Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir on Tuesday praised overseas Pakistanis as valuable national assets while dismissing concerns over brain drain, referring to it instead as “brain gain.”
Speaking at the first Overseas Pakistanis Convention, Gen Munir emphasized the potential of Pakistan and vowed that the country would progress in line with the vision of its founder. “We will lift Pakistan and make it thrive as it was once dreamed,” he said, adding that no one would be allowed to derail the country’s prosperity.
Referring to the Pakistani diaspora, he said, “They represent the country at the global level with immense pride and emotion,” and denounced the idea that Pakistan was losing its best minds to foreign lands.
Touching on security challenges, the COAS strongly questioned whether “a handful of terrorists” could dictate Pakistan’s fate, especially in Balochistan, which he described as a region full of opportunities. He asserted that extremists would never control the country’s future.
Highlighting Pakistan’s untapped mineral wealth and reserves, Gen Munir also reassured the nation that despite the rise in extremist attacks, the Pakistani nation remains resilient.
“As long as the army has the support of the people, no force can harm Pakistan,” he affirmed.
