Role in war on terror: Experts lament lack of global recognition

Conference speakers note Pakistan’s contributions in promoting peace .

ISLAMABAD: Foreign policy experts and academics gathered here at a day-long conference organised by the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (Ipri) to discuss Pakistan’s global profile, lamented lack of global recognition of the country’s efforts to promote peace and security internationally.

Ipri President Ambassador (retd) Sohail Amin noted that despite all the efforts undertaken towards enhancing global peace and security, Pakistan’s contribution and rightful image had not been recognised internationally.

“Our role in the war on terror, the sacrifices that we have rendered, our successful anti-terrorism operations and our contribution towards peacekeeping missions have not been duly acknowledged,” Amin said.

He further elaborated that the purpose of hosting the conference was to provide a platform, where speakers could share their expertise on ways to improve the country’s image at a global level.



Highlighting characteristics that make Pakistan an important player in regional and global affairs, Amin emphasised that it was geographical proximity with resource-rich regions that made it an important country for the facilitation of trade and transit.

Amin highlighted that Pakistan had the seventh-largest military force, the world’s sixth largest population, the seventh largest diaspora, and the ninth largest labour force in the world.

He said that Pakistan was one of the only nine countries with nuclear weapons.

“As the aging population in the industrialised world is increasing, Pakistan’s youth can play a significant role in contributing towards the global demand for labour in the 21st century. This will not only benefit the economy of Pakistan, but of the host countries as well,” Amin said.

He said though Pakistan had faced many serious economic challenges, recent projects such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) had created the potential of a significant economic revival for the country.

The chief guest, Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) Vice-Chancellor Dr Javed Ashraf said that as an economist, he had learned that elections were won less on the basis of different socio-religious ideologies, and more due to economic promises and performances made by the prospective parties.

He further stressed the need for a significant improvement in the security situation of the country, in the interest of stable growth and to project a positive image.

“Moreover, we will only progress if we have a more productive labour force, we require the availability of education in relevant fields so that we have a population of educated individuals who can contribute to the workforce,” Ashraf opined.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 15^th, 2016.