A seminar on the “Future of Pakistan” was held in London under the auspices of the Pakistan Overseas Diaspora, bringing together political representatives, legal experts, journalists and members of the Pakistani community to discuss the country’s future, emerging technologies and the role of young people.
Additional Advocate General Sindh, Qazi Muhammad Bashir, delivered the keynote address. Other speakers included Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) UK President Mohsin Bari, organisation Chairman Afzal Chaudhry, and Pakistan Press Club London’s elected President, Chaudhry Tabraiz Ashraf Aurah .
Addressing the gathering, Qazi Bashir said Pakistan’s young people were undoubtedly the country’s future and must be given opportunities to take leadership roles in order to place the nation on the path of sustained development.
He said efforts had been made to keep student unions active in Sindh and noted that Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab represented the aspirations of the younger generation. He added that Pakistan needed to embrace modern technology across all sectors and promote young leadership if it was to join the ranks of developed nations. He also expressed support for Bilawal Bhutto becoming the country’s prime minister.
Afzal Chaudhry said the world was undergoing the Fourth Industrial Revolution, with artificial intelligence, the digital economy, cybersecurity, data science and freelancing emerging as major drivers of economic growth.
He said Pakistan should establish dedicated ministries and institutions for these rapidly developing sectors and make effective use of the skills, creativity and modern thinking of its young population for national development.
PPP UK President Mohsin Bari said a shortage of opportunities at home had led many young Pakistanis to view migration abroad as the best route to a secure future.
“If new sectors are developed within Pakistan and young people are empowered, the country has the potential to make rapid economic and social progress,” he said.
Chaudhry Tabraiz Ashraf Aurah said the subject of the seminar was both timely and of great importance. He said journalists in Britain continued to provide a platform for visiting Pakistani political figures while also carrying out their professional responsibilities towards the Pakistani community.
Pakistan Press Club London Chairman Asad Malik conducted the proceedings, while General Secretary Sahira Khan , Senior vice president M Saleem Sabri , joint secretary Saghir Bhatti attended the event along with the club’s elected office-bearers.
The event concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session, during which journalists and participants raised a range of questions and shared their views. Attendees agreed that more such purposeful forums should be organised and stressed the importance of every Pakistani, both at home and abroad, contributing positively towards the country’s development and progress.
