Islamabad has reported 224 Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours — the first time since June that the capital recorded more than 200 daily infections — taking its total to 19,818.

It has also reported two more fatalities, taking the total number of deaths to 217.

Gilgit Baltistan recorded 19 new cases while Azad Jammu and Kashmir confirmed 36, taking their tallies to 4,248 and 4,082, respectively. AJK also confirmed one more death, taking the total to 90.

Opinion

Editorial

Missing in action
17 Mar, 2026

Missing in action

NOT exactly known for playing a proactive role in protecting the interests of Muslim nations and populations...
Risk to stability
Updated 17 Mar, 2026

Risk to stability

THE risks to Pakistan’s fragile economic recovery from the US-Israel war on Iran cannot be dismissed. Yet the...
Enrolment push
17 Mar, 2026

Enrolment push

THE federal government has embarked upon the welcome initiative to enrol 25,000 out-of-school children in Islamabad...
Holding the line
16 Mar, 2026

Holding the line

PAKISTAN’S long battle against polio has recently produced encouraging signs. Data from the national eradication...
Power self-reliance
Updated 16 Mar, 2026

Power self-reliance

PAKISTAN’S transition to domestic sources of electricity is a welcome development for a country that has long been...
Looking for safety
16 Mar, 2026

Looking for safety

AS the Middle East conflict enters its third week, the war’s most enduring victims are not those who wage it....