In light of the significant influence exerted by Pope John Paul II in Poland, where his 1979 visit to Poland catalyzed public resistance to the communist regime, directly emboldening the Solidarity movement and challenging the moral legitimacy of communist governance, President General Muhammad Zia ul Haq identified His Holiness as a figure of strategic importance in war against USSR in Afghanistan. Recognizing the efficacy of the Pope’s moral opposition to Marxist Leninist ideology, the President extended an official invitation for a visit to Pakistan in 1981. This engagement was intended to consolidate an ideological alliance and reinforce a unified regional stance against communist expansionism, while simultaneously serving as a platform to underscore the necessity of religious coexistence and mutual respect between faiths within the broader geopolitical context.

On 23 February 1981, Pope John Paul II, one of the most influential religious figures of the 20th century, visited Pakistan after accepting invitation from General Zia-ul-Haq, becoming the first Pope in history to do so.

During his multi-day visit, he traveled to Karachi and Lahore, addressing Christian communities, religious leaders, and diplomats.

>The patriarch of a religious Muslim family refuses to accept his intersex son, which creates a conflict within the family and ends up tearing them apart.

National Accounts Committee released new economic figures
GPD increased from $408.2 Billion to $452 Billion
Per Capita Income $1.7k to $1.9k
Real Growth Rate of GDP was 3.7%, while it crossed IMF's estimate of 3.6 and World Bank's estimate of 3.0%, it did not reach Government's ambitious goal of 4% Growth

>Source: NAC

On October 12, 1999, Pakistan International Airlines flight PK805 traveling from Colombo with 198 passengers including General Pervez Musharraf, was denied landing permission at Karachi and all other national airfields on the orders of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Despite the cockpit reporting critical fuel levels, with only seven minutes of flight time remaining (when it had landed), the aircraft was commanded to exit Pakistani airspace and proceed to anywhere outside Pakistan. The pilot was forced to hover as the runway was blocked by fire trucks and the lights were extinguished. The crisis concluded when the 111 Brigade and 5th Corps (V Corps) based in Karachi of the Pakistan Army seized control of Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, clearing the runway for the emergency landing. Large number of 198 passengers included school children returning from Sri Lanka which sparked public outcry later as PM's order had put their lives at risk

>ISLAMABAD: The PTI on Sunday congratulated the entire nation on the first anniversary of the Marka-i-Haq victory, a year after Pakistan’s armed forces achieved tactical superiority over India with a decisive and crushing response to its aggression during a four-day conflict.

>It claimed that from Adiala jail, its founder Imran Khan’s message remained clear: “The army is mine, and the country is mine.”

>The opposition party, in a statement issued by its media secretariat, congratulated all defence institutions, particularly the brave personnel of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF).

>“We salute these fearless warriors, whose exemplary professionalism brought down six enemy fighter jets, humbling [Indian Prime Minister Narendra] Modi’s arrogance and establishing a historic benchmark of skill that will be remembered forever,” it stated.

>

>“We also pay tribute to the martyrs of the Pakistan Army and PAF, who sacrificed their lives while defending our motherland,” it added.

>The party also claimed that it was the visionary leadership of its founder who, even from confinement, played a crucial role in strengthening national defence.

>“He was the leader who exposed Modi’s extremism on the global stage and, during his tenure, ensured the acquisition of advanced J-10C fighter jets from China. Today, these jets safeguard our airspace and act as the backbone of strategic stability in South Asia,” it added.

Source: DAWN

Prices in Feb 2026 vs Prices on May 10, 2026, per Liter of Petrol

Pakistan has seen almost 64% increase in petrol prices

Pak Army's Composition by Provinces vs Provincial Populations vs Per Capita Index provincial representation of Provinces and administrative units in Pak Army

Year	GDP per Capita Pakistan (USD $)
2010	1,137.99
2011	1,301.74
2012	1,377.78
2013	1,390.65
2014	1,423.89
2015	1,535.35
2016	1,566.63
2017	1,653.41
2018	1,698.03
2019	1,500.68
2020	1,376.51
2021	1,565.58
2022	1,651.32
2023	1,454.12
2024	1,577.64
2025	1,695.65

>Source: IMF DATA MAPPER DGP PER CAPITA PAK

Inflation Rate (average consumer prices)

Annual percent change

Year	Inflation Rate Pakistan (%)
2010	10.1
2011	13.7
2012	11.0
2013	7.4
2014	8.6
2015	4.5
2016	2.9
2017	4.8
2018	4.7
2019	6.8
2020	10.7
2021	8.9
2022	12.2
2023	29.2
2024	23.4
2025	4.5
2026	7.2 est.

>Source: IMF DATA MAPPER PAK INFLATION

NOTE: FY26 could reveal a higher than estimated Inflation rate due to ongoing US-Iran War