Pakistan

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to chair a meeting of the federal cabinet today (Wednesday), with discussions expected to focus on the evolving situation in the Middle East following a reported ceasefire between Iran and the United States.

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has restrained the Capital Development Authority (CDA) from cutting trees along Ataturk Avenue, from Express Chowk to Aga Khan Road, while seeking responses from the civic agency and other parties. Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro passed the order while hearing a petition filed by Ayesha Muzaffar challenging the ongoing tree cutting for a road expansion project. Advocate Mudassar Latif Abbasi appeared on behalf of the petitioner and argued that the CDA was acting in clear violation of a prior court order, issued on January 15, 2026, in Writ Petition No. 153/2026, which restrained the authority from cutting trees in the federal capital. The counsel contended that the authority had adopted an “unsustainable approach” to traffic management by resorting to cutting trees and widening roads. “Opening roads by eliminating green cover is not a solution to traffic issues,” Advocate Abbasi argued, adding that the project involved the removal of more than 55 large trees and dozens ...

Oil prices slid, stocks and bonds surged, while the safe-haven dollar was knocked back on Wednesday, as ​a two-week Middle East ceasefire brought some relief to markets on hopes for a resumption of oil and gas flows through the Strait of Hormuz. The news capped ‌weeks of market volatility and geopolitical upheaval after US and Israeli strikes on Iran at the end of February pushed tensions to the brink, with Tehran effectively choking off the strategic waterway that typically carries about 20 per cent of the world’s energy supplies. US President Donald Trump agreed to the ceasefire less than two hours before his deadline for Iran to reopen the strait or face ​devastating attacks on its civilian infrastructure. Market reaction was swift and dramatic, with US crude futures down around 15pc to $96.31 a barrel, while Brent ​futures also slid 13pc to $94.71 per barrel. S&P 500 futures rose 2.5pc, while European futures leapt more than 5pc. US Treasuries rallied ⁠while futures for German Bunds and French OATs surged...

The Pakistan Stock Exchange witnessed a strong rally at the start of trading on Wednesday, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index soaring by 12,362 points, or 8.

The Ministry of IT and Telecom Pakistan has launched a new training initiative, the Upskilling Training Program (USTP), aimed at developing specialized skills in the semiconductor sector as part of the government’s broader strategy to strengthen Pakistan’s position in the global technology market.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting with Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, Engineer Amir Muqam, to discuss the evolving regional and political situation.

• Excise minister says system restored after being secured • 3,000 bikers applied for Rs2,000 each subsidy; amount transferred to 1,500 individuals via their Sindh Bank accounts • Sharjeel, Chawla announce seizure of half tonne of crystal meth in joint operation at sea KARACHI: Sindh Excise Minister Mukesh Kumar Chawla said on Tuesday that the online fuel subsidy system for motorcyclists was “temporarily shut down due to repeated hacking attempts”. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah had on Monday launched a portal for registered motorcyclists to avail a Rs2,000 each fuel subsidy by entering their computerised national identity card (CNIC) and bank account details at (taxportal.excise.gos.pk) after which they receive an automated confirmation. However, thousands of motorcyclists, who had tried to log onto the portal for hours, complained that they could not get themselves registered because it was not available for hours. On Tuesday, responding to questions regarding motorcycle registration under the Peoples ...

Islamabad - Pakistan and Turkiye have underscored the importance of further strengthening military cooperation between the two countries, with a particular focus on training and joint military exercises.

• Orders fast-tracking of Battery Energy Storage System project • Says demand for Pakistani products rising in Gulf markets • In a meeting with top Turkish judge Kadir Ozkaya, premier highlights growing judicial cooperation with Ankara ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday said that no electricity crisis had occurred and no disruption to the country’s exports had been witnessed despite disruptions in oil supply due to the Gulf war. “Despite disruptions in oil supply caused by regional tensions, no electricity crisis has emerged in the country owing to a significant share of renewable energy in electricity generation,” the prime minister said while presiding over a meeting on long-term energy planning and export strategy amid the current international situation. He also directed authorities to expedite work on the Battery Energy Storage System project. “Solar energy and other renewable energy sources are the future of the power sector,” he said, directing the formulation of a comprehensive nation...

• Families say victims hailed from Gujrat, Gujranwala regions; one survives • Over 80 migrants went missing after boat carrying 120 people sank in Mediterranean GUJRAT: After a boat carrying more than 100 migrants capsized off the coast of Italy on Sunday, at least 20 Pakistani nationals, hailing from Gujranwala and Gujrat regions, were said to be among dozens of victims who were lost at sea. According to the UN’s Int­er­national Organisation for Mig­ration, more than 80 migrants had gone missing when their boat capsized in the Central Mediterranean after departing from Tajoura Libya, with around 120 people onboard. 32 people were rescued and two bodies were found. Local sources said that at least 20 of the missing Pakistanis had been from Gujranwala, Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad and Sialkot districts. At least six victims were from the Phalia tehsil of Mandi Bahauddin. About 11 people hailed from the Pindi Bhattian and Hafizabad tehsils of Hafizabad district, and one each from Gujranwala’s Noshehran Virkan and...

ISLAMABAD: In the first batch, Rs1.2 billion has been disbursed digitally to over 32,000 beneficiaries, including operators of buses, trucks, long-haul vehicles, and delivery vans under the PM Fuel Package 2026. The disbursement has been made through easypaisa digital bank, enabling fast, secure, and transparent transfer of financial assistance to millions of eligible citizens nationwide. Easypaisa is the first digital wallet to facilitate transfers to truck operators, and it will soon cover tank lorries, buses, and motorcycles. The initiative aims to provide relief amid rising fuel costs. Through the mobile wallet ecosystem, easypaisa enables real-time transfers directly to beneficiaries, enhancing financial inclusion and reducing dependency on traditional cash-based systems. “We are honored to partner with the Government of Pakistan in delivering timely financial relief to citizens,” said Jahanzeb Khan, President and Chief Executive Officer of easypaisa digital bank, in a statement. Meanwhile, Shaza Fatima,...

Pakistan on Wednesday announced that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, had agreed to an immediate ceasefire, including in Lebanon, effective immediately, and invited their delegations to Islamabad on April 10 for talks aimed at reaching a lasting settlement of disputes. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the ceasefire in an early-morning post on X, welcoming the move and extending his “deepest gratitude” to the leadership of both countries. Both sides have displayed “remarkable wisdom and understanding” and remained constructively engaged in furthering the cause of peace and stability, the prime minister said, expressing hope that the ‘Islamabad Talks’ would succeed in achieving sustainable peace and that more positive developments would follow in the coming days. The prime minister, who helped mediate the ceasefire, also invited delegations from both countries to Islamabad on April 10 to “hold further negotiations towards a conclusive agreement to se...

ISLAMABAD: A Senate committee on Tu­­esday directed the Ministry of Defence to conduct an impartial third-party inquiry into the alleged misconduct of Pakistan Interna­tional Airlines (PIA) cabin crew with a parliamentarian. The directive stems from a privilege motion moved by Senator Bilal Ahmad Khan Mandokhail on February 12, 2026, regarding alleged misconduct by Ms Saima Rana, a cabin crew member on PIA flight PK-326 from Quetta to Islamabad on February 7. The committee recalled that its recommendations issued on February 17, 2026, had called for grounding both the cabin crew member and the pilot involved. However, it observed that PIA failed to implement these directives. Senator Mandokhail expressed disappointment over the airline’s non-compliance, stating that the crew continued performing duties despite clear instructions. Incident occurred on flight PK-326 on February 7 The directives were issued during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges at Parliament House...

Pakistan on Tuesday condemned Iranian missile and drone strikes on Saudi Arabia’s energy facilities, terming the attacks as “a dangerous escalation” that undermined regional peace and stability. In a statement, the Foreign Office (FO) said, “The government of Pakistan expresses its deep concern and unequivocal condemnation of the missile and drone attacks carried out by the Islamic Republic of Iran last night against energy facilities in the Eastern Region of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.” The statement said that Pakistan also mourned the loss of life resulting from these attacks and “strongly deplores the damage inflicted on vital infrastructure”. The statement also conveyed Pakistan’s condolences to the families of the victims, adding that the country firmly stood in solidarity with the government and people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during this difficult time. “The government of Pakistan considers these attacks a serious violation of Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and a dangerous ...

Democrats lawmakers in the US House of Representatives called on Republicans on Tuesday “to put patriotic duty over party loyalty and stop what they called “madness” after President Donald Trump, in his latest threat to Iran, warned of decimating an entire civilisation. Trump has given Iran until 8pm ET on April 8 in Washington — 3:30am in Tehran — to end its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and enter a deal with Washington or see the US destroy every bridge ‌and power plant in Iran. Earlier in the day, Trump renewed his threat, stating in a Truth Social post: “A whole ​civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will.” In a joint statement, the House Democrats said that Trump’s threat that he will destroy “a whole civilisation” in Iran required a “decisive Congressional response”. “Donald Trump is completely unhinged. His statement, threatening to eradicate an entire civilisation, shocks the conscience and requires a decisive congressional respo...

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar expressed regret on Tuesday that an attack by Israel on Iran set out events that “severely damaged the peace process” at a time when Washington and Tehran were close to coming to the table. His statement in the Senate came ahead of an 8pm ET deadline for April 8 that US President Donald Trump has given to Iran to enter a ceasefire agreement with Washington. Trump has warned of wider bombing on power plants and other critical infrastructure otherwise. Pakistan has positioned itself as a facilitator in the peace process between the two sides, leveraging its ties with the US and its working relationship with Iran. Addressing the Senate, Dar said Pakistan had been playing a proactive diplomatic role to reduce tensions, but recent developments had dealt a severe blow to peace efforts. “Just as both parties were close to sitting at the negotiating table, Israel attacked Iran, which led Iran to target oil installations in Saudi Arabia’s Jubail city. Thi...

WASHINGTON: Russia and China on Tuesday vetoed a draft resolution at the United Nations Security Council for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while Pakistan abstained. The draft resolution prepared by Bahrain, which underwent six revisions during negotiations to bridge differences among council members, received 11 votes in favour, two against and two abstentions. Bahrain, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, France, Greece, Latvia, Liberia, Panama, Somalia, the United Kingdom and the United States voted in favour of the resolution. Russia and China voted against the measure, exercising their veto power as permanent members of the 15-nation UNSC, thereby blocking its adoption despite majority support. Pakistan and Colombia were the two countries that abstained from voting. Drafted by Bahrain in coordination with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and Jordan, the resolution strongly urged nations using the commercial route to coordinate defensive measures — including escorting merchant vessels — to...

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan on Tuesday strongly condemned the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque (Al-Haram Al-Sharif) by Israeli occupation forces.

ISLAMABAD - Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Tuesday told the National Assembly that all four provincial chief ministers have official aircraft, dismissing claims that Punjab’s Chief Minister is being singled out.

ISLAMABAD - Welcoming the suggestions by the opposition in the current critical scenario, Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb on Tuesday informed the National Assembly the economic impact of Middle East unrest could continue for further weeks.