ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed solidarity with Turkiye after four people were killed and 14 wounded in an attack on the country’s state-run aerospace and defense company TUSAS in Ankara on Wednesday.
Turkiye’s Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said two attackers were killed in what he called a “terrorist attack” at the Turkish Aerospace Industries’ headquarters. The minister added that three of the injured were in critical condition.
TV broadcasters earlier showed footage of armed assailants entering the TUSAS building while witnesses said they heard gunfire and a loud explosion at the site.
“Deeply shocked and saddened by the terrorist attack in Ankara,” Sharif wrote on social media platform X.
“Pakistan stands in complete solidarity with our Turkish brothers. I strongly condemn this dastardly act & pray for the families of the victims as well as speedy recovery of the injured,” he added.
TUSAS is Turkiye’s largest aerospace manufacturer, currently producing a training craft, combat and civilian helicopters, as well as developing the country’s first indigenous fighter jet, KAAN. Owned by the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation and government, it employs more than 10,000 people.
The cause and perpetrators of the attack remained unclear as no group claimed responsibility. Prosecutors have launched an investigation, Turkiye’s state-run Anadolu Agency reported.
Turkiye has previously suffered attacks by militant outfits Daesh and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
Pakistan expresses solidarity with Turkiye as attack on Ankara aviation site kills 4
https://arab.news/65he6
Pakistan expresses solidarity with Turkiye as attack on Ankara aviation site kills 4
- Unidentified attackers target country’s aerospace and defense company TUSAS in Ankara
- Pakistani PM condemns “dastardly attack,” prays for speedy recovery of 14 people injured
Pakistan consumer confidence rises by 4 percentage points in two years, survey shows
- Four in 10 Pakistanis believed the country is on the right track, with optimism higher among men
- Economic concerns remained most worrying, but their quantum fell drastically across all issues
ISLAMABAD: Consumer confidence in Pakistan has risen by 4 percentage points from 31.5 to 35.5 over the last two years, which highlights improving public optimism under the government’s tenure, Ipsos market research firm said in a recent survey.
The survey was conducted through computer-assisted telephonic interviews (CATI) and included more than a thousand participants from all provinces and Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan regions on Feb. 2-14.
It comes at a time when Pakistan has undergone a difficult period of stabilization, though international rating agencies have acknowledged improvements after Islamabad began implementing structural reforms as part of its $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program.
The Ipsos survey revealed a “measurable” improvement in Pakistan’s economic sentiment, marked by a decline in inflation alongside notable reductions in poverty and unemployment, since the current government took charge two years ago.
“These findings point to a clear two-year transformation in the Consumer Confidence Index, demonstrating the perceived impact of consistent governance and policy measures,” read the key takeout in the survey.
“Sustained performance, coupled with transparent communication of achievements, will be essential to maintain momentum, reinforce optimism, and support further improvements in economic confidence.”
Four in 10 Pakistanis believed the country is on the right track, with optimism higher among men, while confidence in the country’s direction being right increased more than three times, from 12 percent to 40 percent, since the government came to power, according to the survey.
Economic concerns remained most worrying, but their quantum fell drastically across all issues since the first quarter of 2024. Inflation has dropped by 23 percent, unemployment by 10 percent, poverty by 20 percent, electricity prices by 34 percent and the burden of additional taxes was reduced by 18 percent in Q1 2026 as compared to Q1 2024.
“One in 3 Pakistanis expect the economy to strengthen,” the survey read. “Confidence to invest has grown steadily over two years, rising from 11 percent to 16 percent, with even stronger optimism among urban residents.”
