Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal has stated that while political governments may come and go, the civil service remains the permanent pillar of the state, placing a critical responsibility on the new generation of civil servants to lead Pakistan towards 2035 and beyond.
He was addressing the concluding ceremony of the 40th Senior Management Course (SMC) at the National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA), Islamabad, as the chief guest. A total of 46 officers from various service groups successfully completed the 16-week training programme.
The minister noted that in an era of rapidly changing global dynamics and artificial intelligence, it is imperative for institutions and nations to continuously adapt to emerging realities. Citing the examples of Nokia and BlackBerry, he observed that organisations failing to transform with changing times eventually become irrelevant.
Pakistan must not merely be affected by global transformations but should turn these changes into opportunities for national progress. He emphasised that sustainable national development requires peace, security, political stability, continuity of policies for at least 10 years, and an unwavering commitment to structural reforms.
Pakistan was on a strong development trajectory in 2017 under Vision 2025, achieving significant economic progress. However, political developments in 2018 derailed this trajectory and pushed the country towards the brink of economic default by 2022.
Pakistan is now moving out of economic crisis towards stability, with the 'URAAN Pakistan' framework setting an ambitious target of transforming the economy into a one-trillion-dollar economy by 2035. He cautioned that maintaining the status quo would only take Pakistan to approximately $600 billion, underscoring the need to accelerate the pace of reforms.
The minister urged civil servants to move beyond traditional administrative roles and become agents of institutional and societal transformation. He highlighted the five pillars of URAAN Pakistan - Exports, Energy, Environment, Equity, and E-Pakistan - as the foundation for sustainable development.
He stressed that Pakistan's economic sovereignty depends on increasing exports beyond $100 billion by 2035. He also underlined the need to address weaknesses in the social sector, noting that the quality of human resources is a key determinant of a nation's future.
Ahsan urged the officers to embrace a governance model rooted in public service, integrity, and a strong sense of mission rather than conventional bureaucratic practices. He called upon them to draw inspiration from the governance principles of the Khulafa-e-Rashideen, emphasising honesty, accountability, and service to the people.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the minister distributed certificates among the 46 officers and extended his best wishes for their professional careers.