In a rare instance, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar will not accompany Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as he departs for Türkiye on Tuesday (today) to attend the COP31 international conference under UN auspices. The summit begins tomorrow (Wednesday) in the historic city of Antalya and will be inaugurated by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Foreign Secretary Asim Iftikhar Ahmad is likely to accompany the Prime Minister. Sources remarked that no other conclusion should be drawn from this development, as it would be difficult to postpone either event.
The two-day Margalla Dialogue 2026 begins today (Tuesday) in the federal capital and will be inaugurated by Senator Dar. It is a premier forum organized annually by the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI).
The theme for deliberations is: "Global Order in Transition - Navigating Strategic Uncertainty, shifting global power dynamics, evolving alliances, and major power competition." Sources noted that one session will discuss "Exploring changing dynamics of global power and implications for international peace and security," while another will address "Global security, algorithmic war, artificial intelligence redefining influence, sovereign AI, data regulations, and tech risks." The dialogue will also cover regional geopolitics, national resilience, international law, and economic security.
Another significant gathering, the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum (PMIF), begins here on Thursday (November 12). Dar will inaugurate it, while Prime Minister Shehbaz will chair the concluding session on Friday.
Sources pointed out that the forum will be a curated showcase of Pakistan's expanding mineral landscape and leading global technologies, held at the Jinnah Convention Centre. Leading business groups, personalities, and diplomats will be in attendance.
The forum is viewed as a strategic conference on policy and governance, covering exploration projects like Reko Diq and an international exhibition for mining tech. Energy Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, Robert Friedland (Ivanhoe Mines), John L.
Thornton (Barrick Mining), and Isabel Chatterton (ADB) will be among the key speakers. PMIF President and Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) MD & CEO Ahmed Hayat Lak, along with Wood Mackenzie, will act as the lead conference producers.
The event aims to bolster foreign investment in Pakistan's untapped mineral sector, which remains a cornerstone of the current government's economic recovery plan. The government has prioritized the mining sector to stabilize the national economy.
By inviting global experts and investors, the administration hopes to bridge the gap between local resource potential and international technical expertise. This forum serves as a platform for high-level networking and policy alignment.
Security arrangements for both the Margalla Dialogue and the PMIF have been finalized by the local administration. The federal capital is expected to see increased movement of foreign dignitaries and local stakeholders throughout the week as these high-profile events proceed.
The absence of the Deputy Prime Minister from the Prime Minister's delegation is purely a matter of scheduling conflicts. Both leaders are focused on their respective international and domestic commitments to ensure the country's diplomatic and economic interests are well-represented.
As the week progresses, the outcomes of these forums are expected to provide a roadmap for future policy decisions in the realms of foreign affairs, technological integration, and mineral resource management.