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In Brief
PAK-AFG
President Zardari compares current situation with Afghanistan "similar to or worse than pre-9/11"; calls for collective international action
On 09 February, The Express Tribune reported that President Asif Ali Zardari warned that Afghanistan under the Taliban has descended into conditions “similar to or worse than pre-9/11.” In a statement issued by the President's Secretariat, Zardari warned that terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil pose grave threats to regional and global peace, calling for collective international action. He said conditions under the Taliban mirrored or worsened the pre-9/11 environment, stressing that terrorism cannot be tackled in isolation. He added that certain neighbouring countries had "regrettably become partners in crime" by allowing terrorist elements to operate against Pakistan from their territory, while some provided direct financial as well as military support, accusing India of engagement with the Taliban and threatening regional and global peace. President Zardari said international messages of sympathy had comforted Pakistanis and reinforced that combating terrorism and violent ideology is a shared global responsibility. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to working with international partners to end terrorism and reiterated Islamabad’s stance that Afghan soil has repeatedly been used by militant groups to attack Pakistani civilians and security forces. (“Zardari warns of 'pre-9/11' conditions in Afghanistan,” The Express Tribune, 09 February 2025)
EXTERNAL
Navy chief discusses maritime security with Malaysian Navy leadership
On 08 February, Dawn reported that the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Naveed Asharf, held discussions on coordinated responses to maritime security challenges with the leadership of the Malaysian Navy during an official visit to Malaysia. “Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf paid an official visit to Malaysia and called on the leadership of the Royal Malaysian Navy. He was received at Royal Malaysian Navy Headquarters by Admiral Tan Sri Zulhelmy bin Ithnain, chief of the Royal Malaysian Navy, and was accorded a Guard of Honour,” an ISPR statement said. The statement also added that Admiral Asharf discussed ways to enhance operational cooperation and capacity building, and align strategic perspectives. The visit was meant to reaffirm an “enduring Pakistan-Malaysian naval partnership”, according to the statement. (“Naval chief discusses coordinated responses to maritime security challenges with Malaysian navy leadership,” Dawn, 08 February 2026)
ECONOMY
FM Aurangzeb and World Bank review CPF priorities, stress delivery and performance tracking
On 09 February, Dawn reported that Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb met World Bank Operations Managing Director Anna Bjerde on the sidelines of the emerging markets conference in Saudi Arabia to review progress under the country partnership framework and discuss development priorities, including energy, education, health, climate resilience, debt-for-development swaps, fiscal reforms, and infrastructure. The report said that both parties agreed to set a focused strategy that would use performance indicators and effective execution systems to achieve their goals. Bjerde confirmed that the World Bank remains committed to supporting Pakistan through its USD 20 billion 10-year development initiative. It added that Aurangzeb also separately engaged with the Saudi economy and planning minister Faisal bin Fadhil Alibrahim to discuss Saudi investments and collaboration on leveraging Pakistani technology talent. (“Aurangzeb, WB official discuss uplift priorities,” Dawn, 09 February 2026)
Provinces transfer PKR 1.18 trillion in surpluses as revenue-to-GDP ratio declines
On 09 February, Dawn reported that Pakistan’s four provinces transferred about PKR 1.18 trillion in cash surplus to the centre in July to December 2025, nearing the IMF-linked full-year target of PKR 1.464 trillion under the USD 7 billion extended fund facility, even as the revenue-to-GDP ratio slipped to 8.2 per cent from 8.5 per cent a year earlier. The report showed that Punjab provided the biggest financial contribution of PKR 609 billion, followed by Sindh with PKR 354 billion, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with PKR 175 billion and Balochistan with PKR 41 billion. This resulted in a six-month federal fiscal surplus instead of last year's deficit. The revenue ratio decreased because both tax and non-tax revenue segments experienced lower levels of revenue, while petroleum development levy collection amounts rose. The total expenditure decreased because interest expenses reduced after monetary authorities lowered their policy interest rates. (“Provinces deliver Rs1.2 trillion to Centre as revenues slip,” Dawn, 09 February 2026)
POLITICS & GOVERNANCE
Election anniversary strike by opposition receives mixed response
On 09 February, Dawn reported that the election anniversary strike planned by the opposition saw a mixed response from the public. Most markets in Lahore and Islamabad stayed open on Sunday, while a partial and complete shutdown was observed in Peshawar and Quetta, respectively. The strike was called by the opposition alliance Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) in protest of alleged rigging in the 2024 general elections. Despite road closures and police barricades, the Senate Opposition Leader, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, and other leaders managed to reach the site of the protest in Islamabad. Meanwhile, daily life in Karachi and other parts of Sindh remained largely unaffected. KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and other opposition leaders congratulated participating parties and hailed the strike a success. (“Opposition strike on elections anniversary sees mixed response,” Dawn, 09 February 2026)
Police detain JI and GDA leaders over protests in Karachi
On 09 February, The Express Tribune reported that the leaders of the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) were detained in Karachi ahead of press conferences against alleged rigging in the 08 February 2024 elections. More than two dozen GDA workers and eight JI activists were also detained. A JI spokesperson termed the arrests “state repression”, saying that peaceful protest was the party’s democratic right. The party is planning to hold a sit-in outside the Sindh Assembly on 14 February. Those detained were shifted to a nearby police station, while SSP South, Mahzoor Ali, said Section 144 had been imposed in the district. (“Police detain JI leaders, GDA workers over protests in Karachi,” The Express Tribune, 09 February 2026)
Editorials/Opinions
Gul Plaza fire
Naeem Sadiq, “Future fires,” Dawn, 09 February 2026
"Everything that could go wrong with Gul Plaza did go wrong, just as it had in the Baldia factory fire of 2012. Between these two tragic milestones, the city witnessed another 18,000 fire accidents which failed to garner the attention they deserved. No one speaks about the 12,000 fatalities that occur every year, due to industrial fires, boiler explosions, suffocation, hazardous materials and entry into gutters in Pakistan. Building collapses claimed over 150 lives in urban Karachi, while more than 500 coal miners died in mining accidents during the past five years. At least 180 persons lost their lives in train accidents in the last 10 years — as against four in the UK and none in Japan during the same period. The contrast is not just statistical. It is a stark indictment of missing safety systems, governance and accountability."
https://www.dawn.com/news/1971927/future-fires
Unemployment
Editorial, “Spectre of joblessness,” Dawn, 09 February 2026
"Pakistan's unemployment crisis is no longer just another demographic concern; it is already restricting growth. So when World Bank president Ajay Banga said that employment creation will remain a “binding constraint on growth” over the long term, he meant that, instead of being a problem to be dealt with later, the lack of jobs will limit how fast the economy can grow."
https://www.dawn.com/news/1971933/spectre-of-joblessness
AI and policy
Editorial, “Stalled rollout,” Dawn, 09 February 2026
"When the federal cabinet approved the National Artificial Intelligence Policy there was hope that the country was finally waking up to the strategic importance of AI. Yet six months down the line, implementation has stalled. Provincial governments have yet to respond meaningfully. The proposed AI Council, intended as the apex oversight body, remains in limbo amid concerns that its structure is overly bureaucratic. Meanwhile, several critical frameworks remain largely untouched. The policy was ambitious in scope. It laid out six interconnected pillars — awareness and readiness; an AI innovation ecosystem; a secure and responsible AI environment; sectoral transformation; infrastructure development; and international partnerships. So far, only the first has shown visible movement, largely through an upcoming awareness event. While such initiatives are welcome, they are no substitutes for clear rules and proper systems. Without these, Pakistan risks allowing market forces alone to shape its AI landscape, instead of guiding it responsibly."
https://www.dawn.com/news/1971932/stalled-rollout
Wealth inequality
Dr Muhammad Babar Chohan, “Deepening wealth gap,” The Express Tribune, 09 February 2026
"Recent data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, compiled by a stock brokerage and financial company, reveals a widening inequality in incomes and assets between the rich and the poor of the country. The data shows economic prosperity is flowing upwards while financial strain is dissipating deep downwards, making the rich richer and the poor poorer. Based on the latest Household Integrated Economic Survey (HIES), it is observed that the real purchasing power for the common man has been declining between FY19 to FY25."
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2591455/deepening-wealth-gap
Province
Fahd Husain, “Time for offensive defence,” The Express Tribune, 08 February 2026
"Basant is the latest in a series of high-profile projects in Punjab that are being acknowledged and appreciated – sometimes grudgingly – by people inside and outside the province. Punjab has always been ahead of other provinces in most respects, and there are genuine concerns too that it gets favoured treatment from the Centre, but with Maryam Nawaz at the helm, things are moving even faster than usual. She has succeeded in generating an unmistakable buzz around her pro-active governance style."
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2591295/time-for-offensive-defence
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