Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal urged overseas Pakistanis to become active partners in Pakistan’s journey towards sustainable development and economic transformation. Speaking at the 49th Annual Convention of the Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America (APPNA) in Orlando, Florida, he emphasized that Pakistan’s future depends on investing in education, healthcare, population management, innovation, and technology while strengthening partnerships with overseas Pakistani professionals.
Iqbal proposed an innovative Telemedicine Backup Model under which a panel of ten US-based medical specialists for each of Pakistan’s 60 districts would be established. The panel will provide backend clinical support to junior doctors serving in remote and underserved areas, enabling them to consult directly with overseas specialists and deliver quality healthcare through modern digital technologies.
Highlighting the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence, Iqbal called upon overseas Pakistani doctors to help Pakistan develop AI-driven healthcare solutions, digital health platforms and technology-based medical innovations that can modernize the country’s healthcare system. He also drew attention to Pakistan’s major human development challenges, including Hepatitis C, diabetes, tuberculosis, polio, rapid population growth and child stunting, stressing that these issues require coordinated national efforts supported by global expertise and innovation.
During an interactive question-answer session, Iqbal underscored the importance of responsible democratic discourse. He said peaceful political expression is a constitutional right, but political differences should never undermine state institutions or Pakistan’s international image. He urged Pakistanis to express differences responsibly while safeguarding national sovereignty and the country’s global reputation.