Twenty years of FNSt & Pakistanis working for greater freedoms

Slowly but surely The Islamic Republic of Pakistan moves towards liberalism

These twenty years have been a story of many triumphs and disappointments, of challenges and opportunities but most of all it has been a journey of working closely with Pakistani democrats. These democrats braved the various political and social challenges that Pakistan went through from 1986-to date to emerge as a country well on its way towards greater freedoms.

Akhtar Shah, the cartoonist

To document this phenomenal partnership between German and Pakistani liberals a political illustrations exhibition by the artist Mr. Akhtar Shah was organized at Islamabad. This exhibition which has also been documented in the form of the booklet is a visual depiction of the evolutionary journey of Pakistan from 1986 to date and the work of Pakistani liberals. Mr. Manfred Richter, Member of the Board of Directors FNSt, Dr. René Klaff, Regional Director South Asia along with a number of other guests including the FNSt partner organizations and the German Embassy were present on the occasion.

Mr. Richter while appreciating the exhibition described it as "a fascination educative experience" while Dr. Klaff declared that the credit goes to the Pakistani liberal "who have worked in challenging circumstances".

There were various political challenges that Pakistan was confronted with during these years and the exhibition documented that. However, Pakistani liberals supported and facilitated by the Foundation, continued to strive for greater democracy and freedoms. For they strongly believed in the words of the Resident Representative of FNSt in Pakistan, "People may come and go but liberalism is here to stay".

The exhibition will go on tour to Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar. The booklet is available at the Pakistan FNSt office at Islamabad.