Dawn

Found 5467 news

  • Fact check: Absar Alam did not advocate recognition of Israel; viral clip is incomplete
    Dawn - 14:05 Jul 11, 2025
    Posts from multiple users on social media platform X on Thursday shared a video clip, claiming it showed journalist Absar Alam urging Pakistan to explore the benefits of recognising Israel. However, the viral clip is incomplete and he is actually questioning whether recognising Israel would bring any real benefits to Pakistan. The Abraham Accords, brokered by the United States in 2020, are landmark agreements for diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan. These accords paved the way for formal ties, such as embassies and trade deals, underpinned by mutual interests in security, economic collaboration, and technology exchange. While celebrated as a diplomatic shift in the Middle East, the accords also sparked debate and resistance in Pakistan. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif have both affirmed that Pakistan will not join, asserting that any recognition of Israel would contradict its longstanding supp...
  • Defeat inflicted by Pakistan has been difficult for India to digest: Dar
    Dawn - 14:05 Jul 11, 2025
    Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Friday that the defeat inflicted by Pakistan has been difficult for the Indian political leadership to digest, state-run Radio Pakistan reported. As New Delhi launched deadly air strikes on Pakistan in early May over allegations about the Pahalgam attack, which Islamabad denied, PAF downed six Indian jets in its response. After tit-for-tat strikes on each other’s airbases, it took American intervention on May 10 for both sides to finally reach a ceasefire. According to the Foreign Office, Deputy PM Dar is leading the Pakistan delegation at the 32nd ministerial meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Regional Forum (ARF), being held today in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Addressing the Pakistani community in Kuala Lumpur, Dar said on the military side of matters, there was no issue between Pakistan and India as the armed forces had gone back to the mutually decided positions. However, he added that the defeat inflicted by Pakistan has...
  • NDMA expects moderate to heavy monsoon rains in multiple parts of country
    Dawn - 13:06 Jul 11, 2025
    The National Emer­gencies Operation Centre (NEOC) of the National Disa­ster Management Authority (NDMA) on Friday issued a weather alert warning that moderate to heavy monsoon rains are expected to affect multiple regions of the country for a three-day period commencing from July 13 (Sunday). Monsoon rains fall across the region from June to September, offering respite from the summer heat and replenishing water supplies and agriculture. They are crucial to the livelihoods of millions of farmers and food security. However, they also trigger deadly floods, landslides and displacement, particularly in vulnerable, poorly drained, or densely populated areas. The NEOC advised the public to take precautionary measures in anticipation of rains. The forecast indicates moderate to heavy monsoon rainfall across various regions of Pakistan due to intensified moisture inflow from the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, coupled with an active westerly wave system. As a result, substantial rises in river flows are expected ...
    Tags: NDMA
  • Islamabad court suspends order banning YouTube channels of Matiullah Jan, Asad Toor
    Dawn - 13:03 Jul 11, 2025
    An Islamabad district and sessions court on Friday admitted two revision petitions — submitted by journalists Matiuallah Jan and Asad Ali Toor — against the judicial magistrate’s order blocking 27 YouTube channels, suspending the ban for the two petitioners. An Islamabad court recently ordered YouTube to block 27 channels for disseminating “fake, misleading, and defamatory” content against the government and armed forces. The sanctioned accounts were being run by journalists, political commentators and social media in­­fluencers in Pakistan and overseas. On Wednesday, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry said that the owners of these channels would face criminal action. Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka heard the two revision appeals and ordered the suspension in a one-page written order for each petition. According to the order dated today, seen by Dawn.com, the petitioners contended that they were not even given a prior notice and that the ban violated Article 10-A of the...
  • MQM founder Altaf Hussain hospitalised in London after ‘severe illness’
    Dawn - 12:57 Jul 11, 2025
    Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder Altaf Hussain is currently hospitalised in London due to “severe illness”, according to party officials. Previously known as the Mohajir Qaumi Movement, Hussain founded his party in 1984 to represent the Urdu-speaking community, which had migrated to Pakistan amid Partition. Hussain currently lives in London, where he has been in self-imposed exile since 1992. He was later granted British citizenship. From London, Hussain played an active role in politics, regularly broadcasting political speeches to his followers in Karachi. “The founder and leader of MQM, Altaf Hussain, has been admitted to a hospital in London due to severe illness, where various tests have been conducted on him,” said senior London-based MQM leader Mustafa Azizabadi. He appealed to people to pray for the MQM founder. In a subsequent video message, he said Hussain’s health deteriorated last night and he was hospitalised upon a doctor’s inspection and recommendation. “Doctors have conducted various tes...
  • Pakistan book place in Hockey U-18 Asia Cup final with 4-3 victory over Malaysia
    Dawn - 12:54 Jul 11, 2025
    Pakistan on Friday secured their place in the finals of the U-18 Asia Cup in Dazhou, China with a penalty shootout victory over Malaysia, extending their unbeaten streak in the tournament. According to a post by the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) on Instagram, both teams drew 3-3 in regular time, forcing the game to a penalty shootout, which Pakistan clinched 4-3. “Phenomenal goalkeeping and nerves of steel in the shootout — the boys in green are through to the final against Japan this Sunday!” the PHF wrote. “Let’s bring the trophy home.” View this post on Instagram It said the national team was “charging into the final” with “unstoppable spirit and fierce determination”. View this post on Instagram On Wednesday, Pakistan beat hosts China 2-1 to qualify for the semi-final. They also defeated Bangladesh (6-3), Sri Lanka (9-0) and Hong Kong (8-0) during their campaign. Squad: Mohammad Usman, Atif Ali, Asam Junaid, Mohammad Abdullah Farooq, Abdullah Awan, Zubair Lateef, Mohammad Yaseen, Mohammad Ali Taj, Ghul...
  • President, PM urge responsible parenthood on World Population Day
    Dawn - 11:11 Jul 11, 2025
    President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged awareness on responsible parenthood and family planning to address population growth on the World Population Day on Friday, state-run Radio Pakistan reported. Established by the then-Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme in 1989 and observed on July 11 every year, World Population Day seeks to focus attention on the urgency and importance of population issues, including their relations to the environment and development. The president, in his message to the nation, said that the challenge of population growth continued to hinder the country’s national development process which necessitated a comprehensive, and inclusive approach, state-run Associated Press of Pakistan reported. “When community leaders, elders, and civil society organisations promote the benefits of responsible parenthood and support access to family planning, societal attitudes begin to change. The media also has a central role to play in raising awaren...
  • 5 dead, 4 injured as vehicle plunges into ravine in KP’s Kurram: police
    Dawn - 11:03 Jul 11, 2025
    At least five people died and four others were injured when a pickup vehicle plunged into a deep gorge in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kurram district on Friday morning, police said. Kurram Deputy Commissioner Ashfaq Khan told Dawn.com: “The accident occurred in the Para Chamkani Gondal, where five people died and four others sustained injuries.” He said the vehicle was on its way to Sadda Bazaar Lower Kurram from Spin Ghar Manro when the incident occurred. “The vehicle lost control on a narrow and dangerous bend and fell off the road, as a result of which five people died on the spot while four were seriously injured,” he added. The deceased were identified as Gul Wali, son of Abdul Hanan (driver); Naimatullah, son of Gul Khan; Naseeb, son of Hamad Jan, residents of Manro; Dolly Khan, son of Islam; and Riazuddin, son of Zahiruddin, residents of Kimal Baza Zangi. According to the deputy commissioner, locals voluntarily started relief operations to rescue the injured and recover the bodies soon after the incident. The...
    Tags: Kurram
  • UAE assures full visa facilitation support for Pakistanis
    Dawn - 10:38 Jul 11, 2025
    The United Arab Emirates’ Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister, Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Friday assured “full support” in expediting visas for Pakistani citizens, state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported. Al Nahyan’s statement came during a meeting with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who is currently on an official visit to the UAE. The visit aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation in security, counter-narcotics, and immigration matters. The minister received a warm welcome at the UAE Ministry of Interior, where he was presented with a guard of honour. He was introduced to senior UAE officials and engaged in high-level discussions focusing on visa facilitation for Pakistani citizens, especially work visas. During the visit, Naqvi emphasised the importance of easing the visa policy, stating, “We want Pakistani citizens to come to the UAE with ease. Relaxation in visa policies will bring great relief.” The UAE interior minister assured full support in this reg...
  • Pakistan, Russia sign agreement to revive Pakistan Steel Mills, reaffirm ‘long-standing industrial partnership’
    Dawn - 08:32 Jul 11, 2025
    Pakistan and Russia signed an agreement on Friday to revive and expand the Pakistan Steel Mills project in Karachi — originally built in 1973 with soviet assistance — signalling both countries’ commitment to their “long-standing” industrial partnership. In May, Pakistan and Russia had agreed to revive PSM, which ceased its operations in 2015, according to a press release by the Press Information Department (PID). In 2024, following the official closure of the mill, Sindh sought Russia’s assistance in restoring the ageing infrastructure, which had been incurring losses for decades. The agreement to revive the defunct entity was signed at the Pakistan Embassy in Moscow by Secretary Industries and Production, Saif Anjum and General Director of Industries Engineering LLC of Russia, Vadim Velichko, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Industries and Production. “Reviving PSM with Russia’s support reflects our shared history and commitment to a stronger industrial future,” said Special Assistant t...
  • Roof collapse injures 6 as heavy rains cause flooding in KP’s Charsadda
    Dawn - 07:42 Jul 11, 2025
    Six members of a family, including four children, were injured after the roof of a mud house collapsed due to heavy rains in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Charsadda district in the early hours of Friday, a rescue official said. Rescue 1122, Charsadda’s District Emergency Officer Jawad Ali told Dawn.com that the incident occurred in the Omarzai area, where the roof of a house collapsed, adding that his team responded promptly and recovered the injured from the debris. “The injured were transported to the district headquarters hospital in Charsadda for medical assistance,” he said. “The Rescue 1122 team had also provided first aid to the injured on the spot and in the ambulances; they seemed out of danger.” According to the DEO Ali, four of the injured were guests from Karachi. Of the four children, aged five to nine, three suffered multiple injuries, while the fourth suffered a forehead wound. The DEO appealed to the public to take precautionary measures during the monsoon season. Meanwhile, Ali and Charsadda Deputy Co...
  • Musk’s Tesla marks formal India entry with Mumbai launch event
    Dawn - 06:59 Jul 11, 2025
    Tesla will open its first India showroom in Mumbai next week, having imported $1 million worth of cars and merchandise, marking its entry into the world’s third-largest car market despite CEO Elon Musk’s complaints about high import tariffs. In an invitation to the media on Thursday, the carmaker said the July 15 event was the “launch of Tesla in India through the opening of the Tesla experience centre at Bandra Kurla Complex,” located in the city’s leading commercial business district. Grappling with excess manufacturing capacity at its other factories and falling sales, Tesla has pivoted to selling imported cars in India, on which it will need to pay about 70 per cent import duty and other levies. Commercially available custom records from January to June showed Tesla imported vehicles, chargers and accessories into India worth close to $1m, mainly from China and the United States. The vehicles included six of Tesla’s best-selling Model Y at a shipment value of $32,500 each for five cars, and $46,000 for th...
  • Trump threatens Canada with 35pc tariff rate starting Aug 1
    Dawn - 06:37 Jul 11, 2025
    Canada will face a 35 per cent tariff on exports to the United States starting August 1, President Donald Trump said on Thursday in a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney. It was the latest of more than 20 such letters issued by Trump since Monday, as he continues to pursue his trade war threats against dozens of economies. Canada and the US have been locked in trade negotiations in hopes of reaching a deal by July 21, but the latest threat appeared to have shifted that deadline. Both Canada and Mexico are trying to find ways to satisfy Trump so that the free trade deal uniting the three countries — known as the USMCA — can be put back on track. “Throughout the current trade negotiations with the United States, the Canadian government has steadfastly defended our workers and businesses. We will continue to do so as we work towards the revised deadline of August 1,“ Carney posted on the social media platform X Thursday night. The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement replaced the previous NAFTA accord in July ...
  • Auto sales surge despite tractor setback
    Dawn - 04:22 Jul 11, 2025
    KARACHI: Pakistan’s auto industry posted a strong rebound in FY25, with double- and triple-digit growth across most segments, signalling a revival in demand amid improved macroeconomic conditions. The only exception was the tractor segment, which recorded a sharp 36.4pc decline due to continued stress in the agricultural economy. According to data released by the Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association, car sales rose by 38pc to 112,203 units in FY25 from 81,579 units a year earlier. Light commercial vehicles, pickups, vans, and sport utility vehicles recorded a 61pc increase, with total sales rising to 35,820 units from 22,250. Truck sales more than doubled, jumping 103pc to 4,444 units compared to 2,187 in FY24, while bus sales grew 74pc to 788 units from 454. The two- and three-wheeler segments also showed improvement, with sales climbing 32pc to 1.518 million units from 1.150m units. However, tractor sales plunged to 29,192 units in FY25 from 45,911 units in FY24, reflecting subdued farm income and ...
  • Power minister renews push to slash solar net metering
    Dawn - 02:49 Jul 11, 2025
    • Awais proposes delay in payback to ease grid surplus • Claims Rs191bn saved in FY25 as power losses dip due to governance reforms • Govt eyes 6,000MW surplus supply for crypto, data centres ISLAMABAD: The Power Division is making another attempt to convince the federal cabinet to curtail returns on solar net metering and remove electricity duty on consumer bills being resisted by the provinces. Speaking at a news conference on Thursday, Power Minister Awais Leghari said he would be presenting a revised plan to the federal cabinet in a week or two based on consultations with some stakeholders to stagger the recovery of investment on net metering to two to three years from the current one and a half years. Mr Leghari also announced that the Power Division on Thursday moved a summary for cabinet approval to finalise rules for wheeling charges, a key step towards operationalising the competitive electricity trading market. He added that the government was exploring plans to offer 5,000-6,000MW of surplus electr...
  • Passengers kidnapped in Sardhaka, rescue operation underway: Balochistan govt
    Dawn - 18:36 Jul 10, 2025
    The Balochistan government on Thursday said that it has received information about the kidnapping of some passengers near Sardhaka and a search operation is underway to recover them. A statement from Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind said terrorists belonging to the Fitna-al-Hindustan had carried out attacks in Quetta, Kalat, Mastung and Sardhaka. “Information has been received about the kidnapping of some passengers near Sardhaka. A search operation has been launched in the area to safely recover the passengers,” he said. Rind added that the security forces responded “immediately and vigorously” at all three locations, saying they were fully alert to protect the lives, property and belongings of the people. The police and security forces have not provided details at the moment of the other incidents. In May this year, the government designated all terrorist organisations in Balochistan as Fitna-al-Hindu­stan — a new phrase aimed at framing India’s alleged role in terrorism as a deliberate desta...
  • Fact check: Supreme Court has not declared ban on 27 YouTube channels unconstitutional
    Dawn - 17:39 Jul 10, 2025
    Posts from users on social media platforms X and Facebook on Wednesday claimed that the Supreme Court had declared an Islamabad court’s ban on 27 YouTube channels unconstitutional. However, no such development has occurred. It emerged on Tuesday that an Islamabad court last month ordered YouTube to block 27 channels for disseminating “fake, misleading, and defamatory” content against the government and armed forces. Among the 27 sanctioned accounts — run by journalists, political commentators and social media in­­fluencers in Pakistan and overseas — are those of the PTI, Matiuallah Jan, Wajahat Khan, Ahmad Noorani and Asad Ali Toor, Imran Riaz, Orya Maqbool, Sabir Shakir, and Moeed Pirzada. On Wednesday, former anchorperson Sabir Shakir said in a post on X: “Supreme Court declares ban on 27 YouTube channels unconstitutional.” The post was seen by more than 39,000 people. The same claim was shared by several other X users as can be seen here, here, here and here. The claim also circulated on Facebook, as can b...
  • Lahore Police arrest suspect in ‘horrific’ animal torture case
    Dawn - 17:36 Jul 10, 2025
    The Punjab Police on Thursday arrested a suspect allegedly involved in “horrific” animal torture being committed in Lahore and put a stop to the activity. Lahore’s JFK Animal Rescue and Shelter said it received reports about an “extremely horrific situation after an Instagram influencer was seen posting torturing and killing animals, including bunnies and cats”. The organisation said it immediately contacted the police, who reached the location to find dead bodies of animals and blood, with the suspect found “laughing” when approached. The shelter said it would register a case against her and the animals were moved to shelters by the Police Animal Rescue Centre (PARC). Visuals shared by the shelter showed cats, rabbits and birds of prey in captivity at the site. Lahore Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Syeda Shehrbano Naqvi addressed the incident in a video, saying: “We just came back from a case where a girl … was torturing animals and she had rabbits, some exotic animals, cats and a lot of other stuf...
  • Iran threats in UK ‘significantly increased’: intelligence watchdog
    Dawn - 17:22 Jul 10, 2025
    A United Kingdom parliamentary committee on Thursday blamed Iran for at least 15 attempts to kill or kidnap British-based individuals since 2022, saying the threat from Iran had “significantly increased”. London’s response has been too focused on “crisis management”, said parliament’s intelligence and security committee, with concerns over Iran’s nuclear programme dominating their attention too much. Tehran swiftly issued a “categorical rejection of the unfounded, politically motivated and hostile allegations”. The committee’s claims were “baseless, irresponsible, and reflective of a broader pattern of distortion intended to malign Iran’s legitimate regional and national interests”, said its London embassy. The report comes after growing alarm in Britain at alleged Iranian targeting of dissidents, media organisations and journalists in the UK, including accusations of physical attacks. Iran in March became the first country to be placed on an enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme, which a...
    Tags: Iran
  • ANP leader Maulana Khan Zeb, cop gunned down in KP’s Bajaur: police
    Dawn - 16:35 Jul 10, 2025
    Awami National Party (ANP) politician Maulana Khan Zeb and a policeman were shot dead on Thursday by unidentified suspects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur district, according to the police. Bajaur District Police Officer (DPO) Waqas Rafiq told Dawn.com that the politician was shot dead in Shindai Mor while campaigning for the July 13 peace parade, adding that a policeman was also killed in the attack. “Three other people were injured in the shooting,” DPO Rafiq said. “This was a targeted killing carried out by unidentified shooters on motorcycles.” DPO Rafiq added that evidence had been collected from the crime scene. Khan Zeb was a member of the ANP’s central cabinet and held the office of secretary of ulema affairs, according to the party website. ANP President Senator Aimal Wali Khan issued a statement condemning the killing, stating that the party would file a first information report against the state. “State institutions are complicit in this incident because they have maintained criminal silence,” the A...

5467 items