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In Focus
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Egypt condemn Houthi attacks
R-4 and European Ministers call for diplomacy amid escalating Gulf tensions; joint statement also reaffirms support for Palestinian statehood and condemns Israeli settlement activity
On 23 October, Dawn and The Express Tribune reported that foreign ministers from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Egypt condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia during the sixth Regional Four (R-4) meeting in Istanbul. The ministers expressed solidarity with Riyadh and called for an end to attacks on civilians, infrastructure and commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb. They also discussed the US-Iran conflict, underscoring the need for diplomacy, freedom of navigation and the resumption of safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
The meeting was followed by the first expanded gathering between R-4 and the foreign ministers of the UK, France, Germany and Italy. Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar briefed participants on Islamabad’s mediation efforts to prevent renewed hostilities between Washington and Tehran. The ministers supported continued diplomatic engagement and a negotiated settlement, while highlighting the regional and global economic consequences of disrupted maritime routes and energy supplies.
The joint statement also reaffirmed support for Palestinian self-determination and a two-state solution, and called for uninterrupted humanitarian aid and reconstruction in Gaza. It also condemned Israeli settlement activity and settler violence. Dar held separate meetings with his Saudi, Turkish, Egyptian and European counterparts to strengthen bilateral ties and coordinate on regional challenges. The discussions reflected efforts by regional and European powers to coordinate responses to interconnected security crises, including the Iran conflict, Houthi attacks and threats to international shipping. (“R-4 foreign ministers' meeting reaffirms solidarity with Saudi Arabia over Houthi attacks,” The Express Tribune, 23 October 2026; “R4 bloc, European powers discuss developments in the Gulf in Istanbul meeting,” Dawn, 23 October 2026)
In Brief
SECURITY
Pakistan to strengthen NCCIA, increase staff, resources, and offices
On 23 October, The Express Tribune reported that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi stated that there would be a strengthening of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), revealing that it had only 61 personnel across Punjab, with individual investigators handling 3,000 to 4,000 cases. The government reportedly plans to increase staffing, open more offices and create dedicated NCCIA police stations nationwide. Naqvi highlighted the need for urgent responses to online harassment, blackmail and financial fraud, and called for improved legal procedures to identify and freeze bank accounts receiving fraudulent transfers. Moreover, he reportedly announced that around 600 people had been arrested in operations against call centres over the last 10 to 12 days. Additionally, the government reportedly plans to expand public awareness campaigns, strengthen coordination with banks, and improve the investigation of cybercrime. (“Naqvi vows to strengthen NCCIA as cybercrime cases mount in Punjab,” The Express Tribune, 23 October 2026)
POLITICS & GOVERNANCE
Sanaullah warns of possible civilian casualties during planned IBO operations in KP
On 24 October, The Express Tribune reported that Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah warned of possible civilian casualties during planned intelligence-based operations in certain districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa if residents failed to allow security forces to operate. He stated that militant groups operating in Pakistan received support from training camps in Afghanistan, adding that these were funded and trained by India, while also suggesting Israeli involvement. Sanaullah noted that 70 per cent of militant groups, comprising three to 15 members each, were present in the designated areas and expressed confidence that security forces could dismantle them within three to five months. Additionally, he said that provincial authorities and the civil administration would be responsible for maintaining control of cleared areas to prevent militants from returning. These remarks followed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s announcement of a PKR 160 billion development package for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, committing to strengthen the provincial Counter-Terrorism Department. (“Collateral damage feared in K-P IBO's if residents fail to move away from terrorists: Sanaullah,” The Express Tribune, 24 October 2026)
KP transfers former FATA institutions to newly established Area Development Secretariat
On 23 October, Dawn reported that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi had approved the transfer of administrative control of directorates in the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) to the Area Development Secretariat (ADS). The ADS was established after the imposition of an emergency in the province on 11 October and is responsible for 12 designated districts. The transfer reportedly covers institutions dealing with education, agriculture, health-related public services, social welfare, irrigation, minerals, local government, law and order, and disaster management. Moreover, the administration reportedly notified the establishment of a chief police officer’s office for the 12 districts and the temporary transfer of 30 senior administrative posts, including five special secretaries, 10 deputy secretaries and 15 section officers, to the ADS. (“Directorates of erstwhile FATA placed under ADS control,” Dawn, 23 October 2026)
EXTERNAL
PM Shehbaz seeks accountable partnerships with international consultants during structural reforms
On 23 October, The Express Tribune reported that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan is ready to partner with international consulting firms, insisting on impact and accountability. Sharif made the remarks while meeting Peter Briggs, Managing Director of North American operations at Alvarez & Marsal, in Islamabad. He said the government was pursuing structural reforms and privatisation after achieving economic and fiscal stability. Sharif also highlighted measures to improve domestic manufacturing and attract foreign direct investment. Briggs pledged his firm’s cooperation in promoting a progressive business environment. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb attended the meeting. (“PM Shehbaz calls for ‘accountability’ in partnerships with international consultants,” The Express Tribune, 23 October 2026)
German President praises Pakistan’s diplomatic role as Zardari seeks wider cooperation
On 23 October, Dawn reported that German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier praised Pakistan’s rising diplomatic profile in resolving regional and global disputes during talks with President Asif Ali Zardari in Berlin. The leaders discussed Afghanistan, with Zardari saying Pakistan would not allow terrorists to use Afghan soil. Steinmeier commended Pakistan for facilitating the verification of 500 Afghans destined for Germany. He also showed significant interest in the Makkah defence pact, which Zardari said was not directed against any country. Zardari urged expanded cooperation in trade, climate resilience and technology, and invited Steinmeier to visit Pakistan. (“German president meets Zardari, praises Pakistan’s ‘rising diplomatic profile’ in dispute resolution,” Dawn, 23 October 2026)
Islamabad and Riyadh complete ratification of Makkah defence pact, Foreign Office confirms
On 23 October, Dawn reported that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have completed ratification of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, while Turkiye is following its domestic procedures. Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan announced at a weekly press briefing. He said the three parties continue discussing the pact’s operationalisation, including at the Strategic Political and Defence Committee meeting on 5 October. Khan stressed that the agreement is essentially defensive and consistent with Article 51 of the UN Charter. He added that there are no hidden provisions. Any response to Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia would be decided by the three partner countries. (“Pakistan, Saudi Arabia have completed ratification of Makkah defence pact: FO,” Dawn, 23 October 2026)
ECONOMY
Association of Automotive Parts urges government to review draft Auto Policy 2026-2031
On 24 October, The Express Tribune reported that the Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts and Accessories Manufacturers (PAAPAM) has urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to review the draft Auto Policy 2026-31. PAAPAM warned that proposed tariff reductions on completely built-up vehicles, concessions for new-energy vehicles and lower duties on auto parts could undermine domestic manufacturing and employment. PAAPAM Chairman cited more than 1,200 companies, 1.5 million jobs, USD 1.8 billion in annual import substitution and PKR 700 billion worth of locally manufactured components supplied to assemblers. Importers and businesses seeking greater access to foreign vehicles favour lower trade barriers, while local assemblers and parts manufacturers fear that cheaper imports could undermine domestic production and investments made over decades. For parts suppliers, the concern extends beyond competition between car brands to whether locally manufactured components will remain commercially viable as assemblers gain easier access to imported parts and complete vehicles. The draft policy attempts to reconcile competing demands through a combination of tariff liberalisation, export obligations and incentives for cleaner vehicles. It targets USD 6 billion in cumulative vehicle and auto-parts exports by 2030-31, with incentives for companies meeting export targets and penalties for those falling short. Proposals also include phased tariff reductions and preferential sales tax rates of one per cent for battery-electric vehicles, six per cent for range-extended electric vehicles and 9% for plug-in hybrids, subject to the remaining approval process. PAAPAM's objection highlights a fundamental conflict. Importers and businesses seeking greater access to foreign vehicles favour lower trade barriers, while local assemblers and parts manufacturers fear that cheaper imports could undermine domestic production and investments made over decades. For parts suppliers, the concern extends beyond competition between car brands to whether locally manufactured components will remain commercially viable as assemblers gain easier access to imported parts and complete vehicles. (“Auto policy puts 15m jobs at risk,” The Express Tribune, 24 October 2026)
Short-term inflation rises to 11.85 per cent YoY in week ending 22 October
On 23 October, Dawn reported that Short-term inflation rose to 11.85 per cent year-on-year in the week ending 22 October. Short-term inflation has remained in double digits for several consecutive weeks, largely on the back of persistent increases in petroleum prices. The index, which comprises 51 items whose prices are collected from 50 markets in 17 cities, is calculated weekly to track changes in the prices of essential commodities and services. The data showed that of the 51 essential items monitored during the week, the prices of 19 commodities increased, while those of 12 items declined. Meanwhile, the prices of 20 items remained unchanged from the previous week. On an annual basis, the items that recorded the highest price increases included LPG, onions, electricity for Q1, petrol, diesel, chicken, wheat flour, chilli powder, mutton, beef, plain bread and tea prepared. (“Rising flour prices fuel weekly inflation,” Dawn, 23 October 2026)
Petroleum dealers urge consumers not to resort to panic buying
On 24 October, Dawn reported that petroleum dealers urged consumers not to resort to panic buying, as excessive purchases could create market distortions. Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) Chairman Malik Khuda Baksh said the delicate balance between supply and demand had been maintained efficiently by all stakeholders, including the government, industry and consumers. At the same time, he said the recent closure of the Iran border had put the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) market under stress. He also said that refineries were operational, while both crude oil and petroleum products were being imported from Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia and Oman. “Price remains an issue, but that is a different matter. According to oil industry estimates, diesel demand during November 2026 is likely to be around 750,000 tonnes, driven by seasonal agricultural requirements and Petrol demand for November is estimated at around 630,000 tonnes. Meanwhile, the JI called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to announce additional relief for the public. A technical committee comprising the State Minister for Finance, JI Islamabad and the Deputy Secretary has been constituted, and the committee would meet within two to three days to examine the outstanding issues. (“Fuel dealers urge consumers to avoid panic buying,” Dawn, 24 October 2026)
Government makes 170 amendments to Companies Act 2017 to facilitate business operations
On 24 October, Dawn reported that around 170 amendments were made to the Companies Act 2017 to facilitate company registration and business operations and to modernise Pakistan’s corporate regulatory framework. Adviser to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production said the complexity of the regulatory framework and the difficulties of doing business had been major factors discouraging foreign investment in Pakistan. He also said that regulatory reviews were underway in several sectors, including dairy, maritime, beverages, oil refineries, pharmaceuticals and restaurants. The objective is to identify redundant requirements, streamline procedures and ensure that regulations serve legitimate public and economic interests without imposing unnecessary burdens on businesses. The reform process has made substantial progress, with approximately 60-70 per cent of the overall work completed. Reform proposals submitted by various institutions recommend eliminating, on average, 70-75 per cent of unnecessary or duplicative regulations. (“Govt unveils 170 tweaks to companies act,” Dawn, 24 October 2026)
Federal government approves Karachi Industrial Park as Special Economic Zone
On 24 October, Dawn reported that the federal government has approved Karachi Industrial Park (KIP) as a federal Special Economic Zone (SEZ) to attract export-oriented industrial investment, promote technology transfer and value addition, and generate employment. The decision was taken at the 11th meeting of the Board of Approvals for SEZs. Chaired by the Finance Minister, the meeting discussed measures to facilitate industrial investment, improve infrastructure provision and ensure the effective utilisation of industrial land. The board also approved the General Eligibility Criteria for providing utilities and allied services up to the designated zero point of privately established SEZs through government funding under the SEZ Act, 2012. The criteria establish a framework for considering the provision of road access, utilities and other essential facilities at government expense on a case-by-case basis. In addition, the board approved the Land Lease Policy for Public Sector SEZs and Industrial Estates in Punjab. The policy seeks to promote industrial investment through long-term leasing, reduce upfront land costs and ensure the optimal use of public-sector industrial land, while encouraging investment in key sectors and emerging industries with high export potential. (“Karachi industrial park approved as federal Special Economic Zone,” Dawn, 24 October 2026)
PROVINCES
ICT: Proposed amendments to local government law raise doubts over 20 December elections
On 23 October, Dawn reported that a National Assembly committee proposed amendments to Islamabad’s local government law, raising doubts about elections scheduled for 20 December. The bill seeks to divide the capital into three town corporations, each with a mayor and two deputy mayors, while expanding administrators’ powers to impose taxes and removing the six-month limit on their tenure. Several Pakistan Peoples Party members and a Pashtunkhwa National Awami Party member submitted dissenting notes. The proposed changes come amid repeated election postponements: Islamabad’s local government term expired in February 2021, and constituencies have been delimited six times, leaving around 2.5 million residents without elected local government. (“Proposed amendments to Islamabad LG law cast doubt on Dec 20 polls,” Dawn, 23 October 2026)
SOCIETY
Lahore approves three-day Basant Festival for March 2027
On 23 October, Dawn reported that Lahore’s deputy commissioner had formally approved three-day Basant celebrations from 12-14 March 2027, subject to strict safety regulations. Kite-flying will be permitted only with approved materials, while manufacturers, traders and sellers must register digitally and maintain stock records. The notification bans nylon strings, sharp strings, metallic wires and other hazardous materials, and requires motorcyclists to install safety rods. Basant was banned across Punjab in 2007 following deaths and serious injuries caused by sharp kite strings and celebratory gunfire. Its return earlier in 2026 marked the festival’s first permitted celebration in Lahore in 18 years. (“Lahore DC gives formal go-ahead for 3-day Basant festivities in March 2027, outlines conditions and restrictions,” Dawn, 23 October 2026)
HEALTH
Sindh: Mpox caseload rises to 98 amid intensified surveillance
On 24 October, The Express Tribune reported that Sindh’s mpox tally had risen to 98 after two new cases were detected, with seven infections recorded in the past week. Health authorities have intensified surveillance, contact tracing and patient care, while directing public and private healthcare facilities to enforce infection-control measures. The province had previously reported 11 deaths among 95 confirmed cases. Infections have also occurred among Karachi residents without a history of foreign travel. Authorities are urging people to maintain hand hygiene, avoid contact with lesions or contaminated personal items, and seek prompt medical attention for unusual rashes or blisters. Delayed diagnosis and stigma remain concerns. (“Sindh reports two more monkeypox cases, tally rises to 98,” The Express Tribune, 24 October 2026)
Insulin shortage in Pakistan linked to disrupted supplies from Germany
On 23 October, Dawn reported that Pakistan was facing a shortage of insulin glulisine, used by patients with diabetes, after its German manufacturer halted supplies while upgrading its products. Parliamentary Secretary for Health Nelson Azeem said the disruption had affected countries across Asia, Europe and Australia, with supplies in Pakistan reportedly falling from 3,500 to 1,000 kits. Although the Health Ministry says alternative rapid-acting insulins are available, lawmakers warned that substitutes could cost at least 20 per cent more and that patients without access to doctors could struggle to switch safely. The episode has renewed concerns over medicine affordability, supply-chain dependence and access to essential treatment. (“Insulin product in short supply after German manufacturer halts supplies, NA told,” Dawn, 23 October 2026)
ENVIRONMENT
Lahore ranks world’s most polluted city as air quality turns hazardous, IQAir data shows
On 23 October, Dawn reported that Lahore topped IQAir’s global pollution ranking on Friday morning, with an air quality index of 410 classified as hazardous. New Delhi followed with 203 and Dakar with 196. Karachi was the only other Pakistani city among the 21 most polluted, recording 110. IQAir said Lahore’s PM2.5 concentration was 45.2 times the World Health Organisation’s annual guideline. The platform advised residents to avoid outdoor exercise, keep windows closed, wear masks outdoors and use indoor air purifiers. The Punjab government’s monitoring platform recorded 339 for Lahore on Thursday, rated very unhealthy. Human rights activist Sheikh Saqib said his children had throat infections from smog. (“Lahore tops global pollution ranking as air quality turns ‘hazardous’,” Dawn, 23 October 2026)
Editorials/Opinions
Economy
Editorial, “Breaking the cycle,” Dawn, 24 October 2026
"The World Bank’s latest Pakistan Development Update sets out what faster reforms could deliver for the economy. If policies and institutions matched those of an average middle-income country, it estimates, annual growth could reach 6.2-6.9pc, enough to reach Vietnam’s current income level, and incomes would triple by 2050."
https://www.dawn.com/news/2039445/breaking-the-cycle
Editorial, “Rough road to growth,” Dawn, 22 October 2026
“The country, nonetheless, faces an arduous road ahead as unemployment, political instability and external shocks cast a long shadow over a fragile economy. Likewise, climate degradation, a drawdown in agrarian production and thinning exports are daunting challenges that can only be overcome through strategic structural reforms. A surgical overhaul of the taxation machinery is inevitable to stay afloat."
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2636376/rough-road-to-growth
Security
Editorial, “Harvesting rackets,” Dawn, 24 October 2026
“Organ vending rarely leaves the spotlight. The FIA and the Human Organ Transplantation Authority recently took five suspects into custody for their involvement in unlawful renal transplants at a residential location in Islamabad. The network comprisedagents, a doctor, a nurse, and a laboratory facilitator, among others. Tests were run with fake referrals and false family names. Reportedly, the gang’s transplant scams extended to Peshawar. The Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, enacted to end the abuse of the vulnerable for a hefty profit, is over a decade old. Sadly, the laxity in the criminal justice system not only continues to feed odious rackets of this sort with all the necessary equipment and facilitation, it has also rendered the law ineffective."
https://www.dawn.com/news/2039443/harvesting-rackets
Politics & governance
M Zeb Khan, “The paradox of Pakistan's political parties,” The Express Tribune, 24 October 2026
“Pakistan's political parties suffer from a peculiar contradiction. The parties that encourage their workers to question authority risk being overwhelmed by internal revolt. Those that demand obedience may look disciplined, but they become helpless when their leadership is removed or pressured. One is noisy but fragmented; the other orderly but overly dependent. Neither has solved the problem of building an institution larger than its leader and this is what makes them vulnerable to implosion."
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2636576/the-paradox-of-pakistans-political-parties
Hunger crisis
Syed Mohammad Ali, “Pakistan's hunger crisis,” The Express Tribune, 23 October 2026
“Pakistan's food insecurity crisis is a stark warning about the consequences of extreme weather, economic hardship and inadequate protection for vulnerable households. Although climate change is intensifying these pressures, persistent hunger cannot be explained by weather alone. Poverty, inflation, displacement, insecurity and weaknesses in agricultural and food-distribution systems all shape who can afford food and who goes hungry."
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2636375/pakistans-hunger-crisis
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