Pakistan to chair key UN Security Council debate on multilateralism, dispute resolution

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is addressing a debate of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development's (HLPF) Ministerial Segment in New York on June 21, 2025. (Pakistan Foreign Office)
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Updated 22 July 2025
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Pakistan to chair key UN Security Council debate on multilateralism, dispute resolution

  • Ishaq Dar to preside over signature UNSC event as Pakistan holds July presidency
  • UN session to spotlight peaceful settlement of disputes under UN Charter

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will preside over a high-level United Nations Security Council (UNSC) debate on Tuesday, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to multilateral diplomacy and the peaceful resolution of international disputes.

The open debate, titled “Promoting International Peace and Security through Multilateralism and the Peaceful Settlement of Disputes,” is the first of two signature events planned by Pakistan during its presidency of the Security Council this month.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres is expected to brief Council members, followed by statements from other member states. The meeting will underscore the role of the UN Charter in fostering dialogue and cooperation amid rising global tensions.

“The signature event reaffirms Pakistan’s unwavering belief in multilateralism and the UN Charter principle of peaceful settlement of disputes,” Pakistan’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

Dar is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with senior officials, including the Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning, the UK Minister for Africa, the UN Commonwealth and Multilateral Affairs lead and the Foreign Minister of Thailand. He will also give an interview to a foreign media outlet.

Additionally, Dar will attend a reception hosted by Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN for select ambassadors and senior UN officials.


Dubai International Chamber opens office in Karachi to expand trade, investment links

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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.