Economy, Politics and Foreign Relations Dominate October 2025 Print Media

Karachi: The latest Monthly Newspaper Content Analysis Research Study by Gallup & Gilani Pakistan has revealed the key themes shaping Pakistan’s mainstream print media in October 2025. The study found that the Economy dominated editorial discussions, accounting for 15% of total coverage. The study examined editorial and opinion content across 12 leading Urdu and English newspapers.

Newspapers Included in the Study were Urdu: Jang, Express, Nawa-i-Waqt, Daily Pakistan and in
English: The News, The Nation, Dawn, The Express Tribune, Business Recorder, Daily Times, Pakistan Today, Pakistan Observer

Economy Takes Lead in October Coverage

The study found that the Economy dominated editorial discussions, accounting for 15% of total coverage. Politics followed closely at 13%, while Foreign Relations secured 10%. Culture & Tourism (9%), International Issues (7%), and Crime & Terrorism (6%) also remained key areas of focus.

The Middle East crisis featured in 5% of articles. Climate & Environment, Governance, and Social Issues each received 4% share. Topics such as India-Pakistan conflict, Education, and History were discussed in 3% of coverage. Health, Sports, Human Rights, and Religion each stood at 2%.

Smaller themes—including the Iran-Israel war, Media, Security, and Law & Order—made up the final 1%.

Word-Cloud Findings: Politics, Governance and Global Affairs Lead

The word-cloud analysis indicated that Pakistan, Politics, and Governance formed the core of October’s print media narrative. Frequent appearances of words such as government, military, system, and leaders pointed to internal debates on institutional roles and political stability.

Foreign Relations also stood out, particularly references to the US, China, India, Afghanistan, terrorism, and the ongoing Middle East crisis—evidenced by strong mentions of Gaza and Israel.

Economy and development issues persisted through terms like growth and new development, while climate-related words such as floods and water highlighted sustained environmental concerns.

English vs Urdu Newspapers: A Clear Editorial Divide

The study identified notable contrasts between English and Urdu press:

• Economy dominated English-language newspapers (13%) but received only 4% attention in Urdu papers.

• Foreign Relations also had higher coverage in English (6%) compared to Urdu (5%).

• Politics was the most discussed topic in Urdu newspapers (10%), double that of English (5%).

• Culture & Tourism appeared far more frequently in Urdu (9%) than English (1%).

• Crime & Terrorism had higher presence in Urdu (4%) than English (3%).

• Urdu papers showed stronger engagement with History (3% vs 0% in English).

• English papers focused more on Governance (3% vs 1% in Urdu) and Climate & Environment (3% vs 2% in Urdu).

• Social Issues, India-Pakistan conflict, Education and Religion also showed distinct disparities between both language segments.

Economy Subcategories: Global Concerns Top the List

Within Economy-related content:

• Global Economic Analysis dominated with 33%.

• Macroeconomic Stability followed at 17%.

• Poverty Trends and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) each accounted for 15%.

• Innovation & Growth formed 14%.

• Cryptocurrency Regulation and Youth Employment remained marginal at 3% each.

Shift in Media Priorities: September vs October 2025

The comparison of two months revealed significant shifts:

• Economy coverage rose from 12% in September to 15% in October.

• Politics jumped from 8% to 13%.

• Climate & Environment saw a major decline—from 13% down to 4%.

• Foreign Relations dipped slightly from 11% to 10%.

• Culture & Tourism and International Affairs remained steady at 9% and 7%, respectively.

• Crime & Terrorism increased from 4% to 6%.

• Middle East Crisis rose from 3% to 5%.

Most other categories—including Education, Health, Human Rights, History, and Law & Order—displayed minor or no changes.