KARACHI – Former president Pervez Musharraf on Saturday launched the Pakistan First Initiative (PFI), a civil society forum, at a function held here and dilated upon the rationale for the creation of the initiative, its aims and objectives, and the methodology to be followed.
The Council of Professionals of the initiative comprises achievers in a wide variety of fields related directly or indirectly to governance, including leading professionals, top security and foreign policy experts, social scientists, economists, educationists and experts from other sectors of national importance from across Pakistan.
The governing board includes Tanwir Naqvi, a retired military officer, as chairman, Attiya Mahmood as CEO, AkhtarZamin, Hidayatulla K Khaishgi and Syed JawaidIqbal.
Addressing the council, Musharraf said that it was an honour for him to lead the PFI, because he had always held the interest of Pakistan close to his heart; and that Pakistan can truly progress only if the people at large sincerely believe in the dictum “Pakistan First”, and every element of the state pursues it with enthusiasm.
Dilating upon the conceptual foundation of the initiative, he emphasised that the PFI would be a forum for organising symposiums at least once a quarter, on subjects related to structures and systems of governance, and policies concerning the security, development and prosperity of Pakistan.
The initiative will crystallise thought, formulate proposals, and disseminate ideas for the benefit of Pakistan’s civil society and possible adoption by governments.In response to a question, Musharraf explained that the Council of Professionals includes individuals who have served Pakistan with great distinction; and that these professionals would form the nucleus of the audience for the symposiums that the PFI will organise.
He also said that the PFI was a totally non-political initiative; and that he expects the symposiums to focus the attention of the electronic as well as print media on subjects of a more fundamental nature related to governance, as opposed to discussions concerning personalities.
