Reframing Pakistan's Image and Progress through CPEC.

Probably the most critical challenge facing Pakistan is the pervasive global misperception about the country, which also happens to be the most significant obstacle to the progress of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). When we engage with friends from around the world who have not had the opportunity to visit Pakistan, they often pose perplexing questions. They inquire about hooligans roaming our streets, vandalism being a common sight, and incidents of people firing at each other occurring with alarming frequency.

This misperception is not limited to international observers alone. Even when I tune in to our news channels, a sense of unease washes over me. It portrays a bleak image, as if criminals are lurking at every corner, ready to snatch away everything I hold dear. Fortunately, during my three decades of professional life, I have rarely encountered such situations, with the exception of isolated incidents during New Year celebrations. Despite my extensive involvement in various social, legal, and official activities, I have never felt compelled to resort to bribery, even when dealing with complex issues. Having worked in different cities across Pakistan, interacting with individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds, I have seldom witnessed any form of discrimination.

Instead, I have formed strong friendships from Karachi to Peshawar. Pakistan is a country with a population of 241 million individuals, and throughout the history of mankind, it is evident that no society has been completely free of evil, crime, and negativity. Our scriptures even authenticate the presence of a criminal mindset in the times of Adam and Eve. Crimes are not unfamiliar to any of us across the globe, but sensationalizing unfortunate events in the main stream media can severely harm a nation's reputation, as it is currently doing for Pakistan.

From a statistical perspective, Pakistan ranks among the countries with lower incidents of robbery, theft, and murders. Reports from sources like the World Population Review and The Global Economy are readily available on the internet, and they clearly indicate that countries such as Denmark, Sweden, Uruguay, and Australia occupy the top four positions for the lowest crime rates, with the UK following closely at number 6 for theft rates. Costa Rica, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Ecuador are the top five countries with recorded robbery incidents, but Pakistan doesn't even make it into the top 50. However, when...