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Dawn - 14:37 Apr 01, 2026
LAHORE: Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat on Wednesday announced that all public and private schools across the province would remain closed on Fridays, with classes taking place four days a week. According to a notification by the Punjab School Education Department shared by Hayat on X, “Pursuant to approval of the competent authority, it is hereby notified that all public and private schools across Punjab shall remain off on Friday till further orders.” However, the notification didn’t mention the reason behind this decision. It also notified the opening and closing hours of public schools. Under the new schedule, schools with a single shift will operate from Monday to Thursday from 8am to 1:30pm. Meanwhile, schools with double shifts will have the morning session from 8:00am to 12:30pm, and the afternoon session from 1:00pm to 5:30pm. Speaking to Dawn, Punjab School Education Department Secretary Muddassir Riaz Malik also confirmed that educational institutions would remain closed on Friday. Me... -
Dawn - 13:54 Apr 01, 2026
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Wednesday launched a new framework for teenagers’ accounts, enabling them to independently own and operate bank accounts and digital wallets. According to a statement issued by the SBP, the move will build a financially savvy young generation. “By providing a convenient entry into the formal financial system at an early age, the SBP aims to foster meaningful participation of teenagers in the economy,” the statement said. It added that the initiative addressed a critical gap in the country’s financial landscape. “While overall account ownership of the adult population has risen to 67 per cent, teenagers have largely been confined to joint or parent-controlled accounts, limiting their practical financial engagement and learning,” the SBP said. The central bank said that with around 26 million citizens between the ages of 13 and 18, the framework was an effort for “nurturing a generation that is financially literate, digitally adept, and capable of driving future growth”. Key ... -
Dawn - 13:40 Apr 01, 2026
Pakistan and Norway on Wednesday signed the former’s first-ever carbon market deal under the Paris Agreement, according to an official press release. According to the press release, “Pakistan and Norway on Wednesday signed the country’s first landmark bilateral agreement under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement, opening the door to international carbon trading, climate finance and major investment in clean energy and climate-smart agriculture.” To tackle climate change and its negative impacts, world leaders at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) signed the Paris Agreement on December 12, 2015, according to the United Nations. The agreement included commitments from all countries to reduce their emissions and work together to adapt to the impacts of climate change, and called on countries to strengthen their commitments over time. The press release issued on Wednesday said that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in Islamabad under the auspices of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental C... -
Dawn - 13:28 Apr 01, 2026
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump is set to address his nation at 9pm EST on Wednesday (6:00am on Thursday in Pakistan) to provide what the White House has described as “an important update on Iran,” fuelling speculation that he may declare an end to the five-week conflict — with or without a negotiated settlement. US media outlets, reporting the announcement, noted that Trump has brushed aside the need for a formal agreement to end hostilities. Speaking to reporters at the White House on Tuesday, he said US forces would likely leave Iran in “two or three weeks.” “We leave because there’s no reason for us to do this,” Trump said. “We’ll be leaving very soon.” In remarks that appeared to redefine the war’s objectives, he suggested that a negotiated settlement was no longer essential. “Iran doesn’t have to make a deal. It’s a new regime. They are much more accessible,” he said, adding that if the war has prevented Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, “then we’ll leave whether we have a deal or not.“ Domes... -
Dawn - 12:58 Apr 01, 2026
Palestinian shops and public institutions were closed across the occupied West Bank on Wednesday in protest of an Israeli law passed earlier this week permitting the execution of Palestinians convicted of deadly terror attacks. In the Palestinian territory’s main cities of Hebron, Ramallah, and Nablus, most stores were closed with their shutters down at midday, AFP journalists reported. Palestinian Authority president Mahmud Abbas’ Fatah party had called for a general strike the previous day. In Ramallah, the seat of the Palestinian Authority north of Jerusalem, entire shopping centres were closed as well as the city’s main market. People gathered to march against the law backed by Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. “It’s a crazy law to be passed, it’s insane,” said Mohammed Gussein, a 24-year-old student at Al-Quds University, which like all Palestinian universities, was on strike. “It’s completely out of touch with humanity, and completely racist,” he told AFP. Riman, a 53-year-o... -
Dawn - 12:50 Apr 01, 2026
A delegation from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) called on Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and discussed its “growing portfolio in Pakistan, which now exceeds $2 billion annually and approximately $2.7bn committed this year”, according to the finance ministry. IFC is the private sector arm of the World Bank Group. According to the ministry, the IFC delegation comprised IFC Divisional Director for Pakistan, Afghanistan and Central Asia Simon Andrews, World Bank Country Director for Pakistan Bolormaa Amgaabazar and IFC Country Manager Naz Khan. Key areas of engagement included financial sector support through risk-sharing and guarantee facilities to promote trade and small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) financing; expansion of local currency financing to mitigate foreign exchange risks; and upcoming initiatives such as a diversified payment rights facility and a green bond issuance with a leading local bank, the ministry said. “Discussions focused on further scaling private sector investmen... -
Dawn - 12:20 Apr 01, 2026
The Pakistan Stock Exchange’s (PSX) benchmark KSE-100 index continued its bullish momentum on Wednesday, surging by over 6,700 points as investors appeared hopeful of de-escalation in the Middle East. The KSE-100 index climbed by 6,768.25 points, or 4.55 per cent, to close at 155,511.56 from the previous close of 148,743.31. The market fluctuated between an intraday low of 151,262.76 points at opening and surged by 8,603.86 points to reach an intraday high of 157,347.17 at 1:13pm. AKD Securities Ltd said the KSE-100 was eyeing recovery on “rising hopes of Middle East de-escalation”. “KSE-100 index is expected to rebound after recording its worst monthly performance in March 26 in the past six years, as the likelihood of de-escalation in the Middle East conflict increases,” it noted. Arif Habib Ltd highlighted China and Pakistan’s joint call for an immediate ceasefire in the Iran war, noting that “additional news flow has also been positive with regards to de-escalation”. “Further positive news flow will drive... -
Dawn - 11:58 Apr 01, 2026
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday that many countries were facing difficulties in maintaining the balance between demand and supply of essential commodities due to the global situation, but Pakistan was addressing the challenging situation “successfully and effectively,” the Prime Minister Office (PMO) said. According to a statement by the PMO, the prime minister made these remarks during a review meeting which was held to devise a comprehensive strategy to prevent the country from the financial and economic impacts arising from the regional conflict. PM Shehbaz commended the effective and timely measures taken by institutions to prevent any emergency situation regarding the demand and supply of essential goods. He appreciated the steps taken by relevant ministries and institutions through mutual coordination to address the financial and economic challenges and directed them to further enhance their cooperation. “After meeting domestic needs of food and essential items, progress is being made on... -
Dawn - 11:30 Apr 01, 2026
A significant reduction of 35 per cent in combat-related fatalities was recorded across Pakistan during the month of March, coinciding with Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, according to monthly statistics released by a think tank. Data released by Islamabad-based Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) showed that a total of 331 people were killed in March compared to 506 in February, marking a 35pc decline in overall combat-related deaths. PICSS also observed a decline in high-profile militant attacks, even as the overall number of attacks increased during the month. It noted that the reduction in human losses coincided with Pakistan’s cross-border military strikes under Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, which began in the last week of February and targeted terrorist positions in Afghanistan. “The timing suggests these operations may have contributed to disrupting militant capacity and reducing the lethality of attacks,” the report noted. It added that in response to these strikes, groups including Teh... -
Dawn - 11:23 Apr 01, 2026
Security forces killed 13 terrorists in two separate engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Wednesday. The military’s media wing said the engagement took place on March 30 and the terrorists belonged to “Indian Proxy Fitna al Khawarij”. Fitna al Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. During the first intelligence-based operation (IBO) conducted in the Bara area of Khyber district, security forces killed 10 terrorists. “During the conduct of operation, own troops effectively engaged khawarij location and after an intense fire exchange, 10 khawarij were sent to hell,” said the ISPR. In another IBO conducted in the Bannu district of the province, three terrorists were killed by security forces. “Sanitisation operations are being conducted to eliminate any other Indian-sponsored kharji found in the area, as the relentless Counter Terrorism campaign under vision ‘Azm-e-Istehkam’ (as approved ... -
Dawn - 10:56 Apr 01, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) on Wednesday directed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi to respond within 10 days to a petition seeking to prevent the mobilisation or activation of a “release force” for jailed PTI founder Imran Khan. Headed by FCC Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan, a three-judge bench also issued notices to respondents in the petition, namely the KP government, the PTI, the federal government and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). The proposed force was announced by CM Afridi in February after a days-long protest to secure a meeting with Imran failed to budge the government. It aims to continue the party’s struggle for the release of its founder, who has been imprisoned in Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail since Aug 5, 2023. In the petition filed before the FCC, Advocate Ali Nawaz Kharal has contended that he was filing the plea in the public interest and seeking the court’s intervention to prevent the formation or mobilisation of any private force or militia in viol... -
Dawn - 10:43 Apr 01, 2026
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has conveyed Beijing’s appreciation for Pakistan’s “active diplomatic role” and efforts towards ending the Middle East conflict, the Foreign Office (FO) said on Wednesday. Wang made the remarks during his meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Beijing on Tuesday, where the two sides had issued a five-point initiative for restoring peace in the Middle East. Referring to their discussions, the FO said in a statement, “The meeting was marked by traditional warmth and cordiality. Both dignitaries exchanged notes on the regional developments in West Asia as well as bilateral relations.” Dar briefed Wang in detail on Pakistan’s continued efforts towards the cessation of the Middle East conflict and resumption of dialogue, including its recent quadrilateral meeting in Islamabad with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Egypt. According to the FO, both sides “reviewed the regional security environment and expressed deep concern over its seri... -
Dawn - 10:05 Apr 01, 2026
Police in Spain said on Wednesday that they were investigating “Islamophobic and xenophobic” chants heard during the Spain-Egypt international football match in Barcelona. Egypt’s national anthem was jeered ahead of the 0-0 draw in Barcelona on Tuesday in a pre-World Cup friendly and authorities at the RCDE Stadium appealed to fans more than once over the public announcement system to refrain from making offensive comments. It was the latest in a string of similar incidents to overshadow Spanish football in recent years, with Real Madrid’s Brazilian attacker Vinicius Junior in particular repeatedly racially abused. “We are investigating yesterday’s Islamophobic and xenophobic chants at RCDE Stadium during the Spain-Egypt friendly match,” Catalonia’s regional police force, the Mossos d’Esquadra, wrote on X. The announcement came shortly after Spain’s Justice Minister Felix Bolanos condemned the incident, saying that “racist insults and chants embarrass us as a society”. “The far right will not leave any space ... -
Dawn - 10:05 Apr 01, 2026
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif discussed investment opportunities and the promotion of the digital economy with Kaan Terzioglu, chief executive officer of VEON Group — a telecommunications and digital services company, state-run PTV said on X. During a meeting with the VEON Group CEO at PM House, the prime minister “emphasised the promotion of digital investment in Pakistan”, the broadcaster said. In the meeting, the prime minister outlined the successful auction of the 5G spectrum that was held last month, with 480 megahertz (MHz) sold for $507 million. The three bidders — Zong, Jazz and Ufone — had competed for the 2,600MHz band, a key frequency range for 5G services. Zong acquired 110MHz, Ufone 180MHz and Jazz 190MHz during the auction. During the meeting, PM Shehbaz also shared details of the government’s initiatives to digitise the economy by ensuring transparency and increasing youth participation in the IT sector, PTV added. Terzioglu lauded the investment opportunities in Pakistan and the government’s ... -
Dawn - 08:59 Apr 01, 2026
Coach Graham Arnold challenged his players to “shock the world” after Iraq became the 48th and final team to qualify for the World Cup with a nerve-shredding 2-1 win over Bolivia in an intercontinental playoff in Mexico on Tuesday. Iraq, whose preparations were disrupted by the war in the Middle East, sealed their first appearance at the finals in 40 years and will play in Group I against France, Senegal and Norway. Goals from Ali Al-Hamadi and Aymen Hussein secured a famous win for Iraq, whose last appearance at the World Cup came at Mexico in 1986. “With everything going on in the Middle East at the moment it made it harder for the players,” said the Australian Arnold, who had initially sought to have the fixture postponed due to the disruption caused by the conflict. “Delighted for the players, very good boys, very happy for the 46 million Iraqis,” he added. “Hopefully, it will help change the perception of Iraq and the football in Iraq. Doing something in the World Cup nobody expects us to do. “Let’s shoc... -
Dawn - 08:43 Apr 01, 2026
PESHAWAR: Renowned urologist Dr Asif Malik was seriously injured after unidentified assailants opened fire at him in the city’s University Town area last night, hospital and police officials said on Wednesday. Asif, a pioneer of kidney transplants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, was shifted to Peshawar General Hospital (PGH) and was under treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU). A statement issued by city police stated that an investigation team recovered three empty bullet shells of a pistol from the spot near Asif’s home, adding that a case had been registered on the urologist’s behalf. “CCTV footage is being obtained, and teams have been assigned the task to arrest those behind the attack,” City Police spokesperson Alam Khan told Dawn. “Dr Asif Malik is stable,” the PGH, where he offers his services, confirmed in a statement on Facebook. “The matter is being handled by the relevant authorities, and we are fully cooperating with them,” the hospital said. It requested the public to respect the privacy of Dr Asif a... -
Dawn - 06:59 Apr 01, 2026
A Russian An-26 military transport plane crashed into a cliff in Crimea, killing 29 people on board, due to a possible technical malfunction, Russia’s defence ministry said early on Wednesday, according to news agencies. TASS news agency, quoting the ministry, said communication with the aircraft was lost at about 6pm local time (8pm PKT) on Tuesday on a planned flight over Crimea. “The defence ministry reported that a search team found the site of the catastrophe,” TASS reported. “According to a report from the site, six crew members and 23 passengers on board were killed.” The ministry report made no mention of any survivors on the An-26, a light tactical military transport that has for decades been a mainstay that can carry cargo and up to 40 passengers over short and medium distances. “There was no impact on the aircraft,” TASS quoted the ministry as saying, implying that objects like missiles, drones and birds were not involved. “The preliminary cause of the crash is a technical malfunction. A commission... -
Dawn - 06:08 Apr 01, 2026
Anthropic accidentally released part of the internal source code for its AI-powered coding assistant Claude Code due to “human error”, the company said on Tuesday. An internal-use file mistakenly included in a software update pointed to an archive containing nearly 2,000 files and 500,000 lines of code, which were quickly copied to developer platform GitHub. “Earlier today, a Claude Code release included some internal source code. No sensitive customer data or credentials were involved or exposed,” an Anthropic spokesperson said. “This was a release packaging issue caused by human error, not a security breach.” A post on X sharing a link to the leaked code had more than 29 million views early on Wednesday. The exposed code related to the tool’s internal architecture but does not contain confidential data from Claude, the underlying AI model by Anthropic. Claude Code’s source code was partially known, as the tool had been reverse-engineered by independent developers. An earlier version of the assistant had its... -
Dawn - 19:17 Mar 31, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Government officials said during a public hearing on Tuesday that liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies were under force majeure and not available for power generation. Force majeure is a clause included in contracts that allows a party to be excused from its obligations due to circumstances that are beyond its control. The officials’ revelation during the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) hearing thus means that LNG supplies were unavailable due to circumstances that were beyond the relevant parties’ control. Responding to questions, Central Power Purchasing Agency (CCPA) Chief Executive Officer Rehan Akhtar said LNG supplies were currently under force majeure, but he assured that coal supplies — another source for power generation — through imports were not facing any problems as they mostly came from South Africa and Indonesia, and were unaffected by disruptions in the Middle East. LNG-based power plants have a generation capacity of more than 4,500 megawatts. An almost a month... -
Dawn - 16:52 Mar 31, 2026
Fear for her son’s fate kept Maisoun Shawamreh awake through the night in the occupied West Bank following the Israeli parliament’s approval of a law permitting the execution of Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks. “The mothers of prisoners — none of us slept last night,” Shawamreh told AFP as she joined a protest in Ramallah against the law on Tuesday. Her son has been in detention for three years, awaiting sentencing on charges of attempted murder. “He may or may not be subject to execution,” she said, uncertain of what lies ahead. Relatives of Palestinian prisoners hold placards and shout slogans during a rally in the Israeli-occupied West Bank city of Nablus on March 31, 2026, against a bill approved by Israel’s parliament that would allow the execution of Palestinians convicted on terror charges for deadly attacks. — AFP Under the new law, passed in parliament late Monday, Palestinians in the occupied West Bank convicted by military courts of carrying out deadly attacks classified as “terrorism” wil...
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