By Zahid Karani
KARACHI: The English Speaking Union of Pakistan (ESUP) hosted Senator Sherry Rehman, chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change, as the guest speaker at a recent session held at the Beach Luxury Hotel, Karachi. The event was attended by ESUP members, diplomats, business leaders, academics and civil society representatives.
Patron-in-chief Aziz Memon welcomed the guest speaker. President ESUP, Pervez Madraswala, introduced Senator Sherry Rehman and highlighted ESUP’s longstanding role in promoting dialogue, education and international understanding through the English language.
Senator Sherry Rehman delivered a talk titled ‘Navigating War and Peace’. Addressing current global tensions, she said: “Since World War II, this has been a century of extreme war. The Iran-US war has brought the dangers of an unstable century into every home, factory, farm and school.” She expressed pride in Pakistan’s role in playing an important part in establishing peace and achieving a ceasefire.
Senator Sherry Rehman warned that the global energy map would change permanently after the conflict, noting that “the battleground is now energy and security”. She highlighted the strategic nature of the Strait of Hormuz, adding that surging oil and commodity prices would impact all countries.
She further observed that the world is “rapidly moving towards an unpredictable and violent multi-polar system” requiring “very high diplomatic agility”. Senator Rehman termed Pakistan’s navigation of the crisis “a huge achievement for any middle power seeking to create a safe space for peace, stability, and some prospects for developing working relationships”.
