News Broadcasting
bbcurdu.com poll predicts slim win for PPP
MUMBAI: A BBC World Service commissioned pre-election poll in Pakistan forecasts a narrow lead for the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in the forthcoming general elections
Mian Azhar of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) (Quaide Azam) (Q) is expected to be the next prime minister. The opinion poll commissioned for bbcurdu.com is the biggest of its kind in Pakistan and was conducted in advance of the general elections on 10 October 2002.
The poll demonstrates major regional differences on issues such as allegations of pre-election rigging, the ban on militant organisations and the performance of the military government. It was conducted in 99 cities and towns and more than 100 villages throughout Pakistan. A total of 2,827 Pakistanis of voting age were asked their opinion about the elections in face-to-face interviews. A clear majority of respondents did not believe the elections would be completely free and fair, however 24 per cent of those interviewed said they either didn’t know or didn’t want to comment.
A majority of voters in Sindh province believed that the PPP would win while the PML (Q) enjoys much greater support in Punjab and Balochistan. According to the survey, the PML Nawaz Group (N), which once enjoyed a strong support in urban Punjab, appears to be losing its mass appeal. Only 12 per cent of respondents thought that it would win a majority of seats, with only 18 per cent of Punjabis predicting its win.
In response to the question of who is going to be the next prime minister of Pakistan, Mian Azhar emerged as the front runner with 17 per cent lead, followed closely by Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Farooq Laghari and Imran Khan. Women respondents put Imran Khan as the front runner to form a new government. He also enjoyed more support in Sindh than Mian Azhar and Farooq Laghari.
The survey also revealed the continuing strength of traditional political allegiances. Benazir Bhutto was rated both the best and the worst prime minister over the last two decades. Nawaz Sharif emerged as both the second best and the second worst prime minister over the same period. 54 per cent of the respondents believed that Benazir Bhutto should have been given permission to return and participate in elections. Nawaz Sharif scored slightly lower with 50 per cent.
General Pervez Musharraf enjoyed considerable support in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) with 60 per cent saying his tenure has proved good for the country. When asked to compare General Zia and Musharraf, Punjabis found General Zia a better ruler than Pervez Musharraf. However, 55 per cent of respondents in Balochistan preferred Musharraf to General Zia.
News Broadcasting
Rising Bharat Summit 2026 spotlights India’s global ascent
PM Modi keynotes two-day event with ministers, diplomats and icons in New Delhi.
MUMBAI: India didn’t just host a summit, it threw a coming-out party for a nation ready to own the global stage. The News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, held on 27–28 February in New Delhi, emerged as a high-octane platform for ideas, vision and strategic dialogue, uniting national leadership, global policymakers, industry titans, defence strategists and cultural icons under the theme “Strength Within”.
Prime minister Narendra Modi set the tone with a keynote that framed India’s resurgence as a reclaiming of lost potential built over generations. “In previous industrial revolutions, India and the Global South were merely followers,” he said. “But in the era of Artificial Intelligence, India is a partner in decisions and shaping them.” He highlighted the country’s thriving AI startup ecosystem and the recent AI Impact Summit attended by over 100 nations.
Union minister Piyush Goyal (Commerce & Industry) stressed India’s readiness to scale exports and deepen manufacturing, while Ashwini Vaishnaw (Railways, I&B, Electronics & IT) positioned technology and infrastructure as twin engines of growth, especially in AI and digital trust. Jyotiraditya Scindia (Communications & North East Development) revealed India’s ambition to lead in 6G through the Bharat 6G Alliance and partnerships with over 30 countries.
Global voices added depth: former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo called India’s development “self-sustaining” and strategically vital; ex-UK Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter asserted India deserves a seat at the great powers’ table; and former US Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez joined ambassadors from Norway, Germany and Sweden in discussions on geopolitical realignment, sustainability and defence preparedness.
Other speakers included veteran investor Ramesh Damani, World Gold Council CEO David Tait, Vianai Systems founder Dr Vishal Sikka, DeepTech Bharat Foundation co-founder Shashi Shekhar Vempati, defence experts Rajesh Kumar Singh, Sunil Ambekar, Patrick McGee, Tom Cooper and Adrian Fontanellaz, plus cultural and sporting icons Kangana Ranaut, Saina Nehwal, PR Sreejesh, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mithali Raj, Anil Kapoor and Yami Gautam.
The summit was supported by Jio Financial Services (Presenting Partner), Phonepe and DS Group (Co-Presenting Partners), Pernod Ricard India and Kia Seltos (Powered By & Driven By), state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand (State Partners), and associate partners including NSE, M3M Foundation and Reliance Industries.
Broadcast live across News18 Network, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz, the event reinforced India’s image as a confident democracy and emerging global power proving that when strength comes from within, the world can’t help but watch.
