OXFORD: World’s renowned economist, Professor Jeffrey Sachs on Monday highlighted Allama Iqbal’s intellectual thought, his vision for a world free of exploitation — based on justice and solidarity — saying “Iqbal was a man of peace who advocated cooperation and dialogue between civilisations”.
The economist was speaking at the annual Allama Iqbal Lecture organised by the Oxford Pakistan Programme (OPP) with a packed audience in Lady Margaret Hall at the University of Oxford.
Professor Sachs is a world-renowned economist, author, and advisor to governments around the world. He is also the Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University and a leading advocate of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.
Professor Sachs quoted a message given by Iqbal to the Lahore radio station a few months before his death in 1938 in which he had argued that the ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity cannot be realised unless we consider the whole world as one “family of God”.
He highlighted the relevance of this message for both its own time, having been delivered a few years before the World War, but also for contemporary global affairs that require new geopolitics of peace and cooperation.
He advised that poor developing countries like Pakistan which have historically enjoyed close relations with both China and the United States should not be coerced into choosing sides.
The lecture attracted a large audience of Oxford students, senior academics, and several heads of departments and faculties.
The High Commissioner for Pakistan to the United Kingdom, Moazzam Ahmad Khan, his wife, and guests from London were also in attendance.
On this occasion, Abdul Ghani Dadabhoy, the Executive Director of the Dadabhoy Foundation which supports education and social development initiatives in Pakistan and sponsors the Allama Iqbal lecture series at the University of Oxford, stressed the need for dialogue and collaboration.
He reiterated the support of the Dadabhoy Foundation in facilitating such conversations and providing a platform for global experts, such as Professor Sachs, to share their knowledge and expertise.
The OPP is a multi-pronged initiative that seeks to promote academic collaboration between the University of Oxford and Pakistan. The programme offers scholarships and research grants to Pakistan-origin students.
The Iqbal lecture was live streamed from Oxford to around 50 participating universities across Pakistan, a list that not only included well-known universities such as LUMS and IBA but also higher education institutions in far-flung areas, such as Mardan’s Women’s University, the University of Turbat in Balochistan, and Karakoram University in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Commenting on the significance of this model of engagement, the Programme’s co-founders Professor Adeel Malik, Dr Talha Jamal Pirzada, and Mr Haroon Zaman emphasised the need to make scholarly voices shaping the global discourse accessible to Pakistani students who would otherwise not be able to engage with such speakers.
The Iqbal lecture series, they highlighted, also plays an important role in generating a holistic debate on the campus and in creating an important cultural bridge between Oxford and Pakistan.
The Iqbal lecture is held annually and aims to draw prominent scholars, intellectuals, and policymakers from around the world.
The actress Aiman Khan has notified her fans and followers that the United Arab Emirates has granted her a Golden Visa.
Renowned for her dramatic roles in plays like “Ghar Titli Ka Par,” “Meri Beti,” and “Ishq Tamasha,” Aiman Khan has been spotted putting more emphasis on her personal life with her spouse, fellow actress Muneeb Butt, and moving away from the entertainment industry recently.
Instagram users saw Aiman Khan post a photo of herself receiving the Golden Visa from UAE officials.
The actress was shown gratitude in the caption for the extraordinary hospitality and kind welcome she received from the Dubai government.
Aiman Khan is shown in the accompanying photo, probably when applying for a visa, looking smart in black among representatives from the United Arab Emirates.
Fascinatingly, Aiman Khan’s spouse, Muneeb Butt, previously uploaded a comparable Instagram picture revealing his triumphant Golden Visa acquisition.
Often taking his wife, Aiman Khan, along, Muneeb Butt travels to Dubai for business and pleasure. Even after their daughter Amal was born, the well-known couple continued to observe this habit.
Furthermore, Miral, their second daughter, made her first vacation outside of Pakistan when they recently took her to Dubai.
“Dubai holds a special place in my heart, from memorable vacations to productive work trips,” Muneeb Butt complimented in the description.
With the benchmark KSE-100 index hitting a record-breaking high of 72,501 points, the Karachi Stock Exchange saw yet another incredible rise.
Within Pakistan’s financial environment, investors demonstrated a strong sense of trust in the market as the bullish trend continued.
As a result of the significant inflow of investment and optimism among market players, the index had an amazing 450-point rise during the trading session.
In their analysis of the market’s remarkable performance, financial analysts pointed to a number of causes for the upward trend, such as encouraging economic data, robust company profits, and the government’s proactive measures to promote economic expansion.
The durability and upward momentum of the market have also been greatly aided by continuous infrastructural investments and efforts meant to boost investor confidence.
In the meantime, interbank rates increased by six paisas, and the US dollar’s value saw a slight rise in the currency market. As a result of the current market conditions and the dynamic nature of foreign exchange swings, the dollar was quoted at Rs 278.45 in the interbank market.
Youth from North Waziristan set off on a three-day enjoyable and enlightening excursion as part of the Pakistan Army’s “Ilm Tolo Da Para” project.
The young participants in the trip had a great time touring some of Islamabad’s most notable sites, such as the magnificent Faisal Mosque, Ayub Park, Pakistan Museum of Natural History, Pakistan Monument Museum, Folk Heritage Museum, and the picturesque Lake View Park.
The Imam led an insightful workshop for the students at Faisal Mosque, exploring the mosque’s significance and its place in the history of the country.
The youth’s awareness of their country’s legacy was strengthened by their visits to the People’s Heritage and Pakistan Monument, which provided them with valuable insights into the sacrifices made during Pakistan’s founding.
As the eager young people engaged in exhilarating rides, games, and other leisure pursuits, Ayub National Park transformed into a playground where they made enduring memories.
The youth gave the Pakistan Army their sincere gratitude for organising this beneficial event that combined learning with leisure.