ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal stressed need for ending tendencies of intolerance, hatred, biasedness from society so that an environment of unity, harmony and peaceful co-existence could be created.

“Confrontation always encourages polarisation in society which never allows greater unity to take place, which is must to become stronger and prosperous nation,” he said while addressing 2nd International Islamic Peace Conference at International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI).

He said country’s youth had all skills and capabilities required in transforming Pakistan into vibrant and developed nation, adding strong democratic norms were linked with promotion of tolerance-culture and forging exemplary unity among all ranks.

He said country could not afford internal unrest as it needed to strengthen national economy to tackle confronted challenges. He said during last tenure of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government national economy was growing at faster pace under Vision- 2025, which was evident from report of an international rating agency which predicted Pakistan would be among top world economies by 2030.

But today, he regretted that Pakistan came down in all global rankings due to poor economic policies of previous government of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government that remained in power for four years. “Nations get significant place in world only when they are economically strong,” he added.

He urged youth to utilise their skills in field of information technology to make Pakistan an information giant in next ten years. Addressing conference, MNA Shaista Pervaiz Malik said social cohesion with ample access to opportunities was imperative. She opined Pakistan had one of most strategic and important geographic settings across world, it had abundance of natural resources, adding all such opportunities must be used as we had all potential to shine.

Director General IRI Dr Muhammad Zia ul Haq apprised of details of conference. He said this conference and accord was new step to take ‘Paigham e Pakistan’ to new destination.

Published in The Daily National Courier, May, 06 2023

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