Envoys welcome continuation of democratic process in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: German Ambassador Martin Kobler said that democracy cannot flourish without an economic agenda and Pakistan cannot have democracy without prosperity.

He said that the public must have a well-aligned moral compass to fuel the social contract.

Kobler was speaking at the Center for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) flagship program, the Pakistan Center for Excellence’s (PACE) concluding event on Thursday, which was also attended by Australian High Commissioner Margaret Adamson, Danish Ambassador Rolf Holmboe, Dutch Deputy Head of Mission Josephine Frantzen and CRSS Executive Director Imtiaz Gul.

All four diplomats welcomed the continuation of the democratic vote in Pakistan, commended the Pakistani public on getting out and casting their votes, and praised the resilience of female voters in difficult circumstances.

Holmboe said that one cannot have prosperity without democracy, which builds on the principles of equality, diversity and tolerance. Further, he apprised the audience that democracy is much more than elections; it is an interactive process, which goes beyond voting and everyone needs to continue participating, voice issues, exchange ideas and ensure accountability.

Adamson stated that the role of Pakistan is very significant in the pursuit of global peace. She said that the role of women is a key element of a thriving nation. The empowerment of women is a pre-requisite for a strongly functional democracy, because half of the population if disempowered, will only hurt a nation, she added.

Mission of the Kingdom of Netherlands Deputy Head Frantzen said that the dynamics of our world are changing fast in these contemporary times. She was of the view that we need to keep re-visiting our norms and values to accommodate diversity. To understand this and the complex issues of the present day, like the conflict between identity and integration, requires a lot of dialogue and debate. This is where PACE comes in and great work has been done in this regard, she added.

Imtiaz Gul concluded that teachers are the gatekeepers in any society and that teachers should work hard to invoke critical thinking in young minds.