Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has urged overseas Pakistanis to become active partners in Pakistan's journey towards sustainable development and economic transformation.

He was addressing the 49th Annual Convention of the Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America (APPNA) in Orlando, Florida.

The Minister emphasized that Pakistan's future depends on investing in education, healthcare, population management, innovation and technology while strengthening partnerships with overseas Pakistani professionals.

Inviting overseas Pakistani physicians to contribute their expertise, he proposed an innovative Telemedicine Backup Model under which a panel of ten US-based medical specialists for each of Pakistan's sixty districts would be established. The panel will provide backend clinical support to junior doctors serving in remote and underserved areas, enabling them to consult directly with overseas specialists and deliver quality healthcare through modern digital technologies. He said this initiative will strengthen knowledge transfer, improve healthcare delivery and expand access to specialist medical care across Pakistan.

Highlighting the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence, the Minister called upon overseas Pakistani doctors to help Pakistan develop AI-driven healthcare solutions, digital health platforms and technology-based medical innovations that can modernize the country's healthcare system.

Ahsan Iqbal also drew attention to Pakistan's major human development challenges, including Hepatitis C, diabetes, tuberculosis, polio, rapid population growth and child stunting, stressing that these issues require coordinated national efforts supported by global expertise and innovation.

During an interactive question-and-answer session, the Minister underscored the importance of responsible democratic discourse. He said peaceful political expression is a constitutional right, but political differences should never undermine state institutions or Pakistan's international image. He urged Pakistanis to express differences responsibly while safeguarding national sovereignty and the country's global reputation.

Ahsan Iqbal also highlighted emerging opportunities in artificial intelligence, digital technologies, renewable energy and climate resilience.

He emphasized that Pakistan's diaspora possesses the expertise, global networks and entrepreneurial capacity needed to accelerate the country's transformation into a competitive, innovation-driven and sustainable economy.