South Asia remains the least connected region in the world, said Federal
Minister for Defence Syed Naveed Qamar while addressing the three-day Annual
Sustainable Development Conference (SDC) organised by the Sustainable
Development Policy Institute (SDPI) here on Tuesday.
This year’s theme is ‘Sustainable Development in South Asia:
Shaping the Future.”
The minister said that the sustainable development in South Asia
depends upon how well we can achieve social cohesion across regions, faiths and
ethnicities. He said that social cohesion and tolerance should be the priority
agenda for governments and NGOs in the region. He said that our priorities must
include on how the rising economic gains and access to technology be configured
in a manner that can reduce inequalities — particularly the inequality of
opportunities for our people. He said that developmental considerations should
regard social justice and respect our environment and natural resources.
Speaking on governance and role of institutions for people’s
empowerment, the minister urged on ensuring participatory democracy at the
local level whereby communities and households can feel themselves integrated
and part of the overall vision for national and regional development.
He said that Pakistan played active role in Saarc for
formulisation of the processes towards setting up food bank and supporting
other regional arrangements, including South Asia Free Trade Agreement. He
observed that cross-border trade and investment in this region has the potential
to mitigate poverty and inequalities.
Earlier, Dr. Saeed Shafqat, chairperson of the SDPI’s Board of
Governors, said that for a prosperous and secure future, South Asia needs to
move away from an “economy of war” towards an “economy of peace.” He said an
inclusive and equitable economic growth must be ensured through redistribution
of power structures.
Javed Jabbar said that despite diversity in every aspect and rich
in resources, the South Asia region still faces significant stresses and
shortages in water, food and energy sector. He said that the region needs to
bank upon commonalities while thinking and acting collectively.
Dr. Abid Suleri, executive director of the SDPI, said that the
choices that policy-makers make today will determine how the future might
unfold in South Asia. He also shared the positive role that the SDPI is playing
in socio-economic development in Pakistan and across the region.
Panellists of a session titled ‘Will media be a catalyst for
change?’ unanimously agreed that forms and formats of media are changing
rapidly where social media are not only informing at fast pace but are also
linking individuals, groups, societies.
Mohammad Malick was of the view that the media is a catalyst for
change but it depends upon which side of picture is being looked at.
Farrukh Pitafi said that even if there are laws regarding media,
these are not relevant and rational.
Moneeza Hashmi said that over years, radio channels have
mushroomed providing entertainment, sports and news coverage to people.
Badar Alam said that journalism is going to get worse before it
gets better. Fahd Husain talked about the role of advertisements in influencing
the media content and maintained that often media is used by certain groups
through their financial influence.
Hamza Abbas from SDPI, Zohair Zaidi from Oxfam and Tassaduq Rasul,
country director of the ActionAid, also spoke on the occasion.
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