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Basant to be celebrated only in Lahore; no plans for festival in rest of Punjab: home department

LAHORE: In a major policy shift, the Punjab government on Wednesday announced that it has no plans to celebrate the Basant festival across the province and that it will instead be celebrated only in Lahore. Basant is returning to Lahore after 18 years, following the passage of the Punjab Regulation of Kite Flying Bill, 2025 by the provincial assembly on December 24. So far, only the Lahore deputy commissioner has notified the three-day festival starting on February 6, 2026, while deputy commissioners in other districts were expected to follow suit. However, the 46th Cabinet Committee on Law and Order — chaired by Khawaja Salman Rafique — met at the Punjab Home Department today and noted that Basant would be celebrated only in Lahore and on a limited scale. Though there was no need for all divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners to be present at the meeting, sources in the Home Department told Dawn that they were specially invited to attend via video link, particularly f...
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PTCL completes acquisition of 100pc issued share capital of Telenor Pakistan and Orion Towers

Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) on Wednesday completed the acquisition of 100 percent of the issued share capital of Telenor Pakistan and Orion Towers, said a press release. The Pakistan Tele­communication Authority (PTA) approved the merger of Telenor Pak­i­stan with PTCL earlier in December. The regulator, however, imposed strict conditions to prevent abuse of market power and to bind the new entity to invest in upcoming spectrum auctions. “Telenor Pakistan and Orion Towers will operate as 100% owned subsidiaries of PTCL, alongside Pak Telecom Mobile Limited (PTML) commonly known as Ufone 4G, and U Microfinance Bank.” However, Telenor Pakistan will continue to operate as a separate entity during the transition period, said the statement, adding that PTML and Telenor will then be merged as a single entity in “due course of time”, subject to regulatory approvals. Acknowledging the contribution of Telenor to Pakistan’s telecom landscape, PTCL said the telco “pla...
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Pakistan to enter 2026 as fifth-most populous country

ISLAMABAD: The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) says that as Pakistan enters 2026 as the world’s fifth most populous country, with a population exceeding 225 million, high population growth and fertility rates, persistent gender inequality, and rising climate vulnerability, the urgency of addressing population dynamics has intensified. These realities underscore the need to view population not as a burden but as a strategic driver of sustainable and inclusive development, UNFPA Pakistan said in a statement on Tuesday. Looking ahead to 2026, UNFPA called for a shift in how population is reflected in national planning and financing, particularly in the NFC formula. Moving beyond population size as the primary det­e­rminant, a forward-loo­k­ing appro­ach should rew­ard provinces for measurable progress in gender equ­ality, climate resilience, bal­anced population outco­mes, and improvements in the quality of health and education services. Such reform would align fiscal inc...
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China fires missiles on second day of military drills around Taiwan

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China launched missiles and deployed dozens of fighter aircraft and navy vessels around Taiwan on Tuesday for a second day of live-fire drills aimed at simulating a blockade of the self-ruled island’s key ports and assaults on maritime targets. Taipei, which slammed the two-day war games as “highly provocative and reckless”, claimed the manoeuvre failed to impose a blockade on the island. China claims Taiwan as part of its sovereign territory and has refused to rule out military action to seize the island. AFP journalists in Pingtan, a Chinese island at the closest point to Taiwan’s main island, saw a volley of rockets blast into the air at around 9:00am (6am PKT) on Tuesday, leaving trails of white smoke. At least 10 were launched in quick succession, sending a booming sound reverberating across the sky and drawing tourists towards the seafront to snap photos and videos on their phones. Taiwanese authorities counted 27 rockets fired by Chinese forces on Tuesday. A Taiwanese ...
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Establishing crypto beyond the hype

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As dollar shortages in the open market persist, users seek dollars digitally, while the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) continues to deliberate on drafting detailed regulations. Inevitably, people are not waiting for regulations; they are already moving towards crypto rails facilitated by illegal operators entering the market. There is, however, one group that awaits regulation: those wishing to operate legally. And this wait is causing them to patiently recalibrate, raising questions regarding the future of financial inclusion in Pakistan. An insider source at one such startup, Zar, highlighted that their focus has shifted towards their African markets as they await regulations in Pakistan before deciding “to invest much more money and energy into Pakistan.” Aatiqa Lateef, a crypto expert, shared that this caution is entirely rational and that serious firms will scale where there is regulatory predictability, banking integration, and a clear supervisory roadm...
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Netanyahu meets Trump in Florida for talks on Gaza, Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived at US President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence on Monday to hold crucial talks on Gaza and Iran. The US president will push the Israeli leader to move to the next stage of his fragile Gaza truce plan. Netanyahu is also expected to try to shift some focus onto Iran, amid reports he will call for more US strikes on the Islamic republic’s nuclear program. The meeting, the fifth between the two leaders to be held in the United States this year, comes as some White House officials fear both Israel and Hamas are slow-walking the second phase of their ceasefire. Trump, who said Netanyahu had asked for the talks, is reportedly keen to announce as soon as January a Palestinian technocratic government for Gaza, and the deployment of an international stabilisation force. Netanyahu’s office said he met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Florida ahead of his talks with Trump, which are scheduled for 1pm...
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2026 OUTLOOK: Journey of highs and lows

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The year 2025 was exceptional for Pakistan’s geoeconomics and geopolitics. The most dramatic moment was the May 7–10 conflict with India, a confrontation whose political and economic repercussions continue to shape Pakistan’s trajectory. In its aftermath, Pakistan emerged more confident, actively pursuing defence and strategic economic partnerships to reinforce its long-term security. The economy also saw a significant improvement in global perception, reflected in successive upgrades by major international rating agencies, including Fitch, S&P, and Moody’s. These upgrades noted strengthened macroeconomic stability, an improved external position, and steadier foreign exchange reserves. The primary balance, showing that the government’s revenues exceed its non-interest expenditures, rose to a historic high of 2.4 per cent of GDP. Equally notable was the sharp decline in headline inflation, which fell below 5pc, its lowest level in seven years. The launch of a new, outward-looking...
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