Dawn

Source: https://www.dawn.com

Found 12427 news

  • IHC restrains CDA over tree-cutting on Ataturk Avenue, seeks response
    Dawn - 08:30 Apr 08, 2026
    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 ...
    Tags: Ataturk Avenue
  • Oil dives below $100, stocks jump after two-week ceasefire agreed
    Dawn - 07:25 Apr 08, 2026
    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...
  • Online fuel subsidy portal shuts down due to ‘hacking attempts’ in Karachi
    Dawn - 05:05 Apr 08, 2026
    • 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 ...
  • No power crisis, exports intact amid Gulf war disruptions: PM
    Dawn - 02:38 Apr 08, 2026
    • 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...
    Tags: Gulf
  • ‘20 Pakistanis’ among missing after boat capsizes off Italy
    Dawn - 02:28 Apr 08, 2026
    • 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...
    Tags: Italy Pakistanis
  • Rs1.2 billion disbursed among 32,000 beneficiaries under PM Fuel Package
    Dawn - 02:21 Apr 08, 2026
    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,...
    Tags: Fuel Package
  • Iran, US agree to immediate ceasefire; Islamabad talks set for April 10
    Dawn - 01:46 Apr 08, 2026
    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...
    Tags: Iran Islamabad April
  • Senate panel orders probe into PIA crew misconduct
    Dawn - 00:31 Apr 08, 2026
    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...
    Tags: Senate
  • ‘Dangerous escalation’: Pakistan condemns Iranian strikes on Saudi Arabia’s energy facilities
    Dawn - 21:15 Apr 07, 2026
    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 ...
    Tags: Saudi Arabia Pakistan Iranian
  • Democrats call on Republicans to prioritise patriotic duty over party loyalty and stop Trump’s ‘madness’
    Dawn - 20:56 Apr 07, 2026
    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...
    Tags: Democrats Republicans Trump
  • Dar says Israeli attack on Iran set off ‘dangerous developments’ that ‘severely damaged’ peace process
    Dawn - 20:56 Apr 07, 2026
    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...
    Tags: Iran
  • China, Russia veto UN resolution to reopen Strait of Hormuz
    Dawn - 20:55 Apr 07, 2026
    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...
    Tags: Strait China Hormuz Russia
  • Indian billionaire Gautam Adani will seek to dismiss fraud case in US
    Dawn - 18:55 Apr 07, 2026
    Gautam Adani, India’s second richest person, will ask a US judge to dismiss the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) civil fraud case stemming from an alleged bribery scheme, his lawyers said on Tuesday. Adani and his nephew Sagar Adani were charged by the SEC in November 2024 with orchestrating a scheme to pay or promise to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in bribes to Indian government officials to benefit Adani Green Energy, where both men are executives and directors. The securities fraud case is tied to Adani Green’s alleged failure to disclose the scheme in documents for a $750 million bond offering in 2021. In a filing in the Brooklyn, New York federal court, the Adanis’ lawyers said their clients disputed that there was any credible evidence supporting the alleged bribery scheme. The lawyers said the Adanis’ lack of involvement in the offering, and the absence of any intent to defraud or negligence, supported a dismissal. They also called the SEC claims “impermissibly extraterritorial,” refle...
    Tags: Gautam Adani Indian
  • PM Shehbaz calls on nation to contribute to fuel conservation, austerity drive
    Dawn - 17:18 Apr 07, 2026
    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called on the nation on Tuesday to contribute to fuel conservation and the austerity drive in the country, keeping in view the situation resulting from the ongoing war in the Middle East. The war began with US-Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28 and has given rise to a global fuel crisis. In order to deal with the situation, the government announced unprecedented austerity measures on March 9. On Monday, the government also announced that the markets would close across the country except Sindh by 8pm to conserve energy. According to a statement issued by the PM’s Office (PMO) on Tuesday, the premier presided over a meeting to review the implementation of fuel- and energy-conservation measures, as well as austerity measures. “The meeting was briefed on the implementation of decisions regarding austerity measures that are aimed at achieving economic stability,” the PMO statement said. It said the meeting was also briefed on the arrangements made for the closure of markets and sh...
  • Imran’s sisters Uzma, Noreen arrested as PTI braves rainy weather, Section 144 to protest outside Adiala jail
    Dawn - 16:43 Apr 07, 2026
    ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI: The PTI said on Tuesday that the sisters of incarcerated party founder Imran Khan were taken into custody by law enforcement agencies as they attempted to stage a protest outside Adiala jail. The PTI had called for a “peaceful protest” outside the Adiala jail on Tuesday against the restrictions on meeting Imran. The party has also announced a protest in Rawalpindi on April 9 (Thursday), marking the day the former prime minister was ousted in a no-confidence motion in 2022. However, Section 144 was imposed in Rawalpindi under which gatherings were banned across the district for 15 days. Despite the imposition of Section 144 and the rainy weather in the twin cities, a large number of leaders and workers of PTI reached Adiala jail on Tuesday. PTI Core Committee member Seemabia Tahir told Dawn that party leaders, along with Imran’s three sisters, were stopped at DHA Chowk near Adiala jail. “Law enforcement agencies had already vacated a hotel in the vicinity; they arrested Noreen Niazi and U...
    Tags: Imran Section Adiala
  • PMDC to hold exam for medical students seeking transfer to Pakistani institutions on May 16
    Dawn - 16:14 Apr 07, 2026
    ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) on Tuesday announced that it would hold the National Equivalence Board (NEB) examination on May 16, with the PMDC chairperson terming it the “best opportunity” for students affected by the US-Israeli war on Iran. The PMDC conducts the NEB exam twice a year to assess the knowledge, clinical skills, and professional competence of students who have partially completed medical or dental education abroad and seek transfer to/ admission in Pakistan. The exam is computer-based and consists of multiple-choice questions. Speaking to Dawn, PMDC Chairperson Dr Rizwan Taj said, “Although students from across the world can appear in the exam, but it will provide the best opportunity to those who have been stuck [due to the war] and want to return to Pakistan without facing any loss of education and time.” He said that Pakistani students, who were enrolled in foreign medical or dental institutions, had completed two years of study and reached at least the third year...
    Tags: PMDC Pakistani
  • Several people evacuated as rain causes flooding in parts of Peshawar
    Dawn - 16:06 Apr 07, 2026
    PESHAWAR/MOHMAND/LAHORE: Rescue personnel evacuated several people as rain caused flooding in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s provincial capital, Peshawar, on Tuesday while an operation was also carried out in the province’s Mohmand district to rescue a group of people stranded in floodwater. Meanwhile, heavy showers also lashed parts of Punjab. The continuing spell of rain over the past few days has claimed several lives in KP and Punjab, as well as, Balochistan. Rescue 1122 spokesperson Bilal Ahmed Faizi told Dawn that at least 65 people were evacuated from Peshawar’s Sardar Colony on Tuesday due to flooding in Budhni nullah during a heavy downpour in the afternoon. He said that water level in the nullah has increased, with water entering Sardar Colony. A flood alert on the Irrigation Department’s X account at around 3:30pm said that discharge in Budhni nullah had increased up to 13,035 cusecs and that it was in high flood. In the evening, Rescue 1122 said in a statement that District Emergency Officer Iftikh...
    Tags: Peshawar
  • ‘Pre-admission of genocide’: Politicos blast Trump over threat to destroy ‘a whole civilisation’ in Iran
    Dawn - 15:35 Apr 07, 2026
    US President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened that “a whole civilisation will die tonight” as Iran showed no sign of accepting his ultimatum to open the Strait of Hormuz. Trump had initially vowed to carry out the “complete demolition” of Iran’s critical infrastructure, particularly bridges and power plants, only if a deal was not reached. But writing on Truth Social, Trump elevated his ultimatum for Iran, stating that “a whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will”, if the country does not heed his call for a deal. It was not clear exactly what he meant or by what means he intended to carry out the threat. His remarks drew a strong reaction from politicos, with several calling for him be removed from office by invoking the 25th amendment, which allows for the vice president and a majority of the cabinet to declare a president unfit for office. Democratic Leader in the US Senate Chuck Schumer assailed Trump’s threats, branding him “...
    Tags: Iran Trump
  • Efforts to facilitate talks between US and Iran ongoing, Pakistani sources say
    Dawn - 14:38 Apr 07, 2026
    Efforts to facilitate talks between the US and Iran are still ongoing, two Pakistani sources with knowledge of the discussions told Reuters on Tuesday, as US strikes on Iran intensified and US President Donald Trump’s deadline to unleash “hell” neared. One of the sources, a senior security official, said Iran’s overnight strike on Saudi Arabia’s industrial facilities linked to US firms threatened to derail the talks. If Saudi Arabia were to respond to the strikes, the talks would be over, the source said, adding that retaliation could also draw Pakistan into the conflict under its defence pact with Riyadh. The second source said Iran was “walking on thin ice” and that the next three to four hours were critical for the future of dialogue. Pakistan has been at the centre of negotiations between the US and Iran in recent weeks, acting as the main go-between for proposals shared by both sides, but there has been no sign of a compromise. “We are in touch with Iranians. They have lately shown flexibility that they ...
    Tags: Iran Efforts Pakistani
  • Gunman killed, 2 wounded in shootout outside Israel’s Istanbul consulate
    Dawn - 14:09 Apr 07, 2026
    A gunman was killed and two others wounded in a shootout on Tuesday with police outside the Israeli consulate in Istanbul, the local governor said, adding two officers were lightly wounded. Governor Davut Gul confirmed the killing of one of the assailants during the attack that took place around 12:15 pm (2:15pm PKT). It was not immediately clear if the intended target was the Israeli consulate. No Israeli diplomats “are currently on Turkish soil”, a source familiar with the matter told AFP. Israeli diplomatic missions had been evacuated “not only in Turkiye but throughout the region for security reasons” shortly after the October 7, 2023 attack that followed Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, according to the same source. Israel said it would not be cowed down, while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the “treacherous attack” and vowed to fight “all kinds of terrorism”. “We will not allow … provocations to harm Turkiye’s climate of security,” Erdogan said in a televised speech. “We appreciate ...
    Tags: Israel Istanbul

12427 items

Popular Tags