• Multi-agency report says over 9m Pakistanis face ‘crisis’ conditions; another 1.7 million in the more severe ‘emergency’ category
• Notes devastating monsoon rains, severe flooding wiped out crucial cropland, livelihoods
• Warns global hunger remains at critical levels amid conflict, drought, aid cuts; outlook for 2026 remains ‘bleak’

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan remains one of the 10 fragile countries where global acute food insecurity is most concentrated, according to a UN-backed report released on Friday, as intensifying climate extremes and persistent economic challenges continue to strain the nation.

The 2026 Global Report on Food Crises names Pakistan alongside Afghanistan, Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, Nigeria, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen as the primary centres of acute hunger.

According to the report, Pakistan was among the world’s 10 largest food crises in 2025, with about 11 million people facing acute food insecurity.

Of those affected in Pakistan, 9.3m people were classified in “crisis” conditions and 1.7m in “emergency”, the two most severe categories short of famine.

The classification system used in the report, known as the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), defines a food crisis as a situation requiring urgent action to protect lives and livelihoods.

Acute food insecurity arises when access to food becomes so limited that it threatens survival.

Deeper crisis

The report highlights extreme weather as a continuing driver of food insecurity in Pakistan, pointing in particular to heavy rains and flooding that caused localised crop losses.

“In 2025, severe floods were recorded worldwide, affecting livelihoods and food security. In Pakistan, heavy monsoon rains and flash floods affected more than 6 million people, destroying cropland and infrastructure,” the report said.

Pakistan also appears in the rep­ort’s nutrition analysis, with Balo­chistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh identified as areas of concern.

However, the country lacks sufficient recent data to assign a formal severity classification for 2025, placing it among countries with “no severity data” for nutrition outcomes.

Even so, Pakistan is included in broader assessments of malnutrition risk pathways, reflecting vulnerabilities linked to diet, healthcare access, water and sanitation, and disease.

The report also points to Paki­stan’s role in regional displacement dynamics. It is listed among the countries hosting large numbers of refugees in food-crisis contexts, particularly Afghan refugees.

It also projects that Pakistan’s inflation will rise slightly to 6pc this year, adding further pressure on the system.

Despite the scale of the crisis, Pakistan recorded modest improvements in 2025.

The number of people in the most severe categories declined compared with the previous year, with about 400,000 fewer people in crisis (Phase 3) and more than 500,000 fewer in emergency (Phase 4).

But these gains remain fragile due to worsening climate and economic conditions.

According to the report, Pakistan’s inclusion in the top ten reflects both the severity of need and a broader expansion of data coverage.

The analysis was extended from 43 rural districts in 2024 to 68 districts in 2025, covering parts of Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh.

As a result, the share of Pakistan’s population included in the analysis rose from 16pc to 21pc, adding more than 14m

people to the dataset.

Even so, the report cautions that trends must be interpreted carefully. Pakistan’s apparent increase in food insecurity over recent years is partly due to this expanded coverage, which rose from just 2pc of the population in 2020 to 21pc in 2025.

A global crisis

Globally, conflict, drought and shrinking humanitarian aid are expected to keep hunger at critical levels this year, with the overall outlook for 2026 described as bleak.

A third of people facing the crises were in Sudan, Nigeria, and the Congo alone, according to the 10th edition of the annual hunger monitor, published by development and humanitarian organisations.

Based on data from the United Nations, the European Union and humanitarian agencies, the report found that conflict remained the main driver of acute food insecurity worldwide.

However, with conflicts and climate extremes likely to sustain or worsen conditions in many countries, the ripple effects are being felt globally.

For the first time in the report’s 10-year history, famine was confir­med in two separate contexts in the same year: Gaza and parts of Sudan.

In total, 266m people across 47 countries and territories faced high levels of acute food insecurity in 2025, nearly double the share recorded in 2016. Furthermore, 1.4m people faced catastrophic conditions in parts of Haiti, Mali, Gaza, South Sudan, Sudan and Yemen. The toll on the youngest and most vulnerable populations has been particularly severe.

In 2025 alone, 35.5m children worldwide were acutely malnourished, including nearly 10m suffering from severe acute malnutrition.

Looking ahead to this year, the report said severity levels remained critical. Only Haiti is expected to escape from the worst “catastrophic” band, thanks to a slight improvement in security and increased humanitarian aid.

Improvements in some countries, such as Bangladesh and Syria, were almost fully offset by notable deteriorations in Afghanistan, Congo, Myanmar and Zimbabwe.

“We are no longer seeing just temporary shocks, but persistent shocks over time,” said Alvaro Lario, head of the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), which helps draw up the annual report.

“The main message is that food insecurity is not an isolated issue anymore, but is putting pressure on global stability,” Lario said.

The US-Israeli war on Iran has added to the alarm, Lario said.

“Even if the conflict in the Middle East were to end right now, we know that a lot of the food price shocks and inflation will happen in the next six months,” he added.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Iranian Foreign Mini­ster Abbas Araghchi arrived in Islamabad late on Friday — carrying Tehran’s formal response to proposals conveyed earlier by the US through Pakistan — as renewed diplomatic activity gathered pace and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner prepared to travel to Islamabad.

Even so, prospects for direct engagement between the two sides remain uncertain.

The Iranian foreign minister was received by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, according to a Foreign Office statement issued late on Friday night, indicating the importance the Pakistani side attaches to the visit.

“During the visit, the Iranian foreign minister will hold meetings with Pakistan’s senior leadership to discuss the latest regional developments as well as ongoing efforts for regional peace and stability,” the statement said.

The visit comes at a delicate moment in the US-Iran standoff, with a fragile, indefinitely extended ceasefire holding on paper, while core disputes over the naval blockade, nuclear restrictions and sequ­encing of concessions remain unresolved.

“Purpose of my visits is to closely coordinate with our partners on bilateral matters and consult on regional developments. Our neighbors are our priority,” Araghchi said in a post on X before departing Tehran for a three-country tour, that also includes stops in Oman and Russia.

Pakistani officials said the Iranian minister’s trip was primarily aimed at conveying Tehran’s considered response after internal consultations.

The proposals had been handed over last week by Field Marshal Munir during his visit to Tehran, where he had carried messages from Washington as part of Islamabad’s mediation effort.

Diplomatic contacts intensified ahead of the visit. Abbas Araghchi held separate telephone conversations with Dar and Field Marshal Munir, focusing on the cea­sefire and the diplomatic track. Acco­rding to the Foreign Office, Dar “under­scored the importance of sustained dialogue and engagement to address outstanding issues.”

It was after these exchanges that Pakistani government sources indicated that Araghchi was travelling to Isla­mabad and that there was a possibility of a second round of talks in Islamabad. The officials emphasized that logistical preparations were quietly under way and a US advance team was already present.

However, signals from Tehran remained cautious. An Iranian official, speaking to Dawn on background, said negotiations with US would remain on hold unless Iran’s conditions were met, particularly regarding lifting of the US naval blockade, which Tehran says is a precondition for a meaningful dialogue.

Though Moscow came into spot light with Araghchi announcing that Russia was part of his regional tour, Dar too during the day spoke to his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.

The Foreign Office, in a statement on the conversation, said “FM Lavrov appreciated Pakistan’s constructive role in facilitating dialogue between Iran and the United States.”

Dar, according to the statement, “underscored Pakistan’s resolve to continue contributing to efforts aimed at promoting dialogue and diplomacy to resolve all issues.”

Later in the evening, the White House confirmed that Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would travel to Islamabad to “engage in talks” facilitated by Pakistan.

“The Iranians reached out … asked for this in person conversation, so the president is dispatching Steve and Jared to hear what he has to say,” spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said.

US officials, however, indicated that Vice President JD Vance would not immediately join the delegation, citing the absence of his Iranian counterpart, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

Vance, they said, remains on standby and could travel if negotiations show progress, while members of his team are expected to be present in Islamabad.

Despite these parallel movements, there is little clarity on whether direct face-to-face talks will take place. Iranian officials have consistently maintained that engagement under pressure, particularly amid the ongoing maritime blockade and recent vessel interdictions, is not acceptable.

During the day, US media suggested that lead Iranian negotiator Bagher Ghalibaf had quit after differences with the leadership on the negotiations strategy.

But hours later, Iranian parliament’s communications section denied the claim saying Ghalibaf had not resigned and that he did not travel to Pakistan because negotiations with US had not been scheduled as yet.

The current phase follows the first round of direct talks held in Islamabad on April 11 and 12, which ended after more than 20 hours without agreement but kept the diplomatic channel open.

Since then, exchanges have continued indirectly through Pakistan, with both sides calibrating positions while avoiding a formal breakdown.

The ceasefire, originally brokered around April 7 and 8, has been extended without a defined timeline, creating space for diplomacy but also prolonging uncertainty. Officials in Islamabad described the situation as fluid, with mediation efforts focused on bridging the sequencing gap between US demands and Iranian preconditions.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026

According to Inter-Ser­vices Public Relations (ISPR), the security forces and law enforcement agencies conducted the operation on April 21 (Tuesday) “on the reported presence of terrorists” in the area.

During an intense exchange of fire, “22 khawarij belonging to Indian-sponsored Fitna al-Khawarij” were killed, the ISPR added.

Fitna al-Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

“Due to cowardice and fear of getting apprehended alive, khawarij resorted to indiscriminate firing, which resulted in [the] martyrdom of a 10-year-old innocent child,” the ISPR added.

The military’s media wing continued that weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the slain terrorists, who were actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area.

A sanitisation operation is being conducted to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area, the ISPR statement said.

The country’s “relentless” counter-terrorism cam­paign under the vision ‘Azm-i-Istekham’ “will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country”, it said, adding that the sacrifice of innocent civilians further strengthened this resolve.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif both lauded the security forces for the successful operation, the state-run APP reported.

Despite record militant deaths, Pakistan saw a sharp escalation in militant violence in 2025, with terrorist attacks rising by 34 per cent and terrorism-related fatalities increasing by 21 per cent year on year, according to a report released by the Islamabad-based Pak Institute for Peace Studies.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026

The IMF’s executive board is expected to approve in the first half of May the disbursement of more than $1.2 billion under two ongoing programmes.

As of April 23, diesel prices were estimated to go down by around Rs25 per litre and petrol by Rs6 per litre. However, the government partially restored the petroleum levy on diesel and increased petrol prices to meet overall fiscal targets.

Unlike the prime minister’s anno­uncements of price cuts, the increase this time was quietly announced by the petroleum division on the day Iran and the United States dispatched their negotiators to Islamabad for the second round of talks.

Petrol, diesel prices raised by Rs27 per litre

As such, the ex-depot price of high-speed diesel (HSD) was fixed at Rs380.19 against Rs353.42 per litre at present, up by 7.6pc or Rs26.77 per litre.

The diesel price has come down from a peak of Rs520.35 on April 10 as the prime minister removed the petroleum levy for two weeks but then allowed partial recovery, sour­ces said. HSD is considered the most inflationary item due to its widesp­read use in freight transportation.

Likewise, the ex-depot rate of petrol was set at Rs393.35 per litre for the coming week, up from Rs366.58 per litre, an increase of Rs26.77 or 7.3pc.

With the latest revision, the government is now charging around Rs135 per litre in taxes on petrol and Rs65 per litre on diesel, including petroleum levy, customs duty and the climate support levy.

On Friday, the government increased the petroleum levy on petrol by about Rs27, raising it from Rs80 to Rs107.38 per litre, while the levy on high-speed diesel was kept at zero at the retail level under the latest notification.

In a written statement, Petro­leum Minister Ali Pervez Malik said oil prices were again rising due to regional tensions and the government had to take measures to pass on the additional burden to consumers in view of agreements with international stakeholders.

He said the government absor­bed the increase in international prices for as long as possible with its limited resources and provided “historic relief” to the people.

Petrol and diesel rates have gone up from Rs266 and Rs281 per litre, respectively, after the US-Israel attacked Iran on Feb 28, sending shockwaves to the global energy markets.

The two fuels remain the government’s key revenue generators, with combined monthly sales of around 700,000 to 800,000 tonnes compared to about 10,000 tonnes for kerosene.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026

WASHINGTON / PARIS: Even as renewed engagement between Iran and Pakistan over dialogue with the US sent out positive signals, Europe and the rest of the world appears anxious for a swift, diplomatic end to the war that has ravaged the Middle East and crippled global shipping, causing a fuel crunch across the globe.

Separately, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth has claimed that: “No one sails from the Strait of Hormuz to anywhere in the world without the permission of the United States Navy.”

Addressing reporters alongside US Gen Dan Caine, the US defence secretary said the US was “not anxious” for a deal with Iran, and repeated Trump’s previous comments of having “all the time in the world”.

“Iran knows that they still have an open window to choose wisely … at the negotiating table. All they have to do is abandon a nuclear weapon in meaningful and verifiable ways,” he said.

According to Gen Caine, 34 ships had been turned around as of Friday morning, adding that the US military would continue to interdict Iranian vessels in the Pacific and Indian oceans.

“We’re enforcing the blockade across the board against any ship of any nationality that is transiting to or from an Iranian port or territory,” Caine said.

“We’re closely tracking vessels of interest headed towards Iran and those moving away from Iran that were outside the blockade area when this blockade was ord­ered and … we’re prepared and postured to intercept them,” he said.

However, shipping group Hapag-Lloyd said on Friday that one of its ships has crossed the Strait of Hormuz but did not have any information on the circumstances or timing.

Four out of initially six ships remain in the Gulf, after one ship’s charter agreement expired, meaning it no longer belongs to the Hapag-Lloyd fleet, a spokesperson added.

Scores of tankers and other vessels remain stuck in the Gulf as the United States is struggling to keep control of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest shipping corridors.

Europe worried

Meanwhile, leaders from Lebanon, Egypt, Syria and Jordan as well as the secretary general of the Gulf Cooperation Council, were in Cyprus on Friday to meet their EU counterparts on the sidelines of a summit. The EU has largely remained on the sidelines in the Middle East war despite US President Donald Trump lashing out at what he says is Europe’s lack of support for Washington’s efforts to contain Iran.

“The current situation clearly underscores how closely Europe’s security is linked with that of the Middle East, and how vital our cooperation on security and defence has become,” European Council president Antonio Costa told a press conference after the talks.

“The Strait of Hormuz must immediately reopen without restrictions and without tolling, in full respect of international law and the principle of freedom of navigation. This is vital for the entire world,” Costa said.

“Diplomacy is the only sustainable way forwards, and European Union is ready to contribute to all ongoing efforts,” he added.

An extension of a shaky truce between Israel and Lebanon has also been agreed on – but European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said that was “not enough”, calling for a permanent settlement.

“You cannot have stability in the Middle East or the Gulf while Lebanon is in flames,” she said. “A temporary pause is not enough”.

The EU has largely remained on the sidelines in the Middle East war despite US President Donald Trump lashing out at what he says is Europe’s lack of support for Washington’s efforts to contain Iran.

French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters that “Europe must do even more” to help end the crisis.

“It is in everyone’s interest for stability to return as soon as possible and for the world’s economies to be reassured,” Macron said, in stark contrast to Trump, who recently said the US had “all the time in the world”.

‘Neutral’ Swiss set to reopen Tehran embassy

Meanwhile, Switzerland said Friday it had begun sending staff back to Tehran and would gradually reopen its embassy, enabling it to continue as a facilitator for diplomatic contacts between Washington and Tehran.

For decades, neutral Switzerland has played a central role in maintaining basic diplomatic contacts between Iran and the United States.

But the country temporarily closed its embassy on March 11 days after the Middle East war erupted with the first US-Israeli attacks on Iran.

The Swiss foreign ministry said four staff had returned and insisted the channel of communication between the US and Iran had been kept open even while the mission was shut.

“The decision to gradually reopen the embassy was taken after a risk analysis and in consultation with Iran and the United States, whose interests Switzerland represents under its protecting power mandate,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Switzerland “is prepared to provide its good offices if the parties so wish and supports all diplomatic initiatives that contribute to de-escalation and a lasting peace”.

The Swiss embassy in Tehran handles all consular affairs between the United States and Iran, including passport requests, altering civil status and consular protection for US citizens in Iran.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026

For the larger part, Islamabad was not setting the agenda, only facilitating communication. That changed at the end of February, when the outbreak of all-out war altered ground realities.

What started as discreet facilitation quickly levelled up into something more ambitious, with Pakistan hosting delegations and publicly positioning itself as a bridge between Washington and Tehran.

On March 24, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan would “facilitate” dialogue, a formulation that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar echoed a week later at the end of a quadrilateral meeting, when he said Pakistan would “host and facilitate meaningful talks”.

From the UN chief to the Kremlin, Islamabad’s efforts to mediate between the US and Iran have won it universal acclaim. Although experts agree Pakistan is best-positioned for this role, lasting outcomes are not reached overnight and require structured engagement

After the first round in Islamabad earlier this month, that description was altered once again, when Dar said on April 12 that he, along with Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, had “helped mediate several rounds of intense and constructive negotiations”.

The change in language was not incidental, rather, it signalled a willingness to place national credibility behind a process whose outcome remains uncertain, at least for the time being.

Why Islamabad?

Part of the explanation for this lies in geography. Pakistan sits next to Iran and within strategic reach of the Gulf, while maintaining longstanding security ties with the US.

But geography alone does not create a mediator. The shift, in fact, reflects a search for enhanced relevance on the external front, with Islamabad seizing the opportunity to act as a major diplomatic player, rather than a security concern. This is especially prescient given the current global context; where influence is increasingly seen as being tied to crisis management, a la the Board of Peace. Additionally, the move to mediation is also about containing the spill-over of conflict into Pakis­tan’s own sphere, whether through economic disruption, regional instability or security pressures.

There is also a sense among diplomatic practitioners that Pakistan’s past experience gives it the impetus to attempt such a role.

“We played [in the past] an important role in the release of US hostages from Iran,” former foreign secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani recalls.

Pakistan “at the highest level played an active and positive role in bringing about a ceasefire (during the 2026 war) and bringing the two conflicting parties to the negotiating table”, he adds, arguing that the present effort had already averted wider economic losses.

He also notes that Pakistan has looked after ‘Iranian interests’ in Wa­­shington for decades — the Pakistan embassy houses Tehran’s consular presence in the American capital — which, in his view, places it in a better position than many others.

That reading is shared by others. Ambassador Ali Sarwar Naqvi recalls that “Pakistan mediated bet­ween Iran and Iraq during Saddam’s time in the 1980s. It didn’t stop the war but the effort was made.”

The former diplomat, who is also executive director of the Centre for International Strategic Studies (CISS) think tank, also cited Pakistan’s role in facilitating contacts between Iran and Saudi Arabia in the context of Yemen, not too long ago. “This history qualified Pakistan to be a mediator.”

The emphasis, however, is on effort rather than outcome.

Others underscore how effective mediation depends less on history and more on credibility in the here and now. Former envoy to UN, US and UK, Maleeha Lodhi, observes that “a decisive factor is the mediator’s neutrality and credibility so that the two parties can have trust in the mediating country”.

That requirement becomes more demanding in an asymmetric conflict, where one side holds significantly greater leverage.

‘Historic baggage’

Experience suggests that mediation works under certain conditions: in the existence of a mutually painful stalemate, a mediator possessing both legitimacy and some degree of leverage, and the process being tightly managed. Where any of these elements are weak, the process tends to drift, and positions of the parties involved in the conflict harden.

The experience of Camp David illustrates this. The US did not simply bring Egypt and Israel together, rather it provided inducements and guarantees that made compromise politically defensible. It must be remembered that agreements have to be sold at home, not just accepted across the table; without that political cover, leaders have little room to manoeuvre.

The same constraint applies to the current US-Iran conflict, where Wa­­shington is seeking tangible progress on maritime access and nuclear limits, while Tehran needs relief from pressure and recognition of its security concerns. Therefore, any framework for dialogue that does not address both sets of requirements will not do.

Process management is equally important. The Dayton Accords of 1995 — which ended the Bosnian War — showed how controlling the environment in terms of limiting external influence and forcing sustained engagement can shape outcomes, while at the same time allowing the mediator to reduce space for backtracking.

But that model is harder to replicate today, when negotiators are able to remain in constant contact with their capitals through far more soph­isticated communications channels.

During the Islamabad talks, there were real-time consultations by the US delegation, which potentially caused positions to shift. The Iranians would have probably loved to do the same, but they were constrained by concerns over the security of their leadership back home.

Striking a balance

Pakistan’s decision to host the talks reflects an awareness that the venue matters. A controlled setting can reduce public posturing and allow space for exploring options, but the limits are also evident.

While Islamabad could host the talks and probably keep the media at bay, it could not fully insulate them from outside influence. This is where the question of leverage becomes central. Pakistan has access to both sides, which few countries do. But access is not the same as influence.

The US retains global options and coercive tools, while Iran is operating under sanctions and sustained pressure. In such conditions, the risk is that mediation begins to reflect the priorities of the stronger side, and that very perception can in itself erode trust.

One should not forget that in Jan­uary 1966, Soviet Premier Alexei Ko­­­sygin hosted the Tashkent talks that ended the 1965 India-Pakistan war, acting as a neutral broker des­pite Moscow’s clear tilt toward India. That agreement focused on withdr­a­wal to pre-war positions and a mutual ceasefire, re­­flecting a priority on regional stability rather than a preference for one side over the other.

Ambassador Masood Khan argues that Pakistan is not constrained by history, saying: “Thankfully, Pakistan does not carry any baggage from its previous mediatory roles”.

He described the current effort as “a new chapter in the history of diplomacy”, noting that Islamabad had built regional and international support for its role. He also pointed to the framework of Article 33 of the UN Charter as the appropriate basis for mediation.

Structure is key

Yet even with wider support, the structure of the process remains critical.

The Oslo experience is a reminder that momentum without a framework is fragile and negotiations that defer core disputes without enforcement mechanisms tend to unravel over time. The US-Iran dispute is not limited to a ceasefire and involves sanctions, nuclear limits, maritime access and regional security arrangements. Therefore, without sequencing, verification and guarantees, any pause in fighting risks being temporary.

Pakistan’s own diplomatic record reflects these limits. It has often played a role in opening channels, rather than shaping final outcomes. Its contribution to the US-China thaw in 1971 was facilitative, while in the Geneva process on Afghanistan, it was a stakeholder. In Doha, it influenced access rather than the terms of agreement.

Interestingly, most of the foreign policy experts Dawn spoke to mentioned these examples as instances of mediation, even though they were not, in the strictest sense of the term.

These precedents, nevertheless, help unravel what is at stake in the current effort. Pakistan is experienced in enabling dialogue, but its prowess when it comes in sustaining a structured negotiation over time may be found wanting.

Despite this, Islamabad has won acclaim for its efforts — everyone from the UN chief to the Kremlin and Beijing, as well as regional heads of state and even the leaders of the two warring sides have only praised Pakistan’s role.

Whether the current effort succeeds will depend on how the process is managed. Careful messaging, balanced engagement, and a framework that would allow both sides equal grounds to defend a compromise at home is essential to lasting deal. Without these, it is feared that even sustained dialogue may not produce durable outcomes.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026

The warning was issued during a workshop on Managed Aquifer Rec­harge (MAR), where scientists, engineers and policymakers stres­sed the need for immediate intervention to reverse decades of over-extraction.

Organised by the International Water Management Institute in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation, the workshop presented a comprehensive roadmap for restoring groundwater reserves. Participants included representatives from government departments, research institutions and development organisations.

Experts emphasised solutions such as rainwater harvesting, rehabilitation of the traditional karez system, and protection of natural recharge zones. They highlighted that MAR can combine low-tech methods like check dams with advanced systems such as Aquifer Storage and Recovery wells, using sources including stormwater and treated wastewater.

Assessments showed varying potential across river basins, with some areas suitable for large-scale recharge and others requiring targeted interventions.

Strengt­hening groundwater monitoring and integrating MAR into broader water management strategies were identified as essential steps. Officials warned that alternative water supply options are costly and impractical, making groundwater conservation critical.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026

Police officials said unidentified armed assailants riding motorcycles attacked the Dhadar police station, firing rockets and grenades. The police personnel deployed at the site took defensive positions and retaliated.

“A heavy exchange of fire continued for over an hour, resulting in the killing of an attacker,” a senior police officer said.

He also confirmed that a Balochistan Constabulary policeman embraced martyrdom, adding that three others suffered injuries.

The body and the injured were shifted to the district hospital. Two of the injured policemen were said to be in serious condition and being moved to either Sibi or Quetta for treatment.

The attackers also set ablaze several vehicles parked outside the police station, while the building suffered significant damage. Additional police contingents were dispatched to Dhadar after the attack.

“The firing has stopped and the attackers have fled,” the official said.

Meanwhile, officials said a group of several armed men also attacked a police station in the Mal area of Noshki district.

According to reports, the assailants used rockets and grenades. A police official said a heavy gun battle ensued that lasted for over an hour. He added that one policeman was injured in the exchange of fire.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026

Police said that 12-year-old Saira Bibi and 8-year-old Rizwana had come to Dera Allahyar from Karachi and Thul along with their parents to attend a relative’s funeral. They suddenly went missing, after which the family informed the police.

Police and family members launched a search for the girls. After about two hours, their bodies were found in a water pond near Bhangar Colony, where they had apparently drowned. Rescue teams recovered the bodies and shifted them to the district hospital.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026

During the session, the Forest Department presented a comprehensive climate change mitigation plan, detailing a series of strategic interventions. These include forest conservation, rangeland restoration, shelterbelt plantations, measures to combat desertification, and efforts to improve wildlife habitats.

Officials of the forest department emphasised that the proposed framework adopts a long-term, landscape-based approach aimed at restoring degraded ecosystems while enhancing the resilience of local communities facing climate-related challenges.

The department also highlighted its ongoing reforestation initiatives, designed to expand green cover, boost biodiversity, and mitigate the environmental impact of climate change in Balochistan’s arid regions.

RDMC representatives welcomed the plan, praising its strategic depth and alignment with broader sustainability and environmental responsibility goals. They acknowledged the importance of coordinated efforts in addressing climate risks in resource-rich but ecologically vulnerable areas.

The meeting concluded on a positive note, with both sides expressing a shared commitment to deepen cooperation and establish a structured partnership to advance climate action and promote sustainable natural resource management across the province.

The Forest Department was represented by senior technical officials, including Chief Conservators of Wildlife, Forests (North and South Zones), and Soil Conservation experts.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026

The arrest of Sanaullah by FIA is part of the agency’s intensified operations against elements involved in human trafficking in Balochistan. Acting on intelligence reports, FIA officials conducted a raid at Western Bypass area of the provincial capital and arrested Sanaullah for his alleged involvement in Afghan nationals’ smuggling.

The suspect is part of an organised human trafficking network.

Two mobile phones were also recovered from the possession of the suspect and preliminary investigation revealed his contacts with other human traffickers via Whatsapp.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026

QUETTA: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) Balochistan Emir Senator Maulana Abdul Wasay has announced a boycott of the Bugti-led coalition government’s functions, official meetings, and visits to the Chief Minister’s House, alleging that the provincial government has launched operations against madressas (seminaries) across the province and sealed many of them.

Speaking at a press conference on Fri­day, along with Senator Kamran Murtaza and other party leaders, he said that the decision to socially boycott the government was taken in response to actions against seminaries. He said the law under which these actions are being carried out has neither been approved by parliament nor by the provincial assembly.

He declared that seminaries are the party’s “red line” and warned that those taking action against them have “dug their own grave.” He rejected the government’s law against seminaries and said that if operations are not stopped and an apology is not issued by May 2, the party will convene a meeting of the Provincial Majlis-i-Shura and announce a movement against the government.

Maulana Wasay said that the JUI-F supported the 26th Constitutional Amendment on the condition that seminaries would be registered under the Societies Act, adding that an additional clause was later included allowing seminaries to register with the Education Department if they wished.

He alleged that universities have become hubs of drugs, while seminaries produce people who run the country and are now being targeted.

Senator Kamran Murtaza, speaking on the occasion, said that seminaries in Balochistan are being issued notices and sealed. He added that the US Deputy Chief of Mission had also told JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman during a meeting that actions against seminaries were not an American demand and that the government and establishment were unnecessarily creating pressure.

Madressah registration

Meanwhile, the Balochistan government has decided to make the madressah registration process more organised and effective in view of reports regarding foreign funding and the presence of foreign individuals in some unregistered seminaries in the province.

Officials said that, according to available data, around 300 seminaries in Balochistan have been identified as operating without legal registration. In some of these institutions, reports of suspicious activities have also been received, which are currently under investigation by the relevant authorities.

Sources said that religious leaders — particularly the leadership of JUI-F — will be taken into confidence.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, WHO, and Unicef announced on Friday that the “Big Catch-Up” (BCU), a historic multi-year, multi-country effort to address vaccination declines driven largely by the Covid-19 pandemic, has reached an estimated 18.3 million children aged 1 to 5 across 36 countries.

More than 100 million doses of life-saving vaccines have been administered, helping to narrow critical immunity gaps. Pakistan has immensely benefited from the BCU.

The 36 participating BCU countries across Africa and Asia currently account for 60 per cent of all zero-dose children worldwide. Pandemic-related disruptions to immunisation programmes exacerbated this issue, adding millions more zero-dose children to those who already chronically missed out.

To address this, the BCU looked beyond infant immunisation and, for the first time, systematically leveraged routine immunisation systems to make significant progress in reaching older children aged 1 to 5. These children are considered “older” because they should have received critical routine vaccines before the age of one but remain vulnerable due to missed vaccinations, according to a UN press release.

Among the participating countries, 12 — Burkina Faso, North Korea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritania, Niger, Pakistan, So­­­malia, Togo, Tanzania, and Zambia — rep­orted reaching more than 60 per cent of zero-dose children under the age of five who had previously missed the first dose of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP1) vaccine.

While these 36 countries received Gavi funding and technical assistance from WHO and Unicef through the BCU, many other countries also implemented activities during this period to accelerate efforts to reach missed children and restore immunisation services following pandemic-related setbacks.

“As the largest-ever international effort to reach missed children with life-saving vaccines, the Big Catch-Up shows what is possible when governments, partners, and communities work together to protect the most vulnerable in society,” said Dr Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

“By protecting children who missed out on vaccinations because of disruptions to health services caused by Covid-19, the Big Catch-Up has helped undo one of the pandemic’s major negative consequences,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

“Vaccinations save lives,” said Unicef Executive Director Catherine Russell. “This initiative shows what is possible when countries have the resources, tools, and political will to reach children with life-saving vaccines. We’ve caught up with some of the children who missed routine vaccinations during the pandemic — but many more remain out of reach.”

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026

The Services and General Adminis­tration Department (S&GAD) has written a letter to all BS-18 officers of the Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS) and Provincial Management Service (PMS), saying that it was noted with “serious concern” that some officers had applied for Haj duty directly to the religious affairs ministry without obtaining prior permission or a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the competent authority.

The provincial government has directed all such officers to route their applications through the S&GAD for ex-post facto approval of the NOC.

To ensure discipline and administrative control in the future, all BS-18 officers have been directed to secure prior permission from the S&GAD before applying for Haj duty.

Provincial govt warns such requests to religious affairs ministry without NOC will be deemed as ‘misconduct’

The Punjab government has made it clear that if any officer applied directly to the federal ministry without prior permission from the competent authority, they would not be considered for ex-post facto approval of the NOC.

“Furthermore, applying for Haj duty without proper procedure and NOC will be considered as an act of misconduct. In such cases, disciplinary proceedings shall be initiated under the Peeda [Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipl­ine and Accountability] Act, 2006,” the provincial government warned.

Tevta COO transferred

Separately, the provincial government transferred Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (Tevta) Chief Operating Officer Faisal Fareed and posted him as special secretary in the home department against a vacant post.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026

The new portal, https://www.nadra.gov.pk, replaces a text-heavy site that users and digital rights groups had criticised as outdated and hard to navigate.

Nadra, which holds biometric data for over 240 million citizens, said the redesign groups services, statistics and support “in a structured and user-centric manner”.

For the first time, Nadra’s Geo­spatially Referenced Demographic Information System, or nGRIDS, is public. The tool displays registration data on interactive maps and lets users compare district-level cen­­sus figures with Nadra’s own records.

New digital platform groups together services, data in one place

A map gallery offers downloadable thematic maps for research and planning — data previously restric­ted to government departments.

Key identity documents — inclu­ding Computerised National Iden­tity Cards for residents, National Identity Cards for Overseas Pakis­tanis, and Family Registration Certificates — are now categorised by user type to cut search time for local and overseas users.

The site also consolidates verification services used by banks, telecom firms and government dep­a­r­tments into a single section. A de­­dicated RTI portal now lets citizens file information requests, track them online and receive responses within the stipulated timelines, with privacy safeguards listed.

Customer support has been exp­anded to include a 24/7 call centre, automated IVR system and a complaint tracker with public performance metrics. The careers portal now requires login through Nadra’s Pak ID app, which the authority says will curb fake applications.

In a statement, Nadra said the comprehensive, integrated digital platform tailored to citizens’ needs. The initiative aims to make access to services, information and data more user-friendly. The revamped website highlights Nadra’s evolving role in the country’s identity management system, showcasing the country’s transition from traditional paper-based processes to one of the world’s largest biometric identity systems.

Nadra’s careers portal has also been upgraded to meet modern re­­quirements, offering verified login through Pak ID, a streamlined application process and improved access to job opportunities.

The website also reflects Nadra’s extensive network in the country and abroad, including registration centres, mobile units, and services for overseas Pakistanis. This initiative marks a significant step towards enhancing digital accessibility, tra­nsparency and public service delivery, reinforcing the authority’s commitment to providing secure, effici­ent and citizen-centric identity services through modern technology.

“Digital accessibility and transparency are central to our service delivery,” a Nadra spokesperson said. The authority has faced criticism over data security in the past. Two major leaks of citizen data were reported in 2021 and 2023. With over three million monthly visits, the site is Nadra’s main public interface. Digital rights advocates say the test will be whether complaint resolution times and data accuracy improve under the new system.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi, who also serves as Chairperson of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP), has cautioned that transferring Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to the Sindh High Court (SHC) could undermine key constitutional principles, particularly federalism and equitable representation.

In his response to informal requests by IHC Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar, the CJP warned that such transfers would reduce judicial appointments to temporary, reversible administrative decisions rather than constitutionally grounded placements.

The IHC chief justice had requested a JCP meeting on April 28 to consider transferring five judges from the IHC to other high courts.

The proposed transfers included Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiani to the Lahore High Court, Justice Babar Sattar to the Peshawar High Court, Justice Arbab Tahir to the Balochistan High Court, and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz and Justice Soomro to the SHC. Although the CJP had earlier declined these suggestions, an undated requisition signed by five JCP members was submitted to the JCP secretariat on April 7.

Under Article 175A(22) of the Consti­tution, the JCP chairman is required to convene a meeting within 15 days if at least one-third of members submit a requisition.

While raising substantive objections to the proposed transfers, CJP warned that the move would affect constitutional balance and have far-reaching implications.

Referring specifically to Justice Soomro, who had been transferred from the SHC to the IHC in February 2025 under Article 200, the CJP argued that reversing such a transfer defeats the purpose of promoting federalism, inclusivity, and equitable representation in the superior judiciary. He noted that the earlier transfers were made with careful consideration of linguistic diversity and representation of federating units.

The CJP warned that moving both Justice Soomro and Justice Imtiaz back to the SHC would leave Sindh without representation in the IHC, thereby negating the intent behind earlier judicial placements.

He also questioned the institutional ne­­cessity behind the proposed transfers, noting the absence of any stated reasons. Wi­­thout justification, such moves could as­­su­­me a punitive character, effectively amo­unting to the removal of judges without due process. He emphasised that tra­ns­ferring five out of nine IHC judges wi­­thout replacing them would create signi­ficant vacancies, potentially leading to fresh appointments and further instability.

Highlighting the broader implications, the CJP said such large-scale transfers could create judicial uncertainty and erode public trust in the administration of justice. He stressed that the Constitution provides a clear mechanism under Article 209 for addressing allegations or concerns against judges through the Supreme Judicial Council.

According to the CJP, any transfer that effectively functions as a removal from office cannot bypass this constitutional framework. Allowing such actions would enable what the Constitution explicitly prohibits: removing judges through indirect administrative means rather than established legal procedures.

He said that permitting such transfers would set a dangerous precedent, normalising the idea that judges are interchangeable or disposable. This, he said, would harm judicial independence, institutional integrity, and public trust. He stated that the proposed transfers, due to their apparent punitive nature and lack of justification, were inconsistent with the constitutional scheme governing the judiciary and the intent of Article 200.

For these reasons, he added, the requisition to convene a JCP meeting for the transfers could not be supported. How­ever, he clarified that the JCP secretary may still proceed with convening the me­­eting in compliance with Article 175A(22), as required by the Constitution.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026

Islamabad’s Deputy Com­­missioner Irfan Memon in a statement said the administration was in contact with distributors of food items, vegetables, fruits, the Drug Regu­latory Authority, pharmaceutical companies and petrol pump owners.

Memon said no vehicle carrying petroleum products, food items and medicines was being stopped in any way, adding that the entry of heavy transport into Islamabad would remain banned until further orders.

The district administration has also set up a control room to provide 24/7 service to the people who have been asked to contact on phone number 051-9108084, in case of any difficulty.

Meanwhile, the traffic police, in a separate statement anno­unced that the Red Zone and Extended Red Zone would remain completely closed for all types of traffic.

The residents of Islam­abad have been advised to follow the alternative traffic plan in case of road closures.

Islamabad Expressway from Koral to Zero Point will be closed for all types of traffic whereas traffic may also be stopped at different times on Srinagar Highway.

Residents of G-5, G-6, G-7, F-6, and F-7 traveling to Rawalpindi should use Margalla Road and 9th Avenue. Traffic coming from Faisal Avenue to Zero Point will be diverted towards 9th Avenue.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Rubio denied that Washington had asked the Iranian team not to come to the World Cup — but warned the United States may yet bar entry to members of the Iranian delegation it judged to have ties to Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which is regarded as a terrorist organisation by Washington and several other governments.

“No-one from the US has told them they can’t come,” Rubio said of Iran’s World Cup participation.

“The problem with Iran, it would be not their athletes, it would be some of the other people (they) would want to bring with them, some of whom have ties to the IRGC. We may not be able to let them in, but not the athletes themselves,” Rubio added.

Rubio was responding to a reported proposal from Italy-born US special envoy Paolo Zampolli, who told the Financial Times he had floated the idea of Italy taking Iran’s World Cup place to US President Donald Trump and football’s world governing body FIFA.

The proposal was dismissed out of hand by the Italian government and sports officials earlier on Thursday.

Rubio said the proposal did not reflect the US government’s position.

“I don’t know where that’s coming from, other than speculation that Iran may decide not to come, and Italy would fill their spot,” Rubio said. “But that’s if they decide not to come on their own, it’s because they decided not to come.”

Zampolli told the Financial Times on Wednesday it would be a “dream” to see Italy at the finals in the United States, Mexico and Canada despite the fact they lost in a qualification playoff last month.

‘NOT POSSIBLE’

However, Italy’s sports minister Andrea Abodi said on Thursday that a reinstatement of Italy “first, is not possible; second, is not appropriate, you qualify on the pitch”, according to Italian news agencies ANSA and AGI.

That view was echoed by the president of Italy’s Olympic committee, Luciano Buonfiglio.

“I would feel offended. You have to earn your place in the World Cup,” he said.

The Iranian embassy to Rome responded saying that the suggestion showed US “moral bankruptcy” and that Italy did not need “political privileges” to demonstrate its football greatness.

Italy has won the World Cup four times, but it missed out on the tournament for a third successive time after losing a penalty shootout to Bosnia and Herzegovina in their qualifying playoff final.

Iran’s participation at the World Cup has been thrown into doubt by the war with the US and Israel that broke out on Feb 28.

The Iranian football federation (FFIRI) had said in April it was “negotiating” with FIFA to relocate the country’s World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico.

But FIFA President Gianni Infantino told AFP last month that Iran will be at the World Cup and that they will play “where they are supposed to be, according to the draw”.

The FIFA chief reiterated that stance in Washington last week.

When contacted by AFP about Zampolli’s suggestion on Thursday, FIFA referred to Infantino’s recent comments.

In 2022, Zampolli made a similar suggestion, proposing to FIFA that Italy should replace Iran at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar because of the Islamic Republic’s crackdown on protesters at that time. His proposal fell on deaf ears.

Zampolli is an Italian-American socialite, businessman and founder of a modelling agency, who claims to have introduced Trump to his current wife Melania Trump.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026

The Italian world number one is looking to beat the rec­ord of four consecutive triumphs held by all-time greats Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal this week in the Spanish capital.

Sinner dropped only one set on the way to trophies in Paris, Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo, but Bonzi battled brilliantly to claim the first at the Manolo Santana stadium.

The Frenchman survived five break points to reach a tie-break, where he also saved set point before edging ahead.

However Sinner stepped up a gear in the second set, securing breaks in the fourth and sixth games, and another in the third on his way to the third round.

“It was a tough match, I had some chances early on and I couldn’t use them, but this is tennis,” said four-time Grand Slam winner Sinner.

“It’s not bad to start the tournament like this, two and a half hours on court, it gives me good feedback where we need to improve for the next round.

“Of course, we need to impr­ove, but I’m also happy, when you’re not playing your best tennis and win, it’s still a good result.”

Earlier, Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic sent world number six Ben Shelton crashing out with a 6-4, 6-7(4/7), 7-6(7/5) victory. Promising 20-year-old Prizmic, ranked 87th, secured his first ever win over a top-10 player in a three-hour battle in the Spanish capital.

American Shelton triumphed at the Munich Open on Sunday on clay but was unable to force a single break point on Prizmic’s serve. Italian Lorenzo Musetti, ran­ked ninth, defeated Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 7-6(7/4).

In the women’s draw, world number two Elena Rybakina scraped into the Madrid Open third round with a 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 win over Gabriela Ruse.

Kazakhstan’s Rybakina, who won the Australian Open in January and triumphed at Stut­tgart last week, struggled in the first set, making 24 unforced errors to just eight winners.

After claiming a topsy-turvy second set, she came back from a break down in the third and sealed the victory on her third match point.

Rybakina will meet Zheng Qinwen, who produced a similarly battling performance to overcome Sofia Kenin, in the third round.

“Today, I basically survived,” said Rybakina after her hard-fought victory. “It wasn’t the greatest performance but Gabri­ela, she played very well. She was playing very deep and aggr­essive, so it was very difficult.

“My serve was not really helping me today... but I’m really happy that I managed to win, and I hope I can bring better tennis next round.”

Last year’s runner-up and the third seed Coco Gauff made light work of Leolia Jea­n­jean with a 6-3, 6-0 victory at the Arantxa Sanchez stadium.

Gauff will take on Romanian Sorana Cirstea in the third round, after she defeated Tyra Caterina Grant in straight sets.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026

In uncalled for incident, Amir had a brief altercation in the ground with Faheem after dismissing him.

According to a press release issued on Thursday, Amir was found to have violated the Article 2.5 of the PSL Code of Conduct, which pertains to using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon his/her dismissal during a match.

Faheem, on the other hand, was deemed guilty of Article 2.21, which relates to bringing the game into disrepute. Both Amir and Faheem pleaded guilty to the charges levelled on them by the on-field umpires, and accepted the sanction adjudged by the match referee.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026

The seven-times Grand Slam champion picked up the injury in the first round of the Barcelona Open earlier this month before withdrawing from the tournament.

Scans showed the issue was more serious than initially thought, after which the 22-year-old also withdrew from the Madrid Open. The Spaniard said he would also skip the Masters tournament in Rome.

“After the results of the tests carried out today, we have decided that the most prudent thing to do is to be cautious and not participate in Rome or Roland Garros as we wait to evaluate the progress so we can decide when to return to the court,” Alcaraz said.

“This is a difficult time for me, but I am sure we will come out of it stronger.”

Having won the Australian Open earlier this year, Alcaraz was gunning for his third straight Roland Garros crown after also winning the title in 2024.

He will now skip the entire claycourt swing, with one eye on Wimbledon in June. The last time Alcaraz missed a major was the 2023 Australian Open due to a leg injury.

A claycourt specialist, Alcaraz had won titles at Monte Carlo, Rome and Roland Garros last year while he had also finished runner-up in Barcelona.

He beat current world number one Jannik Sinner in last year’s marathon final at Roland Garros, saving three championship points before coming out on top after five hours and 29 minutes.

Alcaraz’s withdrawal paves the way for Sinner to potentially complete a Career Slam.

The Italian has won the Australian Open twice, Wimbl­edon last year and the US Open in 2024.

The main draw at the French Open gets underway on May 24.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026

Talking to reporters here at the LCCA ground during a practice session ahead of their last and crucial match against Karachi Kings being held on Saturday at the Gaddafi Stadium, former Pakistan pacer Sohail lamented that his team could not play like a unit but added that it happened in franchise cricket.

“The overall performance of our team, particularly in bowling, remained below par [in this PSL edition],” Sohail said while talking to reporters. “When a team lose it is a defeat of the entire team, and when they win it is a victory of the whole team.”

Winners of the 2019 edition, Gladiators are currently seventh on the table with just three wins (six points) from nine matches and have a slim chance to qualify for the play-offs if they beat Kings today.

On the other hand, sixth-placed Kings have eight points and need to win their last match to remain in the race for the play-offs, where still two places are still up for grabs after table toppers Peshawar Zalmi (17 points) and second-placed Multan Sultans (12) have already qualified.

Kings defeated defending champions Lahore Qalandars by five wickets in a high-scoring game at the Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday night to stay in the race for the play-offs with four wins.

Insisting that his team still hope to do well in the playoffs race, Sohail prai­sed batter Khawaja Nafay and pacer Mohammad Khalil.

On Saturday after Glad­iators face Kings in the afternoon match Zalmi take on Qalandars in the evening encounter, also in Lahore.

Qalandars, currently pla­ced fourth with eight points, face a must-win situation in today’s game if they are to qualify for the play-offs.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026

Bracewell’s positive test came on Sept 25, 2025 while he was playing for Essex against Somerset at Chelmsford.

The 35-year-old admitted using cocaine after the first day of the fixture and in the early hours of the morning prior to the second day’s play.

After being notified of the positive test, Bracewell retired from cricket on Dec 28.

Despite his retirement, Brace­well, who had signed for Essex for the final three Championship matches of last season, was still issued with the two-year ban by the Cricket Regulator.

He previously served a one-month ban in 2024 after testing positive for cocaine during New Zealand’s ‘Super Smash’ Twenty20 event.

The two-year suspension is backdated to Nov 24, 2025, the date of his provisional ban, and will run until November 23, 2027.

Bracewell, who played in 69 matches for New Zealand across all formats, has accepted the ban and Essex will not face punishment.

“Essex can confirm that Doug Bracewell failed a routine drugs test in September 2025,” the club said in a statement on Friday.

“The club supports the Cricket Regulator’s decision to impose a period of ineligibility of two years. All employees are required to meet the highest standards of professional conduct.

“While the club does not condone Bracewell’s behaviour, we are committed to supporting him through rehabilitation in line with our policies and procedures.”

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026

Riding high on momentum following their triumph over Multan Sultans, the Kingsmen had appeared well-placed to consolidate their push for the last-four stage. Instead, they stumbled to their lowest total of the season — a meagre 80 — as Islamabad’s bowlers combined to dismantle them with ruthless efficiency, tightening an already fierce mid-table battle.

The result propelled Islamabad to 11 points, guaranteeing qualification, while leaving the Kingsmen stranded on eight alongside Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings, setting up a three-way tussle for the final playoff spot heading into the last round.

Having opted to field, United struck immediately through Richard Gleeson, who produced a devastating opening spell that effectively decided the contest.

The English pacer removed Maaz Sadaqat off the very first ball before accounting for Marnus Labuschagne and Saim Ayub inside the powerplay, exploiting movement off a sluggish surface with probing accuracy.

From 12-2 in the third over, the Kingsmen never recovered. Usman Khan, fresh from a century in the previous outing, attempted to anchor the innings but found little support as wickets fell steadily at the other end.

Kusal Perera briefly counterattacked with a pair of boundaries, but his dismissal — top-edging a sweep off Shadab Khan — triggered another collapse.

Glenn Maxwell’s struggles continued as he was trapped lbw by Imad Wasim attempting an ambitious reve­rse hit, reducing the Kingsmen to 42-5.

Shadab then stamped his authority on the middle overs, removing Irfan Khan and Hassan Khan in successive deliveries, finishing with figures of 3-13. Imad complemented him with three wickets of his own, including the final blows that wrapped up the innings in just 15.5 overs.

Only Usman showed resistance with a laborious 25 off 35 balls, while Asif Mehmood’s late six provided the solitary moment of defiance in an otherwise one-sided innings.

“We just need to make sure that when we find ourselves in different conditions to what we last played on, we’re able to adjust,” Kingsmen head coach Jason Gillespie said after the match.

“Unfortunately, we weren’t able to do that tonight. Full credit to Islamabad — they played really well.”

The Australian believed the Kings­men needed to adapt better when they take on Rawal­pindiz in their final and crucial league fixture on Sunday.

“We didn’t adjust and adapt our games. The surface played as we expected — we had played on it earlier in the tournament — so it wasn’t a surprise,” said Gillespie.

“It maybe kept a bit lower than people thought, but that’s no excuse.

“It certainly wasn’t a pitch to get bowled out for 80. We just batted poorly and we acknowledge that. We know we need to be better and adapt. The batters will reflect on that individually and as a group. We missed a trick tonight.”

Chasing a modest 81, United suffered an early hiccup when Devon Conway fell for a duck, but any hopes of a Kingsmen resurgence were swiftly extinguished by an aggressive partnership between Sameer Minhas and Mohsin Riaz.

Sameer settled the innings with calculated strokeplay, while Mohsin launched a blistering assault that ensured the chase was completed with minimal fuss.

The right-hander smashed 42 off just 18 deliveries, peppering the boundary with six fours and two sixes in a display that underscored the gulf between the two sides on the night.

The pair added 79 runs in just over six overs, effectively erasing any scoreboard pressure. Mohsin fell attempting to finish the match in style, but Shadab Khan sealed victory moments later with a crisp boundary, as United raced to 83-2 in only 6.4 overs.

While Islamabad celebrated qualification, the defeat dealt a significant blow to the Kingsmen’s net run rate, which could prove decisive in the tightly packed race for fourth place.

United’s performance coach Rehan Riaz said the side’s mantra of backing their players constantly helped the side book the playoffs despite a few hiccups during the tournament.

“Trusting our players is a major part of the culture at United,” he told reporters after the match. “The boys always look to bounce back after a setback.”

Having climbed into contention with four consecutive wins, including Wednesday’s statement victory, Kingsmen campaign now hinges on the final league fixture.

The standings reflect the shifting dynamics. United’s win not only secured their own progression but also opened the door for Qalandars and Kings, both level on points with the Kingsmen but marginally behind on net run rate.

With Quetta Gladiators still mathematically alive, albeit outsiders, the closing stages promise a tense scramble.

SCOREBOARD

HYDERABAD KINGSMEN:

Maaz Sadaqat c Imad b Gleeson 0

Marnus Labuschagne c Faheem b Gleeson 5

Saim Ayub c Haider b Gleeson 12

Usman Khan not out 25

Kusal Perera c Imad b Shadab 12

Glenn Maxwell lbw b Imad 1

Irfan Khan c Green b Shadab 9

Hassan Khan c&b Shadab 0

Asif Mehmood c Shadab b Salman 12

Hunain Shah b Imad 1

Mohammad Ali lbw b Imad 0

EXTRAS (W-3) 3

TOTAL (all out, 15.5 overs) 80

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-0 (Maaz), 2-11 (Labuschagne), 3-24 (Saim), 4-39 (Perera), 5-42 (Maxwell), 6-57 (Irfan), 7-57 (Hassan), 8-76 (Asif), 9-79 (Hunain)

BOWLING: Gleeson 3-0-9-3, Salman 3-0-19-1, Faheem 1-0-9-0, Green 2-0-9-0, Shadab 3-0-13-3 (2w), Imad 3.5-0-21-3 (1w)

ISLAMABAD UNITED:

Devon Conway c Maaz b Ali 0

Sameer Minhas not out 27

Mohsin Riaz c Labuschagne b Ali 42

Shadab Khan not out 4

EXTRAS (LB-5, NB-1, W-4) 10

TOTAL (for two wickets, 6.4 overs) 83

DID NOT BAT: Mark Chapman, Haider Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Chris Green, Imad Wasim, Richard Gleeson, Salman Mirza

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-0 (Conway), 2-79 (Mohsin)

BOWLING: Ali 3.4-0-29-2 (2w, 1nb), Hunain 2-0-26-0 (1w), Hassan 1-0-23-0 (1w)

RESULT: Islamabad United won by eight wickets.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Richard Gleeson

POINTS TABLE

(Tabulated under matches, won, lost, no result, points, run-rate)

Peshawar Zalmi 9 8 0 1 17 2.645

Multan Sultans 9 6 3 0 12 0.450

Islamabad United 9 5 3 1 11 1.766

Lahore Qalandars 9 4 5 0 8 -0.558

Hyderabad Kingsmen 9 4 5 0 8 -1.037

Karachi Kings 9 4 5 0 8 -1.063

Quetta Gladiators 9 3 6 0 6 -0.355

Rawalpindiz 9 1 8 0 2 -1.330

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026

President Tayyip Erdogan, F1 chief executive officer Stefano Dom­e­nicali and the president of the spo­rt’s governing body FIA, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, officially announced the agreement at an event in Istanbul’s Dolmabahce Palace, as a promotional F1 car roared through the streets of Turkey’s biggest city.

In a statement, F1 said it had reac­hed an agreement with the Tur­k­ish government for Istanbul Park to host grands prix through the 2031 season, while Eren Uclerto­pragi, president of Turkey’s Automobile Sports Fede­ration (TOSFED), said preparations were underway for the 2027 race.

“We are delighted to be returning to the incredible and vibrant city of Istanbul from 2027 to thrill all our fans in Trkiye and around the world on one of the most exciting and challenging circuits in Formula 1,” Domenicali said.

Erdogan said F1’s return was a reflection of the “strong confidence” placed in Turkey and its organisational capacity, adding he hoped Turkey’s partnership with F1 would grow further in coming years as Istanbul hosts five “exciting, high-quality races” until 2031.

Ben Sulayem said Turkey’s return was a “powerful reflection” of the global growth and appeal of F1 and secured the long-term future of the sport in Turkey, adding it held a “special place” in F1’s history.

The 14-turn circuit on the Asian side of Istanbul is popular with drivers and fans but last hosted a race in 2021 as a stand-in during the Covid-19 pandemic. It also hosted grands prix between 2005 and 2011, as well as in the 2020 season when Lewis Hamilton won the race to clinch his seventh world championship, equalling Michael Schumacher’s record.

While Turkey continued negotiations to return to the sport after the 2021 grand prix, talks stalled from 2022 partly due to the tens of millions of dollars needed to secure an agreement that competitors, such as Qatar, were able to finance.

But in 2024, Can Bilim Egitim Kurumlari A.S., part-owned by F1 tyre provider Pirelli’s Turkish branch chairman Lale Cander, earned rights to operate the Istanbul Park circuit for a 30-year period for some $117.8 million, with a contractual task to bring F1 back by 2026.

In February, Domenicali had confirmed that Istanbul Park was close to a return to the calendar, and add­ed that the number of rounds in the season would still be capped at 24.

The 5.3 km-long circuit boasts the famous multi-apex turn 8, which marks a test of drivers’ precision and commitment as they try to maintain speed and balance through the long and sweeping left-hander.

The most recent winner at Istanbul Park was Valtteri Bottas in 2021 with Mercedes, who alongside Hamilton, is one of only two current drivers to have won the grand prix.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026

Delivering an outstanding performance, Abubakar defeated Singapore’s Luke Jie Xi 7-6(3), 7-6(7) to clinch the decider.

In the girls final, Ziyu outclassed Yerin Lim of Korea 6-1, 6-1. Meanwhile, two ITF Men’s M-15 Futures events will be held at the PTF Tennis Complex.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026

The Spanish midfielder came off late in last weekend’s crucial 2-1 win over Arsenal and he missed the midweek victory over Burnley, which took City top of the Premier League.

With the club chasing a seventh Premier League title in nine seasons, Guardiola is unwilling to take a chance on the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner at Wembley.

The groin issue is the latest in a series of setbacks for the 29-year-old Rodri since he suffered a serious knee injury early last season and the focus is on proving his fitness for the league trip to Everton on May 4.

Guardiola said the midfielder was “better” but was unsure if he would face Everton.

“Hopefully, but we don’t want to take a risk because if he’s injured, we’re losing him for the next three games, that’s why it’s so important,” he said.

The Blues will face a resurgent Southampton who are unbeaten since January and are pushing for a return to the Premier League.

Guardiola said that his players would not underestimate the Championship side as City attempt to reach a fourth straight final.

“They have knocked out Fulham and Arsenal so (their form) speaks for itself,” he said. “They are in a good rhythm but this is a real opportunity to get to the final.”

In the other last-four tie, Chelsea will face Leeds United on Sunday four days after the Blues sacked their coach Liam Rosenoir amid a five-match losing streak in the Premier League.

Rosenoir was replaced by interim coach Calum McFarlane, who said the team was not dwelling on the firing of previous manager and instead focusing on beating Leeds this weekend.

“We haven’t had a clear-the-air meeting, we have got the group focused for Sunday,” McFarlane, who was a part of Rosenior’s backroom staff, told reporters on Friday.

“It’s important we have a real focus for the game on Sunday. We can’t be thinking about anything else, what’s gone on in the past doesn’t need to be spoken about. It’s just everything geared towards Sunday.”

McFarlane said he spoke to Rosenior on the day he was fired.

“He was good, it was a good conversation. I have a lot of respect for Liam, I didn’t know him before he came to the club, he welcomed me in brilliantly. I have a great relationship with him and I am gutted it didn’t work out,” he added.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026

“Sometimes the supporters can’t understand some interpretations of the rules. I can’t understand it many times,” Ceferin said during a conference in Madrid.

“For example, the handball, nobody understands it. Is it a penalty? Is it not a penalty? Nobody knows. It was intentional, how do you know? You’re not a psychiatrist.”

The head of the governing body of European football also bemoaned the length of time some VAR interventions take on the pitch.

“We try to explain to the referees that the referee on the pitch is the one that decides,” Ceferin said.

“And only if it’s a clear and obvious mistake, you intervene. And even interventions should be fast, not just in Spanish league. I saw it in Premier League, sometimes 10-15 minutes of watching something.”

He also called for a greater harmonisation of the interpretation of the rules across Europe’s different domestic leagues.

“I see that sometimes referees who are refereeing on the European level are refereeing differently than in their own leagues,” the Slovenian said.

“Because they have different referee bosses in the leagues. So I think we should, because it’s one game and it should be the same way.”

Ceferin added that the best way to avoid mistakes was to “strictly try to obey” the International Football Association Board (IFAB) rules.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026

PCB election commissioner Mansoor Qadir will conduct the elections. In the first phase, elections will be held for Rawalpindi, Chakwal, Attock and Jhelum associations on May 12.

The schedule of the elections for other districts will be announced after the process of scrutiny and appeals against clubs is completed.

“These elections are being conducted following the completion of the three-year term of the district cricket associations. Nomination papers [for these elections] can be submitted by Thursday, April 30,” the PCB said in a media statement.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026

The nine-team continental event will be played in Kakamegahara, Japan from May 29 to June 6. The camp for the said event will take place from April 28 to May 25 at the Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium in Islamabad.

According to a press release issued by the PHF, the names of players and officials selected for the camp have been finalised following recommendations from the federation’s professional development committee, national selection committee and head coach Qamar Ibrahim.

All selected players and officials have been inst­ructed to report to Qamar at the venue on April 28.

Players invited to the camp:

Goalkeepers: Ghulam Mustafa (Customs), Muzammil Umar (Army), Nauman Khan (Sindh), Hamza Khalid (Punjab), Maysam Abbas (Gilgit-Baltistan), Hanif Shahid (Balochistan).

Defenders: Asim Haider, Hassan Akbar (Customs), Muzammil Saeed (Army), Nauman Hanif (Punjab), Rohan Khan (Sindh), Ehsan, Uzair, Hassan Niaz (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa).

Midfielders: Usman Baig, Asnan Khan, Zaman Gujjar (Customs), Waqas Naeem, Aman Hussain, Abdullah, Shahidullah (Punjab), Usman Asghar (Army), Usman Ghani (Sindh).

Forwards: Mohammad Usman, Abdullah Awan, Adeel Afzal, Mohammad Hamza, Yahya Najeeb (Customs), Ali Hanzala, Salman Yasin, Shoaib Sultan, Zain (Army), Rana Abdul Sami, Zunair, Abu Sufyan, Farhan Aslam, Hussain Noor, Zain Abid, Arsalan, Ehsan Elahi, Taimoor (Punjab), Sharjeel, Abbas (KP), Abdul Basit (Islamabad), Faizan, Fakhar Nasir (Sindh).

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026