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Pakistan, Qatar explore trade routes linking Middle East, Türkiye, Europe

September 12, 2026 1:49

Pakistan and Qatar have discussed establishing broader regional trade linkages through the Middle East and Central Asia, potentially connecting Pakistan with Türkiye and European markets, in a move aimed at expanding transit and bilateral trade opportunities. The development came during a series of bilateral meetings held between Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan and regional counterparts on the sidelines of the Belt and Road Summit, focusing on trade, connectivity, food security and emerging technologies. The minister separately met his counterparts from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Qatar, while also holding discussions with the Secretary General of the International Organization for Mediation (IoMed), the statement said. The engagements focused on expanding bilateral trade, strengthening regional connectivity and developing greater cooperation in emerging economic and technological areas. During his meeting with Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs, Ahmad bin Mohammad Al Sayed, both sides exchanged views on the latest developments in the Middle East and their wider regional and economic implications. Jam Kamal appreciated Qatar’s resolve and commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the region. Meanwhile, the Qatari Minister acknowledged Pakistan’s significant contribution towards regional peace and highlighted the positive impact of its efforts. Regional connectivity and the Belt and Road Initiative featured prominently in the discussions, with both sides exploring new avenues for transit and trade through the Middle East and Central Asia. The two ministers also discussed the potential for connecting Pakistan and Qatar through broader regional trade routes extending through the Middle East towards Türkiye and onward into Europe. Bilateral trade was also discussed, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to exploring new areas of economic cooperation and expanding existing trade volumes. The minister also held a meeting with Sri Lanka’s Minister for Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Development, Wasantha Samarasinghe, where both sides discussed ways to strengthen bilateral trade and economic cooperation, including expansion and greater utilisation of Pakistan’s first-ever Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The two ministers emphasised the importance of enhanced business-to-business and people-to-people exchanges and explored opportunities for closer cooperation in connectivity and infrastructure. The Sri Lankan Minister highlighted the growing importance of artificial intelligence and cyber security. Jam Kamal pointed to the increasing role of digitalisation in economic development and said developing countries should explore emerging technologies while simultaneously building their capacity to address associated challenges. The two sides also discussed food security, particularly its impact on poorer and developing nations, as well as the implications of tensions in the Middle East for the global economy and international trade. Jam Kamal thanked Sri Lanka for its support in the reclassification of Pakistani kinnow for improved market access. The Sri Lankan minister, in turn, appreciated Pakistan’s cooperation regarding Sri Lankan pineapples, avocados and king coconut. Both sides also explored avenues for greater cooperation in regional connectivity and infrastructure development. In a separate meeting with Bangladesh’s Minister of Commerce, Industry, Textile and Jute, Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, discussions were held in a cordial atmosphere, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to strengthening economic cooperation and brotherly relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh. The Bangladeshi side appreciated Pakistan’s commitment to regional solidarity and peace and acknowledged its role in efforts aimed at resolving regional tensions. Recalling his recent visit to Bangladesh, Jam Kamal highlighted the considerable scope for stronger cooperation, greater economic exchanges and closer ties between the two countries. Jam referred to Pakistan’s rice exports to Bangladesh as an encouraging example of expanding bilateral trade and said there was significant potential to diversify trade into other areas, including textiles. The Bangladeshi minister expressed interest in exploring avenues for sharing expertise and experiences in developing industries and promoting greater industrial cooperation between the two countries. The ministers agreed that the Belt and Road Initiative and stronger regional connectivity could play an important role in shaping the economic future of the region and creating new opportunities for trade and development. The commerce minister also met Teresa Chan, Secretary General of the International Organization for Mediation (IoMed). Chan briefed Jam Kamal on the organisation, established in 2025, and highlighted Pakistan’s role as a contracting and founding member and its important contribution to the organisation. The meeting discussed the growing role of mediation in resolving disputes involving governments and private organisations, with IoMed poised to contribute towards peaceful and institutional dispute resolution. [...]

Gold price gains Rs400 per tola in Pakistan

September 12, 2026 10:17

Gold prices in Pakistan increased on Saturday in line with their gain in the international market. In the local market, gold price per tola reached Rs457,136 after a gain of Rs400 during the day. Similarly, 10-gram gold was sold at Rs391,920 after it accumulated Rs343, according to rates shared by the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA). On Friday, gold price per tola reached Rs456,736 after a decline of Rs5,600 during the day. The international rate of gold increased by $4 to reach $4,346 per ounce earlier today. Meanwhile, the price of silver also increased by Rs53 to reach Rs6,924 per tola. [...]

Govt hikes petrol by Rs5.02, diesel by Rs5.28 for fifth straight review

September 11, 2026 6:28

The government continued to raise petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) prices at its final review of the week on Friday, increasing them by Rs5.02 and Rs5.28 per litre, respectively, for a fifth straight hike in petroleum prices. The new prices will remain effective from Saturday, September 12, till Monday, September 14, 2026. It was the fifth consecutive increase in petroleum prices in Pakistan. In last five days, the government has increased the petrol price by Rs29.95 and diesel by Rs25.27 per litre. According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division), the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) on Friday revised the ex-depot prices of petroleum products under the government’s petroleum pricing mechanism. The price of Motor Spirit (petrol) was raised by Rs5.02 per litre, taking it from Rs370.80 to Rs375.82 per litre. HSD saw a hike of Rs5.28 per litre, rising from Rs398.04 to Rs403.32 per litre. The new prices will remain in effect until Monday, in line with the government’s ongoing practice of adjusting fuel prices based on international oil markets and other cost factors. In the previous review on Thursday, the government increased the price of petrol by Rs3.05 per litre and diesel by Rs5.37 per litre. Internationally, oil prices fell on Friday but remained on course for a weekly gain of more than 9%, while US diesel prices hit a record high as attacks ‌along Middle East shipping routes stoked concerns about prolonged supply disruptions. Brent crude futures were down $2.46, or 2.29%, at $105.17 a barrel at 11:33 am. (1633 GMT). [...]

Investment in local, global stocks gains momentum in Pakistan

September 11, 2026 4:07

Investment trends in Pakistan are changing rapidly, with growing interest among young people in the local as well as global stocks, reflecting rising awareness of financial planning and investment opportunities. According to the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), the number of investor accounts in the country’s stock market increased by a record 48% during the last fiscal year. Investor accounts rose to 583,052 at the end of FY2025-26 from 392,775 a year earlier, with around 190,300 new accounts opened during the year, the highest annual increase on record. Young investors accounted for a significant share of this growth. People aged 18 to 30 opened 45% of the new accounts between January and June 2026, while those aged 31 to 45 accounted for another 41%, according to the regulator. The equity market delivered a stellar year in FY2025-26, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index gaining 44% in rupee terms and 46% in US dollar terms. Ibrahim Amin, a banking and financial sector expert, said awareness about investment in the local equity market had increased significantly, particularly among younger people, largely due to social media, digital marketing, and the introduction of mobile applications and digital platforms by brokerage houses. He said improved regulatory facilitation and easier access to the equity market had also encouraged more young people to invest their savings in the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX). “People’s saving habits are gradually changing from keeping cash at home or relying solely on traditional savings to investing through formal financial institutions and markets. This reflects growing financial literacy and could also contribute to improving the country’s savings-to-GDP ratio,” he said. There is also significant potential for the local equity market and global stocks to attract Pakistan’s growing freelance and digital workforce, as many freelancers or youngsters remain unaware of the relatively accessible investment and trading opportunities available to them, said Mr Amin, who is also Chairman of the Pakistan Freelancers Association (PAFLA). In 2025, the PSX was among the high-performing equity markets globally and continued to attract investment from both domestic and international institutional and individual investors. Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget, the world’s largest Universal Exchange, said Pakistan is emerging as a significant market for young investors seeking access to a wider range of investment opportunities, including global stocks and cryptocurrencies. She said the growing participation of young investors in the local equity market could encourage greater confidence in investing in high-return assets, including digital or tokenised versions of traditional stocks such as Apple, Tesla, Nvidia, Amazon, Meta and Microsoft, which can be accessed through digital trading platforms. “With a large and increasingly digital-savvy youth population and a freelance workforce of nearly three million, Pakistani investors have the potential to increase their participation in global financial markets, particularly in international equities,” she said. Ms Chen said investors are increasingly likely to prefer platforms that offer access to multiple asset classes, including cryptocurrencies, tokenised stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), commodities and foreign exchange through a single account. “Having access to different markets through one platform provides greater convenience, allowing investors to diversify their portfolios without having to switch between multiple platforms,” she added. Pakistan authorities are working to improve the investment climate for both local and foreign investors, enabling various global companies to establish operations in the country. As investment options continue to expand, competition among local and international players is expected to intensify in the future. However, investors are likely to prefer opportunities that offer greater convenience, accessibility and choice. [...]

Pakistan rupee registers gain against US dollar

September 11, 2026 3:41

The Pakistani rupee extended its marginal gains, appreciating 0.01%, against the US dollar in the interbank market on Friday. The local unit closed the day at 277.32, a gain of Re0.03 against the greenback. On Thursday, the Pakistani rupee settled at 277.35 against the dollar. Also read: Rupee to hold at Rs278/USD in 2026 as Pakistan’s FX buffers improve: BMI Internationally, the US dollar held near its highest-levels of the past week and the yen slipped for a second day at the start of Asian ‌trading on Friday as renewed fears of energy supply disruptions in the Middle East pushed up bond yields and oil prices. The US dollar index, which measures the greenback’s strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading at 99.081, holding steady after gaining 0.3% on Thursday to reach its highest level since September 7. The rise followed the release of data showing US producer prices increased 0.4% in August, meeting market expectations as energy prices rebounded during the month. Oil prices, a key indicator of currency parity, fell on Friday but remained on course for a weekly gain of more than 8% while US diesel prices ‌hit a record high as attacks along Middle East shipping routes stoked concerns about prolonged supply disruptions. Brent crude futures were down $3.28, or 3.05%, to $104.35 a barrel at 1309 GMT. Inter-bank market rates for dollar on Friday BID Rs 277.32 OFFER Rs 277.52 Open-market movement In the open market, the PKR gained 2 paise for buying and 3 paise for selling against USD, closing at 278.22 and 279.05, respectively. Against Euro, the PKR gained 75 paise for buying and 71 paise for selling, closing at 322.11 and 325.04, respectively. Against UAE Dirham, the PKR gained 1 paisa for buying and lost 2 paise for selling, closing at 75.66 and 76.28, respectively. Against Saudi Riyal, the PKR lost 2 paise for buying and 1 paisa for selling, closing at 73.96 and 74.48, respectively. Open-market rates for dollar on Friday BID Rs 278.22 OFFER Rs 279.05 [...]

UAE shares gain as regional conflict fuels oil supply concerns

September 11, 2026 2:18

UAE stock markets closed higher on Friday, with Dubai outperforming its regional peer, supported by a sharp weekly rise in oil prices as attacks on key Middle East shipping routes fuelled concerns that supply disruptions could persist. Crude was on track to gain more than 7% for the week, while U.S. diesel prices hit a record high. Oil flows remained restricted through the Strait of Hormuz as the U.S. and Iran traded attacks, while Houthis seized control of Yemen’s port of Mocha, threatening Saudi oil exports in the Red Sea. Vessel transits at the Strait of Hormuz fell to seven on Thursday from 11 the previous day, preliminary ship-tracking data showed on Friday, well below the 10-day average of 15. Brent crude, a key driver of Gulf economies, was down 3.6% at $103.75 a barrel by 1056 GMT. Dubai’s main market advanced 0.6% after two sessions of losses, boosted by a 4.2% surge in top lender Emirates NBD Bank, while utility firm Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation rose 1.9%. National Central Cooling, however, fell 2.1% after announcing the appointment of Yousif Al Hammadi as its new chief executive officer. Abu Dhabi’s benchmark index I edged up 0.03% for a fourth straight session, supported by a 3.6% rise in IHC-owned investment firm Two Point Zero Group. State-owned energy shipping firm Adnoc Logistics & Services climbed 2.9%, while energy infrastructure developer NMDC Group added 3.5%. Gains in the index were limited by a 5% decline in chemical maker Fertiglobe and 1.5% fall in largest lender First Abu Dhabi Bank. Separately, the United Arab Emirates is quietly revising plans for a 5-gigawatt AI data center project – one of the biggest outside the U.S. – after the Iran war prompted a rethink of how and where critical infrastructure should be built, six people familiar with the matter told Reuters. For the week, Abu Dhabi index and Dubai index recorded a weekly gain of 1.4% and 1% respectively, according to LSEG data. [...]

India partially cancels debt sale for first time in a year as rates spike

September 11, 2026 1:57

MUMBAI: In what market participants are seeing as an early indication from Indian authorities on interest rates, the central bank partially canceled an auction of shorter duration government security to curb any further spike in bond yields, traders said on Friday. Reserve Bank of India accepted bids worth only 45.06 billion rupees ($471.12 million) for the 6.20% 2029 bond, just over 40% of the planned borrowing in the paper of 110 billion rupees. RBI sold seven-year bond at slightly higher-than-expected yield, while a new 30-year paper was auctioned at a cutoff yield that was in line with estimates. The three-year or 6.20% 2029 bond yield was dealt at 6.4566%, up 25 basis points in last four weeks since it was issued; Reuters poll had pegged cutoff at 6.45%. India debt investors call for higher short-term borrowing to absorb excess cash, sources say “This could be a strong signal that market is factoring in overly aggressive pessimism in terms of interest rate expectations and could help soothe sentiment for the day,” trader with a state-run bank says. “Had they gone for the complete target, yield could have tested the territory of 6.50%,” the trader added. Fresh military escalation in the Middle East has pushed oil prices higher, heaping upward pressure on yields that have been rising in recent weeks. Latest U.S. economic data strengthened bets of a Federal Reserve rate hike next, week pushing 10-year Treasury yield to cusp of 5%. RBI had last canceled auction of a security in October 2025 as investors demanded much higher yields. [...]

PSX: buying returns, KSE-100 gains nearly 1% on hopes of easing Middle East tensions

September 11, 2026 1:28

It was a tale of two halves at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), with the benchmark KSE-100 Index recovering sharply from early-session losses to close near the day’s high as reports of Strait of Hormuz talks lifted market sentiment on Friday. The benchmark index opened under pressure and fell to an intra-day low of 166,141.17 during the opening minutes of trading, reflecting initial selling pressure. However, buying interest emerged as the session progressed, allowing the index to gradually recover and move into the positive territory. The market gained further momentum in the second half of the session, with the KSE-100 surging past 170,000 and hitting an intra-day high of 170,764.79. At close, the benchmark index settled at 170,511.85, up 1,646.81 points or 0.98%. “The KSE-100 Index opened on a negative note as Houthi assaults on Saudi energy facilities pushed crude oil prices higher, weighing on investor sentiment. However, during the latter part of the trading session, reports that the six-member Gulf bloc is considering a meeting with Iranian officials next week to discuss the future of the Strait of Hormuz triggered a decline in crude oil prices,” brokerage house Topline Securities said in its post-market report. Top positive contribution to the index came from MEBL, FFC, LUCK, PPL, OGDC and EFERT, as they cumulatively contributed 1,032 points to the index, it added. According to the Financial Times, Gulf foreign ministers plan to meet their Iranian counterpart in a push by Oman and Iran to secure buy-in for a temporary deal to manage shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The gathering is scheduled to be held on Monday in the Omani coastal city of Salalah, the report said, citing two people briefed on the matter. On Thursday, PSX suffered a major pullback as renewed US-Iran attacks and surging international crude prices triggered aggressive selling across the market, with benchmark indices falling sharply amid heightened concerns over inflation, the external account and broader macroeconomic stability. The KSE-100 Index plunged 3,078.56 points, or 1.79%, to settle at 168,865.04 points. Internationally, global bond yields spiked to new highs and share markets slumped on Friday as soaring oil prices inflamed inflation risks, sending investors scrambling to price in ‌more policy tightening from central banks across the globe. Brent crude climbed to a four-month high of $109.97 a barrel on Friday after a 6% overnight jump, capping a weekly gain of nearly 13%. Oil flows remained restricted through the Strait of Hormuz as the US and Iran traded attacks, while Houthis seized control of Yemen’s port of Mocha, threatening Saudi oil exports in the Red Sea. That was a wake-up call for markets that are finally starting to price in the risk of a protracted war. Comments from President Donald Trump that the war could last beyond the November midterm elections haven’t helped, with bond yields surging globally on heightened inflation fears. Higher bond yields raised the discount rates used for corporate valuations, leaving Asian stocks in deep losses. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan lost 1.8% while Japan’s Nikkei tumbled 2.8%. Chinese blue-chips fell 1.2%, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dropped 1.5%. Nasdaq futures fell 0.2%, and S&P 500 futures were little changed. Meanwhile, the Pakistani rupee extended its marginal gains, appreciating 0.01%, against the US dollar in the interbank market on Friday. The local unit closed the day at 277.32, a gain of Re0.03 against the greenback. Volume on the all-share index increased to 687.47 million from 628.67 million recorded in the previous close. The value of shares rose to Rs33.70 billion from Rs27.02 billion in the previous session. Cnergyico PK was the volume leader with 104.27 million shares, followed by Pak Refinery with 66.01 million shares, and Media Times Ltd with 35.45 million shares. Shares of 500 companies were traded on Friday, of which 248 registered an increase, 210 recorded a fall, and 42 remained unchanged. [...]

Basic materials, industrials lift Sri Lankan shares higher

September 11, 2026 12:16

Sri Lankan shares closed higher on Friday, after four sessions of losses, led by basic materials and industrials stocks. The CSE All-Share index settled 0.12% higher at 21,382.74 points. Haycarb Plc and Cargills (Ceylon) Plc were the top index points gainers, up 9.96 points and 6.66 points, respectively, on the day. Trading volume on the index rose to 57.7 million shares from 35.1 million shares in the previous session. The equity market’s turnover dipped to 1.13 billion Sri Lankan rupees ($3.44 million) from 1.45 billion rupees in the previous session, according to exchange data. Foreign investors were net sellers, offloading stocks worth 85.1 million rupees, while domestic investors were net buyers, purchasing shares worth 1.1 billion rupees, the data showed. [...]

Palm hits two-week low on rising stocks

September 11, 2026 11:51

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian palm oil futures slipped to their lowest close in two weeks on Friday, as rising stockpiles dragged prices, though concerns over future supply tightness limited the decline. The benchmark palm oil contract for November delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange was down 67 ringgit, or 1.37%, at 4,818 ringgit ($1,184.37) a metric ton, the lowest closing price since August 27. The contract fell 2.25% this week after last week’s 0.72% gain. Malaysia’s palm oil inventories hit an eight-month high in August as production climbed to the highest level since December and exports declined, data from the industry regulator showed on Thursday. The larger-than-expected inventory build reflects a widening imbalance between recovering seasonal production and softer export demand, a CIMB Securities research report said. “The higher stock level could cap near-term crude palm oil price upside, although downside may remain cushioned if biological tree stress continues to constrain production growth,” it said. It pointed out that production will likely remain seasonally firm in the coming months, though a meaningful recovery in exports will be more important to curb inventories. Cargo surveyors estimated that exports of Malaysian palm oil products for September 1 to 10 fell between 11.7% and 17.5% from a month earlier. Oil prices slipped but remained on track to end the week above $100 a barrel for the first time since mid-May, as attacks along key Middle East shipping routes stoked prolonged supply disruption fears. Weaker crude oil futures make palm a less attractive option for biodiesel feedstock. Dalian’s most-active soyoil contract fell 0.31%, while its palm oil contract shed 1.4%. Soyoil prices on the Chicago Board of Trade were down 1.63%. Palm oil tracks the price movements of rival edible oils, as it competes for a share of the global vegetable oils market. [...]

Indian rupee sees sharpest weekly drop in four months on oil worries

September 11, 2026 11:44

MUMBAI: The Indian rupee slipped on Friday and fell over 1% week-on-week as a sharp rise in oil prices pressured Indian markets, though the central bank’s intervention helped limit the currency’s decline. The Indian rupee declined 0.1% to end at 95.55, weakening for the fourth straight day. On the week, it declined 1.1%, the sharpest fall since mid-May when surging oil prices had pushed it to a record low of 96.96. Oil prices were set to end the week above $100 a barrel for the first time since mid-May, though they edged lower on Friday after the Financial Times reported that Middle East foreign ministers were seeking a temporary deal on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Higher oil prices and global bond yields have weighed on the rupee this week, erasing much of an early-September rally that took it to a two-month high near 94.30 per dollar. “We will need to support the forex markets,” RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra said in a media interview aired on Friday, referring to how the central bank’s potential dollar sales would aid the drainage of excess INR liquidity from the banking system. The RBI is “not taking any tools off the table” to manage liquidity and keep the overnight rate aligned with the key repo rate, Malhotra said, pointing to open market bond sales and FX swaps among the options. Traders said the central bank had likely conducted dollar-rupee sell/buy swaps on Friday for the third consecutive session, as a measure to drain excess cash. Elsewhere, markets turned their focus to upcoming U.S. consumer inflation data due later on Friday. The data will impact the case for a Fed rate hike next week. Forecasts are centred on a 0.2% monthly rise in the core measure of CPI, although risks are seen skewed towards a higher number. “We don’t think the bar is high for today’s CPI to endorse a Fed hike next week,” ING said in a note. [...]

India stocks log fifth weekly loss as oil fears grip markets

September 11, 2026 11:41

India’s equity benchmarks fell for a fifth consecutive week on Friday, as the escalating Middle East conflict pushed crude oil prices higher, raising concerns about inflation and global interest rates. The Nifty 50 dropped 0.34% to 23,398.1 and the BSE Sensex lost 0.16% to 74,781.76. Both indexes fell over 2% this week and about 4.8% over the last five weeks. The sell-off was broad-based, with fourteen of the 16 major sectors logging weekly losses. The broader small-caps and mid-caps also lost 0.9% and 1.4%. The Indian rupee weakened 1% too this week, marking its sharpest weekly drop since mid-May. Brent crude futures have surged over 8% to $104 per barrel so far this week, as attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz intensified and Iran-aligned Houthis threatened Saudi oil exports in the Red Sea as well. “Such a sharp surge in Brent crude was not anticipated by the markets. Unless the Middle East crisis is resolved and Brent crude eases substantially, markets are in for a longer period of subdued performance,” said Ambareesh Baliga, independent market analyst based in Mumbai. Rising oil prices inflamed inflation fears, sending global bond yields to multi-year highs. Higher bond yields typically reduce the appeal of risk assets such as equities for investors. Heavyweight Financials lost 1.9% this week, with top private-sector lenders HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank dropping 0.5% and 3.1% respectively. HDFC Bank fell for a sixth week in a row as uncertainty over its CEO succession continued. Reliance Industries, the third highest weighted stock on the benchmark Nifty 50, also lost 4.9% this week. India’s IT index slumped 5.8% in its biggest weekly percentage drop since April. It was the biggest loser among major sub-sectors, weighed down by prospects of a Fed rate hike next week. Investors await U.S. consumer inflation data later on Friday, seen as a key influence on next week’s Fed interest rate decision. [...]

Bond sales, FX swaps among RBI's options to drain excess liquidity, governor tells

September 11, 2026 11:34

MUMBAI/BENGALURU: The Reserve Bank of India is not taking any tools off the table to manage liquidity and keep the overnight rate aligned with the key repo rate, Governor Sanjay Malhotra told CNBC-TV18 on Friday, adding that bond sales and FX swaps were among the options. Some of the surplus liquidity in the banking system would be withdrawn over time through foreign exchange interventions and banks’ reserve requirements due to rising credit growth, Malhotra said, adding that the central bank’s objective was to maintain appropriate liquidity conditions. “We have enough tools to manage liquidity, other than VRRR (variable rate reverse repos), such as open market operations or FX swaps,” Malhotra said. “Nothing is off the table.” India’s banking system is flush with surplus cash after lenders raised a much larger-than-expected $127 billion under the RBI’s special forex mobilisation scheme, which boosted central bank reserves to an all-time high. However, the excess rupee liquidity has pushed overnight rates below the policy repo rate and prompted the central bank to step up liquidity absorption at a time when elevated oil prices threaten to add to inflationary pressures. India’s banking liquidity surplus hovered at over 10 trillion Indian rupees this week. Malhotra noted that the RBI is “conscious” of the fact that it waived cash reserve ratio requirements on overseas FX deposits, a requirement applicable in normal circumstances. “We will obviously not have a higher CRR or CRR in some other form on those deposits,” he said. RBI’s liquidity mop-up via FX swaps offers a channel of support for rupee Bond yields climb Indian bonds extended their declines after the mention of debt sale as an option to remove rupee liquidity, with yields at their highest levels in more than three months. The benchmark 10-year bond yield rose to 7.035%, up 6 bps on the day, while its 5-year counterpart rose as much as 10 bps to 6.6222%. The RBI could come up with an open market sale of bonds as early as next week, after facing twin hurdles, with banks resisting longer-duration operations and dollar-rupee swaps raising forex hedging costs, four bankers said on Friday. Policy setting ‘appropriate’ Malhotra described the current monetary policy setting as appropriate and said that the nation’s rate-setting panel would assess growth-inflation dynamics when it meets next month. The central bank has factored elevated food prices into its inflation projections and the data seen so far has been along expected lines, he added. India central bank likely deploys FX swaps to mop up overseas deposit-driven liquidity, traders say India will report its consumer inflation data for August on Monday, with economists anticipating a rise to 4.80%, the highest in 20 months, and up from 4.45% in the previous month. The central bank’s inflation forecast for the ongoing fiscal year stands at 5% while its medium-term target is 4%. It is not appropriate to look at just average inflation in assessing monetary policy but also its composition, Malhotra said. Commenting on surging bond yields globally, India’s central bank chief said elevated debt loads and inflation expectations are contributing to the rise in yields overseas but India’s conditions are different. India’s 10-year bond yield has risen 37 bps since the Iran war began in February while its counterparts in the U.S. and Japan have climbed 98 bps and 87 bps, respectively. [...]

Gold loses Rs5,600 per tola in Pakistan amid global market losses

September 11, 2026 9:56

Gold prices in Pakistan decreased on Friday in line with their loss in the international market. In the local market, gold price per tola reached Rs456,736 after a decline of Rs5,600 during the day. Similarly, 10-gram gold was sold at Rs391,577 after it fell by Rs4,801, according to rates shared by the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA). On Thursday, gold price per tola reached Rs462,336 after a decline of Rs600 during the day. The international rate of gold declined by $56 to reach $4,342 per ounce earlier today. Meanwhile, the price of silver also decreased by Rs253 to reach Rs6,871 per tola. [...]

European stocks rise but head for sharp weekly declines

September 11, 2026 9:06

European stocks edged higher on Friday but looked on course for their worst weekly performance since April as high bond yields and fears about aggressive interest rate hikes tempered sentiment ahead of key US inflation data. The pan-European STOXX 600 rose 0.3% to 637.60 points by 0716 GMT. The index closed at a two-month low on Thursday after the European Central Bank raised interest rates as expected and warned of higher inflation as energy prices soar in the wake of a prolonged Middle East conflict. Oil prices were trading above $100 for a third day. The ECB’s hawkish stance has prompted calls for further rate hikes, while government bond yields across the globe have surged. The US 10-year Treasury yield, a benchmark for global borrowing costs, hovered below the closely watched 5% level. The German 10-year yield stayed near multi-decade highs. Investor attention will be on US Consumer Price Index figures due later in the day, which could provide fresh signals on the Federal Reserve’s interest rate path ahead of a monetary policy meeting next week. Among stocks, Italian semiconductor testing company Technoprobe jumped 4.7% as its customer TSMC posted strong August revenue. [...]

Pakistan, Qatar explore trade routes linking Middle East, Türkiye, Europe

September 12, 2026 1:49

FPCCI calls for stronger economic integration among OIC states

September 12, 2026 12:26

Despite a combined GDP of around $10.77 trillion, trade among the 57 member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) accounts for only 20.36% of their total foreign trade, highlighting significant untapped potential for deeper economic integration, the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) said on Saturday. The figures were shared by Atif Ikram Sheikh, President of the FPCCI, while emphasizing the need to promote Islamic economic integration through bilateral and multilateral cooperation, read a statement. He also called for the transformation of Pakistan’s relations with the Islamic world into stronger trade, investment and business partnerships. Sheikh said that the 57-member OIC represents a vast economic market spread across four continents, with a combined GDP of around $10.77 trillion in 2025. OIC countries recorded approximately $1.7 trillion in exports and $1.6 trillion in imports during the year, highlighting the enormous scale of the market and the opportunities available for greater economic integration. He noted that intra-OIC trade reached to US$ one trillion i.e. 20.36% of the member states’ total foreign trade. However, the figures also demonstrate that substantial room remains for expanding trade among OIC countries through improved trade facilitation, connectivity, financial linkages and private-sector cooperation. The President FPCCI said that Pakistan has considerable potential to deepen Islamic economic engagement with OIC markets, particularly in textiles and value-added products, agriculture and food processing, pharmaceuticals, engineering goods, minerals and mining, information technology, halal products, tourism, logistics and renewable energy. He stressed that the focus should not remain limited to conventional trade but should increasingly include joint ventures, technology partnerships, investment and regional value chains. Sheikh said Pakistan’s strategic location, sizeable consumer market, young population, industrial base and investment opportunities under the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) provide a strong foundation for attracting investment from OIC countries. He called for greater business-to-business interaction, joint investment projects and institutional linkages between chambers and business organisations across the Islamic world. “The Islamic world possesses enormous economic resources and markets. Our objective should be to convert this potential into greater trade, investment, joint ventures and sustainable business partnerships,” he added. [...]

Gold price gains Rs400 per tola in Pakistan

September 12, 2026 10:17

India regulator plans changes to set expiry days' settlement prices for derivatives

September 12, 2026 6:56

MUMBAI: India’s markets regulator proposed on Saturday to use both closing auction session (CAS) and volume-weighted average price (VWAP) to determine settlement prices for index and single-stock derivatives on expiry days, in a bid to improve the CAS system. The Securities and Exchange Board of India also proposed changes to the closing auction process, including tightening the price band and cutting to five minutes from 10 the post-closing auction window for the derivatives segment. [...]

VinFast names founder's eldest son as its global chief executive

September 12, 2026 6:03

HANOI: Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast on Saturday named Chairman Pham Nhat Quan Anh, the eldest son of founder Pham Nhat Vuong, as its global chief executive as the loss-making firm plans a restructuring and overseas expansion. Anh, 33, who was appointed global chairman in May, will also serve as chairman and chief executive officer of VinFast Vietnam. The EV maker is planning to restructure into a more asset-light company as it seeks growth in key markets such as Southeast Asia and India. “Pham Nhat Quan Anh will hold ultimate and comprehensive responsibility for all of VinFast’s operations as the company enters a new phase of growth,” the company said in a statement. Anh will succeed his father, founder Pham Nhat Vuong, as chief executive. Vuong will continue to serve on VinFast’s board. Anh will be VinFast’s fifth chief executive. Previous CEOs include former General Motors executive James DeLuca, ex-Opel chief Michael Lohscheller, and Le Thi Thu Thuy, who led the company through its Nasdaq listing. VinFast plans to develop two India-specific EVs in strategy shift, sources say In May, VinFast unveiled a restructuring plan that would transfer manufacturing assets worth about $530 million to a purchaser group that would also take on about $6.9 billion in debt, as the automaker seeks to reduce future capital requirements. The complexity of the deal and the involvement of investors with ties to Vingroup and Vuong has raised concerns for some analysts and shareholders. VinFast reported a rise of nearly 42% in first-quarter revenue but posted a wider net loss. It has received ongoing financial support from Vuong, the founder and chairman of Vingroup, Vietnam’s biggest conglomerate and VinFast’s parent company. Anh is a graduate of Singapore Management University and held a number of senior roles at VinFast and other Vingroup companies before becoming chairman of VinFast Auto. He will remain as chief executive of VinMetal, a steel producer within the Vingroup conglomerate. Also on Saturday, Pham Nhat Minh Hoang, Vuong’s second son, was named as global chief executive officer at VinFast-linked taxi firm GSM, with Nguyen Quoc Tuan appointed global chairman. GSM is planning a Hong Kong listing in 2028, and plans to purchase around 1 million EVs and 4 million e-scooters from VinFast between 2026 and 2030. [...]

PHDEC organises workshop

September 12, 2026 2:13

MULTAN: The Pakistan Horticulture Development & Export Company (PHDEC), in collaboration with the Mango Research Institute (MRI), Multan, organised a special workshop for mango growers, orchardists and relevant stakeholders at Lutfabad Mango Farms, Multan. The objective of the workshop was to provide participants with practical training and awareness regarding modern and scientific mango production, improved orchard management, effective disease prevention and management, and modern pruning techniques. During the technical session, Dr Asif ur Rehman, Director MRI, highlighted modern orchard management and production practices, while Dr Javed Iqbal highlighted the importance and benefits of scientific pruning. Engr Shehzad Ahmed, Additional Director General (AMRI), provided guidance on the use of modern agricultural machinery for mechanical pruning, while Abid Hameed Khan, Scientific Officer, provided guidance on the practical aspects of manual and mechanical pruning. Renowned mango grower and exporter Major Tariq Khan (R) shared his practical experiences. Dr Ghazali provided a technical briefing on major mango diseases, their identification, prevention and effective management. The participants also presented their field-related issues before the experts. During the workshop, a practical field demonstration of manual and mechanical pruning was also conducted, providing participants an opportunity to observe the practical application and benefits of modern techniques. PHDEC also briefed the participants on its ongoing initiatives for strengthening the mango value chain, including certification support, mango bagging, technical training, quality improvement, market access, export promotion, post-harvest management and value addition. Asif Tipu briefed the participants on the importance of STS and its future prospects in the mango sector. In his concluding remarks, Chief Executive Officer PHDEC, Muhammad Naseer, termed the workshop an important step towards strengthening linkages between research and the field and expressed his commitment to continued collaboration with all stakeholders for the sustainable development of the mango sector, quality improvement, certification, market development and promotion of exports. The PHDEC team, also invited the participants to participate in upcoming national and international events, including FoodAg Karachi, November 2026, and Horticulture Expo Lahore, March 2027, to promote access to new markets, buyers and business opportunities for Pakistani mangoes and other horticultural products. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026 [...]

Minister hopes for achieving cotton production target

September 12, 2026 1:59

LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Agriculture Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani on Friday hoped that keeping in view the current cotton crop situation; the production target will be achieved. He was speaking at a review meeting on cotton, wheat and smog control during his visit to Multan. MPA Muhammad Salman Naeem, Secretary Agriculture Punjab Shakeel Ahmad Mian, Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Asif Ali, Special Secretary Agriculture South Punjab Sarfraz Hussain Magsi, Directors General of Agriculture Department Punjab Naveed Asmat Kahlon, Dr Aamir Rasool and Dr Sajid-ur-Rehman along with farmers attended the meeting. The participants were given a detailed briefing on the current cotton situation, the strategy for the upcoming wheat crop and the ongoing smog control campaign. The meeting was informed that prevailing cotton prices were encouraging. Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani said that, in view of the current cotton situation, the production target would be achieved. He said a comprehensive strategy would be formulated for wheat cultivation and all possible resources and means would be utilized to ensure profitable cultivation and better wheat production. The provincial minister said alternative facilities were being provided to farmers for the proper disposal of rice crop residues. He said 10,000 Super Seeders had already been provided to farmers at subsidised rates, while 450 modern harvesters and 150 balers had also been provided. On the occasion, Secretary Agriculture Punjab Shakeel Ahmad Mian said the smog control campaign launched by the Agriculture Department Punjab was being closely monitored. He added that focal persons had been appointed at the provincial and district levels to ensure effective monitoring and implementation of the campaign. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026 [...]

Senate panel meeting on Monday: Ufone rebranding, Starlink and Etisalat top agenda

September 12, 2026 12:46

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication is set to take up a wide-ranging agenda on Monday, including the reported rebranding of Ufone following its merger with Telenor, Starlink’s launch, USD 800 million in outstanding Etisalat dues, and alleged overcharging of mobile users by Jazz. The committee will also examine internet shutdowns, telecom competition rules, security concerns over satellite connectivity, alleged transfer of sensitive government officials’ data to foreign entities and employment issues at Pak Datacom. The committee will receive a briefing from the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication (MoITT) on the reported change of Ufone’s name to “e&” following the Ufone-Telenor merger. It will also seek an updated briefing on the launch of Starlink operations in Pakistan, amid continued interest in satellite-based internet services for underserved and remote areas. The committee has also placed on its agenda a briefing by the IT Secretary on the reported shift of Pak Datacom to a foreign satellite, with members expected to examine the associated national security concerns. Another key issue is the reported USD800 million outstanding amount owed by Etisalat in connection with the privatisation of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL). The committee will also seek minutes of PTCL Board meetings held during the last six months. The committee will separately examine the status of court cases and stay orders involving LDI/FLL companies and seek a way forward from the Secretary, Ministry of IT and Telecommunication. The Chairman PTA and Auditor General of Pakistan will brief the committee on a purported audit report alleging that Jazz charged mobile users Rs6.58 billion in excess, along with the reported provision allowing the operator to increase tariffs by up to 15 percent quarterly. The committee will seek details of any action taken by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to safeguard mobile consumers’ rights if the audit findings are substantiated. The committee will also take up a serious cyber-security matter involving the alleged obtaining and transfer of sensitive personal data of Pakistani government officers to foreign entities. The Director General, National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), will brief members on the alleged data transfer, the magnitude of the threat, and measures being taken to prevent future data breaches. The committee will also consider a point of public importance raised by Senator Atta-ur-Rehman concerning the closure of mobile services in LakkiMarwat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, raised in the Senate sitting on November 13, 2025. A briefing will also be given on Universal Service Fund (USF) projects for the provision of internet and telecommunications facilities in Qila Abdullah, Balochistan, including locations, approved allocations, current status, and expected completion dates. The committee will also examine the number of villages and public-sector institutions expected to benefit and measures for extending digital access to remote areas of Balochistan. The telecom competition regime will come under scrutiny as the committee will be briefed on whether the Telecom Competition Rules have been notified as required under Section 57 of the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) Act, 1996. The committee will also consider the report of its sub-committee constituted to investigate and rectify issues relating to internet connectivity and the reported disappearance of diesel meant for telecom towers in different parts of the country. Connectivity problems affecting 40 Pakistan Railways trains, including lack of signals and Wi-Fi network facilities, are also on the agenda. In addition, the committee will consider a request from Pak Datacom employees concerning termination of their employment. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026 [...]

75 years of statistics on free digital platform: EPBD think tank rolls out ‘Pakistan Economic Dashboard’

September 12, 2026 12:46

ISLAMABAD: The Economic Policy and Business Development (EPBD) Think Tank has launched a public ‘Pakistan Economic Dashboard’, bringing more than 75 years of official economic and social statistics onto a single free digital platform. The dashboard, launched as an EPBD initiative, aims to address the longstanding problem of dispersion of Pakistan’s economic data across statements, releases and reports of different public agencies. The platform covers ten subject areas, including GDP and real growth, policy rate, balance of payments, power-sector losses and household living standards, besides a Pakistan Scorecard featuring rankings on governance and economic and social indicators. According to EPBD, the dashboard brings together long-term statistics on GDP and growth, energy, prices, debt, trade and socio-economic indicators, while identifying changes in methodologies, benchmarks and indices to facilitate meaningful comparison of historical data. The think tank said no data on the dashboard has been estimated, modelled or filled in, with every figure sourced from official national sources. It added that series have not been chained across changes in base years or definitions. EPBD said the initiative is intended to save researchers, policymakers, journalists, academics and other users from manually reconciling data from multiple official documents. The dashboard documents the decisions involved in compiling the historical series and also publishes the underlying data. The Pakistan Economic Dashboard is available free of charge without subscription or registration and is hosted as a self-contained digital page on the EPBD website. The organisation said it does not make external requests, set cookies or store information in the browser, allowing it to be used even on slow connections or shared computers. EPBD has invited researchers, academia, students, journalists, policymakers, practitioners, officials and the general public to use the resource and report any errors, inconsistencies or suggestions for further improvement. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026 [...]

Anti–dumping probe into soda ash import: Türkiye Trade Ministry conveys its regrets

September 12, 2026 12:46

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Trade, Türkiye officially expressed its regrets for the initiation of the anti–dumping investigation and unexpected imposition of provisional measures on the import of soda ash which would impede the operation of market forces in a competitive environment. The government of Türkiye has conveyed its official reservations over the Preliminary Determination and Imposition of Provisional Anti-Dumping Duties on Imports of “Soda Ash” Originating in the Republic of Kenya and the Republic of Türkiye. Türkiye, once again, pointed out that the imports are unlikely to exert any substantial negative impact on domestic production. On the contrary, they may yield several positive outcomes. Import diversification enhances consumer choice by providing access to a broader array of products. Furthermore, increased competition can stimulate innovation and efficiency within domestic industries, leading to improvements in both product quality and production processes. Additionally, exposure to international markets encourages local producers to align with global standards and trends, thereby strengthening their competitiveness. Therefore, any anti-dumping measure (provisional or definitive) is not in public interest and will also harm the domestic industry in medium and long term. Ministry of Trade Directorate General for Imports Türkiye certainly believed that the said points will be taken into consideration and the Commission will act consistently with the pertinent provisions of the Anti – Dumping Agreement and relevant WTO – jurisprudence. Türkiye reserves all its rights stemming from the related WTO Agreements with regard to this proceeding, it warned. The Commission, without any concrete evidence, comes to a conclusion that economic indicators of the domestic industry showed a declining trend due to the imports from Türkiye. However, for most injury parameters, the Commission has failed to conduct a proper and objective examination of the correlation between the subject imports and the alleged injury. Especially taking into account that imports from subject countries were insignificant and when it rose the economic indicators of the domestic industry rose simultaneously. This parallel movement undermines any causal link between the subject imports and the claimed injury and calls into question the Commission’s conclusion. Hence, it is impossible to link the domestic industry’s alleged injury with the imports from Türkiye. It is evident that almost all economic indicators of the domestic industry improved after the imports from subject countries surged from 0 to 3.21 in Year-1. When imports rose to 3.75 in Year-2 again many of the economic indicators of domestic industry remained stronger than in the base year. Although slight deteriorations were observed in certain economic parameters, these cannot reasonably be attributed to the alleged dumped imports. Instead, the evidence indicates that such changes resulted from the contraction of the total domestic market, which declined by 9% during the POI. Accordingly, to the extent that any injury exists, it was caused by the overall shrinkage in market demand rather than by the subject imports, the country added. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026 [...]

Petrol price up by Rs5.02, HSD’s by Rs5.28

September 12, 2026 12:46

ISLAMABAD: In its daily revision of fuel prices, the government on Friday increased the ex-depot price of petrol by Rs5.02 to Rs375.82 per litre from Rs370.80 per litre. The price of high-speed diesel (HSD) has also been increased by Rs5.28 to Rs403.32 per litre from Rs398.04 per litre. The latest revision in the petroleum prices will take effect from September 12, 2026 and will remain applicable during next three days. Global refined product prices continue to climb amid escalating regional geopolitical tensions. Based at seven working days’ rolling average of daily Platts Arab Gulf Means Price, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) worked out daily fuel prices. A Petroleum Division notification confirms that levies and profit margins remain largely steady across both products. The change is recorded in ex-refinery price of both petroleum products. The ex-refinery price of petrol has increased to Rs265.36 per litre for September 12 from previous day price of Rs260.35 per litre, whereas, ex-refinery price of HSD price has gone up to Rs296.45 from Rs291.17 per litre. According to a Petroleum Division notification, government levies and fixed profit margins for petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) remain unchanged. Both fuels carry a Petroleum Levy of Rs80 per litre, a Climate Support Levy of Rs5 per litre, and profit margins of Rs9.98 per litre for dealers and Rs7.87 per litre for oil marketing companies. Meanwhile, customs duties stay fixed at Rs21.15 per litre for petrol and Rs15.68 per litre for HSD, while the Inland Freight Equalisation Margin (IFEM) has been adjusted at Rs7.61 on petrol and Rs4.02 per litre on HSD. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026 [...]

IEA warns 2026 oil supply gap will widen

September 12, 2026 12:46

LONDON: Global oil supply and demand look set to fall further than previously expected this year, the International Energy Agency said on Friday, as a lack of progress in ending the conflict in the Middle East delays the return of normal Gulf oil flows into 2027 and sends fuel prices soaring. World supply in 2026 is now expected to decline by 5.7 million barrels per day, or about 6 percent, the IEA, which advises industrialised countries, said in a monthly report. That is up from a drop of around 4 percent seen previously. An increase in attacks on oil tankers in Middle East shipping routes has helped send crude prices towards $110 a barrel this week for the first time since May. Refined products have risen even more sharply, with fuels such as diesel reaching record highs, as conflict in the Middle East and between Russia and Ukraine damages oil refineries. Although demand is weakening under the weight of high fuel prices, supply is falling even faster, forcing inventories to be depleted at a record pace. Global stocks fell by 3.1 million bpd in August, the IEA said, to a level last seen in 2023. “Inventories have so far played a crucial role in balancing the market,” the IEA said. “With buffers shrinking and the global refining system stretched to the limit, the need for progress in resolving the conflict in the Middle East – and the Russia-Ukraine war, which is now in its fifth year – is greater than ever to avoid further market tightening.” Saudi output hits lowest in over 3 decades Attacks on Saudi energy facilities and a US blockade on Iran have cut oil output by producer group OPEC+, which declined by 1.8 million bpd to 38.8 million bpd in August, the IEA report said. The IEA said Saudi Arabian crude supply fell by 2.3 million bpd to 6 million bpd in August, the lowest level in more than three decades after attacks disrupted facilities and shipping routes. Houthi-linked groups struck vessels transiting Bab el-Mandeb, the Jazan refinery and shipping near Yanbu, while Iran-backed militias in Iraq used drone strikes to hit the Abqaiq oil processing complex. Iran-aligned Houthis seized control of Yemen’s port of Mocha on Thursday, posing a further threat to Red Sea traffic. Demand falls more than expected, to rebound in 2027 Oil demand is also falling more than expected, partly due to record fuel prices. World oil demand will drop by 2.5 million bpd this year, the IEA said, more than its previous forecast of a 1.6 million bpd decline. By contrast, producer group OPEC still expects world oil demand to grow this year, even though it lowered its forecast for a fifth straight month on Thursday. OPEC sees demand rising by 380,000 bpd in 2026. Both forecasters expect a rebound in fuel use next year. The IEA expects demand to rise by 2.6 million bpd in 2027 and OPEC sees a similar expansion of 2.36 million bpd. [...]

Oil falls but head for 8pc weekly gain

September 12, 2026 12:46

HOUSTON: Oil prices fell on Friday but remained on course for a weekly gain of more than 8 percent, while US diesel prices hit a record high as attacks along Middle East shipping routes stoked concerns about prolonged supply disruptions. Brent crude futures settled at USD104.61 a barrel, down USD3.02, or 2.81 percent. US West Texas Intermediate crude finished at USD100.05 a barrel, down USD2.43, or 2.37 percent. During the session, both benchmarks hit their highest levels since mid-May. Both reversed early gains after the Financial Times reported that foreign ministers in the Middle East are trying to work out a temporary deal with Iran to manage shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. On Thursday, Brent and WTI rose more than 6 percent after an escalation in shipping attacks in the region. But on Friday, traders were re-evaluating the risk. “The things that were causing the panic yesterday are easing today,” said Phil Flynn, senior analyst with the Price Futures Group. “The question is will the market remain calm over the weekend? That’s when things seem to happen.” The report of talks on the future of Hormuz had the biggest impact on market sentiment. “Some headlines of possible new talks in the Middle East are weighing moderately on oil prices today,” said UBS energy analyst Giovanni Staunovo. “I keep seeing near-term risks to the upside for oil prices, but we should expect ongoing high price volatility too.” In a further development for Riyadh, satellite imagery showed smoke on Thursday in the vicinity of Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline, vital for the kingdom to divert its crude exports away from Hormuz. As more reporting said a pumping station on the pipeline had been damaged by militants, prices stayed lower. “It’s surprising the oil market remains down in light of reporting that Houthi attacked the East-West Pipeline, which would impact 7 million barrels of crude,” said Andrew Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates. “Repairing a pumping station would require a lot more than repairing a break in the pipeline,” Lipow said. “Electrical systems would have to be repaired, the pumping system would need to be repaired.” Saudi Arabia’s crude supply fell by 2.3 million barrels per day on the month to 6 million bpd in August, the lowest level in more than three decades, the International Energy Agency said on Friday, citing attacks on Saudi energy facilities. Adding to concerns over regional oil flows, Yemen’s Houthis on Friday reached the island of Perim in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, four Yemeni government sources told Reuters, potentially tightening their grip on one of the world’s vital shipping routes. Iran said it had attacked 10 ships near the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, after the US hit five Iranian oil tankers. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it would escalate its response to any further attacks. Vessel transits at the Strait of Hormuz fell to seven on Thursday from 11 the previous day, preliminary ship-tracking data showed on Friday. The strait handled about 125 commodity vessels and one-fifth of global daily oil and liquefied natural gas supplies before the Iran war began in late February. Meanwhile, two European Central Bank policymakers opened the door on Friday to further interest rate increases if a war-fueled rise in energy prices continues and pushes up other prices in the euro zone. Supply disruptions lift fuel prices Oil supply disruptions due to the Iran war, along with Ukrainian attacks on Russia’s refineries, pushed the US national average diesel price past USD6 a gallon for the first time on Thursday, according to price tracker GasBuddy. “Refined products, particularly diesel, are feeling a one-two punch right now,” said Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade. “As long as both the Gulf shipping constraints and Russian refining outages remain in play, diesel and other refined products are likely to show a higher upside tendency than the broader crude market,” he added. Commerzbank raised its year-end Brent crude forecast to USD85 a barrel from USD75, while increasing its diesel forecast to USD1,200 a ton from USD950 and its jet fuel forecast to USD1,230 a ton from USD980. [...]

PM places two-hour cap on power load-shedding

September 12, 2026 12:46

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday ordered the authorities to cap load-shedding at two hours in any area, as officials blamed disruptions in RLNG supplies amid regional tensions for a fresh squeeze on electricity generation and worsening power outages across the country. Chairing a high-level meeting on power load management, the prime minister expressed displeasure over the increase in outages in several cities and directed the authorities to deploy all available resources to prevent the power shortfall from being passed on to consumers in the form of prolonged load-shedding. Officials told the meeting that interruptions in the supply of re-gasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG), caused by the regional security situation and transportation difficulties, had widened the gap between electricity demand and supply and forced authorities to resort to load management. The briefing effectively placed the latest increase in power cuts on external supply disruptions, with officials telling the prime minister that reduced RLNG availability had led to a decline in power generation. Sharif, however, made it clear that the supply problem could not become a justification for unchecked outages. “All available resources should be utilised effectively so that load-shedding in any area does not exceed two hours,” he directed. He ordered the authorities to take immediate steps to deal with interruptions in RLNG transportation and directed them to prepare for future requirements so that disruptions in fuel supplies did not translate into prolonged electricity outages for consumers. The prime minister also ordered all power distribution companies (Discos) to establish Consumer Grievance Redressal Committees within one week to deal with complaints regarding electricity supply and other transmission-related problems. Significantly, he directed that consumer representatives be included in the committees, apparently aimed at bringing greater accountability to the handling of mounting consumer complaints. Officials informed the meeting that consumers could lodge electricity-related complaints through helpline 118 and would receive a token number along with an estimated timeframe for resolution. The meeting was also told that monsoon rains were not currently disrupting electricity supplies across the country, except for six consumers in Rajanpur district. This left RLNG supply disruptions, rather than the rains, as the principal explanation offered to the prime minister for the decline in power generation and the resulting pressure on the national electricity system. The prime minister directed the relevant authorities to urgently address the RLNG supply disruption and ensure that the impact of the power shortfall was not disproportionately shifted onto consumers. The meeting was attended by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Cheema, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, Power Division Minister Awais Leghari, Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Kiani and senior government officials. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026 [...]

GDA DG anticipates Rs23bn private investment in Thandiani

September 12, 2026 12:46

PESHAWAR: The Director General (DG) Galiyat Development Authority (GDA), Mohammad Fawad has said that the promotion of eco-friendly tourism and safeguarding natural beauty is amongst their top priorities, where a massive investment of Rs23 billion is anticipated from a private investor under the Thandiani Integrated Tourism Zone (ITZ) project. Speaking to a delegation of Peshawar-based journalists during a visit organized by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority, the GDA chief outlined several major initiatives launched by the authority. These measures aim to preserve the region’s ecological balance and lush forests while providing tourists with modern, safe, and environmentally conscious facilities that also uplift the local community’s standard of living. Among these initiatives is the rollout of electric sightseeing carts, designed to reduce traffic congestion and environmental pollution at key tourist spots while offering visitors a smoother travel experience. Furthermore, over the past year, the GDA has placed a complete ban on concrete construction, mandating the use of prefabricated and wooden eco-friendly structures instead. This policy is designed to protect Galiyat’s fragile mountain landscape and forests from the toll of unmanaged urban sprawl. To curb haphazard high-rise construction, the authority amended its 2020 building control rules to introduce the new Building Control Regulations (BCR-2026). These updated guidelines strictly regulate building heights and volumes in sensitive ecological and tourist zones, reducing maximum permitted building heights from seven floors down to five in order to preserve scenic sightlines and maintain the region’s distinct alpine character. A major milestone in Galiyat’s tourism development is the agreement signed with a private investor for the integrated development of nearly 400 kanal of land in Thandiani. Alongside the expected private investment of around Rs23 billion, the project is projected to generate nearly Rs2.5 billion in revenue for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government. Local authorities describe the Thandiani project as a flagship endeavor that will deliver modern, low-impact infrastructure, generate new employment opportunities, and stimulate economic activity without compromising the natural environment. Infrastructure upgrades also address Galiyat’s vital water systems. To protect natural springs and freshwater sources from pollution, construction is currently underway on a water treatment plant in Nathiagali to prevent sewage and wastewater from contaminating local water supplies. Overall, the GDA’s ongoing reforms signal a shift away from high-density, high-volume tourism toward a sustainable model that preserves Galiyat’s forests, hydrology, and unique ecological identity as a world-class destination. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026 [...]

Rana Sanaullah says new provinces debate should take place in Parliament

September 12, 2026 3:57

Adviser to Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah on Saturday said that debate on the creation of new provinces should take place in the Parliament rather than at economic forums or seminars. Addressing a press conference in Lahore, he said if people wanted new provinces, “no one could stop them”, adding that the matter would ultimately have to be dealt with through Parliament. Responding to a question on new provinces, Sanaullah said the issue had not yet been raised in the cabinet or Parliament. He said discussions at forums and in speeches would not produce results and the matter should be debated in Parliament, where all political parties could present their positions. “Only Parliament is such a forum where this debate is possible and debate by leaderships of all the provinces will yield better results,” he said, adding that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was consulting on its position regarding new provinces and would participate in the parliamentary debate. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would also discuss the matter, he added. Rana Sanaullah said the party would take into account the views of its workers at the district and union-council levels before announcing its policy. He said the creation of new provinces was ultimately a matter for Parliament, adding that if the joint sitting of Parliament approved the proposal, a referendum would be held. On the proposed long march by Jamaat-e-Islami and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Rana Sanaullah said he had requested Jamaat-e-Islami leaders to postpone their march by one or two weeks. He said the PML-N also wanted a reduction in petroleum prices and hoped Jamaat-e-Islami would hold a peaceful protest. “The government is taking serious measures to bring down inflation,” he maintained. However, he feared that “the other party’s” long march would not be peaceful. [...]

Anthropic CEO urges AI companies to slow model development amid fears over misuse

September 12, 2026 3:39

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei called on AI companies to moderate the rate at which they advance model capabilities amid mounting fears of misuse of artificial intelligence, outlining a three-step framework intended to pace development and create more time to manage its risks. “We must slow the pace at which we improve the capabilities of AI models. Progress will still seem fast, and we must make wise use of the time we gain,” Amodei said in an essay shared on X. His essay comes after Anthropic released a threat intelligence report on Thursday detailing how several actors had used its Claude AI models for activities ranging from weapons development and cyber operations to surveillance and fraud. Alarm about the potential harm from AI grew this week when Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon resigned, stating that the “people building AI earnestly believe that it could kill us all by the end of the decade.” Amodei clarified that he was not calling for halting model training or technical progress, but ensuring that companies take adequate time to align and safeguard their models, and for third-party evaluators to confirm these steps. As part of his proposed three-step framework, Amodei said Anthropic would install permanent third-party reviewers inside frontier AI companies, with access to relevant tools and internal risk-assessment processes. Reuters reported last week that a swarm of rogue OpenAI agents hijacked a German website and transformed it into a bulletin board for other AI agents, with the ChatGPT maker’s officials keeping the incident under wraps as executives grappled with the fallout from the July breach of the open-source repository Hugging Face. Many incidents where AI agents from developers such as Anthropic’s rival OpenAI have hacked or attempted to access external systems have heightened concerns over the increasing capacity of AI models and developers’ ability to contain them. Amodei said AI companies should voluntarily work together to set standards as growing numbers of U.S. lawmakers are calling for new rules to govern AI systems. [...]

Iran got Chinese satellite images before deadly strike on US troops: report

September 12, 2026 3:08

WASHINGTON: Chinese entities supplied Iran with satellite images of a base in Jordan before and after an attack that killed three US soldiers, The Wall Street Journal reported – an incident that could deepen tensions between Washington and Beijing. On July 17, Iran launched missile strikes on the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, which houses US forces. Three US Army soldiers were killed. The unnamed US officials quoted by The Wall Street Journal did not name the Chinese entities involved, and did not suggest that Beijing was directly to blame. But US officials have raised the matter with their Chinese counterparts, and it could come up again when US President Donald Trump welcomes Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House on September 24. Chinese officials asked for proof of the transfer of satellite imagery when prodded by the US officials, and refused to acknowledge that Chinese companies were involved in providing Tehran with satellite images, the Journal reported late Friday. Trump has warned Beijing not to sell weapons to Iran, and in May, Washington sanctioned three China-based satellite firms for enabling Iran’s military operations. China is a top economic partner of Iran, buying much of its oil output, and also an important diplomatic backer. [...]

Modi, Xi 'expressed commitment' to resolving border issue: India

September 12, 2026 2:59

NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to work together towards resolving their countries’ contested border, New Delhi’s foreign ministry said Saturday after the leaders met. Xi’s visit to New Delhi, to attend the 11-nation member BRICS summit, is being closely watched because it is his first to neighbouring India since 2019, and the biggest step yet in a cautious thaw between the nuclear-armed rivals. “Although our two countries are different in many respects, they are fully capable of complementing each other’s strengths, supporting one another, achieving mutual success and advancing together,” Xi said as he met Modi, in a video released from New Delhi. India’s foreign ministry said in a statement after the meeting that “the two leaders expressed commitment to a fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable resolution of the boundary question”. Modi “underlined the need for both sides to observe existing agreements and understandings on border related issues,” it added. The Chinese leader is visiting six years after a deadly military clash along the disputed border. Ties have since gradually improved through restored flights, visas and high-level contacts. The underlying territorial dispute remains unresolved, and both sides retain heavy military deployments along their roughly 3,500-kilometre (2,175-mile) high-altitude border along Tibet. Dozens of Tibetans protested in New Delhi on Friday – exiles, like their Buddhist spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, who has lived in India since fleeing a Chinese crackdown in 1959 – waving placards against Xi’s visit. “Differences should not become disputes,” New Delhi’s foreign ministry said, in a statement. It said that Modi had “highlighted that both sides must be guided by three mutuals – mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest”. Trade was another focus of the meeting. China is now India’s largest trading partner, with bilateral goods trade reaching $151 billion in the 2025-26 financial year, according to Indian government data. “Both sides should… work hand-in-hand to promote high-quality major financial cooperation, advocate an equal and sustainable global order, and foster an economic globalisation that is open and inclusive,” Xi said. But the relationship is heavily tilted towards Beijing. India imported $131 billion of goods from China, while exports were $19 billion, leaving a record $112 billion trade deficit. The two leaders “underlined the need to address each other’s concerns, including structural trade imbalance and supply chain issues, and facilitation of meaningful and predictable market access”, the Indian foreign ministry statement said. [...]

No signed Hormuz deal expected yet from Oman meeting on Monday, Iranian official says

September 12, 2026 2:16

A meeting between Iran and Gulf states planned for Monday in Oman will be a chance to discuss issues including the Strait of Hormuz, but is not expected to yield a signed agreement over the blockaded waterway, a senior Iranian official said on Saturday. Iran has been negotiating for months with Oman, which controls the opposite bank of the strait, over a deal that would govern transport through it. Oman has long said its negotiations are supported by other Arab countries in the Gulf. Tehran announced on Friday that it was planning to attend a meeting with Gulf countries in Oman on Monday. Oman has not officially announced the meeting and other regional states have so far remained silent. Bahrain said on Saturday it would not attend meetings with Iran. The Iranian official, who discussed the plans on condition of anonymity, said Monday’s meeting was called at Oman’s initiative, and would provide a forum to discuss other regional issues as well as Hormuz. According to the Iranian official, Iran still wants an agreement that would allow it to collect fees from ships that use the strait, which Oman rejects. Around a fifth of global oil supplies transited the strait sbefore the United States and Israel attacked Iran in February, launching the war. Global oil prices have surged over the past week after the United States and Iran both fired on tankers in the strait, and Houthi allies in Yemen advanced near another crucial Middle East conduit for oil, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on the opposite side of the Arabian Peninsula. [...]

Fit-again Bumrah needs game time, says India skipper Iyer

September 12, 2026 1:59

NEW DELHI: India’s T20 captain Shreyas Iyer on Saturday said Jasprit Bumrah needs game time in the three matches against Afghanistan to regain confidence after returning from an injury. Bumrah was added to the Indian squad for the Afghanistan series at New Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium, starting Sunday, but needed fitness clearance to play. The pace spearhead bowled full steam in training on Friday and looks set to make the XI in the opener. “He has played so much cricket over the years. He is immensely experienced but at the end of the day, if you would ask me as an individual who is coming out of an injury, I would want more game time and more confidence leading up to a certain tournament,” Iyer told reporters. “I interacted with him yesterday and he is in that mindset where he wants to come and perform for the team and see to it that we win championships.” The 32-year-old Bumrah has not bowled since the second one-day international of the England series in Cardiff on July 16 due to an impact injury. Bumrah’s return is eagerly awaited and Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran said his team is ready to tackle the fast bowler. “He is one of the best, he is my favourite fast bowler,” said Zadran. “We as a group never complicate things for ourselves. We have a very good plan for him. Hopefully we can play better cricket against Jasprit Bumrah and the Indian cricket team.” Afghanistan, who have long used India and the United Arab Emirates as home venues, will officially be the hosts for the series. India have a difficult selection decision to make in the top-order, with Iyer admitting it will be a “tough call” to choose between Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. “All three of them, having them in the team is a luxury first of all, and they are flawless in their own departments,” said Iyer. “Well, it is going to be a tight call because they have been performing consistently. And see, whoever gets the opportunity, it’s definitely for the team’s benefit.” [...]

Philippine ferry fire death toll climbs to 76 as identification process begins

September 12, 2026 1:52

CORON: The death toll from a Philippine ferry fire jumped to 76 on Saturday after the coast guard confirmed the discovery of 41 more bodies aboard the burnt-out vessel. The remains will be transported to a port in Coron, Palawan, coast guard spokeswoman Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said in a statement. AFP watched hours earlier as disaster agency workers carried coffins to a cemetery in the resort town, intended for the temporary burial of victims of the fire that tore through the M/V June Aster on Wednesday. The first 30 bodies arrived by sea earlier on Saturday as forensic specialists began the painstaking process of identifying the remains. The confirmed death toll now stands at 76, including five bodies recovered in the immediate wake of the incident. The ship sits grounded about 7.5 kilometres (4.5 miles) off the coast. One-metre (three-feet) deep graves have been dug to hold the victims’ remains until DNA testing is completed, Kristine Ablana, a tourism official serving as an official spokesperson, told reporters on Saturday. Relatives will be brought to identify personal items that may have belonged to family members. “Once someone is able to verify… that this photo or these belongings are indeed those of their relative, they will be asked to provide a DNA sample,” Ablana said. Thirty passengers, including two Chilean nationals, and 13 crew have been rescued, according to the coast guard. Around a dozen people are believed to remain unaccounted for. ‘Happened in seconds’ Cayabyab said in a radio interview that the fire had begun in the cargo hold, then tore through the ship within seconds. “From the time that they heard the loud explosion, the appearance of smoke, and then fire. It spread very quickly,” she said of survivors’ accounts. “Everything happened in seconds,” she said, adding that those who made it off the ship had not even had time to put on life jackets. Near the pier where the bodies were to be returned, an emotional Josenit Mayo, 40, told AFP her daughter had been aboard the ferry, returning from the capital Manila for a family visit. “She told me ‘Mom, I want to go home as I’m missing my siblings,’” Mayo said. “She insisted she was lonely.” Myra Cabilan told AFP she had flown to Coron to find her missing brother, 40-year-old Rammel Gonzaga, who had taken the ferry from Manila on a business trip with his brother-in-law. “His wife had just given birth a month ago. He was so happy he was given a daughter,” Cabilan said, fighting back tears. “At dawn, I still believed he survived. But he’s still missing. I have lost hope.” Hundreds of people desperate for news about the incident have taken to leaving comments on the Facebook page of a local mayor, searching for relatives, friends and even a dog. The archipelago nation of 116 million has a long history of disasters involving the inter-island ferries that ply its seas. Many rely on cheap and poorly regulated boats and ships for transport between the country’s more than 7,000 islands, despite regular accidents. In January, a triple-decker ferry carrying more than 340 people sank off the southern Philippines, killing at least 52 people. On Thursday, the company that owns the M/V June Aster, Atienza Interisland Ferries Inc, said it was fully cooperating with the investigation. [...]

Living longer is a blessing - but can we afford it?

September 12, 2026 1:47

What happens when growing old becomes more expensive than ever been before? At first glance, it may seem strange to describe longer lives as a challenge. Surely living longer is something every society should celebrate. And it is. One of the greatest achievements of the past century has been the remarkable improvement in human health. Better healthcare, improved sanitation, advances in medicine and rising living standards mean that many Pakistanis are now living longer than previous generations. According to the World Bank, life expectancy in Pakistan has risen to approximately 68 years, reflecting decades of steady progress. The challenge is not that we are living longer. The challenge is that we have not yet adapted to what longer lives mean. At the same time, Pakistan’s population is beginning to age. Today, around 16 to 17 million Pakistanis are aged 60 years or above. By 2050, that number is expected to exceed 40 million. In other words, within the working lives of today’s younger generation, the number of older Pakistanis will more than double. This is not a demographic crisis. It is a development success story. It means more parents will watch their grandchildren grow up. More families will have the privilege of sharing longer lives together. It reflects improvements that every nation strives to achieve. The challenge is not that we are living longer. The challenge is that we have not yet adapted to what longer lives mean. People often assume that retirement is simply about replacing a salary. In reality, it is equally about preparing for a stage of life when household expenses may continue to rise even as regular earnings begin to fall. For most of our working lives, we rarely think about the cost of getting older. A regular monthly income quietly pays the household bills, keeps food on the table and covers everyday expenses. Few people stop to ask what life might look like twenty or thirty years after they stop working. Yet growing older rarely becomes less expensive. In many respects, it becomes considerably more costly. As we age, healthcare often replaces education as the largest household expense. Medicines become a regular monthly commitment rather than an occasional purchase. Routine medical tests become more frequent. Chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, and high blood pressure require ongoing treatment, while some older people eventually require assistance with everyday activities or long-term care. Medical science has helped us live longer. Unfortunately, it has also increased the number of years during which many people require medical treatment. This creates a challenge that many families underestimate. People often assume that retirement is simply about replacing a salary. In reality, it is equally about preparing for a stage of life when household expenses may continue to rise even as regular earnings begin to fall. For many Pakistani families, the greatest financial pressure is therefore not old age itself. It is the combination of living longer and facing higher healthcare costs at the very moment when employment income comes to an end. At the same time, families themselves are changing. Children increasingly leave their hometowns in search of education and employment. Many build careers overseas. Families are becoming smaller, while the cost of housing, education and raising children continues to increase. Adult children often find themselves supporting both their own families and ageing parents simultaneously. None of this suggests that families care less than they once did. Quite the opposite. The desire to care for ageing parents remains deeply rooted in our culture. The question is whether families, on their own, can continue to shoulder the financial consequences of longer lives, rising healthcare costs, and changing economic realities. Perhaps we also need to rethink what financial independence means in old age. It does not necessarily mean being wealthy. Longer lives are one of our greatest national achievements. The challenge before us is ensuring that those additional years are healthy, dignified, and financially secure. It means being able to buy your medicines without worrying about the cost. It means paying your household bills without feeling that every expense must be met by your children. It means retaining the dignity of making your own choices while knowing that your family is supporting you because they want to, not because they have no alternative. That distinction matters. Helping older people remain financially independent is not about weakening families. It is about strengthening them. Parents who have some financial security are often better able to preserve their dignity and independence. Their children, in turn, are better able to support them emotionally and practically without sacrificing the future of their own families. Financial resilience therefore benefits not only older people but every generation within the household. Pakistan should view this as an opportunity rather than a problem. Longer lives are one of our greatest national achievements. The challenge before us is ensuring that those additional years are healthy, dignified, and financially secure. Preparing for that future is not simply about money. It is about ensuring that the blessing of living longer never becomes a burden for the families who have always been the foundation of our society. The article does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Business Recorder or its owners. [...]

Bahrain says won't participate in Hormuz meeting with Iran

September 12, 2026 1:47

MANAMA: Bahrain said on Saturday that it would not take part in a proposed meeting in Oman between Iran and Gulf states to discuss the Strait of Hormuz, which Tehran has blockaded throughout the Middle East war. Pointing to attacks on infrastructure across the Gulf, the ministry said that security and stability in the region “cannot be preserved through a policy of appeasement” and called for Hormuz to be open without “discrimination, fees or permits”. Iran’s foreign ministry had said there would be a meeting on Monday hosted by Muscat where the future of the strait, vital for global oil and gas flows, would be negotiated. Tehran has been pushing to formalise its control over the waterway, including potentially charging fees for passage, and has been in negotiations with Muscat, whose territorial waters also cover Hormuz. The strait was free to use by shipping from all nations before the Middle East war, which was started by the United States and Israel in late February. Manama’s foreign ministry said it maintained its commitment to dialogue, but it “will not be a party to any collective meeting that includes Iran before the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries”. Bahrain cut diplomatic ties with Iran in 2016 alongside Saudi Arabia during an earlier crisis between the regional rivals. While Riyadh restored ties in 2023, Manama is yet to do so. [...]

Sindh decides to pay pension on retirement day from Jan 2027

September 12, 2026 1:28

The Sindh government has decided that employees retiring from January 1, 2027 will receive their pension and other basic financial dues on the day of their retirement. The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Sindh Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah to review pension and medical reimbursement matters. Shah directed all provincial departments to clear pending pension bills within three months, saying government employees should receive their pension and basic financial entitlements on their last day of service and should not have to visit offices repeatedly to claim their dues. He ordered the establishment of an inter-departmental task force, headed by the Services department secretary and comprising representatives of the Accountant General Sindh, Finance, Health, General Administration and other relevant departments. The task force was directed to submit a final operational framework for timely pension payments within one week and propose amendments to rules where necessary. The meeting also reviewed delays in medical reimbursement claims of government employees. Shah said the delays were caused by administrative hurdles rather than policy or funding issues. He directed officials to eliminate unnecessary paperwork and simplify the process, including issues related to incomplete documents, e-verification and issuance of no-objection certificates (NOCs). He directed the General Administration secretary to conduct a joint review of the medical reimbursement procedure and asked the relevant departments to make the system faster and easier for employees and their families. “Employees should not face unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles in obtaining pension and medical dues,” the chief secretary said. [...]

Zelensky open to meeting Putin at G20 in Miami

September 12, 2026 1:14

BERLIN: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he would be willing to meet Russian leader Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit in Miami for talks on ending the war, in a media interview released Saturday. The Kremlin said it has not yet made a decision on whether Putin would attend the gathering of world leaders in December, and repeated the Russian leader’s demand that Zelensky come to Russia for talks. Washington is seeking to kick-start long-stalled negotiations to find a solution to the conflict, Europe’s deadliest since World War II, with US negotiators recently visiting Kyiv and Moscow and President Donald Trump and Putin this week holding talks on the conflict over the phone. The United States holds this year’s presidency of the Group of 20 major economies, which comprises 19 countries plus the European Union and the African Union, and culminates in the December 14-15 leaders’ summit. Russia’s finance minister has already attended a G20 meeting, causing discomfort among some of Ukraine’s European allies, and a Russian delegation is set to take part in an energy ministers’ gathering next week. Asked whether he would be willing to meet Putin at the December summit if both leaders were invited, Zelensky told German broadcaster Deutsche Welle: “Yes, of course. “We have to come. We have to meet, to speak, and make decisions. It’s not about words. What I will tell him or what he wants to tell me, it doesn’t matter.” All that mattered were “results”, he added. But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was cited by Russia’s TASS news agency as saying that “we do not know yet whether we will be going to Miami”. Peskov repeated Putin’s demand that Zelensky come to Russia – which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, triggering the war – for any talks: “If he really wants to meet Putin, then Putin has said before that he can fly to Moscow.” Last weekend, US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner visited Moscow and Putin and Trump also discussed the war during the week in what the Kremlin termed an “extremely frank” and constructive hour-long phone call. In the Deutsche Welle interview, which took place Friday in Canada, Zelensky said that Witkoff and Kushner’s visit was a “good signal”, and it was important the pair had visited Kyiv as well as Moscow. “It’s respect to our people,” he said. Zelensky has also announced he plans to meet Trump in late September, as Washington pushes for fresh face-to-face talks between Moscow and Kyiv. ‘Good position for talks’ Asked about Ukraine’s position ahead of possible negotiations, Zelensky responded: “Ukraine now is much more stronger than last year on the battlefield. “That’s why we think that we have now (a) good position for negotiations.” Kyiv has said the talks could happen as early as this month, but the Kremlin on Monday said it was “too early” to discuss a venue or dates. Several previous rounds of negotiations have failed. Trust between the sides is low, and there is no sign that Moscow or Kyiv have shifted their positions. Both Moscow and Kyiv have escalated long-range strikes on each other in recent months, leading to the highest civilian death toll since the early days of the war. Overnight Russian strikes killed four people in Ukraine, including two in Zaporizhzhia in the south and two at an ArcelorMittal plant in central Kryvyi Rih, local authorities and the steelmaker said Saturday. In the southern port city of Odesa, Russian missile and drone strikes hit residential buildings, destroying entire floors and leaving 35 people injured, the regional governor said. In the interview, Zelensky also repeated his call for Ukraine’s allies to provide more missiles to fend off Russian air attacks. Ukraine urgently needs more interceptor missiles for US-made Patriot air defence systems, but US supplies have been reduced after Washington used large numbers during its war with Iran. It was not clear whether Washington would provide enough missiles, said Zelensky, adding that they have “political will to sell and to help, but the production is not too big”. He also urged greater help from European allies: “All the Europeans who really support us have what we need.” [...]

BRICS adopts joint declaration, urges 'maximum restraint' in Mideast

September 12, 2026 1:06

NEW DELHI: The BRICS group of nations unanimously adopted a joint declaration on Saturday, expressing “deep concern” over the war in the Middle East and urged maximum restraint, advocating for a “multilateral approach” that respects national viewpoints. The declaration, adopted on the first day of the BRICS leaders’ annual summit in New Delhi, comes at a time when U.S. and Iran have resumed tit-for-tat strikes against each other, after a pause in fighting for much of August. The BRICS bloc includes both Iran and United Arab Emirates, which was expected to make clinching a joint statement consensus a particularly challenging task for host New Delhi. “We express deep concern over the continued escalation of tensions in Middle East…call for exercising maximum restraint…avoiding actions that could further aggravate the situation,” the ‘New Delhi Declaration’ said. China’s Xi lands in Delhi for BRICS summit and talks with Modi The declaration also reiterated the commitment of member nations to a peaceful resolution of international disputes “through dialogue, consultation, and diplomacy”. In addition, they voiced concerns about the rise of “unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures” that distort trade, against the backdrop of U.S. sanctions against Tehran amid its war with the country, and against Russia over its conflict with Ukraine. BRICS includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. [...]

Root takes charge, guiding England to series whitewash over Pakistan

September 12, 2026 12:45

BIRMINGHAM: Joe Root guided England to a 3-0 series whitewash over Pakistan with an unbeaten 62, as his side overcame early tremors to win the third Test by eight wickets at Edgbaston. England, chasing a victory target of 130, lost Ben Duckett to the first ball and opening partner Emilio Gay later in the same over from Muhammad Abbas. But Root, who had a fortunate escape when he was bowled by Mohammad Ali on 23 off a no ball, brought all his experience to bear as England wrapped up their first series win for 19 months. It was Ali’s 17th no ball of the series. Pakistan’s last chance came and went when Root, on 38, edged Abbas between first and second slip who both left the ball for each other. It was Root’s 110th innings of 50 or more in Test cricket, a total which includes 41 hundreds. Pakistan, who conceded a first innings deficit of 320, showed commendable fight to take the game into a fourth day, but with Jordan Cox supplying solid back-up to his captain with an unbeaten 59, England eased to victory in the 25th over. If only Pakistan had shown up in the first two Tests as they did belatedly in Birmingham this could have been an enthralling series. As it was, England’s total dominance made it something of a damp squib. England, attempting to reboot after the New Zealand defeat which followed the Ashes loss, will not be complaining. Notwithstanding the panic induced by Pakistan’s exciting debutant Razaullah, whose thrilling 81 from 63 balls electrified Edgbaston on Friday evening, it has been a satisfying return to the captaincy for Root following Ben Stokes’ retirement from international cricket. Marcus Trescothick, appointed interim red-ball head coach after the sacking of Brendon McCullum, hands over a rejuvenated side to Stephen Fleming for the three-Test series in South Africa in December and January. South Africa will be much stronger opposition, but if England can keep the quartet of Ollie Robinson, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson fit, they will be a threat. The England pace bowling attack, led by Robinson who took 21 wickets, was too good for Pakistan on helpful surfaces. The batting was not quite so convincing with no one able to make a century. With Jacob Bethell due to come back in for the winter tour after knee surgery, one batsman out of Emilio Gay, Dan Lawrence and Cox will have to make way. That situation remains fluid but Cox, who also kept wicket in the second innings because of Jamie Smith’s finger injury, did his cause no harm with his poised second innings performance. For Pakistan, who have now lost 16 of their 21 Tests, it has been a chaotic tour capped off by the decision to replace seven players in the squad after the second Test and sack coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and his assistant Umar Gul. At least, though, the ‘Raz-ball’ fightback in Birmingham showed there was still a pulse ahead of their next assignment against Sri Lanka in October. [...]

FPCCI calls for stronger economic integration among OIC states

September 12, 2026 12:26

Pakistan makes NADRA-integrated vaccination proof mandatory for Umrah travelers

September 12, 2026 11:57

The Airport Health Department, Border Health Services-Pakistan, has announced that Umrah pilgrims departing from Pakistan will be required to carry NADRA-integrated digital vaccination proof for international travel. According to a notification issued by the Airport Health Department on September 7, 2026, the measure covers polio, meningitis, yellow fever and influenza vaccinations. The department said travelers will not be allowed to travel without NADRA-integrated vaccination proof after September 14, 2026. Airlines have also been directed to ensure that their travel agents inform Umrah pilgrims about the new requirement. Pilgrims can obtain vaccination certificates from authorised vaccination centers, while vaccination and online entry facilities will also be available at international departure areas. Passengers seeking vaccination at the airport have been advised to reach at least six hours before their flight. The notification further states that no other vaccination card will be accepted after September 14. [...]

Punjab by-polls: Notices served on minister, SAPM for 'violating' election code of conduct

November 21, 2025 1:33

This collage of pictures show Federal Minister of Power Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Huzaifa Rehman. —APP/NA website/FileShow-cause notices have been issued to Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari and Special Assistant to the... [...]

27th Amendment empowers FCC to hear all constitutional cases: minister

November 20, 2025 7:59

Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik addressing an event on December 21, 2024. — Facebook@BarristerAqeelMalikState Minister for Law Aqeel Malik said on Thursday that the 27th Amendment has vested authority to hear constitutional matters in the Federal Constitutional... [...]

JF-17 attracts strong attention at Dubai Airshow as friendly country inks procurement MoU

November 20, 2025 5:25

Pakistan Air Force JF-17 Thunder fighter jet during World Defence Air Show 2024 held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, February 7, 2024. — PPI Pakistan's JF-17 Thunder garnered significant attention at the Dubai Airshow 2025, leading to the signing of a memorandum of understanding with a... [...]

US lawmakers laud Punjab govt's initiative to modernise brick-kiln

November 20, 2025 4:39

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz attends ceremony in this undated image. — Facebook/@MaryamNSharifISLAMABAD: The Congressional Pakistan Caucus has applauded Punjab’s drive to modernise its brick-kiln sector, saying the reforms could serve as a pilot for eliminating bonded labour and... [...]

Security forces gun down 30 terrorists in multiple IBOs in KP: ISPR

November 20, 2025 4:38

Frontier Constabulary and army personnel gather stand guard in Kurram, January 17, 2025. — AFPSecurity forces killed 30 Indian proxy Fitna al-Khawarij terrorists during multiple intelligence-based operations carried out by security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa , the military's media wing... [...]

MQM-P calls for new province in Sindh

November 20, 2025 3:56

Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui addresses a press conference in Karachi, November 20, 2025. — Screengrab via YouTube/Geo NewsKARACHI: With discussions on the 28th Amendment gaining momentum, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement–Pakistan has once again... [...]

US report validates Pakistan military edge over India: PM

November 20, 2025 3:55

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addresses ceremony in Azad Jammu and Kashmir on November 20, 2025. — X/@GovtofPakistanPrime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said a recent US report endorsing Pakistan’s downing of Indian aircraft stands as formal validation of the country’s... [...]

Banned TTP poses serious threat to Pakistan security: UNSC panel

November 20, 2025 10:24

Denmark’s Deputy Permanent Representative to United Nations and chair of UNSC's ISIL, Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee Sandra Jensen Landi. — Screengrab via UN WebTV websiteThe chair of the United Nations Security Council's Daesh and Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee has cautioned that the... [...]

CM Afridi clarifies remarks on by-poll after ECP requests army deployment

November 20, 2025 10:01

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Khan Afridi addresses a gathering at Havelian, Abbottabad on November 19, 2025. — Facbook@ImMuhammadSohailAfridiISLAMABAD: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Thursday issued a clarification concerning his remarks on the NA-18 by-poll,... [...]

Dubai sees 3.2m Pakistani passengers in 2025 as airport sets new milestone

November 20, 2025 6:16

People sit at a coffee shop as they wait for their flight at the Dubai International Airport, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, April 17, 2024. — ReutersDUBAI: Dubai International Airport handled 3.2 million passengers travelling from Pakistan in the first nine months of 2025, making the... [...]

Security forces kill 23 Indian proxy terrorists in KP's Kurram

November 20, 2025 5:08

Security forces are seen taking position during an operation. — ISPR/FileRAWALPINDI: Amid country's ongoing fight against the menace of terrorism, security forces have neutralised 23 Indian proxy Fitna al-Khawarij terrorists in separate engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Kurram... [...]

Pakistan to construct island to boost oil exploration: report

November 19, 2025 6:26

Pump jacks operate in front of a drilling rig in an oil field in Midland, Texas United States. — Reuters/FilePakistan's state-owned energy company, Pakistan Petroleum Limited , has announced plans for an artificial island to boost its oil exploration efforts.Islamabad has intensified its... [...]

Russia ready to mediate Pakistan's issues with India, Afghanistan: envoy

November 19, 2025 6:14

Russia's ambassador to Pakistan has extended his country's offer to mediate Islamabad's conflicts with India and Afghanistan, amid strained relations with its neighbouring countries.Islamabad's relations with India have remained tense since the four-day war in May, while the Afghan Taliban regime... [...]

Security forces neutralise four terrorists in KP IBOs

November 19, 2025 5:12

Soldiers ride on a Pakistan Army vehicle in this undated image. — AFP/FileFour terrorists affiliated with Indian proxy, Fitna al-Khawarij, were killed in a series of operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from November 17 to 18, the Inter-Services Public Relations said on Wednesday.An... [...]

Reclassification of 41 candidates on reserved seats goes beyond SC mandate: Justice Mandokhail

November 19, 2025 4:38

Supreme Court's Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail addresses an event related to Labour Day in Islamabad on May 1, 2025. — Screengrab/YouTube/Geo NewsISLAMABAD: Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail has released a detailed dissent in the reserved seats case, stating that the ruling on 41 candidates... [...]

Russian FM responds to Zelenskyy's Putin Meeting offer at G20: 'Huge gesture of goodwill'

September 12, 2026 3:35

Russian FM responds to Zelenskyy’s Putin Meeting offer at G20: ‘Huge gesture of goodwill’Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has responded to Ukrainian president Volodymyr’s offer to meet Putin at the G20 summit in Miami. When asked by the reports to comment on... [...]

Lindsay Clancy trial: Why did DeSantis defend lone holdout juror?

September 12, 2026 3:20

Lindsay Clancy trial: Why did DeSantis defend lone holdout juror?The trial of Lindsay Clancy has been declared a mistrial. But the controversy is far from over.The jury, which deliberated for days, did not reach a unanimous decision; thus, a mistrial.But to look more closely at the jury of 12... [...]

Trump predicts quick trade deal with Canada during Ireland trip

September 12, 2026 12:50

During a two-day visit to Ireland, Donald Trump met with Martin at Farmleigh House in Dublin and told reporters a new trade agreement with Canada could come fairly soon; he expressed optimism about resolving the trade war with Canada but provided no details into whether formal talks had... [...]

UK heatwave latest forecast: Could September bring more hot weather?

September 12, 2026 8:42

UK heatwave latest forecast: Could September bring more hot weather?The UK is bracing for another wave of heatwave this September as temperatures are set to spike, reaching summer-like in some places. As per the latest weather forecast based on computer models, On Saturday, the outbreaks of rain... [...]

Zelenskyy offers Putin meeting at G20: 'Results matter'

September 12, 2026 7:23

Zelenskyy offers Putin meeting at G20: ‘Results matter’Ukrainian President Volodymyr has signalled the willingness to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin if the latter attended the Group of 20 leaders’ summit scheduled for December. Speaking to the DW, Zelenskyy highlighted... [...]

Trump heads to Ireland for two-day visit: What's on agenda

September 12, 2026 6:16

Trump heads to Ireland for two-day visit: What’s on agenda President Donald Trump is expected to arrive in Ireland on Saturday where he will hold talks with Ireland leaders before attending a golf tournament this week. The US President is set for separate meetings in Dublin with Irish... [...]

Mississippi police arrest man in Tasia Fortune homicide investigation

September 12, 2026 2:40

Police in Jackson, Mississippi, have arrested a man after the death of Tasia Fortune was officially ruled a homicide.Jarques Ratliff, 51, has been charged with murder in connection with the death of Fortune, a 29-year-old Black woman who was found hanging from a tree outside an abandoned house on... [...]

Former Canadian PM Jean Chretien fires warning at US: 'We bow to no one'

September 12, 2026 2:20

Former prime minister of Canada Jean Chretien delivered a pointed message to the United States during a speech marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.Speaking at a memorial event in Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador, Chretien told Americans: “Never mistake our generosity... [...]

Mike Rogers faces backlash over 9/11 first responder votes amid attacks on Abdul El-Sayed

September 12, 2026 2:00

Michigan Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers is facing scrutiny over his voting record on 9/11 first responder benefits after repeatedly attacking Democratic rival Abdul El-Sayed over comments about the attacks.Rogers, a former congressman, voted against the 2010 James Zadroga Act, which... [...]

CIA releases secret 9/11 intelligence showing warnings before 9/11

September 12, 2026 1:00

The CIA has released dozens of previously classified presidential briefings detailing US intelligence on Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaida before the September 11 attacks.The documents were declassified pn Friday to mark the 25th anniversary of the attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people, according to... [...]

UK air traffic control meltdown reportedly caused by military aircraft flight data

September 12, 2026 12:20

A military aircraft reportedly triggered the UK air traffic control outage that cancelled more than 2,000 flights and caused widespread airport disruption this week.Hundreds of thousands of passengers were affected Tuesday after systems operated by National Air Traffic Services shut down for four... [...]

Mamdani and AOC 9/11 clip divides internet, witnesses say it is 'taken out of context'

September 12, 2026 12:00

A brief video showing New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez smiling during a 9/11 anniversary ceremony has sparked debate online.The four-second clip was captured Friday at Ground Zero as victims’ names were being read to mark 25 years since the September 11... [...]

Spain records highest-ever sea temperatures in summer 2026: report

September 11, 2026 6:58

Spain records highest-ever sea temperatures in summer 2026: reportSea temperatures surrounding Spain reached unprecedented highs during the summer of 2026, according to data released by the state port authority, Puertos del Estado. The highest temperature in the port authority's entire buoy... [...]

Criticism of Erika Kirk is fair game, says Megyn Kelly

September 11, 2026 5:11

Part of the reason Erika Kirk is facing criticism is that she decided to stay in the public eye by becoming CEO of Turning Point USA, Megyn Kelly said while appearing on Piers Morgan on the first anniversary of Charlie Kirk's death.She said she wished people would move on but she said "criticism... [...]

JD Vance VS Marco Rubio: The battle for post-Trump GOP leadership continues

September 11, 2026 3:01

JD Vance VS Marco Rubio: The battle for post-Trump GOP leadership continuesAs the Republican Party navigates the twilight of the Trump era, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are positioning themselves as the primary ideological heirs to the movement, setting up a... [...]

سہیل آفریدی نے پیٹرول کی قیمتوں میں مسلسل اضافے کو انتہائی افسوسناک قرار دیدیا

September 12, 2026 3:09

وزیراعلیٰ خیبر پختونخوا سہیل آفریدی نے پیٹرولیم مصنوعات کی قیمتوں میں مسلسل اضافے کو انتہائی افسوسناک قرار دیدیا۔پشاور میں کابینہ... [...]

کیپٹن (ر) سہیل چوہدری آئی جی اسلام آباد تعینات، نوٹیفکیشن جاری

September 12, 2026 3:09

کیپٹن ریٹائرڈ سہیل چوہدری آئی جی اسلام آباد تعینات کر دیے گئے، جس کا نوٹیفکیشن جاری کردیا گیا۔ اسلام آباد سے جاری نوٹیفیکیشن کے... [...]

راولپنڈی: مدرسہ طالب علم کا قتل، ضمانت خارج ہونے پر ملزمان عدالت سے فرار

September 12, 2026 3:09

فائل فوٹو راولپنڈی کے علاقے کلر سیداں مدرسے کے 11 سالہ طالب علم فیضان قتل کیس میں پولیس کو مطلوب 3 ملزمان ضمانت خارج ہونے کے بعد عدالت... [...]

وزیر اعلیٰ بلوچستان سرفراز بگٹی نے انتظامی بنیادوں پر نئے صوبوں کی حمایت کردی

September 12, 2026 2:09

وزیر اعلیٰ بلوچستان سرفراز بگٹی نے انتظامی بنیادوں پر نئے صوبوں کی حمایت کردی۔ کوئٹہ میں سینئر صحافیوں سے ویڈیو لنک میں گفتگو... [...]

دھرتی ماں صرف پاکستان، صوبے انتظامی یونٹس سے زیادہ کچھ نہیں، خالد مقبول صدیقی

September 12, 2026 2:09

ڈاکٹر خالد مقبول صدیقی۔متحدہ قومی موومنٹ پاکستان کے چیئرمین ڈاکٹر خالد مقبول صدیقی نے کہا ہے کہ دھرتی ماں صرف پاکستان ہے، صوبے صرف... [...]

تھرپارکر: عدالت نے لڑکی کی قبر کشائی، دوبارہ پوسٹ مارٹم کا حکم دیدیا

September 12, 2026 2:09

تھرپارکر کے شہر اسلام کوٹ میں 23 سالہ شادی شدہ لڑکی کی موت کا معاملہ نیا رخ اختیار کرگیا۔ مٹھی کی عدالت نے موت کی اصل وجہ جاننے کے لیے... [...]

وزیر اعلیٰ پنجاب مریم نواز کی صاحبزادی ماہ نور صفدر کی جاتی امرا میں نکاح کی تقریب

September 12, 2026 2:09

فوٹو: سوشل میڈیا وزیر اعلیٰ پنجاب مریم نواز کی صاحبزادی ماہ نور صفدر کے نکاح کی تقریب میں صرف شریف فیملی اور قریبی عزیز و اقارب کو... [...]

فاطمیہ انٹرنیشنل یونیورسٹی کراچی کے قیام کا بل سندھ اسمبلی سے متفقہ منظور

September 12, 2026 1:09

سندھ اسمبلی نے کراچی میں فاطمیہ انٹرنیشنل یونیورسٹی کے قیام کا بل متفقہ طور پر منظور کرلیا، جس کے بعد مجوزہ یونیورسٹی کو صوبائی... [...]

سندھ اسمبلی، پی ٹی آئی کے حمایت یافتہ شبیر قریشی کی انگریزی توجہ کا مرکز بن گئی

September 12, 2026 1:09

سندھ اسمبلی اجلاس میں پاکستان تحریک انصاف کے حمایت یافتہ آزاد رکن شبیر قریشی کی انگلش توجہ کا مرکز بن گئی۔شبیر قریشی نے ... [...]

حافظ نعیم الرحمان نے 20 ستمبر کو اسلام آباد میں لانگ مارچ کا اعلان کردیا

September 12, 2026 1:09

امیر جماعت اسلامی حافظ نعیم الرحمان نے 20 ستمبر کو اسلام آباد کی طرف لانگ مارچ کا اعلان کردیا۔اسلام آباد میں آبپارہ چوک پر... [...]

ملک کا نظام صرف 800 لوگ دیکھ رہے ہیں، مفتاح اسماعیل

September 12, 2026 1:09

سابق وفاقی وزیر خزانہ مفتاح اسماعیل نے کہا ہے کہ ملک کا نظام صرف 800 لوگ دیکھ رہے ہیں، اجارہ داریاں قائم ہیں۔کراچی میں تقریب سے خطاب... [...]

اٹھارہویں ترمیم کے بعد چار صوبوں کا نظام فلاپ ہوگیا ، یہ نظام کام نہیں کرپا رہا، مصطفیٰ کمال

September 12, 2026 12:09

وفاقی وزیر صحت مصطفیٰ کمال کا کہنا ہے کہ اٹھارہویں ترمیم کے بعد چار صوبوں کا نظام فلاپ ہوگیا ، یہ نظام کام نہیں کرپارہا ، لوگ... [...]

سعودی عرب کی پائپ لائنز پر ڈرون حملے، پاکستان کا اظہار مذمت

September 12, 2026 11:09

پاکستان نے سعودی عرب کی مشرقی و مغربی پائپ لائنز پر ڈرون حملوں کی شدید مذمت کی ہے۔ اسلام آباد سے ترجمان دفتر خارجہ نے کہا کہ ڈرون... [...]

کراچی: گینگ وار کاشف ڈاڈا گروہ کے 2 کارندے گرفتار، لاکھوں کی منشیات برآمد

September 12, 2026 10:09

—فائل فوٹوکراچی میں کیماڑی پولیس نے گینگ وار کاشف ڈاڈا گروہ کے 2 کارندوں نعمان اور شامیر کو گرفتار کر کے لاکھوں روپے مالیت کی منشیات... [...]

سندھ پر حملوں میں سندھ کی شخصیات ہی ملوث رہی ہیں: قیصر بنگالی

September 12, 2026 10:09

ماہر معیشت ڈاکٹر قیصر بنگالی—فائل فوٹوماہر معاشیات ڈاکٹر قیصر بنگالی نے کہا ہے کہ سندھ توڑنے کی باتیں پہلی بار نہیں ہو رہیں اور... [...]

بھارتی پائلٹ دہلی کے فائیو اسٹار ہوٹل میں مردہ پایا گیا

September 12, 2026 3:09

فوٹو: بھارتی میڈیا بھارتی پائلٹ دہلی کے فائیو اسٹار ہوٹل میں مردہ پایا گیا، جس کی شناخت سنی اسلڈیکر کے نام سے ہوئی ہے۔پولیس کے مطابق... [...]

ٹرمپ کا آئرلینڈ کے دونوں حصوں کو متحد دیکھنے کی خواہش کا اظہار

September 12, 2026 12:09

تصویر بشکریہ: رائٹر۔امریکی صدر ڈونلڈ ٹرمپ نے آئرلینڈ کے دونوں حصوں کو متحد دیکھنے کی خواہش کا اظہار کردیا۔ڈبلن سے میڈیا رپورٹ کے... [...]

مشرقِ وسطیٰ اور خلیج میں امن کیلئے برکس ارکان کے ساتھ مل کر کام کرینگے، چینی صدر

September 12, 2026 12:09

تصویر سوشل میڈیا۔چین کے صدر شی جن پنگ نے کہا ہے کہ برکس ممالک کو تاریخ کے درست رخ پر مضبوطی سے کھڑا ہونا چاہیے۔ برکس سربراہی اجلاس... [...]

امریکی حمایت کے بغیر اسرائیلی فوج تیزی سے ڈھیر ہو جائے گی: ایرانی پاسداران کے سربراہ کا دعویٰ

September 12, 2026 10:09

احمد واحدی — فائل فوٹوایرانی پاسدارانِ انقلاب کے کمانڈر احمد واحدی نے دعویٰ کیا ہے کہ امریکا کی حمایت کے بغیر اسرائیلی فوج تیزی سے... [...]

فوجی طیارے کے ڈیٹا کے باعث برطانیہ کا فضائی ٹریفک نظام تعطل کا شکار ہوا، رپورٹ

September 12, 2026 9:09

—فائل فوٹوبرطانیہ میں کئی روز تک پروازوں کے نظام میں معطلی کی ممکنہ وجہ سامنے آگئی۔فنانشل ٹائمز کی رپورٹ کے مظابق ذرائع نے بتایا ہے... [...]

ایران پڑوسی اور مسلم ممالک سے کوئی اختلاف نہیں رکھتا: مسعود پزشکیان

September 12, 2026 9:09

ایرانی صدر مسعود پزشکیان---فائل فوٹو ایرانی صدر مسعود پزشکیان نے کہا ہے کہ ایران جنگ جاری رکھنا نہیں چاہتا بلکہ اب بھی امن کو ترجیح... [...]

سعودی عرب کی پائپ لائن پر حملے کا ذمہ دار غالباً ایران ہے، سب کچھ بالکل ٹھیک ہو جائے گا: ٹرمپ

September 12, 2026 9:09

امریکی صدر ڈونلڈ ٹرمپ — فائل فوٹوامریکی صدر ڈونلڈ ٹرمپ نے کہا ہے کہ آبنائے ہرمز کا بحران اور سعودی عرب پر حملے کے خدشات سب کچھ بخوبی... [...]

نئی دلی: برکس تنظیم کا 18واں سربراہی اجلاس آج شروع ہوگا

September 12, 2026 9:09

—تصویر بشکریہ غیر ملکی میڈیابھارتی دارالحکومت نئی دلی میں برکس تنظیم کا 18واں سربراہی اجلاس آج سے شروع ہو رہا ہے۔غیر ملکی میڈیا کے... [...]

افغانستان: طالبان کی خودساختہ عدالتیں انصاف فراہم کرنے میں ناکام

September 12, 2026 8:09

---فوٹو بشکریہ غیر ملکی میڈیا افغانستان میں طالبان کی عدالتوں میں مقدمات کے اندراج، سماعت اور فیصلوں میں طویل تاخیر کے باعث سائلین... [...]

نائن الیون میں ملوث افراد ایرانی نہیں تھے: اسماعیل بقائی

September 12, 2026 8:09

ترجمان ایرانی وزارت خارجہ اسماعیل بقائی—فائل فوٹوترجمان ایرانی وزارت خارجہ اسماعیل بقائی کا کہنا ہے کہ ایران کے خلاف جنگ کے جواز کے... [...]

امریکا ناکہ بندی اور جارحیت بند کر دے تو آبنائے ہرمز کھول دی جائے گی: ایرانی صدر

September 12, 2026 8:09

ایران کے صدر مسعود پزشکیان—فائل فوٹوایران کے صدر مسعود پزشکیان کا کہنا ہے کہ امریکا ناکہ بندی اور جارحیت بند کر دے تو آبنائے ہرمز... [...]

فرانس: ٹرین پٹری سے اتر گئی، 44 افراد زخمی

September 12, 2026 7:09

—تصویر بشکریہ غیر ملکی میڈیافرانس کے شمالی علاقے میں ٹرین پٹری سے اتر گئی، حادثے میں 44 افراد زخمی ہوگئے۔غیر ملکی میڈیا کے مطابق... [...]

ابراہیم عزیزی نے ایرانی شرائط تسلیم کیے بغیر امریکا سے مذاکرات مسترد کردیے

September 12, 2026 7:09

ابراہیم عزیزی — فائل فوٹوایرانی پارلیمانی قومی سلامتی کمیٹی کے سربراہ ابراہیم عزیزی نے ایرانی شرائط تسلیم کیے بغیر امریکا سے... [...]

11 ستمبر 2001ء کے بعد 25 سالہ امریکی جنگیں 45 لاکھ ہلاکتوں کا سبب بنیں

September 12, 2026 7:09

---فوٹو بشکریہ غیر ملکی میڈیا 11 ستمبر 2001ء کے حملوں کے بعد امریکا کی قیادت میں شروع ہونے والی جنگوں اور فوجی کارروائیوں کو 25 سال مکمل ہو... [...]

حوثیوں نے گائیڈڈ ہتھیار تیار کرنے کیلئے ’کلاڈ‘ کا استعمال کیا: برطانوی اخبار

September 12, 2026 6:09

— تصویر بشکریہ غیر ملکی میڈیامصنوعی ذہانت پر تحقیقی کمپنی این تھروپک نے انکشاف کیا ہے کہ یمن میں حوثی جنگجوؤں نے اے آئی ماڈل کلاڈ کو... [...]

ملک میں ایک تولہ سونے کی قیمت 400 روپے بڑھ گئی

September 12, 2026 1:09

فائل فوٹو ملک میں کاروباری ہفتے کے آخری روز سونے کی قیمت میں اضافہ ہوگیا ہے۔آل پاکستان صرافہ جیمز اینڈ جیولرز ایسوسی ایشن کے مطابق... [...]

مٹی کا تیل 17روپے 35 پیسے فی لیٹر مہنگا

September 12, 2026 10:09

—فائل فوٹوحکومت نے مٹی کا تیل 17 روپے 35 پیسے فی لیٹر مزید مہنگا کر دیا۔اوگرا کی جانب سے مٹی کے تیل کی قیمت میں اضافے کا نوٹی فکیشن جاری... [...]

پاکستان اسٹاک ایکسچینج: کاروباری ہفتے میں منفی رجحان رہا

September 12, 2026 6:09

—فائل فوٹوپاکستان اسٹاک ایکسچینج کی ہفتہ وار اپ ڈیٹ سامنے آ گئی، کاروباری ہفتے کے دوران کاروبار کا منفی رجحان رہا۔پاکستان اسٹاک... [...]

پیٹرول اور ڈیزل مزید مہنگا کردیا گیا

September 11, 2026 6:09

فائل فوٹو آئندہ تین روز کیلئے پیٹرول اور ڈیزل مزید مہنگا کردیا گیا۔ جس کا نوٹیفکیشن جاری کردیا گیا۔نوٹیفکیشن کے مطابق پیٹرول 5 روپے... [...]

پی ایس ایکس: خام تیل کا اتار چڑھاؤ 100 انڈیکس پر اثر انداز

September 11, 2026 3:09

پی ایس ایکس 100 انڈیکس اور خام تیل کا بھاؤ کاروباری دن میں ایک دوسرے کے مخالف رہے۔ تیل کا بھاؤ بڑھا تو انڈیکس گرا اور انڈیکس بڑھنے پر... [...]

عالمی منڈی میں خام تیل کی قیمتوں میں اتار چڑھاؤ، برینٹ آئل 105 ڈالر فی بیرل پر آگیا

September 11, 2026 1:09

فوٹو: فائلعالمی منڈی میں خام تیل کی قیمتوں میں اتار چڑھاؤ جاری ہے، برینٹ آئل 4 ڈالر کمی کے بعد 105 ڈالر فی بیرل پر آگیا۔امریکی خام تیل... [...]

پاکستان اور عالمی بازار میں سونے کی قیمت میں کمی

September 11, 2026 10:09

— فائل فوٹوملک میں آج سونے کی قیمتوں میں کمی ہوئی ہے۔آل پاکستان صرافہ جیمز اینڈ جیولرز ایسوسی ایشن کے مطابق فی تولہ سونے کی قیمت 5600... [...]

امریکا میں ڈیزل کی قیمت میں مسلسل اضافہ

September 11, 2026 9:09

— فائل فوٹوایران جنگ اور روسی آئل ریفائنریوں پر یوکرینی حملوں کے باعث عالمی سطح پر تیل کی سپلائی متاثر ہو رہی ہے۔امریکا میں ڈیزل کی... [...]

پاکستان میں 4 دن میں پیٹرول و ڈیزل کتنا مہنگا ہوا؟

September 11, 2026 3:09

— فائل فوٹوپاکستان میں پیٹرولیم مصنوعات کی قیمتوں میں روزانہ کی بنیاد پر کئی روز سے مسلسل اضافہ کیا جا رہا ہے۔آج کے لیے پیٹرول کی... [...]

ڈیزل اور پیٹرول کی قیمتوں میں آج بھی اضافہ کردیا گیا

September 10, 2026 4:09

وفاقی حکومت نے پیٹرولیم مصنوعات کی نئی قیمتوں کا اعلان کردیا۔نوٹیفکیشن کے مطابق ڈیزل کی قیمت 5 روپے 37 پیسے فی لیٹر بڑھا دی گئی، جبکہ... [...]

مشرق وسطیٰ میں تشویش کی شدت، پی ایس ایکس 100 انڈیکس پونے دو فیصد گرگیا

September 10, 2026 2:09

فوٹو: فائلپاکستان اسٹاک ایکسیچنج کے 100 انڈیکس کو مشرق وسطیٰ میں جاری تشویش کی شدت پونے دو فیصد گرا گئی۔پی ایس ایکس بینچ مارک 100 انڈیکس... [...]

سینیٹ کمیٹی خزانہ نے ایف بی آر سے گزشتہ 10 سال کے ریفنڈز کی تفصیلات طلب کرلیں

September 10, 2026 12:09

فائل فوٹو سینیٹ کمیٹی برائے خزانہ نے ایف بی آر سے گزشتہ 10 سال کے ریفنڈز کی تفصیلات ایک ہفتے میں طلب کرلیں۔فیڈرل بورڈ آف ریونیو حکام... [...]

پیٹرولیم مصنوعات کی قیمتوں کا اتار چڑھاؤ عالمی مارکیٹ سے جڑا ہے: علی پرویز ملک

September 10, 2026 9:09

وفاقی وزیرِ پیٹرولیم علی پرویز ملک—فائل فوٹووفاقی وزیرِ پیٹرولیم علی پرویز ملک کا کہنا ہے کہ پیٹرولیم مصنوعات کی قیمتوں کا اتار... [...]

وزیرِ اعظم شہباز شریف نے آٹو پالیسی 2026ء کی منظوری دیدی

September 10, 2026 7:09

وزیرِ اعظم شہباز شریف—فائل فوٹووزیرِ اعظم شہباز شریف نے آٹو پالیسی 2026ء کی منظوری دے دی۔ذرائع کے مطابق آٹو پالیسی کا اعلان اگلے ہفتے... [...]

پیٹرولیم لیوی پر 60 روپے فی لیٹر کمی کی جائے: پاکستان بزنس فورم

September 10, 2026 7:09

—فائل فوٹوپاکستان بزنس فورم نے وزیرِ اعظم شہباز شریف سے پیٹرولیم لیوی پر 60 روپے فی لیٹر کمی کا مطالبہ کیا ہے۔پاکستان بزنس فورم کے... [...]

‘I still don’t have my MRI’: My health insurer canceled my plan without warning. Is that legal?

September 12, 2026 4:01

“It wasn’t an ACA plan, but it was meaningfully cheaper than anything I could find on the ACA exchange.” [...]

‘I’m the executor’: My two siblings and I inherited an IRA. Can we just cash it out?

September 12, 2026 3:00

“Am I required to create three new inherited IRAs so that the firm can divide it equally?” [...]

My 87-year-old mother wants to pay for my brother’s kids’ education. I don’t have children. How is that fair?

September 12, 2026 2:01

“Over the years, my mother and I have supplemented his income.” [...]

I want to pay for every customer at my late husband’s favorite restaurant on his birthday. Could this backfire?

September 12, 2026 1:00

“I’m concerned that my card issuers might freeze or flag the cards when they suddenly see an extraordinary number of transactions.” [...]

The Fed could raise interest rates three times. Here’s where the market could face the stiffest test.

September 11, 2026 11:54

Economists note that the Fed historically has not been content to raise rates only once. [...]

This investment is safe from both Trump and the Democrats — and it pays 4.7%

September 11, 2026 10:06

There’s a safe haven hiding in plain sight. [...]

Marvell is sitting on an incredibly ‘sticky’ business that could help it unlock a $30 billion opportunity

September 11, 2026 9:16

Marvell is best known for making custom chips — but an analyst notes there’s arguably more potential in supporting components and optical networking. [...]

Tesla could transform the trucking business — and capitalize on high diesel prices

September 11, 2026 8:49

The EV maker aims to finally kick its long-awaited Semi truck into high gear — unlocking a potentially huge opportunity, according to Morgan Stanley. [...]

Oracle shook off fears about AI spending, but its stock still loses ground

September 11, 2026 8:45

“Several of Oracle’s bear cases were addressed head on” in the latest earnings report, according to an analyst. [...]

Salesforce’s stock has been riding a wave of AI optimism. Here’s what Wall Street wants to see next.

September 11, 2026 8:44

Salesforce’s Dreamforce conference next week could offer a glimpse of how its recently announced Claudeforce partnership with Anthropic will play out. [...]

Want to land more job interviews? Stop letting AI write your résumé.

September 11, 2026 11:49

Why Social Security's COLA for 2027 may mean bad news for the U.S. economy

September 11, 2026 10:18

How Tesla could transform trucking — and capitalize on high diesel prices

September 11, 2026 9:25

Why Dell and HPE were the S&P 500’s top-performing stocks today

September 11, 2026 8:40

Dow gains 500 points, but logs worst week since March, as stocks snap 4-day skid

September 11, 2026 8:09

As the Houthis open a new front in the Middle East war, oil prices are rising

September 11, 2026 8:01