Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal said on Wednesday that Pakistan’s greatest national asset is its young talent rather than its nuclear capability, stressing that sustained investment in human capital, quality education, modern skills and consistent public policies is essential for long-term national progress.
Speaking at the inauguration of the URAAN Pakistan “Mitti Ki Pukar” Overseas Pakistanis Summer Scholars Programme 2026 in Islamabad, the minister said nearly 2,000 applications from 54 countries had been received for this year’s programme. After what he described as a rigorous, transparent and merit-based selection process, 45 outstanding Overseas Pakistani students representing around 150 of the world’s leading universities were chosen. He congratulated the selected scholars, saying they had secured their places through a highly competitive process.
According to the minister, the programme is designed to provide Overseas Pakistani students with practical exposure to Pakistan’s public sector, enabling them to understand policymaking while contributing to the country’s national development agenda through hands-on experience.
Ahsan said this year’s programme also includes three international scholars from foreign countries alongside Pakistani participants, reflecting the initiative’s expanding international reputation and growing global appeal.
He said the scholars would spend the coming weeks working closely with senior officials of the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, offering innovative ideas and international perspectives to support the implementation of the URAAN Pakistan 5Es Framework, which focuses on Exports, E-Pakistan, Energy, Environment, and Equity and Empowerment. Their participation, he added, would strengthen evidence-based policymaking and help convert knowledge into practical solutions for national development.
The minister said he is frequently asked about his principal responsibility in government and always replies that his foremost mission is to build Pakistan’s youth. He maintained that nations do not achieve lasting prosperity through natural resources alone but through sustained investment in education, innovation, skills development and human capital. He added that whenever the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has been in government, empowering young people through education, training and opportunity has remained among its highest priorities.
Reviewing the government’s development record, Ahsan said the PML-N administration had overcome the country’s energy shortages and terrorism, expanded modern infrastructure, launched transformative projects including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and created greater educational and skills development opportunities for young Pakistanis.
Referring to an assessment by global consultancy PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the minister said the firm projected in 2017 that Pakistan could rank among the world’s 20 largest economies by 2030 if its development momentum continued uninterrupted. However, he said political instability and what he termed an artificial political transition disrupted that trajectory, pushing the country into a severe economic crisis and bringing it close to sovereign default.
He said the government inherited one of the country’s most difficult economic situations when it assumed office in 2022. Despite political challenges, he said the administration prioritised stabilising the state over short-term political considerations by introducing difficult but necessary economic reforms. As a result, he added, Pakistan is no longer regarded internationally as a country facing default risk, while its economic recovery is increasingly gaining global recognition.
The minister said Pakistan possesses abundant natural resources, significant mineral reserves and a hardworking population, but its progress has repeatedly been slowed by political instability, policy inconsistency, the absence of lasting peace and insufficient structural reforms.
He noted that nearly 60% of Pakistan’s population is made up of young people, making it imperative for the state to provide quality education, healthcare, market-oriented skills and equal employment opportunities. He also highlighted Pakistan’s recent diplomatic achievements, saying the country’s constructive engagement on the international stage has received broad recognition. Following diplomatic successes, he said, Pakistan must now focus on achieving economic transformation, with its youth serving as the driving force behind that objective.
Describing the selected participants as ambassadors of Pakistan, Ahsan said they represent some of the country’s brightest minds studying at leading universities around the world. He said the programme seeks to connect them with Pakistan’s development process, familiarise them with public policymaking and equip them with professional experience that would benefit both their future careers and the country.
The minister also said the Ministry of Planning had submitted recommendations to the Higher Education Commission (HEC) aimed at modernising university curricula to align with emerging technologies, global industry trends and future labour market requirements, ensuring higher education remains relevant to national development.
Concluding his address, Ahsan encouraged the scholars to make full use of their six-week engagement with senior government officials and policymakers. He urged them to seize the opportunity with optimism, turn the programme into a valuable learning experience and remain committed to contributing to Pakistan’s development and prosperity throughout their professional lives.