By: Farooq Mirza
New York, February 17, 2026— Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, hosted a warm and engaging dinner reception at Pakistan House in New York, bringing together Pakistani media professionals based in the United States and members of the United Nations Correspondents Association.
The event, held on the eve of the Lunar New Year (Chinese New Year), served as a friendly get-together to foster connections, celebrate achievements, and promote Pakistan’s soft image through culture. Ambassador Asim Iftikhar warmly welcomed attendees, encouraging everyone to relax, mingle, exchange greetings, and enjoy the evening.
In his opening remarks, the Ambassador highlighted the occasion’s coincidental timing with the start of Chinese New Year celebrations, extending “Happy Chinese New Year” greetings to all. He expressed his primary goal: to unite Pakistani colleagues working in various U.S.-based media organizations with friends from the UN Correspondents Association.
He specially acknowledged Valerio (and Rabka), President of the UN Correspondents Association, along with colleagues, thanking them for their outstanding year-round reporting on UN developments, key issues of interest to member states, and their consistent engagement with permanent missions, including Pakistan’s.
“This collaboration helps us promote our shared objectives of international peace and security,” Ambassador Asim Iftikhar said. He described the gathering as an opportunity from the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to celebrate the achievements of Pakistani media friends and UN correspondents covering UN affairs.
A highlight of the evening was the cultural showcase emphasizing Pakistan’s soft power. The Ambassador introduced renowned British-Pakistani soprano Saira Peter, widely recognized as the world’s first Sufi opera singer and a pioneer of the fusion genre Sufi Opera. Born in Karachi and now based in London, Saira is the Director of NJ Arts London (Noor Jehan Arts Centre) and founder of the Saira Arts Academy in Lahore, where she trains young women in opera.
Saira, who performs in 17–19 languages including English, Urdu, Punjabi, Farsi, Arabic, and more graciously accepted the invitation during her visit. She delivered a mesmerizing performance blending Pakistani traditional elements with Sufi influences and other styles, captivating the audience of Pakistani and American journalists, women and community organizations, and high-level officials.
Her powerful, sweet, and deeply emotional voice left attendees spellbound, earning tremendous applause. Saira specializes in Sufi music, drawing from themes of peace, harmony, and divine love. At the conclusion of her set, she sang Pakistan’s national anthem (Qaumi Tarana), reaffirming her deep love for Pakistan and her commitment to elevating the country’s image globally through music.
The Ambassador noted Saira’s recent honor at the “She Leads the Nations” Global Summit at the U.S. Congress in Washington, D.C., where she performed Sufi opera and received the prestigious She Leads the Nations Award for her contributions to music, cultural advocacy, and promoting unity across cultures.
Adding to the cultural flair, renowned Pakistani fashion designer Umar Mansoor (also known as Omar Mansoor), who operates from London, made a special appearance. He had just presented his latest collection at New York Fashion Week the previous day, showcasing elegant tailoring and refined couture that blends tradition with contemporary flair.
The evening underscored Pakistan’s efforts to promote its rich heritage and soft diplomacy through arts and culture, uniting diverse groups in a spirit of friendship and shared goals.
The gathering concluded with dinner, allowing continued networking among Pakistani media representatives and UN correspondents.
Ambassador Asim Iftikhar extended a very warm welcome once more to all at the Pakistan Mission, thanking attendees for their presence and contributions to mutual understanding and international cooperation. The event exemplified the strong ties between Pakistan’s diplomatic mission, its diaspora media, and the global UN press community.
