Monday, March 30th, 2026
UHS–PMAA Drive Empowers Schoolgirls in Self-Defence
By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: In a significant step toward youth empowerment and grassroots sports development, the University of Health Sciences (UHS) Lahore, in collaboration with the Pakistan Martial Arts Association (PMAA), has launched a large-scale self-defence training initiative for adolescent schoolgirls. The Adolescent Self-Defence Workshops Program, currently underway in Lahore, Sheikhupura, and Kasur, has already trained more than 2500 students from 30 schools. The initiative leverages martial arts as a structured sporting discipline to enhance physical fitness, agility, and mental resilience, while equipping participants with essential self-defence skills. Designed asRead More
PM Shehbaz, António Costa vow dialogue to resolve Gulf, Iran tensions
Ansar M Bhatti ISLAMABAD, MAR 30 /DNA/ – Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif received a telephone call from António Costa, President of the European Council, this afternoon. In a warm and cordial conversation, the two leaders discussed the ongoing hostilities in the Middle East, with a particular focus on the escalating crisis involving Iran and Gulf countries. Both expressed deep concern over the conflict’s severe impact on regional stability and the global economy. They stressed the urgent need to resolve the crisis through sustained dialogue and diplomatic channels. Prime MinisterRead More
PM vows not to abandon needy masses as efforts underway for further public relief
ISLAMABAD, Mar 30: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday said that the government was making every effort to provide further relief to the poor and middle-income class, and vowed not to abandon them in this challenging time. The prime minister, chairing a meeting to review the impact of the Middle East situation on petroleum products, availability of current stocks, and public relief measures, said that by using digital systems, public relief would be delivered directly to the common man. He said that government expenditures and the development budget had beenRead More
After quad talks, PM thanks FMs for confidence in Pakistan’s peace efforts
ISLAMABAD, Mar 30: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday thanked the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Egypt for expressing confidence in Pakistan’s sincere efforts for peace and stability in the region. The prime minister, who met with Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Dr. Badr Abdelatty of Egypt on Sunday, expressed pleasure to receive them for the quadrilateral meeting to discuss the situation in the Middle East. On two different posts on his X timeline, the prime minister saidRead More
DPM Dar set to visit China after Pakistan pushes for regional peace amid ME tensions
ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will visit China on March 31 at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, as Pakistan steps up diplomatic engagement amid the ongoing war involving Iran, the United States and Israel. A statement released by the Foreign Office on Monday said Pakistan and China enjoy an all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, marked by close coordination and regular consultations on regional and international issues. The FO said Dar’s visit would provide an opportunity for both sides to hold in-depth discussions on regionalRead More
Iran vs U.S.: When Demands Collide, Can Peace Survive?
Qamar Bashir The Middle East today is not witnessing a single war, but a convergence of multiple battlefields—each feeding into the other and pushing the region toward a dangerous tipping point. What began as a confrontation between Iran, Israel, and the United States has now expanded into a multi-front conflict involving Lebanon, Yemen, the Gulf states, and beyond. The war is no longer linear; it is layered, interconnected, and increasingly uncontrollable. One of the most intense theaters of this conflict is southern Lebanon, where Israeli operations have escalated dramatically. Infrastructure—bridges,Read More