Karachi, 12 September: Oxford University Press (OUP) hosted a discussion on the topic ‘New Foreign Policy Approaches for a New Pakistan’ withMujahid Barelvi and Zafar Hilaly.
Well-known journalist, television commentator, and author, Mujahid Barelvi started his career during the dictatorship of General Zia ul-Haq. Barelvi was elected twice as Joint Secretary and twice as Secretary General of the Karachi Press Club. His hard-hitting television talk shows Do Tok, Mujahid On-Line, and DoosraPehlu have been extremely popular and long-running. Mujahid has authored five books, FasanaRaqmKarain, JalibJalib (5th edition), Balochistan: MaslaKia Hai (3rd edition), Khwahish-e-Safar Main Rahey (a travelogue), and Torkham Key Us Taraf. He is currently hosting SawalseyAage on Dawn News.
Former senior diplomat and retired Foreign Service professional, Zafar Hilaly has become well-known as a political analyst and commentator on current affairs. He joined the Civil Service of Pakistan and then the Foreign Service in 1966–67 and has held such key assignments as Special Secretary Foreign Affairs to the Prime Minister (1992–96) and Additional Foreign Secretary (1992). He has served as Ambassador of Pakistan in Yemen, Nigeria and Italy. Hilaly presently contributes columns to a number of newspapers, including Express Tribune, The News, Daily Times, and The Friday Times. He frequently appears in TV talk shows.
The event held at the Oxford bookshop in Dolmen Mall Clifton featured a thought-provoking conversation between the two discussants in which they agreed that this was a timely topic considering that, first, there is a new government in office which brings with it promises of change and, second, the emerging geo-political circumstances present both new challenges and new opportunities. The two commentators described the complex changes and threats facing Pakistan in the broad strategic and economic environment and highlighted the reasons why Pakistan needs a new vision for the formulation of its foreign policy.
Earlier in his address, Arshad Saeed Husain, Managing Director, OUP Pakistan, welcomed the guests and introduced both Mujahid Barelvi and Zafar Hilaly.