Nawaz Sharif at World Economic Forum

The writing’s on the wall

Nawaz Sharif has traveled to Davos to meet world leaders on the sidelines of the WEF. He is particularly keen to meet the new UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to bring to his notice the critical situation in India-held Kashmir. Two more Pakistanis have meanwhile shared their views with the participants at the Forum. Former COAS Raheel Sharif who spoke on Tuesday underlined the need for worldwide intelligence sharing to combat terrorism. Oskar winning Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, who has been acclaimed for her documentaries, spoke about her work and its impact on the world along with India’s Karan Johar.

The dominating theme at the Forum this year was the rising inequality that has led to the emergence of right wing radicalism withpopulist leaders threatening international economic order and liberal democracy. The rise of Donald Trump, the vote for Brexit and the radical wave sweeping Western Europe have aroused worldwide concern. The theme chosen of the Forum this year was“Responsive and Responsible Leadership.” Prof Klaus Schwab, the founder of the WEF had underlined a week earlier that no sustainable growth is possible without social progress and social responsibility. An Oxfam report published on the eve of the annual meeting of WEF underlined the theme. Eight super rich persons, it maintained, owned more than the poorest half the world.

Rejecting Trump’s protectionist views, Chinese President Xi made it clear in his address that no one will emerge a winner in a trade war. He also underlined the danger of Trump’s belittling of environmental concerns. Echoing President Xi, outgoing Secretary of State John Kerry said trade is not to blame for job losses.

There is a need on the part of the managers of Pakistan’s economy to see the writing on the wall. Pakistan too could be overtaken by a radicalist upsurge if the leaders of the mainstream parties were seen to be taking away billions from Pakistan and hoarding them in foreign banks or investing them in real estate or other businesses abroad in foreign countries caring little for millions of Pakistanisliving under the poverty line.