Pakistan

LAHORE/ MOHMAND: Heavy rains and storms in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over the past 24 hours have left at least five people dead and several others injured, officials said on Wednesday. In Punjab’s Bhakkar, two separate roof-collapse incidents left one person dead and four others injured, a Rescue 1122 spokesperson said. In a separate incident, two people were injured when a house roof caved in due to rainfall in Khanewal, while in Muzaffargarh, two individuals sustained injuries in separate incidents —one from a roof collapse and another from slipping in the rain. In Sargodha, the wall of a house collapsed, injuring one person and killing a livestock animal, a rescue official said. In the district of Taunsa, five people were injured when a hotel shed collapsed. In two other incidents in the same area, roof collapses left one person dead and two others injured. In another incident, a person died after receiving an electric shock from a pole in Toba Tek Singh, and in Chiniot, one person was injured in a sli...

District administrations of Islamabad and Rawalpindi have announced local holidays in the twin cities on April 9 (Thursday) and 10 (Friday). In a post on the social media platform X, Islamabad Deputy Commissioner (DC) Irfan Nawaz Memon said, “Local Holidays Announced in Islamabad – 9th & 10th April.” He also shared the notification by the office of the Islamabad district magistrate. However, he added, essential services will remain operational. According to the official, these included the Capital Development Authority, the Islamabad Capital Territory Administration, Islamabad police, the Islamabad Electric Supply Company, the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd and hospitals. “Citizens are advised to plan their activities accordingly. Thank you,” he said. Separately, a notification issued by Rawalpindi DC Hassan Waqar announced a local holiday in the territorial jurisdiction of Rawalpindi on April 9 and 10. “However, all emergency dealing departments/ institutions/ authorities shall remain operational,” the notif...

ISLAMABAD: Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Mehmood Khan Achakzai on Wednesday extended “unconditional support” to the government in its efforts for peace in the Middle East. Responding to Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar’s speech, in which he requested the opposition to defer its protest planned for Thursday, Achakzai said that in his speech on Tuesday, he had called for former premier Nawaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari and Imran to sit together in the current situation and move the country forward. He said that he, along with Opposition Leader in the Senate Allama Nasir Abbas, would convince Imran to engage in political dialogue. “I had also said earlier that we should not point fingers at each other. At the very least, we should agree on democratic principles,” he said. “I don’t know why you people think we are mad. Only a mad person would not be happy with today’s success of Pakistan,” he said, lauding the government’s mediatory role in the Middle East crisis. “We will provide you with uncon...

Less than 24 hours after the announcement of a ceasefire, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday that delegations from the United States and Iran would visit Pakistan on Friday for talks aimed at a peaceful settlement to the war in the Middle East. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, during a conversation with PM Shehbaz, had earlier in the day confirmed Tehran’s participation in Pakistan-offered peace talks, according to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). Addressing the federal cabinet, PM Shehbaz said that the war had been delayed for the time being. “A ceasefire is the first step. But our destination is lasting peace… Day after tomorrow (Friday), at my invitation, a US delegation is coming to Pakistan. In the same way, an Iranian delegation is also coming to Pakistan,” he said. During his address, PM Shehbaz also called the current situation a “shining moment” in Pakistan’s history. He also praised Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir for their role...

ISLAMABAD - Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited the residence of JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Wednesday, where the two leaders held a detailed meeting on the country’s political situation and international developments, according to a statement issued by the JUI media cell.

LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday welcomed the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, terming it a significant diplomatic achievement and crediting Pakistan’s leadership for its role in promoting global peace.

ISLAMABAD - The international community yesterday widely welcomed the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, with global leaders acknowledging Pakistan’s diplomatic role in facilitating dialogue and creating momentum toward peace, as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar intensified diplomatic outreach with.

Islamabad - A meeting of the federal cabinet was held on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister’s Office.

Islamabad - US and Iran have confirmed participation for peace talks in Islamabad on Friday as global efforts mount for a permanent agreement to end the war in the Middle East after a two week ceasefire, according to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Office.

Peshawar - Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sohail Afridi chaired a high level meeting of the Planning and Development Department to review proposed initiatives under the Annual Development Programme (ADP) 2026–27 across key sectors including social welfare, sports, tourism, relief, and transport.

Shehbaz says country has changed forever Calls on all sides to respect ceasefire Credits civil-military unity fo

Diplomatic breakthrough earns global praise

Inside Pakistan's last-minute diplomatic breakthrough

Strikes kill hundreds in Lebanon; Tehran shuts Hormuz, warns of direct response

NCMC to coordinate economy, security amid ME war fallout

Beijing calls terrorism key strain in neighbourly ties

Opposition backs govt's peace efforts

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast mainly dry weather in most parts of the country on Thursday, with chances of isolated rain, wind, and thunderstorms in upper regions during daytime.

Pakistan on Wednesday expressed concern at the storming and vandalism of Kuwait’s consulate in Iraq’s Basra, saying the act was “inconsistent with established diplomatic norms and international law”. In a statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO) on X, Pakistan called for a thorough investigation into the incident and bringing those responsible to justice. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has noted with deep concern the reported storming and vandalism of the Consulate General of the State of Kuwait in Basra, and the violation of the sanctity of the consular premises yesterday,” the statement said. “Pakistan strongly condemns such acts, which are inconsistent with established diplomatic norms and international law, particularly the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations,” it added. Pakistan emphasised the importance of ensuring the security and inviolability of diplomatic and consular missions, the FO said, adding the country called for a “thorough investigation into the incident, as well as bringing those ...

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council announced on Wednesday that universities may allow a one-time reduction of up to three per cent in the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) passing percentage for admissions to medical and dental colleges to fill vacant seats for the academic session 2025–26. A notification issued by the PMDC, which is available with Dawn, said the decision had been made on the recommendation of a parliamentary committee. The notification said: “To address the issue of vacant seats in MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) and BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) programmes fairly and systematically, the matter, after deliberation at the national level, including the Health Standing Committees, has been thoroughly reviewed by the PMDC Council. “Accordingly, it has been decided that any admissions or processes already completed under the Admission Regulations 2025 shall remain valid and shall be treated as properly regulated.” It added that universities that...