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Dawn - 03:36 Apr 24, 2026
Israel and Lebanon extended a shaky ceasefire by three weeks, President Donald Trump said on Thursday, as the United States remained at a standstill in negotiations with Iran to end the Middle East war. Trump announced the truce extension as he met with ambassadors of the two countries and despite recent Israeli strikes in Lebanon and fresh rocket fire from Hezbollah, which was not part of the talks in Washington. “I think there’s a very good chance of having peace. I think it should be an easy one,” Trump told reporters on Thursday. The initial truce had been set to expire on Sunday. Still, the US president said earlier he was in no rush to end the war with Iran, adding that “the clock is ticking” for the Islamic republic as a third American aircraft carrier arrived in the Middle East. Iranian media reported blasts over the capital Tehran, a first since the ceasefire in the Middle East war came into effect two weeks ago. It was not clear what caused the explosions, though an Israeli security source told AFP ... -
Dawn - 02:16 Apr 24, 2026
• US president says in no hurry to end war, claims ‘total control’ over strait, orders navy to destroy all mine-laying vessels • Another Iranian tanker seized in Indian Ocean as country banks first proceeds from Hormuz tolls • Tehran air defence activated overnight • Third aircraft carrier arrives in Mideast • Pentagon fires navy secretary • Move seeking to curb Trump’s war powers defeated in Congress WASHINGTON: Backed by Republican allies in Congress, President Donald Trump on Thursday ordered the US Navy to target and destroy any vessel laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, as US forces boarded a vessel transporting oil from Iran in the Indian Ocean. In subsequent remarks, he also ruled out the use of nuclear weapons against Iran, adding that while the US is in no rush to end the war, “the clock is ticking” for the Islamic republic. Despite an indefinite extension in the ceasefire by the US, there has been no progress regarding the second round of peace talks between the two countries, with Tehran sayin... -
Dawn - 18:49 Apr 23, 2026
The foreign ministers of Pakistan and seven other Muslim-majority countries issued a joint statement on Thursday, rejecting any attempts to alter the historic and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites. The foreign ministers condemned the “repeated violations of the historic and legal status quo at Jerusalem’s Islamic and Christian holy sites by Israeli occupation authorities”. They particularly deplored the continued incursions by Israeli settlers and “extremist ministers into Al Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Al Sharif under Israeli police protection, as well as the raising of the Israeli flag within its courtyards”, the joint statement citing the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Turkiye, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates said. “The ministers reiterated that these provocative actions at Al Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Al Sharif, constitute a flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law, and represent an unacceptable provocati... -
Dawn - 18:07 Apr 23, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday congratulated the two Pakistani astronaut candidates selected for China’s manned space programme, expressing hope that the voyage will “usher in a new era of space research in Pakistan”. In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said that he met the two candidates — Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud — at the Prime Minister’s House. The premier congratulated the two, stating that the space mission was a “matter of pride for the entire nation”. He further commended their “round-the-clock efforts” in achieving the milestone. PM Shehbaz hoped that the space mission would “add new dimensions to the brotherly relationship between Pakistan and China”. Also present at the meeting was Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong. The premier, in conversation with him, welcomed the development. The prime minister told the Chinese ambassador that Pakistan and China’s friendship was “ready to reach for the stars and touch the heights of the sky”. “Performing researc... -
Dawn - 17:57 Apr 23, 2026
WASHINGTON: Pakistan on Thursday urged the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to take up the dispute over the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), warning that India’s continued unilateral suspension of the treaty carries “grave peace and security, and humanitarian consequences” for South Asia. Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad handed over a letter from Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to the Security Council president, Ambassador Jamal Fares Alrowaiei of Bahrain. A statement issued by Pakistan’s Mission said the letter drew the UNSC’s attention to the matter “one year after India’s illegal decision to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance” and highlighted the move’s “grave peace and security, and humanitarian consequences”. The Security Council was urged “to take cognisance of the alarming situation and call upon India to restore the full implementation of IWT, resume all Treaty-mandated cooperation and data-sharing without delay, desist from any fo... -
Dawn - 17:52 Apr 23, 2026
Navy Secretary John Phelan has been fired, a US official and a person familiar with the matter said on Wednesday, in another wartime shakeup at the Pentagon coming just weeks after Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth ousted the Army’s top general. The Pentagon announced his departure in a brief statement, saying he was leaving the administration “effective immediately.” But it did not provide a reason or say whether it was his decision to go. The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Phelan was dismissed in part because he was moving too slow to implement reforms to speed shipbuilding and because he had fallen out with key Pentagon leadership. One source cited bad relationships with Hegseth, Hegseth’s deputy, Steve Feinberg, as well as the Navy’s No 2 civilian, Hung Cao, who the Pentagon said will now take over as acting Navy secretary. The source also cited an ethics investigation into Phelan’s office. A billionaire seen as having close ties to President Donald Trump, Phelan is the first administrati... -
Dawn - 16:16 Apr 23, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is set to fast-track money laundering probes under a new rulebook that fixes deadlines for inquiries and creates dedicated desks nationwide. FIA Director General Dr Usman Anwar has approved standard operating procedures (SOPs) to improve how the agency handles financial intelligence reports, an informed source told Dawn on Thursday. Financial intelligence refers to tips on suspicious transactions from banks and other institutions. The reports come from the Financial Monitoring Unit (FMU) — the country’s central agency responsible for receiving, analysing and disseminating to the investigatory and supervisory authorities; disclosures of financial information concerning suspected proceeds of crime and alleged money laundering offences; and the financing of any activities or transactions related to terrorism, playing a decisive role in the detection and investigation of financial crimes. The move comes as Pakistan works to stay off the Financial Action Task Force... -
Dawn - 15:37 Apr 23, 2026
The US Department of Justice said on Thursday that it was immediately loosening restrictions on some marijuana products and accelerating the process of reclassifying the drug as less dangerous in one of the biggest changes to US drug policy in decades. The Trump administration immediately moved FDA-approved marijuana products and state-regulated medical marijuana from a group of drugs classified as highly addictive to one that has a low to moderate potential for abuse. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the US government would also fast-track a broader consideration of marijuana under federal law, moving the psychoactive plant from a so-called Schedule I drug to a Schedule III. The move would list marijuana alongside common painkillers, ketamine and testosterone rather than its current status with drugs like heroin and LSD. The measures are likely to reshape the pot industry, lowering barriers to researching the drug’s potential health benefits, easing tax burdens and making it easier for firms to secu... -
Dawn - 15:34 Apr 23, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Amid murmurs of divisions within the PTI, not a single party leader arrived at Adiala jail on Thursday, one of two days on which former premier Imran Khan is allowed visitors. The Islamabad High Court has allowed Imran twice-a-week meetings — on Tuesdays and Thursdays — with his family, lawyers and other associates. Despite the order, the ex-premier has been largely restricted from meeting visitors for several months as the court’s directives have not been implemented. On Wednesday, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja had sent a list of six leaders to the jail administration, as per the court orders, to meet Imran. PTI leaders Falak Naz Chitrali, Fazal Elahi, Ehtesham Khan, Sardar Ghulam Ali, Asghar Khan Lehri, Syed Naseebullah Agha and Chaudhry Javed Akhtar Gujjar were included in the list. However, on Thursday, none of the party leaders managed to reach Adiala jail till 4pm, the cutoff time for meeting with inmates. Speaking to Dawn, PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram said t... -
Dawn - 15:07 Apr 23, 2026
Pakistan rejected Indian propaganda linking it to the 2025 Pahalgam attack on Thursday, deploring that the neighbouring country was focusing on “weaponising its false narrative” in the midst on an ongoing regional crisis. The April 22, 2025 attack in Pahalgam saw 26 people, mostly tourists, killed in what is being described as the deadliest armed attack in the disputed Himalayan region since the year 2000. New Delhi blamed the attack on Pakistan without any evidence. For its part, Pakistan strongly denied the allegations and called for a neutral investigation. On the attack’s one year anniversary, some in India appeared to link Pakistan again with terrorism. Meanwhile, the Indian army also said that a “response is assured” against acts of terrorism. Subsequently, without referring to any particular instance, the Foreign Office (FO) in Islamabad said in a statement: “At a time when Pakistan, along with its international partners, is undertaking concerted diplomatic efforts for regional and international peace ... -
Dawn - 14:54 Apr 23, 2026
QUETTA: At least nine people working at a copper and gold project site in Balochistan’s Chagai district were killed in an armed attack by unidentified assailants, according to officials. In a statement, the mining company National Resources Limited (NRL) said the attack took place on Wednesday evening, adding that security forces, including the Frontier Corps, responded promptly, secured the area and launched a clearance operation. The company did not mention any casualties in its statement. However, local authorities confirmed the incident and nine casualties. “At least nine employees, including two security guards, were killed,” a senior official of the Chagai administration said on condition of anonymity. Police officials also confirmed the attack and the killing of nine people. All nine bodies were taken to Prince Fahad Hospital in Dalbandin. In its statement, NRL said it remained “fully committed to the development and empowerment of local communities in Balochistan, with a strong focus on improving live... -
Dawn - 14:52 Apr 23, 2026
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), through its National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC), on Thursday issued a nationwide alert warning of an intense heatwave in several regions until May 5. The authority also forecast rain, windstorms and thunderstorms in parts of the country between April 24 and 29. The NDMA urged the authorities and citizens to activate response measures and take precautionary steps. The NDMA said the current weather pattern was consistent with its seasonal outlook issued three to four months earlier, and noted that a detailed assessment for the April to June period had already been shared. According to the advisory, Sindh, southern Punjab and parts of Balochistan were expected to face severe heatwave conditions. Major cities including Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Jacobabad, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Multan and Turbat were likely to remain under extreme heat. Further, central Punjab and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa may also see a sharp rise in temperatures. At t... -
Dawn - 14:19 Apr 23, 2026
A US naval blockade of Iranian ports is likely to squeeze Iran’s oil output in the coming weeks but claims it will throw the Islamic republic into economic free fall remain premature, analysts say. After weeks of bombing and counter-strikes, focus has shifted to the standoff in the Strait of Hormuz, which ordinarily carries around a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas. In response to Iran’s blockade of the Strait since the start of the Middle East war, the US imposed a counter-blockade of the Islamic republic’s ports, a push to force its leaders into a compromise in peace talks. That bid, however, looks set to fail, at least in the short term. “If the blockade lasts for more than two or three months, it can cause more damage” to Iran, economic analyst and professor at Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran, Saeed Laylaz, told AFP. “If Iran suffers any damage, the damage to the countries in the southern Persian Gulf will definitely be greater,” he added. There’s a limit on how long Iran can bide i... -
Dawn - 13:29 Apr 23, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) Directorate General of Customs Valuation has increased the customs value for 62 models of older and used mobile phones, saying the move was aimed at aligning assessed values for duty and tax purposes with prevailing market rates, it emerged on Thursday. The development comes after senior FBR officials had assured a National Assembly parliamentary committee last week that mobile phone rates would be reduced in the upcoming budget. The directorate issued the revised benchmarks through the Valuation Ruling No. 2070 of 2026 on Thursday, replacing the earlier Ruling No. 2035 issued in January. Ahead of finalising the revised values, the Directorate also held a meeting with relevant stakeholders on April 13. The new valuation will apply to imports of old and used mobile phones in commercial quantities without packing or accessories. According to the data, the sharpest upward increase was recorded in Google Pixel and Samsung models, indicating that the new ruling signi... -
Dawn - 12:48 Apr 23, 2026
Bangladesh recorded 194 child deaths due to measles in an outbreak that began last month, while the number of suspected child cases exceeded 28,000, the government data showed on Thursday. Between three and five children died from the disease every day for the past week. Five children died on Wednesday, including three in the capital Dhaka, and another five on Thursday. The government said it launched a robust nationwide vaccination programme since the outbreak began on March 15, the worst in the South Asian nation for decades. “Our target is to vaccinate 18 million children,” health department spokesman Zahid Raihan told AFP. “So far, we have covered a little over one-fourth of our target, and it may take another two weeks to see the impact of this vaccination programme.” Md Sajib and Afsin Meem lost their three-year-old son, their only child, on Tuesday, and a photograph of a relative carrying his tiny body along a road was shared extensively on news sites. “After noticing a rash on our son’s skin, we rushe... -
Dawn - 12:24 Apr 23, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The government has projected additional power generation capacity needs of 62,660 to 70,720 megawatt (MW) till 2035 to support the country’s economic growth of 3.5 per cent (low) to 6.4pc (high). This is part of the revised Indicative Generation Capacity Expansion Plan (IGCEP) 2025-35 and the Transmission System Expansion Plan (TSEP) 2025-35 prepared by the Independent System and Market Operator (ISMO) — a power division entity — in consultation with all the relevant stakeholders, including the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra). The two plans cover the entire power network, including those of distribution companies and K-Electric. A distinguishing feature of the revised IGCEP is the consideration of Least Cost Violation (LCV) for Diamer-Bhasha, and ACWA solar power plants. The plan also considers the impact of solarisation on the end-consumer tariff, the inclusion of strategic power plants using LCV, the induction of a significant quantum of net metering (8,120 MW), and the consi... -
Dawn - 12:20 Apr 23, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday expressed displeasure at the lack of functional early weather warning systems for protection against climate risks in Gilgit-Baltistan and ordered an inquiry into the matter. He issued the directive while chairing a review meeting on pre-monsoon strategy and climate preparedness. During the meeting, the premier expressed displeasure at the non-functional early warning system, particularly against glacial lake outburst floods (Glofs) in GB. Glofs refer to the sudden release of water and debris from a glacial lake, leading to the loss of lives, property, and livelihoods in mountain communities. Over 7.1 million people in GB and KP are vulnerable to the phenomenon, according to the Ministry of Climate Change. PM Shehbaz ordered an inquiry into the system’s “non-functionality” and the “ineffective performance of relevant institutions, despite being given clear instructions last year”. He asserted that “incompetence and poor performance will not be tolerated,” m... -
Dawn - 11:31 Apr 23, 2026
The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX)’s benchmark index KSE-100 continued its bearish momentum on Thursday, losing over 2,400 points. KSE-100 declined by 2,405.93 points or 1.4 per cent to close at 169,173.37 points from the previous close of 171,579.30 points. The bourse rose to an intraday high of 171,561.74 points shortly after opening and declined to an intraday low of 168,416.02 points at 1:27pm. “Bears returned to centre stage as tensions flared around the Strait of Hormuz, where reports of blockades and vessel seizures rattled global sentiment. Meanwhile, Islamabad continues to await Iranian and American officials for expected peace talks, keeping uncertainty elevated,” Topline Securities said. “Amid the risk-off mood, the benchmark index plunged to an intraday low of 3,163 points before settling at 169,173 — down 2,405 points (-1.40%) — as broad-based selling gripped the market,” it said. It said that trading activity stayed relatively subdued, with volumes clocking in at 1,321 million shares and turnover... -
Dawn - 11:22 Apr 23, 2026
KARACHI: Three station house officers (SHOs) were suspended on Thursday after an alleged drone incident in Sindh’s Khairpur district resulted in four deaths. A statement issued by the office of Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar said “four civilians were killed in a drone attack in Saeed Khan Lakho village”. Both Lanjar and Sindh Inspector General (IG) Javed Alam Odho also took strict notice of the incident and sought a report from the Sukkur deputy inspector general (DIG). IG Odho also issued directives for the suspension of the Kandhra, Patni and Saleh Pat SHOs in Sukkur, ordering “strict legal and departmental action” against them. Subsequently, an order issued by the Sindh Police Department stated that Kandhra SHO Shoukat Ali Arain, Patni SHO Imran Khan Bhayo and Saleh Pat SHO Allauddin Phulpoto have been placed under suspension and “closed to ‘B’ Company PHQ/Garden Karachi”. “During the period of suspension, they will draw their pay and allowances as admissible under the rules,” the police order said... -
Dawn - 11:13 Apr 23, 2026
Inside the gynaecology clinic of Karachi’s largest public hospital, the air felt several degrees hotter. It was only 9:30am on a Friday in late February, and the windowless waiting room was already packed with women jostling for a place to sit, calling nurses for help, and scuffling for an ultrasound. Asiya, 21, was pregnant with her third child. The baby was due in May, when the mercury often crosses 38 degrees Celsius, and humidity soars past 70 per cent, making the heat unbearable. As temperatures rose in the room, Asiya felt nauseated and dizzy. “The heat exhausts me,” she said. “My body feels like lead, I’m barely able to stomach food. I am afraid that my child might be born sick.” Asiya lives in Lyari, one of Karachi’s most densely populated neighbourhoods, with narrow alleys and little to no green space. Inside her home, ventilation is poor and cooling scant. Intense summer heat in her neighbourhood is compounded by power outages that last up to 12 hours a day, shutting down fans and other appliances t...
10418 items