|
In Focus
Pakistan launches indigenous satellite from China
EO-3 Satellite launched from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre to boost Earth observation capability
On 25 April, Dawn and The Express Tribune reported that Pakistan successfully launched its locally developed electro-optical satellite EO-3 from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in China, marking a significant step in its space programme. Developed by SUPARCO, the satellite successfully entered its planned orbit and is expected to provide high-quality imaging data to support urban planning, disaster management, agriculture, food security and environmental monitoring. Officials described the launch as a key milestone in strengthening Pakistan’s technological capacity, while also highlighting continued reliance on Chinese launch facilities. The development reflects Islamabad’s broader push to integrate space-based data into national planning and improve long-term socio-economic resilience through innovation and scientific advancement.
The Inter-Services Public Relations termed the launch a “historic achievement”, stating it marks “a step forward in Pakistan’s journey towards self-reliance and technological excellence”. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the mission reflects the “professional excellence and unwavering commitment” of Pakistani scientists, while President Asif Ali Zardari called it a “clear manifestation” of growing space capability. Officials added that the satellite would help build an integrated Earth Observation System to improve data-driven policymaking. The launch also underscored deepening cooperation with China, with leaders praising Beijing’s continued support in advancing Pakistan’s scientific and technological development. (“Pakistan successfully launches indigenous satellite from China,” Dawn, 25 April 2026; "Pakistan marks major milestone with launch of EO-3 satellite to boost Earth observation capability," The Express Tribune, 25 April 2026)
Islamabad Talks
Trump cancels US envoys' visit as Iranian officials leave Islamabad after relaying demands
Iran “yet to see” if US is serious about talks, says Foreign Minister; Pakistan continues diplomatic outreach amid praise for mediation efforts
On 27 April, Dawn reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi concluded a “very fruitful visit” to Islamabad after meetings with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and CDF Asim Munir, where he conveyed Tehran’s negotiating position and scepticism over US intentions, stating he is “yet to see if the US is truly serious about diplomacy.” Despite expectations of renewed talks, US President Donald Trump abruptly cancelled a planned visit by envoys, saying, “We have all the cards… you’re not going to be making any more 18-hour flights,” signalling a shift away from in-person diplomacy. Iranian officials maintained that “no meeting is planned” with Washington, highlighting persistent mistrust despite Pakistan’s mediation.?
Trump later suggested talks could continue remotely, saying “we are going to do it by telephone”, while insisting Iran must abandon nuclear ambitions for any deal. Even so, he praised Islamabad, noting he had “great respect for Pakistan” and its facilitative role. Iranian officials, including Ambassador Reza Amiri Moghadam, echoed this, thanking Pakistan for its “tireless efforts” to promote peace. Meanwhile, Araghchi continued regional diplomacy in Muscat and Russia, coordinating positions with Gulf and regional actors as tensions over the Strait of Hormuz and US blockade remained unresolved.?
Amid these developments, Pakistan reaffirmed its central mediation role. In a call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, PM Shehbaz said Pakistan would remain an “honest and sincere facilitator”, working “tirelessly to advance durable peace”. Iranian leadership acknowledged Islamabad’s contribution to de-escalation efforts, even as the diplomatic process remained fragile. With a ceasefire holding without a clear timeline and core disputes over sanctions, maritime access and nuclear restrictions unresolved, officials described the situation as fluid - where indirect engagement continues, but a decisive breakthrough remains elusive. (“Iranian delegation led by Araghchi leaves after meeting PM, CDF Munir; Trump cancels US envoys' visit,” Dawn, 25 April 2026; “Trump opts for talks with Iran over the phone,” Dawn, 27 April 2026; “In call with Iranian president, PM says Pakistan committed to serving as 'honest and sincere facilitator',” Dawn, 25 April 2026)
In Focus
Measles claims lives of 71 children in first four months of 2026
Total of 4541 confirmed cases, with KP reporting the highest; vaccine hesitancy and coverage gaps persist
On 26 April, Dawn reported that 71 children have died of measles across Pakistan in the first four months of 2026, with Sindh recording 40 deaths, followed by 12 each in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and four in Balochistan. A total of 4541 confirmed cases were reported in the first quarter, with KP reporting the highest at 1712. Officials linked the outbreak to a backlog of unvaccinated children from the COVID-19 period, with Dr Raj Kumar noting a “large cohort of unvaccinated children” now being targeted through expanded campaigns and district-specific strategies to curb recurring outbreaks.
Health experts warned that systemic immunisation gaps remain severe. The Pakistan Medical Association said over one million children are “zero-dose”, while 58 per cent remain unimmunised or under-immunised, increasing vulnerability to preventable diseases. Dr Khalid Shafi highlighted vaccine hesitancy, stating parents are “reluctant to get their children vaccinated, risking their lives”. Experts called for local vaccine production, expanded digital registries and more female vaccinators to improve outreach. Meanwhile, polio remains a concern, with one case reported in Sujawal this year, though officials noted improving trends, including a drop in environmental positivity rates to 24 per cent in Sindh. ("Measles claims lives of 71 children across country in four months," Dawn, 26 April 2026)
In Brief
EXTERNAL
President Zardari visits Hunan, pitches agricultural and industrial cooperation with China
On 26 April, Dawn reported that President Asif Ali Zardari, on a week-long visit to China's Hunan and Hainan provinces, met CCP Secretary Shen Xiaoming and attended a banquet hosted by Hunan Governor Mao Weiming, focusing on advancing cooperation in agriculture, health, education, and trade. Zardari expressed interest in closer collaboration in seed technology, agricultural research, and modern farming practices, and highlighted potential for expanding bilateral trade in agricultural machinery, minerals processing, and information and communication technologies. He also visited Sany Heavy Industry Co. Ltd. in Changsha, where he was briefed on the company's advanced manufacturing systems and explored cooperation in construction machinery, digital manufacturing, and clean energy. A visit to the Hunan Tea Group explored prospects for agro-processing cooperation and tea cultivation expertise being brought to Pakistan. Governor Weiming described Pakistan and China as "good friends, good neighbours, good partners and good brothers," and affirmed Hunan's commitment to contributing to CPEC 2.0. The president invited CCP Secretary Xiaoming to visit Pakistan for the 75th anniversary celebrations of Pakistan-China diplomatic relations. ("In China, President Zardari expresses interest in closer collaboration in seed technology, agricultural research," Dawn, 26 April 2026)
Pakistan seeks UN food security committee's guidance to strengthen national food policy
On 26 April, Dawn reported that Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain met CFS Chairperson Anas Al-Nabulsi on the sidelines of the FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific in Brunei Darussalam, seeking policy guidance from the UN Committee on World Food Security (CFS) to shape Pakistan's national food security strategies. Hussain outlined Pakistan's efforts to ensure food access for a population of over 215 million amid evolving environmental and socio-economic pressures, while Al-Nabulsi stressed that sustainable transformation in food systems required inclusive governance, cross-sector collaboration, and stronger integration of evidence into policy. Pakistan was invited to actively participate in the development of global policy recommendations on building resilient food systems, with both sides also discussing upcoming CFS initiatives, including a high-level forum on artificial intelligence, digitalisation, and data. ("Pakistan taps UN committee to reshape national food policy," Dawn, 26 April 2026)
Pakistan-led UN panel warns of terrorist groups exploiting AI, encrypted platforms and cryptocurrency
On 25 April, Dawn reported that a panel organised by Pakistan's Permanent Mission to the UN in collaboration with the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) examined emerging patterns in global terrorism, with experts warning that terrorist groups were increasingly exploiting artificial intelligence, encrypted platforms, and digital currencies to recruit, propagandise, and finance operations across borders. Pakistan's Permanent Representative Asim Iftikhar Ahmad described the threat landscape as "fast evolving," highlighting xenophobia, religious intolerance, and gaps in the global counter-terrorism architecture as key drivers. UNOCT Acting Under-Secretary-General Alexander Zouev described terrorism as "multipolar and sophisticated," stressing the need for preventive action. Participants flagged persistent threats from the TTP, BLA, ETIM, and ISIL-K, as well as Sahel-based groups. The panel comes as the UN General Assembly reviews its Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, with Pakistan, currently serving on the Security Council for 2025-26, advocating a comprehensive approach combining security measures with addressing root causes of conflict. ("At UN panel organised by Pakistan, experts warn of terror groups exploiting AI, crypto," Dawn, 25 April 2026)
ECONOMY
Pakistan notifies six transit routes for transportation of goods to Iran
On 26 April, Dawn reported that the Ministry of Commerce notified six land routes for transporting goods to Iran under the Transit of Goods through Territory of Pakistan Order 2026, amid a backlog of over 3,000 containers stranded at Karachi Port. The designated corridors include Gwadar-Gabd and Karachi/Port Qasim-Taftan routes, with shipments requiring an encashable bank guarantee under customs regulations enforced by the Federal Board of Revenue. The move comes as disruptions linked to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian ports have stalled maritime trade following the US-Iran conflict. Officials said the framework, effective 25 April, aims to facilitate transit trade via Pakistan’s territory while ensuring compliance with customs laws, allowing cross-stuffing and regulated cargo movement for goods originating from third countries and destined for Iran. (“Pakistan notifies 6 land routes for transportation of goods to Iran amid blockade of Hormuz, Iranian ports,” Dawn, 26 April 2026)
Govt grants storage charge waivers at KPT terminals
On 27 April, Dawn reported that the Pakistani government announced storage charge waivers ranging from 25 to 50 per cent at the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) terminals to facilitate exporters affected by recent disruptions to Gulf-bound shipments. The effort secured waivers of 50 per cent at KGTL from 1 to 20 March, 50 per cent at KICT from 1 to 10 March and 25 per cent at SAPT from 11 to 31 March. Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs said that the waivers aim to reduce financial pressure on importers and exporters, clear pending consignments, and improve cargo clearance efficiency. (“Huge storage charge waivers at Karachi Port Trust terminals announced,” Dawn, 27 April 2026)
Govt approves USD 18.4 mmBtu LNG bid amid higher demand
On 25 April, Dawn reported that Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) had approved a revised bid of USD 18.4 per million British thermal units (mmBtu) from TotalEnergies for delivery between 27 April and 30 April. On 24 April, PLL had received four bids at USD 17.997 to USD 18.88 per mmBtu for delivery between 27 April and 8 May. A total of four bids were received from three bidders, and three were declared the lowest. The tender was issued following Qatar’s reluctance to dispatch LNG cargoes that were stranded in the Gulf due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. (“Strait of Hormuz closure pushes Pakistan into expensive $18.4 per mmbtu LNG deal,” Dawn, 25 April 2026)
Pakistan's exports to Western and Northern European countries decline despite GSP+ status
On 26 April, Dawn reported that Pakistan’s exports to major Western and Northern European markets have recorded negative growth in the first nine months of the current fiscal year compared with a year ago. It comes amid the continuation of Pakistan's Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP+) status, raising concerns about a weakening in demand for Pakistani goods. As per State Bank of Pakistan data, Pakistan’s exports to European countries recorded a paltry year-on-year growth of 0.94 per cent to USD 6.86 billion in the nine months (July to March) of fiscal year 2025-26 against USD 6.79 billion over the last year. Exports to northern Europe slightly dipped by 0.85 per cent to USD 557.31 million in the first nine months of FY 2026. Exports to Western Europe, which included countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, France, and Belgium, slightly fell by 3.14 per cent to USD 3.30 billion in the first nine months of FY26, from USD 3.41 billion in FY25. However, there is a slight increase in exports to eastern and southern Europe. Exports to southern Europe grew by 6.47 per cent to USD 2.43 billion in the first nine months of FY26, from USD 2.28 billion in the corresponding period last year, while exports to eastern Europe grew 5.06 per cent to USD 566.92 million in the first nine months of FY26 from USD 539.63 million in the corresponding period last year. (“Pakistani exports to major European markets slow down amid ME conflict despite GSP+ status,” Dawn, 26 April 2026)
IMF schedules meeting for 08 May for approval of USD 1.2 billion disbursement
On 26 April, Dawn reported that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will organise a meeting of its Executive Board on 08 May to approve the disbursement of more than USD 1.2 billion to Pakistan. The disbursement is related to two concurrent programmes, the USD seven billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF). Pakistan has qualified for the disbursement of about USD one billion after the successful third review of EFF and USD 210 million under the second review of RSF. The Pakistan government is continuously making efforts to meet IMF conditions and is committed to the IMF to ensure a sustainable fiscal position and reduce the public debt burden to more moderate levels over the medium term. (“IMF executive board to meet on May 8 to approve disbursement of over $1.2 bn to Pakistan,” Dawn, 26 April 2026)
SECURITY
Bajaur: Attacks on police and ambulance vehicles injure eight people
On 25 April, Dawn reported that eight people, including five policemen, were injured in two separate attacks by unidentified assailants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur district. The first incident took place in the Lowi Sam area of Khar tehsil, where gunmen opened fire on a police vehicle heading to a nearby post, injuring all five officers. Around 20 minutes later, a Rescue 1122 ambulance sent to assist the wounded was also attacked in the Rashakai area, injuring three more people, including the driver. Police launched search operations, but the attackers managed to escape, and no group has claimed responsibility so far. Local political leaders condemned the incidents and called for improved security. The attacks highlight the continuing fragility of security in the region, where violence has increased in recent years despite ongoing counterterror efforts. (“5 cops among 8 injured in attacks on police vehicle, ambulance in KP’s Bajaur,” Dawn, 25 April 2026)
Dera Ismail Khan: Attack damages police station and nearby shops
On 26 April, Dawn reported that militants attacked the Daraban police station in Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, using rockets and heavy gunfire. The attack badly damaged the police station, including part of its boundary wall and also affected nearby shops and buildings. Police fired back and forced the attackers to flee. No one was killed or injured in the incident. After the attack, security forces started a search operation to catch those involved. In a separate case, police stopped a vehicle and arrested two suspects. They recovered illegal Iranian currency worth more than IRR 4.49 billion and handed the case over to the Federal Investigation Agency for further investigation. The incident shows that security problems continue in the region with frequent attacks on police and government institutions. (“Police stations, shops damaged in Dera terror attack,” Dawn, 26 April 2026)
Balochistan: Bomb blast near minister’s house
On 26 April, Dawn reported that a bomb blast took place near the house of Balochistan’s Irrigation Minister Mir Sadiq Umrani in Dera Murad Jamali. Unknown attackers had planted the bomb behind his residence near a transformer. The explosion caused damage to parts of the house and destroyed the transformer. At the time of the blast, the minister was not at home, and only the domestic staff were present. No casualties were reported. CCTV footage showed two suspects placing the bomb and leaving before it exploded. Police have started an investigation to identify and arrest those involved. The incident highlights ongoing security concerns in Balochistan, where such targeted attacks on political figures and state-linked individuals continue to occur. (“Blast targets minister’s home,” Dawn, 26 April 2026)
Editorials/Opinions
Islamabad Talks
Maleeha Lodhi, "Quest for an off-ramp," Dawn, 27 April 2026
"Hopes that the visit of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to Pakistan would lead to the resumption of direct talks between the US and Iran did not materialise. The White House had announced it was sending US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner for peace talks to Islamabad, but Iranian officials said no meeting with American negotiators was planned. This led President Donald Trump to cancel their trip but without shutting the door on the diplomatic process. “If they want to talk,” he said in a social media post, “all they have to do is call.”
https://www.dawn.com/news/1995305/quest-for-an-off-ramp
Syed Jalal Hussain, "Pakistan's mediation moment," The Express Tribune, 27 April 2026
"Singapore became a mediation destination through a deliberate decision to build institutions, train people, and brand itself relentlessly until the world believed it. Pakistan now possesses something Singapore never had at its founding moment: the world has just watched it bring enemies to a table, avert what many feared was the opening act of a third world war, and send them away with a ceasefire. That is the founding myth of a mediation economy. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Field Marshal Asim Munir have handed Pakistan an extraordinary opening line. Now its lawyers, judges, legislators and institutions must write the rest of the story before the window closes."
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2604950/pakistans-mediation-moment
Migration
Editorial, "Migration toll," Dawn, 27 April 2026
"The world should not be deceived by a global migration count lower than the highest annual statistics on record — 9,200 for 2024. Some 7,904 people disappeared or perished on migration routes worldwide in 2025 says the UN’s International Organisation for Migration. With these numbers, the missing or dead tally since 2014 surpasses 80,000 as per the agency’s Missing Migrants Project. The harsh realities in their countries remain troublingly persistent, forcing the uneducated and indigent to choose irregular journeys as safer travel alternatives are out of their reach. The migration agency states that the casualties and disappearances “mark a continuation and escalation of a global failure to end these preventable deaths”. It is a question of political will by affluent countries, largely responsible for the bleak circumstance in poor regions, to rescue more lives, introduce emergency measures that end deaths, and resolve the many problems plaguing families left behind."
https://www.dawn.com/news/1995306/migration-toll
Mental health
Saira Samo, "Pakistan's silent crisis," The Express Tribune, 27 April 2026
"Mental health in Pakistan has long been neglected; it is quietly emerging as one of the country's most overlooked issues, posing some of the gravest public-health challenges. Recent estimates suggest that nearly four in ten Pakistanis struggle with some form of mental disorder. This should be enough to lift the issue from the private domain to the national agenda."
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2604772/pakistans-silent-crisis-1
Food insecurity
Editorial, "Food-insecure nation," Dawn, 27 April 2026
"A new UN-backed report has listed Pakistan among 10 countries where acute food insecurity is most concentrated. This finding may seem surprising for a country with a large agricultural base. But it should not be. Essentially, the concentration of food insecurity in Pakistan is the predictable outcome of the deep-rooted weaknesses in the country’s agriculture sector, rocked by repeated climate shocks and persistent economic fragility. The Global Report on Food Crises merely quantifies what has long been known: food insecurity in Pakistan is chronic rather than temporary or cyclical. The only consolation is the finding that fewer people were classified in the most severe categories in 2025 compared to the previous year, suggesting that emergency responses and some stabilisation in prices may have had an effect. Nonetheless, this is not a turnaround."
https://www.dawn.com/news/1995307/food-insecure-nation
|
