A message of hope for bewildered nation, Strategically positioned to influence world
Liaqat Toor/Tanvir Siddiqi/Ashraf Ansari
Pakistan is bound to come back as a great nation with one of the largest economies in the world in next ten years.
These were unanimous views of the speakers at a “National Seminar on Pakistan 2011-20” organised Nazriya Pakistan Council, Islamabad (NPC) held at Aiwan-i-Quaid, Fatima Jinnah Park here on Saturday evening. The seminar was presided over by Dr. Salman Shah, former Finance Minister and economic expert.
The function was attended by a large number of people from different walks of life, including students and prominent women.
Besides Salman Shah, the other speakers were Zahid Malik, Chairman NPC and Editor-in-Chief Pakistan Observer, Dr. Zafar Altaf, ex-Chairman PARC and agricultural expert, Professor Dr. Riaz Ahmad, historian, Chaudhry Fazl-e-Haq, former Interior Secretary, and Ali Moeen Nawazish, Cambridge University world record holder.
The speakers said at present, Pakistan is going through a black patch but it has all positive elements to become a nation playing its leading role not only in the region but also in the world.
“Its manpower, agriculture, industrialists, traders, youths, intellectuals, educationists, students, sportsmen and administrators are skilful and proficient that they can collectively take nation to new heights,” the speakers said.
Dr. Salman Shah, who specially came from Lahore to attend the seminar said the British Army in India dispatched a communication to London in 1947 advising its government to establish its close relations with West Pakistan as this area was strategically very important in all of India to exercise influence in the region, particularly the oil- rich region of Arab peninsula.
He said Pakistan population will reach the figure of 200 million in 2020 but with its high trajectory growth the GDP can grow to $450 billion from its present $ 180 billion in next ten years. At present, the economy is going down but it has all positive elements to grow on fast track.
Location wise, there are many opportunities for Pakistan as the post-war Afghanistan can be a big boost for Pakistan. The entire resource rich Central Asia region is coming out of its teething problems and looking for trade and gas exports and logistic connections. Pakistan has the sixth largest and perhaps the youngest population in the world. With big mineral wealth, agriculture can give big boost to economy, he said. “Pakistan can become a great nation”.
Former Interior Secretary and a prominent intellectual, Chaudhry Fazl-e-Haque in his speech quoted Allama Shabbir Ahmed Usmani, a close associate of Quaid-i-Azam, telling him that the Quaid had told the Allama that he had dreamt Holy Prophet (PBUH) before his return to India to lead the Muslims. According to Allama Usmani, Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) in that dream ordered the Quiad to return to India from London and lead the Muslims of South Asia to their destiny. The Quaid had asked Allama Usmani not to mention his dream to any one during his (Quaid’s) life. Chaudhry Fazl-e-Haque said, it is quite clear that the Quaid had returned to India from his self-exile in London when he was ordered by the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) to provide leadership to the Muslims.
He said the nation needs to follow the ideals of the Quaid to achieve progress and overcome current challenges.
Chaudhry Fazl-e-Haque was an associate of Allama Shabbir Ahmad Usmani and he also had many chances of meeting the Quaid in New Delhi before emergence of Pakistan.
A prominent historian Prof Dr. Riaz Ahmed, in his speech said that the Quaid-i-Azam believed that the state of the Pakistan would ensure protection to the minorities as required by Islamic ideals. He regretted that some people were wrongly interpreting the 11 August, 1947 speech of the Quaid in the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan.
He said Quaid-i-Azam wanted the nation to follow his motto of Unity, Faith and Discipline. He believed that Quaid’s motto was a sure recipe for progress.
He lauded efforts being made by Zahid Malik as Chairman NPC for promoting awareness among people about the ideals of Quaid-i-Azam.
Dr. Zafar Altaf, a prominent agriculture expert, in his speech, pointed to the unlimited possibilities of development in the field of agriculture. He gave several examples to prove his belief that there was tremendous scope for economic development of the country through progress in the field of agriculture and sky was the limit.
He said Pakistan was utilizing only 12 percent potential of available water for agriculture. The country needs to optimize the use of water for greater benefits. He suggested that there should also be efforts to improve land use.
“Pakistan could learn from the experience of China to increase its agricultural production and ensure self sufficiency on long term basis, “ he emphsised.
Cambridge University world record holder Pakistani student, Ali Moeen Nawazish said the Pakistani youths can play a great role in making Pakistan a highly developed country.
“Pakistani youth had remarkable talent and they only needed positive direction,” he said.
He said the Independence day demands that “we pledge to devote our full energies for the development of the country”.
Earlier, in his opening remarks, Chairman NPC and Editor-in-Chief Pakistan Observer Zahid Malik, said there is a strong need to give a message of hope to the bewildered nation. Pakistan has come to stay and all those who have developed a negative thinking about Pakistan will be disappointed.
He pointed out that “the purpose of the seminar is to bring experts on front foot to give a positive message to the nation”. The NPC, he said has planned to unearth and display Quaid-related relics in the halls of Aiwan-i-Quaid. A request has been forwarded to the Government departments including Archives to bring out Quaid- related material stuffed in boxes for display as NPC wants to bring the people of Pakistan closer to Quaid-i-Azam’s legacy.
“This is Quaid’s Pakistan and it is bound to emerge as an important country in the comity of nations”, he said. The NPC will continue its efforts to spread message of the Quaid to each and every corner of Pakistan, he said.
Copyright Pakistan Observer
This is a very encouraging article and I am very hopeful that Pakistan will do extremely well in the coming years.