On Wednesday, Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal presided over a dedicated gathering focused on aligning various sectoral goals, strategies, and actions with the URAAN Pakistan initiative. According to a press statement, those present at the meeting included Chief Economist of the Planning Commission Dr. Imtiaz Ahmed, Project Director URAAN Pakistan Irma Malik, members of the Planning Commission, along with high-ranking officials from both federal and provincial government departments.
During his introductory comments, Ahsan Iqbal warmly commended the prompt, efficient, and valiant actions taken by the Pakistan Air Force against the Indian incursion. He stated that Pakistan’s aircraft represented more than just machinery; they stood as symbols of national honor, pride, and an unyielding dedication to safeguarding their homeland. He proclaimed that a country adept at defending its borders would always remain unconquerable by adversaries. Additionally, he pointed out that the gallant pilots of the Pakistan Air Force successfully brought down five Indian fighter planes during a rapid retaliatory operation, thereby conveying a powerful signal: the Pakistani populace remains watchful and entirely prepared to respond forcefully to any aggressive moves.
Through these decisive measures, the Pakistan Armed Forces conveyed to global observers the repercussions faced by anyone harboring ill intentions towards Pakistan. “I firmly believe,” continued the minister, “that following this incident, India will thoroughly reconsider initiating similar acts of provocation.” Nevertheless, he stressed that such hostilities wouldn’t dissuade them from pursuing their primary objective—economic progress within Pakistan. Emphasizing this point, he noted that genuine safety in modern times hinged significantly upon economic resilience. It was only when Pakistan achieved substantial financial stability that it could genuinely secure prosperity for all citizens.
‘We must realize,’ he said, ‘that if we want to achieve our development goals and make Pakistan a developed nation, we must break away from the mindset of ‘business as usual.’ Business as usual will not allow us to fully utilize our national potential. We need to move forward with a bold, future-oriented approach.’ The minister noted that in the past year, Pakistan has successfully turned its economy around and was now ready for a new take-off. ‘The question we must now ask ourselves,’ he said, ‘is whether this take-off will be sustainable or will it be like past attempts-short-lived and unsteady?’
Reflecting on past national plans like Vision 2010 and Vision 2025, Ahsan Iqbal acknowledged that they could not achieve their full potential due to lack of continuity and political stability.
However, he pointed out, even if there was policy continuity, our development model was outdated. ‘The world has changed, and we must evolve accordingly.’
He emphasized that the contemporary age is fueled by artificial intelligence and advanced technologies, and Pakistan needs to keep up with this worldwide progression.
‘Examine our public offices and educational institutions—there hasn’t been much progress. Despite rapid advancements globally, these areas have stayed static. It’s crucial we adopt changes incrementally, as this has become an urgent necessity for our nation.’
This, he said, was the core philosophy behind the ‘URAAN Pakistan’ initiative-to put Pakistan on a transformational path. By unlocking our full potential and driving growth, Pakistan can become a $1 trillion economy by 2025. ‘But if we continue with the same pace and mindset, growing only at 4% annually, we will only reach $500 billion by 2035,’ he added.
He emphasized that transformative changes were necessary within all institutions. ‘URAAN Pakistan is more than just a program—it is a comprehensive national strategy aimed at urging each sector to develop and execute ambitious plans for rapid and sustained development.’
He further mentioned that the 5Es of URAAN Pakistan highlighted the five primary shortcomings of our economy, and tackling these issues is crucial for attaining sustained national wealth.
He emphasized, “Pakistan has traditionally depended on consumption and imports. The moment has come to transition toward growth fueled by exports.”
He stressed that growth needs to be inclusive, guaranteeing fairness and reducing poverty via employment generation and young people’s empowerment. In URAAN Pakistan, he mentioned, the focus was on providing skill training and fostering workforce development to address the requirements of a changing industrial sector.
Countries that adopt technology bypass various developmental phases. In contrast, those that reject it fall behind. Digitization goes beyond mere applications and websites—it involves eliminating bureaucratic hurdles and establishing agile, smart systems,” he noted. The minister characterized the rise of ‘e-Pakistan’ as an essential component of the nation’s restructuring plan, centered on revamping the domestic economy via digital platforms in areas like financial tech, agricultural tech, and green tech—all aimed at fostering employment opportunities and drawing investments.
He mentioned that policies were being developed to establish Pakistan as a regional Information Technology center, backing AI laboratories, digital financing, cybersecurity measures, and cloud infrastructure. He also noted that Pakistan’s future economic stability hinges on climate-resilient planning.
Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. (
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