Dawn
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Dawn - 10:58 Apr 10, 2026
The federal capital is on ‘red alert’ ahead of crucial peace talks between the US and Iran, with more than 10,000 police and security personnel deployed to ensure the safety of visiting delegates. Sources say the multi-tiered security arrangement is being supervised by the military, assisted by paramilitary forces such as the Rangers, along with Islamabad Police and Punjab Police. The Islamabad Traffic Police and the National Highways and Motorways Police are deployed on roads to ensure smooth traffic flow. Below are some glimpses of the heavy security arrangements in Islamabad during the US-Iran talks. Pakistani army soldiers arrive for deployment at the Red Zone area of Islamabad on April 10, 2026. —AFP A US Air Force transport aircraft with “Charleston” written on its tail approaches PAF Base Nur Khan as Pakistan prepares to host the US and Iran for peace talks, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, April 10, 2026. —AFP An army soldier disperses locals who arrive to visit Faisal Masjid, for security reasons, as Pakista... -
Dawn - 10:29 Apr 10, 2026
All eyes are on Islamabad this weekend as the city braces to mediate one of the most consequential, high-stakes peace negotiations since the culmination of the Second World War. Starting today, American emissaries, led by Vice President JD Vance, will sit across the table from Iranian diplomats to negotiate a lasting settlement to a war that has rattled global power structures and stock markets alike. On the face of it, it is a welcome development from where the world found itself on Tuesday. As daylight drew to a close, the world watched in anticipation as Washington backed itself into an impossible corner, promising to annihilate “a whole civilisation” if Tehran did not give a safe passageway to traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. But a last-ditch diplomatic breakthrough by Pakistan managed to pull both sides from the brink of a potentially catastrophic escalation of unknowable consequences. For now, Islamabad seems to have bought both sides some time to turn a fragile truce into something akin to a durab... -
Dawn - 10:25 Apr 10, 2026
The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) on Friday expressed “deep concern” at the suspected suicide of a third-year medical student in Mirpurkhas. The 21-year-old student died in a suspected suicide on the night between April 8 and 9. According to media reports, her family has accused a teacher and fellow students of harassing her prior to her death. In a statement issued today, the regulatory body’s president, Dr Rizwan Taj, condemned the circumstances surrounding her death, “particularly the serious allegations of harassment”. He termed the loss of life “deeply alarming under such distressing circumstances,” expressing support for an inquiry by the Sindh government. As per the statement, the PMDC president said that the “investigation must thoroughly examine (the incident) and details be provided to the PMDC for further action”. The regulatory body asserted that its attitude towards harassment was “intolerable”, recalling that it had directed medical and dental colleges across the country last year t... -
Dawn - 09:04 Apr 10, 2026
The four Artemis II astronauts, returning from the world’s first crewed moon voyage in over half a century, hurtled back toward Earth on Friday aboard their gumdrop-shaped Orion spacecraft, headed for a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off Southern California. The finale to NASA’s celebrated 10-day mission was expected to begin with separation of Orion’s crew capsule from its service module, followed by a fiery re-entry through Earth’s atmosphere and a six-minute radio blackout before the capsule parachutes into the sea. If all goes well, US astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, along with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, will end up bobbing safely in the ocean aboard their Orion capsule, dubbed Integrity, shortly after 8 pm ET (0000 GMT) off the coast of San Diego. The quartet blasted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on April 1, lofted into an initial Earth orbit by NASA’s giant Space Launch System rocket before sailing on around the far side of the moon, venturing deeper into space tha... -
Dawn - 08:48 Apr 10, 2026
KARACHI: The Sindh government on Friday notified that all shops, markets and shopping malls in Karachi and other divisional headquarters of the province will close at 9pm throughout the week, including Saturday and Sunday, as part of austerity measures and in line with the federal government’s decision. In a notification dated April 10, the provincial government further stated that markets, shops and shopping malls in districts other than divisional headquarters will close at 8pm. Tandoors (as standalone shops), milk and dairy shops, bakeries, medical stores and pharmacies, medical laboratories, clinics and hospitals, as well as fuel stations, will remain exempt from the order. It further stated that hotels, restaurants, and food outlets will be allowed to operate between 7pm and 11:30pm for dinner timings. However, there will be no restriction on home delivery and takeaway services. The notification further stated that all marriage/wedding halls and banquets in the province will operate between 8pm and midni... -
Dawn - 08:32 Apr 10, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Friday upgraded Pakistan’s economic growth rate to 3.5 per cent for the current fiscal year, but warned of downside risk from global economic uncertainty amid the Middle East crisis. “Pakistan is expected to sustain its economic performance in the medium term, with real gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast at 3.5pc in FY2026 and 4.5pc in FY2027, from 3.1pc in FY2025, as manufacturing recovers and investment increases“, the Manila-based lending agency said in its flagship Asian Development Outlook (ADO) April 2026. However, it warned that “despite recent stabilisation and recovery, Pakistan’s economic outlook faces significant downside risks from global economic uncertainty, leading to elevated inflationary, fiscal, and external account pressures”. The bank had earlier forecast 3pc growth for the current fiscal year. “Pakistan’s economy has stabilised and begun to show stronger momentum, supported by progress in implementing key economic reforms amid a cha... -
Dawn - 07:33 Apr 10, 2026
LAHORE: The Lahore-bound Shalimar Express derailed near Sheikhupura on Friday, leaving rail traffic on the Faisalabad–Lahore section suspended. According to official sources, one of the passenger coaches of the train derailed while it was heading towards Lahore. No injuries or casualties were reported. Rail traffic on the route has been suspended. “The relief train dispatched from Lahore is currently at the site working to put the derailed coach back on track, enabling the train to proceed to Lahore,” said a railways official while talking to Dawn. Shalimar express derailed near Sheikhupura on Friday, Apr 10. —Photo provided by author On Wednesday, the same train, Shalimar Express, derailed near Shahdadpur railway station. Railway officials said that coaches numbered 4, 5, 6 and 7 went off the track when the train was being diverted to a loop line due to a faulty Awami Express on the main track at the station. They added that the Shalimar Express was moving at a very slow speed while entering the loop line, w... -
Dawn - 04:28 Apr 10, 2026
RAWALPINDI: Extraordinary security measures were in place in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad ahead of crucial talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad. The local administration and police closed Old Airport Road and roads leading to Nur Khan Airbase on Thursday by placing containers and barbed wire. The security measures taken by law enforcement agencies turned the area into a prison for local residents, as their movement was restricted to their houses. Areas that have been blocked include Shah Khalid Colony, Gulzar-e-Quaid, Airport Housing Society, Mangtal Town, Faisal Colony and others. Traffic diversions and the blocking of roads with shipping containers caused inconvenience to the public, already facing difficulties moving within the city and cantonment areas due to the closure of Old Airport Road from Rahimabad to Koral Chowk. Strangely, the service road from Koral Chowk to Airport Chowk, along with link roads and streets, was also closed, forcing residents to remain confined to ... -
Dawn - 03:50 Apr 10, 2026
LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has ruled that the computerised national identity card (CNIC) is not a “movable property” of its holder and cannot be blocked, impounded or attached by civil courts as a coercive measure in civil proceedings. Justice Tanveer Ahmad Sheikh handed down the ruling at Multan Bench, while allowing a writ petition filed by Muhammad Ali Ansari, who had challenged the blocking of his CNIC by the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) on the directions of a civil court in execution proceedings. A civil suit was filed against the petitioner, which came into his knowledge when Nadra blocked his CNIC in pursuance of a civil court order in the execution proceedings. The petitioner’s counsel argued that the coercive measure adopted by executing court/civil court was in flagrant violation of Section 18(2) of the National Database and Registration Authority Ordinance, 2000. The court rules civil court has no authority to direct Nadra to block CNIC as a coercive step He said the civi... -
Dawn - 03:31 Apr 10, 2026
• First one was reported last month • A resident of East district dies from dengue, says health dept KARACHI: As authorities struggle to contain the mpox outbreak in Khairpur, a public health crisis seems to have emerged in Karachi, which saw its second suspected case of local transmission of mpox and the first death from dengue on Thursday. According to the health department, the dengue victim was a resident of city’s East district, while the mpox patient, a resident of Buffer Zone, is currently under treatment at the Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital and Research Centre (SIDH&RC). “He is a 20-year-old student. He is stable and has no travel history,” SIDH&RC Medical Superintendent Dr Abdul Wahid Rajput told Dawn. Sources said it’s the second case of mpox in Karachi, indicating local transmission of the viral disease. The first one was reported last month at the SIDH&RC. The patient was discharged after complete recovery. Health department officials shared that a team led by focal person Dr Shankar has been... -
Dawn - 02:36 Apr 10, 2026
• Worshippers describe an ‘indescribable happiness’, one calls it ‘a miracle’ • Tensions flare as police disperse Muslims at Al Aqsa for Jewish visitors JERUSALEM : Just before 5am at Jerusalem’s Al Aqsa Mosque compound, a Muslim worshipper prayed in tears. A few hours later, similar emotion overcame Christians and Jews as the city’s holy sites reopened following the truce with Iran. Jerusalem’s Old City contains major holy sites for all three Abrahamic religions, which had been shuttered since the start of the war sparked by the US-Israeli attack on Iran on February 28. For the first time in 41 days, Muslim worshippers returned to Al Aqsa Mosque, Jews to the Western Wall and Christians to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. At Al Aqsa, Islam’s third holiest site which was closed during most of the Muslim holy month of Ramazan this year, thousands of worshippers performed the ritual dawn prayer under a heavy police presence. One man stood by the entrance of the Al-Qibli prayer hall, handing out paper tissues to... -
Dawn - 02:32 Apr 10, 2026
• Govt spends only 41.5pc of development budget in first nine months • PSDP already cut by Rs90bn to fund fuel subsidies • Parliamentarians’ schemes see 70pc utilisation in just four months ISLAMABAD: Barring about 70 per cent utilisation of public funds for ruling parliamentarians’ schemes, the government and its agencies struggled with the development programme, spending less than half of the budget allocations for public welfare projects under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) in the first three quarters of the current fiscal year. According to the Ministry of Planning and Development, total utilisation of PSDP funds amounted to Rs415 billion in the first nine months (July-March), accounting for 41.5pc of the Rs1 trillion budget allocation. The utilisation was slightly better than 36.4pc in the same period last year, when PSDP expenditure amounted to Rs400bn against an allocation of Rs1.1tr. Towards the end of March, the government slashed PSDP allocations by Rs90bn to finance fuel subsidies ... -
Dawn - 02:24 Apr 10, 2026
• Vows to support US, Iran in reaching a peaceful settlement • PM, army chief review mediation efforts, arrangements for talks • Israeli strikes in Lebanon threaten to derail negotiations • Iran says it was ready to retaliate before Pakistan intervened • Warns continued attacks could make talks ‘meaningless’ ISLAMABAD: Field Marshal Asim Munir calls on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.—APP ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday vowed to support Iran and the United States in reaching a peaceful settlement as Israeli strikes in Lebanon continued to weigh on the prospects of the upcoming dialogue, with Islamabad stepping up diplomatic engagement to keep a two-week ceasefire between Tehran and Washington from collapsing. The commitment came during a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, where they reviewed the progress of Pakistan’s mediatory efforts and finalised arrangements for the talks. “They expressed satisfaction over the de-escala... -
Dawn - 02:12 Apr 10, 2026
• 10,000 security personnel deployed, ‘blue book’ protocol for visitors • Multi-tier security arrangements supervised by military; all roads to red zone, except for Margalla, sealed ISLAMABAD: The federal capital was on ‘red alert’ ahead of crucial peace talks between the US and Iran in the city, with more than 10,000 police and security personnel deployed to ensure the safety of the visiting delegates. Sources said the multi-tiered security arrangement would be supervised by the military, assisted by the paramilitary forces, such as Rangers, and the Islamabad and Punjab police. The Islamabad Traffic Police and the National Highway and Motorways Police will be deployed on roads to ensure smooth traffic flow. About 6,000 personnel of the capital police, 900 Frontier Constabulary, and 3,000 personnel of the Punjab Constabulary, along with the Rangers and Pakistan Army troops, would perform duties. About 1,000 traffic police officials would also be deployed. The army and the Rangers would ensure the protection... -
Dawn - 01:11 Apr 10, 2026
For the longer-term, the new owners have outlined a plan to double the national flag carrier’s fleet to 60 aircraft.—Reuters/file KARACHI: Arif Habib, chairman of the Arif Habib Consortium, which owns Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), has said that the national flag carrier currently has 30 aircraft, of which 18 are operational, and five to six require repair and maintenance. Speaking to industrialists at the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) on Thursday, he said the airline is working to make these aircraft operational, and adding them back to the fleet will bring the total to 26. The long-term target is to expand the fleet to 60 aircraft. Pakistan, he said, had become more economically stable, and that this fiscal year’s figures showed the government had increased revenue, met all expenditure and paid interest on debt. However, he stressed the need to reduce production costs to boost economic growth. He said electricity tariffs remained high because of capacity charges and low consumptio... -
Dawn - 21:24 Apr 09, 2026
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday he had ordered his ministers to begin direct talks with Lebanon, pushing for Hezbollah’s disarmament amid mounting concern that its ongoing strikes could cause the fragile US-Iran truce to unravel. A Lebanese government official told AFP shortly after Netanyahu’s announcement that Beirut “wants a ceasefire” declared before starting any negotiations with Israel, a day after deadly strikes across the country. At least 300 people were killed and more than 1,000 wounded in the bombardment on Wednesday, the Lebanese health ministry said, while Hezbollah said it was engaged in close-quarters combat against Israeli forces on the ground on Thursday in the south Lebanon town of Bint Jbeil. Netanyahu’s order for direct negotiations with Lebanon’s government was focused on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peace, according to a statement from his office, but he offered no immediate respite from the bombardment. “Lebanon wants a ceasefire before starting nego... -
Dawn - 20:47 Apr 09, 2026
Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei in his latest written message said that the Islamic republic does not want war with the United States and Israel, but would protect its rights as a nation, state television reported on Thursday. “We did not seek war and we do not want it,” he said in the message read out on state TV, coinciding with 40 days since his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was assassinated on February 28, the first day of the US-Israeli war on Iran. “But we will not renounce our legitimate rights under any circumstances, and in this respect, we consider the entire resistance front as a whole,” he added, in an apparent reference to Lebanon where Israel has been carrying out strikes that it says target Hezbollah. Iran this week agreed to a two-week ceasefire with the United States that could lead to peace negotiations after threats of annihilation from US President Donald Trump. Khamenei told Iranians that they must “not imagine that taking to the streets is no longer necessary” despite the an... -
Dawn - 20:42 Apr 09, 2026
US First Lady Melania Trump made a surprise statement on Thursday denying any knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse, or that she herself was a victim of the convicted sex offender. The 55-year-old’s rare on-camera remarks at the White House came out of the blue, in an extraordinary intervention in a scandal that has long haunted her husband President Donald Trump. “The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today,” she said. “The individuals lying about me are devoid of ethical standards, humility and respect.” It was not clear why the Slovenian-born former model decided to give the public statement, and she did not detail any specific allegations about her and the late, convicted sex offender. Melania and Donald Trump had previously been photographed with Epstein, but she said that she had met her husband independently two years prior to meeting Epstein. “I am not Epstein’s victim. Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump,” Melania said. She said “fake images and statements about... -
Dawn - 18:49 Apr 09, 2026
LAHORE: A PML-N lawmaker submitted on Thursday a resolution in the Punjab Assembly, calling for the nomination of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar for the Nobel Peace Prize. The resolution, submitted by PML-N Chief Whip Rana Muhammad Arshad, stated that Pakistan’s leadership demonstrated “effective diplomacy” amid escalating tensions between Iran and Israel and the United States. The growing tensions, the resolution added, threatened global peace. It said Pakistan’s leadership played a significant role in promoting peace and stability at the international level during a period of heightened tensions. The resolution also commended former PM and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif’s “guidance” in the matter, further highlighting Pakistan’s “positive and balanced global role”. It called for the nomination of Field Marshal Munir, PM Shehbaz and DPM Dar for the Nobel Peace Prize. Moreover, a... -
Dawn - 18:30 Apr 09, 2026
LAHORE: In a move to dismantle colonial-era legal barriers, a bill was submitted in the Punjab Assembly’s Standing Committee on Minority Affairs on Thursday, seeking a raise in the minimum marriage age of Christians to 18. This bill seeks to resolve decades of hurdles in documentation that have left many Christian marriages unrecognised by union councils and the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra). The proposed ‘Christian Marriage Act Bill, 2026’ was submitted as a private member bill by Falbus Christopher, the chairman of the Standing Committee on Minority Affairs. Under the bill, the age of marriage — previously set at 16 years for boys and 13 years for girls — will be standardised to 18 years. Furthermore, the bill mandates that both the bride and groom must be Christian for the marriage to be solemnised under this specific act, shifting from the current law, which only requires one party to be of the Christian faith. One of the most significant practical changes involved the formal integr...
12427 items