Thirteenth Sustainable Development Conference (SDC)
21-23 December 2010, Islamabad, Pakistan

Re-thinking the future
The themes this year included social insecurity in South Asia, especially in the post-flood Pakistan
By Ammara Ahmad
The News
26-Dec-2010
Islamabad

Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), a non profit organisation founded in 1992, held its annual conference (their thirteenth attempt) in Islamabad the other day.

This year the conference was a three -ay event titled, "Peace and Sustainable Development in South Asia: The Way Forward", held from the 21 to the 23 of December. It was designed as a platform for exchanging a discourse on sustainable development with civil society, academics, legislators and policy-makers.

The conference included 24 panels, where research papers were read and discussions held. These sessions ran simultaneously in different halls of the hotel. Along with scholars and researchers, even students presented their thesis. Since there was no registration or membership fee required, the attendance was highest this year.

The themes this year included social insecurity in South Asia, especially in the post-flood Pakistan. Some panels dealt with issues related to flood risk management, climate change, and peace and security. There was one main plenary session each day in which prominent keynote speakers addressed significant areas of sustainable development, such as natural resource management, environment, and gender.

On the first day, Dr. Abid Qayum Suleri, Executive Director of SDPI, in his introductory speech said, "One of the prerequisites for a stable and prosperous Pakistan is a sustainable Afghanistan and one of the prerequisites for India to top the league of emerging economies is a sustainable Pakistan." Dr. Suleri added that NATO is unlikely to leave Afghanistan without peace and development in Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries. Suleri approves of TAPI gas pipeline and the Pak-Afghan Transit Trade Agreement as collaborative initiatives on the part of the international community.

Indian Feminist and publisher, Urvashi Butalia, was the keynote speaker at the opening ceremony. She focused on the plight of Hindus in Pakistan who had migrated to India. After each war, may it be the war of "1965, 71 or Kargil, the numbers of the migrants increase. These migrants don’t have a nationality because their Pakistani passports have expired and India won’t register them. They are also not refugees because they were not forced to escape."

In concurrent sessions on water and sanitation problems, experts declared that Pakistan needs comprehensive poverty alleviation efforts. They established that the absence of water and sanitation facilities in Pakistan worsen poverty, health, education, gender, and income.

Another concurrent session discussed disaster management with a focus on the recent floods. Experts emphasised that Pakistan needs to shift from disaster management paradigm to a disaster risk reduction. They stressed on a community-led reconstruction model to endorse a democratic culture, improve accountability, and tackle widespread perception of government corruption.

Rashed Titumir, professor of economics at the Dhaka University told TNS that, "The conference attempts to address challenges facing South Asia in terms of its states, citizens, and issues. The challenge is to grow with rights and wealth for all, plus to translate some of the papers in impact factored international journals."

One of the highlights was the attendance. The audience included policymakers, teachers, students, journalists, researchers, scholars and writers. Foreign participants from countries like Kazakhstan, Nepal, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, U.K, Canada, U.S and Germany also participated. Ministers and politicians like Marvi Memon, academics like Imtiaz Gul, Moeed Yusuf, Ejaz Haider, and Dr. Adil Najam were also present on the occasion.

Participants from India seemed to have also enjoyed the experience. Dr. Prakash C. Tiwari, a Geography Professor at Kumaun University Nainital, India, believes, "We can very peacefully solve all issues with enhanced understanding. Because now various sectors of society, and not just politicians and military, exist and these civilian sectors don’t want war. Since, both nations are a democracy; it will be difficult to go against the people’s will." Dr. Bishnu, also from India, praised the SDPI food security report a lot and graded it as the best research efforts in the area. The study was read out on the second day of the conference and is part of a regional project on "Food Security in SAARC" carried out to determine major factors affecting food security in South Asia.

On the third and last day of the conference, Syed Naveed Qamar, Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources addressed the conference, "Energy crisis is the fundamental challenge and we have to ensure peace for improving quality of life, security and development in Pakistan and South Asian region", he said.

In a panel on water resource management, the significance of community-based water management was highlighted. The issue of water quality and availability was declared to require urgent policy initiative. Another panel sought to reduce deforestation and degradation (REDD) emphasizing on a developing a national strategy for REDD as well as for pilot projects.

A panel on energy governance of industrial productivity, exports and economic growth as a result of electricity shortages in Pakistan were highlighted. Policy makers were urged to utilise wind and solar energy in Pakistan.

Shirala Mallick, Chairperson Standing Committee of the Senate for Women Development emphasised that structural changes were required to improve Pakistani women’s plight. In a panel to promote decent work in post-flood circumstances and implications of the floods on labour, it was noted that all stakeholders should work together to find innovative approach to ensure decent employment to weak groups in the post-flood times. During the panel discussion on regional trade, experts agreed that increasing trade with India and the region is inevitable for Pakistan’s economic prosperity.

Britta Petersen, Country Director Heinrich Böll Stiftung, a non-profit organisation headquartered in Germany and a partner of SDPI, said floods brought an opportunity for improvement. "I think in the ministry of environment, people know that climate change is an important issue but lack of expertise makes it difficult."

The conference, a platform of people from various walks of life and South Asian countries, provided an opportunity to put their heads together and think about a peaceful and sustainable future.

Peace is sustainable but conflict is not, says expert
The News
24-Dec-2010
Islamabad

The energy crisis is the fundamental challenge to tackle with and we have to ensure peace for improving quality of life, security and development in Pakistan and South Asian region.

Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources Naveed Qamar said this while addressing the HU Beg memorial lecture held as part of the concluding session of the 13th Sustainable Development Conference on “Peace and sustainable development in South Asia: the way forward” organised by Sustainable Development Policy Institute here on Thursday.

The minister said that Pakistan is going through a paradigm shift from single-minded governance to participatory and consultative governance under the 18th Amendment implementation process. He said that there is strong need of social safety nets while Benazir Income Support Programme is a useful initiative and efforts are being made to make it a sustainable programme.

Dr Tariq Banuri, Director of Division for Sustainable Development, UN, said that three determining factors for future scenario 2050, which included economic growth, demography and resource allocation are critical. He said that the optimistic vision for future lies only in ensuring people’s sustainable development through environmental, economic and equitable development while options for renewable energy provide real hope to achieve such development progress.

Indian scholar Avanish Kumar lamenting over persistent internal conflicts in South Asian region said that peace is sustainable whereas conflict is not sustainable.

Rashed Titumir from Dhaka University said that we should look for indigenous options for having multiplier effects on our development process.

Shamsul Mulk, former chairperson of WAPDA, said that Pakistan is not a poor country but it has been made so adding that future cannot be predicted but can be prepared.

Dr Abid Suleri in his concluding remarks emphasised the importance of framing research-based discourses to holistically understand the issues facing the bottlenecks in the way of peace and development in the development-starved South Asian region.

Conference on sustainable development concludes
Energy crisis fundamental challenge: Naveed Qamar
The Nation
24-Dec-2010
Islamabad

ISLAMABAD - Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Syed Naveed 'Qamar has said energy crisis is the fundamental challenge and we to have to ensure peace for improving quality of life, security and development in the country and the South Asian region.

Syed Naveed Qamar said this while speaking at the concluding day of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute's (SDPI) thirteenth annual conference, Peace and Sustainable Development in South Asia: The way forward' here on Thursday.

Qamar said Pakistan was going through a paradigm shift from single-minded governance to participatory and consultative governance under the 18th Amendment implementation process.

He said there was strong need of social safety nets' while' Benazir Income Support Programme was useful initiative and efforts were being made to make it a sustainable Programme.

Dr Tariq Banuri, Director 'Division for Sustainable Development, DESA, United Nations and founding Executive Director of SDPI, said that three determining factors for future scenario 2050 which included economic growth, demography and resource allocation were critical. He said the optimistic Vision for future depends only in ensuring people sustainable development through environmental, economic and equitable development while options for renewable energy provided real hope to achieve such development progress.

Shams ul Muik" 'former' Chairperson WAPDA and SDPI said that Pakistan was not a poor country but it had been made so adding that future cannot be predicted but prepared.

Dr Abid Suleri in his concluding remarks emphasised the importance of framing research based discourses to holistically understand the issues facing the bottlenecks in the way of peace and development in South Asian region. Professor Rashed Titumir of Dhaka University said "we - should not take refuge to Chicago boys rather look for indigenous 'options for having - multiplier effects of on our development process. Indian scholar, Avanish Kumar, lamenting over persistent internal conflicts in South Asian region said peace is sustainable whereas conflict is not sustainable. .

In the panel on relationship between food insecurity, poverty, militancy and conflict organised by United States Institute of Peace (USIP) and SDPI, experts agreed that the food insecurity and poverty were some of the key factors that perpetuate extremism and conflict. However, they added that there was need of more research and empirical evidence to established this nexus.

Moreover, panelists on reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation e (REDD) emphasised the importance of forests in environmental protection and cautioned of the need for developing a national strategy for REDD as well as for pilot projects. Additionally Shirala Mallick, Chairperson, Standing Committee of the Senate for Women Development urged that deep structural changes must be made in order to improve women's rights in Pakistan.

During the panel on regional trade, the experts agreed that increasing trade with India and the rest of the region would be pro highly beneficial for Pakistan.

"Pakistani exports to South Asian countries represent a the mere 17% of total exports and we are trying to increase it to TI 25% by the year 2012"." Said Safdar Sohail, from the Federal Ministry of Trade.

Experts on energy governance emphasised the loss of industrial productivity, exports and economic growth as a result of electricity shortages in Pakistan, urging policy makers to exploit the enormous potential of wind and' Solar’ energy in the country.

Furthermore, the panel on water and sanitation, highlighted 62 per cent of South Asians do not have access to improved sanitation facilities, underlining that available water will decrease drastically by 2020 which has to be addressed on priority. Again in a panel on promoting decent work in post- flood situation and implications of the floods on Labour, the experts noted the need for all stakeholders to work together and find new strategies for ensuring decent work for vulnerable groups in the post-flood situation.

Investing in youth, for secure tomorrow
Express Tribune
24-Dec-2010
Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: Around 67 per cent of the country’s population comprises people of 35 years or less. Therefore, there is dire need to give young people a chance for self reflection, to question their world and to keep them from falling prey to militant ideologies.

This topic was among the themes discussed at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute’s 13th Conference in Islamabad on Wednesday.

Speaking at the occasion, Fahim Raziq, of College of Youth Activism and Development, said that the youth are instrumental in countering insurgencies. He said, “In the presence of insufficient opportunities there is a need to engage [the youth] in social, civic and economic activities.”

He said that currently only 2 per cent of the youth was taking part in politics which indicates that they are “highly vulnerable” to tactics being used by terrorist groups and other negative influences.

“The issues of young people in societies undergoing transition are deep, complex and multi-faceted. They need a holistic out-of-the-box thinking and approach,” he said.

“To prevent problems, the approach should be to promote development of competencies, skills, and motivation in order to enhance individuals’ pathways,” he added.

Furthermore, a speaker at the conference noted that Malakand Division had faced many adversities such as military operations, floods, land disputes, climate changes and fluctuating strategic interests, which was altering the dynamics of the region negatively.

Improving provision of public services infrastructure, especially educational facilities and ensuring employment to youth, were highlighted as crucial in combating extremism, terrorism and conflicts being faced by the region.
Dr Lubna Chaudhry, of State University of New York, spoke on “Post-conflict voices from the Swat Valley: On Reconstruction and Development from the Bottom-up”. She said that the military was the “most developed” institution in Pakistan.

“When there is an overt military rule, neo-colonial forces work with select members of the ruling class,” she said.

Chaudhry said that genesis of current phase of militarisation and religious militancy was the outcome of 1980s collusion between Ziaul Haq (1977-1988) and US, due to the 1979’s Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Due to the military rule at the time and its control over the populace, the measures taken had far-reaching consequences.

Moreover, Dr Anita Ghimire from Nepal highlighted the dilemma of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). She said that the IDP population was 27.1 million around the world in 2010 (the highest since 1994).

“Around 6.8 million people were displaced only in 2009 in 54 countries of the world,” she said, adding that in Asia alone more than 4.3 million were affected.
“More than half of the new IDPs in Asia are in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province including the Fata region,” said Ghimire. Quoting another figure related to the region she said, “IDP population of Pakistan is sixth highest in the world with 1.2 million, which is 0.2 % of its population.”

She also analysed the situation in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Nepal. “Durable solutions are linked to sustainable development, and outcomes like opportunities for education, employment and health facilities,” she said.

Govt for consensus on RGST
Dawn
24-Dec-2010
Islamabad

ISLAMABAD, Dec 23: The minister for petroleum and natural resources, Syed Naveed Qamar, on Thursday said that all political parties would be taken onboard to get the RGST approved from the parliament.

“The demands and suggestions of all the political parties on RGST will be accommodated,” the minister said adding “RGST is not a Holy Book that cannot be changed.” Talking to media after a seminar the minister said that the issue will be resolved in the parliament and the government was working on it.

Earlier, Speaking at the concluding day of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute`s (SDPI) thirteenth annual conference, `Peace and Sustainable Development in South Asia: The way forward` the minister said that resolution of energy crisis was the key to poverty alleviation.

“Energy crisis is the fundamental challenge and we have to overcome it for improving quality of life, security and development in Pakistan and South Asian region,” said Syed Naveed Qamar.

Praising Benazir Income Support Programme, he said that there was a strong need of social safety nets.

The speakers, at the panel discussion on energy governance, blamed the electricity shortages for loss of industrial productivity, exports and economic growth in Pakistan.

They called upon the policy makers to exploit the enormous potential of wind and solar energy in Pakistan by introducing different short term, mid term and long term plans.

The experts spoke in favour of promoting regional trade and it was agreed that increasing trade with India and the rest of the countries in South Asia would be highly beneficial for Pakistan too.

The speakers on the panel discussion on water and sanitation said that 62 per cent of South Asians did not have access to improved sanitation facilities.

In a panel discussion on promoting decent work in post-flood situation and implications of the floods on labour, the experts noted the need for all stakeholders to work together to find new strategies for ensuring decent work for vulnerable groups in the post-flood situation.

Rashed Titumir of Dhaka University and an Indian scholar and professor, Avanish Kumar, criticised the persistent internal conflicts in South Asian region. They said that peace is sustainable whereas conflict is not sustainable and the governments should seek indigenous options for development instead of looking at the West.

Qamar says energy crisis poses big challenge to region
Daily times
24-Dec-2010
Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Petroleum & Natural Resources, Naveed Qamar on Thursday said energy crisis is a fundamental challenge and peace is crucial for improving quality of life, security and development in the country and South Asian region.

Speaking at a seminar organised by Sustainable development Policy Institute (SDPI) Qamar said the country is going through a paradigm shift from single-minded governance to participatory and consultative governance under the 18th amendment implementation process.

He said there is a strong need for social safety nets while Benazir Income Support Programme is a useful initiative and efforts are being made to make it a sustainable programme.

Dr Tariq Banuri, Director Division for Sustainable Development, DESA, United

Nations relating the historical context of development said that three determining factors for future scenario 2050, which include economic growth, demography and resource allocation are critical.

He said the optimistic vision for future lies only in ensuring people’s sustainable development through environmental, economic and equitable development while options for renewable energy provide real hope to achieve such development progress.

Shams Ul Mulk, former Chairperson WAPDA and SDPI, said Pakistan is not a poor country but it has been made so adding that future cannot be predicted but “we can prepare for it”.

Dr Abid Suleri emphasised the importance of framing research based discourses to holistically understand the issues facing the bottlenecks in the way of peace and development in the development-starked South Asian region.

However, they added that there is need of more research and empirical evidence to establish this nexus.

In the panel on water resource management, experts emphasized the importance of community-based water management, and the issue of water quality, along side water availability was emphasized as urgent issues, which must be addressed by policy makers.

Energy crisis: a common challenge for South Asian region, says Qamar
Business Recorder
24-Dec-2010
Islamabad

ISLAMABAD (December 24, 2010) : Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Syed Naveed Qamar has said that Pakistan was facing severe energy crisis and it is a common challenge for entire South Asian region.

Speaking at the concluding session of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute's (SDPI) thirteenth annual conference, 'Peace and Sustainable Development in South Asia: the way forward' here on Thursday the minister said that we have to ensure peace for improving quality of life, security and development in Pakistan and South Asia.

Qamar added that Pakistan is going through a paradigm shift from single-minded governance to participatory and consultative governance under the 18th amendment. He said that there is strong need of social safety nets like Benazir Income Support Programme, which is a useful initiative and the government is making all possible efforts to reduce poverty among the most vulnerable segments of the society.

Dr Tariq Banuri, of Department of Economic and Social Affair (DESA) of United Nations speaking on the historical context of development, said that there are three determining factors for future scenario 2050, which included economic growth, demography and resource allocation. He said that the optimistic vision for future depends only on ensuring people's sustainable development through environmental, economic and equitable development process while options for renewable energy provide real hope to achieve such goals.

In the panel on relationship between food insecurity, poverty, militancy and conflict experts including Dr Abid Qayyum Suleri, Dr Bishnu Upreti and Dr Ayesha Siddiqa agreed that the food insecurity and poverty were some of the key factors that perpetuate extremism and conflict. However, they added that there is need of more research and empirical evidence to establish this nexus.

Bishnu Raj Upreti of Nepal giving her presentation on "Food Insecurity in Unstable and conflict-Ridden Countries: Reflections from Nepal" said that food insecurity and conflicts have direct relationship. She maintained that food insecurity and conflicts have multiple impacts in every field of life. She said that conflict impact on production leads to hunger, reduces food production, and impedes economic growth, which was observed in Nepal.

Reciprocally, food insecurity resulted in fuelling the conflict, lands of landlords were captured by rebels as they left village and rebels collected landlords' share from the tenants. Bishnu said that due to conflicts production and productivity decreased as productive lands are either uncultivated, under-cultivated or cultivated with no or low investment, adding that in Nepal rebels distribute confiscated lands to poor people but they were not able to utilise these lands because of fear from state security forces.

She said that food insecurity is a cause of conflict and conflict a cause of food insecurity as hostile activities of the market and political actors caused intermittent market shutdown and supply interruption.

Bishnu Raj Upreti was of the view that the armed conflict has reduced market opportunities, decreased production and productivity, reduced employment opportunities and enhanced food insecurity. Former chairman WAPDA Shams-ul-Mulk said that Pakistan is not a poor country but it has been made so adding that future cannot be predicted but can be prepared.

Dr Abid Suleri in his concluding remarks emphasised the importance of framing research based discourses to holistically understand the issues hindering peace and development in South Asian region. Rashed Titumir of Dhaka University said that we should look for indigenous options for having multiplier effects of on our development process. Indian scholar and professor, Avanish Kumar, lamenting persistent internal conflicts in South Asian region, said that peace is sustainable whereas conflict is not sustainable.

In the panel on water resource management, the importance of community based water management was emphasised by experts, and the issue of water quality, along side water availability must be addressed by policy makers. In the session on role of parliamentarians in peace and development, Shirala Mallick, Chairperson, Standing Committee of the Senate for Women Development urged that deep structural changes must be made to improve women's rights in Pakistan.

During the panel on regional trade, the experts agreed that increasing trade with India and the rest of the region would be highly beneficial for Pakistan. "Pakistani exports to South Asian countries represent a mere 17% of total exports and we are trying to increase it to 25% by the year 2012"." said Safdar Sohail, from the Federal Ministry of Trade.

In a panel on energy governance, experts emphasised the loss of industrial productivity, exports and economic growth as a result of electricity shortages in Pakistan urging policy makers to exploit the enormous potential of wind and solar energy in Pakistan.

Adeel for joint parliament, SC and currency in South Asia
The News
23-Dec-2010
Islamabad

ANP Senator Haji Adeel has said that all South Asian countries should have one parliament, one supreme court and one currency.

He was speaking on the second day of a three-day 13th Sustainable Development Conference on ‘Peace and Sustainable Development in South Asia: The Way Forward’ organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) here on Wednesday.

Haji Adeel said that it is high time for India and Pakistan to revisit their current relationship of perpetual conflict. He said that the democracy deficit is an important reason for slow integration process within South Asia. He said that educational institutions must promote peace, co-existence and mutual respect and not war in the South Asian region.

Kaiser Bengali, adviser to the Sindh government, said that the dominant group simply did not allow democracy to function. “You can have democracy on paper, but they will rig the elections,” he said. Citing Islamabad’s repeated obstruction of the NFC being signed into law as evidence, he said that the dominant group simply did not want to share power. He said there was a spirit of cooperation and compromise during the NFC negotiations, but in the months that followed, Islamabad created one obstruction after another. He lamented that leaders failed to construct a genuine vision of national identity while pursuing personal aggrandisement and a policy of ‘beating heads’ in Balochistan, reminiscent of the centre’s strategy towards East Pakistan.

Mome Saleem of the SDPI presented community model strategies intrinsic to the implementation of policies for ending violence against women. She said that under the research, case studies were collected which showed the motivation of men towards ending violence based on various aspects. She also gave recommendation about how this model and strategy feed into the mainstream policies for ending violence against women to ensure implementation.

The former acting executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme, Shafqat Kakakhel, said that Pakistan should not wait for the world to address the climate crisis and “we must stand up and resolve these imminent challenges within our borders ourselves. He said that civil society should bring pressure on the governments to implement the decisions and recommendations of Saarc meetings on climate change.

He said that developed countries of the world are responsible for climate change and should provide financial and technical support to the developing countries to meet the challenges of climate change.

Dr Abid Suleri, executive director of the SDPI, said that one of the prerequisites for a stable and prosperous Pakistan is sustainable Afghanistan and one of the prerequisites for India to top the league of emerging economies is sustainable Pakistan. He observed that the Nato is unlikely to leave Afghanistan without peace and development in its neighbouring countries. He said that civil society must start to play an effective role in suggesting some honourable exit strategies and amicable solutions to our respective governments, which are not taking the necessary steps to resolve the pending issues hounding South Asia partially because they are scared of their political opponents.

In a panel on chemical management, the speakers urged the government to regulate many carcinogenic, hormone disrupting and toxic chemicals used by the cosmetic industry. They conferred on the urgent task of containing contamination from the 50,000 different chemical substances daily used in agriculture, industry and homes.

In the session on Indus Water Treaty, former Wapda chairman Shams ul Mulk stressed that Pakistan and India should adopt a sane approach over natural resources of the region.

Climate change thus presents a serious security risk and sustainable development strategies must be immediately implemented in the interest of peace and human security in South Asia, they observed.

Peace & sustainable development in South Asia
War no solution to peace: Adeel
The Nation
23-Dec-2010
Islamabad

ISLAMABAD - While underlining the absence of true democracy an important reason for slow regional integration process within South 'Asia, Senator Haji Muhammad Adeel on Wednesday said there should be a joint Saarc parliament, supreme court and common currency.

The senior leader of ANP said this while speaking on the second day of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute's (SDPD Thirteenth Annual Conference, "Peace and Sustainable Development in South Asia: The Way Forward." He also urge that educational institutions must promote peace, coexistence, and mutual respect not war within the South Asian region. In a panel on financing climate change, Shafqat Kakakhel, former Ambassador and Acting Executive Director UNEP underlined that there is an urgent need to respond to climate change challenges in South Asia. "Pakistan must not wait for the international world to address the climate crisis; we must stand up and resolve these imminent challenges with in our borders ourselves", he added Experts pointed out that climate change is the result of historic emissions of greenhouse gases by today's developed world and demanded that the developed world must provide much needed financial and technical assistance to developing countries that are being compelled to confront the devastating impact of climate change. Furthermore-the speakers urged the Government to regulate many carcinogenic, hormone disrupting and toxic chemicals used by the cosmetic industry. They conferred on the urgent task of containing contamination from the.50, OOO different chemical substances used daily in agriculture, industry and homes. "Sound management of chemicals is essential if we are to achieve sustainable development, including the eradication of poverty and disease, the improvement of human health and the environment, and the elevation and maintenance of the standard of living in countries at all levels of development," said Dr Mahmood A Khwaja from SDPI.

In the session on Indus Water 'treaty, former chairperson WAPDA, Shamsul Mulk underlined that the both Pakistan and India should adopt an approach over natural resources of the region. In the session on the role of think tanks in development, while acknowledging the unprecedented research contributions by research institutions, the experts agreed that linkages between research and policy could be strengthened through the increased role of the media and educational institutions in improving the effectiveness of research.

In another panel, experts agreed that livelihoods across South Asia face increasing vulnerability as a result of the increasing frequency of natural disasters as projected under climate change modeling. Climate change thus presents a serious security risk and sustainable development strategies must be immediately implemented in the interest of peace and human security in South Asia.

During the session on violence against women, the panelists highlighted the unconventional role of men in confronting the issues of violence against women. They discussed institutional gaps, local perceptions of masculinity as "gatekeepers or protectors of women", as well as the important role of educational institutions in forming gender perceptions in young children

In a session on IMF and World Bank impact in South Asia, experts and participants' raised Concerns about negative effects of Structural Alljustment Programs on women. They also highlighted the problem of agricultural land acquisition by foreign investors, which is supported by the World Bank and facilitated through the structurally adjusted open economy.

In the panel 'Peace Through Development', speakers discussed the plight of Malakand division, neglect of Rod Kohi (hilltorrents) affected communities in districts Rajanpur and Dera Ghazi Khan, and the alienation of Pakistani youth and the difficulties face by IDPs. It was noted that the Malakand division has faced military operations, which have changed the dynamics in the region with far-reaching consequences.

Education costs money, but so does ignorance
Express Tribune
23-Dec-2010
Islamabad

SDPI report says our curriculum is oriented more towards religious and parochial indoctrination instead of intellectual and critical development.

ISLAMABAD: More than two million children in Pakistan, who are of primary-school going age today, do not have the facilities to attend school.

Over 13 million children of middle and secondary school age are also out of school. The school participation ratio at educational levels higher than these, is four per cent or less. These statistics were revealed in a report titled “Critical Issues in Education Policy- A citizens’ Review of the National Education Policy 1998-2010” published by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI).

This report, co-authored by Professor AH Nayyar and Ahmad Salim, further said that Pakistan is counted among the least developed countries in the United Nations Development Programme Human Development Report of 2003. The public sector expenditure on education in Pakistan over the last three decades has been between 1.5 and 2.5 per cent of Gross National Product (GNP), it indicates.

Pakistan’s Education Index is 0.44 whereas the average index of the least developed countries is 0.5 (higher index is better) and that of South Asia is 0.58. The index is based on literacy levels, primary, secondary and tertiary enrollment and government expenditure on education as a percentage of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

It is further analysed in the SPDI’s review that Pakistan has a population of over 155 million, which is increasing at a rate of 2.9 per cent annually.

The literacy rate, according to the government, is (approximately) 50 per cent. “This is far below what had been projected in education policies for the past 50 years,” said the report.

The number of students in the public sector schools increased by 2.17 million over a period of two years (2002-03 to 2004-05). During this time, the number of teachers decreased by nearly 20,000. This led to a rise in the average pupil-teacher ratio from 26 to 30. In the same period only 2,200 new schools were opened for these additional 2.17 million students.
In the public sector, a primary school is on the average provided with only 2.5 teachers, a middle school with 7.6, a high school with 18, and an intermediate and degree college with 26 teachers. The average pupil-teacher ratios are 31, 29, 8.6 and 14 respectively.

The SDPI’s report read, “Various Five Year Plans (introduced by the government) have been very generous in setting targets for primary enrollment but never managed to achieve them,” said the SDPI report.

It indicates that the low priority given to education means that in times of financial crisis, which are not uncommon, expenditure on education is invariably among the first to be slashed. The review says, “While inadequate financing is a serious problem, the system of governance is so flawed that whatever amount is allocated is seldom fully utilised.”
Besides financial issues, the review analysed, the educational content of required courses and prescribed textbooks is poor. The curriculum, syllabus and textbooks are geared more towards religious and parochial indoctrination and less towards nurturing intellectual or critical abilities in students.

The report suggests that textbooks be used that are free of any material that incites hatred and false patriotism; textbooks that teach tolerance for and appreciation of the cultural, linguistic and religious diversity of the nation.

The Ministry of Education said that they had already incorporated some of the SDPI’s suggestions and were attempting to standardise textbooks and adopt a uniform (tolerant) educational curriculum.

According to the National Education Policy 2009 published by the Ministry of Education, “Almost one-third of primary school age children remain out of school, a proportion that rises to about three-quarters for secondary school children.”

It further said, “An equal concern is that except for Early Childhood Education, Pakistan’s performance on Gross Enrolment Ratio and Net Enrolment Ratio lags behind its neighbors for the primary level and above.”

The performance on primary completion rate is particularly weak and the problem of drop out rates is severe, as it adds to the number of out-of-school children.

The Ministry of Education document concluded that, “There is a clear need for expanding the provision. At the same time, efforts have to be made to cut the high dropout rates and induce more out-of-school youths back to the school system, particularly girls, whose participation is still very low.”

Investing in youth, for secure tomorrow
23-Dec-2010
Express Tribune
Islamabad

Speakers discuss various topics including plight of Malakand to youth in SDPI conference.

This topic was among the themes discussed at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute’s 13th Conference in Islamabad on Wednesday.

In the panel “Peace through development”, speakers discussed the plight of Malakand Division, neglect of the affected communities of Rod Kohi in district Rajanpur, and the alienation of Pakistani youth and the difficulties faced by internally displaced persons.
Speaking at the occasion, Fahim Raziq, of College of Youth Activism and Development, said that the youth are instrumental in countering insurgencies. He said, “In the presence of insufficient opportunities there is a need to engage [the youth] in social, civic and economic activities.”

“The issues of young people in societies undergoing transition are deep, complex and multi-faceted. They need a holistic out-of-the-box thinking and approach,” he said.

“To prevent problems, the approach should be to promote development of competencies, skills, and motivation in order to enhance individuals’ pathways,” he added.

Dr Lubna Chaudhry, of State University of New York, spoke on “Post-conflict voices from the Swat Valley: On Reconstruction and Development from the Bottom-up”. She said that the military was the “most developed” institution in Pakistan.
“When there is an overt military rule, neo-colonial forces work with select members of the ruling class,” she said.
Chaudhry said that genesis of current phase of militarisation and religious militancy was the outcome of 1980s collusion between Ziaul Haq (1977-1988) and US, due to the 1979’s Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Due to the military rule at the time and its control over the populace, the measures taken had far-reaching consequences.

“Around 6.8 million people were displaced only in 2009 in 54 countries of the world,” she said, adding that in Asia alone more than 4.3 million were affected.

“More than half of the new IDPs in Asia are in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province including the Fata region,” said Ghimire. Quoting another figure related to the region she said, “IDP population of Pakistan is sixth highest in the world with 1.2 million, which is 0.2 % of its population.”

Joint parliament, currency ANP leader seeks regional integration
Dawn
23-Dec-2010
Islamabad

ISLAMABAD, Dec 22: Awami National Party (ANP) parliamentary leader in the Senate Haji Adeel here on Wednesday called for a joint parliament, supreme court and common currency in South Asia and stressed the need for strengthening democracy in the region.

He was speaking at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) 13th annual conference titled `Peace and sustainable development in South Asia: the way forward`.
Senator Adeel said lack of democracy was the key reason for the slow integration process within South Asia. “Saarc should have a joint parliament, supreme court and currency,” he said. “However, there has to be strong democratic roots and the role of educational institutions has to be highlighted for promotion of peace in the region.”

Mr Adeel said mutual respect, not war, within the South Asian region and educational institutions should promote peace and co-existence.

Other speakers said improving public service delivery infrastructure, especially educational facilities, was an essential step to ensure employment for the youth in order to combat extremism, terrorism and conflicts.

However, contrary views were also expressed by experts at the session on Indus Water Treaty. Former chairman Wapda Shamsul Mulk said both Pakistan and India should adopt a sane approach over natural resources of the region.

The speakers said conflicts and political disagreement had led to massive wastage and under-utilisation of natural resources mainly water in South Asia.

They said under-utilisation of natural resources was a key hurdle for eradication of poverty. The speakers said livelihoods across South Asia faced increasing vulnerability as a result of increasing frequency of natural disasters.

During the session on poverty reduction and social exclusion, the experts emphasised the need for effective policy responses to climate change and resource degradation.

It was highlighted that a large number of South Asians were facing the problem of social exclusion due to endangered livelihoods which had to be addressed seriously by national governments, and safety net programmes like Benazir Income Support Programme should be expanded without being politicised.

During the session on violence against women, the panelists highlighted the unconventional role of men in confronting the issues of violence against women.
They discussed institutional gaps, local perceptions of masculinity as `gatekeepers or protectors of women` as well as the important role of educational institutions in forming gender perceptions in children.

During discussion on financing climate change, former ambassador Shafqat Kakakhel said there was an urgent need to respond to climate challenges in South Asia. “Pakistan must not wait for the world to address the climate crisis; we must stand up and resolve these imminent challenges within our borders ourselves,” he added.

Adil calls for joint SAARC Parliament, Supreme Court
Daily times
23-Dec-2010
Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: There should be a joint SAARC parliament, supreme court and common currency" said Senator Haji Muhammad Adil while speaking on the second day of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute's (SDPI) thirteenth annual conference, 'Peace and Sustainable Development in South Asia: The way forward' here on Wednesday. Senator Adil said that the democracy deficit is an important reason for the slow regional integration process within South Asia and educational institutions must promote peace, co-existence, and mutual respect not war within the South Asian region. In a panel on financing climate change, Shafqat Kakakhel, former Ambassador and Acting Executive Director UNEP I ] underlined that there is an urgent need to respond to climate change challenges in South Asia. "Pakistan must not I wait for the international world I to address the climate crisis; we i must stand up and resolve these imminent challenges within our borders ourselves" he added.

ANP calls for joint SAARC Parliament, Supreme Court, common currency
Business Recorder
23-Dec-2010
Islamabad

ISLAMABAD (December 23, 2010) : Awami National Party (ANP) senior leader Haji Muhammad Adil said that there should be a joint Saarc Parliament, Supreme Court and Common Currency so that people of the region could get maximum benefit of each others resources. Senator Haji Muhammad Adil while speaking on the second day of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute's (SDPI) thirteenth annual conference, 'Peace and Sustainable Development in South Asia.

The way forward' here on Wednesday said that the democracy-deficit is an important reason for the slow regional integration within South Asia. He said that education could play a leading role in averting and resolving a number of regional issues, adding that the educational institutions of the South Asia must promote peace, co-existence, and mutual respect not war within the region.

Former Chairman Wapda, Shamsul-Mulk while speaking on Indus Water Treaty said that both Pakistan and India should adopt a rational approach over natural resources of the region for the betterment of the inhabitants. In a panel on financing climate change, Shafqat Kakakhel, former Ambassador and Acting Executive Director United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) underlined the need to respond to climate change challenges in South Asia. He said that in this part of the world many glaciers were melting due to climate change and the regional governments have to take appropriate measure to check unbalanced industrial growth.

"Pakistan must not wait for the global community to address the climate crisis; we must stand up and meet these imminent challenges ourselves" he added. Experts pointed out that climate change is the result of historic emissions of greenhouse gases by today's developed world and urged that the developed countries to provide much needed financial and technical assistance to developing countries compelled to confront the devastating impacts of climate change.

In a panel on chemical management, the speakers urged the government to regulate many carcinogenic, hormone disrupting and toxic chemicals used by the cosmetic industry. They urged for containing contamination from the 50,000 different chemical substances used daily in agriculture, industry and by the household. "Sound management of chemicals is essential if we are to achieve sustainable development, including the eradication of poverty and disease, the improvement of human health and the environment, and the elevation and maintenance of the standard of living in countries at all levels of development" said Dr Mahmood Khwaja of SDPI.

In the session on the role of think tanks in development, while acknowledging the unprecedented contributions made by research institutions, the experts identified the problems of brain drain and the donor-driven research agenda as important impediments in improving local research environment. They agreed that linkages between research and policy could be strengthened through the increased role of the media and educational institutions in improving the effectiveness of research.

During the session on poverty reduction and social exclusion, experts including Dr Parkash C. Tiwari and Dr Azra Razaq from India, Faisal Shaheen from Canada, Ms Priyanthi Farnando from Srilanka and Dr Babar Shahbaz from Pakistan emphasised the need for effective policy responses to climate change and resource degradation.

A large proportion of South Asia is facing the problem of social exclusion due to endangered livelihoods, which has to be addressed seriously by regional governments, they underscored. Safety net programmes like the Benazir Income Support Program must be expanded, while politicisation of such programmes must be avoided.

In another panel, experts agreed that livelihoods across South Asia face increasing vulnerability, as a result of the increasing frequency of natural disasters as projected under climate change. Climate change thus presents a serious security risk and sustainable development strategies must be immediately implemented in the interest of peace and human security in the region, they added.

During the session on violence against women, the panellists highlighted the unconventional role of men in confronting the issues of violence against women. They discussed institutional gaps, local perceptions of masculinity as "gatekeepers or protectors of women", as well as the important role of educational institutions in forming gender perceptions.

In a session on IMF and World Bank impact in South Asia, experts and participants raised concerns about negative effects of Structural Adjustment Programs on women. They also highlighted the problem of agricultural land acquisition by foreign investors, which is supported by the World Bank and facilitated through the structurally adjusted open economy.

Antonia Settle from Australia said agricultural land acquisitions in Pakistan may do more harm than good to Pakistan as a nation at the economic, ecological and political levels. She maintained that the lack of legitimacy in foreign acquisition policy in the eyes of local communities reflects poorly on the government at a time when civilian democratic governance must secure legitimacy from the people to stay in place and for the democratic system to permanently take roots in Pakistan.

The resistance to the acquisitions policy is being most loudly voiced by those representing various separatist struggles, such as Seraiki, Sindhi and Boluchi nationalists, respectively, and that only in upper Punjab is the issue, voiced by the AMP's campaign, being seen as something resembling a class, as opposed to an ethnic struggle, she noted.

In the panel 'Peace through development', speakers discussed the plight of Malakand division, neglect of Rod Kohi affected communities in district Rajanpur, and the alienation of Pakistani youth and the difficulties faced by IDPs. It was noted that the Malakand division has faced military operations, floods, land disputes, climate change and fluctuating strategic interests, which have changed the dynamics in the region with far-reaching consequences.

Improving public service delivery infrastructure especially educational facilities and ensuring employment to youth was highlighted, as crucial to combating extremism, terrorism and conflicts. The conference will conclude on Thursday (today). Syed Naveed Qamar, Federal Minister for petroleum and natural resources would chair the concluding ceremony.

Pakistan, India urged to rethink their current ties
The News
22-Dec-2010
Islamabad

It is high time for India and Pakistan to rethink their current relationship of perpetual conflict and animosity as internal reforms are pre-requisite for peace without which no development and progress can take place, said Dr. Saeed Shafqat of the FC University, Lahore.

He was addressing the opening session of 13th Sustainable Development Conference on ‘Peace and Sustainable Development in South Asia: The Way Forward’ organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute here on Tuesday.

Dr. Shafqat said that peace is linked with internal reforms. He said in the state-centric realist point of view, peace is linked with resolution of external conflicts thereby making rivalry perpetual and conflict endemic.

He said that internal peace and reform facilitated growth and rise of China. He said India is spending 32 billion dollars on defence, which may go up to 80 billion dollars in five years whereas the figures for Pakistan are 5 billion dollars and 10 billion dollars respectively.

He called for changing the mindset, which needs structural change — from an economy of war to an economy of peace — which implies internal reform. He called for replacing cross-border proxy wars with cross-border cooperation.

He called TAPI agreement between Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India over gas pipeline a step in the right direction.

Federal Environment Secretary Javed Malik said that there must be a change in thinking on the relationship with India. A paradigm shift in policy towards fostering peace is a must for achieving sustainable development in the region, he said, noting that people on the ground across South Asia

want normalised relations and collaborative efforts for attaining peace would help

diverting resources from security to confronting the catastrophic consequences of climate change.

Shafqat Kakakhel said that civil society should bring pressure on the governments to implement the decisions and recommendations of Saarc meetings on climate change. He said that developed countries of the world are responsible for climate change and should provide financial and technical support to the developing countries to meet the challenges of climate change.

Indian feminist historian Urvashi Battalia said that the common masses are more concerned with earning their bread and butter than engaging in inter-regional animosity and are demanding their governments to deliver on issues like climate change, sustainable livelihood and food security.

In a concurrent session on disaster preparedness in the light of the recent floods, experts emphasised the need to shift from a disaster management paradigm to a disaster risk reduction.

Experts call for eradicating poverty through green economy
The News
22-Dec-2010
Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan must confront the development challenge through getting “ahead of the curve” and “riding the waves” of upcoming green economy, experts said on Tuesday.

Dr Tariq Banuri, Director of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs at the Division for Sustainable Development said that the task is to anticipate what the solution is and be ahead of that solution, not behind the solution.

Dr Banuri was speaking at an event marking the 40th anniversary of Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), organised by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI).

A number of Pakistan’s neighbours are already putting the green economy at the centre of policy planning, including China and India, he urged and said that Pakistan should not be left behind in poverty eradication through green economy growth.

“We cannot live without growth and we won’t live long if we continue with this kind of growth,” he said, referring to environmental catastrophe that awaits the globe if carbon emissions are not dramatically reduced.

Highlighting the fundamental contradiction between growth and environmental protection, Dr Banuri singled out energy as a key issue for Pakistan’s future. “No matter what we do, development needs more energy.

Dominant forces hindering democracy: Bengali
The Nation
22Dec-2010
Islamabad

ISLAMABAD - The dominant forces simply have not allowed the democracy to function in this country, as there is a democracy only on the paper.
Kaiser Bengali, Advisor to the Sindh Government, stated this while speaking on the fist day of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute's (SDPI) thirteenth annual conference, 'Peace and Sustainable Development in South Asia: The Way Forward', in Islamabad on Tuesday.

Bengali cited Islamabad's repeated obstruction of the NFC implementation process being as evidence that "the dominant group simply does not want to share power". He said there was an exemplary spirit of cooperation and compromise between the federating units during the NFC negotiations, but that in the months following, Islamabad created "one obstruction after another".

Bengali bemoaned ethnic fragmentation in Pakistan and the failure of the Establishment to construct a genuine vision of national identity, arguing they' t were instead pursuing personal aggrandizement and a policy of "beating heads" in Balochistan, reminiscent of the Center’s strategy towards East Pakistan.

Earlier, in a panel on sustainable development and religious diversity, MNA Marvi. Memon proclaimed a jihad against religious intolerance in Pakistan. "We find massive discrimination and massive intolerance", she said and added, definitely there is a huge area where the blasphemy laws are being misused".

Memon said that the Madina Accord is the essence of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and that parliamentarians have a responsibility to ensure that the misuse of the blasphemy laws does not continue. ''Anyone who has any courage to speak on this issue is shutdown immediately", she said, "whenever we want to talk about it we are told not to touch it do want to touch it".

During the opening plenary of the conference, the Federal Environment Secretary, Javed Malik, urged that there, must be a "change in thinking" on the relationship with India. .

A paradigm shift in policy towards fostering peace is a must for achieving sustainable development in the region", he added.

He noted that people on the ground across South Asia desire normalized relations between states in the region, and that collaborative efforts for attaining peace would help diverting re sources from security to confronting the catastrophic consequences of climate change.

Dr Abid Q Suleri, Executive Director of SDPI, in his introductory speech said that "one of the prerequisites fur a stable and prosperous Pakistan is a sustainable Mghanistan and one of the prerequisites for India to top the league of emerging economies is a sustainable Pakistan."

Indian feminist and historian Urvashi Butaia noted that the common masses are more concerned with earning their bread and butter than engaging in inter-regional animosity and are demanding of their governments to deliver on issues like climate change, sustainable livelihoods and food security.

In a concurrent session on sanitation and water issues, experts called for an integrated poverty alleviation program in Pakistan, agreeing that the lack of water and sanitation facilities in Pakistan directly contribute to some crucial dimensions of poverty including health, education, gender, and income.

In another concurrent session on disaster preparedness in light of the recent floods, experts emphasised the need to shift from a disaster management Paradigm to a disaster risk reduction.

SDPI conference on Peace ‘Dominant forces obstructing democracy’
Pakistan Observer
22-Dec-2010
Islamabad

Islamabad—“The dominant forces simply have not allowed democracy to function” said Kaiser Bengali, Advisor to the Government of Sindh.

He was speaking on the fist day of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute’s (SDPI) thirteenth annual conference, ‘Peace and Sustainable Development in South Asia: The Way Forward’, in Islamabad Tuesday. Mr. Bengali cited Islamabad’s repeated obstruction of the NFC implementation process being as evidence that “the dominant group simply does not want to share power”. He said there was an exemplary spirit of cooperation and compromise between the federating units during the NFC negotiations, but that in the months following, Islamabad created “one obstruction after another”.

Mr. Bengali bemoaned ethnic fragmentation in Pakistan and the failure of the Establishment to construct a genuine vision of national identity, arguing they were instead pursuing personal agrandizement and a policy of “beating heads” in Balochistan, reminiscent of the Centre’s strategy towards East Pakistan.

Earlier, in a panel on sustainable development and religious diversity, MNA Ms. Marvi Memon proclaimed a jihad against religious intolerance in Pakistan. “We find massive discrimination and massive intolerance”, she said “and definitely there is a huge area where the blasphemy laws are being misused”.

During the opening plenary of the conference, the Federal Environment Secretary, Mr. Javed Malik, urged that there must be a “change in thinking” on the relationship with India. “A paradigm shift in policy towards fostering peace is a must for achieving sustainable development in the region”, he added.

He noted that people on the ground across South Asia desire normalized relations between states in the region, and that collaborative efforts for attaining peace would help diverting resources from security to confronting the catastrophic consequences of climate change.

Mr. Malik’s comments were echoed by Dr. Saeed Shafqat, Chairperson, Board of Directors, SDPI, who slammed the manipulation of inter-state conflicts by regional governments to benefit the status-quo: “In South Asia and many other cases, the states themselves have used the instrument of ‘external enemy’ to perpetuate rivalry and deflect and curb inner peace and societal reforms”, he said.

Dr. Shafqat urged that South Asia needs a “cultural revolution” to “dismantle, disrupt and destroy the nexus of poverty, social injustice and economic inequities”. “For peace, internal reform is a necessary precondition” he said, arguing that expanding economic opportunity, improving social justice and, most importantly, pursuing the democratic process are key to normalizing relations in the region.

Dr. Abid Q. Suleri, Executive Director of SDPI, in his introductory speech added that “one of the prerequisites for a stable and prosperous Pakistan is a sustainable Afghanistan and one of the prerequisites for India to top the league of emerging economies is a sustainable Pakistan.” Likewise, Dr. Suleri said, NATO is unlikely to leave Afghanistan without peace and development in Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries”.

Dr. Suleri said that the TAPI gas pipeline and the Pak-Afghan Transit Trade Agreement show a commitment to collaborative initiatives on the part of the international community. Yet, Dr. Suleri warned.

Dominant Forces obstructing democracy
One Pakistan
22-Dec-2010
Islamabad

ISLAMABAD ,Advisor to the Government of Sindh, Mr. Kaiser Bengali said dominant forces simply have not allowed democracy to function and you can have democracy on paper, but they will rig the elections.

Speaking at a seminar organized by Sustainable Development Policy Institute's (SDPI) thirteenth annual conference, 'Peace and Sustainable Development in South Asia: The Way Forward', on Tuesday Mr. Bengali cited Islamabad's repeated obstruction of the NFC implementation process being as evidence that "the dominant group simply does not want to share power". He said there was an exemplary spirit of cooperation and compromise between the federating units during the NFC negotiations, but that in the months following, Islamabad created "one obstruction after another". Mr. Bengali bemoaned ethnic fragmentation in Pakistan and the failure of the Establishment to construct a genuine vision of national identity, arguing they were instead pursuing personal agrandizement and a policy of "beating heads" in Balochistan, reminiscent of the Centre's strategy towards East Pakistan. Earlier, in a panel on sustainable development and religious diversity, MNA Ms. Marvi Memon proclaimed a jihad against religious intolerance in Pakistan . "We find massive discrimination and massive intolerance", she said "and definitely there is a huge area where the blasphemy laws are being misused".

Ms. Memon said that the Madina Accord is the essence of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and that parliamentarians have a responsibility to ensure that that the misuse of the blasphemy laws does not continue. "Anyone who has any courage to speak on this issue is shot down immediately", she said, "whenever we want to talk about it we are told not to touch it. I do want to touch it". During the opening plenary of the conference, the Federal Environment Secretary, Mr. Javed Malik, urged that there must be a "change in thinking" on the relationship with India . "A paradigm shift in policy towards fostering peace is a must for achieving sustainable development in the region", he added. He noted that people on the ground across South Asia desire normalized relations between states in the region, and that collaborative efforts for attaining peace would help diverting resources from security to confronting the catastrophic consequences of climate change. Mr. Malik's comments were echoed by Dr. Saeed Shafqat, Chairperson, Board of Directors, SDPI, who slammed the manipulation of inter-state conflicts by regional governments to benefit the status-quo: "In South Asia and many other cases, the states themselves have used the instrument of 'external enemy' to perpetuate rivalry and deflect and curb inner peace and societal reforms", he said.

Dr. Shafqat urged that South Asia needs a "cultural revolution" to "dismantle, disrupt and destroy the nexus of poverty, social injustice and economic inequities". "For peace, internal reform is a necessary precondition" he said, arguing that expanding economic opportunity, improving social justice and, most importantly, pursuing the democratic process are key to normalizing relations in the region. Dr. Abid Q. Suleri, Executive Director of SDPI, in his introductory speech added that "one of the prerequisites for a stable and prosperous Pakistan is a sustainable Afghanistan and one of the prerequisites for India to top the league of emerging economies is a sustainable Pakistan ." Likewise, Dr. Suleri said, NATO is unlikely to leave Afghanistan without peace and development in Afghanistan 's neighbouring countries". Dr. Suleri said that the TAPI gas pipeline and the Pak-Afghan Transit Trade Agreement show a commitment to collaborative initiatives on the part of the international community. Yet, Dr. Suleri warned, " civil society must play an effective role in suggesting some honourable exit strategies and amicable solutions to our respective governments who are not taking the necessary steps to resolve the pending issues hounding South Asia partially because they are scared of their political opponents". Indian Feminist and historian Urvashi Butalia gave a comprehensive account of how people at the grassroots level were trying to catalyze steps towards peace between Pakistan and India.

Ms. Butalia noted that the common masses are more concerned with earning their bread and butter than engaging in inter-regional animosity and are demanding their governments deliver on issues like climate change, sustainable livelihoods and food security. In a concurrent session on sanitation and water issues, experts called for an integrated poverty alleviation program in Pakistan , agreeing that the lack of water and sanitation facilities in Pakistan directly contribute to some crucial dimensions of poverty including health, education, gender, and income. In another concurrent session on disaster preparedness in light of the recent floods, experts emphasized the need to shift from a disaster management paradigm to a disaster risk reduction. They emphasized community-led reconstruction model as a method to promote democratic participation, increase transparency and accountability mechanisms, and thus directly address the pervasive perception of government corruption. The conference will continue tomorrow discussing a range of issues on sustainable development and peace in South Asia .

Sustainable development conference: 'For peace, reform is a precondition'
Express Tribune
22-Dec-2010
Islamabad

Speakers blame establishment, government for dragging feet on sustainable growth, poverty alleviation and democratisation.

ISLAMABAD: The establishment and anti-democtratic forces have not allowed democracy to function. “You can have democracy on paper, but they will rig the elections,” remarked noted economist Kaiser Bengali while speaking on the first day of a conference on “Peace and Sustainable Development in South Asia: The Way Forward,” at a local hotel on Tuesday.

The conference has been organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute’s (SDPI).

Citing the bureaucracy’s repeated obstruction of the NFC Award implementation as an evidence, Bengali said, “The dominant group simply does not want to share power”. He said there was a spirit of cooperation and compromise between the federating units during the negotiations, but in the months following, Islamabad created “one obstruction after another”.

Bengali bemoaned ethnic fragmentation in Pakistan and the failure of the establishment to construct a genuine vision of national identity, arguing that they were instead pursuing personal aggrandizement and a policy of “beating heads” in Balochistan, reminiscent of the Centre’s strategy towards East Pakistan.

Earlier, in a panel on sustainable development and religious diversity, MNA Marvi Memon proclaimed a jihad against religious intolerance. “We find massive discrimination and intolerance,” she said, “And there is definitely a huge area where the blasphemy laws are misused”.

Memon said that parliamentarians have a responsibility to ensure that the misuse of the blasphemy laws does not continue. “Anyone who has any courage to speak on this issue is shot down immediately”, she said, “Whenever we want to talk about it we are told not to touch it. I do want to touch it”.

Federal Environment Secretary Javed Malik, urged that there must be a “change in thinking” on the relationship with India. “A paradigm shift in policy towards fostering peace is a must for achieving sustainable development in the region”, he added.

He noted that people on the ground across South Asia desire normalized relations between states in the region, and that collaborative efforts for attaining peace would help divert resources from security to confronting the catastrophic consequences of climate change.

Former Deputy Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme and current SDPI member Dr Shafqat Kakakhel urged that South Asia needs a “cultural revolution” to “dismantle, disrupt and destroy the nexus of poverty, social injustice and economic inequities”. “For peace, internal reform is a necessary precondition” he said, arguing that expanding economic opportunity, improving social justice and, pursuing democratic processes are keys to normalizing relations in the region.

Executive Director of SDPI Dr Abid Suleri in his introductory speech added that “One of the prerequisites for a stable and prosperous Pakistan is a sustainable Afghanistan and one of the prerequisites for India to top the league of emerging economies is a sustainable Pakistan.” Dr Suleri added “NATO is unlikely to leave Afghanistan without peace and development in Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries”.

Dr Suleri said that the TAPI gas pipeline and the Pak-Afghan Transit Trade Agreement show a commitment to collaborative initiatives on the part of the international community.

Indian feminist and historian Urvashi Butalia gave a comprehensive account of how people at the grassroots level were trying to catalyze steps towards peace between Pakistan and India. Butalia noted that the masses are more concerned with earning their bread and butter than engaging in inter-regional animosity and are demanding their governments deliver on issues like climate change, sustainable livelihoods and food security.

In a session on sanitation and water issues, experts called for an integrated poverty alleviation programme, agreeing that the lack of water and sanitation facilities in Pakistan directly contributes to many dimensions of poverty including health, education, gender, and income.

The sessions on day two (Wednesday) will include discussions on the impacts of structural adjustment, 25 years of SAARC, responding to climate change in South Asia, peace through development,poverty reduction, financing climate change, the role of men in ending violence against women, water and sanitation challenge in South Asia, and regional trade.

Dominant forces main hurdle to democracy
Dawn
22-Dec-2010
Islamabad

ISLAMABAD, Dec 21: Adviser to the Sindh Government on Planning and Development Kaiser Bengali on Tuesday said “the dominant forces” had not allowed democracy to function.

“You can have democracy on paper, but they will rig the elections,” he said while speaking on the fist day of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute`s (SDPI) 13th annual conference on: `Peace and Sustainable Development in South Asia: The Way Forward`.
Dr Bengali said that Islamabad`s continued obstruction of the NFC Award implementation showed that “the dominant group simply does not want to share power” with the weaker entities of the country.

He said there was an spirit of cooperation and compromise between the federating units during the NFC negotiations, but bureaucrats created “one obstruction after another” in its implementation in the following months.

He said that ethnic fragmentation in Pakistan and the failure of the Establishment to construct a genuine vision of national identity could be witnessed in Balochistan.
Meanwhile, during the opening plenary of the conference, the Federal Environment Secretary, Javed Malik, said that there must be a “change in thinking” on the relationship with India. “A paradigm shift in policy towards fostering peace is a must for achieving sustainable development in the region”, he added.

He noted that people across South Asia desired normalised relations between the states in the region, and that collaborative efforts for attaining peace would help in diverting resources from security to confronting the catastrophic consequences of climate change.

SDPI Board of Directors Chairperson Dr Saeed Shafqat slammed the manipulation of inter-state conflicts by regional governments to benefit the status-quo in South Asia.

South Asia needed a “cultural revolution” to “dismantle, disrupt and destroy the nexus of poverty, social injustice and economic inequities”, he said adding “for peace, internal reform is a necessary precondition.”

He said expanding economic opportunity, improving social justice and pursuing the democratic process were keys to normalizing relations in the region.

Indian feminist and historian Urvashi Butalia gave a comprehensive account of how people at the grassroots level were trying to catalyze steps towards peace between Pakistan and India.

Ms Butalia noted that the common masses were more concerned about earning their bread and butter than engaging in inter-regional animosity and were demanding of their governments to deliver on issues like climate change, sustainable livelihoods and food security.

MNA Marvi Memon said country needed jihad against religious intolerance in Pakistan. “We find massive discrimination and massive intolerance”, she said “and definitely there is a huge area where the blasphemy laws are being misused”.

Ms. Memon said that the Madina Accord was the essence of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and that parliamentarians had a responsibility to ensure that that the misuse of the blasphemy laws did not continue. “Anyone who has any courage to speak on this issue is shot down immediately”, she said, “Whenever we want to talk about it we are told not to touch it. I do want to touch it”.

Dominant forces' not allowed democracy to flourish: Bengali
Business Recorder
22-Dec-2010
Islamabad

ISLAMABAD (December 22, 2010) : The dominant forces in Pakistan have not allowed democracy to function and flourish in the country as on papers Pakistan is a democratic country, but every election was rigged by these forces, said Dr Kaiser Bengali, Advisor to Sindh Chief Minister for Planning and Development.

Speaking as guest of honour on the occasion of 13th annual conference of Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) session titled "Federalism: A Challenge to Conflict Management in Less Developed Countries/South Asia," he said that "dominant forces" have always tried to exploit the rights of small provinces such as Sindh and Balochistan.

These forces never wanted to see small provinces flourish, as according to him, people from Punjab are holding key positions in other provinces, "which is an injustice to the people of smaller provinces." The session was chaired by Business Recorder Islamabad Resident Editor Anjum Ibrahim while Arshad Khan, Yunas Samad from UK and Bishnu Upreti from Nepal were other participants of the session.

Bengali cited Islamabad's repeated obstruction to the NFC Award implementation, which is evident from the fact that "the dominant group [which according to him is Punjab-based] simply does not want to share power". He said there was an exemplary spirit of co-operation and compromise between the federating units during the NFC negotiations, but in the months following, Islamabad created "one obstruction after another."

Bengali bemoaned ethnic fragmentation in Pakistan and the failure of the establishment to construct a genuine vision of national identity, arguing they were instead pursuing personal aggrandisement and a policy of "beating heads" in Balochistan, which was similar to the centre's strategy towards East Pakistan. Chairing the session, Anjum Ibrahim said that conflict resolution needs the political will and only through political process conflicts could be peacefully resolved.

Giving the example of UK's conflict resolution with Ireland, she said that on the same pattern Pakistan could resolve all the internal issues, including insurgency in Balochistan and tribal areas of the country. In another panel discussion of the forum titled "Sustainable Development and Respecting Religious Diversity", MNA Marvi Memon proclaimed a jihad against what she termed religious intolerance in Pakistan.

"We find massive discrimination against and massive intolerance towards minorities," she said, adding that "definitely there is a huge area where blasphemy laws are being misused." Memon quoting the example of Madina Accord commonly known as Meesaq-e-Madina said that it is the essence of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and that parliamentarians have a responsibility to ensure that the misuse of the blasphemy laws does not continue.

Earlier during the opening session the Federal Secretary Environment Javed Malik, underlined the need for change in thinking on the relationship with India. "A paradigm shift in policy towards fostering peace is a must for achieving sustainable development in the region," he added.

He noted that people on the ground across South Asia desire normalised relations between states in the region and that collaborative efforts for attaining peace would help divert resources from security to confronting the catastrophic consequences of climate change.

Dr Saeed Shafqat, Chairperson, Board of Directors SDPI agreed with the comments made by Federal Secretary Environment and said the regional governments were manipulating the situation as they wanted to maintain status quo in the region to get benefit. He slammed the manipulation of inter-state conflicts by regional governments to strengthen the status quo: "In South Asia and many other cases, the states themselves have used the "instrument" of 'external enemy' to perpetuate rivalries and curb inner peace and societal reforms," he said.

Dr Shafqat urged the South Asian leadership to bring a cultural revolution to dismantle, disrupt and destroy the nexus of poverty, social injustice and economic inequalities. "For peace, internal reform is a necessary precondition," he said, arguing that expanding economic opportunity, improving social justice and, most importantly, pursuing democratic process are the key to normalise relations in the region.

Dr Abid Qayyum Suleri, Executive Director of SDPI said that "one of the prerequisites for a stable and prosperous Pakistan is a sustainable Afghanistan and one of the prerequisites for India to top the league of emerging economies is a sustainable Pakistan."

Suleri said, Nato is unlikely to leave Afghanistan without peace and development in Afghanistan's neighbouring countries. He said that the TAPI gas pipeline project and the Pak-Afghan Transit Trade Agreement showed a commitment to collaborative initiatives on the part of the international community.

Indian feminist and historian Urvashi Butalia gave a comprehensive account of how people at the grassroots level were trying to catalyse steps towards peace between Pakistan and India. Butalia noted that the common masses are more concerned with earning their bread than engaging in inter-regional animosity and are demanding of their respective governments to deliver on issues like climate change, sustainable livelihoods and food security.

In a concurrent session on sanitation and water issues, experts called for an integrated poverty alleviation program in Pakistan. In another separate session on disaster preparedness in light of recent floods, experts emphassed the need to shift from a disaster management paradigm to a disaster risk reduction.

They emphasised the need for community-led reconstruction model as a method to promoting democratic participation, increasing transparency and accountability mechanisms, and thus directly addressing the pervasive perception of government corruption. The conference will continue on Wednesday.

Thirteenth Sustainable Development Conference (SDC) 21-23 December 2010, Islamabad, Pakistan

Media Coverage

Thirteenth Sustainable Development Conference (SDC)
21-23 December 2010, Islamabad, Pakistan