LAHORE – Relations with India should be improved swiftly so that there is a sense of peace in region and we could concentrate on our economy and work for the uplift of the masses. This was the bottom line of speakers at the book launch of ‘My life my country: memoirs of a Pakistani economist’ written by Parvez Hassan.
Institute of Public Policy (IPP) Chairman Shahid Javed Burki in his welcome address lauded the efforts of Parvez Hassan. He said the author is an experienced economist and a member of governing council of IPP, “Hassan is one of the finest economists the country has ever produced”, he added. It was noted that the author has focused on different ideas of improving the economy.
He stressed that Pakistan lost its share of trade in the world economy and now we should work on decentralisation. Senior writer Khaled Ahmed said there is a decline in leadership not only in the field of politics but also in the field of economy. He said the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) was started in 1963 and set aside all their internal problems and solved disputes amicably.
“The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was also established in 1985 on the similar lines but there is a need to ratify it,” Ahmed said, underlining the need for enhancing the need to enhance trade ties with India, as it will be beneficial to the poor. He cited a disturbing trend in that people speak very lightly of the use of nuclear weapons therefore it is very necessary that we eradicate the threat of war.
Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) Dean Social Sciences Ijaz Nabi said that in 1965 there was paradigm shift from public development to further defence spending. He said in that his book, Parvez Hassan has given ways to improve the state of the economy. Citing the example of India and China, which are growing at the rate of 8-9 and 9-10 percent respectively, he reiterated the need for Pakistan to boost its growth rate.
“We cannot turn our faces from the neighbours,” he said adding we should come out of old paradigm and work for peace and prosperity in the region. Beacon House National University (BNU) Vice Chancellor Sartaj Aziz said he first met with Parvez Hassan in 1964 and he has continued to impress him with his skills and acumen. “He has written a very good book on the history of economy of Pakistan,” Aziz said adding the author has also given solution for reviving our economy.
He said the last chapter tilted ‘Daring to look Pakistan Future’ has many good things in it, as it gives us way of solving our economic problems. The author Parvez Hassan stated there are imbalances in terms of our defence and development budgets. He said our population has increased five times since our establishment and similarly the number of poor and illiterates increased.
“There is a hope, as the quality and standards of our lives have also improved,” he said, adding that we should improve our ties with India for the betterment and prosperity of the region as a whole.
