ISLAMABAD, FEB 27: Petroleum prices in Pakistan are expected to rise from March 1 amid increase in international fuel rates, sources said on Friday.

The price of petrol may see an increase of Rs4.58 per litre, while high-speed diesel (HSD) could rise by Rs4.73 per litre, sources said.

They added that kerosene is likely to become more expensive by Rs6.88 per litre, and light diesel oil may go up by Rs5 per litre.

In the previous fortnight review on February 15, the federal government raised the prices of petrol and HSD by Rs5 and Rs7.32 per litre, respectively.

Following the increase, the price of petrol currently stands at Rs258.17; whereas, the diesel rate is at Rs275.7 per litre.

In the international market, oil prices rose about 3% on Friday as traders remained on alert for potential supply disruptions after the United States and Iran extended nuclear talks.

Brent crude futures advanced by $2.09, or around 3%, to $72.84 a barrel by 1422 GMT while US West Texas Intermediate crude was up $2.33, or around 3.6%, at $67.54.

The Brent and WTI benchmarks were trading at their highest since July and August, respectively, and poised to register weekly gains of 1.6% and 1.7%.

“Uncertainty prevails, fear is pushing prices higher today,” said Tamas Varga, an oil analyst at brokerage PVM. “It is completely driven by the outcome of the Iranian nuclear talks and possible military action the US might take against Iran.”

The US and Iran held indirect talks in Geneva on Thursday after US President Donald Trump ordered a military buildup in the region.

Oil prices gained more than a dollar a barrel during the talks on media reports indicating that discussions had stalled over US insistence on zero enrichment of uranium by Iran. However, prices eased after the Omani mediator said the two sides had made progress in the talks.

RAWALPINDI, FEB 27: /DNA/ – Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif visited the General Headquarters (GHQ) on Friday, where the military leadership briefed him in detail on the situation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

During the briefing, the Prime Minister directed that a zero-tolerance policy be adopted against the terrorist group Fitna Al-Khawarij and their collaboration with the Afghan Taliban regime. He stated unequivocally that cross-border attacks by the Afghan Taliban regime and Fitna Al-Khawarij against Pakistan are completely unacceptable.

The Prime Minister expressed full confidence in the country’s defense, stating that under the leadership of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces, the armed forces are always ready to protect the motherland. “Pakistan knows very well how to defend itself against any aggression,” he asserted.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the professional capabilities of the armed forces for successfully repelling attacks in the border regions and for their robust retaliatory response. He concluded by affirming that the entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with its armed forces in safeguarding the land of Pakistan.

RAWALPINDI, FEB 27: Lt Gen Chaudhry says 12 Pakistani soldiers martyred, 27 wounded; Taliban’s 150 tanks, armoured vehicles destroyed.

The ISPR chief said that the Afghan Taliban regime itself had signed the agreement in Doha, under which it had pledged that Afghan soil would not be used for terrorism against any country.

Referring to the latest military action, he stated that the operation carried out the previous night was undertaken to safeguard Pakistan’s sovereign rights and security interests.

Lt Gen Chaudhry further said there was a unanimous consensus among all political parties that terrorism could not be given any space within Pakistan.

He added that the National Action Plan (NAP), formulated in 2014, continued to guide the country’s counterterrorism strategy and was now being pursued under the broader vision of “Azm-e-Istehkam”.

ISLAMABAD, FEB 27 /DNA/ – The Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan has concluded Distinguished National Professor (DNP) 2025 cycle and approved the conferment of the prestigious Distinguished National Professor (DNP) title upon Prof. Dr. Muhammad Idrees, Centre of Excellence for Microbiology, University of the Punjab. 

Finalised in accordance with the HEC Framework for Distinguished National Professor (2024), the DNP title is one of the highest academic distinctions awarded by HEC in recognition of eminent scholars who make significant contributions to research, scholarship, and higher education in Pakistan. It reflects the Commission’s commitment to promoting merit, excellence, and impactful scholarship across the country’s higher education sector. 

The HEC DNP Committee received different nominations for the 2025 cycle. The DNP Selection Committee, which is chaired by Executive Director HEC, conducted a comprehensive review of the candidates’ academic credentials, research impact, scholarly publications, leadership contributions, and national and international recognition. Based on its evaluation and recommendations, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Idrees has been selected for conferment of the DNP title under the field of ‘Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics’.

Under the DNP framework, the title is retained for life, while the associated honorarium is admissible for three years from the date of conferment or until superannuation, whichever is earlier. Through this initiative, HEC continues to acknowledge and support distinguished scholars who contribute to advancing Pakistan’s research, innovation, and higher education ecosystem.