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In Brief
POLITICS & GOVERNANCE
Opposition condemns Adiala sit-in crackdown
On 01 January, as reported by Dawn, the opposition alliance led by the PTI condemned the use of water cannons by the Punjab Police to disperse protesters who staged a sit-in outside Adiala Jail. This is the third time the police have resorted to force to break up a sit-in outside the prison. Imran Khan’s sisters and other PTI workers were also arrested before being released near Chakri on the motorway. “In the severe cold, an attack with water cannons was carried out on unarmed, peaceful children, women, and citizens,” a video shared on X by PTI Punjab said. The Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) also denounced the use of force by the police, alleging that the water used to scatter protesters was laced with a chemical and hundreds were “badly injured”. Additionally, the PTI shared another list of six persons with the Adiala Jail administration, requesting that it allow them to meet Imran Khan. (“Opposition takes exception to yet another Adiala sit-in crackdown,” Dawn, 01 January 2026)
IND-PAK
NA Speaker and Indian FM meet in Dhaka
On 31 December, as reported by Dawn, the Speaker of the National Assembly (NA), Ayaz Sadiq, and Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar shook hands in Dhaka during the Speaker’s visit for former Bangladeshi prime minister Khaleda Zia’s funeral. This is the first high-level contact between Indian and Pakistani officials since the military conflict in May last year. “Indian External Minister Dr S Jaishankar approached the Speaker [of the] National Assembly and shaked hands,” a press release from the NA Secretariat read. (“NA Speaker Sadiq, Indian FM Jaishankar shake hands in Dhaka in first high-level contact since May conflict,” Dawn, 31 December 2025)
ECONOMY
Petrol price cut by PKR 10.28, diesel by PKR 8.57
On 31 December, as reported by Dawn, the government slashed the rates for petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) by PKR 10.28 and PKR 8.57, respectively, for the next fortnight. The Petroleum Division said the revision followed movements in international markets and recommendations from the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA). The petrol price was reduced to PKR 253.17 per litre, and the HSD price to PKR 257.08. (“Petrol price slashed by Rs10.28, diesel by Rs8.57 for next fortnight,” Dawn, 31 December)
PM rolls out governance reforms under the IMF lens
On 01 January, The Express Tribune reported that the Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, launched economic governance reforms on Wednesday to address vulnerabilities identified in the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Governance and Corruption report, while taking ownership of a 142-point agenda for institutional building and the rule of law. The plan includes undertaking a national risk assessment on corruption, making rule-based appointments in key institutions, which include the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), and improving its credibility. According to the conduct of the IMF’s USD 7 billion bailout package, the country was required to publish a "governance action plan based on the recommendations of the Governance Diagnostic Assessment" to address critical governance vulnerabilities by 31 December. Shehbaz said under his plan, there are 59 priority actions and 83 complementary, which total up to 142 to be implemented over the next three years. (“PM rolls out governance reforms under IMF lens,” The Express Tribune, 01 January 2026)
SOCIETY
Basant is to be celebrated only in Lahore and not in the rest of Punjab
On 31 December, Dawn reported that on Wednesday, the Punjab government announced it had no plans to celebrate the Basant festival across the province, but instead, it would only be celebrated in Lahore. For 18 years, it was not celebrated, following the passage of the Punjab Regulation of Kite Flying Bill of 2025 by the provincial assembly on 24 December. The Home Secretary, Dr Ahmad Javed Qazi, to the cabinet committee stated: “The provincial cabinet had allowed limited Basant on February 6, 7, and 8 in Lahore only." Meanwhile, the divisional commissioner said: “People should watch their neighbourhoods and ensure that no illegality is committed and that no one is injured … in the best interest of the Basant festival”. (“Basant to be celebrated only in Lahore; no plans for festival in rest of Punjab: home dept,” Dawn, 31 December 2025)
EXTERNAL
Pakistan expresses “complete solidarity” with KSA, reiterating support for Yemen
On 01 January, Dawn reported that according to a statement from the Foreign Office (FO), Pakistan, on Wednesday, expressed “complete solidarity” with Saudi Arabia amid a resurgence of violence in Yemen. Pakistan also reiterated its support for the “unity and territorial integrity” of Yemen, along with the efforts to establish “lasting peace and stability”. (“Pakistan expresses ‘complete solidarity’ with Saudi Arabia, reiterates support for ‘territorial integrity’ of Yemen,” Dawn, 01 January 2026)
PM Shehbaz stresses need for unity in Ummah during a phone call with Saudi crown prince
On 31 December, Dawn reported that according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s office (PMO), the Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, on Wednesday, during a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, stressed the need for unity and harmony within the Muslim Ummah. They also exchanged views on the regional situation and current developments and said that it was imperative to maintain regional peace and stability through dialogue and diplomacy. In another statement, Shehbaz expressed his satisfaction with the bilateral relations between Riyadh and Islamabad. (“PM Shehbaz stresses need for unity, harmony in Ummah during phone call with Saudi crown prince,” Dawn, 31 December 2025)
PAK-AF
The Afghan border closure brings down terrorist violence in Pakistan
On 01 January, Dawn reported that after it closed its border to Afghanistan on 11 October, Pakistan has recorded a significant drop in cross-border terrorist attacks and violence-linked fatalities. According to the data collected by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), the terrorist attacks went down by 17 per cent in December, which was preceded by a nine per cent decline in November. By nearly four per cent and 19 per cent, respectively, in November and December, terrorist violence-linked fatalities among civilians and security officials fell in the last quarter of 2025. (“Afghan border closure brings down terrorist violence in Pakistan,” Dawn, 01 January 2026)
Editorials/Opinions
Climate change
Editorial, “Climate resilience,” Dawn, 01 January 2026
“The Asian Development Bank’s latest climate resilience financing for Pakistan should reinforce the country’s efforts towards building longer-term resilience to protect its people and economy from the adverse impacts of climate change. The $180.5m funding for Sindh addresses one of the country’s most neglected climate frontiers along its coastal belt where recurrent flooding and sea intrusion have steadily eroded livelihoods, undermined food security and impacted biodiversity, forcing residents to migrate. By focusing on integrated water resource management, flood risk reduction and restoration of nature-based coastal defences, the project will embrace ecosystem-based solutions, benefiting over 3.8m people. The project will simultaneously focus on institutional strengthening and community-level strategic planning for durable impact and continuity. The $124m assistance for Punjab seeks to tackle a different structural problem. It will give small farmers access to climate-smart machinery, introduce circular agriculture practices to reduce residue burning, establish testing and training facilities and empower thousands of women to enhance farm productivity and climate resilience in 30 districts.”
https://www.dawn.com/news/1964422/climate-resilience
PIA
F S Aijazuddin, “Endless winters,” Dawn, 01 January 2026
“Lahore’s smog-sodden winters encourage hibernation. It gives one a chance to indulge in reading, watching television, even writing. There are rare forays outdoors. Similarly, it is the quest for transparency that guided the public auction of PIA’s shares by the Privatisation Commission on Dec 23. Some viewers are still trying to make sense of the convoluted transaction and the concessions gifted in dower to the successful bidder. At what price will this new reinvestment of Rs125bn occur — at par value, a premium, or at the last bid value? Ingeniously, the government, having divested itself of its majority shareholding in PIA, will again own PIA, this time as a minority partner. G. Lampedusa’s novel The Leopard says it all: “Change everything just a little, so as to keep everything the same.””
https://www.dawn.com/news/1964425/endless-winters
2026
Editorial, “The year ahead,” Dawn, 01 January 2026
“Pakistan enters 2026 with problems it is well aware of but has failed to resolve. Three alarm bells in particular are sounding off: resurgent terrorism, economic fragility, and a steady squeeze on fundamental rights. Terrorism remains the most immediate danger. Suicide bombings on police and security installations in Bannu and North Waziristan, the deadly blast near Islamabad’s district courts, and continuing violence in Balochistan demonstrated the capacity of terrorist networks. These incidents showed how violence is no longer geographically contained, nor confined to symbolic targets. The economy presents a slower-burning crisis. The sale of a majority stake in PIA was hailed as a major breakthrough after decades of delay. It also highlighted how rare decisive action has become. Institutions will therefore matter greatly in 2026. Parliament must reclaim its role as a forum for debate where laws are scrutinised before enforcement, not justified after the fact, and committees are allowed to function without pressure or haste. Economic decisions need clarity, consistency and equal application if confidence is to return. Security policy, meanwhile, must rest on civilian authority rather than a permanent sense of emergency. And the executive must accept that order imposed through coercion is fragile and short-lived. The country has tried control time and again. It should now try governance.”
https://www.dawn.com/news/1964423/the-year-ahead
Education
Mujeeb Ali, “Why CSS candidates fail the exam,” The Express Tribune, 01 January 2026
“The dream of every aspirant is to reach the heights of success. Their aspirations vary according to interest and opportunity. Some pursue medicine; others move towards engineering or the fast-growing IT sector. A number choose to inherit family businesses. Among those left with limited economic opportunities, many turn towards competitive examinations such as the Central Superior Services (CSS) and Provincial Management Services (PMS), seeing them as a way to upward mobility. For them, the civil service becomes not merely a career choice but a ladder out of social stagnation. The real obstacle is neither the syllabus nor the competition; it is the mindset with which aspirants approach the exam. Many believe that piling up notes, listening to motivational lectures and memorising ready-made content will somehow translate into analytical writing on exam day. It never does. CSS demands intellectual discipline: the ability to reason, critique, synthesise and write. Without these skills, no amount of cramming can rescue a candidate.”
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2584842/why-css-candidates-fail-the-exam
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