COAS Addresses ‘Hilal Talks’, Urges Academia to Foster Harmony & Innovation

Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), engaged with participants of the ‘Hilal Talks’ forum at the Army Auditorium on Thursday, highlighting the vital role of academia in national development.

‘Hilal Talks’ featured interactive sessions and group discussions covering key international, regional, and national issues. Designed as a platform for intellectual exchange, the forum brought together nearly 1,800 members of Pakistan’s academic community. Attendees included Vice Chancellors, department heads, senior faculty members, principals, and students, with significant virtual participation from institutions nationwide—especially from the southern districts of Balochistan, AJK, and Gilgit-Baltistan.

While addressing the audience, the COAS emphasized the strategic role of academic institutions in shaping national discourse. “Our academic institutions must serve as centers for critical thinking, reasoning and organic innovative solutions for Pakistan’s progress,” he said.

He further encouraged academics to actively contribute to building a national narrative centered on “harmony, stability, peace and progress.” The COAS also recognized the challenges faced by the higher education sector, particularly in research, and assured the Army’s continued support for government efforts to enhance the academic environment and promote innovation.

A candid Q&A session followed the address, during which participants praised the initiative of ‘Hilal Talks’. They expressed confidence that such platforms would encourage the exchange of ideas, fuel research and innovation, and play a role in enhancing national unity.

The event concluded with a shared resolve among all participants to collectively strive for a secure and prosperous Pakistan.