VCast interviewed Ikram Sehgal, Co-Chairman of Pathfinder Group at the World Economic Forum 2025, in the special segment, Walk Down the Davos Promenade. He shared his perspectives on Pakistan’s evolving role in regional security dynamics while he walked through the heart of Davos.
Q: I’m glad we are doing this walk again. I think to begin with, maybe you can tell us about the agenda for this year. What are all the events that you’re hosting?
Well, our prime event is still the Pakistan Breakfast, which we’ve been hosting for 21 years now – this is the 21st year. Along with the Pakistan Breakfast, we have some specialized events. One is Investment in Pakistan, which is a lunch event.
The second is the Digital Pakistan event, which we are holding for the second time—it’s also a lunch event. In between, we have collaborations with the Swiss Chamber of Commerce and the Karachi Council for Foreign Relations. However, the primary focus remains the Pakistan Breakfast, which is going to be held today. We are also walking up to the Schatzalp Hotel for our usual startup event, Inspiring Pakistan, where we will have about 8 to 10 prominent speakers – both national and international.
Q: Sir, what’s the new message for the year 2025?
The message remains the same as last year. We expect our businessmen to come forward and participate in the Pakistan Pavilion. If you look around, you’ll see that not only entire countries but even provinces from various nations are hosting their own events, whereas Pakistan has just one. Fortunately, I’m happy that another event is taking place today – the Pakistan Business Summit, hosted by another Pakistani group.
We welcome that initiative, but two events are not enough. For a country the size of Pakistan, we should have at least five or six groups actively participating in global events like these. I have said many times that Pakistani businessmen should come forward and understand the leverage that events like WEF in Davos provide. In just these short three or four days, the opportunities for networking and business expansion are immense, and it is very important to understand this and participate in these activities.Unfortunately, despite our repeated efforts, the message doesn’t seem to be getting across as I intend it to be.
Q: Sir, many people ask about how to get into Davos. They ask how we can come to Davos. What’s the process?
Well, you know, there are several ways to get in. First, you need to be a businessman with significant influence. Second, if you’re a prominent academic or part of an internationally recognized organization, that can also grant you access. Similarly, if you’re involved with an NGO that has global standing, you may qualify. But ultimately, Davos is by invitation only. You must be invited to participate in the main forum.
However, the World Economic Forum itself isn’t the only place where things happen. About 50% to 60% of the key activities take place outside the official forum. This is because Davos brings together prominent leaders from every discipline, including politics, business, academics, and corporate leadership.
The heads of global corporations are here, which means you don’t necessarily need to be a formal member to benefit from it. We’re extremely fortunate that our group holds membership, and my son represents us within the Congress Centre. But the point stands: Here we are, hosting several Pakistani businessmen who should take full advantage of this opportunity. They should participate, network, and host their events.
If you look around, you’ll see global giants like Intel and Accenture with their dedicated spaces – not large ones, but just enough to showcase their products and ideas. That’s the kind of representation Pakistan needs. Pakistan has immense potential, more than many other countries present here, but it remains one of the most underrepresented nations at Davos.
I think we must realize and plan for the next year. We should have more than just the Pakistan Pavilion and the Pakistan Business Summit. While I truly appreciate these efforts, I would like to see more business groups actively participating in such global events.
Q: So, what about the new message for Pakistan in terms of how we position ourselves going forward in 2025?
Look, I’ve been saying this for some time. Pakistan must function on a new narrative. And that narrative is to decouple ourselves from India. Look, India is a great country. India has a lot of potential, and a lot of resources, right? But the fact is, at the moment, India doesn’t want to have anything to do with us. So, if you look at our geographical position, we don’t need India either. India does need us—they have to cross us to get into Central Asia, Europe, etc. Whereas, we don’t need them because if they don’t give access to South Asia, well and good. We can go by sea to South Asia. But the point is, we should decouple ourselves from India.
Look at us! We have got the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. We’ve got the North-South Corridor, which Russia is absolutely bent on making us a part of. Then, we’ve got the old RCD Highway, which isn’t a new thing as it was built about 60 years ago. Now, we must build a new corridor from Saudi Arabia and Oman to Africa. This can be done through Karachi, Pasni, Gwadar, or Omara. From there, roll out onto the Omani or UAE coasts and use their roads into Africa. Now, look at our resources, our raw materials, our manpower, our youth. We have everything going for us. We must get rid of this India fixation. We don’t need India, right? Believe me, if there is trade with India, it should be on equal terms. If not, it doesn’t matter to us anymore. That should be our message.
The new narrative should be to decouple from India. And let me tell you that the West, must understand, and I want to explain this to you that the West has been very quick to write Pakistan off because our leadership downsizes us. Why are the Chinese building aircraft carriers and submarines? Do you think they want to dominate the Pacific Ocean? That’s not their problem. Their problem is to make the Indian Ocean a Chinese ocean. And for that, they require land-based access from China. The West should wake up and both of us should understand this. We don’t want to close ourselves to the West, but they must recognize that we have much more to offer than any other country in the region.
As President Trump said, oil doesn’t matter anymore. So, if oil doesn’t matter, what does? What matters is a country with all the potential in the world, geopolitically and geographically positioned to be a key player. Do not force us into the lap of China and Russia. Engage with us. That should be the message.
Q: On the domestic front, how do we see our democracy shaping up in the future?
We must understand democracy. What is democracy? Even the United States today is in peril of its form of democracy. So, let the United States understand this from their own experience. Look at the monarchies. If you have a benign monarchy like in the Middle East in many areas and they do very well for the people, then it’s good.
Democracy must be tempered. In Pakistan, we must understand that without the Pakistan Armed Forces, there is no real Pakistan. We must live with that for the foreseeable future and our politicians and people must understand this. What keeps the Pakistan Army going?Pakistan Army is going with one thing, and one thing only—the unity of command. You cannot go around disparaging the Army Chief. And frankly speaking, look at the credentials of the people who are disparaging the Chief Army Staff.
With democracy, a thing that needs to be understood is there must be a compact—a Common Minimum Program and the Armed Forces must be signatories to this program. It will ensure that these are the things we agree upon and there’s nothing in this debatable.
We can have little changes here and there but we cannot debate these things. What are we all striving for? The same thing we are going for on this walk to Schatzalp is the good of Pakistan.
We do not discuss personalities, or what somebody has done, or disparage someone. Democracy is not meant to disparage personalities but to evoke and implement those ideas, and not get involved in character assassination.
Character assassination has become too easy. You go on social media, spread a few lies, and before you know it, everyone starts believing them.
Q: Now, sir, I’m going to ask about something you mentioned in your last interview regarding 1971—you said you made a mistake. Would you like to elaborate on that point?
Yes, I would. I was an Army officer, subject to the Military Manual of Pakistan Military Law and the discipline of the Pakistan Army. Even though I was on joining time, technically, I was a free bird to do as I pleased. But the country was in turmoil, there was a lot of confusion, and I thought I could clear some of that confusion.
At the time, I was effectively on leave, but I should have realized the implications of my actions. I made a technical mistake, and I suffered for it. I never fought the punishment. But, I did not make a moral mistake. Morally, I was correct and time has proven me right. You see that the head of the Bangladesh Armed Forces Command has visited Pakistan, and met with our Army Chief and Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff. Many things are happening that you and I don’t know about, but we welcome them.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to speak about? How are you feeling about 2025? I mean, we have spoken about our political situation. Is there any view that you have?
I think our political situation will sort itself out. We are on the right path. It takes time for people to realize things. But look at the Army itself. While watching the promotions and postings over the last year, one cannot fault them.
They are doing good work as very deserving officers have been given key positions. If the man at the top was so bad, why was he making such a genuinely good posting? So, the point is, one or two mistakes, may have happened, but generally, our Chiefs of Army Staff have been good and have done well for the country. Yes, mistakes have been made, but those mistakes have been exposed. History will judge them more than anything else. But let me put it bluntly you must maintain the unity of command in the Pakistan Army. You cannot disparage its leadership.
Q: Sir, do you have any message for the young people of Pakistan? A lot of people are leaving the country. Any message?
I don’t buy this nonsense of people leaving the country. Go leave the country and make your own decisions. So, what? You will send money back to Pakistan. For every person who leaves, three more will be ready to take their place.
I have a lot of people working in my company. Many of them have received good job offers abroad. Believe me, I never stop anyone because if I cannot offer them the same salary and perks as other people,
I must let them go. And one more thing, I have always found excellent replacements. There is a whole well of youth in Pakistan. So, if someone wants to leave for a better job and a better livelihood, it doesn’t matter as they would be sending money back to this country.
