ISLAMABAD
- Sustainable development in South Asia strongly depends upon how well social
cohesion across regions, faiths and ethnicities can be achieved, said Syed
Naveed Qamar, federal minister for defence, while speaking at the opening
session of 15th Annual Sustainable Development Conference (SDC), organised by
Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) here on Tuesday.
The three-day conference
titled “Sustainable Development in South Asia: Shaping The Future” is looking
at future of sustainable development in South Asia. The conference seeks to
analyse how things will look like 20, 30 or even 50 years from now; what issues
will be looming large; making concrete suggestions on how to overcome future
challenges; and, give practical policy recommendations about a sustainable
South Asia for all.
Syed Naveed Qamar said that
social cohesion and tolerance should be the priority agenda for government and
non-governmental organisations in the region. “Going forward 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,” the minister added.
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 Pakistan is
undertaking a foreign policy focusing on ‘looking towards Asia’. “Pakistan has
played an 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 (SAFTA), he added.
He further added that
cross-border trade and investment in this region has the potential to mitigate
poverty and inequalities. “Today South Asia remains the least connected region
in the world. If we continue to be as distant as we are today, our children may
never be able to interact, talk, meet and play with the children in the
neighborhoods. Such a lost opportunity will be synonymous to a youth stolen in
the name of history’s baggage,” he said.
Speaking as key note speaker,
the former information minister and vice president IUCN Pakistan, Javed Jabbar,
said 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 the region needs to bank upon commonalities while thinking and
acting collectively.
He identified seven elements
essential in shaping the future of South Asia, including environmental
security; economic equity; moderating consumption; democratic reforms for
greater accountability and improved governance; respect for all religions and
ethnicities; military restraints by India, Pakistan and other countries to
strengthen cross border peace and civil supremacy in the region, and lastly the
greater social stability. He also suggested of introduction of a ‘Green Budget’
by Finance Minister before the presentation of fiscal budget in parliament.
Panelists at session ‘Will
media be a catalyst for change?’ discussed the role of media in stimulating
change in society. They unanimous 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.
The session on “Dynamics of
Non Traditional Security Threats” analysed the nontraditional security threats
in the context of conflict raised due to energy and climate change. Tahir
Dhindsa of SDPI expressed that international beneficiary systems are directly
integrated with the petroleum resources and sovereignty of the states. Khurram
Javed from Diplomatic Academy, Azerbaijan, stressed on implementation of IP,
TAPI and Trans-Caspian projects for initiating development in the region.
Naeem Akram from Economic
Affairs Division, Pakistan identified inflation, change in temperature and
precipitation as major impediment in growth and threat for human and food
security. Human development index was also considered as an important factor in
determining the Climate change vulnerability and conflict. Dr. Saba Gul
Khattak, Member BoG, SDPI, concluded the session with view, “The heart of the
conflict lies in the difference of logic in politics and science and it needs
to be work out at earliest.”
Dr Saeed Shafqat, SDPI
chairman Board of Governors, Dr Abid Suleri, executive director of SDPI also
spoke on the event.
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