OGDCL announces gas discovery in Khairpur, Sindh

Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) on Friday announced a significant gas discovery from the Sehto-1 well in Sindh’s Khairpur district, offering a potential boost amid the ongoing energy crisis. According to a company spokesperson, the well is currently producing 17.2 million cubic feet of gas per day (mmcfd). Drilling operations at the site commenced in December 2025, with gas encountered at a depth of 3,870 metres, the spokesperson added. The discovery is expected to contribute to easing the country’s energy shortfall and help reduce reliance on imported fuel, the company said. Amid mounting global volatility with Iran-US-Isreal war, Pakistan’s top leadership yesterday reviewed fluctuations in international oil and gas supplies and their direct impact on the domestic economy, with a focus on containing inflation and ensuring energy security. Read: Finance ministry says Pakistan has ‘largely secured’ petrol cargoes for March and April Officials briefed the meeting on measures to stabilise petroleum prices, manage spillover effects across key sectors and enforce fiscal discipline through targeted austerity steps. The discussion underscored the need for a coordinated response to mitigate risks arising from rising fuel costs, with participants stressing alignment between economic management and energy planning. Authorities also highlighted the importance of reducing fuel consumption through public awareness campaigns, promoting public transport and encouraging shared mobility to ease pressure on imports and foreign reserves. Separately, amid a deepening global oil crisis triggered by the Strait of Hormuz disruption and rising geopolitical tensions, Pakistan is increasingly pivoting towards renewable and alternative energy sources to safeguard its energy security. Read More: PM hails significant oil and gas discovery in K-P With global crude prices crossing $100 per barrel and domestic petrol rates exceeding Rs300 per litre, the pressure on the economy has intensified, exposing vulnerabilities linked to heavy reliance on imported fuel and supply chain disruptions. In response, policymakers are accelerating efforts to diversify the energy mix, with a growing focus on renewables, nuclear power and electric mobility. Backed significantly by China under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Pakistan has already developed around 5,000MW of clean energy capacity, including wind, solar and hydropower projects — a shift seen as critical to reducing dependence on volatile global oil markets and ensuring long-term energy stability.

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IHC to hear £190m case against PTI founder, Bushra Bibi on March 31

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday has fixed March 31 for the hearing of the £190 million case against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi. According to the cause list issued by the registrar’s office, the case will be heard by IHC Chief Justice Sardar Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif. The court has already sought a response from the counsel for the PTI founder and Bushra Bibi on a plea filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). NAB has raised objections, arguing that the applications for suspension of sentence are not maintainable. The PTI founder and Bushra Bibi have filed petitions seeking suspension of their sentences. An accountability court had sentenced them on January 17, 2025. Read: UK House of Lords debates Imran Khan’s detention, raise concerns over health and jail access Earlier on Thursday, the United Kingdom’s House of Lords held a debate on PTI founder Imran Khan's detention and health with concern expressed over his jail access. Imran has been imprisoned since August 2023 and is currently serving a sentence at Adiala Jail in a £190 million corruption case. He also faces pending trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) related to the May 9, 2023, protests. Initiating the debate, Labour Party member Baroness Alexander of Cleveden said the discussion was timely given Imran's "deteriorating welfare", citing concerns over his health, conditions of detention, access to medical care, denial of family visits and recurring questions regarding access to justice. She said the debate was not intended to endorse any one politician or their record. “Imran Khan, like every politician in the past, present, and future, has made mistakes, but this is about making our voice heard on the concerns that have been raised,” she said. Alexander expressed concern over what she described as a pattern of weaponising the legal system to keep Imran under detention and away from political activity, noting that the former prime minister was not just any other prisoner. Read more: IHC fines NAB Rs100,000 over prosecutor’s absence in £190m case hearing Highlighting the issue of family access, she said that despite previous assurances, Imran’s immediate family remained effectively barred from seeing him. His sons, Sulaiman Khan and Kasim Khan, who are British citizens, have not been permitted to visit him since December last year. “They should have the right to visit their father in a way that does not affect their entitlement to British consular protection,” she added.

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Dar to head panel to bridge differences as MQM-P leadership meets PM in Karachi

In a move that could set the stage for fresh constitutional bargaining, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) on Thursday pitched a 28th constitutional amendment with a focus on empowering local governments under Article 140-A. The proposal, which effectively puts local governance back on the front burner, was presented by an MQM-P delegation led by Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui during a high-level meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Karachi. Sources said the party urged the prime minister to move swiftly and take all political stakeholders on board. The prime minister, in response, agreed to hold a follow-up meeting next week to iron out details and keep the ball rolling on the proposed amendment. The meeting also laid bare both cooperation and underlying friction. MQM-P leaders pressed for fast-tracking the Karachi development package, receiving assurances from the premier, while Dr Farooq Sattar raised concerns over the removal of Kamran Tessori as Sindh governor, saying the party had not been taken into confidence. کراچی: 26 مارچ 2026۔ وزیرِ اعظم محمد شہباز شریف سے کنوینر ایم کیو ایم خالد مقبول صدیقی کی سربراہی میں ایم کیو ایم کے وفد کی کراچی میں ملاقات ہوئی. وفد میں سابق گورنر سندھ کامران خان ٹیسوری، وفاقی وزیرِ قومی صحت مصطفی کمال، ڈاکٹر فاروق ستار، سید امین الحق اور سینیٹر فیصل سبزواری… pic.twitter.com/tnJg6dofyF — Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) March 26, 2026 The prime minister termed it a “political decision” but directed that the Sindh governor remain in close coordination with the MQM-P leadership. He also offered prayers for Tessori’s mother’s health. Senior federal figures, including Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Prime Minister's Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, were present. In parallel, the federal government decided to put its political house in order by tasking Dar with improving working relations between PML-N and MQM-P. Read More: MQM-P urges govt to introduce 28th Amendment to empower local bodies A coordination committee, comprising Sanaullah, Tarar and Ahsan Iqbal, will be formed under Dar’s leadership to smooth over differences and keep lines of communication open. Sources said the committee will work under the prime minister’s directives and is expected to be notified soon. According to PML-N sources, the meeting also stressed the need to bridge gaps between MQM-P and the PPP-led Sindh government to accelerate development in Karachi and across Sindh. The federal side assured it would play a facilitating role to bring both sides on the same page. Also Read: MQM-P should quit federal government over Sindh governor change It was further agreed that constitutional and legal matters would be handled in consultation with MQM-P through the law ministry, while Sindh Governor Nehal Hashmi would maintain regular engagement with the party. MQM-P will also be taken into confidence on key federal decisions, including austerity measures and potential energy policies. Federal ministers are expected to visit Karachi soon to review development projects, with the planning minister maintaining direct contact with MQM-P leadership. A meeting between MQM-P and the proposed coordination committee will be scheduled through mutual consultation. The discussions also touched on the broader regional situation and ongoing development work in urban Sindh, with MQM-P strongly advocating for a genuinely empowered local government system.

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PTI’s Gohar defends Kasim’s UNHRC speech amid government uproar

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Thursday defended a speech delivered by party founder Imran Khan’s son, Kasim Khan, at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), criticising the government’s uproar over it as being “unwarranted”. A day ago, Kasim urged the UNHRC to intervene and press the government for the immediate release of his father. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar accused the PTI and Imran’s sons of acting against Pakistan’s national and economic interests today, alleging efforts to damage the country’s global standing and stability after the UNHRC speech. Responding to Tarar, Gohar told private media outlets that the efforts of Imran's sons for their father were “non-political” and should not be made controversial. “Ata Tarar has tried to create controversy around Kasim’s speech and has adopted an inappropriate tone against PTI and the children, which I strongly condemn,” he said. Read More: UN expert flags ‘serious risk’ to Bushra Bibi’s well-being Gohar added that it was already on record that the PTI and Imran's family had clearly stated that any efforts for his release would be carried out within the framework of the Constitution and the law. “PTI is not waiting for any external force for Imran’s release,” he said. He noted that Imran had been imprisoned for three years and was facing restrictions, including limited access to family and medical facilities. “In such a situation, it is the duty of his children to raise their voice for their father’s release. What his children have said is not wrong,” Gohar said. Citing international concerns, Gohar said reports by the United Nations human rights bodies and other independent actors in Pakistan had already highlighted the conditions of Imran’s detention. Also Read: Appeals filed to UN on behalf of Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi He further clarified that the speech in question was broadcast live and did not contain any remarks against Pakistan’s status for the European Union's Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP Plus) trade scheme. “Not a single word was spoken against Pakistan and its GSP Plus,” he said. Gohar urged the information minister to provide details regarding past engagements, referring to Volume 10 of the report compiled by a six-member Joint Investigation Team constituted by the Supreme Court to investigate the Sharif family’s offshore assets revealed by the Panama Papers. “I would ask the federal minister to explain what was in Volume 10 and to share details of the meetings held in Murree, which have not been disclosed to this day,” he said. He alleged that statements by government officials had previously been used against Pakistan in international forums, including the International Court of Justice, but the government had not issued any clarification on them so far. “At a time when Pakistan is facing a war-like situation and regional tensions are high, we are trying to set aside our differences and think about the country,” Gohar said. “In such a situation, making these matters controversial reflects a pattern of actions that have not served Pakistan’s interests,” he added.

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NFC meeting cancelled without reason: Afridi

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Wednesday accused the federal government of sidelining PTI and making key national decisions behind closed doors without taking stakeholders into confidence. Addressing a news conference in the federal capital, Afridi said the federal government had abruptly cancelled a scheduled meeting on NFC issue without providing reasons, adding that decisions affecting the entire country were being made without transparency. He alleged that PTI, which he described as the country's largest political party, was being "pushed against the wall", while unfair treatment continued against party's founding chairman Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi and family members. The K-P chief minister maintained that the public had overwhelmingly voted for the PTI founder and wanted him to lead national decision-making, but neither he nor his party was being consulted on key matters. Criticising the government's economic management, the chief minister said Pakistan's trade deficit had exceeded $20 billion, agricultural growth was turning negative, and youth were seeking ways to leave the country. He also questioned rising fuel prices, saying petrol had reached Rs321 per litre despite lower global oil prices.

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Pakistan set to begin Hajj flight operation from April 18

Pakistan finalised its Hajj 2026 flight schedule and completed visa issuance for pilgrims under the government scheme, with the pre-Hajj flight operation set to begin on April 18, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony said on Wednesday. According to the release issued by the ministry, all visas for approximately 120,000 selected pilgrims were issued following the completion of required procedures within the Saudi timeline. "The Hajj flight operation will continue until May 21, with a total of 468 flights scheduled to transport pilgrims to Saudi Arabia over a 34-day period. The first flights will depart from Karachi, Lahore, Sialkot, and Multan, carrying pilgrims to Madinah," it added. Read More: Saudi Arabia extends visa validity for stranded visitors until April 18 Ministry officials said that during the initial 15 days of the operation, pilgrims would be flown to Madinah, while flights to Jeddah would commence from May 4. *عازمین حج کے لیے خوشخبری* وزارت نے حج پروازوں کا شیڈول جاری کر دیا۔ عازمین حج *پاک حج موبائل* ایپ کے ذریعے اپنی پرواز کی معلومات حاصل کریں۔ حج پرواز کی معلومات وزارت کی ویب سائٹ https://t.co/EzMa0HjyFM پر بھی دستیاب ہے. آئندہ اعلانات کے لیے پاک حج 2026 موبائل ایپ دیکھتے رہیں pic.twitter.com/dweSq7R8Ma — Ministry of Religious Affairs & Interfaith Harmony (@MORAisbOfficial) March 25, 2026 "The first long-haul Hajj flight to Madinah is scheduled for May 7. Out of the total flights, 186 will land in Madinah and 282 in Jeddah. The operation will involve multiple airlines, including Pakistan International Airlines, Airblue, AirSial, and Saudi carriers," said the ministry in a statement. It further said that under the government scheme, around 119,000 pilgrims would travel to Saudi Arabia, including 67,230 men and 51,846 women, adding that flights will operate from eight cities across Pakistan. "Islamabad will have 129 flights, Karachi 124, and Lahore 104. Other cities include Quetta with 18 flights, Multan 34, Sialkot 26, Faisalabad 23, and Sukkur five. On the first day of operations, four flights will transport pilgrims to Madinah," the statement added. Read More: PMDC cracks down on universities offering unrecognised postgrad courses The ministry said all logistical arrangements, including accommodation in Makkah and Madinah, allocation of maktabs, and transportation, were finalised after completing the biometric process by February 17. To facilitate pilgrims, the government enhanced its digital system and advised all travellers to use the “Pak Hajj 2026” mobile application for flight schedules, departure details, and accommodation information. The app would also serve as an official platform for updates and announcements during the Hajj operation. The ministry urged pilgrims to stay connected with the application and the official website to remain informed about any changes in schedules or training programmes. The government reaffirmed its commitment to providing quality travel and accommodation facilities to ensure that pilgrims can perform Hajj with ease and focus.

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Kasim urges UNHRC intervention to end Imran's persecution, detention immediately

Kasim Khan, son of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, addressed the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Wednesday, urging the body to intervene and press the government of Pakistan for the immediate release of his father. “We ask this council and the OHCHR to urge Pakistan to end this persecution immediately. They must comply with the UN Working Group's opinion, and they must release my father,” Kasim said during the UNHRC’s 61st session. Imran has been imprisoned since August 2023, currently serving a sentence at Adiala Jail in a £190 million corruption case. He also faces pending trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) related to the protests of May 9, 2023. The brothers have not seen their father since November 2022 after he survived an assassination attempt. They said they applied for visas in January of this year but have yet to receive a response. Read More: Imran's sons don't need visas to visit Pakistan In his address at UNHRC, Kasim described his father’s prolonged detention, revealing that Imran has been held in a small cell designed for solitary confinement under constant surveillance for more than two and a half years.  “We go months without any contact, and the last time I spoke to him was a brief phone call. When we recently tried to travel to Pakistan to visit him, the government deliberately refused to process our visas,” he said. “Denying a prisoner’s children the right to see him is collective punishment. From the limited contact we had, I know my father is suffering,” he stated. He stressed that his father’s case was not isolated, but rather part of a much broader pattern of oppression in Pakistan since 2022. He also labelled the 2024 elections as "rigged," claiming they were designed to prevent his father's political project from taking over. Referring to Pakistan's commitment under the GSP-plus framework to uphold international human rights conventions, Kasim pointed out several violations, including the arbitrary detention of his father, his solitary confinement, the denial of medical care, the blocking of family visits, and the trial of civilians in military courts. "Each of these violates those treaty obligations," he said. He further stated that he and his brother were not political people. "But my father’s life demands that we take action. We cannot stand by as his health deteriorates and he is kept away from us. That is the very least we can do for him,” he added. Also Read: Imran's sons raise concerns over his health in jail Imran was allowed to telephone his sons from Rawalpindi's Adial Jail on Eid day. The jailed PTI founder spoke to his children for around 25 to 30 minutes. During the conversation, the sons inquired about their father's health, while Imran expressed happiness at being able to speak with them on the festive occasion. The PTI founder was brought out of the compound to a special room for the call and, after the conversation, was taken back to the compound. Last week, Jemima Goldsmith, the ex-wife of Imran, made a direct appeal to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to allow their sons, Kasim and Sulaiman, to visit their father in prison. In response, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said that the sons of Imran do not require visas to visit Pakistan to meet their father, upon which Jemima replied that the government was refusing visas for their sons, in an attempt to deprive them of British protection in the case of a possible arrest upon arrival in Pakistan.

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