APO announces meritorious and distinguished award 2024 for Ahsan Iqbal

ISLAMABAD: The Asian Productivity Organization (APO) has announced to decorate Pakistan’s federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Professor Ahsan Iqbal with the meritorious and distinguished award-2024 for his inspiring, exemplary achievements and contributions leading to centrality of productivity.

He will receive the award in Kuala Lumpur next month. Professor Ahsan has been picked for Asia Pacific region’s award. Professor Ahsan Iqbal has become federal minister for the fourth time. He also had served as a Deputy Chairman Planning Commission. Professor Ahsan Iqbal had also received honour from the United Nations Development Programme’s ‘Champion Minister’ for the Asia Pacific region, for his tireless efforts in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He is viewed as the hero of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) by the Chinese government, a testament to his pivotal role in fostering bilateral relations and economic prosperity. He was additionally given the title of ‘Mr. CPEC’ by the Chinese. Under his dynamic leadership, several initiatives were taken which includes vision 2010, vision 2025, Outlook 2035, 5Es framework, 4RF framework for flood, CPEC, five New Economic Corridor and their alignment with 5Es framework, National Centres for Excellences, Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway project, KCR; Karachi Circular Railway, KCR and others. Furthermore, the other remarkable achievements, includes, initiating the PQI (Productivity, Quality, and Innovation) initiative, driving excellence in Pakistan’s industries, increasing the development budget for higher education by an impressive 68%, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to the future of our youth. The APO is shaping the future of the region by fostering the socioeconomic development of its members through national policy advisory services, acting as a think tank, institutional capacity-building initiatives and knowledge sharing to increase productivity.