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Govt urged to strengthen

country's image abroad

JALIL HASAN AKHTAR

LAHORE: Shahid Javed Burki, an eminent economist, has urged the government to make endeavours to elevate image of the country abroad.

He was speaking in a "Roundtable on World's Perception of Pakistan: Concerns and Remedies," organised by the Institute of Overseas Pakistanis (IOP) here on Sunday.

He said instead of relying on services of expensive consultants for enhancing this image, improving the overall social and economic scenario in the country would bring better results. 'We need a more determined will and effort to improve situation at home', he added.

He referring to the role of a section of U.S media regarding Pakistan said it was not positive. The American press was more pro India instead of Pakistan, he maintained.

Quoting incident of recent killings of 100 children in Pakistan by a serial killer and a fraudulent act of a Pakistani in the United States, he said the media overplayed the events there.

He emphasised upon the need of strengthening the weaker segments of the economy and said that the pace of privatization be accelerated in the country.

Former federal law minister and a scholar S M Zafar speaking on the occasion said that though politicians have failed to do justice with the constitution, still it was as affluent as ever.

He said the frame of mind of the country's voter was better than that of India, where their voters opted for a party which had its basis on parochialism and limited sectarian thinking.

He lamented that educated class, particularly a section belonging to Phds was despite attaining higher educational degrees were biased and unnecessarily critical of their country.

Irshad A. Haqani, a columnist, speaking on the occasion said that under their objective conditions it suited Americans as well as Indians to criticise and defame us.

He said the system of Islam had never been implemented in true letter and spirit here. The country should adopt the system of national government, he maintained.

Minister for Law and Human Rights Punjab, Dr Khalid Ranjha giving his views on the occasion said that a poor judicial system was one of the root causes of Meagre foreign investment in the country. "The judiciary should be impartial and non-political here," he added.

He stressed upon fast settlement of the cases of expatriates. This would result in building their confidence in the system, he added.

He also emphasised upon the need of imparting such education that would help in improving character building of the youth.

Sheldon J. Rapoport, Principal Officer of the U.S Consulate in Lahore said that three of the Secretaries of State in U.S had been immigrants. 'I wish a Pakistani may get such a position in the future', he prayed.

Rapoport divulged that besides having Muslim appointees in various departments, there were six to seven million Muslims in U.S at present.

British Council Director Dr.Robert Snell said that print media, satellite television and services of private channels be utilised for improving the image of Pakistan abroad. He also emphasised upon the improving the tourism industry in the country.

Dr.Hasan Rizvi said that Pakistanis were not willing to send money through legal channels to the country. The improper law and order situation in the country has been one of the causes of lesser foreign investments in the country, he added.

Dr. Tahir Andrabi, Dr.Hasan Askari, Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Shami, Col.Ikram-Ullah, Imtiaz Alam, Dr.Mughees-ud-Din Shaikh, Dr. Nasira Javed, Ms. Bonnie Gutman, Director, American Center, and others were present on the occasion.