Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: President Donald Trump on Wednesday said a US naval blockade against Iran could last months, sending oil prices up more than 7% to $126.41 on Thursday, the highest in more than four years. The trajectory of oil prices can be traced back to Feb. 28, when the US and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran, prompting immediate retaliation. Oil prices rose more than 3% on the day, with Brent briefly climbing above $73 per barrel before settling at $72.48. <img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/d6387ca0-b88e-49c4-8a13-1f9292b8b4ca.jpeg" style="width: 599px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Graph made by Gemini depicting oil price volatility since the Iran war broke out&nbsp; &quot;With the US having called on its citizens to leave Israel and Iran, the threat of an attack on the Islamic Republic has dramatically risen, pushing the oil price to a seven-month high,&quot; analyst Axel Rudolph at investing and trading platform IG had said at the time. Strikes threaten Strait of Hormuz closureWithin days, concerns over the possible closure of the Strait of Hormuz pushed prices sharply higher. Brent climbed to around $80 per barrel as the OPEC+ alliance hiked production quotas by 206,000 barrels per day for April. By March 2, Qatar halted LNG production after Iranian attacks on key facilities, sending the Dutch TTF gas benchmark up nearly 45% to over &euro;46 ($54). Iranian oil facilities hitEscalation intensified in the second week of March as attacks targeted Iranian oil infrastructure and Gulf energy facilities.&nbsp; Crude surged past $100 per barrel for the first time in years, triggering declines in global equity markets and raising concerns among major energy-importing economies. Pakistan also raised domestic fuel prices by around 20%, citing global market impacts, and revised the frequency of fuel price announcements&nbsp;from fortnightly to weekly, given the rapidly changing situation. In the US, Trump dismissed the gas price spike as a &quot;small price to pay&quot; for removing the alleged threat of Iran&#39;s nuclear program. Iran strikes Qatar&#39;s Ras Laffan complexA further spike came on March 19, following a strike on a major Iranian gas facility, which sent Brent up more than 6% to nearly $110 per barrel. Iran vowed to hit energy facilities throughout the Gulf in retaliation for what it said was an Israeli attack on the Ras Laffan complex it shares with Qatar. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned the situation could have &quot;uncontrollable consequences,&quot; and John Kilduff of Again Capital described the South Pars attack as a &quot;red line&quot; for Iran. Trump postpones Iran strikes for talksBut oil prices sank around 10% on March 23 after US President Donald Trump suddenly ordered a halt to strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure after citing &quot;very good&quot; talks with Tehran. Despite Iran&#39;s foreign ministry denying any such negotiations, Trump&#39;s statement offered relief to crude prices, dipping below $100 per barrel. By this point in the war, Brent North Sea crude had jumped more than 40%, while European gas prices had rocketed over 75%. Two-week ceasefireVolatility persisted into April as US President Donald Trump set a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, threatening attacks on infrastructure and warning Iran would be &ldquo;living in Hell&rdquo; if it didn&#39;t reopen the strait. The countries agreed to a two-week ceasefire barely an hour before Trump&#39;s deadline to &quot;obliterate&quot; Iran was set to expire, with Pakistan serving as a key intermediary and host for the negotiations. Airline shares rallied, and oil equities retreated as crude prices tumbled in response to the expected return of shipments of oil and other key products through the strait. Biggest single-day drop as Iran declares strait openThe biggest single-day drop came on April 17, when Araghchi declared the strait &quot;completely open&quot; for commercial tankers and cargo ships during the ceasefire. Brent plunged 10% to around $89 per barrel after earlier falling 5% amid hopes of a US-Iran peace deal. West Texas Intermediate shed 1% to $84.11 a barrel. US Navy seizes Iranian shipHowever, oil prices jumped again on April 20 after the US Navy imposed a blockade of the strait and fired on and seized an Iranian container ship in the Gulf of Oman the day before. Iran reimposed restrictions on the strait and warned it will &quot;under no circumstances&quot; return to the pre-war status. Most recent hikeIran warned the US on March 30 that its naval blockade was doomed to fail, after President Donald Trump signaled it could be enforced for months to come, in a confrontation wreaking havoc on global energy markets, according to AFP. As a result, oil prices soared to a four-year high, with Brent crude for June delivery up 7.1% to more than $126 a barrel. Iran&#39;s President Pezeshkian responded with a warning that the action would only further destabilize the region. At present, the US continues its blockade of Iran&#39;s ports, while the Islamic Republic maintains its stranglehold over the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Customers refuel their vehicles at a gas station of Nayara Energy Limited, in Bengaluru on December 12, 2025. (AFP)

Middle East

Americas

Brent crude rises more than 50% in March, a record gain, sending oil prices to a peak of nearly $120 a barrel and roiling the global economy.

Oil hits four-year high as market volatility persists 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Tuesday urged journalists and online content creators to avoid &ldquo;sensationalizing&rdquo; Pakistan&rsquo;s foreign policy, warning that irresponsible commentary could create misunderstandings with friendly countries during a sensitive regional situation.&nbsp;He made these remarks while addressing a press conference alongside Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudry.&nbsp;Tarar said Pakistan maintains a balanced foreign policy and strong relations with Muslim countries, and cautioned commentators against presenting personal interpretations that could be perceived as the country&rsquo;s official stance.&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan has its foreign policy, and it maintains a balance in terms of the relations we share with our respective Muslim countries,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Discrediting it for views and providing our own interpretations instead should be avoided.&rdquo;&nbsp;The minister noted that the issue should not be treated with the same dynamics as domestic political debates, stressing that commentary on international affairs requires greater caution.&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan is a responsible state and a nuclear state,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Pakistan has a role to play in this region and has its own identity and independent foreign policy.&rdquo;&nbsp;He warned that unverified or speculative commentary on social media, vlogs or television talk shows could lead other countries to question whether such views represent Pakistan&rsquo;s official policy.&nbsp;&ldquo;When such things reach the rest of the world through social media, electronic media or print media, it can create uneasiness among friendly countries,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;They may wonder whether it reflects Pakistan&rsquo;s position or an individual&rsquo;s opinion.&rdquo;&nbsp;Meanwhile, Azam Nazeer Tarar emphasized that freedom of expression in Pakistan was guaranteed under the constitution but subject to certain legal limitations.&nbsp;Reading out portions of Article 19 of the Constitution of Pakistan, the law minister said every citizen had the right to freedom of speech and press, but reasonable restrictions existed to protect national interests.&nbsp;&ldquo;These restrictions relate to the glory of Islam, the integrity, security and defense of Pakistan, public order, decency and morality, contempt of court, and friendly relations with foreign states,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;He warned that commentary that could harm Pakistan&rsquo;s relations with other countries or incite conflict did not fall under protected freedom of expression.&nbsp;The law minister said discussions about whether Pakistan should side with one country over another in regional disputes could undermine long-standing diplomatic relationships.&nbsp;&ldquo;We should leave matters of foreign policy to the state and trust our institutions,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;He added that while reporting facts was the media&rsquo;s right and responsibility, speculative commentary on sensitive geopolitical issues could be harmful during a tense regional environment.&nbsp;Both ministers stressed that Pakistan was pursuing diplomacy to ease tensions in the region and urged journalists, commentators and social media users to act responsibly while discussing foreign policy matters.

Foreign Affairs

Says Pakistan maintains a balanced foreign policy and strong relations with Muslim countries, and cautioned commentators against presenting personal interpretations that could be perceived as the country’s official stance.

Pakistan urges responsible commentary on foreign policy amid regional tensions

<p style="scroll-behavior: auto !important; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: rgb(65, 65, 65); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 2;" id="isPasted">ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar held separate telephone conversations with the foreign ministers of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Iran to discuss the evolving regional situation and stress the importance of peace and stability, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.<p style="scroll-behavior: auto !important; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: rgb(65, 65, 65); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 2;">&nbsp;<p style="scroll-behavior: auto !important; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: rgb(65, 65, 65); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 2;">During his conversation with UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Dar expressed concern over recent attacks in the region, including those targeting the UAE, and conveyed Pakistan&rsquo;s solidarity with the UAE and its people.<p style="scroll-behavior: auto !important; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: rgb(65, 65, 65); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 2;">&nbsp;<p style="scroll-behavior: auto !important; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: rgb(65, 65, 65); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 2;">Both leaders emphasized the need to <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-urges-restraint-as-fm-dar-speaks-with-iranian-foreign-minister" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">maintain peace and stability</a> amid rising regional tensions.<p style="scroll-behavior: auto !important; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: rgb(65, 65, 65); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 2;">&nbsp;<p style="scroll-behavior: auto !important; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: rgb(65, 65, 65); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 2;">In a separate call, Dar also spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi. The two leaders discussed recent developments and exchanged views on the evolving situation.<p style="scroll-behavior: auto !important; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: rgb(65, 65, 65); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 2;">&nbsp;<p style="scroll-behavior: auto !important; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: rgb(65, 65, 65); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 2;">They agreed to remain in contact regarding the unfolding developments.<p style="scroll-behavior: auto !important; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: rgb(65, 65, 65); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 2;">&nbsp;<p style="scroll-behavior: auto !important; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: rgb(65, 65, 65); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 2;">Separately, the Pakistani foreign minister also spoke with the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi and exchanged views on the regional situation.<p style="scroll-behavior: auto !important; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: rgb(65, 65, 65); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 2;">&nbsp;<p style="scroll-behavior: auto !important; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: rgb(65, 65, 65); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 2;">AlBudaiwi appreciated Pakistan&rsquo;s strong partnership and solidarity with the GCC. Both sides underscored the importance of de-escalation and emphasized dialogue and cooperation to ensure peace and stability in the region.

Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted an area in the southern coastal city of Tyre on March 7, 2026. (Photo: AFP)

Expresses concern over recent attacks in the region, including those targeting the UAE, and conveyed Pakistan’s solidarity with the UAE and its people.

Pakistani FM discusses regional tensions with UAE, Iranian counterparts

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke with Iran&rsquo;s Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi on Friday to discuss the rapidly evolving security situation in the Middle East, as Islamabad continues diplomatic engagement with regional partners. In a statement posted on X, Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Office said the two leaders exchanged views on recent developments and agreed to remain in contact as the situation unfolds. &ldquo;Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar spoke this evening with the Foreign Minister of Iran, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi,&rdquo; the Foreign Office said. The call reflects Pakistan&rsquo;s effort to maintain open diplomatic channels with Tehran at a time of <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/usisrael-war-on-iran-day-7" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">heightened uncertainty across the Middle East</a>, where ongoing military activity and retaliatory threats have raised fears of wider instability. Islamabad has positioned dialogue as central to its response, urging restraint while coordinating with regional governments affected by the rapidly shifting security environment. During the conversation, Dar conveyed Islamabad&rsquo;s concerns about the rising tensions across the region. &ldquo;The DPM/FM expressed concern over the evolving regional situation. The two agreed to remain in touch on the developments,&rdquo; the statement added. The situation has also begun to spill over into Pakistan&rsquo;s border regions. Authorities in Balochistan say Pakistani nationals have started returning through the Taftan crossing from neighboring Iran as uncertainty grows. Families, traders and laborers arriving at the remote desert border post have described long journeys back home as tensions escalate across the region. Local officials say the government is monitoring the movement of returning citizens and assessing the potential need for further logistical support should the security situation deteriorate. Pakistan shares a long border with Iran and maintains deep economic and social ties with the region. Officials say Islamabad will continue diplomatic outreach while closely monitoring the safety of Pakistani nationals abroad as the regional situation continues to evolve.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar speaks with Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, expressing concern over escalating regional tensions and agreeing to stay in close contact, as Islamabad continues diplomatic engagement and monitors Pakistanis returning home from Iran.

Pakistan urges restraint as FM Dar speaks with Iranian foreign minister

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday condemned recent drone attacks targeting civilians in the Azeri region of Nakhchivan and expressed solidarity with both Azerbaijan and T&uuml;rkiye as tensions continue to rise across the wider region. In a statement posted on X, the prime minister said he spoke with Azerbaijan&rsquo;s President Ilham Aliyev and strongly denounced the attacks that struck civilian areas in the country&rsquo;s exclave of Nakhchivan. Sharif said he conveyed Pakistan&rsquo;s &ldquo;complete solidarity with the leadership and brotherly people of Azerbaijan&rdquo; during difficult time for the country. During the call, the prime minister also briefed Aliyev on Pakistan&rsquo;s ongoing diplomatic outreach in response to the rapidly evolving security situation in Iran and the broader Gulf region. Both leaders discussed the need to reduce tensions and agreed on the importance of diplomatic engagement to prevent further escalation. &ldquo;They agreed on the importance of de-escalation and stressed the urgent need to restore peace and stability in the region,&rdquo; officials said, adding that the two leaders would remain in close contact as developments unfold. In a separate message, PM Sharif also expressed deep concern over a recent attack targeting T&uuml;rkiye, reiterating Pakistan&rsquo;s support for Ankara amid the growing regional uncertainty. The prime minister said Pakistan stands &ldquo;in full solidarity with our brave Turkish brothers,&rdquo; warning that such incidents risk worsening an already volatile situation. Sharif reiterated that restraint and diplomacy remain essential to preventing a broader regional confrontation. &ldquo;The prime minister called for maximum restraint and emphasized the importance of dialogue and diplomacy to uphold respect for sovereignty and maintain peace and stability in the region,&rdquo; officials said. The diplomatic outreach comes as tensions across the Middle East and surrounding regions have escalated sharply following initial strikes by the United States and Israel on Iranian military and leadership targets, including facilities linked to the country&rsquo;s defense establishment. The strikes triggered retaliatory attacks by Iran across parts of the Gulf and neighboring regions, raising fears that the conflict could expand and draw in additional countries. Azerbaijan has accused Iran of carrying out drone strikes in its border region, with President Aliyev describing the attacks as &ldquo;terrorism&rdquo; after an airport and a school were reportedly hit. T&uuml;rkiye has also reported a missile-related incident linked to the widening hostilities. Turkish authorities said a ballistic missile launched from Iran traveled over Iraqi and Syrian airspace before being intercepted by NATO air defense systems. Against this backdrop, Pakistan has intensified diplomatic engagement with regional partners while calling for restraint, dialogue and renewed efforts to prevent the crisis from spiraling into a wider conflict.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meets with President of Azerbaijan Illham Aliyev; Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir is also present (Friday, November 7, 2025). (File photo: Handout/PMO)

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned drone attacks in Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan region and expressed solidarity with Azerbaijan and Türkiye, urging restraint and diplomacy as regional tensions escalate following retaliatory strikes linked to the widening Iran conflict.

Pakistan condemns attacks on Azerbaijan, Türkiye urges regional de-escalation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&#39;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday directed provincial governments to take strict legal action against those involved in hoarding petroleum products and creating artificial shortages in the country.&nbsp;Chairing a high-level meeting on petroleum supplies in Islamabad, the prime minister was briefed by the Ministry of Petroleum on the country&rsquo;s fuel reserves in the context of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-urges-restraint-as-pm-sharif-intensifies-diplomacy-over-middle-east-war" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">evolving regional situation</a>.&nbsp;Officials informed the meeting that Pakistan currently has adequate stocks of petroleum products to meet domestic requirements.&nbsp;The prime minister, however, warned against profiteering and instructed provincial authorities to act firmly against hoarders. He said any petrol pump found involved in creating artificial shortages should be immediately sealed, its licence cancelled, and legal action initiated.&nbsp;Sharif also directed the federal petroleum minister to visit provinces and coordinate with provincial governments to develop a comprehensive plan to ensure the conservation of petroleum products and their uninterrupted supply to the public. The prime minister further ordered the establishment of a digital dashboard to monitor the movement of petroleum products, enabling real-time data sharing with provinces to ensure effective oversight of fuel transportation and distribution. The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, federal ministers Jam Kamal Khan, Ahsan Iqbal Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Attaullah Tarar, Ali Pervaiz Malik, Owais Leghari, Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Haroon Akhtar Khan, and State Bank Governor Jameel Ahmad.&nbsp;Chief secretaries from all four provinces, as well as Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, also attended the meeting along with senior government officials.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chairs a high-level meeting on petroleum supplies in Islamabad on Friday, March 6, 2026, directing authorities to crack down on petrol hoarding and establish real-time monitoring of fuel stocks. (Photo: Handout/PMO)

Economy

Directs federal petroleum minister to visit provinces and coordinate with provincial governments to develop a comprehensive plan to ensure the conservation of petroleum products and their uninterrupted supply to the public.


Pakistan cracks down on fuel hoarders amid Middle East tensions

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) on Tuesday dismissed media reports claiming a partial closure of the country&rsquo;s airspace, terming the interpretation &ldquo;incorrect and misleading.&rdquo; The authority clarified that a recently issued Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) was a routine operational advisory. The NOTAM announces the temporary unavailability of specific Air Traffic Services (ATS) route segments within the Karachi and Lahore Flight Information Regions during daily time windows from 0400 to 1000 UTC (0900 to 1500 Pakistan Standard Time) from March 3 to 31. The PAA said the route segments are closed from ground level to unlimited altitude for standard operational reasons, stressing that the country&rsquo;s airspace remains fully open and safe for all civil aviation traffic, including commercial flights. &ldquo;No restrictions have been imposed on commercial operations, arrivals, departures, or overflights across Pakistan,&rdquo; the authority said, adding that alternative routing options are available and routinely used where required. Air traffic services across the country are continuing without disruption, and controllers and airport teams are managing flight operations normally, the statement added. The authority urged media outlets and social media users to rely on official statements to avoid unnecessary concern among passengers and the public.

An Israeli Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refuelling aircraft flies over Tel Aviv on February 28, 2026. (Photo: AFP/File)

Security

The authority clarifies that a recently issued Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) was a routine operational advisory.

Articles tagged with "US-Israel war on Iran"