Overview
- Nationwide ceremonies and a public holiday honored Muhammad Ali Jinnah, with a formal guard change at Mazar‑e‑Quaid and tribute messages from President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stressing democracy and unity.
- UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan completed a one‑day visit, receiving military honors and meeting Pakistan’s top leadership, with both sides reviewing progress and agreeing to deepen cooperation in trade, investment, energy, infrastructure, IT and people‑to‑people ties.
- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed the law will respond decisively to any injustice against minorities and lauded the service of Christian personnel in the armed forces during a Christmas event in Islamabad.
- Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced a helmet‑law exemption for Sikhs who wear turbans, ordered steps to address burial‑ground needs, and increased provincial minority ID cards from 75,000 to 100,000.
- The national airline said it will expand UK operations, including London flights from March and an Islamabad–Manchester service, while local reports said a consortium won a 75% stake with a PKR 135 billion bid, a development not yet detailed in official disclosures.