Mutually beneficial connectivity

• 48th Annual Davos moot debates ‘improving state of the world’

Sometimes criticised as a rich man’s club, representing only itself and catering to its own interests and issues, the World Economic Forum is actually an institution of wide-ranging functions that annually attracts over two thousand of the world’s political, business and academic elite. Huddled in Davos, in that Alpine solitude (though somewhat disturbed by egalitarian idealists protesting globalisation-precipitated poverty) the illustrious company pores over urgent economic, social, cultural, environmental, development and gender issues, directly affecting people and the planet, and seeking workable solutions. The WEF’s ideological direction was best spelled out by 2017 keynote speaker, Chinese premier Xi Jinping, who against the backdrop of populism, isolationism, protective tariffs, free trade zones and Brexit, boldly made out a case for his One Belt, One Road vision,emphasizing globalisation, connectivity, economic linkages and environmental safety, which would prove a  boon for less developed countries participating in the venture. The Davos theme for 2018, ‘creating a shared future in a fractured world’, dovetails perfectly with the Chinese PM’s far-sighted policy.

As a ‘backbencher’ invitee, Pakistan’s PM, while addressing one panel meeting of VIPs, was justifiably all praise for the many-sided achievements within a short span as a direct result of CPEC (the ‘integral’ Pakistan part of OBOR), such as restoring investor confidence, new power plants (people have indeed heaved a sigh of relief at much reduced ‘winter’ load-shedding), new motorways and infrastructure, airports, railways upgradation, industrial growth, swift completion of strategic Gwadar Port, and enhanced exports. Simultaneously, he uttered charged words rightly intended to remove any doubts about CPEC, above all, creating more ‘jobs’, meaningful ‘inclusion’ of locals, a ‘level playing field’, no lop-sidedness or ‘distortions’, ‘shared benefits and future’, and ‘environmentally sustainable’ projects. In his meetings with important business leaders, the PM sought foreign investment in energy, water conservation, and FATA uplift, among others, while lauding the workforce training and progressive working environment provided in Pakistan by multinationals.

But, the rapidly increasingly, worldwide economic inequality and disparity, and growing poverty also need urgent remedying, otherwise the WEF will be regarded only as an oligarchic gathering of ‘fat cats in the snow’.