The World Economic Forum (WEF) 2025 in Davos gave a unique opportunity to engage with global investors, policymakers, and thought leaders, reaffirming the country’s commitment to economic growth, digital transformation, and regional development. In the previous edition, I reflected on the first three events organized by Pathfinder Group; ‘Inspiring Pakistan’, ‘Pakistan Breakfast’ and ‘Investment Pakistan.’ The last two events at the Pakistan Pavilion were the “Balochistan Breakfast” and “Digital Pakistan” Lunch. On January 23, the “Balochistan Breakfast” took center stage, moderated by Zarrar Sehgal, Chairman of Pathfinder Group. The chief guest of the event was Chief Minister of Balochistan, Mir Sarfraz Bugti, and panellists were former caretaker Prime Minister Senator Anwaar ul Haq Kakar and Adam Weinstein from Quincy Institute NY USA. The discussion at this event focused on the province’s strategic location for connectivity and opportunities in minerals and precious metals.
Pakistan’s presence at Davos sent a clear message: “Pakistan is open for business, driven by resilience, innovation, stability, and reforms that ensure a competitive, investor-friendly environment.” The government’s participation was not just symbolic but a strategic initiative to highlight Pakistan’s economic potential, ongoing reforms, and its vision for a sustainable future. By actively engaging in dialogues on investment, digital inclusion, and regional connectivity, Pakistan positioned itself as a key player in shaping global economic discussions.
Senator Kakar explained the significant history of the province, its rich natural resources, and its pivotal role in Pakistan’s future economic trajectory. He highlighted the Mehrgarh Civilization’s 12,000-year-old legacy, emphasizing Balochistan’s deep-rooted historical and cultural contributions to the broader Indus and Indian civilizations, and diverse linguistic, religious, and political history, which has shaped its unique identity over centuries. I agree with the senator that Balochistan is not just Pakistan’s challenge but also its future and a strategic opportunity.
Adam Weinsten’s deep knowledge about Balochistan impressed me, especially the way he compared Pakistan with China and highlighted the importance of the transformative power of the last 20 years in China’s development. Adam shared that Gerald Segal, former Directorof Studies at IISS, wrote an article titled “Does China Matter?” in 1999. At the time, Segal dismissed China’s global significance, arguing that it lacked political influence, was a medium-rank military power, and offered little economic promise. In hindsight, these statements were proven completely inaccurate, as China has since emerged as a dominant force. Similarly, if the right decisions are made today, Pakistan’s economic and strategic standing could transform in the next two decades.
I believe that Pakistan and the U.S. dynamics have changed after the latter’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. Pakistan’s involvement in the two-decade-long U.S. war in Afghanistan placed it in a challenging position, relying heavily on U.S. commitments. This period was marked by fluctuating militancy along the border, with both the U.S. and Pakistan confronting similar terrorist threats but seldom coordinating their responses effectively. In the current landscape, Pakistan must maintain stability and adopt a zero-tolerance stance toward terrorism, particularly in regions like Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The post-withdrawal era presents an opportunity for enhanced collaboration between the U.S., Pakistan, and the broader international community, as their interests are now more aligned. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that not all terrorist threats are domestic; external influences, notably from neighboring countries, have historically meddled in Pakistan’s internal affairs. Now, a nuanced approach is required to distinguish between legitimate demands for civil liberties and provincial autonomy and violent separatist movements to ensure that the latter are not inadvertently empowered.
Mir Sarfraz Bugti said, “Our government is committed to fostering a business-friendly and forward-looking environment, focusing on investment facilitation, infrastructure development, and regulatory reforms.” Special Economic Zones, such as Gwadar, offer significant incentives, including tax holidays, duty-free machinery imports, and streamlined customs procedures. Enhanced connectivity through roads, railways, and energy projects aims to integrate markets, uplift communities, and ensure shared prosperity. His words resonate with my thoughts that development is notjust about economic growth but about transforming lives. The government is prioritizing education, healthcare, and employment generation, ensuring inclusive growth that benefits all of Balochistan. I saw a genuine openness and willingness to drive progress in discussions among our speakers from Pakistan and other countries. I believe that spirit is what Pakistan, especially Balochistan, needs to unlock its true potential. We must address our problems and provide an investment-friendly environment which is free from bureaucratic red tape. As Mir Sarfraz said rightly, business means a business which needs more public-private partnerships. We must join hands to develop the province with a low population and a mass land. All of us want our country and especially our province Balochistan to grow at a faster pace.
This year, the theme of the WEF Annual Meeting was ‘Collaboration for the Intelligent Age.’ Several heads of state and government, private sector and civil society leaders came to the annual moot. Also, there were more than 1,000 high-level representatives from the private sector, civil society, youth leaders, and academic institutions. In the last 3 decades, I have projected the positive image and potential of Pakistan to the world. I am grateful to my family and my team for their continuous support and unparalleled hard work in establishing the Pakistan Pavilion in Davos every year. I am thankful to the Swiss embassy for approving all visa applications and for their trust over the last three decades. I want to emphasize that none of our participants has ever engaged in any misconduct.
The heartfelt discussion at the Balochistan Breakfast gave us hope for a better future. Domestically, the government must ensure an investment-friendly environment, when domestic investors see opportunities and doing business becomes easy and profitable, foreign direct investment also comes after. At the global level, we must indulge in trade with nontraditional partners like countries in Central Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. After years of rivalry and enmity with India, Pakistan must decouple from India and establish independent connectivity and trade policies. Apart from the East, the entire world remains open and accessible to us.
