Forward:
Extract from 13th volume (Terms of Frustration) of Ikram Sehgal’s
“A Personal Chronicles of Pakistan”
I am pleased to introduce Volume 13 in the series entitled A Personal Chronicle of Pakistan, written by my dear friend Ikram Sehgal. This volume covers the years 2021-2022. It
presents an important and insightful perspective on the daily events that shaped Pakistan and impacted the lives of its people during that period.
This volume connects us well with an important period in the history of Pakistan as it documents the author’s efforts in the service of the country and its people. The author’s broad and deep experience gives him substantial authority to write on the very important and timely issues that touch on the daily lives of all Pakistanis. Ikram Sehgal has a great story to tell, and he tells it in a compelling fashion.
I have always known Ikram Sehgal as a person of honor, of wisdom, of great intellectual capacity, of imaginative vision, and of courage and conviction. I have always appreciated his outstanding capability to produce work of the highest quality. Even more importantly, I have come to appreciate his advocacy for societal progress and human welfare in his beloved county. As the dedications of the various volumes in this series show, he is truly inspired by his deep love for Pakistan, for his family, for his mentors, and for his friends and colleagues.
Reading this volume, I am reminded of Pakistan’s extraordinary founder, Quaid-e-Azam, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, who said in 1948 (and I quote):
The Story of Pakistan, its struggle, and its achievement, is the very story of great human ideals, struggling to survive in the face of great odds and difficulties.
Those ideals are quite evident in this volume. The author clearly embodies the best values and ideals of Pakistan. In all chapters of this volume, Ikram Sehgal shows that he daily sharpens his skills, augments his competence, deepens his commitment to his nation’s values and ideals, and strengthens his connections with the people of his country. In fact, this entire series of volumes leaves me with the overwhelming feeling that Ikram has devoted his life to serving Pakistan and helping its people. All of us readers of this book will enjoy Ikram’s captivating narrative and will conclude accurately that he is indeed a devoted son of Pakistan.
I express profound gratitude to Ikram Sehgal for giving the world the fruits of his intellect, his labor, and his values. I welcome this opportunity to pay tribute to Pakistan and its people. I strongly support a close and continuing relationship between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates. I follow with admiration Pakistan’s great economic progress and its significant role in the global economy. The country’s continued progress and its strength in the face of global conditions command our respect and admiration.
Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan
The Pakistan Business Professional Council (PBPC) Abu Dhabi is one of the leading Business Councils in Abu Dhabi, UAE. It was established on December 26, 2004 and was inaugurated by the President of Pakistan on June 6, 2005 at Emirates Palace Hotel, Abu Dhabi – UAE. H.H. Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan is Chief Patron and Ambassador of Pakistan is the Honorary Chairman. The PBPC Abu Dhabi was the idea of leading corporate executives from Pakistan, living and working in the UAE, by providing a forum that would aid the promotion of commercial ties between the UAE and Pakistan. The Business Council worked hand in hand with the Pakistan Embassy and Consulate in UAE. PBPC Abu Dhabi was registered under Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI) – private sector representative working to advocate policies, connect businesses and expand member opportunities by providing world-class member services, with an aim to contribute to Abu Dhabi’s sustainable economic development. We are a non-profit voluntary organization comprising of individuals and companies whose objectives are to:
● Promote commerce and investment between Pakistan and UAE.
● Provide links with Government Departments, Tourism Offices, Educational Institutions, Chambers of Commerce, Businesses as well as other entities in Pakistan and UAE.
● Be a forum for Pakistani business executives and organizations in the UAE in order to identify, discuss and collaborate in areas of interests.
● Bring awareness to the UAE’s commercial significance and potential, among the Pakistani business community
● The Council may do all things that may be incidental or conducive to the attainment of the foregoing objectives. The Council does not engage in any political activity in the UAE or elsewhere. In addition, it does not provide funds or facilities for political purposes in the UAE or contravene the laws.
Since 2004, the following successful functions had been achieved through the Business Council which contributed immensely between Pakistan and UAE’s Trade and Commerce:
● PBPC arranged a Memorandum of Understanding between Central Depository Company and Abu Dhabi Securities Market and Dubai Financial Market.
● PBPC arranged the MOU signing by taking Lahore Stock Ex change and Karachi Stock Exchange’s prominent figures of the sector to Abu Dhabi in which it had been concurred by the Securities Market Directors and Executives.
● Holds regular meeting with Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce & Industry
● Organized meetings with other Chambers:
● Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry
● Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry
● Trade Development Authority of Pakistan
● Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce & Industry
● Rawalpindi of Chamber of Commerce & Industry
● Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry Hyderabad
● Board of Investment
● Joint collaboration of Exclusive Business event with Abu Dhabi Ports, Abu Dhabi Terminals, KIZAD and Pakistan Embassy Abu Dhabi
● PBPC Abu Dhabi arranged a series of meetings with the Government entities in Abu Dhabi
● Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED)
● UAE Ministry of Economy
● Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX
● Abu Dhabi Residents Office (ADRO)
● Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO)
● MASDAR
● Industrial Bureau Development (IBD) Abu Dhabi
● PBPC Abu Dhabi has participated in a number of conferences and exhibitions and for the past few months. Furthermore, we have organized cricket tournaments, bowling tournament, musical and mushaira cultural events, in order to engage the Pakistani community together.
● We have also established a committee to cater to the needs of the community schools in Abu Dhabi.
PBPC Abu Dhabi continuously increasing its presence with more networking opportunities, informative events and working on projects that would benefit the community:
● Cost of doing business together working with the UAE Government for attracting investments in the UAE
● Memorandum of Understanding between Federation Chamber of UAE and Federation of Chamber of Pakistan
● Working with the welfare for the hospital and school
● Opening with the Pakistan Centre in Abu Dhabi
● Seminar with the UAE Minis
● try of Economy and Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce &
● Industry
● Awareness Seminar on Flexi-Health Insurance with Competitiveness Office of Abu Dhabi (COAD)
● International Urdu Mushaira
● Roadshow on Roshan Digital Account
● Roadshow with the Emirates Development Bank
● Quarterly Webinar with Pakistan Stock Exchange
● Quarterly Webinar with State Bank of Pakistan on Roshan Digital Account (RDA)
● Webinar with Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) in collaboration with Austria-Pakistan Association
● Food Festival
