ISLAMABAD: As Christians celebrated Christmas on Tuesday in Pakistan with zeal and zest, the country’s top political leadership extended their good wishes to the community and vowed to provide equal rights and opportunities to all citizens.
Authorities, on their part, deployed additional law enforcement personnel to ensure tighter security for the occasion.
President Arif Alvi in his message extended his “warmest greetings” to the community in a statement released by his office. “Much more than festivity and celebration, the spirit of Christmas is to share, to reach out, and to love all humanity,” it read.
He commended the sincere efforts of the Christian community toward the socio-economic development of the country. “I also take this opportunity to pay a rich tribute to the sacrifices made by our Christian brethren in Pakistan’s fight against terrorism,” he said.
In his message, President Alvi added that the government of Pakistan upholds the principle of equal rights and freedom for all its citizens irrespective of caste, creed, or religion.
“We are committed to building a society that respects differences and finds strength in diversity; a nation that is tolerant and cohesive; and a state that provides equal rights and opportunities to all citizens,” he said, adding that “our Christian brethren are an integral part of our multicultural polity; and together we are building a strong and prosperous Pakistan, for ourselves and our children.”
President Alvi lauds Christian community’s sacrifices for Pakistan
President Alvi lauds Christian community’s sacrifices for Pakistan
- Vows to build a society that respects differences and celebrates diversity
- Authorities deploy additional law enforcement personnel for tighter security around Christmas
Dubai International Chamber opens office in Karachi to expand trade, investment links
- New Karachi presence launched under ‘Dubai Global’ initiative to scale international footprint by 2030
- Pakistani membership at Dubai Chamber of Commerce up 161 percent since 2022, with 6,850 new firms in 2025
KARACHI: The Dubai International Chamber has opened a representative office in Karachi as part of an effort to deepen trade and investment flows between Pakistan and Dubai, the chamber said in a statement after an inauguration ceremony on Tuesday.
The expansion is tied to the Dubai Global Initiative, which aims to set up 50 international offices by 2030 to support cross-border business activity and position Dubai as a global gateway market. The move comes amid a period of heightened commercial engagement between the two markets, driven by Pakistani investor interest in Dubai and Dubai-based companies exploring Pakistan’s consumer and industrial sectors.
The office was inaugurated in Karachi in the presence of UAE Consul General Dr. Bakheet Ateeq Alremeithi, alongside officials and members of Pakistan’s business community.
Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, said the new presence was intended to accelerate bilateral commercial ties.
“The inauguration of our new office marks a strategic step that reflects our firm commitment to strengthening the robust economic partnership between Dubai and Pakistan,” he said.
“We aim to broaden the scope of bilateral cooperation between our business communities and advance our vision to create new paths for the flow of trade and investments.”
The Karachi office will support Pakistani businesses seeking entry into Dubai by offering market intelligence, regulatory guidance, and introductions to potential investors and commercial partners. Officials said the office will also assist Dubai-based companies exploring Pakistan’s market through sector briefings, partner sourcing and investment facilitation.
The chamber said its goal is to enable firms on both sides to scale internationally using Dubai as a springboard into global markets, while expanding the emirate’s footprint inside Pakistan’s industrial, digital and consumer-growth sectors.
Pakistan remains one of Dubai’s fastest-growing partner markets. According to figures released by the chamber, Pakistan’s non-oil trade with Dubai reached more than Rs1.74 trillion ($6.1 billion) in 2024, while the number of Pakistani companies registered as active Dubai Chamber members rose 161 percent between early 2022 and Q3 2025, reaching a total of 33,110 firms. A further 6,850 companies joined in the first nine months of 2025 alone.
