President Dr Arif Alvi has expressed the need for increasing trade, economic, and educational collaboration between Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Speaking to a group of top Sri Lankan government workers at the President's House, he said the two brotherly countries having friendly ties deserved to be developed for the good of both. In order to foster greater understanding between the citizens of the two countries, he emphasised the necessity for stronger collaboration in the fields of higher education, academia, and research.

At the National Defence University in Islamabad, 20 top Sri Lankan government employees are now enrolled in a two-week training course in international relations, peace and strategic studies, public policy, leadership, and management. In order to ensure rapid growth, the president encouraged bureaucracy to be receptive to the requirements of the populace, increase system efficiency, and increase their capacity and intellect. He advised emerging countries to concentrate on the growth of the health and education sectors, in addition to acting quickly to solve their problems.

The president stated that to provide intellectual routes for the growth of the information technology (IT) industry, officials and politicians must adapt to new technologies and take prompt action. He asserted that intellectual superiority makes nations great and that governments should concentrate on building knowledge economies and investing in their citizens' intellectual advancement. He said that by focusing on the expansion of the IT industry and implementing beneficial business policies, emerging nations may see faster economic growth.

The president also emphasised the necessity of creating more financial discipline in order to resolve emerging nations' ongoing financial problems. The elites must also share the pain for the benefit of the nation, he said, because the ordinary people cannot continue to bear the weight of poor economic decisions alone. He said that in order to assist in resolving the problems of the populace, decision-makers and bureaucracy must adopt a new attitude and mindset.

In response to a question concerning regional cooperation, President Alvi emphasised the necessity of stronger economic collaboration among the South Asian countries. He said that doing so would increase prosperity for the region's population. He argued that emerging nations should avoid the current global divide and instead concentrate on problems like increasing regional cooperation and promoting literacy and health.

The course's participants were grateful that the Higher Education Commission and National Defence University had taken the initiative to offer public workers from friendly nations educational opportunities. Senior civil servants from Sri Lanka are currently enrolled in an Executive Training Programme that aims to teach civil servants cutting-edge knowledge and skills for ensuring good governance and effective service delivery, as well as fostering understanding between Sri Lankan and Pakistani civil services and academic institutions.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk