Islamabad, February 10, 2022 (PPI-OT):Vision F.O. -Multidimensional Diplomacy for Durable Peace, Inclusive Growth and Shared Development Honourable Rector NUST University, Javed Mahmood Bukhari Sahib, Distinguished faculty and participants, Ladies and gentlemen, Assalam-o-Alaikum! Thank you for inviting me to the National Institute of Policy Studies today to share my thoughts on Vision F.O and the need for multidimensional diplomacy for durable peace and inclusive development Ladies and gentlemen, the currency gained by terms like “multidimensional diplomacy” is reflective of new trends and realities. The world is very different from what it was some decades ago.
Diplomacy is no longer merely inters-state. There are multiple players, factors and forces, influencing the conduct of diplomacy. Traditional means of conducting international relations and foreign policy have been overtaken by the fast-paced global perception industry.
Multidimensional diplomacy now uses tools ranging from economy, cyber space, digital technology, science and innovation to culture and even people-to-people linkages. Soft power has already replaced conventional warfare. The world has entered the era of battles of narratives and information/disinformation warfare.
We see a huge shift in the role of media, their impact on all sphere of life and modern technology being used to influence opinions and push agendas. Another external factor that we have just recently witnessed that has overturned the global economy is Covid -19. This global pandemic has upended the global economic systems.
We see Covid-19 is not just a global health crisis but a catalyst for long-term geopolitical shifts. Covid vaccines too have aided diplomacy with countries competing for influence through their vaccines and related technology. Ladies and gentlemen, a new world is upon us, and we have to navigate with caution and foresight. The unipolar world has now become a rear-view vista. Multilateral mechanisms that were setup in the first place for mediation and conflict resolution are losing their efficacy.
The political economy of energy is in a flux due to geopolitics as well as technological advances. Weakening of multilateral bodies, closed borders policy and fraying international alliances are giving way to regional partnerships.
In the backdrop of these shifting trends, geopolitics is reorienting to accommodate new actors and emerging factors and considerations. Pakistan’s foreign policy must respond adequately. Under Prime Minister Imran Khan’s leadership, we have proactively and consistently advanced our diplomatic objectives both bilaterally and multilaterally.
We have consolidated friendships and strengthened bilateral relations with major powers and key partners across all regions. We have put to use various tools of diplomacy be it economic diplomacy, science diplomacy, public diplomacy or digital diplomacy, to lead the advocacy for durable peace, inclusive growth and shared development.
Guided by the Prime Minister, Pakistan is a leading voice at multilateral forums with strong advocacy on issues of sustainable and equitable development, climate change, debt relief, corruption and illicit financial flows as well as Islamophobia. And we are pressing ahead on the clear pathway provided by the policy shift with increased focus on geo-economics, leveraging our geo-political significance.
2021 has also been an exciting year of reform at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where the strategic planning reform under Vision FO in 2020, became a reality in 2021. Vision FO envisages an environment of thought leadership at MOFA to promote a macro vision, digital landscape and an evolved transparent way of communications.
To this end, we launched robust Economic Diplomacy agenda as well as Public Diplomacy Initiatives besides engaging in large scale digital reform and leveraging Science Diplomacy. Let me elaborate upon some of the successes of our multidimensional foreign policy for durable peace in our region, as well as shared development and growth.
Afghanistan Post-15 August 2021, Pakistan geared its diplomacy for garnering regional and international consensus for constructive and sustained engagement with the new interim authorities in Afghanistan.
Our overriding concern is to avert a humanitarian catastrophe and an economic meltdown. Pakistan played a pivotal role in the safe evacuation of over 90 thousand individuals across 42 nationalities, consisting of diplomats, International NGO workers, media persons and many, many others.
This included the establishment of the six-country format of immediate neighbours of Afghanistan on Pakistan’s initiative, our participation in the Moscow format and other meetings, and the Troika plus Meeting held in Islamabad, including the interaction with the Afghan interim authorities.
The high point of these activities was the Extraordinary Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers hosted by Pakistan in Islamabad in December 2021 to focus on the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan.
Attended by over 70 delegations, including 30 at the Ministerial/Deputy Ministerial level, and representation from various regional and international organizations, and international partners, it provided a wider platform to address the humanitarian and economic challenges confronting the people of Afghanistan.
The Session yielded substantive, action-oriented outcomes Economic Diplomacy Due to Imran Khan Government’s shift of focus from geo-politics to geo-economics, economic diplomacy has assumed higher priority in the conduct of Pakistan’s foreign policy.
Throughout the year, under my Vision FO, I have personally remained engaged with our missions abroad to review their activities regarding export and investment promotion, increasing investor confidence, enhancing remittance inflows, tourism promotion, and broadening of trade ties with host countries.
This effort to promote and expand our trade and investment portfolio across the world together with steps taken at various levels at home has led to concrete achievements including: -improvement by 39 points in Pakistan’s ranking in Ease of Doing Business -7% increase in trade with Africa -an increase of over USD 2 billion in the export of information technology and IT-based sectors Digital Diplomacy Digital Diplomacy is a pivotal aspect of Vision FO, and is in line with Prime Minister’s vision of a Digital Pakistan.
Under the digital reform agenda, we have launched the Foreign Minister’s Portal that provides the diaspora direct access to all 114 Pakistan Missions abroad based in 87 countries with a view to efficient handling and addressing of their issues. All 114 Missions have been brought online on social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram enabling greater transparency and access.
Our Missions have also proactively promoted the Roshan Digital Accounts providing digital banking solutions to millions of Non-Resident Pakistanis. Prime Minister Imran Khan launched ‘Automation of Power of Attorney’, to resolve a perennial problem of overseas Pakistanis.
Initially launched as a pilot project in ten Missions in the United States and the United Kingdom, this facility will be extended to all our Missions abroad. Public Diplomacy In 2021, Pakistan’s Diplomatic outreach achieved momentous growth as a result of our various public diplomacy initiatives.
Last year we celebrated 70 years of diplomatic relations with Argentina, China, Germany, Spain and Thailand, hosting high impact Public Diplomacy events to add a new and renewed people to people dimension to our ties. In 2022, we will be celebrating key milestones in our friendships with many others including UAE, US, UK and the EU.
A key component of Public Diplomacy is Cultural Diplomacy. Our collaboration with Pakistan’s most compelling cultural export “Coke Studio” in 2021 made waves and was a real first for the Government having crafted and executed a public-private partnership at such a scale.
Pakistan celebrated key global days throughout the year including World Environment Day where we hosted a bike rally led by myself. We were also happy to find ourselves in a relatively better COVID19 environment that enabled us to host the annual PFOWA charity bazaar.
In 2021, I was also happy to have the second iteration of the FM Honours’ List, through which we recognized 25 bright Leaders under 40 from the overseas Pakistani community, for their exceptional achievements in the fields of innovation, sustainability, science, technology, academia, politics and social work.
Ladies and gentlemen, we at the Foreign Office are working with all our Missions abroad through both traditional and new tools of diplomacy to create a voice that would resonate with the global community and to dent the deep rooted negative perceptions about Pakistan through fresh and positive narratives.
Keeping our interests supreme, we must navigate through this tumultuous external environment to ensure that Pakistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence are secured and Pakistan’s development agenda is advanced.
I would like to close by saying that Pakistan is pursuing a proactive foreign policy with a focus on the global agenda. The future is unpredictable but we have the resilience and experience to deal with the challenges ahead. With this I open the floor for questions. Thank you!
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