ISLAMABAD, MAR 18 /DNA/ – Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a telephone conversation with His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al Khaled Al Hamad Al Mubarak Al Sabah, Crown Prince of Kuwait, earlier today.

During their warm and cordial conversation, the two leaders exchanged greetings on the auspicious occasion of Eid ul Fitr, conveying their best wishes for peace, prosperity, and well-being to the people of Pakistan, Kuwait, as well as the entire Muslim Ummah. The Prime Minister also conveyed his warm and respectful regards to the Amir of Kuwait, His Highness Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah.

The Prime Minister, once again, condemned in the strongest terms, the attacks on Kuwait and expressed condolences over the loss of precious lives, while praying for early recovery of the injured. He expressed Pakistan’s solidarity with, and support to the brotherly people of Kuwait. He further stressed upon the need for all the regional countries to work together to maintain peace, stability, and resolve all differences through dialogue and diplomacy.

While reaffirming the strong historic fraternal bonds between Pakistan and Kuwait, the Prime Minister reiterated his invitation to His Highness, the Crown Prince of Kuwait, to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at his convenience. Both leaders agreed to remain in touch.

ISTANBUL, Mar 18: A broad range of international airlines have extended suspensions of flights to destinations across the Middle East as regional tensions continue to disrupt air travel, prompting carriers to revise schedules and limit operations on key routes.

The latest extensions reflect the broadening impact of the conflict on commercial aviation, with carriers continuing to adjust schedules because of security concerns, restricted airspace and operational uncertainty across key Middle East corridors.

The disruptions have affected routes linking Europe, North America and Asia to major regional hubs, with some airlines opting for full suspensions, while others have maintained only limited services.

European airlines account for a significant share of the latest extensions. British Airways has suspended flights to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, and Tel Aviv until May 31, and to Doha until April 30.

Lufthansa has halted flights to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Amman, Beirut, and Erbil until March 28, to Riyadh until April 5, to Tel Aviv until April 9 and to Tehran until April 30.

SunExpress has suspended flights to Dubai and Bahrain until March 23.

KLM has halted flights to Dammam, Riyadh and Dubai until March 28, and to Tel Aviv until April 11.

Eurowings has suspended flights to Amman until March 22, Erbil until March 28, Beirut until March 29, Tel Aviv until April 2, and Abu Dhabi and Dubai until June 27.

Swiss has halted flights to Dubai until March 28 and to Tel Aviv until April 9. AirBaltic has suspended flights to Dubai until late October.

US carriers have also prolonged disruptions on regional routes. Delta Air Lines has suspended flights to Tel Aviv until April 30.

American Airlines has halted flights to Tel Aviv, Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai and Larnaca until May 31.

United Airlines has suspended flights to Dubai and Tel Aviv until April 19.

Among Turkish and other regional carriers, Turkish Airlines has suspended flights to Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Bahrain until the end of March.

Oman-based SalamAir has halted flights to Iraq, Lebanon and Iran until April, and to Kuwait, Doha and Dammam until March 31.

Oman Air has suspended flights to Dubai, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dammam, Kuwait, Copenhagen, Baghdad and Khasab until March 31.

Asian carriers have also announced route suspensions. Singapore Airlines has suspended flights to Dubai until March 28 and to Jeddah until March 17.

Gulf carriers Qatar Airways and Emirates announced they will continue to operate generally limited services until the end of April.

The flight disruptions come as the Middle East faces heightened security risks and operational uncertainty linked to the ongoing regional conflict, which has also affected energy markets, shipping lanes and investor sentiment. Airlines have cited safety concerns, airspace restrictions and operational reviews in adjusting their schedules, while the prolonged suspensions have added to pressure on regional travel and connectivity.

The US and Israel have continued a joint offensive on Iran since Feb. 28, killing around 1,300 people so far, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure while disrupting global markets and aviation.

ISLAMABAD, MAR 17: As preparations for Eid ul Fitr gain momentum, a citizen has approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking directives for the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee to make an early announcement regarding the Shawwal moon sighting.

The petition, filed by an individual named Abdullah Shafiq, has been fixed for hearing, with IHC Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar scheduled to hear the plea on Wednesday.

In his plea, Shafiq argued that people offer congregational taraweeh prayers due to the delay in the announcement of the moon sighting.

Further, he said that the late announcement leads to a sudden rush in markets and commercial areas.

The petitioner requested that the court direct the authorities to take measures to prevent any law and order situation, and also sought instructions for markets to remain closed, except for designated Eid shopping outlets.

The Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) has suggested that Eid ul Fitr is likely to fall on March 21 in Pakistan this year, after a 30-day Ramadan.

“The new moon of Shawwal 1447 AH is expected to be born on March 19, 2026, at 06:23 PST,” the Suparco said earlier this month.

“At the time of sunset on March 19, 2026, the age of the new moon will be approximately 12 hours and 41 minutes, with an estimated 28-minute interval between sunset and moonset along Pakistan’s coastal belt,” it added.

Based on these astronomical parameters, the Suparco said, the chances of sighting the Shawwal crescent on the evening of March 19 were “low”.

The first Shawwal is therefore anticipated to fall on Saturday, March 21, marking the conclusion of the holy month of Ramadan.

However, Suparco said the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee of Pakistan will make the final decision regarding the sighting of the crescent and the commencement of Eid ul Fitr across the country.

M Atif Ismail

MULTAN, Mar 17: Marking the completion of a remarkable ten-year journey, Multan Tea House is all set to celebrate its decade-long contribution to literature and intellectual discourse with a series of grand and thoughtfully curated events.

The announcement was made by General Secretary Khalid Masood Khan during a vibrant Iftar dinner hosted in honour of the Tea House members, an initiative held for the first time that drew an enthusiastic response from the literary fraternity.

Reflecting on the institution’s journey, Khalid Masood Khan termed the completion of ten years as a “milestone of cultural endurance and literary revival” in South Punjab.

He shared that the upcoming decennial celebrations will feature multiple sessions, bringing together poets, writers, scholars, and thinkers from across the region. These sessions will provide a platform for participants to present their poetry, prose, and newly published books, fostering a rich exchange of ideas and creativity.

Adding prestige to the celebrations, prominent literary figures will be conferred with Lifetime Achievement Awards in recognition of their enduring services to literature. “This decade is not just a passage of time, but a testament to the resilience of literary culture in Multan,” he remarked.

He further emphasized that Multan Tea House stands as a prestigious and unique institution, the only dedicated tea house of its kind in South Punjab, and urged writers, especially the younger generation, to actively engage with it to keep its intellectual spirit alive.

The Iftar dinner was attended by around 130 members, including caretaker Fayyaz Awan and Sajjad Jahania. Participants appreciated the initiative and expressed the hope that such literary gatherings would continue to be organized regularly to strengthen the region’s cultural fabric.

Over the past ten years, Multan Tea House has emerged as a symbolic sanctuary for literary minds, a place where conversations transcend time, creativity finds expression, and the essence of literature continues to flourish.

ISLAMABAD: Russia’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Albert Khorev, has said Moscow is ready to supply discounted oil to Pakistan, urging the country to benefit from the opportunity.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Tuesday, Khorev said that Moscow would sell discounted oil to Pakistan if Islamabad formally approaches his country on the matter.

However, the Russian ambassador said no formal contact had yet been made in this regard.

The envoy emphasised that the energy sector remained the most important pillar of the two nations’ bilateral cooperation, adding that any progress in the sector would depend on Islamabad initiating engagement.

Pakistan, like many economies around the world, is grappling with rising fuel costs as supply chains are disrupted by the ongoing hostilities in the Middle East.

Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz — a key route for global oil transport — has ground to a halt after Iran blocked the passage in response to joint strikes by the United States and Israel.

Amid the disruption, Pakistan has raised petrol and diesel prices by a steep 20%, with federal ministers saying the increase is temporary and will be reversed once the conflict subsides.

Meanwhile, the Russian ambassador said that Iran’s response in the Middle East was directed at US military installations in Gulf waters, but declined further comment, citing uncertainty.

Khorev said the world was taken aback by US President Donald Trump’s military actions, describing the situation as “complex and unpredictable” and saying it was difficult to say how and when current tensions will end.

He also condemned the attack on a girls’ school in Iran, in which 170 children lost their lives, calling it “highly deplorable” and urging restraint from all sides.

He called on all parties to avoid the use of force and resolve issues through political and diplomatic means under the United Nations Charter.

The Russian envoy further criticised the actions of the US and Israel, saying their use of force against Iran had intensified the crisis and aimed at weakening its leadership while creating divisions within the Islamic world.

ISLAMABAD, MAR 17 /DNA/ – In the backdrop of the ongoing Gulf oil crisis and the consequent austerity measures announced by the Government, it has been decided that the Pakistan Day Parade and associated ceremonial events shall not be held on 23rd March 2026.
 
The day shall, however, be commemorated with dignity and reverence through a simple flag‑hoisting ceremony at appropriate levels. This measure is being taken to  ensure that the resilience and unwavering commitment of the nation to the ideals of Pakistan Day remain aligned with the broader austerity framework. Ministries, divisions, and departments are advised to mark the occasion in a solemn and respectful manner, ensuring that the essence of the day is preserved despite the scaled‑down celebrations.