The United States has ordered non-essential personnel and family members to evacuate its consulates in Lahore and Karachi, Pakistan, citing security concerns.

Travel advisory keeps country at Level 3, cites risks from regional tensions and terrorism

RAWALPINDI: Due to the ongoing regional security situation, Pakistan has decided to temporarily close specific air routes in Karachi and Lahore regions. The move comes amid the Iran-Israel-US…

Commercial flight routes will remain closed daily from 9am to 3pm between March 3 and March 31

Security alert cites violent protests in Karachi, demonstrations in Lahore, calls for rallies in Islamabad, Peshawar

Rangers deployed alongside police to maintain order; clashes between protestors and police

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has mandated that immigration authorities must provide and record written reasons in every instance where a passenger is offloaded, citing transparency concerns.

Carpets of marigolds light up the Punjab capital as the kite festival returns, heralding the start of spring

THE chaos at the country’s major airports seems to be subsiding, with some order gradually restored after the state’s ham-handed efforts to crack down on unlawful travel. The past few months had been a nightmare, with passengers travelling abroad from Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad routinely complaining of long queues, repeated questioning by security personnel, and extremely long waits for immigration clearance. It seems that some unscrupulous elements had also jumped at the opportunity to fl...

The Punjab home department submitted a report to the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday stating that 17 people died during the recent Basant festival in Lahore. The three-day Basant festival was held in Lahore from February 6-8, following the Punjab government’s decision to lift a ban on the historic event after 18 years, with strict regulations. However, despite the government’s emphasis on safety measures, over 100 accidents were reported in connection with the festival. The petition, hea...

In Lahore’s historic Walled City, Ramadan fills the rows at Mughal-era Sunehri Mosque  Arab News

Lahore railway station is slated for significant upgrades, including modern parking and park facilities, a dedicated bridge, and new connecting roads to improve city access.

Initial schedule for the tournament has been finalised

A Canadian national pursuing doctoral research, who went missing last week in Lahore, has been found in the custody of Pakistan's National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).

Police in Lahore, Pakistan, have registered a kidnapping case after a Canadian national, Hamza, allegedly disappeared after booking a private company cab.

Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Saturday criticised the government for participating in the Boa­rd of Peace’s (BoP) first meeting over Gaza, terming it “unacceptable”. His remarks came after the inaugural BoP meeting on Thursday in Washington, where Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the peacemaking efforts of United States President Donald Trump, who is heading the forum. Addressing the media in Lahore on Saturday, the JI leader said it was “unacceptable at any cost” to...

(LEFT) PHF President Tariq Hussain Bugti announces his resignation; while, PCB Chairman and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi meets players from the national team.—Dawn • PM accepts Tariq Bugti’s resignation, Wani named interim president • Outgoing chief imposes two-year ban on captain Ammad Butt before quitting • PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi meets players, hands ‘compensation’ cheques • PSB blames PHF for mismanagement; Bugti alleges board delayed payments • Shake-up follows Australia tour fiasco, when players were left without hotel upon arrival LAHORE / ISLAMABAD: Amid a deepening crisis in Pakistan hockey, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday accepted the resignation of Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) President Tariq Hussain Bugti and appointed Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) Federal Secretary Mohiy­uddin Ahmed Wani as ad-hoc president of the federation. The premier also accepted the resignations of PHF Secretary Rana Mujahid and Treasurer Shahid Pervaiz Bhandara. Their replacements had not been announced until late Thursday night. The developments came amid controversy over the national team’s tour of Australia for the FIH Pro League, where accommodation arrangements could not be secured on time, forcing players to spend several hours on the road. The team’s overall performance in the Pro League also came under criticism. In addition, PHF elections had been facing delays. Mr Bugti had been appointed by interim prime minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar to hold elections but did not complete the process during his tenure. Similarly, in his tenure, Mr Bugti-led PHF was accused of inaction over alleged corruption, pointed out by the Auditor General of Pakistan. There are more than 100 audit paras related to the PHF, and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has been probing the matter for over a year. Speaking after his appointment, Mr Wani said the governance mechanism of the PHF would be improved. “In the next six weeks, we will prepare a business plan for the PHF and take steps to run this federation on professional grounds,” he said. He added that IPC would form a working group with all sports boards and education bodies to focus on grassroots development and that international trainers and coaches would also be engaged. “There is no shortage of resources, but the PHF is facing financial management issues. We will work on this,” he said, adding that he would ensure free, fair and transparent elections. “Hockey, being the national game, is close to our hearts and we will take every possible step to bring positive change,” he said. National captain ‘banned’ Earlier on Thursday, before the prime minister’s decision, Mr Bugti announced his resignation, but not before imposing a two-year ban on national captain Ammad Shakeel Butt, citing findings of a committee regarding alleged misconduct. “I received a message (from a certain quarter) and I am resigning from the post as it is not a big issue. Had the prime minister asked me six months earlier, I would have left,” Mr Bugti said, appealing to the prime minister and Field Marshal Asim Munir to constitute an independent committee to probe the entire episode. He said he was ready to face any punishment if found responsible. However, shortly after Mr Bugti’s resignation, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi met the hockey players, including Ammad Butt and Hanan Shahid. In a message on X, Mr Naqvi said: “I am not becoming Hockey Federation President but we will assist players till this turmoil ends.” Talking to the media after the meeting, Mr Butt said Mr Naqvi directed that a training camp be set up in Lahore from Friday for the World Cup qualifiers to be held in Egypt and that immediate steps be taken to hire foreign coaches. Mr Butt said former Pakistan coach Roelant Oltmans had been contacted and might join the team directly in Egypt. On the reported two-year ban, Mr Butt said Mr Naqvi told him there was no ban and that the same team which toured Australia would travel to Egypt. The ban had reportedly been imposed under the PHF constitution, raising questions over the process for its reversal. The PCB later issued a statement confirming Mr Naqvi’s meeting with the players and announcing that cheques of Rs1,000,000 had been distributed to each member of the national team, which took second position in the last six international tournaments. The cricket board said Mr Naqvi had assured full cooperation in streamlining the affairs of the players and confirmed that tickets, hotel accommodation and kits would be arranged for the World Cup qualifying round. Outgoing PHF president Mr Bugti told Dawn that arrangements for the qualifiers had already been made through a grant from the Balochistan government. PSB-PHF blame game Meanwhile, the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) issued a statement rejecting allegations levelled by the PHF and placing responsibility for the Australia tour’s mismanagement on the federation. The PSB said it had fulfilled all financial obligations for the FIH Pro League Phase 2 in Hobart and made timely payments. It alleged that the PHF had submitted visa applications late and with incomplete information, delaying the team’s departure from Feb 2 to Feb 5. According to the PSB, it bore Rs27.1 million in air ticket expenses and an additional Rs9.7m burden caused by the visa delays. It said that, at the PHF’s request, an advance of 49,280 Australian dollars was issued for hotel accommodation, along with daily allowances of USD 1,610 per player and USD 3,000 for miscellaneous expenses. The PSB also stated that while the PHF had sought a total grant of Rs350m for the Pro League, the government approved Rs250m, with the remaining amount to be arranged by the federation. It alleged that most of the PSB’s grant had been spent on salaries and foreign tours of PHF officials, prompting the board to stop issuing direct grants. In contrast, Mr Bugti had alleged that the PSB failed to make timely payments for hotel bookings and criticised the formation of a probe committee comprising PSB officials. He also urged the formation of a Pakistan Hockey Board and the transfer of stadium control to the PHF to generate funds. Meanwhile, Hockey legend Shahbaz Ahmed Senior, who had opposed Pakistan’s participation in the Pro League, said the national game deserved special treatment from the government. He criticised the heavy expenditure on the league and said the funds should have been directed towards grassroots development in schools, colleges and districts. Pakistan, a four-time World Cup winner and three-time Olympic champion, has faced a prolonged decline in international hockey over the past 30 years, amid repeated allegations of poor administration and negligence in the PHF officialdom, non-existent planning and upgrading, sheer lack of accountability, nepotism and a high frequency of changes in the federation. Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2026

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) said on Wednesday that 5G spectrum auction would be held on March 10 and no changes were likely to be made in the schedule, saying that the sale was likely to fetch between $300-$700 million. The authority is offering 597 megahertz (MHz) in several bands in the upcoming auction and three existing telecom operators have been mandated to obtain a minimum of 100 MHz in the auction process. “With the prescribed rate, even if 300 MHz is obtained by the telecommunication operators without any competitive bidding, the government will get $300 million,” PTA Director General Licensing retired brigadier Aamir Shahzad told a media briefing. “And if all the 597 MHz is sold at auction at a slightly competitive rate, $700 million will be available for the government, but this scenario is less likely to happen,” he added. Shahzad said that the auction would be conducted using a multi-round electronic clock auction format, with the main allocation stage starting on March 10. He said the 2600 MHz and 3500 MHz bands would be offered during the first round. He added that after the auction process, the rollout of 5G services would take between three and six months as certain infrastructure was needed for the fresh spectrum. Meanwhile, Chairman PTA Hafeezur Rehman said that the auction would lead to improved quality of service and data speed. “Around 50 million new users have been added in the system during the last five years, but only 10MHz was increased in the 2021 spectrum auction,” PTA Chairman said. “Improved data service and enhanced coverage will also increase average revenue per user (ARPU) for telecommunication operators,” he said. The ARPU is a key performance indicator that measures the average revenue generated by a company from each consumer within a specific timeframe, monthly or annually. “We started with $0.7 and now the ARPU has reached $1.3. Therefore, it is likely to increase as more data is consumed by the subscribers,” Rehman said. “The authority expects mobile broadband speeds to improve by around 25 per cent following the auction,” he said. He said that the government had offered many incentives to telecom companies in the new spectrum auction, but obligations to improve the quality of service as well as coverage area had been increased. “This will help the country to embrace further upgradations like 6G and not like 5G, where we have been delayed,” the PTA Chairman said. He added the government had also eliminated the right-of-way fee that used to be around Rs36,000 per kilometre annually; this, he said, would encourage fiberisation projects. The chairman also said that telecom operators had already placed orders for 5G equipment, while local manufacturing of 5G-enabled smartphones had commenced, with 500,000 to 600,000 units produced so far. He said the other measures being taken to facilitate the faster rollout of services after the auction were options for spectrum sharing, relaxation of certain regulatory terms and incentives for network expansion. “Operators have been given one year to make the necessary capital investments without upfront spectrum payments, allowing them to focus on improving service quality,” Rehman added. However, the operators will have to expand 5G coverage to additional cities apart from Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta, while fiber-to-the-site ratios will increase from 20 per cent to 35pc by 2035. Besides, the minimum download speeds for 4G service have been increased from four megabytes per second (Mbps) to 20Mbps in 2026–27 and to 50Mbps by 2030–35. For 5G, minimum download speeds will rise from 50Mbps initially to 100Mbps by 2030–35, with latency targets reduced to 35 milliseconds. Upload speeds are benchmarked at 20pc of download speeds across both technologies.

LAHORE: The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) and the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) have traded blame over alleged mismanagement during the national hockey team’s participation in the second leg of the FIH Pro League in Hobart, Australia, prompting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to take notice and order an immediate inquiry. The Green Shirts returned to Lahore late Tuesday night after suffering defeats in all their matches against Germany and hosts Australia, concluding a winless campaign across both legs of the competition. Media reports highlighted serious lapses in arrangements, particularly inadequate and delayed accommodation in Hobart, which left players discontented and affected their preparation. PHF president Tariq Hussain Bugti, speaking to Dawn, said the responsibility for all logistical and financial arrangements — including hotel bookings, air travel, TA/DA and visas — rested with the PSB. He cited directives from the senate standing committee on sports, which had designated the PSB as the body to handle financial matters for the team’s FIH Pro League participation. “The PHF has accepted the senate committee’s ruling and is not interfering in these affairs,” Bugti said. “Our priority remains ensuring the national team’s participation in this important competition, which provides valuable exposure against top-ranked teams.” A PSB official, Rana Nasrullah, countered that the team management had sufficient funds at its disposal, with players also carrying USD 1,650 each. “If funds were available, why was the hotel arrangement mismanaged? There was also no proper cooking system, forcing players to prepare their own meals,” he said. When queried about food-related issues, Bugti noted that the squad was en route home and a detailed report would be available upon their arrival in Lahore. Both the PHF president and the PSB welcomed the prime minister’s directive for a probe. Federal sports minister Rana Sanaullah has constituted an inquiry committee to investigate the matter. “It is a positive step, and the PHF will present its position before the committee,” Bugti added. Separately, sources indicated that accommodation payments of USD 3,750 from the first leg in Argentina remain pending. It is relevant to note that, amid past allegations of financial irregularities against the PHF, the prime minister had released Rs250 million to secure Pakistan’s participation in the Pro League, with the PSB appointed as custodian of financial affairs. Reports also suggest the PSB had booked the hotel but payment issues arose. A PHF official, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed the PSB provided a cheque of Rs10 million to the team management for accommodation upon arrival. However, hotel rates had increased by then, leading to limited bookings — including a guest house — and shared or substandard rooms, leaving players dissatisfied with both lodging and food. Sources added that players may address a press conference in Lahore to clarify the situation. Pakistan captain Emmad Butt, in a video statement, had earlier refuted claims that the team was left without any hotel accommodation or forced onto the streets. Players have also expressed discomfort over their daily TA/DA allowance of USD 40 from the PSB, which falls short of the USD 100 stipulated in PHF regulations. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s office issued a statement: “Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken notice of the mismanagement in hockey affairs reported in the media, and enquiries are being conducted. Immediate action will be taken against those found responsible.” Following the notice, Sanaullah expressed grave concern, stating that the PHF’s actions had tarnished the country’s and the sport’s reputation. “Such behaviour is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Strict action will be taken against those responsible for mismanagement and bringing disrepute to the sport,” he warned. While the minister has initiated the inquiry, no specific names of committee members have been announced. Observers have noted that an inquiry conducted solely by PSB or ministry officials may lack full independence, and a neutral body would better serve impartiality. Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2026

GUJRAT: The Gujranwala police on Monday arrested a ‘serial killer’ involved in kidnapping and killing of four people, including a woman and her two children as well as a 13 years old boy after snatching valuables from them in different hits. Gujranwala CPO Dr Ghias Gul told reporters at a news conference on Monday that police found two unidentified bodies of a 32 years old woman and her five years old son along the bank of canal near the Citi Housing Society on Feb 10. Both the deceased, he said, had been slain with a sharp-edged weapon. They were later identified as Malaika and her son Muhammad Ahmed and a case of double murder was lodged on the report of a police official. The CPO said a special investigation team under SP Civil Lines Imran Khan and DSP Hameed Virk was constituted that used modern techniques and traced a suspect namely Haroon Javed who was nabbed while making an attempt to flee to Karachi from Lahore via train. The suspect, he said, had confessed to have killed the woman and her two children – eight months old daughter Mubara through asphyxiation and threw her body into the canal. The body of deceased girl was recovered from the canal on the identification of the suspect. The suspect revealed that he had killed three people of a family just to snatch gold ornaments the woman was wearing in her ears. The suspect belongs to the same area of Alam Chowk where the deceased woman resided. The CPO said that the suspect had also revealed to have killed 13 years old boy Rehan Ali of Mado Khalil locality in the precincts of Ladhewala police on Dec 20 last. The suspect, he said, had kidnapped the boy to snatch a bridal dress from him and later murdered him. The boy had been sent by his father to deliver the dress to a customer in a nearby vicinity. A case of kidnapping of that boy had been lodged with the police against the unidentified suspects on the report of his father Muhammad Imran who ran an embroidery factory in the area. The CPO commended the police team for tracing and arresting the killer. Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2026

Five imprisoned PTI leaders in Lahore have urged the Pakistani government to address national challenges and pursue reconciliation.

Authority explains certain ATS routes within Karachi, Lahore regions to be affected daily between 9am and 3pm

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has highlighted significant disparities in water and sanitation services in Lahore, urging that civic services be recognized as fundamental rights.

Violent protests erupted in Pakistan, including Islamabad, Lahore, and Peshawar, following the death of the Iranian leader, resulting in at least 21 fatalities and dozens injured.

Times for today’s Iftar (Ramazan 10) and tomorrow’s Sehri (Ramazan 11) for the federal and provincial capitals are listed below: Islamabad Fiqh-i-Hanafia Iftar (today) — 6:04pm Sehri (tomorrow) — 5:13am Fiqh-i-Jafria Iftar (today) — 6:14pm Sehri (tomorrow) — 5:03am Karachi Fiqh-i-Hanafia Iftar (today) — 6:34pm Sehri (tomorrow) — 5:36am Fiqh-i-Jafria Iftar (today) — 6:46pm Sehri (tomorrow) — 5:32am Lahore Fiqh-i-Hanafia Iftar (today) — 6:00pm Seh...

LAHORE: A judicial magistrate at the district courts on Friday dismissed the post-arrest bail petition of a Canadian national pursuing doctoral research in Pakistan in a cybercrime case. Magistrate Naeem Wattoo announced the decision while hearing the bail plea of Hamza Ahmad Khan, after arguments from the prosecution and defence. Khan was booked by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) for targeting state institutions and leadership through “disseminating misinformation and d...

Times for today’s Iftar (Ramazan 8) and tomorrow’s Sehri (Ramazan 9) for the federal and provincial capitals are listed below: Islamabad Fiqh-i-Hanafia Iftar (today) — 6:03pm Sehri (tomorrow) — 5:15am Fiqh-i-Jafria Iftar (today) — 6:13pm Sehri (tomorrow) — 5:05am Karachi Fiqh-i-Hanafia Iftar (today) — 6:33pm Sehri (tomorrow) — 5:39am Fiqh-i-Jafria Iftar (today) — 6:45pm Sehri (tomorrow) — 5:35am Lahore Fiqh-i-Hanafia Iftar (today) — 5:58pm Sehri...

A judicial magistrate in Lahore has issued a notice to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) regarding a bail petition filed by a Canadian national, Hamza Ahmed Khan, who was arrested in a cybercrime case.

Three people died of electrocution, while 14 others lost their lives after falling from trees and rooftops

Incarcerated PTI leader Dr Yasmin Rashid has approached the Supreme Court to overturn PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif's election victory from Lahore’s NA-130 constituency in the 2024 general elections.

LAHORE: Two policemen were martyred in a suicide blast at a checkpost in Bhakkar district on Tuesday evening, according to officials. Bhakkar District Police Officer (DPO) Shahzad Rafiq told Dawn that a suicide attack was carried out near the Dajil checkpost. He said that two policemen were martyred and one was injured, while three passersby were also injured in the blast. “The suicide attacker came near the check post and blew himself up, while we were conducting a search operation in the ar...

A judicial magistrate in Lahore has ordered the restoration of YouTuber Saadur Rehman, also known as Ducky Bhai's, frozen bank accounts in a case related to promoting gambling applications on social media.

Incarcerated PTI leaders in Lahore have called for an urgent multi-party conference to build national consensus on peace and stability in Gaza.

The city of Lahore in Pakistan celebrated the return of its traditional Basant kite festival, 19 years after it was banned due to safety concerns.

The Lahore High Court has issued a significant ruling stating that profit-making subsidiaries of charitable trusts are not exempt from Zakat payments.

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) on Thursday took notice of the alleged death by suicide of a medical student from Lahore’s Fatima Jinnah Medical University (FJMU) and sought a report. Moreover, observing the lack of strengthened student support systems, the council also advised all medical and dental colleges to hire qualified counsellors/psychologists to provide timely guidance, and mental and physical health support to students in distress. On Tuesday night, a 22-year-old female student allegedly died by suicide after jumping from the fourth floor of a hostel at FJMU. The student in question was a resident of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and was living in the varsity’s government hostel in Lahore. On Thursday, a letter from the PMDC registrar to the FJMU principal, available with Dawn, stated that in light of the seriousness of the incident and its impact on the student community, the council was directing the college to share a factual account of the incident so that the medical body may remain informed and, if necessary, extend any appropriate support or guidance. The PMDC directed the principal to share details within seven days; these included the date, time, and brief circumstances of the incident as per institutional records; details of any inquiry or fact-finding committee constituted, including its composition and terms of reference; any initial findings and/or the expected timeline for completion of the committee’s report; steps already taken or planned to strengthen student mental health support and counselling services; and safety measures in the hostel following the unfortunate event. The letter stated that medical and dental students represented the brightest and most valuable segment of the nation’s future healthcare workforce. “Incidents of this nature are deeply alarming and highlight the urgent need to strengthen student support systems in medical and dental institutions. The PMDC focuses on protecting and safeguarding the physical and mental well-being of students and ensuring that educational environments remain supportive, safe, and responsive to student needs,” it stated. Moreover, the PMDC advised all medical and dental colleges to hire qualified counsellors/psychologists to provide timely guidance and mental and physical health support to students in distress. It also advised universities to establish effective student support mechanisms, including confidential counselling services and maintain vigilant monitoring of student wellbeing, with special attention to signs of psychological stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout. It reiterated that proactive mental health support and timely counselling could play a critical role in preventing such incidents and in protecting the precious lives and future of students. In January, a student at a private university in Lahore had attempted suicide by jumping from the second floor. A month earlier, a male student at the same university had also ended his life by jumping from the varsity’s fourth floor.

A girl student in Lahore died by suicide after jumping from the fourth floor of her hostel building at Fatima Jinnah Medical University.

They came, they saw, they collapsed. After the hullabaloo of the boycott and “un-boycott”, after the claim of a moral victory in the immoral corridors of the ICC, there was some expectation that Pakis­tan’s chutzpah in cricket politics would translate onto the cricket pitch. But it was not to be. For the Pakistani fan, it is usually the expectation that kills you. Beyond the post-boycott optimism, there were genuine cricketing reasons to be optimistic this time around. The only silver lining for Pakistan now is that the outcome of this match should not stop their qualification for the next stage. In recent months, Pakistan have looked like a team getting to grips with modern T20 cricket. They rediscovered spin and are reconnected with the joy of hitting. In recent months, Pakistan seem to have rediscovered spin and the joy of hitting, but the team still have much to learn if they are to challenge the stronger nations A team and game formula has begun to emerge under the low-key technocracy of Mike Hesson. Importantly, Pakis­tan seem to have rediscovered themselves, and built a platform for a better future. It is worth remembering that they also started this tournament well. Yet, that platform is very much under construction, and on Sunday, India ruthlessly exposed how far it is from being finished. It is a shocking and sobering statistic, but India have now defeated Pakistan in 11 consecutive World T20 matches. The question the PCB should be asked now is: What are you going to do about this form of cricket domination? Salman Ali Agha’s team will have learnt an important lesson: you need to walk before you can run. Pakistan can walk, but breaking out too early into a sprint is inadvisable. In Colombo, Pakistan’s execution of their plan was hapless, but the plan itself was also a problem. The bowling plan failed to apply early pressure on India, and the batting plan threw the game away in the first power play. For once, only the fielding stood up to scrutiny. Dissecting the failures India’s target looked a stiff challenge, and Pakistan began in disastrous fashion. Being positive is good, but Pakistan were reckless, especially since they were losing wickets. Saim Ayub was undone by a Jaspreet Bumrah pearler, but the rest of the top order hit like they were playing tape-ball cricket on the streets of Lahore, not in an ICC showcase event against India. It was a baffling and careless effort. What adds salt to the wound is the fact that while India were competent in the field, they weren’t spectacular enough to deliver a 61-run thrashing. The parade of irresponsibility was led by Salman Agha and Babar Azam, Pakistan’s most senior top order batsmen. When Pakistan needed at least one of them to stand and anchor the innings, neither was willing to embrace the mental application required from them. The easy option was to hit out, and get out. Resistance came in the form of Usman Khan, but the pressure of losing early wickets — and the consequent impact on run rate — was too much. Usman’s rally was half-decent, at a time when something extraordinary was needed. All eyes were on the toss for evidence of a reset in the rivalry. Would the captains shake hands, the standard etiquette of cricket? They didn’t. Normal service resumed. Salman and Suryakumar barely exchanged a glance. The decision at the toss — to bowl first — looked a defensive one. What followed suggested that Pakistan had, once again, shrivelled to the occasion. Suryakumar was happy to be invited to bat. But Salman followed this decision by bowling the first over himself. It was a good one on a turning track, with the wicket of Abhishek Sharma to boot. That was as good as it got. Any genuine hopes lasted but one over. From that point on, Pakistan’s plan and senses unravelled. Kishan VS the bowling This was in large part due to the brilliance of Ishan Kishan. The small opener stood and delivered, rooted to the crease and striking powerfully. When he did dance down to the spinners, he moved decisively. For the first half of the match, it was Kishan versus Pakistan, and Kishan won. On a day of batting mediocrity, he was a class apart. Pakistan’s bowlers didn’t help themselves. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Abrar Ahmed, arguably the spearheads of our attack, were poor. Shadab Khan was also off his game. They bowled like a team going through the motions, barely adjusting to Kishan’s advance. If you can’t get the man while he’s on a rampage, the captain’s job is to get the rampager off strike. But Pakistan were stuck in a groove of needless variation. The general problem was that having backed spin, Pakistan didn’t utilise it properly. Bright sparks The pitch was taking turn off a length, and when Pakistan chose to exploit it with more classical spin bowling, it worked. Usman Tariq kept this in mind as he reeled off his freeze frame variations to valuable effect. Saim Ayub stuck to the disciplines best, though, bringing Pakistan back into the contest with Kishan’s wicket, followed immediately by Hardik Pandya’s. Pakistan’s impact player was suddenly on a hat trick. It was possibly game on. The hat-trick ball that Saim produced was perhaps the ball of the innings. Shivam Dube might have been bowled, caught or stumped, but managed to avoid each of these catastrophes. Still, Pakistan’s spinners pulled the game back, slowing a run rate of 9 an over to a mere 6-7 an over, until Afridi’s disastrous final offering allowed India to reach a formidable 175. For the Pakistan fan, the main takeaway on Sunday is the relief that they are not out of the tournament, yet. But the team have much to learn if they are to challenge the stronger nations. And even if Pakistan did not please their fans with their performance in Colombo, they at least did manage to placate Sri Lanka, India, and the ICC by honouring their tournament commitment. Published in Dawn, February 16th, 2026

Times for today’s Iftar (Ramazan 14) and tomorrow’s Sehri (Ramazan 15) for the federal and provincial capitals are listed below: Islamabad Fiqh-i-Hanafia Iftar (today) — 6:08pm Sehri (tomorrow) — 5:08am Fiqh-i-Jafria Iftar (today) — 6:18pm Sehri (tomorrow) — 4:58am Karachi Fiqh-i-Hanafia Iftar (today) — 6:37pm Sehri (tomorrow) — 5:32am Fiqh-i-Jafria Iftar (today) — 6:49pm Sehri (tomorrow) — 5:28am Lahore Fiqh-i-Hanafia Iftar (today) — 6:03pm Seh...

According to the notification,  certain routes within Karachi and Lahore FIRs will be closed for flights from March 3 to 31, between 9 am and 3 pm daily.

Times for today’s Iftar (Ramazan 13) and tomorrow’s Sehri (Ramazan 14) for the federal and provincial capitals are listed below: Islamabad Fiqh-i-Hanafia Iftar (today) — 6:07pm Sehri (tomorrow) — 5:09am Fiqh-i-Jafria Iftar (today) — 6:17pm Sehri (tomorrow) — 4:58am Karachi Fiqh-i-Hanafia Iftar (today) — 6:37pm Sehri (tomorrow) — 5:33am Fiqh-i-Jafria Iftar (today) — 6:49pm Sehri (tomorrow) — 5:29am Lahore Fiqh-i-Hanafia Iftar (today) — 6:02pm Sehri (tomorrow) — 5:07am Fiqh-i-Ja...

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Monday approved the establishment of the province’s first cybercrime investigation unit and made e-tagging mandatory for all vehicles, including motorcycles. According to an official press release, during a special meeting to crack down on digital terrorism and bring cyber networks under strict surveillance, the Punjab CM said the state’s surveillance across Punjab would be significantly intensified in the coming days. She also directed the establ...

Times for today’s Iftar (Ramazan 11) and tomorrow’s Sehri (Ramazan 12) for the federal and provincial capitals are listed below: Islamabad Fiqh-i-Hanafia Iftar (today) — 6:05pm Sehri (tomorrow) — 5:12am Fiqh-i-Jafria Iftar (today) — 6:15pm Sehri (tomorrow) — 5:02am Karachi Fiqh-i-Hanafia Iftar (today) — 6:35pm Sehri (tomorrow) — 5:35am Fiqh-i-Jafria Iftar (today) — 6:48pm Sehri (tomorrow) — 5:31am Lahore Fiqh-i-Hanafia Iftar (today) — 6:00pm Seh...

ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Rashid Mah­mood Langrial has constituted a committee to add­ress taxpayers’ issues following a meeting at the FBR Headquarters with representatives of the Pakis­tan, Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi-Islam­abad tax bar associations. An official statement said members of the Tax Bar Associations apprised the chairman of the challenges being faced by taxpayers, particularly in relation to the super tax and SRO 350(I)/2024. Mr Langrial assured par...

Times for today’s Iftar (Ramazan 9) and tomorrow’s Sehri (Ramazan 10) for the federal and provincial capitals are listed below: Islamabad Fiqh-i-Hanafia Iftar (today) — 6:03pm Sehri (tomorrow) — 5:14am Fiqh-i-Jafria Iftar (today) — 6:13pm Sehri (tomorrow) — 5:04am Karachi Fiqh-i-Hanafia Iftar (today) — 6:34pm Sehri (tomorrow) — 5:38am Fiqh-i-Jafria Iftar (today) — 6:46pm Sehri (tomorrow) — 5:34am Lahore Fiqh-i-Hanafia Iftar (today) — 5:59pm Sehr...

LAHORE: A stormy sitting of the Punjab Assembly saw exchange of heated arguments over the Punjab government’s purchase of a new “luxury” aircraft, arrests of opposition lawmakers and a flurry of legislative reforms tabled in the House. The controversy over the provincial government’s newly acquired aircraft took centre stage as Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) MPA Shazia Abid questioned whether the Rs11 billion plane would be available for official visits to south Punjab. Punjab Information Mini...

Multiple PTI supporters across social media platforms were sharing a dim clip of party founder Imran Khan since February 24, 2026, claiming that it was from his latest visit to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) for a second eye injection. However, the video is old from February 20, 2023, when he appeared before the Lahore High Court (LHC) for interim protective bail in a case. The iVerify Pakistan team investigated this content and determined that it is false. Imran was brough...

An Uzbek delegation has visited Lahore and Okara in Pakistan to discuss potential cooperation and partnerships in the meat and potato industries.

• Accuses PTI of running vilification campaign on social and mainstream media • Political leaders ask provincial govt to come clean on ‘extravagance’ LAHORE: Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb strongly condemned PTI activists and others for running a vilification campaign against Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz over the Punjab government’s decision to acquire a luxury jet. CM Maryam has faced severe criticism from the opposition and some journalists regarding the government’s purchase of a...

An Indian man has petitioned the Lahore High Court to annul his wife's marriage to a Pakistani citizen and seeks her deportation under the Foreigners Act, 1946, alleging visa violations.

People gathered on rooftops to enjoy flying kites for the first time in years, celebrating the spring festival of Basant. The activity had been banned due to injuries and deaths during past celebrations.

Police in Lahore have registered a kidnapping case after a Canadian national allegedly disappeared. The complainant stated that Hamza booked a private company cab and left his house but did not return.

Police in Lahore have registered a kidnapping case after a Canadian national pursuing doctoral research was reported missing.

• Says 19 police officers martyred; 167 personnel injured during operations • Rejects HRCP report on deadly encounters LAHORE: The Crime Control Department (CCD), Punjab, said a comparative review of crime data for the post-May period of 2024 and 2025 showed a significant reduction in crime across Punjab, particularly in Lahore. According to the CCD, the department commenced operations in Punjab in May last year and held a meeting to review its performance in crime control. It stated that the...

Banned in 2007 following a spate of accidents, the city’s Basant kite festival resumed this month amid stricter safety measures — and much excitement

A model criminal court in Lahore has convicted a man of domestic abuse for assaulting his wife and mother-in-law.

The Lahore High Court has ruled that dower must be paid immediately in marriages conducted without the wife's consent, affirming the marriage's legal intactness.