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ISLAMABAD: Bangladesh on Sunday voiced concern over the safety of its nationals in Iran following recent attacks, urging all sides to exercise restraint and return to diplomacy to prevent further escalation in the region. In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka, the government said it remained &ldquo;deeply concerned&rdquo; about the security of Bangladeshi citizens residing in Iran in the wake of the attacks. According to state news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), Dhaka warned that any continuation of hostilities could further undermine regional peace and stability while putting civilian populations at greater risk. The government called upon all concerned parties to exercise maximum restraint and stressed the need to return to dialogue and diplomacy to resolve differences and ensure lasting peace. The statement also condemned what it described as violations of the sovereignty of several Gulf and regional countries, naming Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Bangladesh expressed hope that calm would prevail at the earliest and that peace, security, and stability would soon be restored across the region.

Activists and supporters of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami party hold posters of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during an anti-US and Israel protest at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka on March 1, 2026. (AFP)

Bangladesh

Bangladesh expresses deep concern over the safety of its citizens in Iran after recent attacks, urging restraint and diplomacy while condemning violations of sovereignty in several Gulf states and warning against further regional escalation and instability.

Bangladesh concerned for nationals’ safety in Iran, condemns Gulf sovereignty violations

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani families, traders, and workers are returning home through the remote Taftan border crossing with Iran as the widening conflict in the Middle East forces civilians to flee the region and disrupts cross-border trade. Small groups of travelers carrying suitcases and bags have been arriving at the dusty crossing in Pakistan&rsquo;s southwestern Balochistan province after making long journeys from Iranian cities affected by the fallout of the ongoing war. The conflict intensified after coordinated US&ndash;Israeli strikes on Iran triggered retaliatory missile and drone attacks across the Gulf, rattling regional security and prompting several countries to prepare evacuation plans for their citizens. Islamabad has been closely monitoring the rapidly evolving situation, with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordering contingency measures to bring stranded Pakistanis home and maintain diplomatic outreach aimed at de-escalation. Officials said authorities are facilitating the safe return of citizens through the Taftan crossing, Pakistan&rsquo;s main land route with Iran, while coordinating with regional partners as tensions continue to rise. Families arriving at the border terminal were seen waiting for onward transport deeper into Pakistan, some loading their belongings onto pickup trucks and other vehicles heading toward cities across Balochistan and beyond. While the flow of returnees remains steady, residents in Taftan say the war across the border has already begun affecting daily life in the small desert town that depends heavily on trade with Iran. Local resident Kamran Khan said the closure of cross-border trade routes had pushed up food prices sharply in recent days. &ldquo;In Taftan, food items come from Iran,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Before the border closure, one kilogram of vegetables cost Rs130 to Rs150 ($0.46 to $0.53), but now it costs Rs250 to Rs300 ($0.89 to $1.07)&nbsp;per kilogram.&rdquo; He added that other essential items had also surged in price as supply chains were disrupted. &ldquo;Ghee also came from Iran; one kilogram used to cost Rs130 ($0.46) and now it costs Rs300 ($1.07),&rdquo; Khan said. &ldquo;A bottle of clean drinking water used to cost Rs80 ($0.29), but now it costs Rs200 ($0.71). The border closure is causing us many problems.&rdquo; Local traders say the economic fallout is spreading quickly through the border town&rsquo;s small businesses, which rely on regular imports and exports with neighboring Iran. &ldquo;The closure of the border to trade has severely affected our import-export business, causing us losses worth millions of rupees,&rdquo; Khan said. &ldquo;In Taftan there is a shortage of food and grocery items.&rdquo; He added that the disruption had also affected energy supplies moving through the crossing. &ldquo;LPG also comes to Pakistan through the Taftan route, but the closure has caused a shortage of LPG gas as well,&rdquo; he said. Fruit and vegetable vendor Kamal Khan said the conflict had doubled some prices almost overnight. &ldquo;Due to the war in Iran, the border is closed to trade,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Vegetables that used to cost us Rs200 per kilogram are now costing up to Rs400.&rdquo; &ldquo;This has caused a significant increase in vegetable prices,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;There are people here who, unfortunately, cannot afford to buy them.&rdquo; The situation in Taftan reflects the broader regional impact of the escalating conflict, which has triggered missile exchanges, air defense alerts and attacks on military and energy infrastructure across the Middle East. Islamabad has repeatedly called for restraint and diplomacy, warning that further escalation could destabilize the wider region and threaten millions of civilians, including Pakistani workers living abroad. Pakistani officials say diplomatic engagement with regional governments is continuing as authorities work to ensure the safe return of citizens while managing the economic and humanitarian consequences of the unfolding crisis. With inputs from AFP

Foreign Affairs

Security

Local residents and traders in Pakistan’s Taftan border town say the Iran conflict has disrupted cross-border trade, sharply raising food and fuel prices as returning Pakistanis arrive from Iran and uncertainty grows over supplies and livelihoods.



Pakistanis return through Taftan as Iran war disrupts border trade

BAKU: Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev accused Iran of &quot;terrorism&quot; and threatened retaliation after drone attacks Thursday targeted an airport and a school in an Azerbaijani border region, an incident that could drag yet another country into the Mideast war.&nbsp;Tehran denied the allegation and blamed Israel, Azerbaijan&#39;s ally, of trying to stage a provocation.&nbsp;The midday attacks involved at least four drones that crossed from Iran into Azerbaijan&#39;s exclave of Nakhchivan bordering Iran, with one hitting the airport and another exploding near a school, Baku said.&nbsp;Video footage published by Azerbaijani media showed what appeared to be a drone crashing into the ground and exploding near the school, followed by loud screams from children in the building.&nbsp;AFP could not verify the footage.&nbsp;&quot;Today a terrorist act was carried out from the Iranian side against the territory of Azerbaijan,&quot; Aliyev told a hastily convened security council meeting.&nbsp;Azerbaijan&#39;s military &quot;have been instructed to prepare and carry out retaliatory measures ... placed on mobilisation level number one, and must be ready to conduct any operation,&quot; he said.&nbsp;&quot;Those dishonourable people who committed this terrorist act against us will regret it. Let them not test our strength... This stain will never be erased from their dirty and ugly face,&quot; he added.&nbsp;The Azerbaijani defence ministry said it had detected four drones launched by Iran&#39;s army.&nbsp;&quot;One of them was disabled by the Azerbaijani army, while the others were directed at civilian infrastructure, including a secondary school building during class hours. Fortunately, the drone targeting the school did not reach its objective and instead fell and exploded near the school,&quot; it said.&nbsp;The Nakhichevan Airport terminal was damaged, with video showing grey smoke rising above the building after the strike.&nbsp;Four people were hospitalised with &quot;traumatic brain injuries,&quot; Sahib Abuzarov, head of emergency services at a hospital in Nakhichevan said later.&nbsp;The general staff of Iran&#39;s armed forces said it did not carry out the attack and pointed the finger at Israel.&nbsp;&quot;Such actions by the Zionist regime, aimed at disrupting relations between Muslim countries in various ways, are not unprecedented,&quot; it said in a statement.&nbsp;Azerbaijan-Israel partnershipFrance&#39;s foreign ministry said the &quot;unjustifiable&quot; attack &quot;constitutes a blatant violation of Azerbaijan&#39;s sovereignty and of international law.&quot;&nbsp;Turkey&#39;s foreign ministry condemned strikes &quot;which target third countries in the region and increase the risk of the war spreading.&quot;&nbsp;Azerbaijan summoned the Iranian envoy in Baku over the incident.&nbsp;&quot;We demanded from the Islamic Republic of Iran to provide, within the shortest possible timeframe, a clear explanation regarding the case and conduct investigation,&quot; foreign ministry spokesman, Aykhan Hajizada, told AFP.&nbsp;Analysts have said Azerbaijan&#39;s Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline -- which runs through neighboring Georgia and Turkey and carries around a third of Israel&#39;s oil imports -- could become a potential target for the Iranian military.&nbsp;In 2024, Azerbaijan exported 2.37 million tonnes of oil to Israel via the pipeline, director of the Baku-based Centre for Oil Research, Ilham Shaban, told AFP.&nbsp;&quot;The pipeline is buried underground along most of its route, making it difficult to disable,&quot; he said, adding that &quot;above-ground facilities -- such as terminals and pumping stations -- could still be vulnerable to Iranian drone strikes.&quot;&nbsp;Iran has long expressed concern that Israel -- a close ally of Azerbaijan and a key arms supplier -- could use Azerbaijani territory to stage attacks.&nbsp;Last June, Azerbaijan reassured Tehran that it would not allow such use of its territory after Israel launched a large-scale strike on Iranian targets.&nbsp;Tehran has historically been wary of separatist sentiment among its ethnic Azerbaijani minority, which makes up around 10 million of Iran&#39;s 83 million citizens.

Asia

Azerbaijan accused Iran of launching drones into Nakhchivan, damaging an airport and near a school, injuring four. President Ilham Aliyev ordered retaliatory readiness, escalating regional tensions. Iran denied involvement, blaming Israel.

Azerbaijan vows retaliation after Iran's 'terrorist' drone strikes

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;The Indian Air Force (IAF) said early Friday that a Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jet crashed during a training mission in the northeastern Indian state of Assam, hours after the aircraft was reported missing. In a statement posted on X, the air force said the aircraft went down in a remote area of Karbi Anglong district. &ldquo;The Su-30MKI, which was on a training mission, crashed in the area of Karbi Anglong, Assam, approx 60 km from Jorhat,&rdquo; the IAF said in the post. The force added that search operations are underway, though it did not immediately confirm the status of the crew. The aircraft had earlier lost contact after taking off from the region late Thursday, triggering search efforts in the surrounding area. Indian journalist Amandeep Flora said the aircraft disappeared near the city of Jorhat before the crash was confirmed. &ldquo;Indian Air Force Sukhoi-30 MKI went missing near Jorhat, Assam. Pilot status &mdash; UNKNOWN. Search operation launched. Court of Inquiry ordered,&rdquo; Flora wrote on X. He added that the incident highlights the scale of the loss. &ldquo;India&#39;s most advanced fighter jet. Missing over its own soil. This is India&#39;s 12th Su-30 MKI lost,&rdquo; he said. Flora also noted the timing of the crash as global attention remains focused on intensifying tensions in the Middle East. &ldquo;While the world watches Iran, India just lost a fighter jet in Assam,&rdquo; he wrote. The crash comes amid broader global security concerns following escalating tensions in the Middle East, where recent US&ndash;Israeli strikes on Iran have triggered retaliatory missile and drone attacks across the Gulf, prompting air defense alerts and raising fears of wider regional instability.&nbsp;

India

The Indian Air Force said it lost contact with a Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jet after it departed from Assam at 7:42 pm Thursday, with officials yet to disclose crew details or the aircraft’s last known position.

Indian Air Force loses contact with Su-30MKI fighter jet over Assam

ISLAMABAD: Bangladesh government initiated emergency energy conservation measures and prepared for potential power rationing as the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/usisrael-war-on-iran-day-6" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Middle East conflict</a>&nbsp;disrupts global fuel markets, Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) reported. According to the state-run news agency, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood stated that the nation faces a temporary crisis in the energy sector due to ongoing regional unrest. Following an emergency review meeting, the energy minister requested that citizens use electricity and fuel economically to help manage the supply gap. Bangladesh currently holds 201,610 tons of diesel, enough to last 14 days, according to Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) Director Dr. AKM Azadur Rahman. BSS reported on March 3 that petrol and octane reserves are sufficient for approximately 17 and 31 days. The BPC director indicated that the state is monitoring the supply chain to ensure refined&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/saudi-arabia-assures-pakistan-alternative-oil-supply-route-amid-regional-crisis-1" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">oil shipments</a>&nbsp;from alternative markets continue despite the closure of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/opec-backs-market-stability-as-iran-rules-out-hormuz-closure" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Strait of Hormuz.</a> Bangladesh&rsquo;s Cabinet Division issued an 11-point directive on March 5 ordering all public and autonomous offices to curb consumption. As per the mandate, offices must set air conditioners to 25 degrees Celsius or higher and switch off half of their lights. The directive also specified that decorative lighting should be avoided and the use of private vehicles reduced. The research director at the Centre for Policy Dialogue, Dr. Khondaker Golam Moazzem, stated that the nation&#39;s energy system faces increased pressure, making supply rationing likely in the short term. Research published in the International Research Journal reported that national energy consumption in Bangladesh grows by roughly 10% annually. This creates a supply-demand disparity that requires immediate management. State Minister Anindya Islam Amit told BSS that electricity for the Boro irrigation season remains a priority even if rationing occurs in other sectors. Boro is Bangladesh&#39;s key dry-season rice crop,&nbsp;demanding heavy irrigation from November to June. To protect gas for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/global-coal-demand-expected-to-hit-record-in-2025-international-energy-agency" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">power generation</a>, the Bangladeshi government ordered CNG filling stations to close daily from 3 pm to 9 pm local time through the month of Ramadan, according to a statement by the energy ministry. A study from the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies found that rising energy costs are already straining the agri-food system, as production costs for rice increased 3.45% annually in recent years. Bangladesh&rsquo;s Prime Minister Tarique Rahman instructed the Energy and Mineral Resources Division to procure necessary liquefied natural gas from alternative markets to stabilize the grid, BSS reported on March 1.

Fuel droplets fall from a nozzle at a gasoline station in Dhaka, Bangladesh on August 6, 2022. (AFP)

Bangladesh launches energy conservation and power rationing amid Middle East conflict disrupting fuel supplies, imposing office cutbacks and CNG closures.

Bangladesh curbs energy use as Middle East war strains reserves

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Thursday approved seven development projects worth Rs15.174 billion ($54.3 million) and referred four larger schemes costing Rs108.16 billion ($387.1 million) to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for final approval, according to an official statement. The meeting, chaired by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, reviewed projects spanning education, health, information technology and energy under the government&rsquo;s URAAN Pakistan reform agenda. &ldquo;The initiatives cover key sectors including education, health, IT and energy,&rdquo; the planning ministry said in a statement after the meeting. Education and youth initiatives The CDWP approved Rs4.687 billion ($16.77 million) for establishing a Daanish School in Haveli-Kahuta in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. During the meeting, Iqbal instructed the Ministry of Education to review financial planning for the project. &ldquo;Iqbal directed the Ministry of Education to rationalize costs and provide a multi-year financial plan to ensure operational stability,&rdquo; the statement said. In the higher education sector, the forum approved a Rs1.846 billion ($6.6 million) initiative to support students with physical disabilities. The scheme will provide electric wheelchairs, laptops for visually impaired students and other audio-visual learning aids. The facility will be limited to full-time students enrolled in public sector universities. Two healthcare initiatives were reviewed during the session. The committee approved the Rs1.335 billion ($4.78 million) National Health Support Programme for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while recommending a Rs7.931 billion ($28 million) project to upgrade the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital in Hafizabad to ECNEC for final consideration. During the review, Iqbal raised concerns about jurisdictional responsibility for the Hafizabad project. &ldquo;Iqbal noted the Hafizabad project falls under provincial jurisdiction,&rdquo; the statement said. The forum decided that the Government of Punjab would bear any additional financial liability and reimburse federal funds released beyond the mandated federal share. The CDWP also recommended several energy efficiency initiatives funded by the World Bank. These include Rs19.016 billion ($68 million) for the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) and Rs30.255 billion ($108.3 million) for the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO), both of which were forwarded to ECNEC for approval. Separately, the committee approved a Rs3.781 billion ($13.5 million) hydropower and renewable energy project in Gilgit-Baltistan. In the agriculture sector, a Rs50.956 billion ($182.4 million) irrigated agriculture development project in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was also recommended to ECNEC. According to the planning ministry, the project will rehabilitate 14,260 watercourses and introduce high-efficiency irrigation systems across 11,650 acres, with significant funding from the World Bank. The forum approved a Rs185.691 million ($664,562) initiative to digitize rural land records in Islamabad to improve transparency in land administration. Other approvals included the construction of a new administrative block for the Supreme Court Branch Registry in Quetta and a revised Rs3.106 billion ($11 million) cost for the Pakistan Audit and Accounts Academy in Islamabad.

An aerial view shows the USAID-funded Pakistani non-profit HANDS water supply plant in Jacobabad in southern Sindh province on February 18, 2025. (AFP)

Economy

Pakistan’s planning ministry cleared projects in education, healthcare, renewable energy and digital governance, including disability support in universities and irrigation upgrades, while sending major power efficiency and agriculture initiatives to the national economic council for final approval.

Pakistan approves $54M development projects, refers $387M schemes

MOSCOW:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/russian-says-no-deadlines-to-end-ukraine-war" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Moscow</a>&nbsp;and Kyiv will each release a total of 500 prisoners of war over Thursday and Friday, Russia&#39;s top negotiator said, with the Russian defense ministry saying the first 200 on each side had already been swapped. &quot;There will be an exchange of prisoners of war with Ukraine. 500 for 500,&quot; Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky wrote on Telegram. He added that the swap was part of agreements reached at trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine and the United States in Geneva searching for an end to the conflict. The Russian defense ministry said the UAE and the United States helped mediate Thursday&#39;s exchange of 200 captured Russian soldiers for 200 captured Ukrainians. It added that the Russian servicemen were in <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/ski-body-blocks-russian-belarusian-athletes-from-2026-winter-olympics" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Belarus</a>, a close ally of Russia that neighbors Ukraine. Moscow and Kyiv have held several rounds of prisoner exchanges throughout the war, one of the rare areas of cooperation between the warring countries. The swaps are among the very few tangible results of the talks, being pushed and mediated by Washington, trying to broker a deal to end the war. Negotiations appeared to have stalled amid a lack of progress and since the eruption of war in the Middle East. Kyiv had said there had been a tentative plan to hold talks in Abu Dhabi this week - one of the places being hit by Iranian missiles and drones. <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/trump-zelensky-speak-before-ukraineus-talks-in-geneva" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky</a> on Monday suggested holding the next meeting in Switzerland or Turkey, which both have hosted previous rounds talks, instead.

This handout photograph taken and released by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine on March 5, 2026 shows buildings on fire following a Russian attack in the coast of Bilgorod-Dnistrovskyi district in Odesa region. (AFP)

Europe

The swap was part of agreements reached at trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine and the United States in Geneva searching for an end to the conflict.

Russia, Ukraine to exchange 500 POWs on March 5-6: negotiator

KATHMANDU: Nepal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/nepal-votes-in-key-postuprising-polls" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">voted</a>&nbsp;on Thursday for a new parliament in a high-stakes showdown between an entrenched old guard and a powerful youth movement, six months after deadly anti-corruption protests&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/nepals-gen-z-pins-hopes-on-postuprising-elections" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">toppled the government</a>. Key figures contesting for power include the Marxist former prime minister seeking a return to office, a rapper-turned-mayor bidding for the youth vote, and the newly elected leader of the powerful Nepali Congress party. Election commission officials began collecting ballot boxes after voting closed, with papers to be taken under guard to a center in each constituency, before counting starts. Some winners are expected to be published as early as Friday, but full results may take several days. &quot;Nepalis have been waiting for change for so long, from one system to another,&quot; said Nilanta Shakya, 60, a retired engineer, who was among the first to vote at a college in the capital, Kathmandu. &quot;I hope there is a meaningful change this time,&quot; she added. Voters have chosen who replaces the interim government in place since the September 2025 uprising, in which at least 77 people were killed, and parliament and scores of government buildings were torched. Youth-led protests under a loose Gen Z banner began as a demonstration against a brief social media ban, but were fed by wider grievances at corruption and a woeful economy. <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/nepals-exchief-justice-sushila-karki-becomes-interim-premier-after-protests" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sushila Karki</a>, the interim prime minister, said the vote was critical in &quot;determining our future&quot;. The polls are one of the most hotly contested elections in the Himalayan republic of 30 million people since the end of a civil war in 2006. Thousands of soldiers and police have been deployed. The election saw a wave of younger candidates promising to tackle Nepal&#39;s dismal economy, challenging veteran politicians who have dominated for decades and argue that their experience guarantees stability and security. &quot;Today feels like a day of celebration,&quot; said Nirmala Bhandari, 50, a housewife, who danced in the street with friends for a video for social media, after casting her vote in Bhaktapur district outside the capital. &quot;I am hopeful that the country will get new leaders and that we will build a better nation.&quot; &#39;Blood will bring change&#39; Helicopters will be used to collect ballot boxes from snowbound mountain regions across Nepal, home to eight of the world&#39;s 10 highest peaks, including&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/hundreds-of-hikers-rescued-from-everest-after-severe-snowstorm" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mount Everest.</a> But all eyes will be focused on the hot farming plains south of Kathmandu, where all three prime ministerial hopefuls contested seats &ndash; a departure from past elections that focused on the capital. KP Sharma Oli, the 74-year-old Marxist leader ousted as prime minister last year and seeking a return to power, is being challenged in the usually sleepy eastern district of Jhapa by former Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah, a 35-year-old rapper-turned-politician. &quot;This election must reestablish democracy and contribute to end non-political, anarchic and violent tendencies,&quot; Oli said after voting, insisting his party would win the largest number of seats. The Jhapa-5 constituency, with around 163,000 voters, will determine whether Oli secures his seat or whether Shah enters parliament. Shah, from the centrist Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), who queued to vote in Kathmandu dressed in a black suit and sunglasses, has cast himself as a symbol of youth-driven political change. Also in the race as aspiring prime minister is Gagan Thapa, 49, the new head of the country&#39;s oldest party, Nepali Congress, who has said he wants to end the &quot;old age&quot; club of revolving veteran leaders. After casting his ballot, Thapa told AFP that it is &quot;the duty of the leaders&quot; not to let the events of last September occur again. On social media, voters shared images of their ink-marked thumbs &ndash; alongside photographs of the September protests. &quot;At the Gen Z protest, people died &ndash; and their blood will bring change, we hope,&quot; said Tek Bahadur Aale, 66, who voted in Jhapa. &quot;We hope a government with good governance, no corruption, comes this time.&quot; More than 3,400 candidates are running for 165 seats in direct elections to the 275-member House of Representatives, the lower chamber of parliament, with 110 more chosen via party lists. Analysts say the vote is unlikely to deliver an outright majority for any party.

Security personnel and electoral officials carry ballot boxes to the counting centre after voting ends at a polling station during Nepal's general election in Lalitpur on March 5, 2026. (AFP)

Key figures contesting for power include the Marxist former prime minister seeking a return to office, a rapper-turned-mayor bidding for the youth vote, and the newly elected leader of the powerful Nepali Congress party.

Nepal awaits results in key post-uprising polls

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting on evacuating Pakistanis from Iran and those residing in Gulf countries. According to an official statement from the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office, officials briefed PM Sharif on the ongoing process to evacuate Pakistani nationals from Iran. Pakistani nationals are/have been returning safely, officials reported. The meeting reviewed steps by Pakistani embassies to assist citizens in Gulf countries. PM Sharif directed that all embassies must remain available around the clock to provide facilities. He directed the country&rsquo;s Foreign Office to monitor the situation continuously. The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Adviser to the Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah, Minister of State Talal Chaudhry, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatemi, and other senior officials. Foreign Office statement Meanwhile, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi on Thursday stated that the government has initiated proactive measures to evacuate its citizens from Iran and support stranded nationals across the region. According to an official statement released by the Foreign Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs&#39; Crisis Management Unit (CMU) now operates 24 hours a day. Staff members monitor regional developments and provide direct assistance to Pakistani nationals. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 922px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2029518714681561551&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=5d6cf356a38ac6626b66c098452c18dee51dc81a&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2029518714681561551"></iframe></div></div> Andrabi stated that under directives from PM Sahrif, Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic missions have opened Special Facilitation Desks. These centers manage visa facilitation, logistics, and travel arrangements for stranded citizens. Missions also launched dedicated mobile applications, registration portals, and helplines to improve outreach. The spokesperson said that Pakistani diplomats are working with host governments to secure consular support for the diaspora. Commercial flights have partially resumed, allowing some stranded individuals to begin returning to their destinations. He stated that the government continues to prioritize the safety and return of overseas Pakistanis. Emergency contact details for the ministry and its missions are available on official websites.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting on evacuating Pakistanis from Iran and those residing in Gulf countries.(PMO)

PM Sharif directed that all embassies must remain available around the clock to provide facilities.

PM Sharif chairs meeting on evacuating Pakistanis from Iran, Gulf

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said Thursday that Pakistan holds sufficient reserves and supply arrangements to manage potential economic fallout from regional developments, the Finance Ministry reported.&nbsp; During a meeting with British High Commissioner Jane Marriott, Aurangzeb detailed the government&rsquo;s strategy for stabilizing the economy. He stated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently formed a high-level committee to monitor global commodity markets and energy supplies daily. This group includes members from federal ministries and the State Bank of Pakistan. The committee tracks price movements and potential disruptions in crude oil, coal, gas, and petroleum products. Officials are also assessing how these factors impact inflation and financial stability. Aurangzeb stated the government is performing sensitivity analysis and scenario planning to address a prolonged regional crisis. The finance minister said energy conservation measures are currently under review. The Finance Ministry is coordinating with provincial authorities to manage resources and prevent market panic. Aurangzeb provided an update on Pakistan&rsquo;s engagement with the International Monetary Fund.&nbsp; He stated the government remains committed to meeting program benchmarks. Current efforts focus on tax policy, revenue mobilization, and institutional transparency. The government aims to broaden the tax base through data-driven enforcement. Economic indicators show signs of recovery. Growth reached 3.7% in the first quarter of the current fiscal year. Large-scale manufacturing and the agriculture sector contributed to this improvement. Aurangzeb said the focus is now transitioning from stabilization to sustainable growth. The British High Commissioner acknowledged the government&rsquo;s reform efforts and detailed the United Kingdom&rsquo;s support for Pakistan&rsquo;s macroeconomic stability. The discussion also covered investor confidence in the mining and minerals sectors. Both sides agreed on the importance of good governance to attract international investment. The meeting concluded with both officials pledging to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation.

Highlighting the government’s proactive measures to manage potential economic impacts amid evolving regional developments, Pakistan's Finance Minister said that the country has adequate reserves and supply arrangements.

Pakistan maintains strong reserves to counter regional market disruptions: Finance minister

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;Pakistan on Thursday formally voiced concerns about a new uranium supply and nuclear technology agreement between Canada and India, warning that the deal could upset the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/how-indias-23-billion-weapons-spree-aims-to-fight-pakistan-without-triggering-nuclear-response" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">strategic balance in South Asia.</a> Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi issued the statement following the conclusion of the bilateral arrangement, which includes the supply of uranium, cooperation on small modular reactors, and advanced nuclear technologies. Andrabi stated that the arrangement as a &quot;country-specific exception&quot; undermines global non-proliferation efforts. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 924px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2029455114680082681&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F4569%2F&sessionId=311811c39e22d2da76fa8e87d32270d96f402d3d&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div><div class="fr-embed"><div><div style="line-height: 2;"> He noted the irony of the deal by citing India&rsquo;s 1974 nuclear test, which used plutonium from a Canadian-supplied reactor and led directly to the creation of the Nuclear Suppliers Group. The spokesperson said a nation whose past actions necessitated global export controls is now receiving &quot;preferential access&quot; through selective agreements. He said that India has not placed all its civilian nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency (<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/un-nuclear-watchdog-approves-safety-for-pakistans-new-chashma-reactor" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">IAEA</a>) safeguards, and the current agreement includes no binding commitment to do so. With several facilities remaining shielded from international inspection, Andrabi said the deal lacks clear, concrete non-proliferation assurances. The ministry warned of significant strategic consequences, stating that assured uranium supplies from external sources effectively free up India&rsquo;s domestic reserves for&nbsp;military applications. This shift allows India to expand its fissile material stockpiles and accelerate the growth of its nuclear arsenal, deepening existing asymmetries in the region. The spokesperson said that these developments contradict <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/canada-launches-huge-defense-plan-to-curb-reliance-on-us" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Canada&rsquo;s own</a> international non-proliferation obligations. Islamabad maintains a non-discriminatory, criteria-based approach that must govern civil nuclear cooperation, he said. Such standards should apply equally to all states that are not parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Andrabi said that selective exceptions erode the credibility of the global framework and pose a risk to both regional and global security. </div></div></div>

Rajasthan Atomic Power Plant (Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited)

Foreign Office Spokesperson stated that the deal undermines global non-proliferation efforts.

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