ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani has said that there is need to build upon the ongoing political, parliamentary and diplomatic discourse to build a strong national narrative in face of blighting accusations and propaganda to blame Pakistan for the mess of extremism and terrorism created by the western powers and their regional affiliates in the region.
He expressed these views in his message on the eve of the launching of the Focus Pakistan, a book by Senate Secretary Amjed Pervez Malik here at the Iqbal Hall of the Quaid-e-Azam Library in Lahore. Punjab Governor Malik Muhammad Rafique Rajwana was the chief guest on the launching ceremony organized by the Directorate General of the Libraries.
The Senate chairman congratulated Amjed Pervez on compiling a publication to effectively demolish and humble many prevailing misconceptions, willful distortion of truth and facts, perception deficit and negative publicity to cast shadows of doubts and mistrust on Pakistan. He said that the author has very appreciably taken time out to pen a very factual, rational and authoritative counter-narrative.
He said that the Focus Pakistan builds a clear-sighted and sound case for Pakistan as a country that was as economically viable, democratically woven, peace-loving, responsible, vibrant, dynamic and democratic than any other given state in the region or the world. Governor Rafique Rajwana said that there was a dire need to project positive image of Pakistan.
“We have genuine issues confronting the country on the top of which are population explosion and water scarcity but at the same time the cultural diversity and youth of Pakistan are presenting the ways through which we can benefit towards prosperity, development and social transformation,” he said.
He said that the government was following a vision to make the country a hub of economic and trade activity. With mega projects, “our position for the promotion of multi-sectoral, intra-regional cooperation to encourage share prosperity and development in the region and adjoining areas,” he said.
“Our commitment to international and regional peace, stability and security is historically proven and above board,” he said. Rajwana said that while their narrative was a gross distortion of facts divorced from reality, Focus Pakistan very effectively provides a highly convincing alternative narrative that proves that Pakistan is progressing despite challenges.
“Democratic continuity, institutional harmony, economic revival, independent media, and vibrant civil society have repositioned Pakistan into a strong country that plays a pivotal role for peace, security and development in its neighbourhood,” he added.
Author Amjed Pervez while elaborating the various aspects and motivation to write this record reference work said that this book is rooted in history but, more importantly, it talks about the future prospects and challenges faced by Pakistan. He said that the scope of the work has been enlarged and covers a number of issues, economic, cultural and strategic.
However, Rajwana said the cross-cutting themes relating to Pakistan’s continuing perception gap were at the heart of this work. The Focus Pakistan is a record or reference work about the young nation of Pakistan at 70, showcasing what it was before the implantation of militants by the US and a Pakistani dictator, what it became after that and how it was engaged in course correction when undue influence and interference was exerted from other nations, he added.
The author hoped it to be the voice of every conscientious Pakistani, who feels there is a more to this country than meets the eyes as opposed to the image portrayed. It is the voice of every Pakistani who feels as a victim of extraordinary circumstances, not entirely of its own making and ‘U’ turns enforced by local or global dictators.
He said that the positive aspects like Sufism must be projected to dispel the impression of extremism against the people. “We are proud of the fact that we are much ahead when compared with other nations on different indicators of social-cultural and economic development,” he said.
Eminent writer and senior journalist Sohail Wariach, Munir Ahmed Khan and Dr Zaheer Ahmed Babar, the director general of the Libraries, also addressed the participants of the launching ceremony of Focus Pakistan marked by writers, intellectuals, academia, students and people from different walks of life.
