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Found 10706 news

  • Armed forces reaffirm commitment to peace and national unity on Eidul Azha
    Dawn - 11:15 May 27, 2026
    The top military leadership on Wednesday extended Eidul Azha greetings to the nation and paid tribute to the sacrifices of martyrs and security personnel serving the country. According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf, and Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu conveyed heartfelt felicitations to the people of Pakistan on the occasion of Eidul Azha. The military’s media wing said the armed forces prayed for lasting peace, prosperity and national unity while acknowledging the resilience of the Pakistani people and the sacrifices rendered by martyrs, armed forces personnel, law enforcement agencies and citizens in safeguarding the country. The statement described Eidul Azha as a symbol of sacrifice, faith and solidarity, adding that the Pakistan armed forces remained steadfast in their commitment to defending the country’...
  • Marsh out of Pakistan ODIs, Inglis to captain Australia
    Dawn - 10:50 May 27, 2026
    Australia captain Mitchell Marsh has been ruled out of the one-day international series in Pakistan after picking up an ankle injury while playing in the Indian Premier League. Josh Inglis will take over as captain after Marsh sat out Lucknow Super Giants’ final game on Saturday and flew back to Australia for treatment. Marsh joins regular 50-over captain Pat Cummins in missing the three-match series that starts on Saturday in Rawalpindi. Cummins is playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL playoffs this week. “Marsh will remain in Perth for further assessment and treatment until further notice,” said Cricket Australia late Tuesday. “His availability for the white ball tour of Bangladesh will be determined in due course.” Third-choice captain Travis Head was not picked for the Pakistan tour because of IPL commitments, meaning fourth-choice Inglis will take the reins. The wicketkeeper has captained Australia only once before, also against Pakistan, in Perth in November 2024. After the ODI series in Pakistan, ...
  • No feasts, no joy: Gazans mark a dark Eid
    Dawn - 10:36 May 27, 2026
    A girl holding a piece of candy stands among Palestinians performing morning prayers marking the start of Eidul Azha, on a heavily damaged street in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on May 27, 2026.New clothes for children, sacrificial sheep and Eid biscuits, the hallmarks of the Muslim holiday, are all either unaffordable or unavailable in Gaza, casting a shadow over what is usually a time of celebration and joy. “I go to the market only to look around because I cannot afford to buy anything. Whenever I ask about prices, I return heartbroken,” Nadia Abu Shamala, a Palestinian resident of Gaza, told AFP. “This year, Eid comes with none of the joy we once knew in Gaza because of the effects of the war, the soaring prices, and our inability to provide even the simplest needs for our children,” said the 40-year-old woman from Gaza’s north displaced to the central Gaza city of Deir al-Balah for over two years following the Israeli invasion of the besieged enclave. A girl holding a piece of candy stands among Palestinians performing morning prayers marking the start of Eidul Azha, on a heavily damaged street in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on May 27, 2026. Despite a US-brokered ceasefire that began ...
  • CDF Munir spends Eidul Azha with frontline troops in Zhob, says brutal acts cannot weaken nation’s resolve
    Dawn - 10:30 May 27, 2026
    Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir meets troops deployed in Zhob. — ISPRChief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir on Wednesday spent Eidul Azha with frontline troops deployed in Balochistan’s Zhob and said “inhumane and brutal” acts cannot weaken the resolve of the armed forces or the nation, according to the military’s media wing. On Sunday, at least 14 people were killed, and 20 others were injured after a blast caused by a vehicle-borne suicide bomb tore through a shuttle train in Quetta. As per a statement released by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), CDF Munir’s visit began with Eid prayers, “along with special supplications for Pakistan’s enduring peace, stability and prosperity and for the Shuhada, who rendered the ultimate sacrifice in defence of the motherland”. During the visit, CDF Munir also interacted with officers and soldiers, appreciating their “exceptional grit, unwavering resolve, operational preparedness and steadfast vigilance amid foreign-sponsored terrorism”. He also paid tribute to the troops for their “unmatched...
  • Haj pilgrims stone the devil in final ritual
    Dawn - 09:16 May 27, 2026
    Muslim faithful took part in the climactic ritual of the annual Haj pilgrimage on Wednesday, symbolically stoning the devil near Makkah. From dawn, crowds of pilgrims gathered in the valley of Mina, southeast of the holy city of Makkah, to throw pebbles at concrete pillars symbolising the devil. It reenacts the Prophet Ibrahim’s (AS) stoning of the devil at three places where Satan is said to have tried to dissuade him from obeying God’s command to sacrifice his son Hazrat Ismail (AS). More than 1.7 million people are taking part in the Haj this year. The most important festival in Islam has, for the third year in a row, been overshadowed by war — this time the US-Israeli conflict with Iran that has drawn in the Gulf nations. A fragile ceasefire, in place since April 8, has mostly brought a halt to the fighting, but diplomatic efforts to bring the war to a definitive end have proved inconclusive so far. The Haj, which involves a series of mostly outdoor rituals over several days, is taking place during intens...
  • President, PM stress care for underprivileged on Eidul Azha
    Dawn - 08:00 May 27, 2026
    • Zardari insists true success lay in piety, service to humanity, compassion, and sincerity • Shehbaz says the spirit of sacrifice ensures lasting national cohesion and progress; exchanges Eid greetings with President Erdogan ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari, extending his heartfelt greetings to the people of Pakistan, overseas Pakistanis, and the Muslim Ummah on the occasion of Eidul Azha, said the occasion reminded Muslims of the spirit of obedience to Allah Almighty, patience, sincerity, and the great sacrifice demonstrated by Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) and Hazrat Ismail (AS). In a message issued on the occasion of Eidul Azha, he said that the festival conveyed that sacrifice was not merely a religious obligation but a complete moral message. He added that true success did not lie in wealth, power, or outward grandeur, but in piety, sincerity, service to humanity, and compassion for others. The president said that, according to a Hadith of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), the most beloved perso...
  • In pictures: Muslims across the world celebrate Eidul Azha
    Dawn - 07:53 May 27, 2026
     Muslims attend an Eid al-Adha prayer at a public park, outside El-Seddik Mosque in Cairo, Egypt, May 27. — Reuters Muslims across the world celebrated Eidul Azha, also known as the feast of the sacrifice, on Wednesday. Celebrated on the 10th of Zilhaj, Eidul Azha marks the culmination of Haj, one of the five pillars of Islam. It marks the end of the Haj and commemorates Prophet Ibraham’s (AS) readiness to sacrifice his son to show obedience to Allah. This year, Eid is being celebrated across much of the Muslim world under the shadow of the US-Iran war in the Middle East. Muslims attend an Eid al-Adha prayer at a public park, outside El-Seddik Mosque in Cairo, Egypt, May 27. — Reuters Yemenis visit a graveyard on the first day of Eid al-Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice, in Sanaa on May 27. — Reuters Muslims gather to take part in a special morning prayer at the Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo on May 27. — Reuters Families of Hezbollah fighters killed in the conflict visit the graves of their relatives on the morning of Eid al-Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice, at the Hawra Zaynab cemetery in Beirut’s southern suburbs on May 27. — AFP This...
  • Israel claims it killed new Hamas armed wing chief in Gaza strike
    Dawn - 06:49 May 27, 2026
    Israel said on Wednesday it had killed the new head of Hamas’s armed wing in Gaza, Mohammed Odeh, in a strike the day before, after killing his predecessor in a similar attack this month. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz claimed the “commander of the armed wing of the Hamas terrorist organisation in Gaza was eliminated yesterday”. Hamas has not yet commented. “In the Prime Minister’s name and in my own, congratulations to the IDF and the Shin Bet on the brilliant execution,” Katz claimed in a post on X. “We committed ourselves to eliminating everyone who led the October 7 massacre, and that is what we will do: they are all marked for death, wherever they may be.” After announcing the strike on Tuesday, Katz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a joint statement that Odeh had “served as head of Hamas intelligence during the October 7 massacre and was appointed approximately one week ago as successor to Ezzedine al-Haddad”. Haddad was killed by an Israeli strike on May 15. “Odeh was responsible for...
  • Chemical tank rupture in Washington state causes one death, multiple injuries
    Dawn - 05:41 May 27, 2026
    A drone view of a chemical tank after its rupture at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging pulp and paper mill in Longview, Washington, US, May 26, 2026. — ReutersA chemical tank imploded and ruptured at a Nippon Dynawave Packaging facility in the US state of Washington on Tuesday, resulting in one death and nine injuries, while nine others remained unaccounted for as of Tuesday night, authorities said. A joint written statement with Nippon and the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Department said a tank containing “white liquor,” a chemical solution of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide used in making paper pulp, had ruptured around 7:15 am local time (1415 GMT). While the tank was initially believed to hold around 80,000 gallons, officials later said it contained closer to 900,000 gallons of white liquor, with an estimated 90,000 gallons of material still inside the damaged tank. Recovery efforts would resume on Wednesday at the site in the city of Longview in Cowlitz County, about 45 miles (72 km) north of Portland, Oregon, as the tank remained unstable, Longview Fire Department Battalion Chief Matt Amos said during a media briefing. A drone view of a chemical tank after it...
  • Eid with dry taps as Karachi water crisis enters second month
    Dawn - 04:33 May 27, 2026
    • From upscale to low-income areas, residents complain of weeks without water as demand peaks during Eidul Azha • Disrupted supply leaves many people dependent on expensive tankers for animal care, sanitation and household needs • KWSC chief claims utility taking all-out measures to ensure ‘uninterrupted supply’ during Eid days KARACHI: With Eidul Azha being celebrated on Wednesday (today), residents of the metropolis are marking the second month of an acute water crisis that has left taps dry, tanker queues long and tempers frayed. For many families, the festival of sacrifice now means sacrificing sleep to chase tankers, and sacrificing savings to buy water for ritual washings, animal care and sanitation. This is not the first time the city has faced Eid amid a severe water shortage. Residents call it a grim tradition of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) to fail during the city’s most critical moments — Eids, Ramazan, Eid Miladun Nabi and Muharram — when water is indispensable for both ritual...
  • Islamabad plans oil reserves, storage push
    Dawn - 03:13 May 27, 2026
    KARACHI: Pakistan plans to boost domestic storage for crude oil and refined products to increase its energy security, according to a government document that was shared with oil producers and some of the world’s leading trading firms. Despite depending on supplies through the Strait of Hormuz for up to 90 per cent of its oil and liquefied natural gas imports, Pakistan has no strategic petroleum reserves. That has left it exposed to supply shocks provoked by the Iran war even as its lending programme with the Inter­national Monetary Fund limits room for costly state-owned emergency stocks. According to the document reviewed by Reuters, the energy ministry is proposing to build strategic petroleum reserves as well as commercial storage through bonded terminals, refineries and oil marketing companies. It is also pushing for more oil and gas exploration and production, upgrades to its refineries and a consolidation of its downstream sector. Govt plans to cut reliance on Hormuz imports “Pakistan’s oil security req...
  • Tomato, onion and flour rates surge
    Dawn - 03:05 May 27, 2026
    KARACHI: After paying higher prices for sacrificial animals to fulfil a religious obligation, consumers now face another challenge in finding extra cash to buy high-demand vegetables and flour ahead of Eidul Azha. Retailers have increased the price of onions by Rs20 per kg as demand usually rises for its extensive use in preparing Eid-related meat dishes. Consumers are paying Rs100 per kg for good-quality onions, compared with Rs80 per kg a few days ago. A good-quality tomato is now priced at Rs180-200 per kg, compared with Rs70-100 in the middle of this month and Rs50-80 per kg earlier this month. Falahi Anjuman Wholesale Vegetable Market, New Subzi Mandi, President Haji Shahjahan said the Sindh onion crop is nearing its end, while demand is being met by crops from Punjab and Balochistan. Wholesale prices lag retail hikes; traders blame low arrivals and transport priority for sacrificial animals He said retailers are fully cashing in on the high demand for onions, as the wholesale rate is no more than Rs50 p...
  • New airline South Air operates trial flight to Gwadar
    Dawn - 02:29 May 27, 2026
    QUETTA: In a significant boost to Gwadar’s air connectivity, private airline South Air has launched its first trial flight service from Karachi to Gwadar. The trial flight successfully landed at the New Gwadar International Air­port, marking a key step towards improving air tra­vel facilities in the coastal region. According to the airport flights schedule, South Air flight Z8-905 departed from Karachi at 12 noon on Tuesday and arrived at the New Gwadar Inter­national Airport at 3:40pm. The operationalisation of the Gwadar airport under the China-Pakistan Eco­nomic Corridor (CPEC) project is expected to facilitate smoother movement of passengers, cargo and services. The new air service is also expected to significantly reduce travel time between Gwadar, Karachi, Quetta and other cities, while boosting trade, tourism and development activities across the Makran division. According to the private airline spokesperson, improved connectivity between the Gwadar seaport and international airport could help transfor...
  • Iran vows not to let aggression go unanswered after US violates truce
    Dawn - 02:25 May 27, 2026
    • Washington says strikes targeted Iranian missile sites, mine-laying boats • Rubio says Iran deal may take ‘a few days’; insists Hormuz will reopen ‘one way or the other’ • Iran says US drone downed, F-35 fired at; tanker damaged by external explosion off Oman • Trump to hold Camp David cabinet meeting on Iran crisis TEHRAN: Iran accused the United States of breaching their ceasefire on Tuesday and warned it was ready to retaliate and “will not leave any evil unanswered” after overnight US strikes targeting Iranian missile sites and mine-laying boats threatened a deal to end the war. The Brent benchmark oil price jumped up by more than four per cent after US Central Comm­and announced the new wave of bombings, and China urged both sides to respect the truce and to resolve their dispute peacefully. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, meanwhile, said negotiating a deal to halt the conflict could “take a few days”. According to Iranian media, Iran’s negotiators had been pushing for the memorandum to include the ...
    Tags: Iran
  • Supreme Court upholds spouse’s right to joint posting
    Dawn - 01:48 May 27, 2026
    • Verdict authored by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar notes solid grounds needed if wedlock policy is to be ignored • Bench sets aside Punjab service tribunal order; authorities directed to reconsider petitioner’s request for transfer within fortnight ISLAMABAD: The Supr­eme Court has ruled that a government employee may not have a vested right to transfer to a particular station, but spouses covered under the wedlock policy have a legitimate expectation to be considered for joint postings unless compelling public interest dictates otherwise. A division bench, headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and also comprising Justice Musarrat Hilali, gave its ruling on an appeal filed by Naheeda Aziz against the Jan 17, 2023 decision of the Punjab Service Tribunal, that had rejected her transfer request. While citing federal and provincial governments’ wedlock policies, Justice Mazhar noted that such policies mitigate and alleviate the socio-economic problems and hardships faced by husbands and wives in government service...
  • Punjab Home Department lists organisations barred from collecting animal hides on Eidul Azha
    Dawn - 19:01 May 26, 2026
    The Punjab Home Department on Tuesday issued a list of banned and monitored organisations ahead of Eidul Azha, urging citizens not to donate sacrificial animal hides to such groups or their affiliated organisations. According to a spokesperson for the department, “Providing any kind of assistance to banned organisations is a punishable offence under the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997.” He further warned that individuals found supporting organisations involved in terrorism or anti-state activities would face legal action. According to the list issued by the Home Department, the banned organisations included Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, Jaish-i-Mohammed, Lashkar-i-Taiba, Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, Al Qaeda, Daesh, Jamaatud Dawa, Falah-i-Insaniat Foundation and several other proscribed or monitored entities. “Citizens are advised to donate sacrificial hides only to organisations registered with the Punjab Charity Commission (PCC),” he said, adding that the authenticity of registered organisations could be verified through QR co...
  • At least one killed, 11 injured as earthquake damages houses in Punjab’s Jhelum district
    Dawn - 17:58 May 26, 2026
    JEHLUM: At least one person was killed and 11 others were injured after several houses were seriously damaged following a reported earthquake in Jhelum’s Pind Dadan Khan tehsil on Tuesday, the area administration said. According to Jhelum Deputy Commissioner Mir Reza Ozgen, the earthquake was reported in the Jalalpur Sharif area of Jhelum’s Pind Dadan Khan tehsil. Ozgen said around 10 houses were seriously damaged in the earthquake and confirmed that at least one person had died in the incident. According to a press release issued by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), an earthquake measuring 4.8 on the scale was recorded at 7:06pm on Tuesday. The quake had a depth of 12 kilometres, with its epicentre located 58 kilometres southwest of Jhelum at latitude 32.59 north and longitude 73.23 east, the release added. “Police, rescue teams and the local administration are present at the site. Further search and assessment of the area is underway,” the DC said. Assistant Commissioner Pind Dadan Khan Ayesha S...
    Tags: Jhelum
  • Pakistan stresses need for restraint, de-escalation in Iran-US conflict
    Dawn - 17:20 May 26, 2026
    UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan on Tuesday used the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to push for sustained diplomacy in the ongoing United States-Iran crisis, with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar highlighting Islamabad’s role in efforts aimed at reducing tensions between Tehran and Washington. Addressing a high-level UNSC debate chaired by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the UN headquarters in New York, the deputy prime minister warned that another conflict in the Middle East would have serious regional and global consequences. “Another prolonged conflict would serve no one,” he told the council. “It would endanger regional peace, disrupt global energy flows, deepen humanitarian suffering and strain an already fragile international order.” In remarks closely watched because of Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement in the crisis, Dar said Islamabad had consistently advocated for restraint and dialogue because of its ties with both Tehran and Washington. “As a friendly neighbour of I...
    Tags: Pakistan
  • Prayers offered for Muslim unity, ummah's better conditions in Haj sermon as pilgrims gather at Arafat
    Dawn - 17:12 May 26, 2026
     Muslims pray on Saudi Arabia’s Mount Arafat, also known as Jabal al-Rahma or Mount of Mercy, during the climax of Haj early on May 26, 2026. — AFP Imam of the Prophet’s Mosque, Sheikh Ali Al-Hudhaifi, on Tuesday prayed for unity among Muslims and better conditions for them around the world while delivering the Haj sermon at Masjid-i-Namirah. Huge numbers of Muslims prayed on Mount Arafat, as a harsh desert sun sent temperatures soaring towards 40°C. The imam concluded the sermon with an emotional prayer, seeking acceptance of the pilgrims’ rituals, unity among the Muslim world, and the safe return of pilgrims to their homes. “Oh God, improve the conditions of Muslims, create unity among them, and set them on the path of the truth,” he said, according to a televised Urdu translation. During his sermon, Sheikh Al-Hudhaifi emphasised that Haj is a fundamental pillar of Islam rooted in absolute monotheism and submission to Allah, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. He underscored that the pilgrimage serves as a vital platform for mutual acquaintance, harmony, cooperation, and unity among Muslims of all nationalities and backgrounds. The sermon also highl...
    Tags: Muslim
  • IT ministry starts registering cloud service providers to ensure data security
    Dawn - 16:28 May 26, 2026
    ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) has started registering cloud service providers (CSPs) to ensure that services meet required standards and safeguard national and public data security. The government had announced strict accreditation criteria for CSPs under the Pakistan Cloud First Policy (PCFP). So far, six applications have been received by the ministry for accreditation. IT Minister Shaza Fatima told Dawn that strict security criteria and quality standards have been set for CSPs, and that they must pass a rigorous security check and an audit by a third-party auditor registered with the Pakistan Computer Emergency Response Team (PKCERT) to ensure that the data of Pakistanis and government data remain secure from hackers. “For the first time, the policy ensures that Pakistan’s sensitive data is stored on servers physically located within the country, which will help keep national data under Pakistan’s legal control,” she said. “Under the PCFP, all public sector...

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