Dawn
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Found 10732 news
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Dawn - 09:39 Mar 26, 2026
Work on legal reforms within the housing sector is in “full swing”, including developing an ecosystem for mortgage finance in the country, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was told on Thursday. On March 18, PM Shehbaz urged authorities to prioritise making housing finance accessible to ordinary citizens during a meeting, emphasising the provision of homes for low-income groups and promoting affordable housing projects. During the meeting, discussions were also held on draft reforms concerning housing mortgages. In a meeting called to review measures to promote the housing sector, the premier was briefed on the progress of implementation of the measures, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement. “On the directions of the prime minister, special measures are being taken for investment in the construction and housing sector by foreign investors and overseas Pakistanis,” the meeting was told. The measures aim to increase housing projects, promote economic activities and create employment opportunities in the ... -
Dawn - 08:46 Mar 26, 2026
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Wednesday he has given the military permission to board and detain Russian ships his government alleges are part of a network of vessels that enables Moscow to export oil despite Western sanctions. The decision comes as other European nations have stepped up efforts to disrupt Russia’s so-called shadow fleet of tankers used by Moscow to fund its four-year war against Ukraine. Starmer said he approved more aggressive action against the vessels because Russian President Vladimir Putin was likely “rubbing his hands” at the sharp rise in oil prices driven by the US-Israel war against Iran. “That’s why we’re going after his shadow fleet even harder, not just keeping Britain safe but starving Putin’s war machine of the dirty profits that fund his barbaric campaign in Ukraine,” Starmer said in a statement. Downing Street said British military and law enforcement officials have been preparing to board Russian vessels that do not surrender, are armed, or use high-tech pervas... -
Dawn - 08:44 Mar 26, 2026
Social media platform X (formerly Twitter) was back up after facing a brief international outage on Thursday afternoon, according to internet monitors. Shortly after 12pm, NetBlocks reported that X was “experiencing international outages”, adding that the incident was “not related to country-level internet disruptions or filtering”. Downdetector, which monitors internet outages in real time, showed a sharp spike in problems reported by Pakistani users soon after 12pm. Half of those issues pertained to the X timeline, with most of the rest complaining about the app. By around 12:45pm, the user reports had declined significantly for Pakistan to two from a peak of 189. Problems reported by X users across Pakistan, as of around 1:15pm on March 26,, 2026. — screengrab via Downdetector Similarly, for the United States, complaints had fallen to below 200 compared to nearly 31,700 received a short while earlier. Problems reported by X users across US, as of around 1:15pm on March 26,, 2026. — screengrab via Downdetec... -
Dawn - 06:45 Mar 26, 2026
Israel launched strikes across Iran on Thursday, hours after US President Donald Trump said Tehran wanted a deal to end the nearly four-week war despite its top diplomat rejecting any talks with Washington. The conflict has mushroomed to draw in nations around the Middle East, sending energy markets into a tailspin and threatening to torpedo the global economy. Iran, under near-daily bombardment since a joint US-Israeli attack started the war on February 28, was hit early on Thursday by what the Israeli army said was “a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting infrastructure”, including in the central city of Isfahan. In turn, an Iranian missile attack activated sirens across central Israel, including Tel Aviv and parts of Jerusalem, on Thursday morning, according to the Israeli military, the first launches it identified from Iran in more than 14 hours. Trump, whose daily statements have swung wildly from threatening to conciliatory, said talks to end the war were ongoing with Iran, but that officials in Tehran w... -
Dawn - 06:33 Mar 26, 2026
United States President Donald Trump will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in May during his first visit to China in eight years, a closely watched trip postponed due to the ongoing Iran war. Trump’s effort to reschedule the trip reflected the Republican president’s eagerness to project confidence in a challenging Middle East war and simultaneously to manage a tense relationship between the world’s biggest economies. Initially slated to travel next week, Trump will now visit Beijing on May 14 and 15, he said in a Truth Social post on Wednesday. Trump added that he would host Xi for a reciprocal visit in Washington later this year. “Our Representatives are finalising preparations for these Historic Visits,” Trump said. “I look very much forward to spending time with President Xi in what will be, I am sure, a Monumental Event.” China’s embassy said it had no information to provide on the announcement of the visit. Beijing normally does not detail Xi’s schedule more than a few days in advance. The long-schedule... -
Dawn - 02:36 Mar 26, 2026
• Complaint shared with Pakistan’s delegate in Paris highlights demolition, repair work at Mohra Moradu and Sirkap • DOAM official terms use of cement a serious violation of rules • Punjab archaeology dept rejects claims, says it restored ‘at risk’ sections ISLAMABAD: Following restoration work by the Punjab archaeology department at two World Heritage sites in Taxila, which has allegedly compromised their authenticity and integrity, the sites are at risk of being placed on Unesco’s ‘List of World Heritage in Danger’. According to Unesco, this list is designed to inform the international community of conditions which threaten the very characteristics for which a property was inscribed on the World Heritage List, and to encourage corrective action. The caution comes after a third party recently shared information and photos with Pakistan’s Permanent Delegate to Unesco in Paris regarding two such sites in Taxila. The concern highlights how interventions may affect the authenticity and integrity of the Gandhara ... -
Dawn - 02:32 Mar 26, 2026
• Punjab, Sindh expected to revert after internal consultations on whether they have requisite fiscal space • Sharjeel Memon vows to implement any measures introduced by federal govt • Rs27bn released to settle oil industry’s price differential claims after PM decided to ‘hold’ petroleum prices, in spite of global surge ISLAMABAD: The Centre is asking provincial governments to share the additional cost of higher international prices in a bid to avoid a domestic hike in prices of essential petroleum products, sources told Dawn. Insiders say the federal government is reaching out to the provinces, particularly Punjab and Sindh, to shoulder the fiscal burden it had been extending to the people across the country by maintaining petrol and diesel rates. These demands have been extended to the provinces in personal interactions and telephonic contacts by the prime minister himself, as well as other cabinet members, a senior government official said. The official hinted that the two larger provinces are expected to ... -
Dawn - 19:54 Mar 25, 2026
KARACHI: Petroleum dealers announced on Wednesday that they were postponing a strike they planned to begin on March 26, keeping in view the situation resulting from the ongoing Middle East conflict, which has given rise to a global fuel crunch and supply uncertainties. Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) Chairperson Abdul Sami Khan told Dawn that “we have postponed the strike, keeping in view the hardships consumers will face if the war escalates and leads to a supply chain crisis of petroleum products”. He did not give a confirmed date till when the strike was being postponed. Asked if the PPDA would call a strike in the near future, he said, “I cannot confirm right now as the situation is highly volatile.” The association had announced the strike on March 13 and given the government until March 26 to revise the petroleum dealers’ margin from 2.59 per cent to 8pc in the wake of a Rs55 per litre hike in diesel and petrol rates. The decision to raise the prices was announced on March 6 as Pakistan fe... -
Dawn - 19:53 Mar 25, 2026
Iran’s state-owned broadcaster Press TV reported on Wednesday that Tehran had “responded negatively” to an American proposal aimed at ending the US-Israeli war on the country. The report cited a senior political-security official. “The official with knowledge of the details of the proposal, speaking exclusively to Press TV, said Iran will not allow US President Donald Trump to dictate the timing of the war’s end,” the report said. The development came after it emerged that Pakistan had delivered a proposal from the US to Iran, and either Pakistan or Turkiye could be venues for discussions to de-escalate the war in the Gulf. According to the report, the official said, “Iran will end the war when it decides to do so and when its own conditions are met.“ The official also emphasised Tehran’s resolve to continue its defence and inflict “heavy blows” on the enemy until its demands are fulfilled, the publication said. “According to the official, Washington has been pursuing negotiations through various diplomatic c... -
Dawn - 17:55 Mar 25, 2026
Kasim Khan, the son of incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan, raised his father’s case at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Wednesday, saying that the former prime minister’s treatment by authorities was in violation of international human rights conventions. Imran — imprisoned since 2023 for concealing details of Toshakhana gifts — is serving a 14-year sentence at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail in the £190 million corruption case. Meanwhile, his party and family have alleged that he is being kept in solitary confinement — with a restriction on visitors being allowed to meet him in jail — and have repeatedly raised concerns over his medical treatment after it surfaced in January that he suffered an eye ailment. At a UNHRC session, Kasim said Imran’s case was not an “isolated incident”. In fact, he claimed, it was the “most visible example of a much wider pattern of repression in Pakistan since 2022”. In this connection, he mentioned the detention of political prisoners, trial and conviction of civili... -
Dawn - 15:42 Mar 25, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has said that as many as 10 universities have been offering unrecognised postgraduate degrees, directing these institutes to discontinue their programmes. A notification issued by the Council’s registrar, available with Dawn, said, that after a careful review of the record, it was identified that some universities had been offering and awarding postgraduate degrees and diplomas to MBBS and BDS doctors without fulfilling the mandatory requirement of recognition/accreditation under Section 25 of the PMDC Act, 2022. These universities included TIMES University in Multan, NUR International University in Lahore, Gomal University in DI Khan, Sohail University in Karachi, Shah Abdul Latif University in Khairpur, Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology in Rahim Yar Khan, University of Faisalabad, University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Hazara University in Mansehra and Kohat University of Science and Technology. “Any institution seekin... -
Dawn - 14:50 Mar 25, 2026
The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel killed two “most-wanted terrorists” affiliated with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban (TTP) during an intelligence-based operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Tank district on Wednesday, according to a press release issued by the CTD. The press release said CTD personnel conducted the operation within the limits of Gomal police station on the basis of “credible intelligence”. It said that the suspects, upon encountering CTD personnel, opened fire on them. The press release added that the exchange of gunfire continued for around 40 minutes, following which a search operation was launched. During the search operation, the press release stated, two “terrorists were found dead”. It further said that two Kalashnikovs, along with six magazines and cartridges and two bandoliers, were found in the possession of the slain suspects. According to the CTD, the suspects were affiliated with the TTP’s Mushtaq group and had been involved in multiple attacks on police. The press releas... -
Dawn - 14:49 Mar 25, 2026
Pakistan delivered a proposal from the United States to Iran, and either Pakistan or Turkiye could be venues for discussions to de-escalate the war in the Gulf, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Wednesday. The comments, by an official speaking on condition of anonymity, were among the few signs that Tehran was willing to consider diplomatic proposals, despite having denied in public that it would negotiate with the administration of US President Donald Trump. However, later in the day, it emerged that Tehran had “responded negatively” to the US proposal and outlined five conditions under which Tehran would agree to end the ongoing conflict. The Iranian source that spoke to Reuters did not disclose details of the proposal passed on by Pakistan, or whether it was the same as a 15-point US proposal that has been reported by news outlets. The source said “either Turkiye or Pakistan was under consideration as the venue for such talks”. A source familiar with the matter had confirmed on Tuesday to Reuters t... -
Dawn - 14:06 Mar 25, 2026
The BBC named former Google executive Matt Brittin as its new director general on Wednesday, replacing Tim Davie, who quit last year after a misleading edit of a speech by US President Donald Trump. The BBC is facing a $10 billion lawsuit from Trump, who accuses the publicly funded broadcaster of defamation over how it spliced together footage of parts of a speech he gave on January 6, 2021, before his supporters stormed the US Capitol. The broadcaster has argued the lawsuit should be dismissed, saying Trump’s subsequent reelection showed the alleged defamation did not harm his reputation. Brittin joined Google in 2007 as head of UK and Ireland before rising through the ranks to become EMEA president in 2014. He stepped down in 2024 and will take on the new role from May 18. “This is a moment of real risk, yet also real opportunity. The BBC needs the pace and energy to be both where stories are, and where audiences are,” he said in a statement. “To build on the reach, trust and creative strengths today, confr... -
Dawn - 13:48 Mar 25, 2026
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday met with PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and discussed the evolving situation in the Gulf amid the US-Israel war on Iran and matters of national importance. During the meeting, the prime minister informed Bilawal about Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting global peace in light of regional tensions. Both leaders also exchanged views on political developments and internal security challenges facing the country. Bilawal appreciated the federal government’s policies and measures to address potential challenges arising from the ongoing conflict, praising the prime minister’s leadership during a difficult time. The two leaders also reviewed development projects being carried out by the federal government in Sindh. The meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister for Law and Justice Azam Naz... -
Dawn - 13:20 Mar 25, 2026
Despite gold’s reputation as a safe-haven asset, its price has plunged since the outbreak of the Middle East war, erasing almost all its 2026 gains after reaching record highs. Here’s why the price of gold has fallen as global economic uncertainty rises. Urgent need for cash Uncertainty around the Middle East conflict has prompted investors to rapidly sell off assets to raise cash and offset losses elsewhere. They have turned first to selling gold, “given the size of the rally seen over the course of the past year”, said Joshua Mahony, chief market analyst at Scope Markets. By liquidating gold and sister metal silver, investors gain access to dollars — the currency used to trade oil and other energy products. Oil prices have soared owing to the closure of the crucial Strait of Hormuz and strikes on Gulf energy infrastructure. Gold is trading at around $4,550 an ounce, after reaching highs above $5,500 earlier in the year on mounting geopolitical tensions — from US President Donald Trump’s tariff onslaught to ... -
Dawn - 12:22 Mar 25, 2026
Millions of Sri Lankans enjoyed a government-ordered extra day off on Wednesday as the island nation battles an energy crisis triggered by the Middle East war. Rail and bus stations were largely deserted as most state institutions, schools and universities shifted to a four-day working week. “I am really enjoying the mid-week break because it is a fully paid holiday,” said housing ministry official Prarthana Perera, 40. Her office, like many government departments in Battaramulla — the capital’s main administrative hub — was closed. Banks operated on shorter hours, while many private firms introduced work-from-home arrangements, industry bodies said, urging members to help curb energy use. Sri Lanka has already raised fuel prices by a third since the United States and Israel began bombing Iran, triggering retaliatory attacks that have disrupted global energy supplies. About half of Sri Lanka’s electricity is generated by coal and diesel. The cabinet has set a target of cutting electricity consumption by 25 pe... -
Dawn - 12:08 Mar 25, 2026
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed authorities to accelerate the export of surplus food items to Gulf countries while ensuring an uninterrupted domestic supply, and called for a comprehensive plan to expand flight operations and enhance port efficiency in view of the evolving regional situation. The directives came as the premier chaired a high-level meeting to review the export of food items to the Middle East and Pakistan’s port and maritime operations, according to a handout by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). During the meeting, the premier was informed that a special committee had approved 40 food items for exporting to Gulf countries amid the current regional situation. It should be noted that earlier, PM Shehbaz issued directives for the formulation of a strategy for exporting surplus food items to Gulf countries while making sure that Pakistan’s nutritional needs were not affected. The meeting on Wednesday was also briefed on the measures taken regarding the matter. “These ... -
Dawn - 10:49 Mar 25, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The government has finalised a mobile application-based quota system for fuel for two- and three-wheelers, which may possibly include up to 800cc vehicles, to ensure a targeted subsidy to the low-income strata and to minimise oil consumption through pricing signals. The details of the quota-based fuel supply system have been tested and finalised by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) and the ministries of finance, petroleum and information technology, a senior government official told Dawn. Based on these workings, the government will now take a final decision on whether the scheme should extend to small cars or remain restricted to two- and three-wheelers. The government plan involves “a quota-based fuel supply system” to be operated through a mobile application and would be end-to-end automated. “A free, pre-installed app for retail operators will be provided,” said a senior official, adding that consumers will use a separate application. Meanwhile, the government will mandate a minimum o... -
Dawn - 10:32 Mar 25, 2026
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) urged authorities to revisit the proposed 28th Constitutional Amendment and make necessary changes to safeguard citizens’ rights and uphold democracy. Speaking at a press conference in Karachi, MQM-P Chairman Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, alongside Mustafa Kamal and Farooq Sattar, highlighted what they described as the escalation of long-standing political tensions. “Today, to address this properly, the 28th Constitution Amendment needs to be reviewed, and if necessary, amended. This would allow a decisive resolution to be made urgently.” Siddiqui told reporters. “Pakistan seems prepared, and political parties do not appear to oppose the 28th Amendment with the same intensity,” he added. He added that after the amendment is tabled and cleared by the country’s lawmakers, people should know they did it for the sake of the country. Farooq Sattar also weighed in, emphasising local governance and citizen participation. “Now’s the time to transform Pakistan’s feudal democrac...
10732 items