02/03/2026

DAWN
Newspaper - Front Page - March 2, 2026
Khamenei’s assassination brings world to precipice of chaos

Iran confirmed the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint US-
Israeli strike, triggering massive escalation as both sides exchanged deadly missile and air
attacks. The conflict disrupted global shipping after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, while
the US claimed major military gains and warned the war could last weeks. Despite rising
casualties and regional instability, diplomatic efforts continue as Iran signals openness to
talks while insisting on its right to self-defence.

PM cancels Russia visit, reviews security situation

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a high-level meeting to assess Pakistan’s internal and
regional security amid turmoil following the US-Israeli strikes on Iran. The PM postponed his
official visit to Russia, originally scheduled for March 3–5, citing the “regional and internal
situation.”

The meeting, attended by army chief Asim Munir, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, federal
ministers, and other senior officials, discussed:

 Regional stability and Pakistan’s role in promoting peace.

 Security at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and in Afghanistan itself.
 Evacuation plans for Pakistani citizens in Iran, coordinated via Azerbaijan.

The PMO said a new date for the Russia visit would be decided after mutual consultations.

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Newspaper - Back Page - March 2, 2026

Analysis: CONFLICT BRINGS economic risks

The Iran-US conflict threatens Pakistan’s economy, with rising oil prices potentially
expanding the current account deficit by $5–7 billion and driving up inflation. Industries
and equity markets face higher costs and risk-averse investors, while stock markets may
decline and gold prices surge. Retail activity, especially during Ramazan, could drop 20–
25 percent amid prolonged uncertainty.

FO activates crisis unit, advises citizens in Gulf to be cautious

Pakistan’s Foreign Office has activated its Crisis Management Unit to monitor Middle East
tensions and assist nationals abroad, advising extreme caution, avoiding travel, and following
official instructions. Over 80 Pakistanis have returned from Iran through border points, with
authorities providing accommodation, food, and transport. Residents near Gwadar and Jiwani
are warned to avoid Iranian waters, and all communications are urged to rely on verified
official sources.

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Newspaper - National - March 2, 2026

Pakistan Condemns Khamenei’s Assassination; Parliament Reschedules Joint Session

Following the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Pakistan’s
leadership and political parties expressed profound sorrow and solidarity with Iran. President
Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and other leaders condemned the act, emphasizing
that targeting heads of state violates international law.

The joint sitting of parliament, originally set for 10:30 am, was rescheduled to 3 pm due to
heightened security. Strict measures will limit access, allowing only journalists with updated
press credentials. Opposition parties also condemned the assassination, calling it destabilizing
for the region, and TTAP declared three days of mourning, highlighting civilian casualties
from US-Israeli strikes on Iran, including the girls’ school attack.

India’s $60bn River Storage Plan Raises Concerns for Pakistan

 India plans $60 billion investment in storage projects on the Jhelum and Chenab
rivers in Indian-administered Kashmir.
 WAPDA warns that increasing storage capacity from 15 to 55–60 days could let
India control river flows.
 Potential risks for Pakistan include droughts and floods, threatening agriculture and
water security.
 Pakistani provinces are debating new reservoir projects, considering:
o Economic feasibility
o Water distribution
o Interprovincial coordination
 WAPDA has finalized four medium-sized storage projects on the Chenab near
Jhang, Chiniot, Sargodha, and Wazirabad.
 Combined capacity of these projects: 4.5 million acre-feet, aimed at mitigating
potential water-related risks.

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Newspaper - Business - March 2, 2026

Pakistan’s solar saga

 Rooftop solar is rapidly expanding in Pakistan, driven by falling costs and household
adoption, but regulatory changes like lower net-metering rates risk slowing growth.
 Consumers are shifting toward self-consumption and battery storage, which may
reduce reliance on the national grid and create long-term structural changes.
 Integrated planning—modernising the grid, deploying storage, aligning industrial use,
and leveraging climate finance—can turn solar adoption from a fiscal challenge into a
strategic energy and industrial advantage.

Diverting wastewater away

 Hyderabad’s industrial and domestic wastewater, currently polluting the Old Phulelli
Canal, will be diverted via the Darya Khan Branch Drain into the saline Karo
Ghungro drain, ultimately reaching the sea.
 The Rs4–5 billion scheme includes desilting and widening the Karo Ghungro drain to
prevent flooding and ensure smooth flow, addressing farmers’ environmental
concerns.
 While a federally funded sewerage treatment plant remains incomplete, the irrigation
department’s drainage project aims to protect freshwater sources, farmland, and local
ecology from untreated effluent.

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Newspaper - International - March 2, 2026

How energy regimes have reshaped global power

 Historical global power shifts have been closely tied to dominant energy sources: the
UK with coal and steam, the US with oil, and now China with green and clean energy
technologies.
 The US leverages financial dominance through the dollar, while China commands
global manufacturing and supply chains, creating a prolonged strategic rivalry.
 Middle powers face constraints due to dependence on both systems, whereas Global
South countries enjoy greater flexibility in navigating this evolving energy and
geopolitical order.

Your passwords are not as safe as you think

 Managing complex and unique passwords for multiple accounts is increasingly

difficult, leading many users to rely on password managers.
 A study by ETH Zurich and Università della Svizzera italiana found serious
vulnerabilities in popular password managers, including outdated encryption,
allowing attackers to access and modify stored passwords.
 Researchers notified providers 90 days prior to publication; while some acted quickly,
others delayed updates due to potential disruptions for users.
 Experts warn that password managers, containing vast sensitive data, are high-value
targets for hackers, making caution and vigilance essential.

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Section CSS Analytical Explanation

Title Migrant Crisis
Executive The contemporary migrant crisis represents one of the gravest
Summary humanitarian challenges of the 21st century, marked by rising deaths
(Analytical) across dangerous migration routes and growing global intolerance
toward displaced populations. Migration today is driven less by choice
and more by structural compulsions such as economic inequality,
political instability, climate change and governance failures. While
states increasingly adopt securitised migration policies, these measures
fail to address root causes, thereby intensifying irregular migration and
human suffering. The crisis exposes contradictions within globalisation
— free movement of capital but restricted mobility of labour.
Thesis The global migrant crisis is fundamentally a development and human
Statement (CSS security challenge rather than merely a law-and-order issue, requiring
Ready) structural economic reforms, humane migration governance and
collective international responsibility to prevent recurring humanitarian
catastrophes.
Structured Key 1. Migration as Survival Strategy: Individuals migrate not for luxury
Arguments but survival due to unemployment, violence and environmental
degradation. 2. Deadly Consequences of Restrictive Policies: Tight
border regimes push migrants towards smugglers and unsafe maritime
routes, increasing fatalities. 3. Economic Inequality as Core Driver:
Vast income disparities between Global North and South create
persistent migration pressure. 4. Pakistan’s Push Factors: Youth
unemployment, inflation, climate disasters and limited social mobility
compel risky migration attempts. 5. Rise of Criminal Smuggling
Networks: Weak regulation enables organised trafficking networks that
profit from desperation. 6. Humanitarian Failure of Global
Governance: International cooperation remains fragmented despite
migration being a transnational issue. 7. Migration–Development
Nexus: Sustainable migration management depends upon improving
domestic economic opportunities.
Evidence / • 7,667 migrants died or disappeared globally in 2025 (IOM). •
Context Box Mediterranean Sea remains world’s deadliest migration route. • 606
deaths recorded in early 2026 alone. • Increasing deaths despite
declining migration arrivals show higher journey risks. • Climate
displacement and unemployment increasingly linked to migration
flows.
Critical Current global migration policies reveal a security-humanitarian
Analysis paradox. Developed countries depend on migrant labour but politically
resist migration through deterrence policies. Such contradictions
criminalise migrants rather than addressing inequality. For Pakistan,
repeated migration tragedies indicate domestic governance
shortcomings — lack of employment generation, weak vocational
training and absence of safe migration channels. Furthermore, shrinking
international aid and rising xenophobia worsen migrant vulnerability,
transforming migration routes into humanitarian graveyards.
Policy Way Domestic Level: • Employment-led economic growth. • Skill
Forward development aligned with global labour markets. • Legal overseas
employment frameworks. Regional Level: • Bilateral labour mobility

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agreements. • Anti-smuggling intelligence cooperation. Global Level: •

Safe migration corridors. • Shared refugee responsibility mechanisms. •
Protection-centred migration governance under UN frameworks.
Conclusion The migrant crisis is ultimately a crisis of unequal development and
(Evaluative) declining global empathy. Border militarisation may reduce arrivals
temporarily but cannot eliminate migration pressures rooted in poverty
and insecurity. Only inclusive development, legal migration pathways
and humanitarian cooperation can transform migration from tragedy
into opportunity.
Vocabulary Forced displacement, irregular migration, human security, securitisation
Bank of borders, labour mobility, transnational inequality, migration
governance
Smart Phrases • “Migration flows follow the geography of inequality.” • “Walls cannot
for CSS stop desperation born of deprivation.” • “Human security must precede
border security.” • “Irregular migration is a policy failure before it
becomes a humanitarian disaster.”
CSS/PMS Human Security Paradigm, Globalisation & Inequality, Refugee Law,
Relevant Climate Change Migration, Pakistan’s Economic Challenges
Topics
Probable 20- 1. Examine migration as a consequence of global inequality. 2. Discuss
Mark why restrictive migration policies increase migrant deaths. 3. Analyse
Questions the migrant crisis from a human security perspective. 4. Evaluate
Pakistan’s internal factors contributing to illegal migration.
10-Line Migration deaths rising globally → sea routes most dangerous →
Revision poverty & conflict main drivers → restrictive policies worsen risks →
Capsule smuggling networks expand → Pakistan facing youth unemployment
pressure → migration linked with inequality → humanitarian approach
missing → legal migration pathways essential → development is long-
term solution.