IPS’ National Academic Council – Annual Meeting 2015

Prof. Khurshid envisages opportunities amidst prevailing institutional, governance crisis

“Every crisis should be seen as a challenge and every challenge offers opportunities to thrive. It thus depends on us to unearth the hidden opportunities and then strive to avail them to the best of our abilities”.

These were the words of Prof. Khurshid Ahmad, Chairman, Institute of Policy Studies, Islamabad, who was addressing the annual meeting of the Institute’s National Academic Council on August 8, 2015.

He said that Pakistan was currently faced with governance, institutional and moral crises caused by short-sighted reactionary measures taken by its successive governments instead of developing and strengthening institutions for a sustainable resolve.

He was however optimistic that despite the stern challenges, one should not lose hope and try to identify and capitalize on the opportunities hidden behind the challenges.

“Even Pakistan became a reality amidst the most unfavorable circumstances”, he said, “and the country’s upcoming anniversary should serve as a reminder for adopting the same spirit, determination and best of intentions as done by its founders sixty-eight years go”.

Other members of IPS-NAC who attended and addressed the august meeting included Ambassador (r) Rustam Shah Muhmand, Shamshad Ahmad Khan, former secretary, Foreign Affairs, Fasih Uddin, former chief economist, Govt. of Pakistan, Mirza Hamid Hasan, former secretary, Water and Power, M Riyazul Haque, former additional secretary, Adnan Sarwar Khan, dean, Social Sciences, Universty of Peshawar, Dr. Zahoor Ahmad Swati, vice chancellor, University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Dr. Hasan Sohaib Murad, rector,  University of Management and Technology, Lahore, Maulana Zahid ul Rashdi, member, Wafaq ul Madaris Arabia, Abdul Hameed, ex-chairman, Pakistan Academy of Letters, Amanullah Khan, former president, Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and DG-IPS Khalid Rahman, who also read out a message from Prof. Mufti Munib-ur-Rehman who was not able to attend the meeting himself.

It is pertinent to mention here that IPS’ National Academic Council is an intellectual body comprising academics, researchers, civil servants and senior professionals representing diverse disciplines from across Pakistan. The council guides, oversees and reviews the research and academic activities of the Institute.