The Bank (SBP) organized an insightful panel discussion on this historical occasion covering a wide variety of topics, including macroeconomic management, SBP's conduct of monetary policy and its role in promotion of credit extension to priority areas and use of digital innovations and technology in providing banking services. In this discussion, current as well as previous SBP governors including Tariq Bajwa, caretaker Finance Minister w Dr. Shamshad Akhtar who also served as SBP governor, Dr. Ishrat Husain, Yaseen Anwar and Ashraf Mahmood Wathra, also participated.
The participants shared their thoughts and candid views on their experiences and future vision for the Bank and congratulated executives and staff for achieving several milestones in its journey throughout past seven decades. SBP Governor Tariq Bajwa in his concluding remarks stated that the SBP had always strived to living up to expectations of Quaid-e-Azam (founder of Pakistan) pertaining to professionalism and forward-looking approach in discharging its mandate.
A special documentary focusing on the history of the SBP was also screened during the seminar that portrayed challenges confronted by the Bank right after its inception, and its subsequent journey towards professional excellence.
Sindh Governor Muhammad Zubair, former SBP governors, the SBP Board members, diplomats, media personalities, presidents and CEOs of commercial banks and dignitaries of the city, attended the seminar.
On this special occasion, the Bank organized special exhibitions and Open House session that remained open to public and ran throughout the day. M.W Farooqui, the senior most employee of the Bank inaugurated the Open House at the age of 95 years. Farooqui has the distinction of attending the SBP's inauguration by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah on July 1, 1948.
Visitors from different walks of life were enthralled to be part of festivities that began at Museum & Art Gallery and the Main Banking Hall. Dr. Shamshad Akhtar inaugurated the exhibition and unveiled the commemorative stamp issued by Pakistan Post. Akbar Ali Dero, the Postmaster General, Pakistan Post was also present on this occasion. Enlarged images of the stamps issued earlier were also displayed while a corner of the Museum was dedicated to the photographs of the past SBP governors along with coins and currency notes issued during their tenure.
The general public turned out in droves in Open House session. In order to provide the public maximum information on this day in a befitting manner, special counters were set up for the sale of Commemorative Coins and Prize Bonds to visitors. There was an exhibition of Currency Cycle and the stalls showcased Currency designing and printing processes and live demonstration of Currency notes examination machines, prize bonds draw. Live demonstrations of Desktop Notes Sorting (DNS) and Countertop Notes Sorting (CNS) machines; and Video display of state of the art notes processing system (BPAS Machine used by SBP) was also arranged for the general public.
Speaking on this occasion, Sindh Governor Mohammad Zubair said that SBP is an important stakeholder for progress and prosperity of economy of the country as its performance has a direct bearing on economic indicators. He acknowledged its role as a monetary regulator and said it has a huge responsibility to initiate and sustain business-friendly environment besides ensuring execution of Government's initiatives and policies for the progress of every sector of economy.
"The idea of consultation with former governors is a brilliant one as it will ensure better working of SBP, as their vision for the future will be based on their experiences as the head of this premium institution," Zubair said, adding that the suggestions floated by them would make SBP a better entity.
He recalled the 2013 situation when, according to him, Pakistan was facing two existential threats: law and order situation and energy crisis and the conditions were so worse that no foreigner was willing to come to Pakistan specially Karachi even on a day trip and local and foreign investments were near to non-existent at that time. He said they knew peace was the key for economic development that's why emphasis was laid to make the economic hub of the country a peaceful place for investment.
"Previous federal government created consensus for conducting operation and gave special powers to Rangers and it never interfered in the operation during last five years and gave free hand to Law Enforcements Agencies," he said, adding that due to the political will of the Government and strenuous efforts of law enforcers, peace has been restored in Karachi.
Sindh Governor said Karachi was returning to its past glory as social, cultural, economic, literary and sports activities are in full swing here. He said that in reality Pakistan was a far better place for investment than the perception present globally.
"We have conducted many road shows to clear this perception, and went to USA, UK, UAE and Qatar to present the case of Pakistan to the global investors," he said, adding that now reality about Pakistan is acknowledged and with the arrival of CPEC, foreign investors are coming largely to invest in their chosen field of economy.