tensions and terrorism Security personnel stand guard outside the US consulate in Karachi on March 1, 2026.PHOTO: AFP The United States has ordered the departure of non-emergency government personnel and eligible family members from its consulates in Lahore and Karachi, the United States Department … Read more

Riders without helmets urged to buy and wear one on the spot to avoid fines and improve highway safety RAWALPINDI: The National Highways and Motorway Police launched a campaign titled “Challan Nahi, Helmet” to promote safer travel on national highways. Under the initiative, motorcyclists not wearing helmets are stopped and, before a fine is issued, … Read more

Women and children seek refuge in a classroom at a school transformed into a shelter in Sidon. Photo: AFP GENEVA: At least 30,000 displaced people have sought protection in shelters in Lebanon since hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah escalated this week, the United Nations refugee agency said on Tuesday, while many more were expected to … Read more

. SANTIAGO: US concerns over a proposed Chinese fiber optic cable linking Asia with South America under the sea led to a spat Tuesday between Chile’s outgoing left-wing president and his Washington-backed successor. Hard-right politician Jose Antonio Kast is set to be inaugurated as president of Chile on March 11 after defeating Jeannette Jara, a … Read more

Marc Bernal netted twice for Barcelona as they beat Atletico Madrid but were ousted in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey on aggregate: Photo: AFP MADRID: Atletico Madrid struggled through a 3-0 Copa del Rey semi-final second leg defeat at Barcelona on Tuesday but scraped into the final 4-3 on aggregate. The Spanish champions … Read more

Aryna Sabalenka celebrates after winning her semi final match against Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina. Photo: REUTERS INDIAN WELLS: World number one Aryna Sabalenka on Tuesday voiced her support for a proposal to make women’s matches best-of-five sets during the later stages of Grand Slam tournaments. Speaking ahead of this week’s ATP-WTA tournament in Indian Wells, the … Read more

. Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad at UNSC session. PHOTO: RADIOPAK UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan has told a historic session of the UNSC that the most effective way to protect children and their right to education is to resolve festering conflicts in accordance with the UNSC resolutions, the UN Charter and … Read more

Labourers unload rice bags from a supply truck at India’s main rice port at Kakinada Anchorage in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, India, on September 2, 2021. Photo: Reuters (file) MUMBAI: About 400,000 metric tonnes of Indian basmati rice are backed up at ports and in transit, and export deals have dried up as … Read more

Finance ministry opts for biannual reporting as Fund presses for quarterly updates IMF reforms. Design: Mohsin Alam ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has again refused to accept a technical assistance mission by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the effective implementation of 142 actions aimed at addressing glaring weaknesses in the country’s governance and anti-corruption frameworks. The IMF … Read more