R AWA LPINDI: Speakers at a seminar on `Pakist an`s Strategic Environment and its Defence Policy: an Analysis of Current Challenges and Prospects` highlighted the need for unity and education to tackle the challenges facing the country.

The seminar was held at the Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR), on Wednesday.

Defence analyst retired Lt-Gen Masood Aslam was the chief guest at the seminar, which was also attended by Dr Zafar Nawaz Jaspal, director of the School of Political and International Relations, PMAS-AAUR vice chancellor (VC) Prof Dr Rai Niaz Ahmed, and faculty members, intellectuals and students.

Aslam discussed the history of Pakistan`s strategic and defence challenges, and maintained that Pakistan has faced challenges from neighbouring India due to its geopolitical importance.

He stressed that only national harmony can put Pakistan on the path to progress and prosperity, adding, `Both students and teachers should make their utmost effort, for the progress of the country`.

Dr Jaspal said that Pakistan had shouldered the burden of four million Afghan refugees for 35 years, due to which it has been faced with terrorism, drug trafficking and economic setbacks.

`The Pakistani nation is the most resilient in the world, that has suffered three big wars but is still moving in the right direction and rising day by day,` he said.

He said Pakistan was the sixth largest country in the world, by its population, and the seventh nuclear power, and yet is not given its due importance by the international community.

In his concluding remarks, VC Ahmed said that the lack of education was the root cause of all the problems facing the country, and its current situation.

He said that the country and its people should face these challenges with unity, and that education was necessary to make the country more prosperous and developed. He urged the students to undertake their studies with commitment and dedication so they may lead the nation.A Reporter