Pak moves from crisis to growth, youth to lead next chapter: Ahsan

Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Prof Ahsan Iqbal on Wednesday said Pakistan had moved from crisis stabilisation to a new phase of economic ambition, declaring the country’s youth the “decisive force” to drive its next chapter of growth and global relevance. Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the URAAN Pakistan “Mitti Ki Pukar” Overseas Pakistanis Summer Scholars Programme-2026, he said Pakistan’s recent journey from averting default to gaining diplomatic prominence reflected its untapped potential, which now had to be translated into sustained economic progress. The minister said nearly 2,000 applications were received from 54 countries for this year’s programme. Following a transparent, merit-based selection process, 45 outstanding Overseas Pakistani students representing around 150 leading universities worldwide were selected. He said the programme would provide participants with hands-on exposure to the public sector, policymaking and national development, while three international scholars had also joined this year’s cohort, reflecting its growing global recognition. During the coming weeks, he said, the scholars would work closely with the Ministry of Planning’s leadership, contributing ideas and global perspectives to the implementation of URAAN Pakistan’s 5Es framework – Exports, E-Pakistan, Energy, Environment, and Equity & Empowerment. Ahsan Iqbal said Pakistan had earlier demonstrated its potential by overcoming the energy crisis, curbing terrorism and attracting around $25 billion in investment under the first phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), before its growth momentum was disrupted. “We had reached a take-off point, but that journey was derailed. When we returned in 2022, Pakistan was facing the risk of default. We chose to save the state over short-term politics,” he said, adding that difficult reforms had restored macroeconomic stability by significantly reducing inflation and the policy r