‘Enhance productivity of people for poverty alleviation’

LAHORE:A panel discussion on “How the poor are excluded from social mobility” was held at the Government College University (GCU) on Monday.

GCU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Asghar Zaidi moderated the panel discussion participated by eminent economists and rights activists from different educational institutions and research organizations. In his keynote address, Prof Dr Nadeem ul Haque, the Vice Chancellor of Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) Islamabad, emphasised the importance of intellectual debate and research headed by the leading educational institutions.

He stressed on involving academia, researchers and rights activists in policymaking, saying that there should be academic and intellectual background to all the political slogans. Prof Haque gave an insight into the economic system of Pakistan, saying that centralisation of power, lack of regulations and enforcement, ineffective taxation system, absence of innovation, conformity of colonial status quo and utter dependence on donors had impeded development of the country and encouraged suppression of the people at large. Prof Haque believed informal sector gave boost to their economy, so it should not be suppressed through heavy taxation. He also said the government couldn’t end poverty through charity programmes; it immediately needed to devise polices to enhance the productivity of the people to increase the growth rate and for poverty alleviation. Tooba Syed, a gender researcher, talked about protecting basic rights of women and of the poor who came to urban centres to seek work or employment. Prof Zaidi deliberated upon the current policies to discover right models for inclusive growth in Pakistan. He said poverty was always caused by exclusion from opportunity. Give the poor a chance and they will lift themselves out of poverty, he added. He appreciated the efforts of the government that in spite of financial crunch and fiscal deficit, it was also pushing its EHSAAS programme for the welfare of the poor.

Besides university’s faculty deans and academic heads, lawyer Usama Khawar, development practitioner Ammar Rashid and Zia Banday from PIDE Islamabad participated in the discussion.

LG system: Speakers at a panel discussion at Punjab University on Monday stressed the need to strengthen local government system to resolve local issues at local level.

According to a press release, the panel discussion was organised by PU Department of Economics at its seminar room. Pakistan Institute of Development Economics Vice Chancellor Dr Nadeem-ul-Haq, Ms Tooba Sayid, Usama Khawar, Ammar Rashid, Zia Banday and Chairman PU Department of Economics Prof Dr Mumtaz Anwer Ch, faculty members and a large number of students were present. Addressing the participants, Dr Nadeem-ul-Haq said the Constitution provided equal rights to the citizens. He said there should be one law for the rich and the poor.

Zia Banday said local bodies would help resolve issues with the participation of people of the locality concerned. Ammar Arshad stressed the need for affordable residential facilities for working class.

MoU: Department of Mass Communication of Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) and the Strengthening Participatory Organisation (SPO) signed an MoU here on Monday to foster academic collaboration and develop contemporary academic programmes.

According to a press release, LCWU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Bushra Mirza and SPO Regional Head Lahore Shahnawaz Khan signed the MoU.

linkage: The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) and University of Home Economics (UHE) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate and extend expertise for promotion of young entrepreneurs, particularly women entrepreneurship with an understanding to work for development of a positive entrepreneurial culture. SMEDA General Manager Raja Hassanien Javed and UHE VC Dr Kanwal Ameen signed the MoU in the presence of senior officials .