Written by Irfan Siddiqi

TOKYO: The Ahl-e-Bait Foundation Japan organized a special reception in honor of renowned Pakistani politician and former Senator Faisal Raza Abidi during his visit to Japan. The event was hosted by the President of Ahl-e-Bait Foundation Japan, Syed Saleem Shah, and was attended by prominent figures from the Pakistani community, leading businessmen, and senior journalists.

Notable participants included Rana Abid Hussain, President of the Pakistan Japan Business Council, senior Osaka-based businessman Aamir Iqbal, and Kanagawa’s well-known business personality Arif Niazi. A young and emerging businessman Hashir from Nagoya also attended the event and extended a warm welcome to the distinguished guest. Senior journalist and columnist Irfan Siddiqi was also present on the occasion.

While addressing the gathering, Syed Saleem Shah warmly welcomed former Senator Faisal Raza Abidi to Japan on behalf of the Ahl-e-Bait Foundation and the Shia and Pakistani community residing in Japan. He said that Faisal Raza Abidi’s visit was a source of encouragement for overseas Pakistanis and such interactions helped strengthen bonds between Pakistan’s leadership and its diaspora. He emphasized the role of community organizations in fostering unity, awareness, and constructive dialogue.

In his address, Faisal Raza Abidi expressed his happiness at visiting Japan and meeting Pakistanis living abroad. He said he was delighted to see the commitment, discipline, and success of the Pakistani community in Japan. Praising Japanese society, he described Japan as a great nation known for its honesty, organization, and work culture, adding that Pakistan could learn valuable lessons from Japan’s development model. He noted that engagement with overseas Pakistanis always provided him with fresh perspectives and motivation.

Speaking on the occasion, Rana Abid Hussain stated that he looked forward to working closely with Faisal Raza Abidi for Pakistan’s better future. He expressed hope that collaborative efforts could lead to major economic initiatives that might contribute to improving Pakistan’s economic conditions. He formally welcomed Faisal Raza Abidi to Japan and appreciated his interest in engaging with the Pakistani business community.

Kanagawa-based businessman Arif Niazi also welcomed the former senator and said that Pakistani entrepreneurs in Japan were keen to play an active role in Pakistan’s economic development. He stressed the importance of stronger connections between policymakers and overseas investors. Hashir, the young businessman from Nagoya, also welcomed Faisal Raza Abidi and expressed optimism that the visit would help create new opportunities for cooperation.

The event concluded in a warm and positive atmosphere, reflecting unity, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to strengthening ties between Pakistan and Japan while contributing to Pakistan’s progress.

By Irfan Siddiqui

A distinguished dinner reception was hosted in Tokyo by Chaudhry Asif Mahmood, Board of Governor of the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) Japan, in honor of Pakistan’s former senator, prominent politician, and renowned businessman Faisal Raza Abidi. The event was attended by respected members of the Pakistani community, senior journalists, and leading business figures, highlighting the growing role of overseas Pakistanis in international economic engagement.

Among the notable participants were Aamir Iqbal Sahib from Osaka, Badr Sahib from Saitama, Niazi Sahib from Kanagawa, and senior journalist and well-known columnist Irfan Siddiqui from Chiba. The presence of prominent community representatives and media figures added further significance to the gathering, which focused on investment opportunities, global partnerships, and Pakistan’s economic prospects abroad.

During the dinner, Faisal Raza Abidi briefed Chaudhry Asif Mahmood and other participants on his recently assigned role as Chief Consultant for a major mining project in Angola, where mineral reserves worth an estimated USD 97 trillion have been discovered. He explained that the reserves include rare earth elements, gold, diamonds, and copper—resources of critical importance for modern technology, defense industries, and advanced manufacturing.

Abidi noted that the project has the potential to bring transformative change to Angola’s economy while simultaneously creating strategic opportunities for Pakistan. He stated that the mining venture will be jointly undertaken by the United Arab Emirates–based Royal Business Group and the Pan African Tobacco Company, a key player in Angola’s economic landscape. He further informed the gathering that major Japanese and South Korean companies have expressed strong interest in participating in the mining operations, particularly in the extraction and processing of rare earth elements.

Emphasizing Pakistan’s potential role, Faisal Raza Abidi invited Chaudhry Asif Mahmood to explore avenues through which the Government of Pakistan could engage with the project. He also encouraged leveraging the platform of overseas Pakistanis in Japan to facilitate collaboration with Japanese corporations, thereby strengthening Pakistan’s integration into global supply chains of strategic minerals.

Chaudhry Asif Mahmood, speaking on the occasion, welcomed Faisal Raza Abidi and appreciated his efforts to share such a significant international initiative with the Pakistani community in Japan. He remarked that overseas Pakistanis can play a vital role in connecting Pakistan with global investment opportunities and assured that OPF Japan would continue to support initiatives that promote economic cooperation and national interest.

The dinner concluded with Chaudhry Asif Mahmood thanking Faisal Raza Abidi for accepting the invitation and briefing the participants on the Angola project. Attendees described the event as informative and forward-looking, underscoring the importance of sustained engagement between Pakistan’s leadership, business community, and overseas Pakistanis in shaping future economic partnerships.

By Irfan Siddiqui

Kashmir Solidarity Day was observed at the Embassy of Pakistan in Tokyo with a solemn ceremony reaffirming Pakistan’s unwavering political, moral, and diplomatic support for the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). The event brought together members of the Pakistani community, diplomats, academics, and Japanese friends of Pakistan to express solidarity with the Kashmiri people and to renew calls for a just and peaceful resolution of the long-standing dispute.

Addressing the gathering, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Japan, Mr. Abdul Hameed, emphasized that the right of self-determination of the Kashmiri people is firmly anchored in United Nations Security Council resolutions and international law. He described the Kashmir issue as one of the oldest unresolved disputes on the UN agenda and stressed that durable peace in South Asia remains elusive without a fair settlement of the conflict in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people.

The ambassador highlighted the human rights situation in IIOJK, drawing attention to ongoing restrictions, demographic changes, and the humanitarian impact of prolonged military presence. He noted that the Kashmiri people continue to endure severe hardships and reiterated Pakistan’s position that the international community must play a more proactive role in addressing these concerns through dialogue and diplomacy.

During the ceremony, messages from the President of Pakistan, the Prime Minister, and the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister were read out. These messages reaffirmed Pakistan’s principled and consistent stance on Kashmir, underscoring the need for renewed international engagement to facilitate an equitable and lasting resolution. The leadership called upon the global community, including the United Nations and major world powers, to uphold their responsibilities toward the Kashmiri people and to support efforts aimed at safeguarding their fundamental rights.

A key feature of the event was a photographic exhibition depicting the human rights violations, alleged crimes against humanity, and the broader humanitarian consequences arising from the security situation in IIOJK. The exhibition provided a visual narrative of the challenges faced by civilians and served to sensitize attendees to the human cost of the unresolved dispute.

In his concluding remarks, Ambassador Abdul Hameed reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to continue raising the Kashmir issue at all relevant international forums. He stressed that Pakistan would persist in advocating for a peaceful process that enables the Kashmiri people to determine their future freely, without coercion, and in line with international law. He also expressed appreciation for the support extended by the Pakistani diaspora in Japan and acknowledged the presence of Japanese guests who have shown interest in peace and human rights issues.

The event concluded with a renewed pledge of solidarity and a call for sustained international attention to the Kashmir dispute, emphasizing that peace, stability, and respect for human rights in the region are essential for broader regional and global harmony.

By. Irfan Siddiqui
Tokyo / Islamabad:

The discovery of rare earth elements, diamonds, gold, and copper reserves worth USD 97 trillion in the African country of Angola has attracted significant global attention from the mining, technology, and defense sectors. The discovery has been confirmed after extensive research and testing conducted by Australian and Malaysian mining companies, identifying 17 highly valuable rare earth elements crucial for advanced technologies.

For this major international mining project, former Pakistani senator and senior politician Faisal Raza Abidi has been officially appointed as the Chief Consultant. The project is being developed jointly by the African Tobacco Company and the UAE-based Royal Business Group, while the Pan African Tobacco Group continues to play a central role in Angola’s economy. Approximately 300 square kilometers of land has been allocated for mining operations, with preparations underway for the commencement of extraction activities.

To oversee coordination and engagement in Japan, Rana Abid Hussain, President of the Pakistan-Japan Business Council, has been formally appointed as the Japan-based project coordinator. The council will lead strategic coordination with Japanese corporations and facilitate investment and technical collaboration.

According to sources, leading Japanese companies Mitsubishi and Hitachi, along with South Korea’s industrial giant Samsung, have expressed strong interest in participating in the mining project. Faisal Raza Abidi is currently in Japan to meet representatives of these companies and discuss potential partnerships and technical cooperation.

Experts believe that rare earth elements are critical for defense systems, satellite technology, semiconductors, and advanced electronics, and this project could bring transformative economic benefits to Angola while opening long-term strategic and technological opportunities for Pakistan as well.

By. Muhammad Irfan Siddiqui

Islamabad Tea Company owner and well-known Pakistani businessman Muhammad Afsar Khan has stressed the need to accord greater respect, dignity, and institutional protection to tax-paying citizens, particularly those who contribute heavily to the national exchequer, saying they are the real pillars of Pakistan’s economy.

Talking to media, Muhammad Afsar Khan said that individuals and businesses who pay large amounts of tax play a decisive role in keeping the country’s economic wheel moving. They not only contribute billions of rupees in taxes every year but also generate employment, support industries, and become a source of sustainable development. Despite this, he regretted, taxpayers in Pakistan are often subjected to humiliation rather than appreciation.

He said it was alarming that respectable taxpayers are frequently mistreated by lower-level officials. “A small government officer, a police official at a checkpoint, or routine bureaucratic procedures can insult a person who contributes enormously to the economy. Unfortunately, there is no effective mechanism to safeguard the dignity of such citizens,” he observed.

Muhammad Afsar Khan pointed out that this environment discourages honest tax compliance and pushes people away from the formal economy. According to him, fear-based enforcement has failed to broaden the tax base, whereas respect and recognition can produce long-term results.

Highlighting the need for reform, he proposed a formal system to recognize high taxpayers. Under his suggestion, individuals paying more than one billion rupees annually in taxes should be granted a special national status. This could include special vehicle number plates, a distinguished passport category, and official recognition that reflects their contribution to the country.

He further suggested that such taxpayers should be facilitated to meet the President or Prime Minister as a mark of appreciation from the state. “This is not about privilege, but about acknowledgment. When the state openly recognizes its top contributors, society also learns to respect them,” he said.

Muhammad Afsar Khan maintained that visible respect for taxpayers would help change public attitudes toward taxation. When people see that honest taxpayers are honored and protected, more citizens will willingly enter the tax net. This, he said, would strengthen national revenue, reduce dependence on indirect taxes, and promote economic stability.

He added that Pakistan already has a tradition of conferring national awards on individuals for services in various fields. “Those who contribute billions to the national economy also deserve recognition and special awards. This will send a strong message that the state values economic contribution as much as any other service,” he remarked.

Concluding his views, Muhammad Afsar Khan said that restoring the dignity of taxpayers is essential for Pakistan’s progress. “A respected taxpayer is a confident taxpayer. If Pakistan wants growth, employment, and economic stability, it must stand with those who finance the state,” he said.

His remarks have sparked fresh discussion in business and policy circles about improving Pakistan’s tax culture and building a more respectful and trust-based relationship between the state and its taxpayers.