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Dawn - 03:19 May 02, 2026
• CPI rises nearly 11pc year-on-year in April • Transport costs, perishable food prices jump by over 15pc ISLAMABAD: Consumer inflation returned to double digits for the first time in 21 months, with prices rising by nearly 11 per cent year-on-year in April, driven by sharp increases in transport costs and essential food items, official data showed. The last time inflation was above 10pc was in July 2024, when the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was recorded at 11.1pc. For consumers, the April spike reflects a growing squeeze on daily expenses, as higher fuel and transport charges, along with rising prices of perishable food items, continue to erode purchasing power, even as some relief in wheat and flour prices offers only limited respite. The continued increase in monthly inflation, measured by the CPI basket containing several goods and services, has pushed it beyond the earlier comfort range as domestic energy tariffs registered a sharp rise in April. Energy prices rose sharply during the month due to the cont... -
Dawn - 02:27 May 02, 2026
TEL AVIV: A US military-run body near Gaza that critics say failed in its mission to monitor the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and boost aid flows to besieged Palestinians is set to be shut by the Trump administration, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. The closing of the Civil-Military Coordination Centre (CMCC) in Israel would mark the latest blow to President Trump’s Gaza peace plan, already undermined by repeated Israeli attacks since the October truce. Diplomats said the move, which has not been previously reported, underscores the difficulties facing US efforts to oversee the truce and coordinate on aid, as Israel seizes more Gaza territory and Hamas firms its grip in areas under its control. The move could add to unease among Washington’s allies, whom Trump encouraged to deploy personnel to the CMCC and commit funds for his Gaza rebuilding plan, effectively on hold since the US launched its joint war with Israel against Iran. Trump-led board denies Civil-Military Coordination Centre is shutting do... -
Dawn - 02:20 May 02, 2026
WASHINGTON: The United States Air Force has awarded a $488 million contract to Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. for long-term engineering and technical support of F-16 Fighting Falcon radar systems, with Pakistan among the countries covered by the deal. According to an official award notice, released this week, the firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract will support the APG-66 and APG-68 radar systems used on F-16 fighter aircraft. Work will be carried out in Linthicum Heights, Maryland, and is scheduled to continue through March 31, 2036. The contract covers support for multiple partner countries under the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme, including Bahrain, Belgium, Chile, Denmark, Egypt, Greece, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, South Korea, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Thailand and Turkiye. The award was issued on a sole-source basis by the US Air Force Lifecycle Management Centre in Utah. An initial $2.64 million in fi... -
Dawn - 22:11 May 01, 2026
More than 100 activists, including former Pakistani senator Mushtaq Ahmad, who were aboard aid ships bound for Gaza were released and taken to the Greek island of Crete on Friday, a day after Israeli forces seized their vessels in international waters near Greece. The activists were part of a second Global Sumud Flotilla, launched in recent months in an attempt to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza by delivering humanitarian assistance. The ships set sail from the Spanish port of Barcelona on April 12. On Friday, an Israeli army ship transferred 168 members of the flotilla crew to Greek boats, which then took them to shore, where buses and an ambulance waited for them, organisers said and Reuters footage showed. Before communications were jammed, former senator Ahmad posted videos to social media platform X saying, “Flotilla under attack, Israeli terrorist army has captured 11 of our boats.” On Friday, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on X that the former senator, “who was unlawfully det... -
Dawn - 22:10 May 01, 2026
Tehran delivered a new proposal for peace talks with the United States via Pakistan, Iranian state media reported on Friday, with US President Donald Trump saying that he was “not satisfied” with what had been put forth. Though the United States and Iran have suspended hostilities since an April 8 ceasefire, the two countries remain at odds over a range of issues, including Iran’s nuclear ambitions and control over the Strait of Hormuz, and they have yet to agree to a second meeting, following a brief summit of senior officials in Islamabad last month. Trump’s comments on Friday indicated the deadlock over the two-month-old war is likely to persist. He also conveyed to the US Congress his stance that the hostilities had “terminated” following a ceasefire with Iran as the deadline to get Congress’s approval for the war arrived. Trump ‘not happy’ The text of Iran’s new proposal was handed to Islamabad on Thursday evening, the IRNA news agency reported on Friday. Hours later, Trump spoke to reporters at the Wh... -
Dawn - 18:38 May 01, 2026
RAWALPINDI/LAHORE/KARACHI: Pakistan is confronting a stark weather dichotomy this week, as extreme heat scorches southern parts of the country while central and northern regions brace for widespread dust storms, rain, and potential landslides triggered by an incoming weather system. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said that a fresh westerly wave is expected to approach the northwestern parts of the country on Saturday evening and would persist in the upper regions until May 5. In sharp contrast, extreme heat has gripped much of Sindh. In Karachi, the maximum temperature is expected to rise to 39 degrees Celsius over the weekend, according to Chief Meteorologist Ameer Hyder. Across the large swathes of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the fresh westerly weather system is forecast to bring dust-thunderstorms and rain, with isolated heavy falls and hailstorms. Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Shangla, Buner, Kohistan, Malakand, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Balakot, Haripur, Mardan, Nowshera, Peshawar, Bajaur, Mohm... -
Dawn - 17:14 May 01, 2026
PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi expressed on Friday his intention to protest against drone attacks in his province, saying that these attacks were resulting in “collateral damage”. The CM made these remarks while addressing a provincial cabinet meeting, a day after he hinted at introducing legislation to criminalise collateral damage in such incidents. He said the meeting was called against “persistent drone attacks” and the subsequent collateral damage, which had “become a curse in KP”. The CM condemned these attacks, saying that they were fostering sentiments of “revenge among the people”, as well as resulting in an increase in terrorism, which was harmful for KP and the entire country. On Thursday, Afridi also announced that a jirga would be summoned on Saturday against drone attacks, while the opposition was also told to ensure tribal elders’ presence for deciding the future course of action. Addressing the cabinet meeting, Afridi also termed the loadshedding of gas in KP a viola... -
Dawn - 15:26 May 01, 2026
LAHORE: The Punjab government on Friday announced a new set of rules and regulations for kite-flying during next year’s Basant festival. After nearly two decades, a three-day Basant festival was celebrated in Lahore in February, following Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s decision to lift a ban on the cultural event of celebration, colours and kite-flying, with strict regulations. The festival was banned in 2007 because of the increasing number of deaths and serious injuries caused by sharp strings, particularly to motorcyclists and pillion riders, as well as by celebratory gunfire. Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari has said that the festival will be celebrated in February 2027 and will be “bigger and better than the one held this year”. Speaking to Dawn, Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said, “The new regulations have been issued on the directives of CM Maryam to ensure the protection of life and property.” She said that compliance with these instructions would be mandatory for every citizen, bui... -
Dawn - 15:18 May 01, 2026
Climate colonialism argues that the climate crisis is not an accident — it is the outcome of centuries of extraction. The world’s richest countries, a small percentage of the global population, are responsible for the majority of historical greenhouse gas emissions while regions like South Asia contribute little but face the harshest impact today. It is estimated that the G20 countries produce about 80 per cent year on year of global greenhouse gases. This disproportionate extraction and consumption of resources by a handful of countries contributes to crises that the rest of the world pays for. The climate colonialism framework connects past exploitation with present suffering by examining the drivers of the climate crisis — colonialism, capitalism and consumerism. Ahmed Rafay Alam, an environmental lawyer and former member of the Pakistan Climate Change Council, discusses all this and much more as he dives into drivers behind the climate crisis with DawnNews. As Pakistan confronts the accelerating realities... -
Dawn - 15:07 May 01, 2026
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Friday directed that an effective regulatory system for virtual assets in line with international standards should be operationalised as soon as possible The remarks came as PM Shehbaz met with State Minister and Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) Chairman Bilal Bin Saqib in Lahore, according to a handout by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). “PM Shehbaz directed that an effective regulatory system for virtual assets in line with international standards should be fully operationalised as soon as possible to promote the digital economy in Pakistan and enhance investor confidence,” the handout said. During the meeting, the prime minister said that special measures should be taken to provide training to the youth in modern technologies, particularly in the fields of artificial intelligence and digital finance, so that the country’s workforce can be aligned with future requirements. Saqib also briefed PM Shehbaz on the PVARA’s transition into an operational regul... -
Dawn - 14:39 May 01, 2026
The Pentagon said on Friday that it had reached agreements with seven AI companies to deploy their advanced capabilities on the War Department’s classified networks as it seeks to broaden the range of artificial intelligence (AI) providers working across the military. The statement notably excludes Anthropic, which has been in dispute with the Pentagon over guardrails for the use of its artificial intelligence tools by the military. The Pentagon labelled the AI startup, which is widely used across the Department of War, a supply-chain risk earlier this year, barring its use by the Pentagon and its contractors. SpaceX, OpenAI, Google, NVIDIA, Reflection, Microsoft and Amazon Web Services, several of which already work with the Pentagon, will be integrated into its Impact Levels 6 and 7 network environments, giving more of the military access to their products, the Pentagon said in a statement. By expanding the AI services offered to troops, who use it for planning, logistics, targeting and a bevvy of other rea... -
Dawn - 14:16 May 01, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday constituted a high-level committee to review the issue involving One Constitution Avenue, a skyscraper in the federal capital that houses residential apartments, and also halted authorities from taking any action. The development comes a day after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) upheld the Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) decision to cancel the building’s lease due to the company behind the project defaulting on payments. Late last night, reports had also emerged on social media of residents being served eviction notices by officials. Apartments in the building are also reportedly owned by prominent personalities, including PTI founder Imran Khan, Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, Shandana Gulzar Aurangzeb, former minister Burjees Tahir and former caretaker prime minister Nasirul Mulk. According to Radio Pakistan, the committee formed by the premier will be headed by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and will include Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, the c... -
Dawn - 13:40 May 01, 2026
The US war on Iran has boosted prices of globally traded natural gas by throttling exports from the Gulf. In West Texas, gas is so abundant that some producers must pay to have it taken away. The war and Iran’s attacks on Gulf energy producers have halted 20 per cent of global liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply. Qatari LNG facilities have been damaged, and tankers have been unable to sail through the Strait of Hormuz waterway at the Gulf’s entry because of Iranian threats to fire on them. The crisis has exposed a major split in the global gas market: Import-dependent countries across Europe and Asia are scrambling for scarce supplies, but the US — the world’s largest gas producer, consumer and exporter — remains awash in fuel, with prices near 17-month lows. But US pipelines are full and LNG export plants are at capacity, so that cheap US gas cannot reach overseas buyers, creating a bifurcation much more stark than in the oil markets. Since the war began on February 28, gas futures at the US Henry Hub benchma... -
Dawn - 13:37 May 01, 2026
India raised on Friday the prices of commercial liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and jet fuel for international airlines, according to a state-run energy firm, as supply pressures from the Middle East war mount. The South Asian nation is heavily dependent on imported energy, including for roughly 60 per cent of its LPG, the fuel used for cooking by a vast section of its population, the largest in the world. As imports have been disrupted since the Middle East war began in late February, New Delhi has moved to ensure households and essential sectors remain adequately supplied, leaving many restaurants, manufacturers and power plants in the lurch. The government has maintained that India faces no overall fuel shortage. “Prices of bulk and commercial LPG cylinders have been revised,” the state-run Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), the country’s leading energy marketing company, said. IOCL’s price chart shows an increase of 993 rupees ($10.50) in the price of a 19 kilogramme LPG cylinder meant for commercial us... -
Dawn - 13:07 May 01, 2026
ISLAMABAD: A private citizen has approached the Federal Constitution Court (FCC), seeking relief against the recent increase in petrol and diesel prices, it emerged on Friday. The government on Thursday raised petrol and diesel prices while simultaneously extending fuel subsidies for motorcyclists and the transport sector, seeking to cushion the impact of rising global oil costs on vulnerable consumers. Moved under Article 175(E) of the Constitution, the petitioner, Advocate Zulfikar Ahmed Bhutta, called on the court to direct the government to withdraw the recent price hike in the petroleum products. The petition requested that directions be issued to the government to provide petrol and diesel at the rate of Rs200 per litre. It said that the government should also ensure the import of petroleum products from Iran through all available sources, including pipelines, on an urgent basis. The petition also contended that the government should request Middle East countries to provide petroleum products on special... -
Dawn - 12:45 May 01, 2026
Pakistan recorded a second consecutive month of improving security indicators in April 2026, with militant attacks and related casualties declining markedly, according to a report released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS). The Islamabad-based think tank documented 85 verified militant attacks in April, down from 146 in March, a 42 per cent decrease. As per the data, fatalities resulting from militant attacks fell from 106 in March to 60 in April, continuing a downward trend that began the previous month, when overall combat-related deaths dropped by 35pc. The report said that the improvement follows Pakistan’s cross-border military campaign targeting militant groups and Taliban positions between February 26 and March 18, which concluded with a suspension and subsequent talks in Urumqi, China. Pakistan had launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq on the night of February 26, following unprovoked firing by the Afghan Taliban from across the border. According to the PICSS report, tota... -
Dawn - 11:16 May 01, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Power Minister Awais Leghari on Friday declared the end of a month-long loadshedding period after a shipment of liquefied natural gas (LNG) arrived in Pakistan a day earlier. The power minister made the announcement in a recorded televised message, saying that the recent power outages were caused by a gas shortage linked to the war between the US and Iran, and were not the result of “incompetence or system failure”. He recalled that on “April 13 and 14, consumers faced power outages of up to five hours, while on April 15–16, they lasted around seven hours”. Leghari added that in the following days, outages were “brought down to zero,” and until April 29, the loadshedding duration was reduced to 2–2.5 hours. He also recalled that the ministry held a press conference to clarify the government’s stance on the matter. “Loadshedding had not been experienced for six to seven years, having been eliminated during the tenure of Nawaz Sharif,” he said. “Using diesel or furnace oil would have made electricity... -
Dawn - 11:15 May 01, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) has ruled that the customary practice of nominating or recognising a chieftain/sardar by members of a tribe does not vest such an individual with the legal authority to attest local certificates, domicile certificates, or Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) applications. The observations came while rejecting a petition filed by a self-proclaimed tribal chieftain seeking his recognition as the “sardar” of the Kharoti tribe. A two-judge bench consisting of Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Rozi Khan Barrech rejected the petition of Ghulam Ali Khan, noting that the sardari system stood abolished under the law and that no individual could claim customary authority overriding statutory requirements. The petitioner, claiming to be the chieftain of the Kharoti tribe in Balochistan, had approached the interior ministry, seeking acceptance of his attestation for the issuance of local certificates, domicile certificates, CNICs, and passports for his tribesmen. He ... -
Dawn - 10:39 May 01, 2026
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif termed the labour force of Pakistan the “backbone” of society and a “pillar of national strength” in statements commemorating International Labour Day on Friday. As the world commemorated the international holiday observed annually on May 1, the president and the premier issued separate messages to mark the occasion. PM Shehbaz paid tribute to Pakistan’s labour force as well as its overseas workers, appreciating their “dedicated service” and terming them a national pride. “On this occasion, I pay tribute to workers across the world, and especially to the hardworking labour force of Pakistan, for their selfless contributions and dedicated service,” he said in a statement on X. He termed labourers, farmers, artisans, factory workers, and professionals across all sectors the “backbone of our society”. “Their sacrifices, hard work and perseverance keep the wheels of life moving, from fields to factories, construction sites to workshops, at local level a... -
Dawn - 10:01 May 01, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan reported two polio cases on Friday from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), bringing the total number of cases for the ongoing year to three. An official of the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication (NEOC) has confirmed two new cases of wild poliovirus — one in Bannu and another in North Waziristan. He added that access constraints in these areas continue to facilitate transmission of the virus, posing an ongoing risk to children’s health and well-being. “The two new cases were reported through the poliovirus surveillance network and confirmed by the WHO-accredited Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH).” he added. The first case of the year was reported from Sindh, while the detection of two cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has raised the polio tally to three. The official said that, with the sudden increase in heat, it seemed that the hi...
10418 items