Pakistani PM to kick off World Economic Forum engagements today in Davos

People at the Congress Center where the World Economy Forum take place in Davos, Switzerland, on January 14, 2024. (AP)
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Updated 15 January 2024
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Pakistani PM to kick off World Economic Forum engagements today in Davos

  • Caretaker PM Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar arrived in Zurich on Sunday evening for the summit 
  • Kakar to lead ‘Invest in Pakistan’ event at World Economic Forum, deliver keynote address

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar will participate in the World Economic Forum (WEF) summit in Davos which kicks off today, Monday, to meet key business and government leaders to discuss global issues of importance at the sidelines of the event. 

Kakar arrived in Switzerland’s Zurich city on Sunday evening to attend the summit. Pakistan’s foreign office said last week Kakar would visit Davos from January 15-19 for the 54th WEF summit. It said Kakar would attend three key thematic events during the official trip, which include: Preventing An Era of Global Conflict, Restoring Faith in the Global System, and Preventing Economic Fracture.

The Pakistani premier would also deliver a keynote address for a session titled: ‘Trade Tech’s Trillion Dollar Promise.’

“During his visit, Prime Minister Kakar would lead a special ‘Invest in Pakistan’ event,” Pakistan Television News (PTV News) wrote on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday. 

The WEF describes itself as an international organization for public-private cooperation. It engages the foremost political, business, cultural, and other leaders of society to shape global, regional, and industry agendas.

The forum was established in 1971 as a not-for-profit foundation and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The theme of this year’s meeting is “Rebuilding Trust.”

Pakistan used last year’s WEF summit to spotlight the immense damages inflicted by the disastrous 2022 floods and seek international economic assistance from world powers.

This year, the South Asian country’s prime minister heads to the summit as Pakistan gears up for elections less than a month away, rising security challenges in its western borders with Afghanistan, and an economic crisis that has triggered inflation in many parts of the country, plummeted its foreign exchange reserves and weakened its national currency. 


India captain says will travel for Pakistan clash despite boycott

Updated 05 February 2026
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India captain says will travel for Pakistan clash despite boycott

  • Pakistan have announced they will boycott their match against India on Feb. 15 in Sri Lanka 
  • India need to be at the stadium on Feb. 15 to ensure they are awarded two points for match

MUMBAI: India captain Suryakumar Yadav said Thursday that his team would show up in Colombo for their T20 World Cup clash against Pakistan, despite their Group A opponents and arch-rivals boycotting the match.

“We haven’t said no to playing them (Pakistan),” Yadav told reporters at Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium, where India will begin their campaign against the United States on Saturday’s opening day.

“They are the ones who have said no. Our flights are booked and we are going to Colombo.”

India need to be at the stadium and ready to take the field for the February 15 match in order to make sure of being awarded the two points for a match forfeit.

The tournament, co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India, has been overshadowed by weeks of political posturing in the build-up.

Bangladesh were kicked out for refusing to play in India and Pakistan’s government then told its team not to show up at the clash of the arch-rivals as a show of support for Bangladesh.

Pakistan and India have not played bilateral cricket for more than a decade, and meet only in global or regional tournaments events.

India start the T20 World Cup on home soil with a great chance of retaining the title they won two years ago and Yadav agreed they were the side to beat.

“The way we have been playing, it looks like we are the favorites,” he smiled.

If that seemed like an overconfident statement, the India captain was quick to caution: “There are 19 (other) good teams in the tournament, though.

“On a given day, when you play, you have to bring your A-game and play good cricket.”

India know that their opening opponents, the United States, caused the biggest upset of the 2024 tournament when they beat Pakistan in a super over.

Yadav said no team would be taken lightly.

“I’m sure every game will be very important,” he said.