Dawn

Source: https://www.dawn.com

Found 10418 news

  • Finance ministry flags risk to Pakistan's external sector amid global uncertainty
    Dawn - 14:18 Apr 30, 2026
    ISLAMABAD: Despite a healthy primary balance of 3.3 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) at home, the Ministry of Finance on Thursday warned that Pakistan’s external sector may be facing risks owing to emerging global uncertainties and regional supply disruptions amid a higher rate of inflation. “External demand may remain supportive in some markets but the balance of risk becomes less favourable than in a pre-war setting,” the ministry said in its Monthly Economic Update and Outlook for April 2026. It said the ongoing Middle East conflict was posing new risks and heightened uncertainty regarding the macroeconomic outlook. The ministry forecast April’s inflation rate — measured by the consumer price index — at 8 to 9pc, significantly higher than 7.3pc in March. It highlighted that the overall primary surplus in the first eight months of the current fiscal year was recorded at 3.3pc of GDP (Rs4.319 trillion) as compared to 3pc (Rs3.452tr) last year. During July-March Fiscal Year 2026, the Federal Board of ...
    Tags: Finance
  • Amazon says damaged UAE cloud region recovery to take several months
    Dawn - 13:57 Apr 30, 2026
    Amazon said on Thursday that restoring cloud computing operations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which were damaged in the conflict in the Middle East, is expected to take several months. Amazon’s data centres in the region were hit by Iranian retaliatory drone strikes in early March, amid the conflict, disrupting cloud services and making a recovery “prolonged”. When asked if the latest update was related to a new incident, an Amazon spokesperson said that the latest update dated April 30 related to the previous operational issues in March. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the world’s largest cloud computing provider, serving a global client base. Its key customers include companies such as Netflix, BMW and Pfizer, as well as major financial institutions, media groups and public sector organisations. It is also the company’s main driver of profits. AWS recommended customers migrate all accessible resources to other regions and restore inaccessible resources from remote backups as soon as possible, according ...
    Tags: Amazon
  • In fresh message, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei defies US naval blockade
    Dawn - 13:10 Apr 30, 2026
    Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei declared on Thursday that the United States had suffered a shameful defeat, defiantly rejecting a warning from President Donald Trump that an economically punishing US naval blockade could be enforced for months to come. “Today, two months after the largest military deployment and aggression by the world’s bullies in the region, and the United States’ disgraceful defeat in its plans, a new chapter is unfolding for the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz,” said Khamenei in the message read on state television. The message by Khamenei, who has yet to appear in public since his appointment on March 9 as Iran’s new supreme leader, came on the annual national celebration of “Persian Gulf” day in Iran. Khamenei became the supreme leader after the US and Israel launched a massive campaign of strikes on Iran on February 28, assassinating his father and predecessor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In his Thursday message, he said US bases in the region “lack even the capacity...
    Tags: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei
  • Cambridge confirms AS-level math exam leak, says working on determining next steps
    Dawn - 12:20 Apr 30, 2026
    Cambridge International Education (CIE) on Thursday confirmed that its AS-level mathematics paper was “shared prematurely” against its regulations. The development comes after the Inter-Board of Coordination Commission (IBCC) on Thursday announced it would seek a report from Cambridge as parents and students raised questions about the transparency of the exam system following reports of the leak. In an official statement, CIE said, “We can confirm that Cambridge International AS-Level mathematics paper 12 (9709) taken in our Africa, Europe, Middle East, Pakistan and South Asia regions, was shared prematurely against our regulations. “We investigate such incidents promptly and thoroughly and we are now working to understand the extent of the leak and determine next steps,” it added. It affirmed its priority to ensure that the students were not disadvantaged by this incident, saying it would take all possible measures to protect the integrity of its exams. “It is important that candidates continue to prepare fo...
    Tags: AS-level Cambridge
  • Imaan, Hadi approach SC seeking early hearing of appeals against conviction in social media posts case
    Dawn - 12:03 Apr 30, 2026
    ISLAMABAD: Human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, on Thursday approached the Supreme Court (SC), seeking an early hearing of their appeals against their conviction under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) in the controversial social media posts case. On January 24, a sessions court had sentenced Imaan and Hadi to a total of 17 years in prison on multiple charges in the case. The lawyer duo were sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment under Section 10 (cyber terrorism), five years’ imprisonment under Section 9 (glorification of an offence) and two years’ imprisonment under Section 26-A (false and fake information) of Peca. Moved through senior counsel Faisal Siddiqi under Article 185(3) of the Constitution, the application filed in the SC on Thursday requested the grant of leave to appeal against the Feb 19 Islamabad High Court (IHC) order. The IHC in February had admitted the appeal against the trial court’s verdict. However, while it had issued notices to th...
    Tags: Hadi Imaan
  • Bears continue to dominate PSX as KSE-100 loses 2,800 points
    Dawn - 11:59 Apr 30, 2026
    Bears dominated the trading floor at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) for a fourth consecutive day on Thursday as the KSE-100 plunged by over 2,800 points. KSE-100 declined by 2,829.70 points or 1.71 per cent to close at 162,994.17 points from the previous close of 165,823.87 points. The market dropped to an intraday low of 160,391.18 points at 11:34am, before regaining some ground to reach above the 162,000-point level after 1pm. Rising global oil prices amid geopolitical tensions have kept investors cautious, according to analysts. Oil prices soared more than 7pc to a fresh four-year high today, while global stocks fell after Donald Trump warned the US blockade of Iranian ports could last months and a report said he would be briefed on potential fresh military strikes. Brent for June delivery surged 7.1pc to $126.41 per barrel in Asian trade, while West Texas Intermediate climbed 3.4pc to $110.31. Both later pared the gains. Today’s bearish momentum also came after reports emerged that UAE-based telecom gi...
    Tags: KSE-100 Bears
  • Govt slashes passport delivery time to 14 days, orders offices to go cashless
    Dawn - 11:54 Apr 30, 2026
    ISLAMABAD: The government on Thursday slashed the delivery time for ordinary passports from 21 days to 14 days and ordered all passport offices to go fully cashless within 15 days. The decisions were taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry in Islamabad. “We have reduced the delivery time for normal passports from 21 days to 14 days,” Naqvi said, according to an official handout. The minister further stated that “a complete cashless system will be implemented in passport offices,” while giving passport authorities 15 days to end cash transactions at all offices nationwide. “Eliminating cash payments will end the agent mafia and facilitate citizens,” Naqvi said. Officials said the 14-day timeline for normal passports comes into effect immediately. Officials were also directed to finalise a separate “business passport” category soon and make the home-delivery system for passports more effective, the statement said. Naqvi said that...
  • From surplus to strain: World rice supply threatened by Iran war, El Niño
    Dawn - 11:44 Apr 30, 2026
    Rice supply is expected to fall this year as farmers cut planting acreage across Asia because of fertiliser shortages and soaring fuel costs from the Iran war, with an emerging El Niño also set to squeeze output of the world’s most consumed staple. Rice is central to global food security, and even modest supply disruptions can ripple through countries, lifting prices and straining household budgets, particularly among price-sensitive consumers in Asia and Africa. The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in April forecast rice output would expand by 2 per cent to a record high in 2025/26. The effects of the Iran war are impacting farmers in top exporters Thailand and Vietnam, as well as the import-reliant Philippines and Indonesia, growers and traders said. The war has cut fuel and fertiliser flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint that connects the Gulf to global markets. Southeast Asia’s mainly smallholder farmers also face mounting stress as the El Niño weather phenomenon is set to usher ...
    Tags: Iran
  • Sindh education department to introduce religious textbooks for Hindu students
    Dawn - 10:48 Apr 30, 2026
    KARACHI: The Sindh Education and Literacy Department is set to introduce religious textbooks for Hindu students to be taught in grades three to five across government schools in Sindh, it emerged on Thursday. In a letter dated April 29 to the chairman of the Sindh Textbook Board (STBB), the education department requested the distribution of “three religious books for grades III to V for the current academic year 2026–27”, referring to a decision taken at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Sindh Curriculum Council on April 20. Chief Executive Advisor Dr Fauzia Khan wrote in the letter that the cost of publication will be borne by a social welfare organisation, Prem Sagar Sanstha Karachi, for the current academic year. “The distribution of the books will be carried out through STBB,” the letter said. Khan also requested the board to “allocate/adjust budget for the publication of the religious books for the next academic year”. A similar move was made by the federal government in 2023, when the National...
    Tags: Hindu Sindh
  • Lahore court grants interim pre-arrest bail to PM's daughter, son-in-law in Saaf Pani case
    Dawn - 10:40 Apr 30, 2026
    LAHORE: An anti-corruption court on Thursday granted interim pre-arrest bail of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s daughter Rabia Imran and her husband Ali Imran Yousaf in a case of alleged irregularities in the Punjab Saaf Pani Company (PSPC). The couple appeared before the court, where Judge Javed Iqbal Warraich presided over the proceedings. The court allowed the bail petitions and sought a reply from the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) by the next hearing on May 4. The couple had earlier been declared proclaimed offenders due to their absence from the country. They later approached an accountability court, which last week suspended their arrest warrants and allowed them to surrender before the law. However, the case was transferred to the anti-corruption court as the accountability court lost jurisdiction following amendments to the National Accountability Ordinance. The couple was accused of getting illegal monetary benefits by renting out their building to PSPC to establish its office. Other suspects, ...
  • PM Shehbaz launches Rs10m housing loans under Rs3.2tr 'Apna Ghar Programme'
    Dawn - 09:47 Apr 30, 2026
    ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday launched the “PM Apna Ghar Programme” under which housing loans of Rs10 million will be given on easy instalments. The scheme will be implemented in the federal capital, all four provinces, as well as Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing the launch ceremony in Islamabad, PM Shehbaz said a total of 500,000 housing units will be constructed under the programme, supported by a total allocation of Rs3.2 trillion. The loans are to be returned in 20 years, he said. During the first 10 years, the markup on the loan will be 5 per cent, while in the next 10 years it will be charged at the market rate at the time. The premier said that for the first year, the government has set a target to fund 50,000 houses for which an amount of Rs321 billion had been earmarked. Under the scheme, a maximum of 10 marla housing units will be allowed to be built. PM Shehbaz said he would personally review the programme’s progress on a monthly basis to address any sh...
    Tags: Shehbaz
  • Lahore Bar Association moves SC against 27th Amendment following transfer of IHC judges
    Dawn - 09:19 Apr 30, 2026
    ISLAMABAD: A day after the government notified the transfer of three Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges to other high courts, the Lahore Bar Association (LBA) moved the Supreme Court on Thursday to challenge the constitutionality of the 27th Constitutional Amendment under which these transfers were made. On Tuesday, the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) approved the transfer of three judges from the IHC to other courts in a move that drew sharp criticism from lawyers’ bodies for lacking transparency and uniform criteria. Senior counsel Hamid Khan approached the SC, instead of the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC), on behalf of LBA President Irfan Hayat Bajwa, seeking a declaration that the recent transfer of three judges from the IHC to other high courts is unconstitutional and of no legal effect. The bar association also requested the SC to declare the omission and repeal of Article 184(3) of the Constitution — an inherent jurisdiction of the SC for the enforcement of fundamental rights but now repealed ...
    Tags: Lahore Bar Association
  • Lawyer seeks Imran's release on humanitarian grounds as IHC hears appeals in £190m graft reference
    Dawn - 09:10 Apr 30, 2026
    ISLAMABAD: Counsel for former prime minister Imran Khan on Thursday urged the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to consider his client’s release on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, citing prolonged solitary confinement and an eye infection. Defence counsel Salman Safdar’s request came as the IHC took up appeals filed by Imran and his spouse, Bushra Bibi, against their conviction in the £190 million corruption reference. During the hearing, Safdar requested the court to suspend the sentence, arguing that the case had remained pending for over 16 months and had already faced 17 hearings in the appeal. Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar questioned whether the petitioner was willing to settle the matter conclusively through a final decision on the appeal, observing that suspension of sentence could be decided without a final relief, but the appeal itself should be concluded expeditiously. Safdar maintained that despite the passage of over a year, the defence had not received any relief. He highlighted th...
  • Commissioning ceremony of Pakistan Navy’s first Hangor-class attack submarine held in China
    Dawn - 09:01 Apr 30, 2026
    The commissioning ceremony of the first Hangor-class attack submarine, PNS Hangor, was held in China’s Sanya city, with President Asif Ali Zardari and the naval chief attending the event. President Zardari, who is on a visit to China, participated as the chief guest, while Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf was also present, according to a press release by the Pakistan Navy. President Zardari described the commissioning of Hangor as a historic milestone in the navy’s modernisation, affirming Pakistan’s resolve to maintain a “robust, balanced and credible defence posture”. He affirmed that Pakistan was fully capable of defending its sovereignty, protecting its maritime interests and ensuring the security of its economic lifelines. “The advanced submarine strengthens Pakistan’s maritime defence, protects economic lifelines and reflects strategic partnership with China,” a statement by the Presidency said. The submarine class, named after the PNS Hangor, is a diesel-electric attack submarine with air...
    Tags: China Pakistan Navy Hangor-class
  • PMDC announces closure of admissions for academic session 2025–2026
    Dawn - 08:41 Apr 30, 2026
    ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) announced on Thursday that admissions for the 2025–2026 academic session have been closed, and students admitted after April 15 will not be registered. A notification issued by the council said all recognised medical and dental colleges have been directed not to grant admissions after the closing date. PMDC further clarified that any admission granted beyond the stipulated deadline would constitute a violation of the PMDC Act, 2022, and the relevant regulations governing undergraduate medical and dental education. Consequently, such students will not be issued registration numbers, rendering their admissions invalid. The directive has been issued with the approval of the competent authority and is binding on all institutions and admitting universities across the country. The council also urged all stakeholders to ensure strict compliance with the regulations to maintain transparency, merit, and standardisation in medical and dental education. On April ...
    Tags: PMDC
  • 2 armed suspects arrested in KP's Karak for 'attacking' police team
    Dawn - 08:22 Apr 30, 2026
    PESHAWAR: Police arrested two armed suspects, one in an injured condition, after a patrolling party came under fire in the Tor Dhand area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Karak district. The district police officer’s (DPO) spokesman, Shaukatullah, said that the attack took place within the limits of the City police station, while the police party was on routine patrol duty. “When the cops signalled two suspects travelling on a motorcycle to stop, they instead opened fire in a bid to escape,” he said. According to the spokesperson, the law enforcers returned the attack, triggering a gun battle. The official said that DPO Imran Khan also dispatched reinforcements when he learned about the attack on the police party. “When the exchange of fire stopped, police launched a search and clearance operation and captured two suspects, one in injured condition, and disarmed them,” he said. He added that the police seized arms and ammunition from them and took the injured suspect to a nearby hospital. The DPO, along with Superinte...
    Tags: Karak
  • Mamdani calls on King Charles to return Koh-i-Noor diamond
    Dawn - 05:20 Apr 30, 2026
    New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called for King Charles to “return” the prized Koh-i-Noor diamond, which the British Empire took from the Indian subcontinent in the 1800s, on the third day of the monarch’s state visit on Wednesday. Before greeting Charles and Queen Camilla at a 9/11 memorial event, Mamdani was asked what he would discuss with the king if he had the chance. “If I was to speak to the king, separately from that, I would probably encourage him to return the Koh-i-Noor diamond,” the leftist mayor said, adding that his focus would be honoring those killed in the terror attacks. It’s unclear whether Mamdani followed through and brought up the contentious subject with Charles when the two met. The monarch was seen laughing with Mamdani and having a brief conversation after they shook hands. Housed in the Tower of London, the massive 106 carat stone is the star of Britain’s crown jewels, adorning the Crown of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. The ownership of the jewel has been contested over the c...
    Tags: King Charles Mamdani Koh-i-Noor
  • New Zealand’s Christchurch mosque killer loses bid to overturn convictions
    Dawn - 04:23 Apr 30, 2026
    White supremacist killer Brenton Tarrant lost on Thursday an appeal seeking to overturn his conviction and sentence for shooting dead 51 people at two New Zealand mosques in 2019, court documents showed. The 35-year-old admitted to carrying out New Zealand’s deadliest modern day mass shooting before being sentenced to life in prison in August 2020. He appealed to the Court of Appeal in February, saying “torturous and inhumane” detention conditions during his trial made him incapable of making rational decisions when he pleaded guilty. “I did not have the mind frame or mental health required to be making informed decisions at that time,” Tarrant said at the time. The panel of three judges said the court “does not accept Mr Tarrant’s evidence about his mental state.” “There were inconsistencies in Mr Tarrant’s own evidence, and his evidence is at odds with the detailed observations of prison authorities and the assessments of mental health professionals at the time of him entering his pleas.” The judges found T...
    Tags: New Zealand
  • Emirati telecom giant ‘mulling exit’
    Dawn - 02:41 Apr 30, 2026
    • Insiders say move is part of wider internal review, not country-specific, as evidenced by UAE’s decision to quit Opec bloc • PTCL says it is not aware of any change in shareholders’ plan ISLAMABAD: A leading business group from the Middle East is said to be in the process of reviewing its exposure to Pakistan’s telecom sector, as part of a broader portfolio optimisation exercise that could potentially lead to its exit from the Pakistan Telecom­muni­cation Company Ltd (PTCL). Background discussions with sources in the diplomatic and financial sectors suggest that Etisalat’s plans are still at the preliminary assessment stage, with no final decision taken as yet. Insiders say the UAE-based telecom giant had indicated that the review is driven by a combination of global macroeconomic uncertainty, regional geopolitical tensions, and evolving capital allocation strategies among sovereign-linked investors. “This is part of a wider internal review being undertaken by Gulf investors across multiple jurisdictions. I...
  • Amid furore on social media, Cambridge says 'aware' of reports about question paper leak
    Dawn - 20:57 Apr 29, 2026
    The Cambridge International Education (CIE) said on Wednesday it was “aware of news about a reported paper leak of a question paper”, as several users on social media expressed ire. “We investigate such reports thoroughly and will provide more information to centres, if required, during or after the end of timetabled exams for the June 2026 series,” the CIE said in its official statement. The CIE, part of Cambridge University Press and Assessment, offers internationally recognised exams to over scores of schools in 160-plus countries. In Pakistan, O Levels (grades 9–10) cover a broad subject range, while A and AS Levels (grades 11–12) are more specialised and advanced, providing pathways to higher education in Pakistan and abroad. According to reports, the leaked paper was of AS mathematics. As reports circulated on social media, irked users pointed out the high examination fees and that Cambridge question papers had leaked in the previous years as well. In June last year, question papers of three AS and A Le...
    Tags: Cambridge

10418 items

Popular Tags