Pakistan

An anti-terrorism court on Monday extended Bushra Bibi’s interim bail in 29 cases related to the November 26 protest until May 18.

ISLAMABAD: World military expenditure reached $2,887 billion in 2025, an increase of 2.9 per cent in real terms over 2024, according to new data published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) on Monday. Military spending declined in the United States but rose by 14pc in Europe and by 8.1pc in Asia and Oceania. The top three military spenders — the USA, China and Russia — spent a combined total of $1,480bn, or 51pc of the global total. Spending in Middle East stable despite ongoing conflicts and regional rivalries Military expenditure in the Middle East reached an estimated $218bn in 2025, just 0.1pc higher than in 2024. Besides Israel, most other major spenders in the region for which data is available increased their spending. Israel’s military expenditure decreased by 4.9pc to $48.3bn, reflecting a reduction in the intensity of the Gaza conflict during 2025 following the ceasefire agreement with Hamas. Israel’s spending remained 97pc higher than in 2022. Military spending by Turki...

The conflict in the Middle East has disrupted supplies of crucial raw materials and pushed up prices of the printed circuit boards (PCB) used in almost all electronic devices, from smartphones and computers to AI servers, industry sources and executives said. The disruption is a fresh blow to electronics manufacturers which are already grappling with soaring memory chip costs and highlights the broadening impact of the Iran war that has wreaked havoc on supply chains, plastics, and oil supplies. Iran struck Saudi Arabia’s Jubail petrochemical complex in early April, forcing a halt in production of high-purity polyphenylene ether (PPE) resin a critical base material used to manufacture PCB laminates. SABIC, which accounts for approximately 70 per cent of the world’s high-purity PPE supply and operates in the Jubail complex on the Gulf coast, has been unable to resume output, severely tightening the availability of the material worldwide, according to one source. Shipping in and out of the Gulf has also been se...

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: A fire broke out in a cargo truck at Maahra in Dera Ismail Khan district on the Indus Highway, prompting authorities to shut the road and causing long queues of vehicles on both sides. According to rescue sources, the incident occurred near Dhora Solahn Adda in the district’s Paroa tehsil, where a trailer loaded with cloth suddenly caught fire, and the blaze intensified within moments. Thick plumes of smoke spread across the area, creating panic among commuters and nearby residents. Officials said traffic on the highway remained fully suspended due to the fire, while rescue teams reached the site and launched efforts to extinguish the flames. Rescue authorities confirmed that no loss of life had been reported so far, though significant financial losses were feared. Commuters have been advised to use alternate routes and avoid the affected area until the situation is brought under control. Accidents are common on highways and motorways across Pakistan, caused by reckless driving, speeding, dr...

US President Donald Trump on Sunday lauded Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Asim Munir for their efforts in facilitating dialogue between Washington and Tehran.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has said that temperatures will stay much higher than normal in many parts of the country.

HYDERABAD: In the wake of a recent visit to the Liaquat University Hospital by Commissioner Fayyaz Abbasi and Deputy Commissioner Zain Ul Abiden Memon, the provincial health secretary has been informed that no fewer than 45 machineries and equipment are lying dysfunctional at the institution — Sindh’s second largest tertiary care hospital. A report submitted to the health secretary on April 17 highlighted the deficiencies that have been impacting the ‘economically disadvantaged’ patients coming to the hospital from across the district and many other parts of the interior of Sindh. “The report has been submitted with the approval of the divisional commissioner,” said an administrative source. The report clearly mentions that 45 machines, in all, are lying dysfunctional. They included three MRI, four CT Scan, six digital X-ray, 10 ultrasound and 17 anesthesia machines. Each MRI machines involves a repair cost of Rs30m that would cumulatively take the cost to Rs90m, if the report’s figures are anything to go by....

US President Donald Trump reiterated on Sunday that talks with Iran would be held remotely and commended Pakistan, which has been playing a mediatory role between Washington and Tehran, saying that Islamabad would “stay involved” in the process. The US president’s remarks came during a phone interview with Fox News, where he said: “If they (Iran) want to talk, they can come to us, or they can call us; you know, there is a telephone … If they want they can talk, but we are not sending people to travel 18 hours to meet.” His remarks come a day after he called off a planned visit of US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner to travel to Islamabad for a second round of talks with Iran. The first round of historic direct US-Iran talks was held in Islamabad on April 11 and 12, following a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire on April 8. It had ended without an agreement, but also without a breakdown. Acknowledging Pakistan’s role in the process, Trump said, “Great respect for Pakistan because they have been t...

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was to head to Moscow on Sunday after a short stay in Pakistan, where he landed for a second time in two days following a trip to Oman as part of his tri-nation tour, a diplomatic source told Dawn. He is undertaking the trip against the backdrop of ongoing diplomatic efforts, notably by Pakistan, to bring Tehran and Washington to the table to talks aimed at ending the conflict that began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. The source said Araghchi arrived at the Nur Khan air base in Rawalpindi after completing a day-long visit to Oman, adding that he would meet with senior Pakistani officials during his short stay in Islamabad. The Iranian foreign minister would then depart for Moscow, the source added. In a late-night post on X, Iranian envoy to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam confirmed the end of Araghchi’s second trip to Pakistan. “At the end of this round of the visit of the Iranian delegation, Abbas Araghchi, the minister of foreign affairs, to Pakistan … ...

RAWALPINDI: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Sunday that traffic restrictions around Islamabad’s Red Zone and Serena Hotel, which was expected to be the venue for the now cancelled US-Iran talks, had been lifted. “Traffic restrictions around the Serena Hotel and the Red Zone in Islamabad have been lifted today. I extend my heartfelt thanks to the people of Pakistan — especially the residents of Islamabad and Rawalpindi — for their patience and cooperation. “Your support enables us to ensure the safety of our guests and to continue our efforts for peace in the region. We remain committed to these goals and are grateful for, and in need of, your prayers and wishes,” Dar posted on X. The restrictions were placed on April 19, with Red Zone being closed to the public as the federal capital braced to welcome foreign delegations for expected talks between the US and Iran. Entry of heavy transport had also been suspended in Islamabad, but authorities later relaxed the restriction for vehic...

ISLAMABAD - Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar late night yesterday announced that traffic restrictions imposed around the Serena Hotel and the Red Zone in Islamabad have been lifted.

Lahore - Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Sunday announced the establishment of a 50-acre Punjab Film City in Nawaz Sharif IT City, aimed at revitalising Pakistan’s film and media industry.

LAHORE - Acting President Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Sunday that Pakistan was playing a responsible and proactive role in promoting peace, reconciliation and dialogue at both the regional and international levels.

ISLAMABAD - Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Ambassador Reza Amiri Moghadam has expressed his sincere and wholehearted gratitude and appreciation to the government, army and people of Pakistan, especially, Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, for their tireless efforts and good office.

FAISALABAD - Adviser to Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs Senator Rana Sanaullah Khan said that a well-planned and integrated road infrastructure was imperative for sustainable development while the politics based on hatred, division and abusive rhetoric had always ended in failure.

ISLAMABAD - The International Monetary Fund has scheduled a meeting of its Executive Board on May 8 to consider the approval of more than $1.

Top court stresses fair process, sets aside PHE inquiry over procedural flaws.

Islamabad - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed profound shock after a shooting incident at a high-profile event in Washington, where a gunman opened fire but was swiftly apprehended, and all senior officials were safely evacuated.

Backchannel contacts remain active Iranian FM lands back in Pakistan, meets DPM Dar, CDF Asim Munir Aragchi discusses Omanese proposals with CDF Munir, DPM Dar on joint control of Strait of Hormuz with Oman Iranian FM to discuss enriched uranium issue with Russian leadership today.

President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday expressed Pakistan’s interest in closer collaboration in seed technology, agricultural research and modern farming practices with China as he met the secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in Hunan. The president arrived in China on Saturday for a week-long visit to the Hunan and Hainan provinces for engagements related to economic and trade cooperation. He will remain in Hunan’s Changsha city until Monday, and then travel to Hainan’s Sanya from April 28 to May 1. A press release issued by the President’s Secretariat said Zardari held a meeting with CCP Secretary Shen Xiaoming and also attended a banquet by Hunan Governor Mao Weiming. “The engagement [with Xiaoming] focused on advancing practical cooperation in agriculture, health, education and trade, while reaffirming the enduring strength of Pakistan-China relations,” it stated. President Zardari invited Xiaoming to visit Pakistan in connection with the 75th anniversary celebrations of diplomatic relations betwe...