‘Pakistan’s Loss’: Twitterati Lament Country’s Bigotry Problem As Atif Mian Awarded Prestigious Fellowship

Renowned Pakistani-American economist Dr Atif Mian has won the prestigious ‘Guggenheim Fellowship in Economics’. The fellowship is awarded by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation to a few of those who have already demonstrated ‘exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the arts’. It was established in 1925.

In 2018, Atif Mian had to resign from Economic Advisory Council (EAC) formed by Prime Minister Imran Khan when religious groups protested against his appointment. The government was said to have capitulated to the religious right.

Pakistani Twitter users congratulated the economist and lamented that Pakistan did not benefit from his expertise due to the country’s bigotry problem. They said that it was ultimately the country’s loss as a man who was shunned by his home country due to his religious beliefs is being celebrated and recognised by the world.

 

Dr @AtifRMian is emerging as one of the foremost economic thinkers of our time specialising in national debt policy. What a loss to #Pakistan who removed him from the Econ Advisory Council on religious grounds. https://t.co/0GvgWaWqjq

— Prof Azeem Ibrahim (@AzeemIbrahim) April 9, 2021

The one that got away #economics #pakistan https://t.co/gujaYttP9q

— Ayesha Tammy Haq (@tammyhaq) April 9, 2021

He was shunned by Imran Khan and his government because he is a Ahmadiyya.
Just as Pakistan disowns Abdus Salam, the Physics Nobel Laureate. https://t.co/dKgZOTPzXX

— Man Aman Singh Chhina (@manaman_chhina) April 9, 2021

Great Honour.Heartiest Congratulations @AtifRMian @CERPakistan @aikhwaja. Pakistan missed a great chance to benefit from the expertise of a world renowned economist. https://t.co/TW1T9FxpvW

— Noreen Haider (@Madadgar) April 9, 2021

How can we even begin to calculate what we have lost when we make no room for people like @AtifRMian, #NergisMavalvala in this country? https://t.co/jc9HnnP7ps

— Mavra Ghaznavi (@MavraGhaznavi) April 9, 2021