Pakistan’s first think tank on Africa, Pakistan-Africa Institute for Development & Research (PAIDAR) was launched at a well attended event at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) here on Thursday. The think tank is the brain child of Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, introduced the aims and objectives of this new initiative as the founding President of PAIDAR.
The think tank was launched at a Seminar hosted by the ISSI with the theme: “Reviving the Bandung spirit of Afro-Asian solidarity: Pakistan-Africa relations”. The guests included a number of ambassadors, especially from African countries as well as scholars, students, dignitaries and think tanks, a news release said. Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed noted the launch of PAIDAR coincides with the 69th anniversary of the Bandung conference of Asian and African nations held on April 18, 1955 in Indonesia in which Pakistan participated along with China as well as countries from Africa.
He termed Africa as the pivotal player in the resurgence of the Global South with 54 members of the African Union.
