Federal Minister of Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal has said Pakistan, like other developed countries, should invest in its human resource to become developed. The Foreign Direct Investment that Pakistan will welcome in coming years from China can be used to help bridge the gaps in the energy sector and the economy, he added.
He was addressing the second edition of 'South Asia Conclave" by the Nutshell Forum, Pakistan's leading conference management organisation on Thursday. The theme for this year is "Innovating for Growth". Noted luminaries and corporate leaders across multiple industries from South Asian countries attended the function. Mohammad Zubair, Minister of State & Chairman, Privatisation Commission was the chairperson of the conclave.
He said no one single party or an entity can take Pakistan out of crisis. In addition to this, Zubair spoke about the contrast that exists between Pakistani norms and global norms. "The problem with our system is that we think that only we know the problem and its solution and that we alone have the ability to correct the mistakes. However, we are a part of a democracy and we should be able to accept opinions and solutions of others, if we want to progress and keep up with the world."
Former Ambassador Sherry Rehman, Chairman, Jinnah Institute & Former Federal Minister said Pakistan needs to be knowledgeable about the big ticket issues such as inequality, terrorism and illiteracy, because you cannot come up with a solution without knowledge. The Director of Hashwani Group, Amin Hashwani said: "We say we are globalised, but are we really acting as global citizens? I cannot think of a nation that is facing so many challenges on different fronts and all these challenges are dynamic.
If we think revolution will come and solve our problems, we are sadly mistaken. When we face threats, turbulence and instabilities, this is the opportunity to reflect on ourselves on who we are, where we stand and how we can redefine ourselves." In the later session, Hina Rabbani Khar, former foreign minister expressed concern over relationships between South Asian countries especially Pakistan and India after Modi government policies, and the development on Pakistan-India relations has been pushed back, "Borders have to be softened," she said "but the good news is almost entire South Asia is under democratic reforms, even Afghanistan."
The conclave featured 700 delegates from South Asian countries including business and corporate leaders, management gurus, marketing and advertising gurus, writers, parliamentarians, TV presenters, movers and shakers of civil society and leaders of thought including Michael Foley (Telenor), Mujeeb Zahur, (SNL), Pervaiz Ghias (Toyota Indus Motors), Khurram Rahat (Teradata), Sarim Sheikh (GE), Simeng Geng (Huawei), Ambassador Farooq Sobhan (Bangladesh Enterprise Institute), Suzanne Al Houby (Rahlaah Explorers UAE), Manjeet Kripalani (Gateway House India), Nadeem Hussain (Tameer Microfinance Bank)and others.
Commenting on the Summit, Muhammad Azfar Ahsan, CEO, Nutshell Forum, said, "The South Asian Conclave is an excellent opportunity to build future partnerships and achieve tremendous success by building mutually beneficial connections within the region. This initiative is focused on the evolution of a harmonious, and prosperous region where all energies, intentions and resources are deployed to carve out a better tomorrow for all of us."
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