Oxford University Press (OUP) Pakistan hosted its first virtual book launch of the second edition of Sartaj Aziz’s book Between Dreams and Realities: Some Milestones in Pakistan’s History through its social media channels. In this new edition, the author has included additional material to an already illuminating record of the watershed events marking the political history of Pakistan. This book demonstrates that only a genuine democratic dispensation can ensure Pakistan’s survival as a viable federation. Sartaj Aziz argues that the vitality of a nation comes primarily from the value system, cultural heritage, and social energy of its people. In this volume, Sartaj Aziz has covered Pakistan’s emergence from military rule during the two PPP governments of the Zardari Presidency. He describes Nawaz Sharif’s third term as an elected prime minister, his later disqualification, and the subsequent in-house change. In the last chapter, ‘Imran Khan as Prime Minister’, the author examines the performance of Imran Khan since the 2018 elections.
Sartaj Aziz is a development economist. He served twice as Finance Minister (August 1990–June 1993; February 1997–August 1998) and as Foreign Minister (August 1998–October 1999). As Finance Minister under Nawaz Sharif, he was the main architect of many of the far-reaching reforms introduced in the early 1990s and describes in the book the changing processes of public policy in Pakistan. As Foreign Minister during the Kargil crisis of 1999, he presents an authentic and insightful account of that unfortunate phase in Pakistan’s history. The Book launch in 2009 of the first edition of Sartaj Aziz’s book Between Dreams and Realities: Some Milestones in Pakistan’s History.
The online event, which was viewed by journalists, academics, students, and policy makers, featured an invigorating discussion between Mosharraf Zaidi, CEO Tabadlab; Ahmed Bilal Mehmood, president PILDAT; Lt Gen. Abdul Qayyum (Retd), senator; Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, former Foreign Secretary and DG, Institute of Strategic Studies; Khurram Dastgir Khan, MNA; Salman Akram Raja, Advocate Supreme Court; and Shahid Hamid, lawyer and former politician. The speakers highlighted the author’s incisive critique and vital commentary on Pakistani’s political and economic systems and policy-making mechanisms. The discussion was moderated by Sartaj Aziz who emphasized his conviction that the country can survive only through a genuine democratic framework.
In his concluding remarks, Arshad Saeed Husain, Managing Director, OUP Pakistan, thanked the speakers for their valuable contribution to the discourse on this well-written account offering an insider’s view of the national economy and political landscape of Pakistan.
