Dawn
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Dawn - 14:07 Apr 02, 2026
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday reminded his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh that the “illusion of space for war between two nuclear states is inconceivable and has drastic consequences”. The reprimand was ostensibly in reaction to Singh’s recent statement, in which he warned Pakistan against any attempting “misadventure” under the shadow of the ongoing Middle East war, as reported by Indian media. A post on X, in which Asif did not specifically refer to the statement but tagged Singh, said: “Repeated rhetoric reflects not strength, but visible strategic anxiety as the anniversary of the staged false flag operation in Pahalgam approaches — an episode that failed to withstand international scrutiny and exposed New Delhi’s reliance on manufactured crises. “Such threat-mongering is not new; it is part of a predictable pattern — externalising internal fragility, and attempting to provoke escalation under the garb of unsubstantiated allegations for vested political interests,” he said. The Pahalgam epis... -
Dawn - 13:00 Apr 02, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said the Centre and provinces need to set their priorities and make collective efforts to provide relief to the needy amid the global oil crisis triggered by the US-Israeli war on Iran. He made the remarks while addressing a high-level meeting, attended by Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, the chief ministers from all four provinces and federal ministers. The premier said that the Centre and provinces should utilise their resources sagaciously and curtail their development projects as much as possible while also utilising their resources on agricultural-related initiatives. “We have to spend this money on public goods and transport. Now we have to set our priorities jointly,” he added. He also highlighted the government’s initiatives to protect the economy and the common man from the adverse impact of the global oil crisis. In his remarks, PM Shehbaz also said that like other countries across the world, Pakistan was “being severely affected ... -
Dawn - 12:34 Apr 02, 2026
Indian police this week seized 414 cooking‑gas canisters hidden in a graveyard in Hyderabad city and arrested those involved in trying to sell them on the black market amid shortages due to the US-Israeli war on Iran, a government official said on Thursday. Authorities have stepped up raids to curb hoarding of liquefied petroleum gas canisters after the US-Israeli war against Iran disrupted shipping, causing supply shortages. India, the world’s number two Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) importer, meets about 60 per cent of its demand through overseas purchases, mostly from the Middle East. “Just yesterday, around 2,600 raids were carried out and about 700 cylinders were seized,” Sujata Sharma, a senior official in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, told a regular briefing on the Middle East crisis. “In addition, around 400 cylinders were recently found at one location inside a graveyard in Hyderabad. Ten people have been detained there, and the distributor involved has been suspended,” she said.... -
Dawn - 11:29 Apr 02, 2026
The Pakistan Stock Exchange’s (PSX) benchmark KSE-100 index sank by 3,500 points on Thursday, after a press conference by United States President Donald Trump dampened investor hopes of a quick end to the war on Iran. The KSE-100 index dropped by 4,073.85 points, or 2.62 per cent, to stand at 151,505.26 points as of around 12:15pm, in a change of course from the bullish momentum it had sustained over the past two days. It closed at 152,011.26 points, down 3,500.30 points or 2.25pc, from the previous close of 155,511.56. Topline Securities said that the local bourse remained under pressure, “tracking the negative momentum in global markets” after remarks by Trump on the ongoing war on Iran dented investor sentiment. “Escalating geopolitical tensions, coupled with a surge in oil prices, kept market participants on the back foot, reinforcing a cautious stance throughout the session,” it said. “Selling pressure prevailed across the board, dragging the index to an intraday low of 5,489 points. The market eventuall... -
Dawn - 11:08 Apr 02, 2026
Eight Muslim-majority countries, including Pakistan, on Thursday strongly condemned Israel’s move to pass a law making death by hanging a default sentence for Palestinians convicted in military courts of deadly attacks. The joint statement, shared by the Foreign Office, was released by the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Turkiye, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The statement said that the countries “strongly condemned the Israeli occupying power’s enactment of a law in its Parliament (Knesset), that allows the imposition of the death penalty in the occupied West Bank and its de facto application against Palestinians”. They warned against the “increasingly discriminatory, escalating Israeli practices that entrench a system of apartheid and a rejectionist discourse that denies the inalienable rights and the very existence of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory”. “The ministers underscored that this legislation constitutes a dangerous escalation... -
Dawn - 11:00 Apr 02, 2026
The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday restrained the anti-terrorism court (ATC) from framing charges against veteran journalist Matiullah Jan, and directed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to expeditiously decide on the challenge to the terrorism charges invoked against him. Headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, a three-judge SC bench took up a plea by the journalist seeking to set aside the IHC’s Feb 23, 2026, order denying ad-interim relief to stay his criminal trial. During the hearing, the prosecution did not object to the issuance of directions to the high court, while the apex court observed that it would not go into the merits of the case at this stage so as not to prejudice it in favour of either party. Barrister Qadeer Janjua represented Jan in the case, in which the journalist raised questions about the trial court’s jurisdiction and the applicability of terrorism charges against him. Filed under Article 185(3) of the Constitution, the petition challenged the Feb 23 IHC order, which, while issuing notic... -
Dawn - 09:47 Apr 02, 2026
Every year on World Autism Awareness Day, morning television shows and programmes are awash with families of autistic children pouring out their lived realities — the exhausting therapy schedules, the struggle to find inclusive schools, the financial strain of specialised care, and the quiet isolation that often follows. Their testimonies lay bare a system that offers sympathy but little structural support. Even with the surge in visibility, awareness fades as the cameras move on, and families are left navigating the same gaps in services, affordability, and inclusion, with no meaningful progress in sight. A recent episode brought this gap into sharp focus. A furore erupted on social media after users commiserated with Asma Afaq, the mother of a nine-year-old autistic child, Zaviyar, who was reportedly denied entry into a play area at Karachi’s Dolmen Mall. Despite her reassurance that she would personally supervise her child to ensure the safety of others, Zaviyar was refused access to Sindbad’s Wonderland. ... -
Dawn - 08:26 Apr 02, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The government is preparing a new power tariff structure to encourage industrial consumers to maximise their operations during the daytime and minimise them during peak consumption hours in the evening. Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmed Leghari discussed the concept with World Bank Country Director Bolormaa Amgaabazar on Thursday. The minister said that electricity consumption in Pakistan has been steadily increasing, reflecting the success of the government’s policies. He further said that the government is aiming to make electricity tariffs competitive so that key economic sectors can benefit. He informed the World Bank country director that the Power Division, after assessing concessional tariffs, is currently working on Time of Use (ToU) proposals to further enhance the country’s energy competitiveness. Leghari noted that the aim is to leverage Pakistan’s solar potential while providing concessional tariffs to industries. He added that the Power Division is currently consulting all ... -
Dawn - 06:59 Apr 02, 2026
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump signalled that the ongoing US-Israeli military campaign against Iran could conclude within weeks, even as he warned of intensified strikes and issued sweeping claims about the scale of damage inflicted on Tehran. In a 19-minute prime-time address from the White House, Trump described the conflict as a “decisive, overwhelming victory” and said the United States was “getting very close” to finishing the “job” in Iran. “We are going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks. We are going to bring them back to the Stone Age, where they belong,” Trump said during the address from the White House. “In the meantime, discussions are ongoing.” While suggesting that the war may soon end, the president made clear that military operations would intensify before any resolution. He did not define the terms of the “deal” he is demanding from Tehran, nor did he outline a diplomatic framework. Trump claimed Iran’s military capacity had been severely degraded. He said its mi... -
Dawn - 06:59 Apr 02, 2026
Security forces have killed eight terrorists while responding to their movement along the Pak-Afghan border in North Waziristan district, the military’s media affairs wing said on Thursday. In a press release, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the engagement took place on Wednesday after the “movement of a group of khwarij” was picked up by the security forces. “As a result of precise and skilful engagement, eight khwarij belonging to Indian proxy Fitna al Khwarij were sent to hell,” the ISPR said, adding that weapons and ammunition were also recovered from them. Fitna al Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). “Sanitisation operations are ongoing to eliminate any other Indian-sponsored khawarij in the area”, the military said. “The engagement once again substantiates our repeated stance regarding abject failure of Afghan Taliban regime to ensure effective border management on their side of the border,” the ISPR pointed out. “[Th... -
Dawn - 06:53 Apr 02, 2026
WASHINGTON: Democrats sharply criticised United States President Donald Trump following his national address on the ongoing war in Iran, framing the conflict as deadly, costly, and lacking clear objectives. In a 19-minute prime-time address from the White House, Trump described the conflict as a “decisive, overwhelming victory” and said the US was “getting very close” to finishing the “job” in Iran. “We are going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks. We are going to bring them back to the Stone Age, where they belong,” Trump said. “In the meantime, discussions are ongoing.” Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Ken Martin said Trump’s address was a failed attempt to justify a war that has already burdened Americans and strained the economy. “Tonight, Americans watched Donald Trump desperately try to justify his deadly and costly war of choice in Iran that has killed over a dozen brave service members and injured hundreds more,” Martin said. “Trump offered no new information to the A... -
Dawn - 05:19 Apr 02, 2026
Four astronauts blasted off from Florida on Wednesday on Nasa’s Artemis II mission, a high-stakes voyage around the moon that marks the United States’ boldest step yet toward returning humans to the lunar surface later this decade in a race with China. Nasa’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, topped with its Orion crew capsule, roared to life just before sunset at the agency’s Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida, carrying its debut crew — three US astronauts and a Canadian astronaut — into Earth orbit. The 32-story-tall space vehicle thundered into clear skies, trailing a towering column of thick, white vapour. Nasa Administrator Jared Isaacman said the launch was an opening act for subsequent missions that would include construction of a moon base to support the “enduring presence we’re trying to create on the surface”. If the mission proceeds as planned, the crew consisting of Nasa astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, plus Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, will... -
Dawn - 04:19 Apr 02, 2026
A view of the charred Gul Plaza structure.—Fahim Siddiqi /White Star KARACHI: Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday ordered the authorities to demolish the fire-hit structure of Gul Plaza to pave the way for its reconstruction. The CM asked the director general of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) to submit a detailed plan for the reconstruction of the building, where a devastating fire killed dozens on Jan 17. He issued these directives while chairing a meeting to review the progress of compensation disbursement to victims’ families and the provision of financial assistance to traders affected by the tragic fire. According to a press statement, the CM told SBCA chief Muzammil Halepoto that he wanted work on the plaza to start at the earliest. CM asks SBCA chief to submit reconstruction plan; reviews compensation disbursement to victims’ heirs, traders He also instructed the Karachi commissioner to inform the judicial commission investigating the fire incident before beginning the demoliti... -
Dawn - 02:34 Apr 02, 2026
LONDON: Britain will this week hold a meeting of about 35 countries to discuss how to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz which has been crippled by the Middle East war, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Wednesday. British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will host the discussions, Starmer told reporters during a Downing Street press conference, without specifying the day of the talks. The meeting will “assess all viable diplomatic and political measures that we can take to restore freedom of navigation, guarantee the safety of trapped ships and seafarers and resume the movement of vital commodities”, Starmer said. “Following that meeting, we will also convene our military planners to look at how we can marshal our capabilities and make the strait accessible and safe after the fighting has stopped,” he added. Starmer says Britain must focus on closer ties with Europe to undo some ‘deep damage’ done by Brexit The discussions will include countries which recently signed a statement saying they were read... -
Dawn - 02:02 Apr 02, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal said on Wednesday Pakistan will surpass Indonesia in population growth within the next five years. “Pakistan is currently the fifth most populous country in the world, and at the current growth rate, it is projected to surpass Indonesia in next five years. The rapidly increasing population has become a serious national challenge, placing immense pressure on healthcare, education, infrastructure, and employment sectors,” the minister said while chairing a meeting to review the growing population challenge and its implications for the country’s health system and national resources. He said the country’s population is increasing by around 6.2 million people annually, which exceeds the total population of some countries such as New Zealand. He noted that unchecked population growth was straining national infrastructure and undermining effective planning. “If we fail to control population growth, our vision for sustainable development will remain unach... -
Dawn - 02:01 Apr 02, 2026
• Over 30 districts face flood-like situation as severe weather persists • Lightning kills 12-year-old girl; flash floods damage infrastructure, cause widespread communication disruptions • Rescuers save 15 from stranded van; major highways cut off • Authorities ban travel; Met Office warns of severe flooding through April 3 QUETTA: A fresh spell of heavy, intermittent rain accompanied by strong winds, thunder and hail has pummelled more than 30 districts across Balochistan over the past 24 hours, triggering flash floods that have caused widespread disruption, infrastructure damage and at least one fatality. Widespread heavy rainfall was reported on Wednesday in Quetta, Khuzdar, Kalat, Surab, Lasbela, Hub, Kech, Gwadar, Qila Saifullah, Qila Abdullah, Zhob, Harnai, Loralai, Kohlu, Awaran, Kharan, Mastung, Sherani, Ziarat and other areas, creating flood-like conditions in many localities. Low-lying areas have been submerged, flash floods have damaged embankments, and residents are facing severe hardships... -
Dawn - 20:39 Apr 01, 2026
Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian has released an open letter, addressing the American people, calling on them to question the motives of the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran. Below is the full text of his letter. “In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful “To the people of the United States of America, and to all those who, amid a flood of distortions and manufactured narratives, continue to seek the truth and aspire to a better life: “Iran — by this very name, character, and identity — is one of the oldest continuous civilisations in human history. Despite its historical and geographical advantages at various times, Iran has never, in its modern history, chosen the path of aggression, expansion, colonialism, or domination. Even after enduring occupation, invasion, and sustained pressure from global powers — and despite possessing military superiority over many of its neighbours — Iran has never initiated a war. Yet it has resolutely and bravely repelled those who have attacked it. “The Iranian people... -
Dawn - 19:06 Apr 01, 2026
With President Donald Trump present, US Supreme Court justices signalled skepticism on Wednesday toward the legality of his directive to restrict birthright citizenship in the US, part of his hardline immigration approach that would upend the long-held understanding of a key constitutional provision. In his historic visit to the top US judicial body, Trump, wearing a red tie and dark suit, sat in the front row of the public gallery of the ornate courtroom after arriving by motorcade from the White House. The Republican president then left midway through the proceedings, not long after the Justice Department lawyer arguing for his administration completed his presentation. Most of the nine justices, conservatives and liberals alike, grilled the lawyer with questions about the legal validity of Trump’s executive order and its practical implications. The court has a 6-3 conservative majority. The justices heard more than two hours of arguments in the administration’s appeal of a lower court’s decision that block... -
Dawn - 18:46 Apr 01, 2026
ISLAMABAD: PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, along with other leaders from his party, called on Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman at his residence in Islamabad on Wednesday, with statements by both parties saying that political matters were discussed during the meeting. Bilawal was accompanied by PPP leaders Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Nayyar Bukhari and Chaudhry Yasin while JUI-F’s Asad Mehmood was also present on the occasion. A source privy to the matter told Dawn the meeting focused primarily on political matters and elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Both sides agreed to continue consultations on the matter, the source added. The meeting took place three days after the AJK Election Commission announced on Sunday that the schedule for the upcoming Legislative Assembly elections was expected to be announced in May. Meanwhile, elections in GB are also expected to be held later this year after the GB chief election commissioner announced in December last year that... -
Dawn - 17:57 Apr 01, 2026
Officials from Pakistan, Afghanistan and China met on Wednesday in the Chinese city of Urumqi under the trilateral mechanism. Since Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq against terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan on February 26, diplomatic contact between the two sides had largely ceased. A senior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), who asked not to be named due to the sensitive nature of negotiations, told Dawn that the meeting was not a “mediation effort per se”. The meeting was focused on sharing perspectives on the latest escalation. No major outcomes were expected, though it was believed that China was pushing for confidence-building measures, such as reopening trade routes. Evolving regional situation and balancing security concerns with economic priorities were also a part of the discussion. Diplomatic sources said Pakistan’s agenda included reiterating its concerns over the presence of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) sanctuaries inside Afghanistan. Afghan Taliban representatives...
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