Government to Host Overseas Pakistani Students in New Diaspora Engagement Program

Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhary , addressed British Parliamentarians, including MPs of Pakistani origin, during a special session at the British Parliament. He emphasized the deep-rooted economic and cultural ties between Pakistan and the United Kingdom, while highlighting new opportunities for collaboration, youth empowerment, and Pakistan’s economic resurgence under the government’s visionary initiatives.

Prof. Ahsan Iqbal underscored Pakistan’s pioneering role in the development trajectory of the 1960s, which inspired other nations to adopt its development model. He detailed the government’s current focus on the development of Balochistan and the upliftment of its local communities, citing the completion of numerous projects in Gwadar, including the establishment of a hospital, solarization of residential units, scholarships for local students, a university, a technical and vocational center, water plants, a road network, and the operationalization of Gwadar Airport. He also highlighted substantial investments in mining projects in Balochistan, which are poised to transform the province’s destiny and the lives of its people.

The Minister outlined the government’s achievements under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, including:

• Inflation reduction from 38% to 4%.
• Policy rate decrease from 24% to 13%.
• Stock market surge from 30,000 to over 115,000 points.
• Growth in exports, remittances, and IT exports by 30%, 30%, and 34%, respectively.

“These figures demonstrate investor confidence in the government’s policies. We are now focused on achieving a 1 trillion economy by 2035 and a 3 trillion economy by 2047,” he declared.

Prof. Iqbal emphasized the government’s priority to equip Pakistani youth with skills aligned with the demands of Industrial Economy 4.0 and 5.0. “Most technologies today will become obsolete in the next 10-15 years. New technologies will dominate economic production, so Pakistan must build a robust human capital base for the future,” he stated. He announced plans to expand the “US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor” to include partnerships with UK universities, enabling Pakistani students to access cutting-edge education.

The Minister also introduced the “URAAN Pakistan” initiative, launched on December 31, 2024, as a “decisive chapter” in Pakistan’s history. He described it as a comprehensive plan aimed at uplifting 240 million Pakistanis, including novel initiatives tailored to the needs of the Pakistani diaspora. These include internships for overseas Pakistani youth and the “Champions of Reform” program, which facilitates collaboration between British-Pakistani high achievers and the government to contribute to various sectors.

“Every skilled Pakistani will have opportunities to contribute to policymaking or projects. We aim to build a strong bridge between Pakistan and its diaspora to achieve our economic goals,”

Prof. Iqbal reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to fostering enhanced economic and trade relations with strategic partners, including the United Kingdom, the United States, China, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the European Union. He highlighted the significant contribution of British Pakistanis in strengthening the bond between Pakistan and the United Kingdom.

The Minister congratulated Mr. Yasin, the UK’s newly appointed Special Trade Envoy to Pakistan, expressing hope that this role would accelerate bilateral trade and investment. He also thanked Mohammad Yasin, MP, for welcoming him to the British Parliament and acknowledging his dedication to development projects in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir region.

During the session, Prof. Iqbal fielded questions from MPs on Pakistan’s economic policies and the URAAN initiative, reaffirming the government’s commitment to transparency and innovation. He expressed confidence that Pakistan’s resurgence, driven by national unity and visionary leadership, would position the country as a global economic force.

“By 2047, we envision Pakistan among the world’s top 10-15 economies,” he concluded, emphasizing the government’s unwavering commitment to empowering youth and achieving sustainable development.

The event was attended by Dr. Mohammad Faisal, the High Commissioner for Pakistan to the United Kingdom, and other dignitaries.