ISLAMABAD: “Democracy cannot flourish without an economic agenda. You will not have democracy without prosperity. The public must have a well-aligned moral compass to fuel the social contract,” the German ambassador to Pakistan said on Thursday.

Ambassador Martin Kobler was speaking at an event held at the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS). He was joined by Australian High Commissioner Margaret Adamson, Danish Ambassador Rolf Holmboe, Dutch Deputy Head of Mission Josephine Frantzen and CRSS Executive Director Imtiaz Gul.

According to a statement, Mr Holmboe reiterated that one could not have prosperity without democracy, which builds on principles of equality, diversity and tolerance.

He said democracy is much more than elections; it is an interactive process that goes beyond voting that everyone needs to continue participating in.

Ms Adamson said Pakistan’s role was significant in the pursuit of global peace.

She said the role of women was a key part of a thriving nation, and the empowerment of women is a prerequisite for a strongly-functional democracy because a disempowered half of the population will only hurt a nation.

Ms Frantzen, the Dutch deputy head of mission, said the dynamics of our world are changing fast in these contemporary times. She was of the view that we need to keep re-visiting our norms and values to accommodate diversity. To understand this and the complex issues of the present-day, like conflict between identity and integration, requires a lot of dialogue and debate.

All four diplomats welcomed the continuation of the democratic vote in Pakistan, commended the Pakistani public on voting, and praised the resilience of female voters in difficult circumstances.

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2018