Pakistan

Bulls took control of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Monday as the benchmark index recovered over 900 points. The KSE-100 index gained 954.77 points (0.59 per cent) to close at 163,948.94 points from the previous close of 162,994.17 points. The index had begun the day on a positive note, reaching an intraday high of 167,245.54 at 10:39am after gaining 4251.37 points from the previous close. According to Mettis Global, the initial sharp rally came as investors reacted positively to developments surrounding rising tensions between Iran and the United States, alongside efforts to stabilise the situation in key global energy routes. However, the market witnessed a sharp fall after 3pm, reaching an intraday low of 163,417.84 points. Among the most actively traded stocks today: Hascol Petroleum Limited: up 0.76pc to Rs21.33 on a volume of 51,509,056 shares Cnergyico PK Limited: up 1.85pc to Rs8.27 on a volume of 50,165,739 Sui Southern Gas Company Limited: up 7.37pc to Rs26.52 on a volume of 49,675,264 The to...

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Monday described ‘Marka-e-Haq’ as a “golden chapter” in the country’s history, saying the nation had demonstrated unity, determination and resolve during the conflict.

Residents of Media Town, a housing society for journalists near Hawkes Bay, have reported the theft of two electric poles equipped with solar lights that were installed on the directives of the Sindh government.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Monday hailed Pakistan’s “victory” against India during last year’s military conflict, affirming that the country was “not a nation that bows”. He was addressing an event in Karachi organised by the Sindh government to commemorate Marka-i-Haq, where Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah also spoke. The term “Marka-i-Haq” is used by the state to refer to the 2025 conflict with India, starting from the April 22 Pahalgam attack to the end of Operation Bunyanum Marsoos with a ceasefire on May 10. “This victory was not the victory of weapons alone. It was a triumph of resolve. It was a triumph of unity and of people who refused to kneel,” said Bilawal, who is also the former foreign minister and had led a delegation abroad to convey Pakistan’s stance on the conflict. “From the mountains of the north to the shores of the Arabian Sea, from the fields of Punjab to the deserts of Sindh and Balochistan, Pakistan stood as one,” he affirmed. “We are not a nation that bows before pressure. W...

Mild to moderate earthquake tremors were felt in Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Monday, causing brief panic among residents, though no loss of life or property was reported.

The United Arab Emirates’ shocking decision to leave Saudi-dominated Opec was not targeted at anyone, the UAE minister who heads the state oil giant said on Monday. The move aimed at focusing on national priorities and the UAE economy, said Sultan Al Jaber, who is CEO of state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) and the country’s industry and advanced technology minister. The decision, which took effect on Friday, followed months of tensions with neighbouring Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter and de facto leader of Opec, over foreign policy, oil output and the Middle East war, which has strained Gulf economies. A close partnership between the Gulf nations has turned into an open rivalry since a public falling out in December over Yemen, but the minister said the decision to withdraw from the oil cartel was not aimed at any nation. “The UAE’s sovereign decision to reposition itself within the global energy landscape, and to exit Opec and Opec+, is not a decision directed against anyone,” he t...

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Monday rejected the petitions of former prime minister Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi seeking the suspension of their sentences in the £190 million corruption case, observing that their main appeals were already fixed for hearing. A two-member bench headed by Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar will take up the central appeals on May 7. In view of this, the court declared the suspension applications infructuous. During the hearing on April 30, Justice Dogar had emphasised that the best course would be an early disposal of the main appeal. Imran — imprisoned since Aug 5, 2023, for concealing details of Toshakhana gifts — is serving a 14-year sentence at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail in the £190m case, also known as the Al-Qadir Trust case. An accountability court in Islamabad had sentenced Imran and Bushra to 14 and seven years in prison, respectively, on Jan 17, 2025, in the case. Subsequently, both had challenged their convictions before the IHC. The case alle...

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday held separate telephonic conversations with his Iranian and Jordanian counterparts, focusing on the regional situation and Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to promote peace and stability.

Hot and dry weather is expected to prevail across most parts of the country on Monday, while several upper and northern regions may receive rain accompanied by strong winds and thunderstorms, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department.

Tremors were felt in Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Monday after a 5.2-magnitude earthquake was reported. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the earthquake was recorded at 10:56am. It added that the epicentre was located near the Tajikistan–Xinjiang border region and had a depth of 128 kilometres. According to state-run PTV, the tremors were felt in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Pakistan falls on three major tectonic plates — the Arabian, Euro-Asian and Indian — which create five seismic zones under the country. The intersection of multiple fault lines means that tectonic movements remain a frequent occurrence in the region. Last week, a 5.7-magnitude earthquake jolted parts of Islamabad and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Residents of Islamabad and KP also felt tremors on April 3, when a 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck the Hindu Kush region in Afghanistan.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, with the regional situation and Pakistan’s ongoing diplomatic efforts coming under discussion, the Foreign Office (FO) said on Monday. “Discussion focused on the regional situation and Pakistan’s ongoing diplomatic efforts for peace and stability in the region,” the FO said, adding that the call took place late Sunday night. It added that the Iranian foreign minister appreciated Pakistan for its “constructive role and sincere mediation efforts between the parties”. The FO said that Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s continued commitment to promoting constructive engagement and underscored that “dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable path toward the peaceful resolution of issues and achieving lasting peace and stability in the region and beyond”. The development comes after Tehran said on Sunday that the United States had responded to its new peace proposal. Iranian state media said Washington had conveyed it...

• Establishment Division transfers ‘encadred’ officers, many of whom are close to retirement, to KP and Balochistan • Under rotation policy, these postings were supposed to go to younger officers • IGP says matter will be taken up with Islamabad • Estab secretary claims rotation policy ‘suspended’ at provinces’ request LAHORE: The Establish­ment Division has transferred 10 police officers from Punjab to ‘hard areas’ in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan for a mandatory period of one year, despite concerns about their advanced age and health, Dawn has learnt. The term ‘hard areas’ refers to designated regions in the country that are recognised for being challenging to live or work in due to factors like rem­oteness, lack of infrastructure, harsh terrain, or security thr­eats. Officers posted to these areas are usually given incentives, such as a special allowance. A senior police officer told Dawn that in line with the policy announced by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, younger officers were previously posted t...

QUETTA: Federal Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal has convened a meeting of the authorities concerned on Monday in Islamabad to review the situation created by a Chinese company’s sudden announcement of closing all its operations in Pakistan and China as well as a factory in Gwadar. The management of the company, Han Geng Group, issued a statement on Friday citing administrative, policy and other hurdles in running its business. However, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the planning minister took notice of the company’s announcement and immediately directed the authorities concerned to review its grievances and ensure their immediate resolution. Mr Iqbal sent a clear message that all operational and bureaucratic hurdles faced by companies investing under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would be removed on a priority basis to maintain investor confidence. Ahsan Iqbal calls meeting after Chinese firm’s shutdown announcement After the assurance and swift action, the Chinese company withd...

LONDON: British social activist and Imran Khan’s ex-wife, Jemima Goldsmith, is reportedly set to remarry, marking a new chapter in her personal life. According to recent media reports, Jemima, 52, is engaged to Irish-Australian financier Cameron O’Reilly after the two maintained a relationship for just over a year. O’Reilly, 62, is the son of the late media tycoon Sir Anthony O’Reilly and has built a substantial fortune through investments in smart metering and software ventures. The couple is said to have met through professional collaboration in the film and documentary space, where O’Reilly has served as an executive producer. Friends close to the pair describe the relationship as stable and mutually supportive, noting their shared interest in media production as a key factor in their bond. They are believed to divide their time between Switzerland and West London. Goldsmith, known for her work on documentaries such as The Case Against Adnan Syed and the romantic comedy What’s Love Got to Do with It?, has ...

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that his representatives were having “very positive discussions” with Iran that could “lead to something very positive for all”. He made these remarks in a Truth Social Post, also announcing an initiative to guide vessels stuck in the Strait of Hormuz out of the waterway, hours after Tehran said on Sunday that the United States had responded to its 14-point proposal via Pakistan. Iranian state media quoted a foreign ministry spokesperson as saying that Tehran was reviewing the response. Later, US Special Envoy on Middle East Steve Witkoff told CNN the US was “in conversation” with Iran as they weighed negotiations to end the war. This was followed by Trump’s post on Truth Social, where he said: “I am fully aware that my Representatives are having very positive discussions with the Country of Iran, and that these discussions could lead to something very positive for all.” He also said that countries from across the world, “almost all of which are not involved in the Mid...

The final of 11th HBL Pakistan Super League edition turned out to be a one-man show as Aaron Hardie’s spectacular all-round performance led Peshawar Zalmi to their second title win on Sunday in Lahore. They defeated Hyderabad Kingsmen by five wickets after opting to bowl first against the debutants at the Gaddafi Stadium. Peshawar Zalmi achieved the 130-run target in the 16th over of the second innings, becoming the HBL PSL champions for a second time. The first claimed the trophy with a win against the Quetta Gladiators in 2017. They have now joined Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars as the winners who have lifted the PSL trophy more than once. Zalmi’s second win was led by a stunning performance by Hardie, who took four wickets before scoring an unbeaten 56 runs off 39 deliveries. He smashed a total of nine boundaries and was named the player of the match. They initially quickly lost four wickets after scoring just 40 runs by the end of five overs. In a disappointing start, opener Muhammad Haris and Kusa...

BAJAUR: Two people, including a social activist, were killed in separate attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur district on Sunday, police and rescue officials told Dawn. The first incident took place in the Kohi area of Salarzai tehsil, where unidentified armed assailants attacked social activist Malik Ziaur Rehman near his residence, Salarzai Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Jamal Shah said. “Unidentified assailants opened fire on him near his house, leaving him critically injured,” he said. According to Rescue 1122 Khar station spokesperson Riaz Ahmad Khan, the 37-year-old succumbed to his injuries at the district headquarters hospital Khar, where he was taken in a critical condition after the attack. An official at the Salarzai police station told Dawn that a team of law enforcers was immediately sent to the site of the incident, and a search had been launched to locate the attackers, who had fled after firing at Rehman. Police are also further investigating the incident. Area residents told Dawn tha...

The final match of the 11th HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) edition was preceded by a star-studded closing ceremony, featuring fireworks and performances by popular singers, including Aima Baig, Arif Lohar and Atif Aslam. Scores of spectators arrived at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on a hot Sunday to witness the gala event that was followed by the final clash between Peshawar Zalmi and debutants Hyderabad Kingsmen. Here are some glimpses of the closing ceremony. Spectators witness fireworks at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium ahead of HBL PSL 11 final match on May 3, 2026. — White Star Dancing groups representing different franchises perform at the closing ceremony of the HBL PSL 11 on May 3, 2026. — White Star Singers perform at the closing ceremony of the HBL PSL 11 on May 3, 2026. — White Star Singer Arif Lohar performs at the closing ceremony of the HBL PSL 11 on May 3, 2026. — White Star Singers Aima Baig and Atif Aslam perform at the closing ceremony of the HBL PSL 11 on May 3, 2026. — White Star Singer Aima Baig p...

LARKANA - Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi, along with the central leadership of the Pakistan Peoples Party, arrived in Jacobabad to express deep sorrow and grief over the death of Zaid Hussain Jakhrani, son of Member of National Assembly Mir Ijaz Jakhrani on Sunday.

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan’s evolving role as a regional actor is increasingly being framed through the lens of security stabilization, crisis diplomacy, and conflict management.