SAARC Summit- Gains and Losses

The seminar on “SAARC Summit- Gains and Losses” was organized by SDPI on January 12, 2004. Brigadier (R) Shaukat Qadir chaired the seminar. He was of the view that since borders of no state in the SAARC region touches each other except India therefore there must be resolution of issues on bilateral level rather than on multilateral level.

PPP Senator Mr. Farhat Ullah Babar was of the view that his party welcomes the initiation of peace process in the region because of tension between Pakistan and India, which is a major cause of over grown military establishment in Pakistan. One of the concerns his party had regarding the peace process was its fragility, since it was not backed by political consensus in the country.

MMA Senator Professor Khurshid Ahmad briefly highlighted upon the history of SAARC, that the organization though was established for economic cooperation but it didn't work very well because it tried to look at the economic issues in isolation while in reality economics cannot be separated from politics.

Senator Tariq Azeem from the ruling Muslim League was of the view that SAARC summit was a positive sign as its article 10 closes door for bilateral issues but bilateral issues were discusses which was welcomed in the region as well as in the west.

The Role of Transnational Corporations (TNCs) in Development –The case of Zamzama Gas Field

The seminar on “The Role of Transnational Corporations (TNCs) in Development-The Case of Zamzama Gas Field” was organized by SDPI on January 19, 2004. Mohsin Babbar from SDPI chaired the seminar.

The discussion was bas3ed on a study conducted by SDPI. Ali Abbas Qazilbash from SDPI was of the view that BHP Billiton the multinational company working at Zamzama gas fields in Johi Taluka of Dadu District has not taken steps for the socioeconomic uplift of the local community and not implemented the recommendations laid down in its own initial Environment Examination report. He was of the view that despite promises made by the company enacted in an agreement three years ago, had failed to allocate one percent of the profit for the uplift of the local community and help them in health and education areas.

Sawan Khan from a community-based organization from Taluka was of the view that the company has given rise to a culture of ‘dadagiri' in the area and acquires land through fraud. He also accused some NGOs of siding with the company.

The seminar continued for about two hours.

ROZ-E-QAZA: Hibakusha ki Aapbiti-a docu-drama based on a true story of an atom bomb survivor A Films D'Art Production with the support of Japan Foundation (Special Seminar)

This special seminar “ROZ-E-QAZA: Hibakusha ki Aapbiti-a docu-drama based on a true story of an atom bomb survivor” was based on a docu-drama shown on a big projector screen. Kiran Nazir from SDPI chaired it.

The documentary drama produced and directed by Aiysha Gazdar introduced her documentary and the purpose for its development. It mocked the glorification of Pakistan and India's Nuclear Blasts by their people and leaders by contrasting it with the horrifying scenes of death and disaster in Hiroshima and Nagasaki caused by the US made ‘little boy' at the end of the second world war. Aiysha has based her docu-drama on the experiences of Miyuki Kamezawa, a writer, peace activist and a survivor of an atomic bomb (Hibakusha). Aiysha in her film has skillfully shown the horrors of the nuclear blast by choosing a local abandoned location, and with the help of best make-up and nuclear blasts effects.

According to Aiysha Gazdar, this docu-drama was an attempt to warn people against the horrible effects of the atom bomb and what could happen if the atom bomb was to be used.

The documentary lasted for 40 minutes followed by the encouraging comments for the documentary by the participants.

Electricity Tariff Regulation in Pakistan

The seminar on “Electricity Tariff Regulation in Pakistan” was organized by SDPI on January 26, 2004. Fahd Ali from SDPI chaired the seminar. He was of the view that how can hearings that are only conduced by the authority in the federal metropolis be useful when affected people live at far away places. NEPRA must set up regional offices.

Hussain A Babur, director privatization of NEPRA said that the prices were determined after taking into various factors like costs, transmission losses, distribution overheads and managerial expenditure.

Mirza Hamid Hussan, Chairperson Prime minister's task Force on Power Tariff said that the power costs were unbearable for a common man. He was of the view that the task force was formed to suggest measures that could bring down cost, improve efficiency and decrease the prices.

Mukhtar Ahmad, executive coordinator of the consumer rights commission of Pakistan said that the reforms in the energy sector were not conducted according to the indigenous strategies but were donor driven which has resulted in fruitless efforts.

In the question hour session one of the participants lamented that outstanding power bills of the president house, the chief justice and the senate chairperson's offices amounted to more than Rs. 15 Million he also lamented to the appointment of a non technical person from military made the head of the NEPRA.

Women Struggle Against Unjust Laws

The seminar on “Women Struggle Against Unjust Laws” was organized by SDPI in context of national Women's day February 12, 2004. Shereen Rahmat Minhas from SDPI chaired the seminar.

Sherry Rehman, MNA, PPPP was of the view that the military government could have brought legislation on women rights as it has done in many cases but when the bills were tabled in this respect, it was never put on National Assembly's agenda for discussion. She said that even when the women MPs had been given 30% of the seats in the assembly they were not even given 30% of the time to speak in the assembly.

Dr. Farzana Bari, acting director of the women's study center, Quaid-e-Azam University traced the history of the struggle of women against unjust laws. She was of the view that though women have the right to be treated equally before the laws but hierarchy existed in our country and the women are discriminated against. She asked the women's rights organizations to develop a popular base as only this could ensure achievement in their long struggle.

Naeem Mirza from Aurat Foundation was of the view that political expediency brings in many difficulties in the enactment of pro-women laws. He referred to new freedoms media was enjoying in capturing these issues.

The seminar lasted for around two hours.

The seminar “Money, Bomb and the Nation: Is Accountability a priority” was organized by SDPI in Holiday Inn. Saba Gul Khattak, Executive Director, SDPI chaired the seminar.

Former Defense Secretary Lieutenant General (R) Talat Masood while speaking on the seminar said that he has asked the government to bring in the genuine civilian component in nuclear command structure, decision-making and foreign policy apparatus in a sustainable way through true democracy. He was of the opinion that the US selective policy against proliferation will not solve the problem and global disarmament was the only solution.

M Ziauddin resident editor of a local English news paper said that what supposedly went into nuclear program was only peanut he was of the view that the figure of $10 Million in the last 30 years was an underestimation as black market items are not accounted for.

Dr. Ayesha Siddiqa Agha an independent researcher said that officials say that they didn't know any thing about proliferation while the non-official hypothesis holds the opposite view. She said that the issue was not that how much was spent rather the issue was that how much was made and by whom. She was of the opinion that nuclear issues was far too serious and should not be dragged in settling scores in civil military relationship.

To a question regarding siphoned off money from KRL, M Ziauddin said that money spent on bombs could have been used on education and health sector.

The seminar lasted for two hours.

“Two Decades of Unjust Laws…and the struggle continues”

SDPI under Mubariza network participated and was part of the organizing committee in organizing a program on February 12, 2004, celebrated as a national women's day in Community Center Aabpara. February 12 th , 2004 marks the 21 st anniversary of the notorious police brutality and illegal action against a group of unarmed women activists demonstrating peacefully against Qanoon-e- Shahadat (Law of Evidence) outside the Lahore High Court during the Martial Law regime of Zia-ul-Haq in 1983. It makes woman witness as half of a male witness.

This year on Pakistan Women's Day February 12 th , Mubariza, Joint Action Committee (JAC) and Women Action forum (WAF) organized a seminar especially targeting youth to reiterate their call for justice against all unjust laws including discriminatory employment laws.

The program consisted of the 12 February event narration by Samina Omer, Principal Program Coordinator Crafts Program, Sungi. Legal perspective was presented by Shehla Zia, Executive Director, Aurat Foundation. The program included a poem by Kishwar Nahid, Executive Director, Hawwa Craft Centre. Nasreen Azhar, Manager Social and Legal Rights, Action Aid presented on the Civil Society Struggle Against Discriminatory Laws. The program ended in a skit coordinated by the Aagahi Theater Group of SACHET.

“Greater Provincial Autonomy”

SDPI held a seminar title ”Greater Provincial Autonomy” on Feb 24, 2004. The speakers included Mr. Asfandyar Wali, Senator, ANP, Mr. Akhtar Mengal, former Chief Minister, Baluchistan, Mr. Abdul Majeed Kanjoo, President Seraiki Nationalist Party and Dr. Qadir Magsi, President Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party. Chairman National Reconstruction Bureau Mr Daniyal Aziz chaired the seminar.

Opening the seminar, Mr. Aziz presented the salient features of the devolution plan and shared some of the achievements of the NRB. He welcomed all the stakeholders to engage, discuss and refine the devolution plan.

Speaking on the occasion, ANP Senator Asfandyar Wali said when Gen Pervez Musharraf assumed power and presented his seven- point agenda, there was a little hope as it contained the issue of provincial disharmony. However, he said, the devolution plan presented by Lt-Gen (retired) Tanveer Naqvi even snatched a little bit autonomy which the provinces had been enjoying.

He said the devolution should be from federal to provinces and then from provinces to districts. By putting the districts directly under the federal system for six years, the provincial governments have been made post offices and the chief ministers should be called postmasters general, he added.

The ANP Senator said he was unable to understand the criticism to the demand of renaming the NWFP. He said if the names of Layallpur and Lawrencepur could be changed then why the name of a province could not be changed. He said Pukhtoons were not demanding separation, they only wanted representation on the country's map.

He opined that the country needed a new political and social contract in order to remove sense of deprivation among the people of smaller provinces and added that the rulers must realize that perceptions are stronger than the facts.

Akhtar Mengal regretted that the issue of provincial autonomy had been ignored for the past 56 years. According to him, federating units surrendered their autonomy in the name of religion and now the people demanding genuine right for provinces were being termed as ‘Mulk Dushman' and ‘Islam Dushman'.

Mr. Abdul Majeed Kanju, from Seraiki Nationalist Party said that provinces should be called national states, as Pakistan was a multinational state. He suggested demarcating the provinces on nationality basis and letting the people living in those provinces to decide about them. He was of the view that the federation could only be saved by strengthening the federating units. He further suggested that federal government should only be taking care of currency, defence and foreign affairs and rest should be vested in the provinces.

Dr Qadir Magsi said the president and the prime minister were themselves terrorizing the people by saying that the country could be attacked anytime. "Does it happen in any independent and sovereign state," he questioned.

He said when Sindh Assembly passed a resolution, it became a part of Pakistan and when the same assembly was passing resolutions against construction of Thal Canal and Kalabagh Dam, Islamabad was not ready to listen to them. He claimed that the 1973 Constitution did not provide as much autonomy to the provinces as provided by the 1935 Act.

This was followed by a brief question & answer session. The questions about rigging in the general election, about relations between the establishment and Nazim of Khairpur district and converting provinces into divisions were asked by the participants.

Mr Aziz, while summing up said that the government was ready to listen to the people of smaller provinces and would take steps to remove their apprehensions. He said though the nationalist parties did not have the people's mandate as they lost in the last elections, the NRB was ready to hold consultations with them to bring provincial harmony. He extended his support by offering to arrange a dialogue on the devolution plan. He called for finding out a political solution to all the issues.

Trip Report

Role of NGOs in basic / primary education in Pakistan

The NGO Pulse of the Social Enterprise Development Programme (SEDP) at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) held a Stakeholders'/ Key informants' Workshop on April 17, 2004 on the “Role of NGOs in basic / primary education in Pakistan”.

The purpose of this consultative workshop was to elevate understanding about the nature of NGOs' involvement in Pakistan's basic primary education, identifying challenges facing basic primary education in Pakistan and the role of NGOs vis-à-vis the private and public sector. In the workshop it was debated whether NGOs were capable enough to be considered a viable alternative to the government as far as the provision of education was concerned. Academic and NGO experts participated in the workshop. The participants deliberated upon the following topics.

•  Origination and evolution of the role of NGOs in education

•  Factors responsible for NGO involvement

•  Current and future role of NGOs in education

•  The ways in which NGOs are addressing social needs in primary education

•  Why public-civil society partnership is needed?

•  Major challenges in forming such partnership

•  Useful lessons from various NGO model in education sector