Pakistan

Want to be on the ball and go into 2026 knowing exactly what's cool, what's trending and what to avoid? Eos off ers its annual cheat sheet... Published in Dawn, EOS, December 28th, 2025

Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo, a former chief minister of Punjab and one of Pakistan’s most durable political survivors, passed away on December 16, 2025, at the age of 86. His death marks the passing of a particular species of politician — less ideological than instinctive, less rhetorical than tactical — who thrived in the interstices of power rather than at its commanding heights. Wattoo was never the face of a movement, nor the author of a grand political vision. Yet, for decades, he remained relevant in Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous and politically decisive province, precisely because he understood how power there actually worked. He belonged to a generation shaped by instability. Born in Okara district, in the fertile plains of central Punjab, Wattoo came of age in a Pakistan where democracy was episodic and political loyalty was often provisional. Coups, dissolutions of assemblies and abrupt changes of regime were not aberrations but recurring features of national life. In such a setting, political surv...

ISLAMABAD: Italy has offered more than 10,000 jobs to Pakistani workers over the next three years. According to an agreement reached between the two countries, Italy has allocated a labour quota for Pakistan. As many as 10,500 Pakis­tani workers will be provided employment in various sectors, including ship brea­king, hospitality, healthcare and agriculture, as well as welding, technician roles, chefs, waiters, housekeeping, nursing, medical technicians and farming. Skilled and semi-skilled job aspirants will travel to Italy for employment in these sectors. Each year, 3,500 Pakistani workers will sec­ure overseas jobs under seasonal and non-seasonal quotas. This includes 1,500 Pakistanis under the seasonal quota and 2,000 under the non-seasonal quota annually. Italy is the first European country to allocate job quotas specifically for Pakistan. The second meeting of the Pakistan-Italy Joint Working Group will be held in Islamabad in February 2026. Published in Dawn, December 28th, 2025

.

ISLAMABAD - Minister of State for Interior Senator Talal Chaudhry Saturday said the government had always been ready for dialogue and that no preconditions had been set for negotiations.

Islamabad - The 18th death anniversary of former Prime Minister Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was observed on Saturday.

RAWALPINDI - Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Chief of Defence Forces (CDS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has expressed deep grief and sorrow over the demise of Dr Shamshad Akh-tar and extended condolences to the bereaved family.

Karachi - The Commissioning Parade of 124th Midshipmen and 32nd Short Service Commission Course was held at Pakistan Naval Academy, Karachi, marking the passing out of 90 Midshipmen and 34 SSC cadets.

MIRPUR (AJK) - In Azad Jammu & Kashmir, the PPP activists and the supporters on Saturday commemorated 18th martyrdom anniversary of Benazir Bhutto, ex Prime Minister of Pakistan and the PPP Supremo, with due solemnity and reverence.

LAHORE - Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Saturday stepped up his political offensive in Lahore, announcing for a nationwide “real freedom” movement and urging lawyers, party workers and the public to unite against what he termed an unjust system.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, addressing a press briefing at MoFA.

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan on Saturday strongly condemned any attempts to undermine the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of Somalia, and rejected, in this regard, the announcement made by Israel recognizing the independence of the so-called Somaliland region of the Federal Republic of Somalia.

GARHI KHUDA BAKHSH/KARACHI - Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari while addressing a massive public gathering in connection with the 18th martyrdom anniversary of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, paid glowing tribute to the first elected woman Prime Minister of the Islamic world and Pakistan’s.

Recovery nears 10% in key regions, easing prices as crushing season gathers pace

Asks education ministry to team up with private sector for continuity of uplift projects

.

IMF-linked reforms lift market sentiment; KSE-100 index rises 0.6% WoW

NSDRA replaces FSC&RD to tighten certification, oversight and varietal approval

Aims to tighten oversight of services designed to simulate human personalities; targets risks

Incident renews calls for tighter regulation and disaster-readiness standards