September 13, 2026
The 18th BRICS summit closed with a joint statement expressing deep concern at escalation in the Middle East and calling for maximum restraint, alongside pledges on economic cooperation.
August 22, 2026
The benchmark index gained 574.76 points on Friday to close at 177,166.52, recovering Thursday's loss and more. It remains below the 178,000-180,000 band that has capped it repeatedly this month.
August 21, 2026
The benchmark index closed Thursday down 254.59 points at 176,591.77 after a volatile session, with banking heavyweights accounting for most of the fall and the oil and gas sector limiting it. The 178,000-180,000 band remains unbroken.
August 16, 2026
The US president has publicly endorsed the trilateral defence agreement, writing that he was "very happy" to see it signed and calling it evidence that the Middle East is coming together — an unexpected blessing for a pact widely read as hedging against Washington.
August 1, 2026
The Board of Peace has published a 15-point roadmap for implementing the Gaza ceasefire plan, covering Hamas's disarmament and a phased Israeli withdrawal. Hamas says weapons would go into storage only after Israel implements the deal.
July 24, 2026
Pakistan's KSE-100 index shed over 1,300 points on Thursday in a session that opened positively before sustained selling pressure — driven by geopolitical tension and rising global crude — pulled the benchmark well into negative territory. The index touched an intraday high of 175,237 before sliding to a low of 171,655, as energy and industrial stocks led broad-based declines.
July 23, 2026
Pakistan's daily fuel pricing mechanism has pushed petrol up by Rs4.40 per litre for July 24, 2026, taking the pump price to Rs331.52 — the fourth consecutive daily increase since the mechanism launched on July 17. High-speed diesel rises by Rs3.62 to Rs378.66 per litre, approaching the Rs379 mark. OGRA attributed the increase to continued volatility in global crude markets driven by the US-Iran conflict and Strait of Hormuz supply fears.
July 21, 2026
Regional mediators including Qatar, Oman, Egypt and Pakistan have presented the United States and Iran with a proposal for a 10-day ceasefire to halt the exchange of strikes and de-escalate the Strait of Hormuz crisis. The proposal includes fully reopening both Hormuz shipping lanes during the ceasefire window while the two sides negotiate a longer-term arrangement. Neither President Trump nor Iranian leadership has accepted the proposal. Both sides are reported to be seeking to improve their military position before committing to any pause.
July 21, 2026
Pakistan's KSE-100 benchmark index surged more than 2,400 points on July 21, touching an intraday high of 178,370 — up 1.39% from the previous close — as investor sentiment improved on reports that regional mediators had proposed a 10-day US-Iran ceasefire. Brent crude eased to $88.88 per barrel. The rupee held steady at Rs278.35 in the interbank market. Buying was broad-based across banks, energy, cement and automobiles. The market is pricing in a ceasefire proposal that neither Washington nor Tehran has formally accepted.
July 19, 2026
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held separate telephone conversations with his Kuwaiti and Saudi counterparts on July 19, as Pakistan intensified diplomatic efforts to preserve the Islamabad MoU after Iran suspended its commitments. Kuwait raised concerns about Iranian attacks on Kuwaiti water and power infrastructure directly with Dar in the call. The Foreign Office called on all parties to exercise restraint and described the MoU as "the only viable framework for de-escalation," but both the US and Iran have now abandoned the agreement in practice.
Editor — Hamza Azhar Salam · Write to us with suggestions or tips
