Oil climbs as fading US-Iran peace hopes raise supply risks
The sun sets behind oil pumps outside Vaudoy-en-Brie, near Paris, France, March 18, 2026—REUTERS Oil…
Oil climbs as fading US-Iran peace hopes raise supply risks
The sun sets behind oil pumps outside Vaudoy-en-Brie, near Paris, France, March 18, 2026—REUTERS Oil prices rose on Tuesday as prospects receded for a deal to end the Middle East war, with Iran saying it would adopt a more offensive stance and the United States ruling out extension of a ceasefire deal, heightening worries about…
Tirah affectees to hold grand jirga on Thursday
Tribal assembly to discuss safe return, financial aid and future protest strategy KHYBER: Tehreek Mutasireen Tirah will hold a joint consultative Grand Jirga on 20 August at Bara Press Club to discuss the dignified and safe return of Tirah affectees, provision of financial assistance and other demands. The 24-member committee along with currently elected representatives…
Medical board urges concessions for Imran
ISLAMABAD: A medical board that examined former prime minister Imran Khan at Adiala Jail has recommended that he be allowed one hour of walking and relaxation, along with more frequent interaction with his immediate family and spouse. It also recommended access to newspapers, magazines, television and reading material to help control the 73-year-old PTI founder’s…
Pakistan eyes US crude to cut Trump tariffs
Import payments to America rise by $914m to $3.27b, Cnergyico leads with 80% purchases KARACHI: Pakistan’s largest refiner, Cnergyico, is buying more US crude as Islamabad seeks to diversify the country’s energy supplies after disruption caused by the Iran war exposed its dependence on Gulf routes. Pakistan also wants to increase imports from the US…
K-P Assembly moves to tighten drug laws
Proposed law carries up to 10 years in prison, Rs200 million fine for counterfeit medicines PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has proposed sweeping amendments to the provincial drug law to curb counterfeit and substandard medicines and strengthen regulation of their manufacture, import, export, storage, distribution, sale and quality control. The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Drug Amendment Bill 2026 was…
Trump orders cutting back military exercises with South Korea
WASHINGTON/SEOUL: US President Donald Trump on Sunday instructed the Pentagon to “substantially reduce” joint military exercises with long-term Asian ally South Korea, citing the cost of the drills and Seoul’s refusal to take part in actions against Iran. Hours before exercises were scheduled to begin, Trump said on his Truth Social site he was “not…
PTI calls for national wheat council
. LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Kisan Wing General Secretary Ejaz Shafi has called for the establishment of a national wheat council, alleging that conflicting government estimates and inadequate planning could trigger a crisis. Shafi questioned the government’s wheat production figures for 2026, alleging discrepancies between estimates produced by different agencies. He stated that the federal…
Clerk sacked, fined in harassment case
. ISLAMABAD: The Federal Ombudsperson for Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace (FOSPAH) has dismissed a junior clerk from a government department and imposed a Rs1 million fine after finding him guilty of harassing a female officer. A complaint against a co-accused was dismissed after the allegation of facilitating the harassment could not be…
Balochistan govt forms Ziarat attack inquiry commission
. QUETTA: The Balochistan government has formally established a high-level inquiry commission to probe the deadly terrorist attack in Ziarat that left 27 police personnel martyred. Formed under Section 3(1) of the Balochistan Tribunals of Inquiry Ordinance, 1969, the panel is launching a comprehensive investigation into the assault on the police post guarding Pumping Station…
Refinery stocks take PSX up by 398 points
KARACHI: Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Monday ended trading on a positive note as the benchmark KSE-100 index gained 397.83 points, or 0.22%, to settle at 180,502.45. The market maintained its upward march for most of the session, where the index moved between the intra-day high of 181,158.87 and the low of 180,281.75. The advance…
