Report – Webinar “47th Anniversary of the Founding of ISSI”

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The Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad (ISSI) organized a webinar to celebrate the 47th Anniversary of its founding on June 16, 2020.  The participants of the webinar included: Mr. Qasim Niaz, who had been Research Associate in the late 1970s, Mr. Changez Abbasi, Library Assistant from 1973-2019, as well as some of the former Director Generals and Chairmen BOG, including Ambassador Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, the 13th Director General from 2011-2013, and Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, the longest serving Chairman BOG since 2013 till date. The guests of honor on the occasion included former Foreign Ministers, Mr. Sartaj Aziz and Ambassador Inam ul Haq who served at ISSI as Chairmen BOG. Although invited, Mr. Ross Masood Hussain, the first Director General of ISSI and Ambassador Masood Khan could not join because of urgent commitment.

The webinar was moderated by Mr. Najam Rafique, Director Research. Introducing the webinar, he said that the four pillars of ISSI that have formed the framework in its journey over the last 47 years comprised: support by the parent ministry, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; guidance by the executive heads including the Director Generals and Chairmen; perseverance and dedication of the research officers; and devotion of the administrative staff. He said that ISSI has flourished in its achievements, increased the expanse of its research and also grown in the frequency of its events as well as its outreach to policy makers. In all this while, ISSI has maintained a close liaison with MOFA. These achievements have been the combined efforts, dedication, hard work and trying of new ideas by people who have given their best in making sure that ISSI maintains its standards of performance and commitment to excellence through research and dialogue. He said that Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry has made us aware about the worth of celebrating and preserving the institutional memory, and ISSI will be making its anniversary celebration an annual affair.

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