Tariq fatemi biography

South Asia, home to a fifth of mankind and covering about 3.4% of the world's land mass, is often described as the most dangerous place on earth. Being the most populated region in the world, it is also one of the poorest regions and least economically integrated. Over half a century after independence, the nations of South Asia remain mired in a vicious cycle of poverty, with deprivation and underdevelopment providing a fertile ground for intolerance and extremism – which in turn promotes conflict and violence. The region’s vulnerabilities are enhanced by political, economic and social instabilities as well as an increasingly difficult security environment.

South Asia needs to overcome the bitter legacies of the past in order to create an enabling environment for peace and security, which is critical to unleash the synergies necessary for economic progress. There can be little doubt about the economic benefits to the global economy from a peaceful and s