Director General (China), Ministry Of Foreign Affairs

EVOLVE: Education is one of the pioneers for the maturation of career. In your perspective, how has been educational development plans effective for career building?

Mudassir Tipu: Education plays a critical role in sharpening our intellectual and perceptive skills. Good education must also inculcate values of integrity, discipline, devotion and an abiding sense of purpose to the job. If we are not committed to our job, we can never achieve any worthwhile goal for us. I was educated at the Central Model School, Government College Lahore and Oxford University. Each institution left a deep mark on me. I was also trained at the Civil Services Academy as well as Foreign Service Academy. It has shaped my career in a tremendously fulfilling way. Education, along with a desire to learn and self- reflection, remains critical in shaping our personality.

EVOLVE: As you have played important role in almost every discipline of Counselor Services. Which of the specialized practices you enjoyed the most in your entire career and do you think those are instrumental for your present services towards the betterment of country?

Mudassir Tipu: Counselor Services are important part of a diplomat’s job. It is very important that we provide timely, efficient, and exemplary services to our community abroad. I am glad to share with you that over the years Foreign Ministry has significantly improved the delivery of consular services. Both Foreign Minister and Foreign Secretary attach highest importance to protect and promote the interests of Pakistan’s community abroad. In my career, I also dealt with consular affairs and handled my job with satisfaction and to the best of my ability.

EVOLVE: You had a promising share in World Economic Forum, Davos over “Belt and Road Davos Forum: Interregional Cooperation for a New Globalization”, stressing upon the transformational project OBOR (One Belt One Road) a beaming light for regions. In your view, how far such events contribute towards the advancement of the project?

Mudassir Tipu: I was invited to speak at the Davos Forum in January 2018. It was a privilege for me to share my thoughts on BRI and CPEC at an important Forum at Davos. I highlighted that CPEC was a transformational project and was playing a significant role in Pakistan’s economic development. I also underlined that CPEC would play a major role in promoting regional connectivity. Davos Forum is a platform of path-breaking ideas. The thoughts expressed at this Forum gained attention all across the world. It was an honour for me to speak at the Forum as Pakistan’s Consul General to Chengdu, China.

EVOLVE: CPEC is considered to be the largest initiative claims to entice its consumers with its cathartic and expedient projects ever conceived and executed between two sovereign countries. How do you gauge the degree of success for two divergent regions?

Mudassir Tipu: CPEC is a transformational project. It is a testament to the “All-Weather Strategic Co-operative Partnership” between Pakistan and China. Both countries are firmly committed to the timely completion of CPEC projects. In a short span of time, so far we have been able to complete nineteen projects while twenty-eight are under implementation phase and another forty-one are in the pipeline.

In the first phase of CPEC projects, we focused on energy and infrastructure development. To mitigate power shortages we have operationalized nine energy projects with a total installed capacity of 5320 MW and three projects are under construction, with a total installed capacity of 1920 MW. Most recently we have signed the agreements on Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower projects. Both projects are an investment of $4 billion and will create 3000 jobs.

We are upgrading our infrastructure and modernizing our transport network. Various sections of Karakoram Highway-II and Peshawar-Karachi motorway have been upgraded and opened to traffic. We are working with Chinese authorities on the up-gradation of the Main Line-I railway track from Karachi to Peshawar.

Our focus in the next Phase of CPEC is on industrial innovation and agriculture and technological advancement. Three out of the nine CPEC SEZs, namely Rashakai, Dhabeji and Allama Iqbal have been prioritized and we welcome foreign direct investment in those projects. We encourage foreign investors to explore rich dividends offered by Pakistan.

We are also dedicated to the socio-economic uplift of our people and are currently working on 17 socio-economic projects with our Chinese partners. We are committed to adding similar socio-economic projects under CPEC in the future.

EVOLVE: China emerged as the biggest capitalist among the superpowers and it has been the top investors due to its new and ongoing China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects in Pakistan. In your view, what sectors stand to benefit the most with Chinese investment in Pakistan?

Mudassir Tipu: The industrial sector will definitely benefit from this partnership. It is because of the policy of the government to develop special economic zones in 9 different areas in Pakistan, where these economic zones will be populated with industries producing exportable surplus. This will not only help to improve the foreign exchange accounts of the country but will also help in skill development and capacity building of the youth in Pakistan. The other important aspect of this project is to learn from Chinese experience for socio-economic development. Pakistan is committed to learn from China for poverty alleviation and food security and both the sides are coordinating closely on these issues.

EVOLVE: Language barrier is one of the substantial elements to cater on, so people are advised to remove language barrier to benefit from CPEC. What strategic role being played by Pakistan to subdue this major issue and share the future prospects with respect to it?

Mudassir Tipu: Language, literature and culture play a powerful role in cementing ties between nations. The next phase of CPEC, however, requires people-to-people and business-to-business contact. Confucius Institutes in Pakistani universities have been established to impart language courses and enhance cultural exchange between the two countries. I am hopeful people-to-people exchanges will complement our bilateral cooperation. We have about 28,000 Pakistan students studying in China which will serve as bridge to further deepen people-to-people and historic ties between the two iron brothers.

EVOLVE: Do you believe that without political stability any country can assure its economic growth? If so, then how are you coping with this reality in Pakistan?

Mudassir Tipu: Pakistan is a blessed country with abundant resources and talented and hardworking people. Since 1947, Pakistan has made great strides in various walks of life. It is very important to celebrate our successes; we have achieved in a short span of seven decades. We must pursue the goal of national development with a singular purpose. I am very optimistic that Pakistan will have a bright and promising future. I personally believe that both as individuals and as a society, we should not be afraid of the challenges, no matter how insurmountable they may have been; rather we should focus on fighting them and navigating our way to success.

EVOLVE: You have been into foreign affairs for years now. Is current threatening scenario will perplex the scheme of work observed by our government? Is the direction right for now and for 10 years in the future?

Mudassir Tipu: As I have explained earlier with a strong sense of purpose, devotion and collective efforts, we can meet every challenge and become triumphant. We should not be swayed by dystopian news, false propaganda and barrage of disinformation. Rather we should keep striving to achieve our goals and keep walking down the road till we reach our destination.

EVOLVE: There are few companies commence to contribute towards the development of youth in Pakistan; Are these companies not on the frontiers of breaking our social and cultural norms and transforming the society in general?

Mudassir Tipu: Our demographic composition indicates that we have a youth bulge. Youth comprises more than 60% of population. We have a very vibrant and dynamic youth which has done wonders in many areas. Advanced nations and societies invest heavily in development of human capital and skill development of youth. We need to invest heavily in skill development and capacity building so that we may reap the demographic dividend in terms of enhanced employment, efficiency and productivity.

EVOLVE: You are public speaker, have spoken over variety of subjects. Isn’t it a high time to take initiative in setting forth a platform where young professionals can groom their professional skills and learn from your expertise?

Mudassir Tipu: I always looking forward to such opportunities. I encourage creativity and giving the youth opportunities to enrich their creative potential for the betterment and development of this nation.

EVOLVE: What message you have for the readers of Evolve Business Publication?

Mudassir Tipu: Hard work, persistence and integrity remains the key to success. It is also very important to be absolutely focused on the objectives, we want to achieve, despite the odds, we confront. Moreover, in our human interactions, we must show compassion, generosity and large heartedness and help people to achieve their goals.