Women can bring social change in Pakistan, says Akbar Zaidi

He discusses Pakistan's identity and the world's perception of Pakistan at Indus Valley School

KARACHI: Educationist and economist S Akbar Zaidi discussed the role that women can play in bringing positive social change in Pakistan. He was delivering a lecture, titled 'Pakistan in the World: The World in Pakistan', at Indus Valley School of Arts and Architecture Monday morning.

"Women can really be a force of change in Pakistan. Social change can come because of them. Men [on the other hand] resist change," Zaidi said, adding that the gender balance was shifting in Pakistan. "In due course of time, you would see men playing a different role altogether," he said.

Zaidi also lauded the efforts of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif towards women empowerment. "Many progressive laws have been passed by the PM to validate women rights," he said.



In the lecture, Zaidi shared his views on Pakistan's identity and the world's perception of Pakistan. Zaidi said there was a time when the world perceived Pakistan's future to be very bright. He cited the International Herald Tribune, which stated in 1964 that Pakistan was set to achieve prosperity, which only one country had achieved up to that point, which was the United States.

According to Zaidi, Pakistan's image was tarnished in Musharraf's era when it was branded as a 'rogue state' and 'failed state'. "Such terminologies have disappeared now," he said, adding that international media is acknowledging bright prospects for Pakistan's future.

While discussing Pakistan's identity, Zaidi claimed the culture of Pakistan, which had its roots in Mughal culture, was not quite compatible with the culture of the Middle East. "It was General Ziaul Haq who asserted that our future lay with the Middle East region, whereas, our culture and history were on a different scale," he said.

Zaidi also discoursed over Pakistan-US relations. "US is the most important aid provider to Pakistan as 70% of the US foreign aid is given to Pakistan," he said.