Speakers at a memorial reference organized by SDPI remember legacy of former chief economist & most revered economic historian Dr. Pervez Tahir

ISLAMABAD, Sep 30 (SABAH): The Speakers at a memorial reference on Monday celebrated the legacy of former Chief Economist and most revered economic historian Dr. Pervez Tahir of national service with humanity and upholding truth in the eyes of power while eulogizing his services for the motherland.

The Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) organized the special memorial service on the first death anniversary of Dr. Pervez Tahir famously known as “PT” here at the SDPI.  The reference was moderated by Tahir Dhindsa, Director SDTV who paid tribute to the late chief economist. He said Dr. Pervez Tahir was the most secular economist in the country who used to keep a balance between the capitalist and socialist ideologies of the economy. 

Farhatullah Babar, Former Senator and Senior Leader, Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) commended the SDPI, for honoring the memory of Dr. Pervez Tahir. “He was a national asset, and we all owe to celebrate him. Instead of mourning his death, it’s time to celebrate his life. Dr. Tahir was a multidimensional person with unmatched capabilities as an economist, humanist, educationist, article writer, and columnist,” he said. 

PPPP Leader, Farhatullah Babar added that former prime minister Benazir Bhutto used to especially notice his articles and columns during her account of daily reviews of newspaper columns. 

Senator Babar underscored that Dr Pervez Tahir’s human qualities were more important particularly the academic and writings, among which the biggest was speaking truth blatantly before power. Dr. Tahir’s demeanor, diction, and style remained the same during his interaction with all and sundry which was very rare in people. Moreover, the late economist used to share his wisdom and knowledge without any restriction with a belief that the more you share knowledge the more it expands which was the hallmark of Dr Pervez Tahir, he added. 

“Dr Pervez Tahir had the skill to craft his discourse and arguments subtly. He was the only person outside Khyber Pakhtunkhwa who defended the increased share owing to the population rise of the province after the Ex-FATA merger which was a bold step. He also advocated that the rise in debts was not provinces’ fault but rather of the federal government due to its rotten tax system and emphasised structural tax reforms,” he said.   Dr Shafqat Munir, Deputy Executive Director, SDPI also hailed Dr. Pervez Tahir as a man of distinguished character. He extended the Institute’s complete support for compiling a book on his articles and columns. 

  Dr Nadia Tahir, Widow of Dr Pervez Tahir thanked the SDPI for memorial reference for remembering PT. She said the works, knowledge, and ideals of PT needed to be preserved for the younger generation.   She shared her account of Pervez Tahir who was a leftist Economist who was poles apart from her in his economic ideology. He was pragmatic when it came to applying concepts, thinking passionately with emotions, and applying his mind to shape them into a real palpable outcome, Dr Nadia said. 

Remembering his selfless endeavors to uphold his principles and integrity, she said, “PT made Joan Robinson recognized by writing a review claiming that her husband Austin Robinson did not give her credit for her work on asset sharing of princely states in India.” She added that PT had refused to change his ideals and left his PhD incomplete at Cambridge despite repeated calls from the University to complete his PhD, give up his stance, and apologize to Austin Robinson. 

 “He was a great economic historian who took a stand for a woman who was dead. Cambridge University called him back after the demise of Austin to defend his thesis and get his PhD completed as he was the first in its history to have an incomplete PhD,” she added. She said PT was writing a book on Joan Robinson and the Princely States of India. “He was a different Pervez Tahir while documenting economic history. However, the journey of my life with PT was marvelous and cherishing,” she added. 

Tahira Abdullah, Human Rights, Peace Activist, and Development Practitioner recalled Dr Pervez Tahir from his famous name PT, and showed gratitude to SDPI for this tribute on his first death anniversary. Paying homage to the late chief economist, she said, “It’s the time to celebrate PT. Speaking truth to power was his hallmark and he never feared losing his job and perks in that course. He was a brilliant economist, academician, writer, columnist, and a human being,” she said. 

Former Vice Chancellor and founder of the Sardar Bahadur Khan Women’s University in Baluchistan, Dr Shahida Jaffery also paid rich tribute to PT while recalling her memories as a close associate of her husband during his tenure in the Planning Commission. She termed PT as the most outstanding economist in the country and shared her account of association with Dr. Pervez Tahir while working at the National Rural Support Programme. 

“He gave all his time to poor people of the country while working at Rural Support Programme and remained the ambassador for Shoaib Sultan Khan’s rural support programme. He worked from north to south in the rural areas as an ordinary man facing harsh weather and challenging living conditions. He was a devout figure and a kindhearted person and a man of integrity,” she added. Air Vice Marshal (R), Faaiz Amir, Vice Chancellor, Air University paid tribute to the later chief economist and praised him as a persona of unmatched credibility and authenticity who was a loyal fellow bearing great regard for his friends.