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Dawn - 17:38 Jun 11, 2026
The government unveiled the Pakistan Economic Survey (PES) for FY2025-26 on Thursday, according to which GDP growth was recorded at 3.7pc in the outgoing fiscal year. This is higher than last year’s growth of 3.18pc but falls short of its target of 4.2pc. Economic survey highlights GDP growth recorded at 3.7pc, up from 3.18pc last year Agriculture sector posts growth of 2.89pc Industrial sector expands by 3.51pc, driven by a 6.1pc rebound in large scale manufacturing Services sector records 4.09pc growth Per capita income increases to $1,901 from $1,751 last year Fiscal deficit narrows to 0.7pc of GDP (July-MarchFY26), down from 2.6pc in the same period last year Primary surplus strengthens to 3.2pc of GDP CPI Inflation averages 6.2pc (July-April FY26) Workers’ remittances reach $30.3bn Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb presented the survey, which he said told a story of resilience and discipline shown during the previous year. He said the country began the outgoi... -
Dawn - 17:37 Jun 11, 2026
It is taking time to finalise the results of the Gilgit-Baltistan elections, but the final notification will be issued within 14 days as required by law, the region’s Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Raja Shahbaz Khan said on Thursday. A press release issued by GB’s election commission said that the election phase in the region had ended “peacefully” and work was underway to finalise the results. “It is taking time to collect and finalise the results from remote areas; however, the final notification will be issued within 14 days as per the law,” the CEC said, referring to Section 98 of the Election Act. Meanwhile, nine petitions regarding the elections are in the process of being heard by the commission. “So far, three petitions have been heard, while the hearing of the other petitions will be held on Friday,” the statement said, adding that this phase would be completed “soon”. According to the press release, Form 49 — for final official results — has been issued for the constituencies of GBA-6 Hunza, GBA-... -
Dawn - 16:52 Jun 11, 2026
Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir discussed avenues for enhanced bilateral defence cooperation during a meeting with General Metin Tokel, commander of the Turkish Land Forces, the military’s media wing said in a statement on Thursday. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that General Tokel called on CDF Munir at the General Headquarters (GHQ) today. “During the meeting, matters of mutual professional interest, regional security dynamics, and avenues for enhanced bilateral defence cooperation were discussed,” it said. @dawn.today Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir discussed avenues for enhanced bilateral defence cooperation during a meeting with General Metin Tokel, commander of the Turkish Land Forces, the military’s media wing said in a statement on Thursday. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that General Tokel called on CDF Munir at the General Headquarters (GHQ) ... -
Dawn - 16:40 Jun 11, 2026
WASHINGTON: The US and global media on Thursday reacted with a mix of alarm, scepticism, and market-watch caution after President Donald Trump escalated tensions by threatening to seize Kharg Island, Iran’s critical offshore oil export hub. Across Washington, the dominant theme in reporting is the gap between rhetoric and military feasibility. Jonathan Swan, a White House correspondent for The New York Times, framed the administration’s posture as one defined by repeated escalation and limited strategic clarity. “Trump has repeatedly said he would attack Kharg during the war, as he has ramped up his threats to try to compel Iran to agree to his demands to shutter its nuclear programme. Iran has consistently called his bluff,“ he wrote. Swan’s assessment also highlights internal constraints shaping the discussion in Washington. “Trump has few easy options,” he wrote, pointing to depleted long-range weapons stockpiles and the operational complexity of any attempt to physically seize the island. “The US is dange... -
Dawn - 15:43 Jun 11, 2026
The weather phenomenon El Nino has arrived, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said Thursday, and scientists expect it will intensify into the end of the year, potentially to historic strength. El Nino is a natural climate phenomenon that warms surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, bringing worldwide changes in winds, rainfall patterns and erratic weather. And scientists fear it will exacerbate the heat of a planet already warming from burning fossil fuels, while amping up weather extremes. In its latest advisory NOAA scientists said “El Nino conditions developed over the past month” as shown by those above-average sea surface temperatures in the Pacific. “There is a 63 per cent chance of a very strong El Nino during November-January that would rank among the largest El Nino events in the historical record going back to 1950,” the advisory read. Every El Nino is different, but major events often follow familiar patterns. This includes drought acro... -
Dawn - 15:35 Jun 11, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court, by a majority of two to one, on Thursday set aside its Dec 29, 2022 order endorsing the closure of the right to defence of PTI founder Imran Khan in the Rs10 billion defamation suit filed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. In April, the apex court had resumed hearing a review petition filed by PTI founder and former premier against the closure of his right to defence in the Rs10 billion defamation case. Headed by Justice Ayesha A. Malik, a three-judge SC bench also comprising Justice Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim took up a set of review petitions filed by Imran Khan, also a former prime minister. Justice Kakar, however, dissented from the majority judgment. Overturning the earlier judgments of the LHC as well as the trial court, the SC remanded the matter back to the trial court with the direction to provide the petitioner (Imran Khan) a reasonable opportunity to file his reply to the interrogatories and to proceed with the suit in accordance with law. Aut... -
Dawn - 14:19 Jun 11, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly (NA) on Thursday suspended PTI lawmaker Muhammad Iqbal Khan Afridi for the entire upcoming budget session, with Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq accusing him of repeatedly violating the sanctity of the House through “inappropriate and unparliamentary” conduct. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb will present the federal budget for the next fiscal year (FY26–27) in the NA on Friday. “Iqbal Khan has violated the sanctity of the House multiple times through his inappropriate and unparliamentary behaviour,” the speaker said. He added that multiple complaints had been received about the lawmaker’s abuse of NA employees. Sadiq said the MNA had also behaved improperly with the NA’s director general (media) and security officials. “No leniency can be shown to such a member,” he remarked, before directing the sergeant-at-arms to remove the lawmaker from the hall. The speaker further alleged that Khan had misbehaved with security personnel outside Parliament and had been involved in a scuffle ... -
Dawn - 14:01 Jun 11, 2026
Mongolia has recovered a rare dinosaur skeleton and a trove of fossils illegally exported two decades ago, authorities said Wednesday, concluding years of efforts to return the palaeontological treasures. The collection includes a Tarbosaurus bataar skeleton, estimated to be more than 50 per cent intact, along with 28 groups of fossilised dinosaur remains originally found in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert, according to police. The bones had been illegally taken from Mongolia in 2006 “with the aim of making a profit”, said D. Munkhkhuyag, head of the police public relations department. A Mongolian official walks past boxes of dinosaur fossils during a handover ceremony in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, on June 11, 2026. —AFP French customs agencies confiscated the fossils between 2013 and 2015, and began returning them a year later to Mongolia under international conventions to combat the illicit trafficking of cultural heritage. Following the lengthy process of returning the fossils, they arrived in the capita... -
Dawn - 13:44 Jun 11, 2026
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday approved a strategic roadmap for comprehensive reforms in Pakistan Railways, which includes improvements in services, digitisation, track upgradation and private-sector investment, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said. In a statement, the PMO said PM Shehbaz chaired an important meeting on reforms in Pakistan Railways in Islamabad on Thursday, adding that the prime minister approved the strategic roadmap for comprehensive reforms in the railways sector. The PMO stated that the meeting was given a detailed briefing on the strategic roadmap and targets for comprehensive reforms in Pakistan Railways. “The roadmap includes targets to increase market share in both passenger and freight sectors,” the statement said, while highlighting the key points. “Improvement in railway services, enhancement of network capacity and financial sustainability will be the key pillars of the roadmap,” it added. Furthermore, the roadmap also includes targets related to “improving the govern... -
Dawn - 13:16 Jun 11, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) on Thursday questioned a 2024 judgment of the Supreme Court (SC) which had paved the way for demolishing the infrastructure developed by the Monal Group of Companies, La Montana and Gloria Jeans, inside the picturesque Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP). The SC had ordered the closure of Monal and the adjacent La Montana restaurant on August 21, 2024, and they were closed the next month to protect the park’s biodiversity. Headed by Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, a three-judge FCC bench took up a review petition moved by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) challenging the Supreme Court’s (SC) directions to the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) to take possession of restaurants — namely Monal, La Montana and Gloria Jeans — situated inside the MHNP. The CDA and the Islamabad Capital Territory Police were also ordered to assist the wildlife board in this regard. The SC had also ordered that the entrances to the area where the restaurants were locate... -
Dawn - 09:10 Jun 11, 2026
The World Cup kicks off on Thursday with co-hosts Mexico taking on South Africa in the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, launching a sprawling tournament of 48 teams that will last nearly six weeks. The extravaganza hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada is the biggest World Cup in history, stretching until the final in New Jersey on July 19. It is projected to generate a record-breaking $13 billion in total revenue. But football’s world governing body FIFA has faced stinging criticism over the eye-watering costs of tickets while US President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown has seen a top referee, Iranian team officials and fans refused entry to the US. Speaking in Mexico City on Wednesday, FIFA President Gianni Infantino launched a spirited defence of the organisation of the tournament and brushed off criticism over visa issues. Infantino insisted that tickets — which in some cases have topped $30,000 — had been priced appropriately, citing a small number of $60 tickets that were made available in ... -
Dawn - 08:47 Jun 11, 2026
Britain’s competition watchdog said on Thursday that it had opened an investigation into Irish carrier Ryanair over fees that parents must pay to sit with their children. The no-frills airline requires at least one parent to sit with children aged two to 11 during a flight, but that means they must pay for what is called a “mandatory family seat”. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating whether the fee, typically around ₤8 ($11) per flight, is “unfair” under consumer law. For other passengers, reserving a seat is optional. The CMA said it would determine whether Ryanair’s seat reservation fees mean parents are being charged to meet “child safety and disability-related obligations as set out under aviation rules”. “The CMA understands that Ryanair is the only major airline flying out of the UK to impose this charge,” the agency added. It also noted that Ryanair does not apply the fee on flights to and from Italy following action by the Italian civil aviation authority. In response, Ryanair... -
Dawn - 08:14 Jun 11, 2026
THIS is not an obituary. Far from it. It is a tribute to someone who is completing the first 100 years of a crowded, productive life. Syed Babar Ali was born on June 30, 1926. For the past few weeks, numerous relatives, friends, business associates and educationists have joined in celebrating his centenary. Eleven years ago, in 2015, he recounted his life in a published memoir Learning from Others. He compressed 89 years of his life into 237 succinct pages. How does one compact 100 years of his life into 800 words? Yet, perhaps that is what he would wish — to have his life set down on a single sheet of paper. Every Pakistani — the living and the yet unborn — should read this memoir, if they wish to understand who was who, who did what and when, and how a single person has beneficially affected the lives of millions of us Pakistanis. Syed Babar Ali was born into money. His father Syed Maratib Ali had a flourishing business in Ferozepur and post-1947 in Lahore. That enabled Babar to obtain the best education mo... -
Dawn - 06:37 Jun 11, 2026
Delegations of the PPP and the PML-N met in Gilgit-Baltistan to discuss proposals for forming a government in the region after the recent elections, the parties said on Thursday. The PPP is all set to form a government in the region after it gained 11 out of 24 seats in the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly, according to unofficial results (Forms-47) of the June 7 elections. Key leaders of the PPP and the PML-N, which secured six seats, met in Gilgit to hold detailed deliberations on proposals related to the formation of the upcoming GB government. In its statement, the PPP claimed a “major breakthrough” in the process, saying that the parties decided to present the proposals for government formation to their respective central leadership. It said the discussions also pertained to political cooperation, along with various national and domestic issues. The PPP delegation asserted that the people of GB had given it the mandate by “making it the largest party”, its statement said. The party leaders stated t... -
Dawn - 05:36 Jun 11, 2026
Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad on Thursday stressed the importance of inter-civilisational dialogue in fostering mutual understanding and global peace. He made the remarks during the high-level event marking the International Day of Dialogue among Civilisations organised by the Permanent Mission of China to the UN, according to a press release by Pakistan’s Mission. “… At this critical juncture of history when global peace and harmony is imperiled by myriad challenges, the significance of inter-civilisational dialogue cannot be overemphasised,” Ambassador Ahmad said. He termed “dialogue and diplomacy as the most effective tools to transcend differences and foster mutual understanding and cooperation”. The envoy stated that “it is the spirit of dialogue that enabled human civilisation to forge mutual respect and trust and chart a path of shared progress and development”. The ambassador also highlighted the regional location of Pakistan, describing it as “the meltin... -
Dawn - 05:17 Jun 11, 2026
The United States launched fresh attacks against Iran on Thursday, prompting Tehran to retaliate, as US leaders accused their counterparts of dragging out negotiations for a deal to end the three-month war. The second straight day of tit-for-tat strikes, with Iran targeting US bases across the Gulf, sent oil prices rising again. US President Donald Trump, who had repeatedly said negotiations with Tehran were close to an end, said on Wednesday that Iran keeps “playing us for suckers” and will now “have to pay the price”. Hours after, US Central Command (Centcom) said American forces began “additional self-defence strikes” at 5:15pm on Wednesday Washington time — early Thursday in Iran — in response to what it called Tehran’s “unwarranted and continued aggression”. Iranian media reported explosions across the south near the Strait of Hormuz, with explosions heard in Bandar Abbas, Qeshm and Minab, and sources reporting hits by “enemy projectiles” in Kargan and Sirik. Centcom said later that it had “completed” it... -
Dawn - 04:35 Jun 11, 2026
LARKANA: Water shortages in Sindh and Balochistan are deepening as Punjab continues to draw excess water, threatening the downstream provinces’ agricultural activities and drinking water supplies. According to data from the Sukkur Barrage Control Room on Wednesday, the total upstream inflow at Sukkur Barrage was recorded at 50,620 cusecs, while the total withdrawal stood at 32,120 cusecs. Irrigation department sources and representatives of growers and millers stated that the combined water allocation for Sindh’s seven canals is 53,200 cusecs. With the actual supply at just 32,120 cusecs, Sindh is facing an overall shortage of 21,080 cusecs, or 39.6 per cent. In contrast, upstream barrages and canal systems in Punjab continue to withdraw water well above their allocated share. Against an allocation of 44,000 cusecs, Punjab is currently drawing 53,394 cusecs — an excess of 9,394 cusecs, or 21.35pc. This continued over-withdrawal is directly reducing water availability downstream. Barrage and canal breakdowns T... -
Dawn - 04:21 Jun 11, 2026
MALE: Pakistan ended a 74-year wait for a football tournament title on Wednesday, defeating Afghanistan 2–0 in the final of the Diamond Jubilee International Football Tournament in at the National Stadium to claim a historic first stand-alone international crown. Shayek Dost produced a spectacular overhead kick to open the scoring in the first half before substitute Harun Hamid added a second in stoppage time to seal victory, as Pakistan lifted a tournament trophy for the first time since 1952 — when they shared the Asian Quadrangular title on a league basis. The triumph also marks the first time in Pakistan’s history that the men’s national team has won a tournament final outright. Afghanistan started brightly and tested Pakistan early, but the Shaheens gradually settled into rhythm. Otis Khan was influential down the left flank and it was from one of his moves that Pakistan struck in the 24th minute. A loose clearance and a misdirected cross fell kindly for Shayek, who adjusted brilliantly to execute an a... -
Dawn - 04:07 Jun 11, 2026
• Jacobabad becomes hottest place with 49.5°C • Weatherman expects some relief after tomorrow • Expert says staying hydrated key to coping with heat-related illnesses KARACHI: While the maximum temperature recorded in Karachi on Wednesday was 37.4 degrees Celsius, the feels-like temperature surged to 54°C, the Met Office data showed. According to the data, the feels-like temperature gradually soared from 49°C at around 1pm to 54°C at 3pm. It showed relative humidity was 79pc and 65pc in the morning and evening, respectively. The minimum temperature was 30°C. Other districts of Sindh also experienced harsher weather conditions with mercury soaring to 49.5°C in Jacobabad followed by Dadu 49°C, Paddidan and Sukkur 47°C, Mohenjo Daro, Larkana, Shaheed Benazirabad 46.5°C, Rohri 46°C, Khairpur 45.5°C and Sakrand 45°C. “We are expecting relief after Friday (tomorrow). The high pressure area developed over the region will gradually subside and the temperature will drop to 36°C to 34°C. But, there are no chances of ra... -
Dawn - 03:40 Jun 11, 2026
• Overall development outlay slashed by 25pc to Rs3.218tr • Federal PSDP reduced to Rs1tr, provincial ADPs to Rs2.218tr • No new projects except for interior, defence ministries • PM says strengthening defence is country’s biggest challenge • Ahsan says Pakistan lagged behind region due to weak investment in education, skills ISLAMABAD: Freezing provincial development plans at their actual utilisation this year, the National Economic Council (NEC) on Wednesday cut the federal and provincial development budget by one-fourth to Rs3.218 trillion for the next fiscal year from Rs4.264tr cleared by the Annual Plan Coordination Committee (APCC) last week. Of the Rs1.046tr total cut, the combined annual development plans (ADPs) of the four provinces were slashed by almost one-third (29.3pc) to Rs2.218tr — roughly their actual utilisation so far in the current fiscal year — compared to the Rs3.138tr provincial portfolio finalised by the APCC on June 1. Punjab’s development plan was chopped by almost half, or 49pc, the...
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