Pakistan’s path to sustainability lies not in short-term fixes but in building resilience through knowledge, innovation, and institutional reform. This was the central message of Prof Dr Khalid Mehmood Iraqi, Vice Chancellor, University of Karachi, as he opened the AERC International Conference on “Sustainable & Resilient Pakistan in a Changing Global Order.”
In his presidential address, Dr Iraqi emphasized that sustainability and resilience are no longer academic ideals but imperatives for national survival. He framed Pakistan’s roadmap around the Five Ps of sustainable development: People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnership. Stressing that political stability is the bedrock of economic continuity, he called for urgent localization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through research-driven policy, climate-adaptive infrastructure, and a green economy as pillars of economic sovereignty.
Sindh’s Minister for Universities and Boards, Mr. Muhammad Ismail Rahoo, delivered the keynote, asserting that “universities must be engines of resilience, not bystanders.” He outlined provincial reforms including problem-driven research in water security and renewable energy, curricular modernization, and stronger academia-industry linkages. “Knowledge must not be confined to journals,” he urged. Earlir the Secretary Universities, Mr. Muhammad Abbas Baloch, stressed governance, data transparency, and regulatory reforms as foundations of a resilient education system. He called on universities to function as knowledge partners of the state, bridging research with policymaking.