ISLAMABAD, Feb 11 (APP): Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Wednesday underscored the importance of leadership development through training, vision and continuous learning, saying that effective leadership was essential for national progress and institutional growth.
Addressing the closing ceremony of a three-day Leadership Excellence Workshop organized by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), the minister said that training programs in any field served as a vital tool for enhancing professional capabilities.
“Leadership is not innate; it develops through training, vision and a continuous process of learning,” he said, adding that our society was still facing a shortage of effective and capable leadership.
He attributed this gap primarily to the lack of effective and comprehensive policy-making in the country’s education system. Referring to history, Ahsan Iqbal said the colonial education system introduced in 1835 was designed to produce mental subservience, and regretted that it had been retained without meaningful reforms after independence.
The minister stressed that successful leadership was defined not merely by punctuality but by commitment to a clear purpose and mission. He noted that only 10 per cent of effective leadership depended on technical expertise, while 90 per cent comprised public dealing and soft skills.
“A leader does not become part of stagnation; rather, he becomes a standard-bearer of positive change in society,” he said, adding that introducing reforms and improving systems were fundamental responsibilities of good leadership.
He said an effective leader must ensure that institutions remain aligned with external changes and modern technology. In today’s competitive world, he added, only those nations and organizations succeed that can identify talent and utilize it efficiently.
The minister urged institutions to move beyond traditional and outdated practices and adopt innovation and creativity. He said the core role of leadership was to unite people, promote positive thinking and harness collective strength.
Highlighting key traits of successful leaders, he said they set clear priorities and maintain complete focus on their objectives.
Expressing hope, Ahsan Iqbal said the three-day workshop would bring positive changes in the institutional and professional roles of the participants. He also expressed his desire to see PIDE emerge as a leading institution for social transformation through research and evidence-based policy-making.
Speaking on the occasion, PIDE Vice Chancellor Dr Nadeem Javed termed participation in the workshop an important and meaningful opportunity. He said the institute would continue organizing such useful and high-quality workshops in the future.
The efforts would be made to further strengthen PIDE as an effective and reputable institution for policymakers by providing solid and actionable recommendations, he added.