As of January 12, 2026, Pakistan is navigating a complex landscape of political tension, shifting weather patterns, and significant economic milestones.
1. Politics and Security
Insurgency in KP: Tragically, six police officers and one civilian were martyred in a roadside IED blast near the Afghan border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
PM Shehbaz Sharif has ordered a high-level probe as security forces intensify operations in Tank and Lakki Marwat. Political Mobilization: The PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf) recently held a significant rally in Karachi despite hurdles and arrests.
KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has announced that the next phase of their mobilization campaign will focus on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Regional Diplomacy: President Asif Ali Zardari is scheduled to embark on a four-day official visit to Bahrain tomorrow (January 13) to discuss bilateral trade, defense cooperation, and regional stability.
2. Economy and Finance
IMF Outlook: Official statements suggest Pakistan is on track to exit the IMF program by mid-2026.
This optimism is fueled by record-high remittances, which hit $3.6 billion in December 2025, and a stabilizing macroeconomic environment. Gold at Record Highs: Domestic gold prices have surged to an all-time high, reaching approximately Rs 473,262 per tola, driven by a massive spike in global market prices.
Stock Market Panic: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) saw a sharp dip of over 2,000 points this week, largely due to "geopolitical fears" surrounding the Iran-US standoff and regional instability.
3. Weather and Public Life
Winter Vacation Extensions: Due to a prolonged severe cold wave, the Punjab government has extended winter vacations for all public and private schools and colleges until January 19, 2026.
Sindh has also revised school timings to accommodate the freezing temperatures. Fog Disruptions: Motorways (M-2, M-3, M-4, M-5, and M-11) have experienced partial closures over the last 24 hours due to dense fog, though many sections have reopened as visibility improved.
4. Sports Update
U19 World Cup: The Pakistan U19 team is currently in Zimbabwe preparing for the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup.
They are scheduled to play a warm-up match against the USA tomorrow (Tuesday) before their opening fixture against England on January 16. Cricket Series: The national team recently concluded a T20 series against Sri Lanka, where they narrowly lost the final match by 14 runs on January 11.
0 Comments