BY: FT Correspondent:
ISLAMABAD—Bringing together military officers, diplomats, policymakers, academics, government officials, educationists, and business leaders. The book review session featured an eminent panel of speakers, including Prof. Dr Huma Baqai, Vice Chairperson of Karachi Council on Foreign Relations (KCFR) and Rector Millennium Institute of Technology and Entrepreneurship (MiTE); Air Marshal (Retd) Masood Akhtar, former Deputy Chief of Air Staff (Training); Ms. Gulmina Bilal Ahmad, former Chairperson of NAVTTC; Dr. Salma Malik, Associate Professor of Defence and Strategic Studies at Quaid-i-Azam University; Brigadier (Retd) Mujahid Alam, Chief Executive Officer of Pathfinder Group’s Enhanced Harmony Division; Dr. Chaudhry Faisal Mushtaq Founder and CEO Roots Millennium Education Group and former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, who delivered the keynote address. The Right Reverend Nadeem Kamran, Bishop of Lahore and Chairman of the Lahore, presented a token of appreciation and thanked Pathfinder for supporting church security, Christian communities, minority rights, and interfaith harmony. The ceremony featured Chief Guest General (Retd) Raheel Sharif, NI(M), Military Commander of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition and former Chief of Army Staff, as the chief guest. Prof. Dr Huma Baqai reflected on Ikram Sehgal’s authorship, patriotism, his father’s legacy, and the sacrifices of Pakistan’s armed forces. The book is a people-centric chronicle of Pakistan’s geopolitical and economic transformation, highlighting state-society relations, food security, population growth, equality, and education. Air Marshal (Retd) Masood Akhtar, said Pakistan had historically lacked a consistently implemented national security framework. He emphasized that strategy was the government’s responsibility and required coordination among the Cabinet, ministries, and the National Security Division.
Gulmina Bilal Ahmad, said the book extended beyond defence to food security, climate change, taxation, cryptocurrency, education, skills, and human welfare. Dr Salma Malik described Pakistan as a shared national space. She said national security was not solely military, as a weak economy undermined defence, while education, governance, technology, foreign policy, and traditional and non-traditional threats formed a single framework.
Brigadier (Retd) Mujahid Alam, outlined Elenacare employee welfare, support for bereaved families, the Providentia Books Foundation, Pathfinder Interfaith Harmony Initiative, and Kashmala Welfare Center. Dr. Chaudhry Faisal Mushtaq emphasized that human security is national security, commending Ikram Sehgal for his contributions to education, welfare, and mentorship through the Providentia Books initiative.
Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said Pakistan’s problems required acknowledgement, critical questions, and solutions. He urged Ikram Sehgal to document stories of those who shaped national security and observed that a weak understanding between political and military leadership had damaged policymaking. He said security must be measured through jobs, economic growth, rule of law, constitutional governance, and fundamental rights, including in Balochistan and Kashmir, while paying tribute to those who died fighting terrorism.
Chief Guest General (Retd) Raheel Sharif, NI(M), Military Commander of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition and former COAS Pakistan Army described national security as complex and multidimensional. He said the book’s focus on economic resilience, institutional strength, and practical strategy distinguished it. Recalling Ikram Sehgal’s service as an aviator, his work in the Karakoram Highway region, business leadership, and Davos engagement, he said Ikram Sehgal’s life is an inspiration for younger generations.
In his closing remarks, Ikram Sehgal thanked the guests and reflected on his life journey, his father, the Sharif family, and his national security vision. Expressing strong trust and faith in the people around him, he emphasized that his belief in Allah and the divinity of his faith contributed to his success.
