ISLAMABAD: State institutions and the media should help create an environment to set up a government that truly represents the people of Pakistan, President Arif Alvi said on Friday.

Such a government would reflect their aspirations and hopes to ensure political and economic stability needed for promoting business, trade and investment in the country, the president said while addressing the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (ICCI) fifth Business Excellence Awards ceremony at Aiwan-i-Sadr.

Pakistan could rise within a decade if it strengthened its democracy and its leadership made the right decisions, curbed corruption, upheld justice and promoted human rights, he said and stressed that consultative institutions, trade and investment and passion were key ingredients that helped nations prosper. At the same time, Pakistan needed to maintain cordial relations with all global partners and avoid becoming a party to divisive politics in international relations, President Alvi said.

Urging the business community to invest in developing intellectual avenues, he said upgrading human resources in different sectors of the economy, especially the IT sector, could help Pakistan achieve high economic growth rates.

The president also highlighted that polarisation in Indian society was on the rise and the situation of its minorities, especially Muslims, was alarming.

The religious minorities in India were facing intimidation, harassment and discrimination at the hands of the Hindu majority, he said.

When India’s business interests took a hit, the country was forced to take action against those who hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims, President Alvi said, but stressed that high moral and ethical standards should be the basis of global order instead of vested interests.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2022