DP World appoints Pakistani vice chairman to spearhead 'multibillion-dollar investment strategy'

Pakistani celebrity, Fakhar-e-Alam, left, with Emaar founder Mohamed Ali Alabbar, center, and CEO DP World Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem. (Photo courtesy: @falamb3/Twitter)
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Updated 02 March 2023
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DP World appoints Pakistani vice chairman to spearhead 'multibillion-dollar investment strategy'

  • Well-known celebrity Fakhar-e-Alam has been working with UAE firm since last year’s devastating floods
  • Says looking forward to building stronger economic bridges between the "UAE and Pakistan and beyond"

ISLAMABAD: A United Arab Emirates-based multinational logistics company has decided to appoint a Pakistani celebrity, Fakhar-e-Alam, as vice chairman to spearhead a “multibillion-dollar investment strategy” in the South Asian state, said a statement circulated by the organization earlier this week.
It added that Alam, a longtime UAE resident, had been working closely with DP World since last year’s devastating floods in Pakistan, adding the company made a donation of $2.5 million to help the survivors of the natural calamity due to his efforts.
“I am deeply honored and most grateful to His Highness Sheikh Mohammad [bin Rashid Al Maktoum] the ruler of Dubai, His Excellency Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem and the leadership of DP World to give me this opportunity,” the statement quoted the Pakistani celebrity as saying.
“I look forward to building newer [and] stronger economic bridges between the UAE and Pakistan and beyond,” he continued. “The challenges that Pakistan is faced with require out of the box thinking and a much more progressive approach towards investors like DP World.”
Alam maintained it was possible to create great value and wealth that would ultimately benefit Pakistanis and help grow trade in the entire region.
DP World is said to be “the crown jewel enterprise of Dubai” which is currently valued at about $90 billion. The company’s core business has also facilitated global trade flow.
The statement said DP World’s “global dominance” was growing at a rapid pace as it had been winning bids, creating new partnerships, and adding greater value to its industry.


Pakistan alarmed as Russia-Ukraine conflict intensifies, calls for immediate ceasefire

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Pakistan alarmed as Russia-Ukraine conflict intensifies, calls for immediate ceasefire

  • Pakistan envoy urges both sides to resolve ongoing conflict through peaceful means during Security Council briefing
  • Russia last Friday fired hypersonic ballistic missile capable of carrying nuclear warhead at Ukraine, drawing criticism

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Iftikhar Ahmad this week expressed alarm as the Russia-Ukraine conflict intensifies, calling for an immediate ceasefire and demanding both countries resolve their issues peacefully through dialogue. 

The development takes place days after Russia last week fired an intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile at Ukraine called Oreshnik. The move drew sharp criticism as the missile is capable of carrying nuclear and conventional warheads. Russia said it fired the Oreshnik in response to what Moscow says was an attempted Ukrainian drone attack on Dec. 29 against one of Putin’s residences in northern Russia. Ukraine denies Moscow’s claims. 

February 2026 will mark four years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, triggering the worst armed conflict in Europe since World War II. The war has killed hundreds of thousands of people and forced millions to flee their homes.

“We are alarmed by the recent intensification in fighting with escalation in attacks from both sides, further worsening the already dire humanitarian situation,” Ahmad said on Monday during a UN Security Council briefing on the Ukraine conflict. 

“Such actions not only perpetuate the conflict, but they also undermine trust, and the ongoing efforts for peace.”

The Pakistani envoy urged both sides to abide by the principles of international law and ensure civilians and civilian infrastructure are protected during the conflict. He said Pakistan’s position on resolving the issue through dialogue has not changed. 

“Now, more than ever before, the overwhelming global opinion is on the side of ending this conflict through peaceful means,” Ahmad said. “This can only be achieved through a sustained, meaningful and structured dialogue.”

US President Donald Trump has been pushing both sides to strike a deal to halt the conflict, running shuttle diplomacy between Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky and Russia’s Vladimir Putin in a bid to get an agreement across the line. Plans to broker peace collapsed after an initial 28-point plan, which largely adhered to Moscow’s demands, was criticized by Kyiv and Europe.

Ahmad appreciated the US for attempting to resolve the conflict through peaceful means. 

“We hope that all sides would make full use of the ongoing diplomacy, demonstrate genuine political will, and engage constructively to make meaningful strides toward a peaceful and negotiated settlement of the conflict, starting with an immediate ceasefire,” he said.