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Dawn - 12:33 Apr 16, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) on Thursday directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to finalise regulations for Islamabad’s informal settlements in petitions against the recent demolition drives in the federal capital. The development comes amid an ongoing demolition drive launched by the CDA, which has targeted informal settlements across the federal capital, as well as historic villages like Saidpur, Malpur and Nurpur Shahan. Thursday’s hearing was presided over by FCC Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan. During the hearing, he directed the CDA to formulate rules for regularising informal settlements in Islamabad. Lawyer Faisal Siddiqui appeared on behalf of the petitioner, while lawyer Qasim Chohan represented the CDA. Additional Attorney General Aamir Rehman was also present at the hearing. “Why have the regulations not been finalised yet?” Justice Khan asked the AAG during the hearing. At this, the AAG said that “there had been a delay due to the CDA chairman being changed,” assuring ... -
Dawn - 11:22 Apr 16, 2026
Fourteen-year-old Fadel al-Naji used to be a keen footballer but is now largely confined to his home in Gaza City since both legs were severed in an Israeli drone attack in September. He sits sullenly on a couch with one hollow pant leg dangling and the other tucked into his waist beside his 11-year-old brother who lost an eye in the same strike. Fadel Al-Naji, 14, who lost both legs after being injured in an Israeli strike, sits at his home in Gaza City on April 10, 2026. — Reuters “He has become withdrawn and isolated,” said his mother Najwa al-Naji, showing old videos of him doing kick-ups on her phone. “It is as if he is dying slowly, and I wish that they would fit him with prosthetic limbs.” But those are in scarce supply for Gaza’s nearly 5,000 war amputees — a quarter of whom are children like al-Naji — because of Israeli restrictions on materials like plaster of Paris, seven aid and medical sources told Reuters. Israel cites security concerns as the reason for restrictions. Palestinian amputee Omar Ab... -
Dawn - 11:13 Apr 16, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday expressed strong displeasure over the cutting of trees in the federal capital despite previous orders, warning the authorities of contempt proceedings in case of further violations. IHC’s Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro, while hearing multiple petitions against tree cutting in various sectors, observed that the court’s injunction orders issued on January 15 and April 8 had been ignored. Appearing on behalf of the petitioners, advocates Mudassar Latif Abbasi and Umair Asad argued that the Capital Development Authority (CDA) were continuing to cut trees without lawful justification. During the proceedings, Advocate Abbasi informed the court that more than 30,000 trees had been cut across Islamabad under the pretext of removing paper mulberry trees, without obtaining mandatory approval from the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA). He further pointed out that the CDA, in its para-wise comments, had failed to clarify whether any expert assessment w... -
Dawn - 10:58 Apr 16, 2026
Pakistan recorded a sizable current account surplus in March, it emerged on Wednesday. In a post on social media platform X, the State Bank of Pakistan said, “Current account balance recorded a surplus of $1,070 million in Mar 2026 compared to a surplus of $231 million in Feb 2026.” Adviser to the Finance Minister Khurram Schehzad said on X, “Pakistan’s external account continues to strengthen, delivering a third consecutive monthly surplus in 2026.” He said that the figures for March were “among the strongest monthly outcomes on record”. He said that the surplus was the “second-highest ever”, only behind $1.2bn in March 2025. “Pakistan’s external sector is firming up, with sustained surpluses signalling improving balance of payments stability,” he said. The current account deficit — a long-standing issue facing Pakistan’s economy — has been addressed by a significant reduction in imports, resulting in a surplus. Arif Habib Limited noted that for the first nine months of the current fiscal year, the country h... -
Dawn - 10:02 Apr 16, 2026
India’s government was seeking to expand the size of parliament by two-fifths to increase the representation of women lawmakers, but opposition parties have cried foul, saying it would benefit the ruling party. “We’re set to take historic steps to empower women,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, ahead of the special sitting of parliament on Thursday, to debate constitutional amendments to both expand seats for women and the overall size of parliament to over 800. The bill proposes fast-tracking implementation of a 2023 law in the world’s largest democracy of 1.4 billion people, reserving 33 per cent of seats for women. Increasing the number of women in parliament has, in principle, broad cross-party support. “We are all united to give rightful positions to women in India,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Thursday. Women currently account for just 14pc of India’s 543 members of the Lok Sabha, the lower house of parliament. To achieve the expansion, the government said it plans to redraw p... -
Dawn - 09:47 Apr 16, 2026
Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) police claimed on Thursday that they had arrested a suspected agent of India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) in Rawalakot, who had been blackmailed into working for the foreign intelligence agency. According to AJK Inspector General of Police (IGP) Liaqat Ali Malik, one suspect had been arrested who had allegedly been blackmailed into working for RAW. His handler, whom Malik said used a Facebook account with an address in Lahore, blackmailed him by initially assigning “small tasks” — beginning with commonplace activities and later involving geotagging, sharing coordinates, and recording videos of “sensitive” sites, including military installations, schools, bridges and other government buildings in AJK and elsewhere in Pakistan. “This time, the AJK police worked with sensitive institutions to take pre-emptive action and exposed this whole network,” Malik said, adding that the enemy forces had “trapped” innocent young people while causing damage to life and property. According t... -
Dawn - 09:29 Apr 16, 2026
The Pakistan Navy has successfully fired a locally developed anti-ship ballistic missile to engage targets at an extended range, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on Thursday. “In a resolute display of preparedness and precision-strike capability, Pakistan Navy successfully conducted a live weapon firing of an indigenously developed ship-launched anti-ship missile, accurately engaging its target with high speed at extended range,” the ISPR said. @dawn.today The Pakistan Navy has successfully fired a locally developed anti-ship ballistic missile to engage targets at an extended range, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on Thursday. “In a resolute display of preparedness and precision-strike capability, Pakistan Navy successfully conducted a live weapon firing of an indigenously developed ship-launched anti-ship missile, accurately engaging its target with high speed at extended range,” the ISPR said. It added that Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed ... -
Dawn - 09:15 Apr 16, 2026
Turkiye cracked down on Thursday on social media posts praising two school shootings in two days, which have left the country reeling, ordering dozens of arrests ahead of funerals for the victims, who were mostly children. Authorities said 83 people had been detained, hundreds of accounts blocked and groups shut down after praise for the attacks — one on Tuesday, which wounded 16 people, and one on Wednesday, which killed nine and wounded 13. Eight of the dead were children aged 10 and 11, and their teacher, 55. The suspects in both cases were also killed, authorities have said. Tuesday’s attack, in the southeastern province of Sanliurfa, saw an ex-student open fire at his former high school. Authorities said he took his own life when cornered by police. Wednesday’s was believed to have been carried out by a 14-year-old student who arrived at the school in the southern province of Kahramanmaras with five guns and opened fire. Authorities have said the student, the son of a former police officer, planned the a... -
Dawn - 08:53 Apr 16, 2026
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday directed the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) to hold intra-party elections by October 15. According to a statement issued by the ECP, a three-member bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja gave MQM-P until October to hold intra-party elections. Barrister Farogh Naseem appeared on behalf of the party and sought a 90-day extension. He informed the commission that the party was compiling electoral lists and that the process was in its final stages. The ECP’s Director General Political Finance, Masood Sherwani, briefed the bench, stating that the party was “supposed to hold elections on January 16”. “The date was then extended to March 16, and now they have asked for time till December,” Sherwani said. In the previous hearing held on April 7, ECP had dismissed the MQM-P’s request seeking two months for party chairman Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui to appear in the case, after the commission summoned him. During the hearing, Sherw... -
Dawn - 08:37 Apr 16, 2026
International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva has commended Pakistan’s “continued progress on economic reforms” under the Fund’s programme and the resulting macroeconomic stability. She met with Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on the sidelines of the IMF–World Bank Spring Meetings 2026 in Washington, where the finance czar had arrived on Monday. During his visit, Aurangzeb was expected to participate in over 50 high-level engagements from April 13 to 18. “Great to see Aurangzeb at the IMF Meetings!” Georgieva said on X early on Thursday. “Strong programme implementation has helped Pakistan maintain macroeconomic stability and build confidence,” the IMF official said. She emphasised that “sound policies and deeper structural reforms remain key to sustaining growth and raising welfare for all Pakistanis”. In its statement on the interaction, the finance ministry recalled Georgieva’s remarks, noting that she “appreciated Pakistan’s continued progress on economic reforms”. “The rema... -
Dawn - 05:55 Apr 16, 2026
BANNU: Three polio workers abducted by militants on Wednesday have been safely recovered through coordinated efforts by the police and local jirga elders, police said. Under the leadership of the Bannu district police officer (DPO), the police initiated immediate action following the incident. A comprehensive strategy was adopted by taking local jirga elders into confidence. Due to the successful mediation by the jirga and the professional competence of the police, the abducted workers were safely recovered. Bannu DPO Yasir Afridi, while confirming the development, told Dawn that “with a lot of efforts, they have been recovered”. The three polio workers were abducted by unidentified militants in the Jhandu Khel area on Wednesday during the ongoing anti-polio campaign, sparking serious concern in the area. Earlier this week, a police constable was martyred and four others were injured in an attack on a law enforcement party en route to provide security for polio teams in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Hangu district. Th... -
Dawn - 21:10 Apr 15, 2026
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman after he reached Jeddah on Wednesday alongside a high-level delegation on an official visit to the kingdom, the PM Office’s (PMO) said in a statement. The statement added that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar was also present at the meeting. Dar separately posted on X that the meeting was “marked by warmth, brotherhood, and a shared vision for a stronger Pakistan–Saudi Arabia partnership”. “The prime minister reaffirmed our deep-rooted ties, built on faith, trust, and mutual respect, and explored avenues to further enhance cooperation across all sectors,” he added. Dar further stated, “Saudi Arabia holds a special place in the hearts of Pakistanis, and we remain committed to strengthening this historic and fraternal relationship for generations to come.” Earlier, a post on the PMO’s X account said the premier was received by the Deputy Governor of the Makkah Region, Prince Saud bin Mushaal bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Ar... -
Dawn - 19:45 Apr 15, 2026
Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir reached Tehran on Wednesday and held a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and other officials, according to a post on the Iranian government’s X account. Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) described the visit as part of “ongoing mediation efforts” for de-escalation between Iran and the US. ISPR said that CDF Munir had arrived in the Iranian capital alongside a formal delegation and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. Later, Araghchi posted on X: “Delighted to welcome Field Marshal Munir to Iran. Expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s gracious hosting of the dialogue, emphasising that it reflects our deep and great bilateral relationship. Our commitment to promoting peace and stability in the region remains strong—and shared.” The development came hours after Iran said that exchanges with the United States via Pakistan had continued following negotiations in Islamabad over the weekend that yielded no result. “Since Sunday, w... -
Dawn - 18:49 Apr 15, 2026
BAJAUR: Two children and a woman were killed while three others were injured when mortar shells fired from across the Afghan border hit a house in the Kitkot village of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur district on Wednesday night, security sources said. The sources held the Afghan Taliban responsible for the firing, terming it an act of unprovoked aggression. They said the Afghan Taliban had been trying to get a formation of Fitna al Khawarij to infiltrate into Pakistan during the past few days. But the attempts were foiled due to timely action by the army, the sources said, adding that the Afghan Taliban then resorted to targeting the civilian population in Pakistan. Fitna al Khawarij is a term that the state has designated for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban (TTP). According to security sources, the gun position from where the mortar shells were fired had been destroyed in retaliatory action by the army. They said that all posts of the Afghan Taliban near Bajaur were being targeted in the retaliatory action, during... -
Dawn - 18:41 Apr 15, 2026
Pakistan is considering buying liquefied natural gas (LNG) on the spot market to offset supply disruptions caused by the Iran war, but would favour government-to-government deals to avoid having to pay steep premiums, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik has told Reuters. Qatar’s force majeure forced Pakistan to make costly spot purchases or find alternative fuels ahead of summer demand. Spot LNG cargoes have surged to $20 to $30 per mmBtu amid the Middle East conflict, Malik says, adding that purchases would depend on whether prices are acceptable to the power sector, including under existing government-to-government arrangements with Azerbaijan’s Socar. Pakistan has also been routing some crude supplies via Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea port of Yanbu to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, with Malik saying insurance costs on that route were lower than routes crossing or near Hormuz. Pakistan imports nearly all of its oil, much of it via the Strait of Hormuz, and remains exposed to supply shocks despite cutting its LNG re... -
Dawn - 17:43 Apr 15, 2026
President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday directed that all possible efforts be made to minimise loadshedding across the country, according to a statement issued by the President’s Secretariat. He issued the directive while chairing a meeting on water resource management at Aiwan-i-Sadr, the statement said, adding that the president also addressed the issue of energy shortfalls linked to the regional situation. President Zardari “stressed that any load management should be carried out strictly in a transparent and declared manner, in line with prior public announcements, so that citizens are fully informed and disruption is reduced”, the statement added. The president’s directive came a day after the government announced more than two hours of daily loadshedding during peak hours in a bid to prevent a sharp increase in electricity tariffs. The move is linked to the suspension of liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports following the force majeure declared by Qatar due to attacks on its gas field amid the US-Israel w... -
Dawn - 17:25 Apr 15, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued on Wednesday the schedule for the delimitation of union councils in Punjab, taking a significant step towards holding long-delayed local government elections in the province. Delimitation is the legal prerequisite for holding local government polls. Once the final list of constituencies is published, the ECP will be in a position to announce the election schedule for Punjab’s local bodies. The ECP laid out a seven-step timeline to complete the delimitation exercise by August 10 in a notification issued under Article 222(b) of the Constitution and relevant sections of the Elections Act 2017, Punjab Local Government Act 2025, and Delimitation Rules 2026. According to the schedule, all administrative arrangements for the delimitation of union councils are to be completed by April 16. The preliminary list of constituencies is to be prepared from April 20 to May 21, and it will be published on May 25. Objections over delimitation can be filed from May 26 ... -
Dawn - 15:40 Apr 15, 2026
A teenager opened fire at a Turkish school on Wednesday, killing nine people and wounding 13, with students jumping from windows to escape the second school shooting in the country in as many days, officials said. Wednesday’s attack unfolded in the Kahramanmaras province in the south of the country, where such mass shootings are usually rare. “We regret to report nine deaths (…) and 13 wounded. Six of them are currently in intensive care, three of whom are in critical condition,” Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci said in a statement, upping the previous toll of four dead and 20 wounded. “A student came to school with guns that we believe belonged to his father in his backpack. He entered two classrooms and opened fire randomly, causing injuries and deaths,” Kahramanmaras province governor Mukerrem Unluer told reporters earlier in the day. The attacker, an eighth-grade student, was the son of a former police officer, Unluer said, adding that the suspect was carrying five guns and seven magazines. He died during... -
Dawn - 15:17 Apr 15, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Projecting Pakistan’s fiscal deficit at around 3.2 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) and a slightly declining primary surplus from 2.5pc, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has advised phasing out fiscally draining fuel subsidies, addressing contingent liabilities and broadening the tax base for credible medium-term sustainability. In its twice-a-year Fiscal Monitor 2026, the IMF projected Pakistan’s revenue to have already peaked with a downward but stable outlook in the medium-term ending 2031. This would thus lower public debt, yet was significantly higher than required under the Fiscal Responsibility and Debt Limitation Act (FRDLA) 2005, the IMF indicated as it anticipated government expenditures to remain stubborn. The Fund projected Pakistan’s fiscal deficit at 3.2pc of GDP during the current fiscal year and next year — down from 5.4pc in FY2025 — and then declining to 3pc and 2.8pc for FY2028 and FY2029, respectively. It forecast the fiscal deficit rising again to 3.6pc in FY20... -
Dawn - 15:16 Apr 15, 2026
K-Electric’s (KE) stated in a disclosure to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Wednesday that Shaheryar Chishti had been appointed as the new chairman of the power utility’s board of directors. “We are pleased to notify you that following the election of directors during the extraordinary general meeting held on April 2, 2026, the board of directors, in its meeting held on April 15, 2026, has appointed Shaheryar Chishty as the chairman of the board,” the disclosure, seen by Dawn, read. It added, “You may please inform the TRE Certificate holders of the exchange accordingly.” According to Chishti’s profile on KE’s website, he has had a long career in investment banking and also served as a board member in various power distribution companies on a pro bono basis. Earlier in March, K-Electric had appointed Syed Taha as its new chief executive officer (CEO), replacing interim head Adeeb Ahmad. Ahmad was appointed as the interim CEO on February 13 after KE’s previous CEO, Moonis Alvi, stepped down, days after ge...
10418 items