Good governance key to confront global challenges: Ahsan Iqbal

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Tuesday highlighted the critical role of good governance in the country to effectively confront challenges amid the rapid global transformation.

Addressing the inaugural session of a two-day ‘Pakistan Governance Forum-2023’, he acknowledged the challenges posed by rapid technological advancements, social transformation, and the growing demand for active citizen participation in governance.

The event was organised by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives to develop a roadmap for a stable, agile and transparent governance system in the country. It brought together eminent leaders, policymakers, analysts, participants, and students to discuss and chart a transformative path for the nation’s future, the official news agency reported.

“This is an era which is seeing unprecedented change in human civilisation’s history. My generation has seen the transition from ‘takhti’ and slate (wooden & metal writing boards) to 5G technology. Never any generation in the history of mankind saw such a rapid transformation,” Ahsan said stressing the need for a balanced approach that embraced change while preserving the stability and order in society.

The minister said the 20^th century saw two models of rapid transformation; one was Glasnost and Perestroika undertaken by Mikhail Gorbachev — that ‘model of change’ brought the collapse of the Soviet Union. The other was undertaken by Deng Xiaoping in China which brought about a mega transformation in China by wiping out poverty and the journey towards prosperity continued.

He also quoted a saying of renowned philosopher Alfred North, “The art of progress is to preserve order amid change and to preserve change amid order.”

Ahsan Iqbal highlighted the importance of the five ‘E’ framework for Pakistan’s progress, focusing on exports, e-Pakistan (digital revolution), environment, energy, and equity & empowerment.

He emphasised the significance of restructuring the economy to become an export-led growth economy and harnessing the power of Pakistan’s young population to become a leading player in the digital economy.

The minister urged for an inclusive and collaborative approach to governance, where political differences are set aside, and the entire nation worked together as “Team Pakistan” to address the country’s challenges.

He was of the view that governance must be responsible, transparent, and stable to build public trust and ensure accountability.

Addressing the governance challenges, the minister emphasised the need for efficiency and transparency in government operations.

He highlighted the implementation of policies and the importance of practical actions in bridging the “knowing-doing gap”.

Ahsan Iqbal also stressed the significance of effective local governments to bring governance closer to communities and ensure their active participation in decision-making processes.

He expressed his commitment to work towards the prosperity and growth of Pakistan, urging everyone to adopt a positive and collaborative approach.

He called for a collective effort in finding practical and doable ways to implement the country’s knowledge and wisdom for achieving sustainable development goals.

Meanwhile, the forum deliberated upon the importance of good governance to combat challenges being faced by countries.

The event focused on developing a roadmap for a stable, transparent, agile and responsible (STAR) governance system in the country.

The forum, being held under a landmark initiative of ‘Turnaround Pakistan’, is anticipated to serve as a pivotal platform for the exchange of ideas and the formulation of a comprehensive roadmap that will shape the future of governance in Pakistan.

The event was attended by hundreds of prominent figures from diverse sectors, political leaders, experts, and representatives from civil society who deliberated on a wide range of crucial aspects of governance.

During the two-day moot as many as 24 sessions are being held side-by-side under different themes in which experts shared their expertise, giving solutions to the confronted challenges in diverse fields.

Member Governance, Innovation & Reforms at the Planning Commission, Dr Adnan Rafiq outlined the essential components of the ‘STAR governance’ system.

He said Pakistan Governance Forum-2023 was a testament to the government’s commitment to strengthening democratic principles and fostering a better Pakistan for all its citizens.

Dr Rafique emphasised the need for harmony and teamwork within the constitutional framework and necessity of anticipating and adapting to emerging global challenges.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in Pakistan Samuel Rizk in his address acknowledged the importance of the forum’s discussions in shaping a governance roadmap that supported Pakistan’s inclusive growth and development.

Rizk highlighted the multiple crisis that the world faced today, encompassing climate shocks, socioeconomic inequalities, global political polarisation, and technological ambivalence and emphasised an urgent collective response to address their profound impacts on billions of lives globally.

Pakistan, he said, with a population of over 240 million, predominantly comprising young individuals, is particularly vulnerable to these challenge.

Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, sharing his thoughts, said that effective governance is the key in addressing the major issues prevalent in the education sector and society as a whole.

He also expressed optimism that the forum’s discussions would bring greater recognition to the importance of governance and prompt action in this critical area.

Around 12 sessions were held on the first day of the event while the second day will see a similar number of sessions held.