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• Govt hikes petrol price by Rs6, diesel by Rs19

  Dawn - 18:52 Apr 30, 2026
  

  The government raised on Thursday the price of petrol by Rs6.51 per litre and that of high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs19.39. Following the increase, the price of petrol stands at Rs399.86 per litre and HSD’s at Rs399.58. The Petroleum Division’s press release notifying the increase said the new prices would be effective from May 1. Petrol is mostly used in private transport, small vehicles, rickshaws and two-wheelers and has a direct bearing on the budget of the middle and lower-middle class. High-speed diesel is mainly used in the heavy transport sector and for large generators. Petrol and high-speed diesel are the major revenue spinners with their monthly sales of about 700,000 to 800,000 tonnes compared to just 10,000 tonnes of monthly demand for kerosene. The latest price hike came after the a virtual meeting between the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Pakistan’s representatives, during which the IMF was told that Pakistan was well placed to achieve the petroleum levy target of Rs1.468 trillion, source...

  Tags: Rs19

• 13 terrorists killed as bids to infiltrate Pak-Afghan border in KP foiled: ISPR

  Dawn - 18:11 Apr 30, 2026
  

  The military’s media affairs wing said on Thursday that 13 Indian-sponsored terrorists were killed in two foiled infiltration attempts along the Pak-Afghan border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In a statement, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that the 13 Fitna al Khawarij terrorists were killed last night. Fitna al Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. ISPR said that in KP’s Mohmand district, the movement of a group of terrorists trying to infiltrate the Pak-Afghan border was picked up by security forces. “Own troops effectively engaged this group of khawarij. As a result of precise and skillful engagement, eight khwarij belonging to the Indian-sponsored, Fitna al Khawarij were sent to hell,” it said. It added that troops also foiled another infiltration attempt by a group of khawarij along the Pak-Afghan border in KP’s North Waziristan district. It added that after an intense exchange of fire, five terrorists were killed. “These engagements on...

  Tags: Pak-Afghan ISPR

• KP CM Afridi hints at legislation against collateral damage in drone strikes

  Dawn - 17:47 Apr 30, 2026
  

  PESHAWAR: Following public outcry from his own constituency over drone attacks, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Thursday hinted at introducing legislation to criminalise collateral damage in such incidents. The development comes after a meeting of lawmakers from the respective districts decided that the issue would be taken up in the provincial assembly, while vowing to put up a joint front to protect civilians. “We held a meeting on bringing a law against drone attacks, but ‘they’ have protected themselves in the Constitution against drone attacks … However, we can legislate against collateral damage,” Afridi said on Thursday without specifying further. He made the remarks while speaking during a session of the KP Assembly summoned to discuss the issue. CM Afridi alleged that whenever he protested against a drone strike, he received a message that “they” understood the situation and were sorry. The chief minister questioned why such incidents never targeted sensitive installations and only...

  Tags: Afridi

• 'Clock on diplomacy has not stopped': FO says Pakistan remains actively engaged with Iran, US to resolve conflict

  Dawn - 16:26 Apr 30, 2026
  

  Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said on Thursday that Pakistan remained actively engaged with Iran and the United States to “achieve a resolution” of the conflict between the two sides. “As such, the status of talks now is that we remain actively engaged with both sides to achieve a resolution of this issue. The clock on diplomacy has not stopped. We remain hopeful of a negotiated settlement of this issue, and we will continue our sincere efforts for the cause of peace and prosperity in the region and beyond,” he said during a weekly FO briefing. The conflict, which is now almost two months old, began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. And while hostilities have paused following a Pakistan-brokered two-week ceasefire on April 8 — which has now been extended indefinitely by US President Donald Trump — the world continues to face its consequences. It has led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supply used to pass in peacetime, re...

  Tags: Pakistan Iran

• PTI leaders turn up for Adiala jail visit following 2-week gap

  Dawn - 15:49 Apr 30, 2026
  

  ISLAMABAD: After skipping Adiala jail visits for two consecutive weeks, PTI leaders on Thursday managed to reach the prison for a meeting with incarcerated party founder Imran Khan, which was once again denied. The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has allowed Imran twice-a-week meetings — on Tuesdays and Thursdays — with his family, lawyers and other associates. Despite court orders, Imran’s meetings with the family and the party leaders have been largely restricted. While Imran’s sisters continue to show up at the jail on Tuesdays, party leaders were nowhere to be seen the past two weeks, prompting criticism of the leadership. On Wednesday, a list of PTI leaders’ names was sent to the Adiala jail superintendent for a meeting with Imran. The initial list sent to the jail administration included the names of PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Advocate Hamid Khan and Barrister Ali Zafar. However, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja — who has been authorised by the IHC to share the names of leaders who intend ...

  Tags: Adiala

• Arif Habib-led consortium notifies Privatisation Commission of its intent to acquire remaining 25pc PIA stake

  Dawn - 15:22 Apr 30, 2026
  

  ISLAMABAD: The Privatisation Commission announced on Thursday that the consortium led by Arif Habib Corporation Limited has notified it of its intent to acquire the remaining 25 per cent equity stake in Pakistan International Airlines Corporation Limited (PIACL), paving the way for full private-sector ownership of the national carrier. It said that the total private-sector investment in the transaction was expected to amount to approximately Rs180 billion, comprising a minimum of Rs55 billion payable to the government as divestment proceeds and Rs125bn to be injected as fresh equity into PIACL to support the airline’s recapitalisation. “The planned equity injection will support fleet expansion and modernisation, route development, and improvements in customer service and operational systems,” the commission said. It said that management control was expected to be transferred on or before May 25, the first closing date announced by the Privatisation Commission, subject to the fulfilment of conditions set out i...

  Tags: Privatisation Commission

• PM Shehbaz extends fuel subsidy for motorcyclists, goods transport by one month

  Dawn - 14:56 Apr 30, 2026
  

  Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday decided to extend the fuel subsidy for motorcyclists, and public and goods transport by one month. According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the premier decided to continue providing relief to the economically vulnerable sections of society during the current situation. It said that the prime minister “had decided to extend fuel subsidy given last month to motorcyclists, public and goods transporters by one more month”. He also directed transporters not to increase travel and freight fares. He further issued instructions to maintain “effective monitoring” of relief measures. According to the statement, PM Shehbaz vowed to continue the government’s relief efforts, stressing that “providing relief to the common man remained the government’s top priority”. “The people will not be left alone under any circumstances,” the premier asserted, hoping that the “regional situation will improve soon so that fuel prices can stabilise”. The subsidies wer...

  Tags: Shehbaz

• Freshly transferred Justices Sattar, Kayani to hear cases at PHC, LHC from coming week

  Dawn - 14:54 Apr 30, 2026
  

  PESHAWAR/ LAHORE: Justices Babar Sattar and Mohsin Akhtar Kayani will begin presiding over proceedings at the Peshawar High Court (PHC) and Lahore High Court (LHC), respectively, in the coming week following their recent transfers from the Islamabad High Court (IHC). Their transfers, along with that of IHC judge Saman Rafat Imtiaz to the Sindh High Court, were approved by the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) on April 28 and notified by the law ministry on April 29 amid criticism from lawyers’ bodies. On Thursday, the names of Justices Sattar and Kayani were included in the rosters of the high court courts to which they have been transferred. The LHC’s revised roster for May 4 to July 4 shows that Justice Kayani will be presiding over proceedings as judge on a single bench at the court’s principal seat. The roster, notified by Additional Registrar (Judicial) Shabbir Hussain Shah, shows that 27 single benches and nine division benches have been constituted at the principal seat for this period. Meanwhile, ...

  Tags: Kayani Justices Sattar

• Finance ministry flags risk to Pakistan's external sector amid global uncertainty

  Dawn - 14:18 Apr 30, 2026
  

  ISLAMABAD: Despite a healthy primary balance of 3.3 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) at home, the Ministry of Finance on Thursday warned that Pakistan’s external sector may be facing risks owing to emerging global uncertainties and regional supply disruptions amid a higher rate of inflation. “External demand may remain supportive in some markets but the balance of risk becomes less favourable than in a pre-war setting,” the ministry said in its Monthly Economic Update and Outlook for April 2026. It said the ongoing Middle East conflict was posing new risks and heightened uncertainty regarding the macroeconomic outlook. The ministry forecast April’s inflation rate — measured by the consumer price index — at 8 to 9pc, significantly higher than 7.3pc in March. It highlighted that the overall primary surplus in the first eight months of the current fiscal year was recorded at 3.3pc of GDP (Rs4.319 trillion) as compared to 3pc (Rs3.452tr) last year. During July-March Fiscal Year 2026, the Federal Board of ...

  Tags: Finance

• Amazon says damaged UAE cloud region recovery to take several months

  Dawn - 13:57 Apr 30, 2026
  

  Amazon said on Thursday that restoring cloud computing operations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which were damaged in the conflict in the Middle East, is expected to take several months. Amazon’s data centres in the region were hit by Iranian retaliatory drone strikes in early March, amid the conflict, disrupting cloud services and making a recovery “prolonged”. When asked if the latest update was related to a new incident, an Amazon spokesperson said that the latest update dated April 30 related to the previous operational issues in March. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the world’s largest cloud computing provider, serving a global client base. Its key customers include companies such as Netflix, BMW and Pfizer, as well as major financial institutions, media groups and public sector organisations. It is also the company’s main driver of profits. AWS recommended customers migrate all accessible resources to other regions and restore inaccessible resources from remote backups as soon as possible, according ...

  Tags: Amazon

• In fresh message, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei defies US naval blockade

  Dawn - 13:10 Apr 30, 2026
  

  Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei declared on Thursday that the United States had suffered a shameful defeat, defiantly rejecting a warning from President Donald Trump that an economically punishing US naval blockade could be enforced for months to come. “Today, two months after the largest military deployment and aggression by the world’s bullies in the region, and the United States’ disgraceful defeat in its plans, a new chapter is unfolding for the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz,” said Khamenei in the message read on state television. The message by Khamenei, who has yet to appear in public since his appointment on March 9 as Iran’s new supreme leader, came on the annual national celebration of “Persian Gulf” day in Iran. Khamenei became the supreme leader after the US and Israel launched a massive campaign of strikes on Iran on February 28, assassinating his father and predecessor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In his Thursday message, he said US bases in the region “lack even the capacity...

  Tags: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei

• Cambridge confirms AS-level math exam leak, says working on determining next steps

  Dawn - 12:20 Apr 30, 2026
  

  Cambridge International Education (CIE) on Thursday confirmed that its AS-level mathematics paper was “shared prematurely” against its regulations. The development comes after the Inter-Board of Coordination Commission (IBCC) on Thursday announced it would seek a report from Cambridge as parents and students raised questions about the transparency of the exam system following reports of the leak. In an official statement, CIE said, “We can confirm that Cambridge International AS-Level mathematics paper 12 (9709) taken in our Africa, Europe, Middle East, Pakistan and South Asia regions, was shared prematurely against our regulations. “We investigate such incidents promptly and thoroughly and we are now working to understand the extent of the leak and determine next steps,” it added. It affirmed its priority to ensure that the students were not disadvantaged by this incident, saying it would take all possible measures to protect the integrity of its exams. “It is important that candidates continue to prepare fo...

  Tags: AS-level Cambridge

• Imaan, Hadi approach SC seeking early hearing of appeals against conviction in social media posts case

  Dawn - 12:03 Apr 30, 2026
  

  ISLAMABAD: Human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, on Thursday approached the Supreme Court (SC), seeking an early hearing of their appeals against their conviction under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) in the controversial social media posts case. On January 24, a sessions court had sentenced Imaan and Hadi to a total of 17 years in prison on multiple charges in the case. The lawyer duo were sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment under Section 10 (cyber terrorism), five years’ imprisonment under Section 9 (glorification of an offence) and two years’ imprisonment under Section 26-A (false and fake information) of Peca. Moved through senior counsel Faisal Siddiqi under Article 185(3) of the Constitution, the application filed in the SC on Thursday requested the grant of leave to appeal against the Feb 19 Islamabad High Court (IHC) order. The IHC in February had admitted the appeal against the trial court’s verdict. However, while it had issued notices to th...

  Tags: Hadi Imaan

• Bears continue to dominate PSX as KSE-100 loses 2,800 points

  Dawn - 11:59 Apr 30, 2026
  

  Bears dominated the trading floor at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) for a fourth consecutive day on Thursday as the KSE-100 plunged by over 2,800 points. KSE-100 declined by 2,829.70 points or 1.71 per cent to close at 162,994.17 points from the previous close of 165,823.87 points. The market dropped to an intraday low of 160,391.18 points at 11:34am, before regaining some ground to reach above the 162,000-point level after 1pm. Rising global oil prices amid geopolitical tensions have kept investors cautious, according to analysts. Oil prices soared more than 7pc to a fresh four-year high today, while global stocks fell after Donald Trump warned the US blockade of Iranian ports could last months and a report said he would be briefed on potential fresh military strikes. Brent for June delivery surged 7.1pc to $126.41 per barrel in Asian trade, while West Texas Intermediate climbed 3.4pc to $110.31. Both later pared the gains. Today’s bearish momentum also came after reports emerged that UAE-based telecom gi...

  Tags: KSE-100 Bears

• Govt slashes passport delivery time to 14 days, orders offices to go cashless

  Dawn - 11:54 Apr 30, 2026
  

  ISLAMABAD: The government on Thursday slashed the delivery time for ordinary passports from 21 days to 14 days and ordered all passport offices to go fully cashless within 15 days. The decisions were taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry in Islamabad. “We have reduced the delivery time for normal passports from 21 days to 14 days,” Naqvi said, according to an official handout. The minister further stated that “a complete cashless system will be implemented in passport offices,” while giving passport authorities 15 days to end cash transactions at all offices nationwide. “Eliminating cash payments will end the agent mafia and facilitate citizens,” Naqvi said. Officials said the 14-day timeline for normal passports comes into effect immediately. Officials were also directed to finalise a separate “business passport” category soon and make the home-delivery system for passports more effective, the statement said. Naqvi said that...

• From surplus to strain: World rice supply threatened by Iran war, El Niño

  Dawn - 11:44 Apr 30, 2026
  

  Rice supply is expected to fall this year as farmers cut planting acreage across Asia because of fertiliser shortages and soaring fuel costs from the Iran war, with an emerging El Niño also set to squeeze output of the world’s most consumed staple. Rice is central to global food security, and even modest supply disruptions can ripple through countries, lifting prices and straining household budgets, particularly among price-sensitive consumers in Asia and Africa. The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in April forecast rice output would expand by 2 per cent to a record high in 2025/26. The effects of the Iran war are impacting farmers in top exporters Thailand and Vietnam, as well as the import-reliant Philippines and Indonesia, growers and traders said. The war has cut fuel and fertiliser flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint that connects the Gulf to global markets. Southeast Asia’s mainly smallholder farmers also face mounting stress as the El Niño weather phenomenon is set to usher ...

  Tags: Iran

• Sindh education department to introduce religious textbooks for Hindu students

  Dawn - 10:48 Apr 30, 2026
  

  KARACHI: The Sindh Education and Literacy Department is set to introduce religious textbooks for Hindu students to be taught in grades three to five across government schools in Sindh, it emerged on Thursday. In a letter dated April 29 to the chairman of the Sindh Textbook Board (STBB), the education department requested the distribution of “three religious books for grades III to V for the current academic year 2026–27”, referring to a decision taken at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Sindh Curriculum Council on April 20. Chief Executive Advisor Dr Fauzia Khan wrote in the letter that the cost of publication will be borne by a social welfare organisation, Prem Sagar Sanstha Karachi, for the current academic year. “The distribution of the books will be carried out through STBB,” the letter said. Khan also requested the board to “allocate/adjust budget for the publication of the religious books for the next academic year”. A similar move was made by the federal government in 2023, when the National...

  Tags: Hindu Sindh

• Lahore court grants interim pre-arrest bail to PM's daughter, son-in-law in Saaf Pani case

  Dawn - 10:40 Apr 30, 2026
  

  LAHORE: An anti-corruption court on Thursday granted interim pre-arrest bail of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s daughter Rabia Imran and her husband Ali Imran Yousaf in a case of alleged irregularities in the Punjab Saaf Pani Company (PSPC). The couple appeared before the court, where Judge Javed Iqbal Warraich presided over the proceedings. The court allowed the bail petitions and sought a reply from the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) by the next hearing on May 4. The couple had earlier been declared proclaimed offenders due to their absence from the country. They later approached an accountability court, which last week suspended their arrest warrants and allowed them to surrender before the law. However, the case was transferred to the anti-corruption court as the accountability court lost jurisdiction following amendments to the National Accountability Ordinance. The couple was accused of getting illegal monetary benefits by renting out their building to PSPC to establish its office. Other suspects, ...

• PM Shehbaz launches Rs10m housing loans under Rs3.2tr 'Apna Ghar Programme'

  Dawn - 09:47 Apr 30, 2026
  

  ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday launched the “PM Apna Ghar Programme” under which housing loans of Rs10 million will be given on easy instalments. The scheme will be implemented in the federal capital, all four provinces, as well as Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing the launch ceremony in Islamabad, PM Shehbaz said a total of 500,000 housing units will be constructed under the programme, supported by a total allocation of Rs3.2 trillion. The loans are to be returned in 20 years, he said. During the first 10 years, the markup on the loan will be 5 per cent, while in the next 10 years it will be charged at the market rate at the time. The premier said that for the first year, the government has set a target to fund 50,000 houses for which an amount of Rs321 billion had been earmarked. Under the scheme, a maximum of 10 marla housing units will be allowed to be built. PM Shehbaz said he would personally review the programme’s progress on a monthly basis to address any sh...

  Tags: Shehbaz

• Lahore Bar Association moves SC against 27th Amendment following transfer of IHC judges

  Dawn - 09:19 Apr 30, 2026
  

  ISLAMABAD: A day after the government notified the transfer of three Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges to other high courts, the Lahore Bar Association (LBA) moved the Supreme Court on Thursday to challenge the constitutionality of the 27th Constitutional Amendment under which these transfers were made. On Tuesday, the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) approved the transfer of three judges from the IHC to other courts in a move that drew sharp criticism from lawyers’ bodies for lacking transparency and uniform criteria. Senior counsel Hamid Khan approached the SC, instead of the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC), on behalf of LBA President Irfan Hayat Bajwa, seeking a declaration that the recent transfer of three judges from the IHC to other high courts is unconstitutional and of no legal effect. The bar association also requested the SC to declare the omission and repeal of Article 184(3) of the Constitution — an inherent jurisdiction of the SC for the enforcement of fundamental rights but now repealed ...

  Tags: Lahore Bar Association

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