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KARACHI: THE FUTURE SUMMIT (TFS) 9th Edition concluded on Thursday with a forward-looking agenda centered geo-politics, sustainability, responsible leadership and financial transformation. Following a high-energy opening day focused on economic course-correction, institutional renewal, and technology-led growth, Day Two deepened the debate around long-term value creation with discussions on geo-political strategy, climate economy, organizational purpose, and the evolution of Islamic finance. TFS 9th Edition was co-hosted by the Nutshell Group and National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), in strategic partnership with Faysal Bank Limited and the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce & Industry (OICCI). Themed “Course Correction: Redefining the Direction,” the SUMMIT set the tone for two days of powerful strategic discourse, where diverse perspectives converged to shape actionable insights. “The Geopolitical Chessboard – Pakistan at the Strategic Crossroads” proved to be a resounding closing session bringing together Pakistan’s foremost thought leaders, strategists, and policymakers to examine the nation’s position in an evolving global order. The session, chaired by Senator Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, Pakistan’s 31st Prime Minister, underscored that Pakistan’s future lies in strategic convergence, where diplomacy, defense, and development move in harmony to navigate uncertainty. Opening with a powerful keynote from Gen Zubair Mahmood Hayat, N. I., Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (2016-2019), the session aligned with “Reassessing Pakistan’s Strategic Position Amid Global Power Transitions.” Commenting on the need for redefining General Hayat stated, “Multipolarity allows Pakistan to chart relations beyond Washington and Beijing; and emergence of regional power clusters make multilateralism more relevant.” Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman, Pakistan’s Chief of Air Staff (2015-2018) commenting on Air Power, Technology & the Future of National Defense and victory of the air force said, “We built institutions, respected the policies of predecessors, became technologically strong and independent, only then we succeeded.” Commenting on Geoeconomics in Transition: Pakistan and the New Power Map, Dr. Ishrat Husain, Author, Economist, former Federal Minister & Governor, State Bank of Pakistan said, “We need to tap into export of services to meet global demand. Remittances are the earnings of our people and WTO recognizes this as export of manpower.” Dr. Moeed Yusuf, Vice Chancellor, Beaconhouse National University, in his address on Strategic Convergence - Aligning Security, Economy & Foreign Policy, said, “There is only one goal and that is human security. Every citizen needs safety, security, and dignity. Everything else is secondary. If social indicators are down, it is a loss, despite any given success.” Sharing his views on The Geopolitical Recalibration: Balancing Great Power Competition, Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Pakistan’s Former Foreign Secretary & Chairman, Sanober Institute said, “The world is changing at a more rapid pace than ever before. Most alarming global trends are unilateralism among large countries; and hyper-nationalism particularly in major powers.” In the final conclusive note, Muhammad Azfar Ahsan, Founder & Chairman, Nutshell Group & Pakistan’s former Minister for Investment, while thanking the esteemed speakers, delegates and moderators, reaffirmed the need for Re-Direction for unified destination. “It is not a question of surviving but thriving, Pakistan must learn to act as one nation with common goals to do that.” Investments will be pivotal, he said, but facilitation of the present investor is necessary for attracting global businesses in future. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
