Pakistan Pavilion in Davos became the epicenter of inspiration as the Karachi Council of Foreign Relations – Swiss Asian Chamber of Commerce (KCFR-SACC) arranged the ‘Inspiring Pakistan Lunch’. This exclusive event brought together an illustrious panel of speakers, each weaving a unique narrative that showcased the rich tapestry of Pakistan’s culture, resilience, and transformative journey on the global stage.
Introduced by Haya Sehgal the event served as a celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Pakistan Pavilion at the World Economic Forum (WEF). The distinguished lineup of speakers included Arif Anis MBE, Dr. Amjad Saqib, Gulmina Bilal Ahmad, Ambassador Ayesha Ali, Syed Ali Naseer, Maj Gen Tabassum Habib, Dr. Tariq Malik, Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh and Ikram Sehgal.
Arif Anis MBE, a renowned author and keynote speaker, took the stage to express gratitude for the platform provided by Ikram Sehgal. His address explored the inspirational stories emerging from Pakistan, emphasizing the resilience demonstrated by its people, particularly amid the economic challenges posed by the global pandemic.
In the face of adversity amidst Covid-19, Arif Anis and his two friends shared a vision to mobilize efforts to enhance Pakistan’s image during challenging times. Their initiative’s aim was to provide 1 million free meals to frontline workers combating the COVID-19 crisis. Applauding their impactful work, renowned figure David Beckham acknowledges their dedication and the QUEEN decorated all three with the MBE commendation.
Dr. Amjad Saqib, Chairman of BISP spoke next. He is the Founder of Akhuwat Foundation, the largest interest-free microfinance program in the world which has disbursed over Rs. 200 billion to around 6 million poor families in Pakistan and has launched Pakistan’s first free ‘Akhuwat College University’ that is open to talented students of impoverished families from all provinces, Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Kashmir.
