Looking forward: Country needs new ideas for foreign policy
Karachi Council on Foreign Relations holds interactive session on its role.
Karachi Council on Foreign Relations holds interactive session on its role. PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI:
For much-needed fresh ideas on Pakistan’s foreign policy, the country needs think tanks that can make suggestions to the government, said speakers at a seminar on Wednesday evening.
These think tanks can make useful suggestions for internal affairs too. A number of ambassadors, lawyers, retired armed forces officials and retired judges stressed the importance of such groups at an interactive session, titled ‘The Role of Karachi Council on Foreign Relation (KCRF) from 2003 to 2014’.
KCFR general secretary Ahsan Mukhtar Zubairi opened the session with an introduction of the council, explaining how it spent almost 11 years giving suggestions on foreign policy and arranging meeting and discussion on bilateral relation of Pakistan with other countries. He recognised the efforts of its founding members.
But the lack of support by the government irked its former chairperson, Barrister Liaquat Habib Merchant. “There is no doubt that this is a viable and energetic organisation and can go very far [but] unfortunately the government has not lifted a finger towards it,” he said. “Other countries with similar councils have progressed beyond imagination.” He gave the examples of such councils in India, such as the Association of Asian Scholars, Confederation of Indian Industry and Indian Council of World Affairs who are getting heavy financial assistance from the government. He said that the government should support even if the council criticises its policies.
Apart from foreign policy, economic affairs are also very important, pointed out Lt General (retd) Moinuddin Haider, another former chairperson of the council. He advised the members of the KCFR that economics should remain a part of their charter and manifesto.
“Our country has governance problems, the law and order situation, Taliban are in FATA, Karachi has water shortage and the entire country has electricity shortage,” he said. “The council should look towards these issues too.”
Justice (retd) Saiduz Zaman Siddiqui discussed how the council was founded after getting an idea from the Chicago Council on Global Affairs in 2003 at the time of the military rule in Pakistan. He stressed that the council should also focus its attention on law and economic affairs to keep the people informed.
German consul-general Dr Tilo Klinner said that countries need someone who raises ideas that are not discussed elsewhere. “Think tanks are thinking foreign polices further down the road, of developing new concepts and new conclusions.” The security policy is important and no one can deny it but seeing everything from a security perspective is not a very good idea,” he said. “There are other areas, such as economic diplomacy that we are trying to bring it to the forefront.”
Highlighting the potentials of KCFR, senior minister Nisar Khuhro admitted that the council is feeling isolated perhaps due to confusions on whether or not it is owned by the federal or the provincial government. “You [KCFR] are very useful and your efforts should be recognised in a way that you should not feel that no one can understand your point of view,” he said. “I have made attempts and will continue to make attempts to give you a place in the society.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 30th, 2014.
For much-needed fresh ideas on Pakistan’s foreign policy, the country needs think tanks that can make suggestions to the government, said speakers at a seminar on Wednesday evening.
These think tanks can make useful suggestions for internal affairs too. A number of ambassadors, lawyers, retired armed forces officials and retired judges stressed the importance of such groups at an interactive session, titled ‘The Role of Karachi Council on Foreign Relation (KCRF) from 2003 to 2014’.
KCFR general secretary Ahsan Mukhtar Zubairi opened the session with an introduction of the council, explaining how it spent almost 11 years giving suggestions on foreign policy and arranging meeting and discussion on bilateral relation of Pakistan with other countries. He recognised the efforts of its founding members.
But the lack of support by the government irked its former chairperson, Barrister Liaquat Habib Merchant. “There is no doubt that this is a viable and energetic organisation and can go very far [but] unfortunately the government has not lifted a finger towards it,” he said. “Other countries with similar councils have progressed beyond imagination.” He gave the examples of such councils in India, such as the Association of Asian Scholars, Confederation of Indian Industry and Indian Council of World Affairs who are getting heavy financial assistance from the government. He said that the government should support even if the council criticises its policies.
Apart from foreign policy, economic affairs are also very important, pointed out Lt General (retd) Moinuddin Haider, another former chairperson of the council. He advised the members of the KCFR that economics should remain a part of their charter and manifesto.
“Our country has governance problems, the law and order situation, Taliban are in FATA, Karachi has water shortage and the entire country has electricity shortage,” he said. “The council should look towards these issues too.”
Justice (retd) Saiduz Zaman Siddiqui discussed how the council was founded after getting an idea from the Chicago Council on Global Affairs in 2003 at the time of the military rule in Pakistan. He stressed that the council should also focus its attention on law and economic affairs to keep the people informed.
German consul-general Dr Tilo Klinner said that countries need someone who raises ideas that are not discussed elsewhere. “Think tanks are thinking foreign polices further down the road, of developing new concepts and new conclusions.” The security policy is important and no one can deny it but seeing everything from a security perspective is not a very good idea,” he said. “There are other areas, such as economic diplomacy that we are trying to bring it to the forefront.”
Highlighting the potentials of KCFR, senior minister Nisar Khuhro admitted that the council is feeling isolated perhaps due to confusions on whether or not it is owned by the federal or the provincial government. “You [KCFR] are very useful and your efforts should be recognised in a way that you should not feel that no one can understand your point of view,” he said. “I have made attempts and will continue to make attempts to give you a place in the society.”
The ambassador of Romania, Emilian Ion, also lauded the efforts of the KCFR.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 30th, 2014.