The year 2022 was a year full of surprises for Pakistan: from Imran Khan being ousted from power to the nation being completely submerged by historic flooding, this year truly surprised the country.
We have listed the top ten events that ruled the national discourse this year:
1) Pakistan at 2022 Winter Olympics
Pakistani team participated in the Winter Olympics which was held in China’s Beijing in February 2022. Muhammad Karim was the country’s flagbearer during the opening and closing ceremonies.
2) Imran Khan ousted
This year in April, PTI CHairman Imran Khan became the first Pakistani prime minister to be ousted by a no-confidence vote after opposition parties brought a motion against him.
3) Shehbaz Sharif becomes new PM
In April, Shehbaz Sharif replaced Imran Khan and was sworn-in as the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
4) Bajwa retires as COAS
In November, General Qamar Javed Bajwa retired as Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and announced that he will not be seeking an extension.
5) Lumpy skin disease outbreak
Around Five million dairy farmers and meat, sellers were hit hard by a Lumpy Skin Disease outbreak in Karachi affecting their cattle in May 2022.
6) Pakistan at 2022 World Athletics Championships
Javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem became the first Pakistani to achieve at the 2022 World Athletics Championships. This is Arshad’s second outing at the championships after he last appeared in the event in 2019.
7) PTI wins in three provinces
PTI Chairman Imran Khan and his party won a majority of seats in the by-elections held on eight National Assembly and three Punjab Assembly seats in October.
8) Pakistan exits FATF grey list
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global money laundering and terrorism financing watchdog, in October removed Pakistan from a list of countries under ‘increased monitoring’, also known as the ‘grey list’ after four years of continuous struggle.
9) Historic floods in Pakistan
Flooding has caused at least 1,576 deaths across Pakistan, including more than 550 children since mid-June, as per UNICEF. One-third of Pakistan has been completely submerged by historic flooding, according to the climate minister.
10) Attempted assassination of Imran Khan
In November, Imran Khan was shot in an assassination attempt in Wazirabad, Punjab, during a long protest march against the incumbent government.
