The Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA) Wednesday organized an “Urran Pakistan” session, which was addressed by Bar Association President Syed Wajid Gilani and Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal.
Speaking on the occasion, Ahsan Iqbal said that Pakistan’s development process suffered a severe setback in 2018, describing it as a “missile fired at the country’s progress in the name of change,” which, he said, crushed years of development. He added that when the present leadership returned to power, the country was facing an empty treasury and had internally defaulted.
The federal minister said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, first the coalition government and later the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) adopted a clear path of reforms. As a result, he said, Pakistan embarked on a recovery journey that is now being acknowledged globally.
“Pakistan adopted such a reform path that the world is now reading odes of Pakistan,” Ahsan Iqbal said, adding that there are few examples in the world of an economy turning around so rapidly. He noted that international organizations are praising Pakistan’s economic progress, while an international journal has even termed it an “economic miracle.”
Referring to the role of narratives, the planning minister said that in today’s world, half the wars are fought through narratives. He remarked that negative discourse, especially on television, creates a sense of depression and highlights the gap between public perception and reality. “This disease of depression makes thinking negative,” he added.
Sharing a personal example, Ahsan Iqbal said that despite signing cheques worth Rs 5,000 billion during his political career, he still lives in a rented house. He said that although he believes he served the country honestly, he and others were still confronted with slogans of “thieves and robbers.”
Earlier, Islamabad High Court Bar Association President Syed Wajid Gilani welcomed the guests and said that lawyers struggle for the supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law, and therefore their welfare is equally important. He acknowledged the cooperation of Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi in the construction of the Islamabad High Court Bar building.
Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal also appreciated the support of both ministers, saying their cooperation made it possible to provide a modern and dignified building for the legal fraternity.
The speakers stressed that a constructive national narrative, grounded in facts rather than despair, is essential for fostering confidence, healthy competition, and progress within Pakistani society.