At a landmark gathering in the United Kingdom, Pakistani professionals, academics, and entrepreneurs from around the world came together at the University of Oxford to endorse the ‘URAAN Pakistan’ vision, a national initiative aimed at transforming Pakistan into a knowledge-based economy.
Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal shared the government’s implementation strategy, emphasizing that URAAN Pakistan represents a collective national mission rather than a government project. The conference, attended by delegates from 27 international universities and 33 global organizations, marked one of the most significant assemblies of Pakistani intellectual talent in recent years.
The participants unanimously adopted the Oxford Declaration, reaffirming their belief in Pakistan’s untapped potential and the power of its youth as a transformative force. The declaration called for unity, innovation, and collaborative efforts to steer Pakistan toward prosperity and global competitiveness.
The event featured over 20 keynote speakers from leading UK institutions such as Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, and Glasgow. Pakistani academics and young professionals presented strategies to enhance higher education, technological innovation, and research collaboration between Pakistan and the international community.
Speaking at the closing session, Ahsan Iqbal praised the Oxford Declaration as a “national awakening,” saying that URAAN Pakistan would serve as a global platform for overseas Pakistanis to contribute their skills, ideas, and investment toward national development.
The conference concluded with a strong message of optimism that Pakistan’s progress depends on the unity of purpose and intellectual strength of its people, both at home and abroad.
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