"In my interaction with the media (BBC, CNN, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Newsweek/Washington Post, Herald Tribune and editors from Asia) we projected ourselves in a realistic way and conveyed the important role Pakistan has played in bringing stability to neighbouring Afghanistan.
Similarly, he said, in my meetings, both one-on-one as well addressing top world chief executives from industry, commerce and the financial sector we apprised them of the exciting opportunities available in Pakistan for investment.
"We leveraged the returns available to existing multinationals in Pakistan and the Saudi finance minister as well as heads of institutions such as Siemens, Nestle, ABN Amro, Citigroup, etc, provided us with testimonials backing our claims.
The Prime Minister besides being a keynote speaker in four interactive sessions, at Davos, also held direct discussions with leaders from Egypt, Turkey, Australia, Opec, WTO, Iran, Bahrain, Norway, Poland, Czech Republic, Swiss, the head of IMF and US Under Secretary of Treasury and Commerce. In all meetings held in the side rooms, the Pakistan Premier played host as the meetings were arranged at the request from the guests.
He said while the world leaders are appreciative of the role of Pakistan in the fight against terror, our approach with the investors was to convince them to make Pakistan a regional hub due to its unique position of being at the crossroads of West Asia, Central Asia, South Asia and China.
In most of the interactions, Shaukat was quizzed about Pakistan's relationship with India and the trouble brewing over Iran's nuclear programme.
Pakistan's response was that the composite dialogue starting from Islamabad's Saarc Summit is progressing. There has been understandably some delays due to the change of government in India. Secondly, progress on opening Pakistan to Indian investments providing transit access to Afghanistan desired by Indian and the MFN Status has to be in tandem with the progress on the Kashmir issue.
At the same time, there were three offers from Pakistan on the table which have been de-linked from other issues. They are the gas pipeline project, more flights between both the countries, opening of bank branches as well playing buses between Muzaffarabad and Srinagar. The Premier emphatically corrected the Indian media perception that delay if any was not due to Pakistan and there was no foot dragging. It is the Indian side which needs to respond. Both the Indian businessmen (around 80) and the Indian media on several occasions pressed the Pakistan side to solicit views.
He did not mince words with them stating that his government was serious in holding purposeful dialogue with India. We are not looking for photo ops or scoring points, as we seek peace and stability in order to focus on development and poverty alleviation, the Prime Minister said.
IRAN: Another important issue revised at all fora was the nuclear crisis emerging from Iran.
The Pakistan side firmly opposed any form of nuclear proliferation, however, was supportive of the right of any country to seek peaceful use of nuclear energy as per international treatise.
Pakistan also was supportive of the three-nation European interaction on this issue with Iran and wanted a peaceful resolution of the issue. Shaukat also met the International Atomic Energy Chief ElBaradi in Davos.
NATO: The Prime Minister met the Nato Secretary General in Brussels as the organisation had over 10,000 troops across the Pakistan border in Afghanistan and there were supportive roles being played to bring stability to Afghanistan.
According to ministerial sources, this visit has not only upgraded Pakistan's relationship with European community and Nato which would now make it easier for them to interact on trade, state-to-state relations, but also it has allayed negative apprehension about Pakistan, in particular, and Islam, in general.
The Prime Minister reportedly also asked World Economic Forum Chief Karl Schroeder to arrange for more serious interactions between the Muslim world and the West so that fear and apprehension regarding great religions or civilisations be addressed. "This is greatest danger lurking since 9/11 and these negativity about religion and culture needs to be corrected as the utmost priority," Shaukat said.