Media Coverage

Pakistan has now been granted the GSP+ status, which will be effective from 1st January 2014 and is likely to increase the country’s exports by at least US$2 billion. This was announced by Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister of Finance, while speaking as a Chief Guest at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute’s (SDPI) annual Sustainable Development Conference, which concluded today. He noted that a number of measures have been taken to fix the economy and the trust of international community on Pakistan is beginning to take root. Even while austerity measures are being taken to bring down the deficit, the government has increased allocations for social safety nets to protect the poor. The Minister applauded SDPI’s efforts in undertaking high-quality and independent research on various social, environmental and economic issues.

Also present at the occasion was Sartaj Aziz, Advisor to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs, who highlighted that achieving peace in the neighborhood is a major policy priority of the current government. Emphasizing the need for regional cooperation in South Asia, he said that “South Asian-ness is an identity that is waiting to be realized”. Applauding SDPI’s efforts, he said that it is encouraging to talk about futures, given the unprecedented pace of changes over the last century. Dr. Abid Suleri, Executive Director, SDPI, presented recommendations from the wide-range of panels during the three day conference.

Adil Najam, renowned public policy analyst and Former VC at LUMS, observed that the idea of South Asia is very strong even as the structure may still be loose. “There is also a visible urge by most in the region to hold on to a joint identity of South Asia”, he said. On India Pakistan relations, he observed that “the peace process is much more vibrant and has been less stalled than we think”. There remains possibility for persistent solutions to India-Pakistan peace. There is a joint logic of development, trade and peoples’ connectivity driving the agenda for regional cooperation in South Asia. On the issue of Kashmir, he observed that there has now been an increase in both the quantity as well as diversity in workable solutions.