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PM Shehbaz underScoreS national unity to defeat terroriSM Saturday, 17 January, 2026 | 27 Rajabul Murajjab, 1447
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PREMIER SHEHBAZ CALLS FOR COLLECTIVE EFFORT TO TACKLE EXTREMISM AND SAFEGUARD PAKISTAN
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SAYS QAUMI PAIGHAM-EAMAN COMMITTEE TO STRENGTHEN PEACE AND COUNTER HATE NARRATIVES
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STRESSES HARNESSING TRILLIONS IN NATURAL RESOURCES TO ADDRESS POVERTY AND UNEMPLOYMENT
— unveilS health card for iSlaMabad, aJK & Gb aS Govt reaffirMS health aS baSic riGht ISLAMABAD
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Staff RepoRt
ISLAMABAD
Staff RepoRt
RIME MINISTER Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday emphasized the urgent need for national unity, saying it is more crucial today than ever before to confront challenges such as extremism and terrorism, and reaffirmed the government’s firm resolve to eliminate terrorism through a unified national effort. Addressing members of the Qaumi Paigham-e-Aman Committee in Islamabad, the premier expressed confidence that the committee would play a pivotal role in strengthening the national narrative against extremism, drawing a parallel with the historic contribution of Ulema and Mashaekh in the creation of Pakistan. The Prime Minister said Pakistan was founded to uphold the principles of peace, justice, and tolerance, and commended the vital role of minorities in the nation’s development, noting their services in sec-
tors such as education, health, and defence. He particularly acknowledged the contributions of Cecil Chaudhry and Justice Rana Bhagwandas for their commitment and enduring service to Pakistan. Highlighting the country’s potential, PM Shehbaz said Almighty Allah has blessed Pakistan with vast natural resources worth trillions of dollars, which, if effectively explored, could help address challenges such as poverty, unemployment, and national debt. He stressed that full utilization of these hidden treasures could resolve many of the nation’s problems. The premier noted that Pakistan is steadily moving toward prosperity and stability, but underlined the urgent need to stamp out terrorism once and for all. Recalling national sacrifices, he highlighted Pakistan’s strength during Markae-Haq in May 2025, when the country decisively defeated India, attributing the victory to Allah’s blessings and the professional capabilities of the armed forces
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Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday revived and extended the Prime Minister’s Health Card programme to the Islamabad Capital Territory, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan, reaffirming the federal government’s resolve to provide quality healthcare as a fundamental right to every citizen, irrespective of social or economic status. Addressing the launch ceremony— attended by the federal minister for health, the chief minister of GilgitBaltistan, federal ministers, parliamentarians and senior officials, including the secretary health and the chief secretary AJK—the prime minister said the initiative marked another major step towards taking healthcare facilities to
under the leadership of Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. He urged the international community to acknowledge Pakistan’s sacrifices, adding that the country possesses solid evidence of external support being extended to terrorist elements operating domestically. Minister for Information Attaullah
people’s doorsteps. Recalling the origins of the scheme, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the health card programme was first launched in 2016 under the leadership of Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and was later expanded rapidly across the provinces. He remarked that nothing was more valuable in life than health. “If there is health, there is education; if there is health, there is dignified employment; if there is health, there is progress in every field of life,” he said. The prime minister observed that while affluent segments of society could afford costly treatment anywhere in the world, the true test of the state lay in protecting the poor, widows, orphans and daily wage earners who struggled to make ends meet.
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Tarar said the Qaumi Paigham-e-Aman Committee would further strengthen the national narrative by visiting cities across Pakistan to promote peace and counter hate-based narratives. Convener Maulana Hafiz Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi, Allama Ragib Naeemi, and other Ulema reaffirmed their unflinching commitment to support government efforts in eradicating terrorism and extremism from the country.
12 indian-sponsored terrorists killed as security forces thwart multiple terrorist activities in Kharan: iSPr RAWALPINDI
Staff RepoRt
Security forces killed 12 Indian-sponsored terrorists of Fitna al-Hindustan and effectively thwarted their attempt to create a hostage situation in Balochistan’s Kharan district during multiple operations, the military’s media wing said on Friday. In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said, “On 15 January 2026, approximately fifteen to twenty Indiansponsored terrorists of Fitna al-Hindustan carried out multiple terrorist activities in Kharan City of Balochistan. Wherein, the terrorists attacked City Police Station, National Bank of Pakistan and Habib Bank Limited. During the activity, Rs3.4 million were looted from the banks by terrorists.” The ISPR said the security forces effectively responded and engaged the terrorists, prompting them to retreat. “During the ensuing clearance operation, twelve terrorists were sent to hell in three different engagements. Terrorists' design to create a hostage situation at the police station was also effectively thwarted,” it added. Sanitization operation continues in the surroundings to eliminate any other Indian sponsored terrorists. “A relentless counterterrorism campaign under vision “Azm-eIstehkam” (as approved by Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan) by the security forces and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan will continue at full pace to wipe out [the] menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country,” it said. Despite record militant deaths, Pakistan witnessed an alarming rise in militant violence in 2025, with terrorist attacks rising by 34 per cent and terrorism-related fatalities increasing by 21pc year on year, according to a report released by the Islamabad-based Pak Institute for Peace Studies. On January 6, ISPR Director General (DG) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry shared during a press conference that law enforcement agencies of Pakistan — including the army, police, Federal Constabulary, and intelligence agencies — conducted a total of 75,175 IBOs in 2025. Breaking it down, he said 14,658 operations were conducted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 58,778 in Balochistan, and 1,739 in other regions of Pakistan. He added that 5,397 terror incidents took place in Pakistan in 2025, of which 3,811 were reported from KP (71pc), 1,557 from Balochistan (29pc), and 29 from other areas.