‘Education should be central element of development strategy’

Islamabad:Leading academicians during a discussion here linked Pakistan’s development trajectory to the potential of its youth and the innovative capacity of its education system and urged authorities to position education at the heart of the national development strategy to fully harness that transformative power.

They believed that strategy, centred on reforms and empowerment, would help the country nurture future leaders, cope with emerging challenges, and assert itself as a global power. The experts included Higher Education Commission chairman Prof Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, Riphah International University vice chancellor Prof Dr Anis Ahmad, former vice chancellor of the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics Dr Asad Zaman, poet and educationist Prof Jalil Aali, consultant with HEC and former vice chancellor, University of Haripur Prof Dr Anwarul Hassan Gilani, head of Jamiatur Rasheed Karachi and Al Ghazali University chancellor Mufti Abdul Rahim, Gwadar University vice chancellor Prof Dr Abdul Razzaq Sabir, founder rector of COMSATS University Islamabad Dr Syed Muhammad Junaid Zaidi, senior lecturer at the Curtin University Australia Dr Masood Mehmood Khan and chairperson of the International Islamic University's Department of Anthropology Dr Noreen Saher. The gathering, hosted by the National Advisory Council of the Institute of Policy Studies, was presided over by IPS chairman Khalid Rahman and moderated by vice chairman and former ambassador Syed Abrar Hussain.

The panellists emphasised that the nation’s progress was closely tied to an education system that was responsive to the challenges and opportunities of the modern age. They urged universities and other educational institutions to have structural reforms to better equip youth with practical, forward-looking knowledge and insisted that reform was crucial for positioning Pakistan to meet future challenges and thrive in an evolving global landscape.

The experts expressed optimism about the current generation’s increased awareness and commitment, asserting that with the right educational environment, the youth can become powerful agents of transformation. They, however, said there was a need to critically assess why previous constructive efforts have had limited impact. According to academicians, to enable young people to act as catalysts for national development, the education system must provide them with platforms to develop their voices and contribute meaningfully to national discourse.

This also involves the creation of democratic structures within political parties and the revival of platforms like student unions in a way that they serve as incubators for youth leadership and engagement. The panellists said education could play a key role in building strategic resilience against disinformation and fifth-generation warfare. The speakers highlighted the importance of a unified national strategy to counter these threats through educating youth about national strengths and adversaries’ tactics.

They highlighted the necessity of conducting a comprehensive audit of Pakistan’s education system, from primary to higher levels, to ensure its alignment with the nation’s socioeconomic realities. The experts stressed that the curriculum must be updated to reflect Pakistan’s developmental needs, equipping students with the practical skills required for global competitiveness.

According to them, beyond these internal reforms, there must be a broader vision of education as a tool for diplomacy. The academicians urged civil society organisations and educational institutions to engage with counterparts in neighbouring countries and beyond and said that could be done by utilising education to foster dialogue, address regional issues, and promote social development. They insisted that education diplomacy could be a vital instrument in shaping Pakistan’s relations with the wider world and ensuring that the voices of its youth are heard on international platforms.