Jabbar on Boosting Pakistan’s Global Reputation

News Desk

Islamabad: Former Senator Javed Jabbar emphasized that addressing internal inequalities is crucial to bolster Pakistan’s global reputation. He highlighted the imperative for institutions to foster a culture of responsibility, adaptability, and inclusivity to achieve this goal.

The NUST Institute of Policy Studies (NIPS) organised a webinar on ‘Pakistan: Image Building and Perception Management’, where the speakers discussed the significance of narrative building and perception management, and highlighted the diaspora’s responsibility in promoting inclusivity and culture.

Former Senator Javed Jabbar delivered a lecture on ‘Nation Branding: A Strategic Imperative for 21st Century National Growth and Development’, and talked about Pakistan’s outstanding historical accomplishments, and the pluralistic and flexible nature that makes it a strong and competitive nation.

Senator further said that Pakistan is a nation with tremendous strength, vitality and extraordinary potential which is frequently overlooked.

Moreover, a three-pronged strategy is advised to address the inequalities: fostering ties with the business community, governmental organizations and civil society, he added.

Forum for International Relations Development (FIRD) Chairman Toaha B. Z. Qureshi discussed ‘Realizing Pakistan’s Soft Power Potential through Global Media and Image Management’ and stressed the significance of soft power and its ability to build a positive global image of Pakistan.

Qureshi highlighted that Pakistan is a country that has the world’s fifth-largest youth population, the second-largest salt mine, and is a leading agriculture exporter in the world. However, it confronts challenges such as poor governance, a lack of accountability, and an insufficient rule of law, which must be addressed to unlock its true potential, chairman added.

The chairman focused on five essential components of soft power, emphasising the need to rethink narrative construction. To combat the polarisation created by widespread misinformation about Pakistan, he stressed the responsibility of every citizen to not be misled by misinformation and to always fact-check.

Toaha stressed that the youth possess considerable potential and can contribute to the nation’s development while preserving its values and culture.

B. Z. also underscored the significance of national news channels’ responsibility in actively promoting Pakistan’s rich culture and diversity to attract tourists and attract international attention.