Dawn
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Dawn - 07:06 Jun 22, 2026
Oil prices declined on Monday after US-Iran talks concluded in Switzerland with Tehran saying it had secured waivers for oil and petrochemical exports, easing worries about a supply shortage in global markets. Brent crude fell $1.68, or 2.09 per cent, to $78.89 a barrel by 0633 GMT (11:33am PKT). Prices had climbed to $82.30 at the start of trading, fuelled by a bumpy start to the talks with threats from US President Donald Trump to restart the war on Iran and Tehran’s announcement it had again closed the Strait of Hormuz. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were at $76 a barrel, down 60 cents, ahead of the contract’s expiry later on Monday. The more active August contract fell 69 cents to $75.16 a barrel. There was no settlement in the US market on Friday due to a holiday. “The decline has been driven primarily by improving prospects for a diplomatic breakthrough between the United States and Iran … reviving hopes that sanctions on Iran could eventually be eased,” said Sugandha Sachdeva, founder of SS W... -
Dawn - 07:04 Jun 22, 2026
Key developments: US-Iran agree to a roadmap toward a final deal within 60 days; technical-level talks to continue for the rest of the week in Switzerland US-Iran agree to set up a communication line” to avoid incidents in the Strait of Hormuz; agree to a mechanism to end war in Lebanon Iran’s foreign minister says “tireless” efforts by Pakistan Qatar has delivered “major progress” to end Lebanon war; says Iran has secured waivers for oil and petrochemical exports, the release of some frozen assets and the launch of a reconstruction and development plan After hours-long negotiations in the Swiss resort of Burgenstock, the United States and Iran agreed on a roadmap towards reaching a final peace deal in 60 days, a joint statement issued by mediators Pakistan and Qatar early on Monday said. The talks, which began on Sunday and stretched into Monday, were held under the framework of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that was signed between the two sides on Thursday. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ha... -
Dawn - 05:25 Jun 22, 2026
Amid vocal criticism of a bill aimed at advancing fibreisation across the country, PPP Vice President Senator Sherry Rehman said on Monday that the party would not support any such legislation in the Senate unless it was “thoroughly discussed threadbare” in the relevant standing committee and the party’s proposed deletions were ensured in the final bill. Concerns about the intentions behind the Pakistan Telecommunication (Amendment) Bill 2026 have intensified due to the timing of the government’s attempt to secure its passage through both houses of Parliament and criticism against its clause to allow telecommunication companies to use public land without a fee. The bill was approved by the National Assembly (NA) on June 11, a day before the presentation of the federal budget 2026-27, and was presented in the Senate on June 15. It was referred to the Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecommunication on June 15, before being deferred. On Sunday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also formed a committee to revie... -
Dawn - 02:55 Jun 22, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The government on Sunday withdrew its decision to temporarily reduce speed limits on motorways and national highways, restoring the previously prescribed limits. The speed limit for cars and light transport vehicles (LTVs) on motorways has been restored to 120km per hour, while the speed limit for public service vehicles (PSVs) and heavy transport vehicles (HTVs) has also been reinstated to 110 km per hour, according to the National Highways and Motorway Police. Similarly, the previously prescribed speed limits for cars, LTVs, PSVs, and HTVs on national highways have also been restored. Road users have been advised to strictly observe the prescribed speed limits, follow traffic laws, and ensure safe driving practices at all times. The speed limits on motorways and national highways had earlier been reduced “in order to promote austerity measures and fuel conservation”. The development had come as the government announced a series of austerity measures to conserve fuel in view of the global fuel cri... -
Dawn - 02:51 Jun 22, 2026
KARACHI: Fourteen people, mostly women, were injured when a fast-moving vehicle rammed into a tent erected by mourners outside an imambargah in Defence Housing Authority, police and rescue services officials said. Darakshan SHO Rashid Ali said that a Suzuki pick-up went out of the driver’s control and entered a tent outside Masjid-o-Imam Bargah Baqiyatullah on Saba Avenue in Phase VI, where mourners were attending a majlis, injuring several people. He said the police had taken the driver and two other occupants of the vehicle into custody. During grilling, the driver claimed that the vehicle had gone out of control after its brakes failed. However, the official said the police were further investigating the incident. The injured were shifted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, where 11 of them were identified as Shazia, 45, Maheem Akram, 30, Mehnaz Shahbaz, Zunaira Akram, five-year-old Iman, Mumtaz Zafar, 40, Kausar Perween, 30, Shaherbano, 22, Irshah Bibi, Ayat Majid and Sumaira Tariq. Videos circulat... -
Dawn - 02:15 Jun 22, 2026
• All local, international regulatory approvals completed, adviser says • Islamabad airport privatisation planned during FY27 • Karachi, Lahore airport outsourcing process to begin immediately • Five Discos targeted for sale or concession ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airlines will be fully and formally handed over to its new owners before the end of the current month, completing a privatisation transaction that had been delayed for months after bidding in December last year because of global regulatory requirements. “It will be handed over to the new buyers by the end of this month,” Prime Minister’s Adviser on Privatisation Muhammad Ali told Dawn over the weekend, adding that all local and international regulatory approvals had now been completed. Ali said the national flag carrier’s operating rights in various countries had to be transferred to the privatised operator, requiring several regulatory processes, which had now been completed. The local law relating to PIA’s conversion into a public limited ... -
Dawn - 02:09 Jun 22, 2026
• Committee finalises Finance Bill 2026 recommendations • Lawmakers seek relief for entry-level, mid-range phone users • FBR says mobile imports generate Rs37bn annually • Apple devices account for Rs21bn in mobile import revenue • Aircraft lease, spare parts tax relief extended beyond PIA • MNAs insist airline relief should reflect in ticket prices ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary committee on Sunday raised questions over the government’s mobile phone taxation policy and proposed taxes on high-end electric vehicles, while also extending relief to airlines beyond Pakistan International Airlines. The National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance, chaired by MNA Naveed Qamar, concluded its series of meetings held for a clause-by-clause review of the Finance Bill 2026. The committee finalised its recommendations and forwarded them to the National Assembly. During the proceedings, Sharmila Faruqui and Muhammad Javed Hanif submitted dissenting notes on the government’s electric vehicle policy and the existing tax stru... -
Dawn - 01:56 Jun 22, 2026
After hours-long negotiations in the Swiss resort of Burgenstock, the US and Iran agreed on a roadmap towards reaching a final peace deal in 60 days, a joint statement issued by mediators Pakistan and Qatar said on Monday. The talks began on Sunday and stretched into Monday, being held under the framework of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding that was signed between the two sides on Thursday. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also signed the breakthrough interim peace deal as a mediator, marking a significant step towards end a war that began in late February. The joint statement issued by Pakistan and Qatar after the second round of direct talks between the two sides — the first having been held in Islamabad in April — said the first session of high level talks under the framework of the Islamabad MoU had concluded with the participation of representatives from Iran, the US and the mediators. “The Lake Lucerne Summit was conducted in a positive and constructive atmosphere. Encouraging progress has been ma... -
Dawn - 21:33 Jun 21, 2026
Qatar’s interior ministry said an explosion resulting from a “technical accident” occurred on Sunday at a factory in Ras Laffan, an industrial city north of the capital Doha and site of the country’s core LNG processing operations. It said several injuries were reported but no leak that “threatens safety”. The ministry did not give the exact location of the explosion. But, QatarEnergy confirmed that the operational incident during the start-up of operations at Ras Laffan Industrial City, saying it resulted in an explosion at its Barzan gas supply facility. QatarEnergy said fire at the factory was under control after the deployment of emergency response teams to contain the blaze. From 20 kilometres south of Ras Laffan on Qatar’s north coast, an AFP journalist saw flames illuminating the night sky and a plume of smoke rising from the area, home to the world’s largest liquefied natural gas hub. Pakistan’s embassy in Qatar expressed concern over the incident, saying it “stands in solidarity with Qatar”. -
Dawn - 21:21 Jun 21, 2026
Belgium were held to a scoreless draw by Iran in a frustrating encounter Sunday that saw the Red Devils reduced to 10 men and facing the possibility of group-stage elimination for a second straight World Cup. A star-studded though ageing lineup including Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku was if anything fortunate to leave Los Angeles with a point, controlling possession yet ceding the game’s best chances to a resolute Iran team. Iran’s Mehdi Taremi had the ball in the net from a well-worked first-half free kick that was overturned for offside by VAR, while Nathan Ngoy was sent off after the break for hauling down the striker after a badly mis-hit backpass. The result means all three games so far in Group G have ended in draws. Stuck on two points, Belgium at least have the comfort of playing the tournament’s lowest-ranked team, New Zealand, in their final group game. Iran will also need at least a point against Egypt next Friday. Having been frustrated by visa issues as they travel from their base camp in Mex... -
Dawn - 17:59 Jun 21, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The opposition alliance Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Ayin-i-Pakistan (TTAP) on Sunday demanded the removal of Minister of IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja over a controversial telecommunication bill and sought representation in an inquiry committee investigating the matter “to ensure impartiality”. The Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) (Amendment) Bill 2026, which seeks changes to a 1996 act and was tabled by the IT minister, was approved by the National Assembly (NA) on June 11 by a majority vote. It is currently pending before the Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecommunication, where it was referred on June 15. The proposed changes have been the subject of discussion on social media, with some users voicing concerns over provisions relating to the use of private property for infrastructure such as telecom towers. TTAP spokesperson Akhunzada Hussain Ahmad Yousufzai said the bill — presented in Senate for final approval after passage through the cabinet and National Assembly — was stopp... -
Dawn - 16:25 Jun 21, 2026
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Egypt on Sunday welcomed the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the US and Iran during a Regional Four (R-4) meeting in Cairo, emphasising the importance of achieving a “swift and successful” conclusion to the subsequent phase of negotiations. The meeting came the same day as Pakistan, along with c0-mediator Qatar, hosted delegations from the US and Iran in Switzerland for high-level technical talks ironing out the details of the MoU. On Friday, the FO had announced that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar would attend the fourth meeting of foreign ministers in Cairo on June 21 at the invitation of his Egyptian counterpart. In a joint statement issued by the participating nations, shared by the Foreign Office on X, the R-4 meet which convened in Cairo on Sunday at the invitation of Egypt, welcomed the signing of the Islamabad MoU. The participating nations viewed the important development as a “constructive step towards de-es... -
Dawn - 15:56 Jun 21, 2026
The Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) has spearheaded the repatriation and humanitarian assistance of eight Iranian nationals who were rescued at sea by a British vessel, it said in a press release on Sunday. The Iranian nationals had been rescued by the British vessel MMA Valour after their boat ran aground, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had said on Wednesday. The PMSA said that efforts for the “necessary reception, documentation, medical screening and coordination for onward repatriation” were undertaken under its lead coordination. Representatives from the foreign ministry, Pakistan Navy, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Consulate General of Iran and relevant international stakeholders were also present during the process, the PMSA said. “The operation was conducted in close coordination with national and international stakeholders, reflecting Pakistan’s commitment towards humanitarian assistance, safety of life at sea and regional maritime cooperation,” the statement said.... -
Dawn - 15:28 Jun 21, 2026
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was reflecting this weekend on the “political realities” that he faces, a senior minister said on Sunday, amid media reports the premier would resign within days. It follows veteran Labour politician and rival Andy Burnham’s victory in a by-election on Friday, which paves the way for the 56-year-old to challenge the beleaguered Starmer to be party leader and prime minister. Any Labour leadership candidate must be a member of parliament. If Starmer does leave office this year, Britain will get its seventh prime minister in a decade — an unprecedented rate of churn in its modern history. US President Donald Trump shared his thoughts on Sunday in typically blunt fashion, writing on his Truth Social platform that “Keir Starmer will resign as Prime Minister of The United Kingdom”. “He failed badly on two very important subjects — IMMIGRATION AND ENERGY (OPEN NORTH SEA OIL!). I wish him well!” Burnham — Greater Manchester mayor since 2017 — has made clear he intends to bid to lea... -
Dawn - 15:16 Jun 21, 2026
Pakistan is targeting the training and deployment of 300,000 to 400,000 workers for projects linked to the FIFA World Cup 2034 which will take place in Saudi Arabia as part of a broader strategy to expand overseas employment opportunities and strengthen the country’s position in international labour markets. According to official documents available with Wealth Pakistan, workforce planning is being aligned with anticipated demand arising from the FIFA World Cup 2034, with trained Pakistani workers expected to support infrastructure development, aviation, tourism and related service sectors between 2026 and 2034. The initiative forms part of the government’s wider efforts to boost manpower exports and enhance the skills profile of Pakistani workers for overseas employment. During July-March FY2025-26, a total of 215,719 workers received soft-skills training aimed at improving adaptability, productivity and global employability. The documents indicate that overseas employment remains a key pillar of Pakistan’s ... -
Dawn - 11:10 Jun 21, 2026
Delegations from the United States, Iran, Pakistan and Qatar arrived at Switzerland’s Burgenstock on Sunday for “technical-level” talks aimed at ironing out the details of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding signed by Tehran and Washington to bring an end to the conflict that has engulfed the majority of the Middle East. On the table today several important issues: the lifting of the US blockade of Iran, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Israeli strikes on Lebanon and Hezbollah, unfreezing of Iranian assets, and the sale of the country’s oil. Each side will participate in bilateral talks ahead of the quadrilateral talks including mediators Pakistan and Qatar scheduled for Sunday afternoon. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi arrive at Zurich Airport, in Zurich, Switzerland, June 20, 2026. ─ Reuters Iran’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Seyyed Abbas Araghchi (C) arrives at the Burgenstock resort in Obbuergen, near Lucerne on June 21, 2026. ─ Reuters Sp... -
Dawn - 09:14 Jun 21, 2026
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a nationwide weather alert, warning that thunderstorms, strong winds, heavy rainfall, urban flooding and glacier-related flood risks could affect several parts of Pakistan over the next 12 to 24 hours. According to the NDMA’s National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC), the forecast weather pattern is consistent with the seasonal outlook issued three to four months ago. The NDMA said it has been continuously providing advance warnings and risk assessments to relevant federal, provincial and district authorities to ensure timely preparedness and effective response measures ahead of potential emergencies. The alert forecasts rain accompanied by thunderstorms, windstorms and dust storms in most parts of the country. Punjab and Islamabad Rainfall is expected in Rawalpindi, Murree, Attock, Chakwal, Talagang, Mandi Bahauddin, Sargodha, Gujar Khan, Gujrat, Jhelum, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Lahore, Faisalabad, Khushab, Jhang, Mianwali, Dera Ghazi Kha... -
Dawn - 07:59 Jun 21, 2026
Beneath the scorching sun in the Sindh mango belt, labourers balance on tree branches, working at a swift pace to throw the freshly picked fruit into sacks held ready by farmhands waiting below. Though mango season is well underway, far less of the fruit will be bound for the lucrative export market than usual, with an agriculturally dependent economy caught in the crosshairs of the Middle East crisis that the government has helped mediate. An initial deal between the warring sides announced by Islamabad this week has come too late for this mango season, which began in June in Sindh. Mango traders told AFP they expect export sales to fall at least 30 per cent this year due to dampened demand in key markets, including the Gulf, and soaring shipping costs. Adding to the financial pain, local households struggling with a spike in inflation emanating from the regional crisis are holding off on buying the fruit, depressing domestic sales. This photograph taken on June 4, 2026 shows mango farm owner Ali Palh showin... -
Dawn - 07:17 Jun 21, 2026
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Sunday announced Advocate Amjad Hussain as the party’s candidate for the post of Gilgit-Baltistan chief minister. The announcement came a day after the PPP — which emerged as the leading party during the recent general elections — announced it would form a government in GB with the support of the PML-N. Local PPP and PML-N leaders have agreed on a proposed power-sharing formula under which the region’s chief minister would be from the PPP, while the governor of GB, as well as the leader of the opposition, will be from the PML-N. According to an official statement shared on X, “Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has decided to appoint PPP’s provincial president, Advocate Amjad Hussain, as the chief minister of Gilgit-Baltistan.” It added that the PPP chairman also had a telephonic conversation with Hussain. “The PPP chairman issued instructions to Advocate Amjad regarding government formation and the implementation of the constitutional and economic rights of the people,” th... -
Dawn - 07:00 Jun 21, 2026
Japan marked the 1,000th match in World Cup history with a commanding 4-0 win over Tunisia in Group F on Saturday, as Ayase Ueda scored twice to send the North Africans out. Hajime Moriyasu’s side, who drew 2-2 with the Netherlands in their opener, went ahead after four minutes when a sweeping attack ended with Keito Nakamura cutting the ball back for Daichi Kamada to score. Tunisia, beaten 5-1 by Sweden in their first match and playing under new coach Herve Renard, struggled to cope with Japan’s pressing and movement from the outset. Japan almost doubled their advantage in the 11th minute with an attack down the right flank, with Tunisia’s Dylan Bronn turning a low cross away from Kamada. From the resulting corner, Tunisia goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen produced a fine save, with goal-line technology confirming the ball had not crossed the line. Moriyasu’s team continued to dominate possession, their front line harrying Tunisia’s defence and preventing Renard’s side from establishing any rhythm in the Monterrey hea...
12400 items