Islamabad: Political governments may come and go, but the civil service remains the permanent pillar of the state, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal stated during a recent address in Islamabad. Emphasizing the critical role of civil servants, Iqbal called on a new generation of officers to lead Pakistan toward 2035 and beyond, urging them to move beyond traditional roles and become agents of transformation.

According to Press Information Department, Iqbal’s remarks were made at the 40th Senior Management Course concluding ceremony at the National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA) in Islamabad. A total of 46 officers completed the 16-week training program. Iqbal highlighted the necessity of adapting to global changes, citing Nokia and BlackBerry as examples of companies that became irrelevant due to a lack of adaptation.

The Federal Minister stressed the importance of sustainable national development, which he said requires peace, security, political stability, and a commitment to structural reforms. He noted that Pakistan’s development trajectory was disrupted in 2018 and has since been working towards economic stability with the URAAN Pakistan framework aiming for a one-trillion-dollar economy by 2035. Iqbal underscored the need for civil servants to embrace a governance model rooted in public service and integrity, drawing inspiration from historic governance principles.

Concluding the ceremony, Iqbal distributed certificates to the officers and extended his best wishes for their future contributions to national development.