October 29, 2015: CODE PAKISTAN held a discussion on “Causes of Pakistan’s Weak Economy” between the students of Abasyn University and various madrasahs of Islamabad. The students of both the institutions actively participated in the discussion. There was diversity of opinion on the problems ailing Pakistan’s economy among the students. Some students said that the government was responsible for the economic woes of the country while others pointed the finger toward the lack of dynamism within the society. There was unanimity of opinion on greater government support for agricultural sector as the mainstay of Pakistan’s economy. There was also unanimity of views on controlling extravagance in the society and promoting greater savings. Madrasah students called for adopting an Islamic model of economy that would ban interest-based banking. The university students, on the other hand, emphasized the need for controlling budget deficits and a greater government focus on education and technological development. Some students also called for equitable distribution of wealth within the society and control over supply and demand of commodities. Dr. Kashif Saeed Khan of the Center for International Peace and Stability at the National Defence University Islamabad moderated the discussion.
The discussion was part of the University Madrasah Interaction Program (UMIP), which aims to bring the students of madrasahs and universities closer to each other by promoting positive and meaningful interaction between them. A total of ten discussions will be held between the students of Abasyn University and madrasahs under UMIP. Click here for more details.