Ahsan Iqbal terms Pakistan at threshold of new dawn

August 04, 2026 (MLN): Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal has emphasized that Pakistan stands at the threshold of a new dawn defined by hope, national unity and renewed prospects for progress, rejecting the perception that the country's national system had failed and asserting instead that Pakistan had entered an era of national reforms rather than institutional collapse.

The Minister made these remarks while addressing the launch ceremony of a national anthem commemorating the 79th Independence Day of Pakistan and the 150th birth anniversary of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, calling the event far more than the release of a patriotic song and describing it as the start of a national movement to revitalize the country's collective spirit, intellectual direction and commitment to development, according to a press release issued.

He maintained that as the world undergoes rapid transformation, Pakistan too is modernizing its institutions, governance framework and national priorities to meet the demands of the twenty-first century, stressing that the challenges facing a nation of over 250 million people cannot be addressed by elected representatives alone.

Sustainable national development, he said, requires the collective efforts of young people, experts, the private sector, civil society and all state institutions, with continuity of reforms, national consensus and shared responsibility essential to the country's long-term progress.

Calling Pakistan's youth the nation's greatest strength and hope, the Minister described them as Iqbal's Shaheens, urging young Pakistanis to embrace confidence, ambition and excellence in shaping the country's future.

Referring to the country's recent economic recovery, he recalled that many had predicted in 2022 that Pakistan would default and its system would collapse; instead, through collective national resolve, prudent government policies and public support, the country overcame those challenges and returned to a path of stability and growth, adding that overseas Pakistanis are increasingly acknowledging this positive trajectory.

The Minister described URAAN Pakistan as the government's comprehensive national economic transformation framework, aimed at aligning Pakistan with the demands of the twenty-first-century global economy and laying the foundation for a one-trillion-dollar economy through higher exports, technological advancement, energy self-reliance, a stronger digital economy, improved human capital, better education and healthcare, effective population management, and sustainable development.

He said the government is investing heavily in equipping young people with modern technology, artificial intelligence, digital skills and future-oriented education, describing the youth as not merely Pakistan's future but its present.

Concluding his address, the Minister said Pakistan's true strength lies not in its past struggles but in the determination, talent, knowledge and resilience of its youth, stressing that sustainable development, prosperity and security can only be achieved through collective national consciousness and a shared commitment to the reform agenda.

He reaffirmed that URAAN Pakistan is not the agenda of any single political party or government but a national mission to transform Pakistan into a strong, self-reliant, prosperous and dignified state.

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