ISLAMABAD - Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal said on Thursday that Pakistan was making headways in all sectors despite difficulties and nefarious designs of its enemies.

“It is must that we shun despondency, and every Pakistani should adopt 'I am Rising Pakistan' as his new motto,” he added. "We must work harder, better and smarter to secure competitiveness in all fields, which is key to sustained growth. It is high time that all strata of society come forward and play their role to put Pakistan among top 25 economies of the world by staying abreast with new innovations and disruptions in the world," he observed, while addressing a ceremony held to celebrate two years of Pakistan Vision 2025 here.

The event was also attended by Minister for Information Pervez Rasheed, State Minister for Education Balighur Rahman, HEC Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed and people belonging to different fields of life.

Awards were given to recognise high achievers in different fields.

While talking about the Vision 2025, Ahsan said the document was outlined after extensive consultations with all the stakeholders, and its framework had seven pillars and five enablers to an equitable and sustainable progress of the country. He was of the opinion that since there existed no roadmap for long-term development in the past, Pakistan was today facing number of challenges. “If we want to succeed, we must have political stability, peace and continuity in policies,” he said, and claimed, “If the present pace of progress continues along with stability, Pakistan will be another South Korea and Malaysia."

He added that the present Pakistan was far better than what it was in 2013, when the international media was portraying Pakistan as the most dangerous country of the world. “Now it has become one of the best investment destinations and emerging economies of the world,” he said. Talking about diverse issues confronting the nation, he said these issues had been successfully handled, while the rest were being dealt with in all earnestness.

He compared Pakistan of the past to the present one, and observed that today it was far ahead in many sectors. He listed success stories and said, “We must celebrate our successes instead of crying over lapses all the time.” About Balochistan, he said the province had been put on road to progress, while remnant of anti state elements were being defeated. "Seeing this, we must change the decadent narrative of negativity and put all the bad tags on Pakistan. It is high time that all of us must highlight the positive image of our country by becoming brand ambassadors so that the country's true picture could be presented to the world," he said.

About power generation, Ahsan said 3,600MW would be produced through LNG under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC); 1,320MW each at Port Qasim and Sahiwal power plants, which would be added to the national grid by the next year, while 600MW Chashma Nuclear Plant, 1,320MW each at Hubco and Jamshoro power projects, and 2,000MW Thar project would be completed by 2018-19.

He also informed that work was in progress on producing 800MW wind and 900MW solar energy. "At present, we have the highest-ever investment in the energy sector, which will help us overcome the energy crisis in the next two years," he said, and added, “The infrastructural development on the western route of the CPEC is going at a fast pace, and the railways is also being upgraded.”

"Sick projects like Lowari Tunnel and Islamabad Airport are being completed as well. The national carrier, Pakistan International Airlines, is being turned into a success story since it has 40 planes now in comparison to 19 in the previous years," he elaborated. In the end, Ahsan and Minister for Information Pervez Rasheed inaugurated the digital campaign of 'I am Rising Pakistan '.

The Young Development Leader Awards were given to high achievers in different sectors.

They were: Dr Muhammad Naveed (agriculture), Dr Faisal Khan (engineering), Burhan Rasool (Information Technology), Nabeel Qadeer(entrepreneurship), Zahida Hameed Qureshi (community services), Imran Moinuddin (science), Dr Abdul Wali (Biotechnology), Dr Zafar Hussain Ibupoto (education), Anwarul Haq (energy), Arieb Azhar (arts and culture), Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq (health), Faran Awais Butt (Innovation) and Dr Murtaza Najabat Ali (emerging sciences).