Highlighting different lacunas and legal and procedural flaws in Hudood ordinances from religious and human rights perspective, speakers at a seminar called for its abolition in totality.

Terming some of the proposed amendments positive and progressive, the speakers expressed their doubts about the fate of proposed amendments in “discriminatory” Hudood laws.

Speaking at the seminar on “Hudood Ordinances: Time for repeal” organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) on Monday, Dr Arfa Sayeda Zehra from National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW), Nasreen Azhar of Women Action Forum, Islamabad; Dr Farzana Bari of QAU’s Centre of Excellence in Gender Studies, and former IGP Mohammad Saeed Alrai discussed different aspects of the subject.

Dr Arfa Sayeda Zehra, sharing her perspective about the serious lacunas in the Hudood ordinances, reiterated the NCSW stand of repealing Hudood laws instead of mere amendments.

She cited the NCSW 2003 report in which after genuine and consultative process, the learned members had concluded the abolition of these laws.

Nonetheless, she appreciated the present government’s initiative but questioned its sincerity because the proposed amendments were not forwarded to standing committee of the National Assembly.

Highlighting the inability of successive governments, she said for the first time in 27 years of enactment of Hudood ordinances, there was a positive talk of amendments in these extremely discriminatory laws.

She said amid heavy and historic representation of Maulvis in the politics and “Maulvi-Jagirdar powerful nexus”, the present government’s initiative to amend the Hudood laws was a positive step.

Dr Farzana Bari of QAU’s Centre of Excellence in Gender Studies, besides demanding the repeal of Hudood ordinances, said that the undemocratic, non-consultative, faulty and politically motivated Hudood ordinances had been violating the human rights since their inception.

She said that it was high time that the state and religion be separated. She lamented that the initiative was nothing but a politically motivated step to achieve two political gains.

She made it clear that the two intended political gains of the government were to proliferate its image as a women-friendly government and more importantly to create a divide in the resistance and unity of the opposition.

Dr Bari was very critical of the role of political parties of the arena since according to her all of them were same when it came to the women rights.

She said that irony of the fact was that one military dictator due to political compulsion introduced the Hudood ordinances while the other was amending it for same political benefits. In both cases the women remained at the centre.

She urged the civil society to actively play its role for the repeal of these discriminatory laws as the civil society was conceptually and intellectually clear but it failed to create popular support and public pressure.

Mohammad Saeed Alrai, while giving an exemplary analysis of the situation, stressed the urgent need for reinterpretation of Islamic laws and an end to selective and partial implementation of some of the Islamic laws.

He said every Islamic law had a dimension of reformable approach but unfortunately the Islamic laws had virtually never been interpreted in their true spirit and context.

While quoting some examples from the Islamic history, he made it clear that Islam always stressed for the prevalence of reformative approaches instead of just giving punishments to offenders.

Nasreen Azhar moderated the session and deplored that the government’s intention to amend Hudood laws was not to win justice for the people but purely political gains.

During the vibrant question-answer session, the participants of the seminar also questioned the sincerity of the government and its intended political gains.

They also feared that after the “assassination” of Akbar Bugti and emerging situation in Balochistan the government would now not be able to withstand against the expected pressure of MMA and would possibly withdraw from its plan of introducing amendments in Hudood laws.

Highlighting different lacunas and legal and procedural flaws in Hudood ordinances from religious and human rights perspective, speakers at a seminar called for its abolition in totality.

Terming some of the proposed amendments positive and progressive, the speakers expressed their doubts about the fate of proposed amendments in “discriminatory” Hudood laws.

Speaking at the seminar on “Hudood Ordinances: Time for repeal” organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) on Monday, Dr Arfa Sayeda Zehra from National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW), Nasreen Azhar of Women Action Forum, Islamabad; Dr Farzana Bari of QAU’s Centre of Excellence in Gender Studies, and former IGP Mohammad Saeed Alrai discussed different aspects of the subject.

Dr Arfa Sayeda Zehra, sharing her perspective about the serious lacunas in the Hudood ordinances, reiterated the NCSW stand of repealing Hudood laws instead of mere amendments.

She cited the NCSW 2003 report in which after genuine and consultative process, the learned members had concluded the abolition of these laws.

Nonetheless, she appreciated the present government’s initiative but questioned its sincerity because the proposed amendments were not forwarded to standing committee of the National Assembly.

Highlighting the inability of successive governments, she said for the first time in 27 years of enactment of Hudood ordinances, there was a positive talk of amendments in these extremely discriminatory laws.

She said amid heavy and historic representation of Maulvis in the politics and “Maulvi-Jagirdar powerful nexus”, the present government’s initiative to amend the Hudood laws was a positive step.

Dr Farzana Bari of QAU’s Centre of Excellence in Gender Studies, besides demanding the repeal of Hudood ordinances, said that the undemocratic, non-consultative, faulty and politically motivated Hudood ordinances had been violating the human rights since their inception.

She said that it was high time that the state and religion be separated. She lamented that the initiative was nothing but a politically motivated step to achieve two political gains.

She made it clear that the two intended political gains of the government were to proliferate its image as a women-friendly government and more importantly to create a divide in the resistance and unity of the opposition.

Dr Bari was very critical of the role of political parties of the arena since according to her all of them were same when it came to the women rights.

She said that irony of the fact was that one military dictator due to political compulsion introduced the Hudood ordinances while the other was amending it for same political benefits. In both cases the women remained at the centre.

She urged the civil society to actively play its role for the repeal of these discriminatory laws as the civil society was conceptually and intellectually clear but it failed to create popular support and public pressure.

Mohammad Saeed Alrai, while giving an exemplary analysis of the situation, stressed the urgent need for reinterpretation of Islamic laws and an end to selective and partial implementation of some of the Islamic laws.

He said every Islamic law had a dimension of reformable approach but unfortunately the Islamic laws had virtually never been interpreted in their true spirit and context.

While quoting some examples from the Islamic history, he made it clear that Islam always stressed for the prevalence of reformative approaches instead of just giving punishments to offenders.

Nasreen Azhar moderated the session and deplored that the government’s intention to amend Hudood laws was not to win justice for the people but purely political gains.

During the vibrant question-answer session, the participants of the seminar also questioned the sincerity of the government and its intended political gains.

They also feared that after the “assassination” of Akbar Bugti and emerging situation in Balochistan the government would now not be able to withstand against the expected pressure of MMA and would possibly withdraw from its plan of introducing amendments in Hudood laws.

To uphold the concept of enlighten moderation, the present government is considering amendments in Hudood Ordinance, said Dr Farzana Bari, of Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad on Monday. She was addressing a seminar on "Hudood Ordinance: Time for Repeal," at SDPI. Dr. Arifa Sayeda Zehra, Chairperson National Commission on Status of Women (NCSW), Islamabad was also present at the seminar. A large number of women right's activist attended the seminar.

Farzana said that all political parties are using Hudood Ordinance for their own political motives while President Pervez Musharraf is promoting his agenda of enlighten moderation. On the other hand MMA (Mutahidda Majlis-e-Amal) is using Islam for their political intentions and if Hudood Ordinance is repealed, MMA will lose their political ground, that's why MMA is reacting on amendments in Hudood Ordinance.

She said "Only 'Zina' and 'Qazif’ is being amended and we are welcoming these amendments because this will provide some relief to the women. We want the complete repletion of Hudood Ordinance but it is being amended so we are welcoming this decision by the government".

She appreciated the government for recognising that this law has some flaws and it must be amended. She further added that this law is presented to the committee for the amendments and it will stay there for next several years.

Speaking on the occasion Dr. Arifa Sayeda Zehra, Chairperson National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) said, "In commission report 2003 the committee has proposed to repeal the ordinance. The witness article is totally a wrong concept in the law and if the four male witnesses will be present at the time of rape, than the rape will not be happened because they will try to stop the rapist."

She also appreciated the present government for opening the doors to discuss this issue in the assembly. She said that the need is to change the mental approach of the society, because in our society if the "Molvi" says anything no one has the courage to say it wrong. In our society people don't have much knowledge about Islam so they follow the "Mol vies" blindly.

Muhammad Saeed, IG police said that there is no law in the Hudood Ordinance. There is procedural error in it. If MMA want to have Hudood Ordinance implemented than the need is that Islamic system should be implemented in its totality.

Journalist present there criticised the role of present government that if the government can kill Akbar Bughti then why it cannot repeal this ordinance and termed it a political game of opposition and government.

Dairy industry not fully developed

While Pakistan ranked the fifth largest milk producer in the world, the local consumers remained deprived of its maximum benefits due to various reasons top among them weak infrastructure.

Pakistan's dairy industry is plagued by a range of problems, which include lack of commercial dairy farms, low productivity due to poor nutrition, a weak infrastructure, lack of financial facilities, no refrigeration, fragmented distribution system, seasonality in milk supply, etc.

Because of these and other hidden problems, the processed milk (packed) costs Rs35 per litre to consumers, whereas the loose milk (gawala) costs Rs26 per litre to consumers. These were the findings of a study on milk production conducted by Dr Tanvir Ali, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad.

The study was released at a seminar organized by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) here on Tuesday for soliciting opinions from the stakeholders.

It was pointed out that an estimated 24 million animals having produced over 31 million tons milk during the year 2005- 06, which made Pakistan as the fifth largest producer of the milk. But its yield per animal was only three litre, which was only one fifth of that of Western Europe.

Commenting on the low yield of the milk per animal, Dr Wajid Ali Pirzada said that it was the number of the livestock that was contributing to milk pool and not the per head productivity of the livestock, which was among the lowest in the world and thus making the country fifth largest producer.

He underscored the need for increasing per head productivity and at the same time containing the number of livestock so that limited feed resources could be used to optimise the production, given the fact that at present livestock was being fed 25 per cent less than its actual feed requirements.

According to the study, the average farm gate price of milk was Rs10 per litre. It varies from Rs8 to Rs16 per litre. Variation of farm gate price was not linked to the quality of the milk. It was rather determined by two factors. One was the financial arrangement between the buyer and seller and the second factor was the geographical location.

Participants raised questions about the huge margin in the farm gate milk price and processed milk supplied to the end consumers. It was suggested to identify some world practices for keeping the margin at an appropriate level to protect the interest of the end consumers. Presently, there was no law in the country for consumer protection.

It was also recommended to urge for greater public-private partnership for making investment in the sector particularly in the rural area. Dr Abid Qayun Sulari of SDPI said government could improve and enforce existing food safety standards in line with international standards, provide practical training to farmers on modern farming practices, raise capacity of training institutions to provide required training and qualifications.

He said the study would help in identifying the problems being faced by the dairy sector and would recommend policy measures to increase the yield per animal and ensure its maximum benefits to small farmers.

The sharp divide between the haves and the have-nots during the 59 years of country’s independence have resulted in the collapse of institutions and further weakened Pakistan in the defence, economy, social and political spheres.

Analysts voiced these concerns at a seminar on “59 Years of Independence: Where Do We Stand” organised by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) here on Monday.

Intellectual Ashfaq Saleem Mirza said despite almost six decades of independence the common citizens of the country were predominantly living under uncertainty.

The constant economic and social deprivation of the majority of the population never allowed any genuine political and democratic process to take place in the country.

Instead, religious extremism, repeated military dictatorships and unilateral approaches on the part of ruling elite had made the entire political and social process hostage to their personal whims.

“The layman is unhappy and dissatisfied with the long distressing political and social conditions,” Mr Mirza said while stressing the need for the development and supremacy of institutions instead of individuals.

It was unfortunate, he added, that a resource-rich country like Pakistan was forced to survive in the conditions where poverty, drugs, unemployment, inflation, illiteracy were prevailing norms.

He said globalisation, World Trade Organisation, new liberal agenda and Millennium Development Goals of UN were some of the other potential opportunities for the Pakistan’s military- bureaucracy to victimise the poor people.

Dr Ahmed Nawaz Hakro of the economics department of Quaid-i- Azam University, Islamabad, briefly analysed Pakistan’s complicated economic history and said that all of the country’s policies were aimed at protecting only the ruling elite.

People had become subject to the commercial and financial interests of the ruling elite particularly the military, he added.

He maintained that it were only external factors, which always came to the rescue of Pakistan’s economy.

Though the economy had been facing a number of challenges such as droughts, climate change over the years but aids, grants, loans, structural adjustment programmes, international development investment, foreign donor agencies were the key factors that always helped Pakistan’s economy to survive.

Dr Hakro said Pakistan was the third largest aid receiver country in the world after Israel and Egypt. After 9/11, the insecurity of the Western countries resulted in donors contributions as well as easing their loan conditionalities and loan rescheduling for next 35 years.

Chief factors of the country’s economic growth could be attributed to the country’s unconditional support to the war on terror.

Whereas, speculative statues, increased leasing activity, massive unemployment and to top it all, criminally neglected social sector were some of the problems of that external growth which the nation had to deal with.

However, he said political will, land reforms, human development, and people’s participation in the decision-making process could help the nation to recover from the damage.

Ayesha Siddiqa, an Islamabad-based defence analyst, said the ruling elite had made the life miserable for the layman. The ruling elite, particularly the military, had ruined all the institutions of the country and had disallowed civic and political forces to grow and sustain.

While sharing a thought-provoking analysis of Pakistan’s defence, economy, social and political spheres, the experts and analysts Monday, held the ruling elites primarily responsible for all evils.

The biggest challenge to the country is a sharp divide between the haves and have-nots, and an increasing gap between those who govern and those who are governed. While speaking at a seminar on “59 Years of Independent: Where Do We Stand?” organized by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI, prominent intellectual, Ashfaq Saleem Mirza, Dr. Ahmed Nawaz Hakro, Department of Economics, Quaid-i-Azam University, and Ayesha Siddiqua, Defence Analyst, discussed different aspects of 59 years of Pakistan’s existence with regard its economy, defense, and social and political spheres.

Ashfaq Saleem Mirza while highlighting Pakistan’s major social and political developments during last 59 years, said that common citizens of the country were predominantly living under the circumstances of uncertainty.

He lamented that economic and social deprivation never allowed any genuine political and democratic process to take place in the country. Instead religious extremism, repeated military dictatorships and unilateral approaches on the part of ruling elites had made the entire political and social process hostage. Talking about people’s perspective he said that lay people were unhappy and dissatisfied with the long distressing political and social conditions. He said that it was unfortunate the Pakistan despite being full of different resources, its population was forced to survive in the conditions where poverty, drugs, unemployment, inflation, illiteracy were prevailing norms. According to him, globalization and WTO, SAP, new liberal agenda and Millennium Development Goals of UN were some of the other potential opportunities for the Pakistan’s military-bureaucracy to victimize the poor people.

Dr Ahmed Nawaz Hakro, Department of Economics, Qauid-e-Azam University, Islamabad sharing a brief analysis of the Pakistan’s complicated economic history said that all the policies had been protecting only the ruling elites of the country.

He lamented that people had become subject to the commercial and financial interests of the ruling elites particularly military. Talking about 59 years unstable economic growth of the country, he maintained that it were only external factors which always came to the rescue of our economy.

Though the economy had been facing a number of challenges such as droughts, climate change over the years but aids, grants, loans, structural adjustment programmes, international development investment, foreign donor agencies were the key factors that always helped Pakistan’s trickling up economy to survive.

He said that Pakistan was third largest aid receiver country in the world after Israel and Egypt.

According to him after 9/11, insecurity of in Western countries, donors contributions as well as easing their loan conditionalities, loan rescheduling for next 35 years, extended support to war on terror can be attributed as chief factors for growth in Pakistan’s economy whereas speculative statues, increased leasing activity, massive unemployment and to top it all, criminally neglected social sector were some of the problems of that external growth which the nation has to deal with.

However, he urged a political will, land reforms, human development, and people’s participation in the decision-making process can help the nation to recover the damage.

Experts and analysts on Monday while analysing Pakistan’s defense, economy, social and political spheres held “ruling-elite” primarily responsible for all evils. “The biggest challenge to the country was a sharp divide between the haves and have nots, and an increasing gap between those who govern and those who are governed,” they added.

They expressed these views while speaking at a seminar on “59 Years of Independent: Where Do We Stand?” organised by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI).

The prominent intellectual, Ashfaq Saleem Mirza, Dr. Ahmed Nawaz Hakro, Department of Economics, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad and Ayesha Siddiqua, Defence Analyst discussed different aspects of 59 years of Pakistan’s existence with regard to its economy, defense and social and political spheres.

Ashfaq Saleem Mirza while highlighting Pakistan’s major social and political developments during last 59 years said that common citizens of the country were predominantly living under the circumstances of uncertainty.

He lamented that economic and social deprivation never allowed any genuine political and democratic process to take place in the country. Instead of religious extremism, repeated military dictatorships and unilateral approaches on the part of ruling elites had made the entire political and social process hostage, he added.

Talking about people’s perspective, he said that lay people were unhappy and dissatisfied with the long distressing political and social conditions. He said that it was unfortunate that Pakistan despite being full of different resources, its population was forced to survive in the conditions where poverty, drugs, unemployment, inflation, illiteracy were prevailing norms.

Dr. Ahmed Nawaz Hakro sharing a brief analysis of the Pakistan’s complicated economic history said that all the policies had been protecting only the ruling elites of the country.

He lamented that people had become subject to the commercial and financial interests of the ruling elites particularly military. Talking about 59-year unstable economic growth of the country, he maintained that it were only external factors, which always came to the rescue of our economy.

Though the economy had been facing a number of challenges such as droughts, climate change over the years, aids, grants, loans, structural adjustment programmes, international development investment, foreign donor agencies were the key factors that always helped Pakistan’s trickling up economy to survive.

He said that Pakistan was 3rd largest aid receiver country in the world after Israel and Egypt. According to him after 9/11, insecurity in Western countries, donors contributions as well as easing their loan conditionalities, loan rescheduling for next 35 years, extended support to war on terror can be attributed as chief factors for growth in Pakistan’s economy.

Whereas speculative statues increased leasing activity, massive unemployment and to top it all, criminally neglected social sector were some of the problems of that external growth which the nation has to deal with.

Ayesha Siddiqua highlighted a prolific analysis of Pakistan’s defense and political spheres. She was of the view that it was the ruling elite of the country that has made the life miserable for the lay people.

According to her, ruling elites particularly the military has ruined all the institutions of the country and have not allowed civic and political forces to grow and sustain. She said that lack of competing visions, increasing predatory role of state, dependency on United States, ruling elites oriented policies, Pakistan’s inability to redefine its internal, regional and international relationships and an environment of military hegemony in all fields such as social, political, philosophical and intellectual were the contributing reasons in the Pakistan’s 59 years history.

She urged that it was high time that Pakistan’s policy makers should redefine center-province and of course India- Pakistan relationship for the betterment of the region and people.

The sharp divide between the haves and the have-nots during the 59 years of country’s independence have resulted in the collapse of institutions and further weakened Pakistan in the defence, economy, social and political spheres.

Analysts voiced these concerns at a seminar on “59 Years of Independence: Where Do We Stand” organised by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) here on Monday.

Intellectual Ashfaq Saleem Mirza said despite almost six decades of independence the common citizens of the country were predominantly living under uncertainty.

The constant economic and social deprivation of the majority of the population never allowed any genuine political and democratic process to take place in the country.

Instead, religious extremism, repeated military dictatorships and unilateral approaches on the part of ruling elite had made the entire political and social process hostage to their personal whims.

“The layman is unhappy and dissatisfied with the long distressing political and social conditions,” Mr Mirza said while stressing the need for the development and supremacy of institutions instead of individuals.

It was unfortunate, he added, that a resource-rich country like Pakistan was forced to survive in the conditions where poverty, drugs, unemployment, inflation, illiteracy were prevailing norms.

He said globalisation, World Trade Organisation, new liberal agenda and Millennium Development Goals of UN were some of the other potential opportunities for the Pakistan’s military- bureaucracy to victimise the poor people.

Dr Ahmed Nawaz Hakro of the economics department of Quaid-i- Azam University, Islamabad, briefly analysed Pakistan’s complicated economic history and said that all of the country’s policies were aimed at protecting only the ruling elite.

People had become subject to the commercial and financial interests of the ruling elite particularly the military, he added.

He maintained that it were only external factors, which always came to the rescue of Pakistan’s economy.

Though the economy had been facing a number of challenges such as droughts, climate change over the years but aids, grants, loans, structural adjustment programmes, international development investment, foreign donor agencies were the key factors that always helped Pakistan’s economy to survive.

Dr Hakro said Pakistan was the third largest aid receiver country in the world after Israel and Egypt. After 9/11, the insecurity of the Western countries resulted in donors contributions as well as easing their loan conditionalities and loan rescheduling for next 35 years.

Chief factors of the country’s economic growth could be attributed to the country’s unconditional support to the war on terror.

Whereas, speculative statues, increased leasing activity, massive unemployment and to top it all, criminally neglected social sector were some of the problems of that external growth which the nation had to deal with.

However, he said political will, land reforms, human development, and people’s participation in the decision-making process could help the nation to recover from the damage.

Ayesha Siddiqa, an Islamabad-based defence analyst, said the ruling elite had made the life miserable for the layman. The ruling elite, particularly the military, had ruined all the institutions of the country and had disallowed civic and political forces to grow and sustain.

The lack of competing visions, increasing predatory role of state, dependency on the US, ruling elite oriented policies, Pakistan’s inability to redefine its internal, regional and international policies and an environment of military hegemony in all fields such as social, political, philosophical and intellectual were responsible for the present mayhem.

She urged that it was high time that Pakistan’s policy makers should redefine relationship between the Centre and provinces and that with India for the betterment of the region and people.

Terming the "ruling elite" as root cause of all ills, analysts said the biggest challenge to the country was unbridgeable chasm between the haves and have-nots and entailing widening gulf between the rulers and ruled.

Speaking at a seminar on '59 Years of Independence: Where Do We Stand?' organised by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) Monday, they said during the last 59 years the country's socio-political order had been slipping down.

Prof Dr Ahmed Nawaz Hakro of Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, said all the policies had been protecting only the ruling elites of the country.

He said people had become subject to the commercial and financial interests of the ruling elites particularly military. Talking about 59 year unstable economic growth of the country, he maintained that these were only external factors which always came to the rescue of the economy.

Though the economy had been facing a number of challenges such as droughts, climate change over the years but aids, grants, loans, structural adjustment programmes, international development investment, foreign donor agencies were the key factors that always helped Pakistan's trickling up economy to survive.

He said Pakistan was 3rd largest aid receiving country in the world after Israel and Egypt. According to him after 9/11, insecurity in Western countries, donors contributions as well as easing their loan conditions, loan rescheduling for next 35 years, and support for war on terror can be attributed as chief factors for growth of Pakistan's economy whereas speculation, increased leasing activity, massive unemployment and criminally neglected social sector were some of the problems of the external growth which the nation had been facing.

He urged for a political will, land reforms, human development, and people's participation in the decision-making process to help the nation recover from the damage.

Ashfaq Saleem Mirza said common man had been haunted by relentless uncertainty. He lamented that economic and social deprivation never allowed any genuine political and democratic process to take place in the country.

"Instead religious extremism, repeated military dictatorships and unilateral approaches on the part of ruling elites have made the entire political and social process hostage to hidden forces," he said.

Talking about people's perspective, he said the people had been forced to survive in the conditions where poverty, drugs, unemployment, inflation, illiteracy were prevailing norms despite the fact that Pakistan was blessed with different resources.

He said globalisation, WTO, SAP, new liberal agenda and millennium development goals of UN were some of the potential opportunities for the Pakistan's military-bureaucracy to victimise the poor people.

Defence Analyst Ayesha Siddiqua said it was the ruling elite of the country that made the life of common people miserable. "Ruling elites particularly the military has ruined all the institutions of the country and have not allowed civic and political forces to grow and sustain," she said, adding that lack of competing visions, increasing predatory role of state, dependency on the United States, ruling elites oriented policies, Pakistan's inability to redefine its internal, regional and international relationships and an environment of military hegemony in all fields such as social, political, philosophical and intellectual collectively damaged the prospects for progress in the Pakistan's 59 years history.

Foreign experts at a workshop on Friday stressed the need of developing confidence and leadership skills of Pakistani women so that they could play their role in policy¬making and the socio-economic development of the country.

They underlined the impor¬tance of an increased capacity of Pakistani professional women in communication, problem-solving, negotiation and mediation skills saying despite their significant role in national development and civil society, they continued to struggle for empowerment.

This was consensus view of the participants and trainers of a three-day training workshop on "conflict management and nego¬tiation styles" organized by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) in collaboration with United States Institute of Peace (USIP).

The training workshop was aimed at enhancing capacity, of working women in critical ele¬ments of leadership, and provid¬ed them a forum to network and build relationship which would strengthen and empower work¬ing women of the country.

The training workshop was conducted by two USIP trainers, Dr Carola Weil and Nina Sughru. Dr Weil has taught courses on international conflict resolution, humanitarian intervention and international security at George Washington University, while Ms Nina Sughru has worked for more than eight years in various government positions in Washington DC.

The internation¬al experts Friday underlined an increased capacity of Pakistani professional women in commu¬nication, problem-solving, nego¬tiation and mediation skills. They said that due to significant role of Pakistani women in gov¬erness and civil society, they con¬tinue to struggle for empower¬ment. .

"Building confidence and lead¬ership skills were the fundamen¬tal to women empowerment and for obtaining a more eq¬uitable role in Pakistan," they added.

This was virtual consensus amongst the participants and trainers during the concluding session of a three-day training workshop on "Conflict Man¬agement and Negotiation Styles," organized by Sustain¬able Development Policy Insti¬tute (SDPI) in collaboration with United State Institute of Peace (USIP), USA, says a press statement issued here on Friday.

The training workshop was or¬ganised to enhance capacity of working women in critical elements of leadership, which ad¬ditionally, provided them a fo¬rum to network.

During the three-day the par¬ticipants were helped to devel¬op a clearer understanding of un¬written rules of corporate cul¬ture, emulate successful leaders, practice strategies to demon¬strate confidence, advocate for self overcome stereotype tenden¬cies, find a balance between life and work and to use proven leadership techniques to manage conflicts through negotiation skills.

The negotiation, communica¬tion and problem solving skills imparted in the training work¬shop will help the participants to deal confidently and capa¬bly with the challenges of de¬-mocratisation.

Also, these skills will enable participants to tackle conflicts through consultation and communication thus avoiding vio¬lent confrontations.

Pakistani professional women have been displaying remarkable skills in communication, problem-solving, negotiation and mediation and playing significant role in governess and civil society but unfortunately they continue to struggle for empowerment, said international experts during a workshop Friday.

They said: "Building confidence and leadership skills were fundamental to women empowerment and for obtaining a more equitable role in Pakistan."

The three-day training workshop on Conflict Management and Negotiation Styles was organised by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) in collaboration with United State Institute of Peace (USIP), US.

The training workshop was meant to enhance the capacity of working women in critical elements of leadership and provided them a forum to network and build relationship which would strengthen and empower working women of the country.

USIP two trainers, Dr Carola Weil and Nina Sughru conducted the training workshop. Twenty-six women participants from across the country representing the public, private/corporate and NGO sector organisations attended the training workshop.

During this three-day participatory, interactive and experimental training workshop, the participants were helped to develop a clearer understanding of unwritten rules of corporate culture, emulate successful leaders, practice strategies to demonstrate confidence, advocate for self, overcome stereotype tendencies, find a balance between life and work and to use proven leadership techniques to manage conflicts through negotiation skills which every leader needed to understand and acquire.

According to organisers, the negotiation, communication and problem solving skills imparted in the training workshop will help participants to deal confidently and capably with the challenges of democratisation.

"Also, these skills will enable participants to tackle conflicts through consultation and communication thus avoiding violent confrontations," the organisers said.

“There is a dire need to build a strong public private partnership in forest sector,” said speakers on a seminar titled “Public private Partnership in Forestry Sector in Pakistan.”

The Sustainable Development Policy Institute organized the seminar on Thursday.

The speakers were of the opinion that in Pakistan the forestry sector sustainable management needs strong public and private partnership.

Amjad Nazeer, a representative of Sangi Development Foundation said under the forest ordinance 2002 the joint forest committees were built. The joint forest committee system is not strong because in this system the forest department considers itself everything and other stakeholders are totally ignored.

He said community owns 90 per cent forest sector in Pakistan and hardly 10 to 20 per cent forest sector is owned by the public. The major stakeholder in Pakistan’s forest sector is the community.

The forest management system is very successful in Nepal and to some extent in India. “If some changes are made in this system it can also become effective system in Pakistan as the forest management system enjoys the support of the communities and NGO’s,” he added.

He said the forest committees are only active in those areas where the forest marking is being done so they can gain some money.

Even the Forest Ministry does not even have the details of the public private partnership on its website.

We conduct a research in which it was revealed that the companies who are using timber to make their product very few of them are taking any step for the reproduction of the wood that is an alarming situation, he added.

Ali Shahrukh Paracha said total forest covered area of Pakistan is about 5.2 per cent which is not enough. The government must realize the potential of the private sector.

Expressing concerns over the deforestation in Pakistan, the environmentalists called for public- private partnership in the forestry sector and demanded of the government to provide the necessary legislative and institutional arrangements.

While speaking at a seminar on “Public-Private Partnerships in the Forestry Sector in Pakistan” organized by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) Thursday, Amjad Nazir of Sungi Development Foundation, Islamabad, Atif Sandhu, Project Coordinator, Green Circle Organization, Lahore, Ali Shahrukh Pracha, Sustainable Development Policy Institute, discussed in details situation of forests and related issues in Pakistan.

Amjad Nazir giving a insightful overview of the situation of forests and policies adopted by different government in forestry sector said that in the 1992 law there was provision for Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMC) but its role in regulating, regenerating and managing the forest is not properly envisaged. The forest department officials are also given some arbitrary powers, including desolation of the JFMC.

Atif Sandhu shared GCO project in Galiyat based on Public Private Partnership (PPP), in collaboration with Shell Foundation UK, UNDP Pakistan. He said that the project aimed at building social infrastructure at community level for participatory decision-making and capacity building besides creating alternative sources of livelihood and development of the household economy.

Keeping in view the conflict, he demanded joint management of Ayoubia National Park by community and the park authority. Ali Pracha said that small forest owners, rights-holders, non-owners, women and grazers, depend on forests for livelihood. But the poor stakeholders are steadily marginalized and often exploited by the by Timber Mafia.

The complicate and delicate issue of ownership needs to be resolved before partnerships can be effective.

He said the forest department has been reluctant to concede these rights and entitlements and the communities do leverage them to a limited degree. Many were coerced into selling these rights at throwaway prices to the timber mafia.

He identified Co-operatives, Service Contrast, Management Contract, Lease contract, Built, Operation and Transfer (BOT) schemes as main types of PPP. Education, Health, Sanitation, Water, Transport and Forestry are the main sector where the PPP can be formed.

He said the global pull is in a favour of private sector in the natural resource management. Giving a definition of PPP, he also listed its advantages. He said that PPP is efficient and cost effective besides exploring the new markets.

Speakers at a seminar here on Thursday asked the government to provide necessary legislative and institutional arrangements to check the alarming level of deforestation in the country.

Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) had organised the seminar on “Public-Private Partnerships in the Forestry Sector in Pakistan”.

Speaking on the occasion, Amjad Nazir of the Sungi Development Organisation gave an overview of the forestry in the country and its problems and policies of the government for running this crucial agricultural sector.

In the forest law of 1992, there was the provision for joint forest management committees (JFMC) but its role in regulating, regenerating and managing the forest was not properly envisaged.

The forest department officials were also given some arbitrary powers, including desolation of the JFMC.

Ali Sharukh Paracha of the SDPI said small forest owners; rights holders, non-owners, women and grazers depended on forests for livelihood. But, stakeholders were steadily being marginalised and often exploited by the timber mafia.

“The complicated and delicate issue of ownership needs to be resolved before partnerships can become effective,” he observed.

Mr Paracha said the forest department had been reluctant to concede these rights and entitlements. Many were coerced into selling these rights at throwaway prices to the timber mafia.

He identified cooperatives, service contrast, management and lease contracts, built operation and transfer (BOT) schemes as main types of forest management process and the role of the private sector in this regard. Education, health, sanitation, water, transport and forestry were the main sectors where public- private partnerships could be formed, he added.

Speakers at a seminar here on Thursday asked the government to provide necessary legislative and institutional arrangements to check the alarming level of deforestation in the country.

Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) had organised the seminar on “Public-Private Partnerships in the Forestry Sector in Pakistan”.

Speaking on the occasion, Amjad Nazir of the Sungi Development Organisation gave an overview of the forestry in the country and its problems and policies of the government for running this crucial agricultural sector.

In the forest law of 1992, there was the provision for joint forest management committees (JFMC) but its role in regulating, regenerating and managing the forest was not properly envisaged.

The forest department officials were also given some arbitrary powers, including desolation of the JFMC.

Ali Sharukh Paracha of the SDPI said small forest owners; rights holders, non-owners, women and grazers depended on forests for livelihood.

But, stakeholders were steadily being marginalised and often exploited by the timber mafia.

“The complicated and delicate issue of ownership needs to be resolved before partnerships can become effective,” he observed.

Mr Paracha said the forest department had been reluctant to concede these rights and entitlements. Many were coerced into selling these rights at throwaway prices to the timber mafia.

He identified cooperatives, service contrast, management and lease contracts, built operation and transfer (BOT) schemes as main types of forest management process and the role of the private sector in this regard. Education, health, sanitation, water, transport and forestry were the main sectors where public- private partnerships could be formed, he added.

He said the global trend was in favour of the role of the private sector in the natural resource management.

Political parties urged to play role for democracy

Dr Saeed Shafqat, eminent social scientist, writer and head of National Institute of Population Studies, has said that we must act now and put the things in proper perspective as historic opportunity to democratise the country will be lost if political parties, civil society and public do not play their due roles.

Dr Shafqat was addressing a seminar on 'How politics is funded in Pakistan', organised by Sustainable Development Policy Institute here Monday. Gumina Bilal conducted the proceedings.

Prof Saeed Shafqat analysing political system of Pakistan over the last three decades said that six alarming trends emerged not only in politics but also at society and state levels. These trends were: increased personalisation of power, transformation of elite structure, fragmentation of community, criminalisation of society and state, disconnect between state and civil society and decline of political parties. He said that huge funds were available from different quarters for democratisation of parties and improved governance structures but the issue was how to effectively and properly utilise this potential.

He urged political parties to industriously utilise funding opportunities which could help them to properly function and attain sustainable democracy in Pakistan and to become real representatives of the common man for whom political process and political parties have become irrelevant.

He stressed the need for revival and prevalence of value system in the country, which included respect for law, minorities, patience and tolerance.

Zafarullah Khan, Executive Director, Center for Civic Education, said that politics have become an expensive business today and frequency of scandals in politics is a norm everywhere in the world. He said that Political Parties Ordinance 2002 forbids political parties to receive funding from corporate donors, unions and foreign donors but these groups have been actively involved in providing funding to Pakistan's political parties.

He enumerated leaders of parties, overseas Pakistanis and candidate's fees as major sources of funding to Pakistan's political parties. He lamented that the utilisation of funds was not transparent nor properly documented by parties. Based on experience of other countries, he advocated public funding for political parties in Pakistan. He said that figures provided to Election Commission by political parties contained in its report do not match to their actual spending. He also questioned the funding mechanism of major political parties in which they claimed that their membership fees as one of major sources of funding.

Transparency in political parties funds stressed

Renowned social scientists on Monday stressed the need for public funding and incentives for political parties and transparency in utilization of their funds.

They also advocated for a supportive environment for democratisation of parties and governance structures as no democracy can survive and function without the informed and stable political parties.

They expressed these views at a seminar tilted “How politics is funded in Pakistan,” organized by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI). Zafarullah Khan, Executive Director, Center for Civic Education, said that the politics have become an expensive business today and frequency of scandals in politics is a common norm not only in Pakistan but also across the globe.

Discussing culture of illegal donations, he said that Political Parties Ordinance 2002 forbids political parties receiving funding from corporate donors, unions and foreign donors but these groups have been actively involved in providing funding to Pakistan’s political parties.

He said that overseas Pakistanis and candidate’s fee as major sources of funding to Pakistan’s political parties. “The utilisation of parties’ funds were not transparent and properly documented,” he added.

Citing Election Commission’s (EC) reports of 2003, he said that the figures provided to the EC by the political parties were not matching to the expenditures of these parties afforded for their political activities.

He also questioned the funding mechanism of the major political parties in which they claimed their membership fee as one of the major funding source to them.

Dr. Saeed Shafqat highlighted a very insightful analysis of the political system of Pakistan over the last three decades. He observed that during this period, six alarming trends have dangerously emerged not only in politics but also at society and state level.

These trends included increased personalisation of power, transformation of elite structure, fragmentation of community, criminalisation of society and state, disconnect between state and civil society and finally decline of political parties.

He cautioned that the time was running out and we must act now and put the things in proper perspective. The country was at the crossroads and if political parties, civil society and public could not manage to play their due role, the historic opportunity will be lost, he added.

He said, “For the democratisation of parties and improved governance structures, massive funds were available from different sources but the issue was how to effectively and properly utilise this potential.”

He urged the political parties for the industrious utilisation of funding opportunities, which could help them to properly function to attain the sustainable democracy in Pakistan.

Gumina Bilal, a social activist facilitated the seminar proceedings and recognised the political parties as essential for any political system. But she also raised concerns over model of funding to Pakistan’s political parties and their individualistic and personality dependent approaches.

While sharing a thought-provoking account of their perspectives about the political parties and current political system in Pakistan, eminent social scientists stressed the need for public funding and incentives for political parties and transparency in utilization of their funds.

They were speaking at the weekly seminar on “How politics is funded in Pakistan”, organized by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) Monday,

They also advocated supportive environment for democratization of parties and governance structures as no democracy can survive and function without the informed and stable political parties.

Dr Saeed Shafqat, a social scientist and writer, and Zafarullah Khan, Executive Director, Center for Civic Education, discussed various aspects of Pakistani politics with regard to their funding sources and opportunities.

Zafarullah Khan, Executive Director, Center for Civic Education, said that the politics have become an expensive business today and frequency of scandals in politics has become common place.

He identified leaders of parties, overseas Pakistanis and candidate’s fees as major sources of funding for Pakistan’s political parties.

He was critical that the utilization of parties’ funds were not transparent and properly documented. Based on experience of other countries, he advocated the public funding model for Pakistan political parties and put some concrete suggestions such as constitution of national commission, government’s logistical support to political parties.

Dr. Saeed Shafqat highlighted a very insightful analysis of the political system of Pakistan over the last three decades. He observed that during this period, six alarming trends have dangerously emerged not only in politics but also at society and state level.

These trends included increased personalization of power, transformation of elite structure, fragmentation of community, criminalization of society and state, disconnect between state and civil society and finally decline of political parties.

He cautioned that the time was running out and we must act now and put the things in proper perspective because the country was at the crossroads and if political parties, civil society and public could not manage to play their due roles, the historic opportunity will be lost.

He said that for the democratization of parties and improved governance structures, massive funds were available from different sources but the issue was how to effectively and properly utilize this potential.

He urged political parties for the industrious utilization of funding opportunities which could help them to properly function to attain the sustainable democracy in Pakistan and to become real representatives of the common man for whom all the political process including political parties have become irrelevant.

He stressed the need for of value system in the country, which included respect for law, minorities, patience, tolerance as a way forward for Pakistanis.