Speakers at an international seminar have said that it was imperative that Pakistan should pursue an independent and proper foreign policy instead of following dictates of some super powers.

They were speaking at a one-day international conference on “Pakistan: Challenges and Responses”, organised by the Department of Islamic History, University of Karachi (KU), held at the Arts Auditorium on Wednesday.

The speakers had consensus that Pakistan was passing through the most difficult period in its 60 years history and opined that long years of military rule had left democratic institutions in Pakistan in tatters and it was the time to provide them nourishment to enable them to bloom again.

“The nation needed more democracy, more practical resolutions for the removal of dark clouds hanging over the condition of the poor masses,” they said.

Dr Talat A Wizarat from the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) suggested an indigenous and Pakistan-based foreign policy than dancing to the tunes of the United States or its client states.

“We must think about our own interests and decide what should be done. After all we are a sovereign country and have to be more straightforward to say ‘enough is enough’ let us decide our own foreign policy. Friends are welcomes, masters are not”, she said.

Dr Moin Qureshi, Dr Nisar Zuberi, Dr Zia Khan from California, Dr Rauf Parekh also read their papers on different subjects.

Dr Nigar Sajjad Zaheer, Chairperson of the Department of Islamic History, highlighted the aims and objectives of the conference.