Zubair Qureshi Islamabad
Federal Minister for Planning Development & Special Initiatives, Prof Ahsan Iqbal has been named for the Asian Productivity Organization’s (APO) Meritorious and Distinguished Award 2024 in recognition of his ‘inspiring, exemplary achievements and contributions’ leading to centrality of productivity.
The minister will formally receive the award during the 66th session of the APO Governing Body to be held in Kuala Lumpur next month on May 28. According to a spokesperson of the Planning Ministry, the Planning Minister is one of the recipients in the Asia Pacific as the list has been announced recently revealing the winners of the APO, Regional Meritorious and Distinguished Awards, 2024.
These prestigious awards honour individuals who have made significant contributions to productivity improvement across the Asia Pacific.
The APO awards have celebrated the achievements of productivity champions who have significantly contributed to productivity improvement across the Asia Pacific. In commemoration of the APO’s 60th anniversary in 2021, several enhancements have been made to the award schemes to reflect the evolving landscape of productivity and innovation.
The presentation of the awards would be conducted at the conferral ceremony during the 66th Session of the APO Governing Body in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, May 28-30, 2024 as well as the designated occasions by the APO Directors of respective countries of awardees based on the APO Regional Meritorious and Distinguished, and National Awards.
The APO is dedicated to leveraging the knowledge and experience of these awardees to inspire and steer future productivity initiatives, thereby fostering learning, innovation, and collaboration among APO members.
This is the 4th time that Ahsan Iqbal has assumed the charge of the Ministry of Planning Development & Special Initiatives, first time in 1997 and continued till 1999 then served from 2013 to 2017 and again from 2022 to 2023. Besides, he also served as a Deputy Chairman Planning Commission of Pakistan.
Mr Iqbal was previously also appointed as the United Nations Development Programme’s ‘Champion Minister’ for the Asia Pacific region for his tireless efforts in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
