The Lahore Council for World Affairs was established by a group of former ambassadors and other interested citizens of Pakistan in May, 2012 as an independent, non-political, non-partisan and non-profit organization to promote better comprehension of foreign policy issues on the part of the opinion makers and the public in the country. Its focus in particular would be on the strategic, security and economic challenges confronting Pakistan.

The Council would seek to achieve these goals by undertaking a wide variety of scholarly activities to produce and disseminate ideas and opinions on different aspects of Pakistan's external relations keeping in view the global and regional strategic, political and economic environment. Besides other activities, it would organize seminars, conferences and workshops to enhance public awareness of major foreign policy issues of concern to Pakistan. It would also convene meetings where eminent national and international personalities from official and private sectors and other prominent opinion makers can join the Council members to debate and discuss major foreign policy issues of our time. In addition to interacting with scholarly, academic and research organizations within Pakistan and abroad, the Council would maintain regular liaison and interaction with the business community, diplomatic missions and the consular corps in Pakistan.

Pakistan is currently facing formidable challenges both internally and externally. During these critical times, it is extremely important that decisions on important foreign policy issues are taken after careful analysis taking into account the ground realities at the regional and global levels. The activities of the Lahore Council for World Affairs would be geared towards the realization of this goal. It is the hope of the Founding Members that the Council's activities would attract enthusiastic support from the opinion makers and the public in Pakistan enabling it to fulfill its mission.

Ambassador Javid Husain

President, LCWA