Each institution of Pakistan must function within not only in their constitutional domain but with the primary focus on their objective on their national goal, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto said as the country deals with several challenges from political instability to climate change.

“For example, I am a politician, I am a parliamentarian and I represent my constituency in parliament. My job is to be answerable to parliament, to be present in parliament and rather than lashing it out at my political opponents on the streets or in the public arena,” he said at the International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) on Tuesday.

The foreign minister inaugurated the eleventh edition of the biennial exhibition.

Bilawal’s comments came as PTI chief Imran Khan has been criticising the state institutions in his speeches at the ‘Azadi March’. The former prime minister, who survived an apparent assassination attempt, has accused Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, and a senior military officer of the attempt on his life.

The PML-N bigwigs’ prolonged meeting in London to discuss the political situation, including the “appointment of the next army chief”, has given air to rumours at a time when the PTI was on the streets. The next COAS is to take office on November 29, when the incumbent General Qamar Javed Bajwa, hangs it up.

Such developments have shifted the focus from devastating floods to politics. At least 33 million people were displaced due to rains triggered floods since mid-June. It killed more than 1,700 people, with Sindh reporting the most deaths.

“We have created this forum where all people of Pakistan can be represented where exchange of ideas, and debates should lead to the addressing of issues of national importance through consensus so we can move beyond our consistent state of flux and focus on the priorities of our nation,” Bilawal said while highlighting the importance of parliament.

How Pakistan can strengthen national security?

Bilawal shared the ways to safeguard and strengthen national security that is as follows:

• Economic self-reliance
• Rebuild and strengthen political institutions
• Deliver the 21st century governance that is demanded and required
• Ensure rule of law
• Put the people at the centre of public policy

“This requires a much needed reset in our thinking as well as the way we conduct the business of the state. Internal consolidation can alone enable our nation to secure its core economic foreign policy and security interests,” Bilawal said.

IDEAS commences after four years gap

IDEAS 2022 commenced at the Expo Center in Karachi on Tuesday after a gap of four years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. IDEAS is a defence exhibition which brings together the defence industry’s players across the globe to showcase the latest technological innovations.

Federal Minister for Defence Production Israr Tareen, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and civil and military officials attended the inaugural ceremony.

Around 300 exhibitors from 32 countries display their latest and innovative products while more than 500 national and international delegates are taking part in the exhibition, according to Radio Pakistan.

Apart from the six halls of the expo centre, three marquees have also been set up, one of which has been named after Kashmir. A Karachi show would also be held on Thursday at Nishan-e-Pakistan on the beach for the citizens. High-level defence delegations of friendly countries are also participating in the event.