Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit - Pakistani Liberals visited Germany [Druckversion]
Pakistani Liberals visited Germany
The delegation with Dr. Gerhardt
A delegation of seven liberal Pakistanis hailing from FNSt partners in Pakistan visited Germany on the invitation of the International Academy for Leadership (IAF). The delegation comprised of senior members of Liberal Forum Pakistan (LFP), Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC) as well as a leading liberal journalist of the country.
The purpose of the visit was to share their work with the German audience but also to learn from the German experience of organized liberalism. No wonder then that the delegation was privy to detailed meetings and visits with the German Free Democratic Party (FDP), the political foundation associated with liberal ideas in Germany, FNSt as well as other members of the liberal family in Germany.
The tour started in the mountainous town of Seiffen, where the delegation met Tino Guenther, Member of State Parliament of Saxony and Heinz-Peter Haustein, Member of German Bundestag. It is significant to mention that both the gentlemen started their political careers from local government. This was particularly interesting for the Pakistani participants as Pakistan is significantly experimenting with how devolution and decentralization is incorporated in decision-making.
At Dresden
Afterwards the Pakistani delegation proceeded to Dresden, the capital city of the State of Saxony. They visited the new appropriately named "Liberal House". This Liberal House houses the offices of the FDP Dresden and Saxony, offices of some parliamentarians, the Wilhelm Kuelz Foundation (WKS), the Young Liberals, the Liberal Association of SME and the Association of Liberal Local Councilors. The collaboration of all these organizations and institutions impressed the Pakistani guests particularly because of the phenomenal volunteerism of the people there. Just one brilliant example of this is Mr. Reinhard Werner, the managing director of WKS, who has been running the foundation single-handedly for years.
At the Wilhelm Kuelz Foundation
In Saxony the group also visited the world famous Church of Our Lady, the Saxony Parliament and the Saxony Election Commission.
The delegation also visited Berlin and the city of Postdam. In addition to visiting the headquarters of the FDP the delegation also exchanged views with the Young Liberals as well as visited the Reichstag / Bundestag (German National Parliament). They also met Dr. Peter Traub, who is the Executive member of the Board of the Liberal Network. Dur-ing the discussion there, the questions that particularly interested the delegation were the issues of citizen’s participation in the new information age. Since Pakistan is moving towards greater freedom because of the opportunities awarded by the new age, this dis-cussion was particularly useful.
The highlight of the trip was the visit of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation headquarters at the Truman House in Potsdam. Ulrich Wacker, Head of the Department of International Co-operation and Political Consultation, welcomed the guests and introduced the world wide work of the foundation. After that, two partner organizations of FNSt Pakistan – Liberal Forum Pakistan (LFP) and Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC) represented by the Chairperson of LFP Mr. Asif Khan and the Board member of SPARC Mr. Anees Jilani - introduced their organizations, their activities and political impact, respectively.
All in all it was a trip that not only proved to be an interesting exchange of ideas but also one that brought Liberals i.e. Pakistani and German Liberals closer together so as to work for liberalism through the world.
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