Overseas Pakistanis Key to National Progress, Says Minister Iqbal at ‘Youth Ki Uraan’

Prof. Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhary , Minister of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, addressed the launch ceremony of '#UraanPakistan – #YouthKiUraan' at the Pakistan High Commission London and later attended a banquet dinner held in his honor at Pakistan House. During his address, he highlighted the significant role of the Pakistani diaspora in the United Kingdom, emphasizing their contribution as a strong bridge between the two nations. He noted that Pakistan and the UK share a deep-rooted history encompassing cultural, economic, and strategic ties, and expressed optimism for further strengthening this partnership to yield mutual benefits.

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Prof. Iqbal outlined Pakistan's defining moment in its history, referencing a Harvard Business School study that questioned the persistence of conflict narratives in Pakistan’s trajectory. He stressed the urgency of transitioning from this mindset to one focused on sustainable development. While acknowledging Pakistan’s strides since independence, he noted that comparative analysis with regional peers reveals significant gaps. Countries like South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, and Bangladesh, he stated, surged ahead by prioritizing peace, political stability, policy continuity, and reform—factors Pakistan must now institutionalize.

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The minister revisited Pakistan’s developmental challenges, citing past initiatives such as Vision 2010 and Vision 2025, which were disrupted by political instability. Despite setbacks, achievements like resolving energy shortages, restoring security post-National Action Plan, and attracting $25 billion through CPEC showcased Pakistan’s potential for economic progress. However, subsequent political crises, polarization, and governance disruptions led to economic vulnerabilities, culminating in near-default by 2022.

?Citing the bold steps taken by the Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif, the Planning Minister said that due to the prudent economic policies of the incumbent Government,

• Inflation has reduced from 38% to 4%, with policy rates cut to 13%.
• Exports and remittances growing at 30%+.
• Pakistan’s Stock Exchange has surged to more than 115,000 points
• From the brink of default in 2022, Pakistan is now on a recovery path.

These achievements have renewed optimism among the investors, said the Minister.

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Introducing the Uraan Pakistan initiative, Prof. Iqbal detailed its five pillars: fostering export-led growth across agriculture, IT, and creative industries; advancing digital transformation (E-Pakistan); addressing climate resilience through agricultural innovation; reforming the energy sector for affordability and sustainability; and promoting equity via education, healthcare, and population planning. Empowerment efforts focus on youth skills development and increasing women’s economic participation, critical for harnessing demographic dividends.

Highlighting the diaspora’s role, the Minister announced initiatives like the Overseas Champions Network and youth internships to integrate global expertise into national development. Emphasizing collective action over divisive politics, he cautioned against polarization and urged unity to achieve Pakistan’s founding vision of economic sovereignty. Drawing parallels with Singapore’s transformation, he called for strategic agility and innovation to outperform regional competitors by 2047.

?Concluding with a call to action, Prof. Iqbal urged every Pakistani, domestically and abroad, to contribute as ambassadors of Uraan Pakistan—advocating exports, investments, and knowledge exchange. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to inclusive growth, stressing that national progress demands shared responsibility, sustained reform, and unwavering focus on the future.