ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN: Alumni from various programs of the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) Pakistan got together to reconnect and network on their annual Fellows Meetup at Islamabad Hotel on April 1, 2022. The diverse group from all over Pakistan, ranging from young university students to faculty members to policy makers, included HSF alumni from Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The annual HSF Pakistan event sought to bring together its alumni from its multiple programs under the umbrella of HSF Fellows so as to establish a network of young and accomplished change makers in Pakistan and beyond. The get together also included an orientation on democratic structures of Pakistan with well-known political experts and an interactive discussion on the role of youth as political and social multipliers.
H.E. Mr. Bernhard Schlagheck, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Pakistan, in his speech appreciated HSF’s work:
HSF brings together young people, trying to promote and supporting them to find solutions for ever important challenges in the world. Indeed, HSF is shaping friendship between Pakistanis and Germans, youngsters and experienced experts.
Dr. Steffen Kudella, Resident Representative of HSF Pakistan, in his welcome address stressed the need to connect the youth from Pakistan and Afghanistan for sustainable social impact in the region:
Pakistan and Afghanistan have many young talented people of exceptional academic achievement and outstanding political and social commitment. Tonight we are celebrating them! We are celebrating them through our alumni network HSF Fellows.
Ms. Meher Ghawas, Head of Program Management at HSF Pakistan, in her closing remarks highlighted the significance of the event:
It is events such as this one, which give us an opportunity and a platform to connect with one another – meet old acquaintances and forge new partnerships.
The HSF Fellows Meetup included a parallel event at the School of Politics and International Relations (SPIR) at the Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad where distinguished HSF Fellows presented their research findings on various aspects of non-traditional security challenges facing Pakistan. The topics discussed included maritime security, civil-military coordination, water scarcity policies and nature-based agriculture in Pakistan.
The two events were followed by a reception dinner for HSF Fellows. HSF partners and friends joined the gathering and continued discussing their experiences with the work of HSF.
HSF Fellows is the prestigious alumni network of HSF Pakistan engaged through its multiple projects over the years. It aims to provide a platform to the youth in Pakistan and build their capacity to become catalysts of positive change in Pakistan, South Asia and beyond. HSF Fellows are part of a global network of young scholars, politicians and activists and have access to national and international academic and professional opportunities through HSF’s worldwide engagement.
HSF is the oldest German political foundation in Pakistan. For more information on HSF’s work in Pakistan please visit: https://pakistan.hss.de. You may find event photos and more details at twitter.com/HSF_Pakistan. Press contact: islamabad(at)hss.de.