Book launch ceremony of MR Salman Faruqui , ‘Dear Mr Jinnah: 70 Years In The Life Of A Pakistani Civil Servant.’

On Monday 10 June 2024, the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) hosted the launch ceremony for Mr. Salman Faruqui’s book, “Dear Mr. Jinnah: 70 Years In The Life Of A Pakistani Civil Servant.” This memoir blends Mr. Faruqui’s personal recollections with firsthand accounts of significant developments in Pakistan across various domains from 1947 to 2017. Throughout his distinguished career, Mr. Salman Faruqui held numerous high-ranking positions, including Federal Secretary, Ambassador At Large, Secretary General to the President, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, and Federal Ombudsman. The event featured discussions and reviews from Senator Mushahid Hussain; Mrs. Ameena Saiyid, Managing Director of Lightstone Publishers; eminent civil servants Mr. Shakil Durrani and Mr. Ejaz Rahim; former Senator Farhatullah Babar; and prominent journalist Ms. Nasim Zehra.

Mr. Shakil Durrani, Executive Director SOPREST/GIKI former chairman WAPDA highlighted the contribution of Mr. Salman Farooqi, in different fields such as telephone communication, Motorway, Independent Power Producers (IPP).He suggested that the author, Mr. Salman Farooqi, may consider offering his reflections on the IPP Policy of 1994 and all the obligations under the Policy which has had severe financial consequences for the consumers and the country. Today the total capacity charge for all IPPs amounts to Rs. 2.1 trillion which the Pakistani Government and the Power Sector cannot collect or pay. The author may like to list the reasons only such unequal terms were imposed on the Pakistan Power consumers and to point out why IPPs were permitted through sovereign contracts to install IPPs well beyond the 2500 Megawatt required by the country. People in the rear should be identify the actual reason behind this.