The Centre for Strategic Perspectives (CSP) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) organised a Panel Discussion titled, “Sri Lanka’s Economic Crisis and What Pakistan needs to Learn” on May 17, 2022. The discussants included: Dr. Akhil Bery, Director of South Asia Initiatives, Asia Society Policy Institute, Washington DC; Mr. Sharukh Wani, Economist, International Growth Centre, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford; Ms. Rehana Thowfeeq, Economist, Advocata Institute, Sri Lanka; and Mr. Imran Sardar, Research Analyst, Institute of Regional Studies, Islamabad.
Ambassador Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhary, Director General (ISSI), welcomed all the guest speakers and participants and highlighted the concerns over Island’s economic downfall, asked the speakers to cast some light on the reasons of the crisis, and demanded lessons for Pakistan from them. He commented on the tweet of incumbent PM of Sri Lanka, the PM said in his tweet, “the next couple of months will be the most difficult ones of our lives; I have no desire to hide the truth and to lie to the public. Although, the facts are unpleasant and terrifying, this is the true situation”. Ambassador praised the truthfulness of the leader towards his nation in crisis by telling them the facts about their condition. Later, he also suggested this for leaders of Pakistan to speak the truth to the nation about the looming economic catastrophe.
