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In Focus
Pakistan and China unveil five-point peace initiative amid Iran conflict
The two countries mark 75 years of diplomatic relations with focus on economic cooperation and CPEC 2.0
On 01 April, The News International and Dawn reported that Pakistan and China agreed on a five-point initiative aimed at restoring peace and stability in the Middle East amid the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran. The agreement followed Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s visit to Beijing, where he held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Both sides called for the “immediate cessation of hostilities” and urged efforts to prevent further escalation. They also stressed that “humanitarian assistance must be allowed” to war-affected areas, reiterating that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable option for resolving the crisis.
The initiative underscored the need to safeguard “sovereignty, territorial integrity, national independence and security” of Iran and Gulf states, while urging parties to initiate peace talks as soon as possible. Pakistan and China also called for adherence to international humanitarian law, stressing that attacks on civilian targets must stop. They also warned against targeting critical infrastructure, including energy and nuclear facilities. Highlighting global economic risks, both sides emphasised that the Strait of Hormuz is an important global shipping route, calling for the safe passage of vessels and the restoration of normal maritime activity.
The two sides put forward the following five points:
1. Immediate cessation of hostilities
2. Start of peace talks as soon as possible
3. Security of nonmilitary targets
4. Security of shipping lanes
5. Primacy of the United Nations Charter
Meanwhile, both countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties as they mark 75 years of diplomatic relations, with a focus on economic cooperation and CPEC 2.0. Chinese officials appreciated Pakistan’s “constructive and consistent diplomatic efforts”, while Iran welcomed Islamabad’s “proactive” diplomatic initiatives to restore regional stability. Officials noted that indirect engagement between Washington and Tehran was ongoing, with Pakistan emerging as a potential venue for dialogue. The initiative also stressed the importance of multilateralism and the primacy of the United Nations in achieving a comprehensive and lasting peace framework. (“Pakistan, China call for end to hostilities, push for peace talks,” The News International, 01 April 2026; “Pakistan, China issue 5-point initiative for restoring peace in Middle East,” Dawn, 31 March 2026)
In Brief
AF-PAK
Repatriation of Afghan nationals resumes at Torkham after security talks
On 31 March, Dawn reported that the Torkham border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was reopened for the repatriation of undocumented Afghans following successful coordination between Pakistani and Afghan authorities. The crossing, linking KP with Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province, had remained intermittently closed after a firing incident injured a Pakistani security official, prompting Islamabad’s protest and a subsequent expression of regret from the Afghan side. Officials said the reopening followed “detailed meetings” and flag talks that helped restore calm and establish a mechanism for the smooth return of Afghan nationals under the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan (IFRP). Around 220 individuals were repatriated in the first phase under official supervision. The reopening also marked a rare moment of goodwill, with border personnel from both sides meeting cordially, while transporters simultaneously protested delays in the return of stranded vehicles and drivers since last year’s closure. (“Repatriation of Afghans resumes at Torkham as border reopens,” Dawn, 31 March 2026)
ECONOMY
Fuel prices set to rise again as subsidy burden mounts
On 01 April, Dawn reported that prices of both petrol and diesel are set to witness another hike within days. The quantum of price increase is being worked out, depending on international oil prices. The Government will protect selective segments like bikers, three-wheelers and farmers, depending on provincial priorities. Fiscal pressure is mounting on the federal government as it has already provided about PKR 129 billion worth of subsidy on petroleum products over the past three weeks and would not go beyond PKR 158 billion. Although provinces agreed to share the burden of subsidy, the Punjab and Sindh provinces reiterated their demand to pass on the full price hike on both products while providing direct targeted subsidy to priority sectors. ("Petrol, diesel prices to go up further within days, Dawn, 01 April 2026)
FBR misses revenue target by PKR 612 billion, raising fiscal concerns
On 01 April, Dawn reported that during the first nine months (July-March) of 2025-26, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) missed the revenue collection target by PKR 612 billion. The FBR had set a revenue collection target of PKR 9.917 trillion for nine months of FY26. Both customs duty and sales tax registering declines during the last nine months, reflecting increasing fiscal pressures on the government exchequer. This would lead to strain on public finances, widen the fiscal deficit, and limit the government’s ability to meet expenditure commitments. ("FBR misses collection target by Rs612bn, Dawn, 01 April 2026)
Rising global oil prices threaten import bill as inflation nears 8.5 per cent
On 01 April, Dawn reported that the government warned that rising global oil prices pose a risk to the country’s import bill and macroeconomic conditions in the longer term. The Ministry of Finance, in its Monthly Economic Update and Outlook, stated that rising global oil prices and potential supply chain disruptions may exert pressure on industrial input costs. The outlook also estimates inflation growing by up to 8.5 per cent for March. It also put an optimistic economic short-term outlook as data showed improving momentum in the industrial sector, with higher imports of textile machinery, transport and construction-related inputs, likely to translate into higher domestic industrial activity. ("Inflation seen near 8.5pc in March, Dawn, 01 April 2026)
LNG supply disruption forces power generation setback in Pakistan
On 01 April, Dawn reported that liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies were under force majeure and not available for power generation in Pakistan, officials revealed during the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) hearing. The CEO of the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CCPA), Rehan Akhtar, assured that the coal supplies, another source for power generation through imports, were not facing any problems as they mostly came from South Africa and Indonesia, and were unaffected by disruptions in West Asia. He also informed that the federal government is also working on a tariff package to encourage better utilisation of electricity during the daytime, when solar power generation is also possible. The hearing was told that the incremental tariff package had resulted in 25 per cent growth in electricity consumption in the industrial sector and seven per cent growth in the agriculture sector. More than 43 per cent of industrial consumers and 35 per cent of agriculture consumers benefited from the package, with 203,367 consumers availing the incentive package for higher consumption at lower rates. ("LNG supplies under force majeure not available for power generation say officials, Dawn, 01 April 2026)
EXTERNAL
Pakistan's US envoy reaffirms Islamabad's mediator role in Iran-US conflict, cautions on timeline
On 31 March, Dawn reported that Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, reaffirmed Islamabad's commitment to facilitating dialogue between Washington and Tehran in a Fox News interview, while cautioning that "diplomacy is a gradual process that requires time." The ambassador described the situation as highly complex, involving political, economic, and regional factors, and stressed that final decisions rested with the conflicting parties themselves. He noted that both sides had expressed confidence in Pakistan's mediating capacity and that Islamabad's offer was made in good faith in collaboration with regional partners. Pakistan's initiative drew praise from US lawmakers, including Republican Representatives Ryan Zinke and Jack Bergman, the latter co-chair of the Congressional Pakistan Caucus, who called Pakistan's role "key to lasting stability." The remarks came as Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar visited China on a one-day trip to advance the peace process, and following a quadrilateral foreign ministers' meeting in Islamabad over the weekend with Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Egypt, after which Dar indicated that direct US-Iran talks could be hosted in Islamabad in the coming days. ("Diplomacy takes time': Pak envoy reaffirms Islamabad's commitment to Iran-US peace amid complex situation," Dawn, 31 March 2026)
Pakistan and France discuss energy security and mining cooperation amid regional disruptions
On 01 April, The Express Tribune reported that Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik met with French Ambassador Nicolas Galey to discuss energy security and bilateral cooperation in the energy and mining sectors. The ambassador praised Pakistan's management of petroleum supply disruptions, noting that fuel availability had been maintained despite regional market volatility. Malik attributed this to an inter-ministerial coordination mechanism and diplomatic efforts by senior leadership to secure supplies through alternative channels. The ambassador noted growing French interest in Pakistan's mining sector and expressed optimism about French firms participating in the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum. ("Pakistan, France to deepen energy ties," The Express Tribune, 01 April 2026)
109 Pakistani migrants died or went missing during irregular migration in 2025, says a report
On 01 April, Dawn reported that 109 Pakistani nationals were among at least 2,722 people from the Asia-Pacific region who died or disappeared while attempting irregular migration in 2025, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Missing Migrants Project 2026. Afghanistan recorded the highest toll with 1,540 nationals, followed by Myanmar with 935, Pakistan third with 109, Bangladesh with 80, and India with 15. The IOM noted that 91 per cent of fatalities occurred within the Asia-Pacific region itself, with the highest number of incidents along land routes between Afghanistan and Iran and maritime routes across the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea. The organisation cautioned that figures should be treated as minimum estimates given the clandestine nature of irregular migration, and that this marked the second consecutive year with over 2,700 recorded deaths globally. ("109 illegal migrants from Pakistan died or went missing last year: International Organisation for Migration," Dawn, 01 April 2026)
Pakistan, EU and UN condemn killing of three Indonesian UNIFIL peacekeepers in Lebanon
On 31 March, The Express Tribune reported that Pakistan, the European Union, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned the killing of three Indonesian UN peacekeepers in two separate incidents in southern Lebanon. Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, speaking at an emergency UN Security Council meeting on the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), stated that targeting UN personnel constitutes a grave violation of international humanitarian law and may amount to war crimes, calling for a prompt and impartial investigation. A joint statement by the foreign ministers of ten European nations and the EU condemned the attacks on UNIFIL, called on Israel to halt further escalation, including a ground operation, and reaffirmed Lebanon's territorial integrity. The incidents occurred against the backdrop of an Israeli military campaign in Lebanon that has killed at least 1,247 people since a Hezbollah cross-border attack on March 2. ("Pakistan, UN chief, EU assail peacekeepers' killings in Lebanon," The Express Tribune, 31 March 2026)
Chinese and Pakistani firms advance plans for Nooriabad Industrial Project
On 01 April, The Express Tribune reported that representatives of China's Kunlun Group and Pakistan's Oasis Group met with Federal Minister for Board of Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh to discuss expanding cooperation under an existing memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed at a business-to-business conference in September 2025. Discussions centred on the Oasis Sino Pak Global Village, a 2,800-acre industrial and commercial development in Nooriabad, with both sides expressing interest in broadening collaboration across agriculture, energy, and infrastructure. The minister assured the delegation of full government support and briefed them on Special Economic Zones. ("Chinese firms eye Nooriabad expansion," The Express Tribune, 1 April 2026)
POLITICS & GOVERNANCE
IHC adjourns Imran, Bushra sentence suspension plea hearing
On 31 March, Dawn reported that the Islamabad High Court (IHC) adjourned hearings on the suspension of sentences of former prime minister Imran Khan and his spouse, Bushra Bibi, in the GBP 190 million Al-Qadir Trust case after defence counsel sought time to consult his clients. A division bench led by Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar allowed the request, noting the defence’s inability to proceed without instructions. The counsel said he had not met the couple for five months, while the prosecutors of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) opposed delays and urged arguments on the main appeals. The court fixed 06 April for the next hearing. The case pertains to allegations that the couple obtained land and financial benefits from a private housing scheme in exchange for legalising GBP 190 million repatriated from the UK, a charge they deny. (“£190m case: IHC adjourns hearing of Imran, Bushra’s pleas after defence seeks more time,” Dawn, 31 March 2026)
Finance Minister Aurangzeb assures KP CM of support amid funding concerns
On 31 March, Dawn reported that Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb assured Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi of his “full support” for resolving the province’s financial issues during a meeting in Islamabad. The discussion, described as “cordial and constructive”, followed a high-level session chaired by President Asif Ali Zardari that included Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and all provincial chief ministers. Afridi briefed the finance minister on economic challenges faced by KP, particularly delays in the release of funds. Aurangzeb reiterated the federal government’s commitment to addressing “all legitimate issues” and facilitating provinces. The meeting comes amid ongoing tensions, with Afridi repeatedly accusing the Centre of withholding constitutionally mandated funds, especially for merged districts, and calling for revisions to the National Finance Commission (NFC) formula or interim financial arrangements. (“Finance minister assures KP CM Afridi of ‘full support’ in resolving all ‘legitimate issues’,” Dawn, 31 March 2026)
Editorials/Opinions
War & geopolitics
Editorial, “Troubled skies,” Dawn, 01 April 2026
"As the relentless exchange of missiles and drones, which seem to be flying, crashing and exploding all over the Middle East, continues to rattle economies near and far, matters have also turned extremely difficult for the global aviation industry."
https://www.dawn.com/news/1987366/troubled-skies
Nepal
Mahir Ali, “Himalayan hopes,” Dawn, 01 April 2026
"Following last September’s demonstration of people power in Kathmandu, the consequences promptly ensued. The prime minister quit after two days of protests that sometimes turned violent, and 77 protesters lay dead, some of them still in their school uniform. The army briefly took control, but rapidly made way for an interim administration led by former chief justice Sushila Karki, which announced elections and an inquiry into the violence of Sept 8-9."
https://www.dawn.com/news/1987367/himalayan-hopes
The Middle East crisis and Pakistan
Zahid Hussain, “Perils of mediation,” Dawn, 01 April 2026
"Pakistan is in the diplomatic spotlight for its efforts to mediate in the US-Iran war. While this role could be beneficial in resolving the conflict, it also presents significant risks. Mediation between the aggressor and aggrieved has its inherent pitfalls. The task becomes more challenging when one party possesses far greater power and resources. In such cases, the weaker party may feel pressured to accept terms that are not in their best interest."
https://www.dawn.com/news/1987370/perils-of-mediation
Dr Shazia Anwer Cheema, “Pakistan's strategic moment in a changing world order,” The Express Tribune, 01 April 2026
"The conflict between Iran and the US-Israel combine has effectively placed the world on pause. The rules governing trade and commerce are being rewritten. Interestingly, the beneficiaries of the existing system appear to be the losers of today. Nothing in global politics is permanent."
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2600386/pakistans-strategic-moment-in-a-changing-world-order
Judiciary
Editorial, “Two-tier judicial quandary,” The Express Tribune, 01 April 2026
"The two-tier judicial system in vogue is now snowballing into a confrontation. The bizarre observation from jurisprudents that the newly-constituted Federal Constitutional Court is not entitled to uphold or implement decisions of the erstwhile Supreme Court has opened a Pandora's box. This is an outcome of the fractured 27th Amendment, passed by the parliament in negation of the principle of separation of powers, which is now posing grave questions of legitimacy."
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2600383/two-tier-judicial-quandary
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