Pakistan at Davos
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Since 2020, VCast Online has accompanied The Pathfinder Group to attend the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting at Davos, Switzerland.
We have captured the changing economic landscape in Pakistan through insights from some of the most influential business and political leaders of the country. We have also spoken to foreign nationals, hearing their perceptions of Pakistan.
Ikram Sehgal & The Annual Breakfast
While Pakistan has gone through many periods of volatility in the past decades, one thing has remained constant: Ikram Sehgal, Founding Chairman of The Pathfinder Group, and his commitment to reflecting a positive image of Pakistan on the global stage.
In this video, we spoke with him, his family, and associates on the effort behind taking Pakistan to Davos.
A former military officer who fought in wars for the country, Sehgal continues to express immense pride in Pakistan and a fierce optimism for its future. Despite having the potential to earn more in business, he reinvests in Pakistan’s social and economic programs.
He founded The Pathfinder Group’s annual “Pakistan Breakfast” at Davos which is the most significant Pakistani event at Davos and serves as a key platform for showcasing Pakistan’s potential.
Planning the event is a year-long effort to ensure that Pakistan has a strong presence among global leaders. Attendees include Pakistani as well as international diplomats and business leaders, who commend Sehgal for his relentless commitment, which inspires many to contribute positively to Pakistan.
Walk Down The Davos Promenade With Ikram Sehgal
Since 2022, we have developed an annual tradition: we take a walk with Mr. Sehgal, and he shares his insights on the economic landscape of Pakistan.
Pakistan at Davos 2025
At this year’s Pakistan Breakfast, conversations ranged from regional policies to national discourse and foreign relations.
Former Government Officials
Miftah Ismail, former Finance Minister of Pakistan, reflected on Pakistan’s political history, his personal experience in jail, and the national discourse in Pakistan. His core message: make room for disagreement in political conversations and call on all your leaders—regardless of political party—to maintain integrity and democratic values.
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former Prime Minister of Pakistan, recounted a story from the first time he came to Davos in 2018 and highlighted Pakistan's unrealized potential for global business: the world has interest in investing in Pakistan, but Pakistan needs need to capitalize on it.
International Researchers & Policy Experts
Michael Kugelman, Director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center, explained how Pakistan may benefit from re-thinking a national narrative beyond just the country’s resilience.
Adam Weinstein, Research Fellow at the Quincy Institute, argued for placing “a 10-year moratorium on the word ‘potential' when it comes to Pakistan” and for actively building on what Pakistan currently has to offer, so it can become a regional powerhouse.
Regional Government Officials
Syed Qasim Naveed Qamar, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister of Sindh on Investment and Public-Private Partnerships, mentioned some of the ongoing projects of the Sindh Government—including building 2.1 million flood resilient houses, contributions to philanthropic institutions, and developing infrastructure for electric vehicles.
Business Leaders
Beyond the breakfast—Aamir Ibrahim, CEO of Jazz, shared his message for Pakistanis and his optimistic outlook for the year ahead. He spoke about how 2024 has been a rewarding year with greater macroeconomic stability, and how he looks forward to a future of collaboration in Pakistan.
He also discussed the evolution of Jazz from a legacy TelCo to digitally oriented ServiceCO, focused on the needs of customers.
Pakistan at Davos 2024
This year saw conversations on education, women’s rights, taxation, and how Pakistan can build an inclusive digital future.
Pakistan’s Caretaker Prime Minister
Caretaker Prime Minister, Anwaar ul Haq Kakar, discussed the value of women in society and the role of the government in creating progressive systems of taxation.
He highlighted that men should be “good listeners” toward women and the need to respect women’s choices, rather than “telling them what to do.”
When asked a question about the state of the economy, he said that any incoming government should encourage privatization of entities that are not functioning well under the government (such as PIA), and it should prioritize making structural changes in the Federal Board of Revenue to move away from a regressive system of taxation that hurts legitimate taxpayers.
Watch The Livestreams
View the in-depth presentations and panels at the Pakistan Pavilion at Davos below.
Digital Pakistan Breakfast
Digital Pakistan Breakfast (Continued)
Investing in Pakistan Lunch
Pakistan at Davos 2023
Major waves of COVID-19 had ended at this point, but Pakistan had been struck with disastrous floods and political uncertainty. Davos became a critical opportunity for conversations on climate change and foreign policy.
INSIDE VIEW: A walk up the Promenade at Davos
In this unique POV video, we took you through the Promenade at Davos, lined with pavilions hosted by the world's top economies and businesses.
We explored the history and importance of some of the key players and places, and we captured some posters expressing public sentiment—a moment in the world's economic history frozen in time.
In Conversation With Ambassador of Pakistan to Ireland
“To be an ambassador of Pakistan is not just a job, it’s a cause. It’s a very intimate bond, and I think that it is both a source of joy and a sense of loss sometimes.”
Aisha Farooqui, a diplomat who has served Pakistan for over 30 years, shared her experiences as an ambassador of Pakistan and spoke about the role of the Pakistani diaspora in bringing foreign direct investment.
Climate Change, Financial Inclusion & US-Pakistan Relations
Delivering the opening remarks at the Pakistan Breakfast, Mirek Dušek, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum (WEF) spoke about how Pakistan has successfully advocated for climate change support for developing countries through the Loss and Damage Fund. He expressed WEF‘s commitment to helping Pakistan showcase its achievements and expressed optimism in Pakistan’s future “as a potential lighthouse country for financial inclusion.”
Chairman EastWest Institute, Ross Perot, Jr. provided an overview of the US economy and the global economic disruptions caused by the conflict in Ukraine. He emphasized on the need to rebuild ties between Pakistan and the US to continue their decades-long partnership—particularly, their military collaborations.
Pakistan at Davos 2022
While Pakistan was in dire economic straits, Ikram Sehgal, Pakistan’s political leadership, and the banking sector came together to inspire optimism and share Pakistan’s ambitions for growth and peace.
Boosting Economic Activity & Investment
Ikram Sehgal made the case for investing in Pakistan, stating that Pakistan’s economy had grown at a rate of 6%, beating the 4-4.5% projections.
Some of Pakistan’s top banking leaders—from UBL and Bank of Punjab—also gathered at Davos to discuss the value of collaboration between financial institutions and the need for financial inclusion, particularly for women and the rural population in Pakistan.
Pakistan’s Foreign Policy | Hina Rabbani Khar
Pakistani's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Hina Rabbani Khar, spoke at a panel titled “A Lost Decade?” about some of the biggest challenges impacting humanity: the pandemic, a food security crisis, and climate change. She advocated for collaboration and care to move through these challenges as a global community instead of focusing on self-preservation.
She also commented on the repercussions of global conflicts - which hold entire regions in turmoil long after the world's attention moves on. She specifically mentioned how the conflict in Afghanistan impacts Pakistan’s security and economy, and advocated for sustained attention to prevent human suffering.
The Impact of International Relations on Pakistan’s Economy
The Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, shared his views on the economic potential of the region during the Pakistan Breakfast at Davos. He spoke about how regional peace is critical for economic development and expressed challenges posed by Government of India’s mindset to perpetuate conflict. He was confident, however, that this too would change one day.
Investing in Sindh
Sindh was represented for the first time at Davos by the provincial government, who introduced their investment opportunities to the world. Invited by the KCFR, and arranged by the Pathfinder Group and Martin Dow, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah’s presentation was well attended by foreign investors, and set a precedent for deeper engagement.
2020
The conversations at Davos were robust and hopeful. The government shared their vision for Pakistan, the business leaders behind the Pakistan Pavilion expressed their optimism for the country’s future, and digital experts shared their perspectives on the future of information and accessibility in Pakistan.
The Story of Ikram Sehgal & Pakistan at Davos
From serving as an officer in the Pakistan Army to being a commercial pilot, a published author, a successful businessman and a member of the World Economic Forum - Ikram Sehgal has been around the block.
He spoke to us about his introduction to writing, working with the US Government, the need to protect religious minorities, and Pakistan's representation at Davos.
He expressed his confidence that Pakistan would be “the strongest country in the region,” because it has all the makings of one: resources, manpower, and talent. All it needs is good leadership.
Bringing Pakistan & Prime Minister Imran Khan to Davos
In the five years prior to 2020, The Pathfinder Group and Martin Dow Limited had been jointly ensuring Pakistan’s visibility at the World Economic Forum – hosting a series of events and discussions every year featuring leaders from Pakistan and around the globe. The objective behind this mammoth effort by the two business groups was to highlight the country’s competitiveness and viability for investment, and to take control of the global narrative around Pakistan.
In Davos, VCast sat down with Ikram Sehgal, Chairman of Pathfinder Group, and Ali Akhai, Chairman of Martin Dow, on what motivated them to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars every year to tell Pakistan’s story.
By bringing the Prime Minister and his cabinet to Davos, the business groups helped make possible meetings with world and business leaders like President Trump.
The message was simple: Pakistan is now a stable and secure place to invest in.
Imran Khan also attended the Pakistan Breakfast and spoke about his government's stance against corruption, measures for poverty alleviation, and his roadmap for economic growth. Watch the full conversation below.
Technological Progress
Mickey Iqbal, former Vice President at IBM, discussed the importance of disruption and constant re-innovation for a company’s long-term success: only then can digital transformation be possible for a business.
Tania Aidrus, Head of Digital Pakistan, spoke about digital rights for the average Pakistani. She advocated for treating the internet as a necessity—not as the luxury it currently is in Pakistan. She explained that internet can be a tremendous equalizer, offering the same access to information to a farmer as it does to the prime minister.
