ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Friday stressed the need to reorient the country’s diplomatic initiatives from conventional diplomacy to economic diplomacy to ensure that Pakistan’s development agenda was also advanced. “The conventional diplomatic times are over. Along with the conventional diplomacy, we will have to focus more on economic diplomacy,” the Deputy PM said while addressing the passing ceremony of 43rd passing out specialized diplomatic course here at the Foreign Services Academy.
He said the basic purpose of foreign diplomacy was not only to safeguarding national interests but also to help in stimulating economic growth by transforming the potential of the country’s geo-strategic position into geo-economic one. Deputy PM Dar said Pakistan was at the cross road and at a very important location in the world. However, he said unfortunately “we failed to streamline and benefit from our location which the Almighty has blessed us”.
He emphasized the need for young diplomats to be equipped with the necessary skill set to promote trade and investment, tourism and opportunities to explore the workforce. “Today’s diplomats should not only be experts in international law and politics alone but also economic diplomacy”, he remarked. He also asked the young diplomats to work hard in their careers for the development of the country saying that to complete with the world, they should no longer engage in luxuries.
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