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Dawn - 11:00 May 03, 2026
Renowned mountaineer Sajid Ali Sadpara summited the world’s fifth-highest peak, Mount Makalu (8,485m) in Nepal, without supplementary oxygen, the expedition’s organisers said on Sunday. Sadpara is on a mission to summit all 14 “eight-thousanders” in the world without supplemental oxygen, and this marks his 10th summit of that mission. According to a statement issued by Seven Summit Treks, the expedition team Sadpara was part of, an excellent summit push at 5am on May 2 successfully reached the summit of Makalu. The statement added a team of three members, including Sadpara from Pakistan and Johannss Lau, with seven sherpas, stood on the summit, marking a remarkable achievement on the technically demanding peak. “We wish them a safe and smooth descent back to base camp,” Seven Summit Treks added. Sadpara had arrived in Nepal on April 4 for the mission and reached Makalu base camp on April 16. The expedition team completed their summit rotation at Makalu on April 25. Sadpara is the proud son of the legendar... -
Dawn - 09:14 May 03, 2026
LAKKI MARWAT: A police official was martyred in a gun attack in the Kaichi Kamar area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Lakki Marwat district on Sunday. Lakki Marwat district police officer’s (DPO) spokesman Qudratullah Khan confirmed that terrorists targeted Constable Irfanullah near his house in the trans-river belt known as Kurrum Par area. The incident occurred within the limits of Dadiwala police station. Qudratullah said that the policeman received critical bullet injuries and died on the way to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in the Serai Naurang town. The police official said that the martyred cop was posted in Peshawar and had come to his native village on leave. “After the attack, a large police contingent reached the area and launched a search for the assailants,” he added. Today’s incident comes just a day after unknown terrorists attacked the house of a police official with explosives in the district’s Shadikhel area, causing significant damage. Also in the Shadikhel area, a policeman embraced martyrdom i... -
Dawn - 09:02 May 03, 2026
Cities heat up faster than surrounding areas because of how they’re built. Urban areas can be up to 5.6 degrees Celsius warmer than nearby regions because of roads, concrete surfaces and dense construction that absorb heat during the day and release it slowly at night, preventing cities from cooling down. This is known as the urban heat island effect. This means that when heatwaves hit, cities are already at an elevated baseline temperature and more prone to overheating. In most places, conventional planning prioritises plot sizes, road widths, and construction speed without mapping heat pockets or protecting natural cooling systems. However, climate sensitive urban planning incorporates nature as a fundamental element of urban living. How can climate smart urban design be integrated into our cities practically, and how does it differ from conventional urban planning? DawnNews discusses all this and much more with urban planner Sana R Gondal. As Pakistan confronts the accelerating realities of climate change,... -
Dawn - 08:41 May 03, 2026
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Rome and the Vatican this week, an Italian government source said on Sunday, just weeks after a clash between Donald Trump and Pope Leo. Rubio, who is a Catholic, is expected to meet Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, the source told AFP. Italian media reported that he would also meet Defence Minister Guido Crosetto during the Thursday-Friday visit. The meetings come several weeks after US President Trump’s extraordinary criticism of Pope Leo XIV over the Catholic leader’s anti-war rhetoric. Trump also dismissed Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni — one of his closest European allies — as lacking courage after she defended the US pontiff. Italian media on Sunday presented Rubio’s visit as a meeting to “thaw” relations. Since taking over as leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics on May 8, 2025, following the death of Pope Francis, Leo has criticised the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration. But it... -
Dawn - 08:32 May 03, 2026
The sound of drums from the Pakistan Embassy could be heard distinctly as soon as visitors turned into International Drive, where the usually quiet diplomatic corridor had been transformed into a global fairground for the annual Passport DC “Around the World Embassy Tour”. From early morning, crowds moved steadily along the tree-lined street, following a trail of music, aromas and colour that flowed from one embassy to the next. The dhol at the Pakistan Embassy set the tone — deep, insistent, and celebratory — cutting through the spring air and pulling visitors toward gates already filling with activity. Inside the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington DC, the sensory experience was immediate. The aroma of kebabs and samosas drifted far beyond the entrance, while food trays disappeared almost as quickly as they were placed on counters. Visitors lingered under displays of truck art, embroidered textiles, gemstones and handicrafts, while mehndi artists worked patiently on outstretched hands and calligraphers wrote ... -
Dawn - 07:17 May 03, 2026
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday expressed the government’s resolve to protect press freedom and stressed the importance of credible journalism. They issued separate messages on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, reaffirming that Pakistan, as a state, remained firmly committed to safeguarding and promoting freedom of the press. In his message, President Zardari said this year’s theme, “Shaping a Future at Peace”, underscored that peace cannot be secured without truth. Noting that Article 19 of the Constitution guaranteed the right to press freedom subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law, the president said, “A free, independent and diverse media is not a threat to a confident nation, rather a proof of one.” “At the same time, freedom brings responsibility. Accuracy must not be sacrificed for speed and balance must not give way to partisanship. Public trust, the most valuable asset of free press, must be earned, protected and never taken for granted,” h... -
Dawn - 06:22 May 03, 2026
Wildfires that scorched forests in northern Japan, reportedly the second biggest in over 30 years, have been brought under control after 11 days, officials have said. Hundreds of firefighters and more than 1,000 military personnel had battled the blazes since late April, as they burned around 1,600 hectares (4,000 acres) across the mountainous Iwate region. The affected area is almost five times the size of New York City’s Central Park. At least eight buildings were damaged, and two people suffered minor injuries, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. Thousands of people were evacuated as fires picked up. Otsuchi town mayor Kozo Hirano told reporters on Saturday that he had been “informed that… the fire had been brought under control” after visiting the area with fire officials. He credited aerial and ground firefighting operations, as well as heavy rainfall, for containing the flames. But Hirano said authorities would remain vigilant as there was a possibility that smouldering embers would re... -
Dawn - 05:38 May 03, 2026
Monks perform rituals in connection with Vesak Day at Dharmarajika Stupa near Taxila. — Dawn TAXILA: After nearly 15 centuries of silence, the ancient Dharmarajika Stupa came alive on Friday as chants of Buddhist monks echoed once again across the historic site, marking the first such occasion since its destruction in the 5th century CE by the White Huns. For centuries, the site had remained largely quiet, disturbed only by the soft tread of visitors and the rustle of leaves in the breeze. On Friday afternoon, however, the centuries-old calm gave way to a spiritually charged atmosphere as monks performed religious rituals and delivered a Dhamma sermon at one of the most significant Buddhist heritage sites associated with Emperor Ashoka. The peace prayer ceremony was organised by the Punjab Archaeology Department in collaboration with Buddhist delegations from five Southeast Asian countries, including Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal, Vietnam and Myanmar. The ritual began in the afternoon with venerable monks from S... -
Dawn - 05:29 May 03, 2026
RAWALPINDI: The residents of Bahria Town Rawalpindi on Saturday staged a protest demonstration against the administration of Bahria Town for not providing civic facilities despite getting hefty fees from them. A large number of residents, traders, property owners, investors, families, and community leaders from Bahria Town Phases 1-8 assembled at Allama Iqbal Junction Phase 8. Jamaat-i-Islami representatives also participated in the protest. The participants carried placards, banners, and display boards, clearly expressing their demands and urging Malik Riaz and Bahria Town Private Limited to relinquish control. Tahir Nihad Bajwa, Chairman of RABT and President of BRACE, led a procession and said that highlighted systemic failures in governance, service delivery, and regulatory oversight and declared that the community has been paying heavily without receiving basic rights or services. He presented the charter of demands and said that it had already been submitted to all relevant authorities. He urged the Raw... -
Dawn - 05:10 May 03, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Security measures put in place around places of worship, especially during Friday prayers, were found unsatisfactory, raising concerns about public safety. Police officials told Dawn that the Islamabad inspector general of police himself found security arrangements around worship places unsatisfactory and compromised when he visited mosques and imambargahs during Friday prayers. The police chief visited several worship places, including Jamia Masjid Bibil in Sector G-6/3, to check and review security measures during Friday prayers. However, he found improper arrangements at the mosque, as no police official was present on duty. Besides, improper and unsatisfactory security arrangements were also found at various worship places in the capital, including some located inside the high-security zone. IG visited several worship places to check and review security measures during Friday prayers There were no security arrangements around a number of worship places. In some cases, an unarmed lone policeman ... -
Dawn - 05:00 May 03, 2026
LAHORE: The Counter Terrorism Department has arrested a YouTuber for recruiting individuals for a banned outfit and registered a case against him under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. The FIR identified the suspect as Muhammad Saad bin Riaz, associated with YouTube channel named Eon News. A case has been registered against him on behalf of the state under Section 11F(2), pertaining to membership and support of a proscribed organisation and Section 11W, which relates to the dissemination of material linked to banned groups. According to FIR, the arrest was made on April 27 during a search operation near GPO Chowk on Mall Road. “After getting information from a source that a suspected al-Qaeda member was present at a mosque, Hanfia Ghusia Mughal Saraiy, opposite to Lytton Road, he was caught recruiting individuals and distributing prohibited material.” During the raid, officials claimed to have recovered five copies of a book about Osama bin Laden from his custody along with an al-Qaeda membership card. Meanwhile... -
Dawn - 04:04 May 03, 2026
QUETTA: The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F), Balochistan, has announced the launch of a protest movement against raids on religious seminaries across the province. Senator Maulana Abdul Wasey, the provincial chief of the JUI-F, stated that a province-wide shutter-down strike and protest demonstrations would take place on May 6. Addressing a press conference on Saturday, he said that on May 10, seminary students and party workers from across Balochistan would march towards Quetta. He added that JUI-F members in the provincial assembly would stage strong protests inside the Balochistan Assembly. He also announced that party chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman would address a JUI conference in Pishin on June 4. These decisions were taken during a meeting of the JUI-F’s provincial leadership and later announced at the press conference. Opposition Leader Mir Younas Aziz Zehri, Maulana Salahuddin, Maulana Faiz Muhammad, Agha Mehmood Shah, Malik Sikandar, and others were also present. Red line Maulana Wasey alleged his party f... -
Dawn - 03:11 May 03, 2026
KARACHI: The war in the region has almost wiped out foreign investment in Pakistan’s domestic bonds, leaving little chance of recovery if the current situation prevails, said financial experts. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) data showed that foreign investors have almost left the domestic bonds, which had been their preferred choice, as returns were highest in the region and very high compared with most other countries. A day ago, the central bank further increased the yields on Treasury Bills by up to 83 basis points to almost 12pc, making them more attractive to investors. The SBP data showed that over 94pc of foreign investment in T-bills left the country by April 17. Mideast war drives 94pc outflow from treasury bills This could be a result of destabilisation due to war in the region, which is still ongoing without knowing the final outcome of this deadlock in the talks between Iran and the United States. Threats and counter-threats between the two countries have created a broad range of uncertainties, ... -
Dawn - 03:07 May 03, 2026
• Analysts say inflation may exceed 11pc, CAD could rise above $8bn • GDP expansion may slow to 2.5-3.0pc in FY27 KARACHI: Pakistan’s inflation is likely to remain in double digits if the surge in oil prices persists amid the unresolved Middle East conflict, analysts warned, adding that rising costs and disrupted imports are already straining the country’s external position. Topline Securities Ltd released its latest “Pakistan Strategy” report on Saturday, analysing the impact of soaring oil prices amid regional tensions and their implications for Pakistan’s economy and stock market. The brokerage said the situation is prolonged and evolving, with outcomes hinging on whether the conflict ends or a peaceful resolution is reached. The report projected that if current conditions persist, Pakistan’s inflation over the next 12 months could average 9-10 per cent, with fourth-quarter FY26 inflation surpassing 11pc. These forecasts are based on an oil price of $100 per barrel, with every $10 increase adding roughly 5... -
Dawn - 02:52 May 03, 2026
• Al Qaeda leader had agreed in writing to relocate by September 2011 • Two brothers sheltering him sought separation, citing exhaustion • Agency claims to be entirely unaware of the relocation plan, says delayed raid would have missed the opportunity WASHINGTON: A decade after the operation that killed Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, a fresh Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) account reveals that the Al Qaeda leader nearly slipped out of his hideout months before the US raid. The CIA’s official record, updated with newly posted documents and released on Friday, shows that Bin Laden was actively planning to leave his hideout in Abbottabad months before the American operation, while simultaneously continuing to direct al-Qaeda operations from within the compound. According to letters recovered from the compound, Bin Laden had agreed in writing to a relocation plan after sustained pressure from the two brothers who had sheltered him for years. On Jan 14, 2011, he wrote a formal letter acknowledging tensions and e... -
Dawn - 02:35 May 03, 2026
WASHINGTON: A man stands atop the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge on Saturday to protest the US-Israeli war on Iran. Guido Reichstadter climbed the bridge in Washington on May Day, stayed there overnight, and posted a sunrise photo from one of the bridge’s arches while calling for an end to the war on Iran. Speaking to the media from atop the 51-metre structure, the 45-year-old father of two called for peaceful means to build pressure on the authorities to end what he described as an ‘illegal war’.—Reuters • Iranian military warns renewed hostilities with Washington ‘likely’ • Trump boasts of Hormuz blockade, says ‘we are like pirates’ • Tehran reaches out to Qatar, South Korea to discuss ongoing negotiations • Israeli strikes in Lebanon kill over 12 people, injure dozens; Lebanese army chief meets US general TEHRAN/BEIRUT: Amid a surge in deadly strikes by Israeli forces in southern Lebanon and little headway in talks between the US and Iran, an Iranian military official warned against the ‘likely’ resump... -
Dawn - 00:53 May 03, 2026
EFFORTS being made to reopen a road after a landslide in Gilgit-Baltistan.—Dawn • KKH, Astore valley road temporarily blocked • Heavy rain, thunderstorms also expected in KP GILGIT: Intermittent rain across Gilgit-Baltistan on Saturday triggered landslides and road blockages, while the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) issued a fresh alert warning of glacial lake outburst floods (Glof) in the region due to an approaching westerly weather system. The blocked roads included the Karakoram Highway (KKH) and the Astore valley road, which were later reopened for traffic after debris was cleared. According to police, scattered rain was recorded across the region on Friday and Saturday. In Hunza’s Murtazabad area, rain-induced flooding temporarily blocked the KKH, but traffic was restored after clearance operations. Landslides and falling debris also blocked the Astore valley road at multiple locations, after which the Gilgit-Baltistan Communication and Works Department deployed machinery to clear the road.... -
Dawn - 17:28 May 02, 2026
Austrian police have arrested a man suspected of lacing jars of baby food with rat poison in what authorities presumed was an extortion scheme. Police, cited by the APA news agency, said the suspect, aged 39, was apprehended in the state of Burgenland, south of Vienna. They did not name him nor say where exactly he was arrested. He was charged with deliberately causing a public danger and attempted grievous bodily harm. The arrest comes two weeks after Austrian authorities detected rat poison in baby food jars sold in some supermarkets. The jars were made by the German-based company HiPP, and German police became involved in the case. Five tampered jars were recovered before they were consumed in the following days in Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Police said they believed the crime was carried out to extort the company, which put out a product recall in Austria. One of the adulterated jars was bought in a Spar supermarket in Burgenland state, in the city of Eisenstadt. It was found to contain 15 ... -
Dawn - 16:46 May 02, 2026
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and briefed him on the security situation in the country, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said. According to the PMO statement, Naqvi met with the premier in Lahore, where he briefed him on the security situation in the country and the measures taken in this regard. The interior minister also informed the premier regarding the security arrangements for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final scheduled to be held in Lahore tomorrow (Sunday). PM Shehbaz directed Naqvi to make the best possible arrangements for the players, spectators and citizens. In February, the minister had met with the premier to review the country’s overall security environment following major suicide attacks in the federal capital. At the time, PM Shehbaz had directed Naqvi to address the security situation in Islamabad and other matters “in an effective and efficient manner”. -
Dawn - 15:50 May 02, 2026
Two activists who participated in a Gaza-bound aid flotilla were brought to Israel for questioning, the foreign ministry said on Saturday, after the vessels were intercepted by Israeli forces this week. Saif Abu Keshek, from Spain, and Thiago Avila, a Brazilian, were in Israel and would “be transferred for questioning by law enforcement authorities”, the ministry said on X, adding that the two activists were affiliated with an organisation sanctioned by the US Treasury. The ministry said the activists were affiliated with the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad (PCPA), a group Washington has accused of “clandestinely acting on behalf of Hamas”. In January, the US Treasury imposed sanctions on the group, which it said was involved in organising Gaza-bound civilian flotillas that aimed to break Israel’s sea blockade on the Palestinian territory. Israel’s foreign ministry said Abu Keshek was a leading member of PCPA and Avila, also linked to the organisation, was “suspected of illegal activity”. “Both wil...
10418 items