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PR. No. 81.
“It is a matter of great pleasure and honour for me to welcome all the participants of this Five-Day Regional Training Programme on “Participatory Techniques for Planning and Management of Rural Development Projects”, organized by the Government of Pakistan and the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and Pacific (CIRDAP). I feel that the demography and cultural semblance of this region could play a vital role to devise methods and techniques to plan and manage the rural development projects in concerted manner on integrated approach. This is also a matter of satisfaction for me that the organizing team of the program has been successful to gather a very august group of professionals and practitioners to fruitfully achieve the stated objectives of this training programme. I expect that the participants of this training programme would make the most of this opportunity to further broaden their horizon and strengthen their capacities to serve the poor of the region in a better way. Every rural development project needs to be focused on the felt needs and aspirations of communities concerned. The dream of socio-economic development cannot come true unless we develop a human resource that is fully conversant with state-of-the-art methods and techniques for participation of ultimate beneficiaries of rural development. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to CIRDAP for collaborating with the Government of Pakistan in organizing this regional training workshop. I assure that Government of Pakistan, in line with our international commitments, would take every step to be a partner in such programmes in future for the mutual benefit of the professionals from Pakistan and other CIRDAP member countries. I wish all the participants a very comfortable stay in Islamabad and a very meaningful learning environment during this training programme.” **FK/AZC”
“Participation is a process, whereby people are given the opportunity to express their voice and choice in decisions which affect their future. This participation needs to be based on community empowerment so that informed and action oriented decisions are made by the stakeholders. The concept of growth with equity and participation has become foundation rock of all development planning in. recent years. Traditionally, general thinking was that mere sound project management would yield the desired results of rural development by only taking the input of experts and professionals. This mind-set prevailed for quite a long period of time until the net outcome was witnessed as increasing poverty, inequitable distribution of wealth, lack of ownership and absence of sense of belongingness among the targeted beneficiaries of development. The nature of the problem is same in many of countries of Asia and Pacific. Therefore, the role of collaborative ventures, such as those undertaken by the CIRDAP’s, needs to be strengthened through collaborative efforts of all CIRDAP member countries. This Regional Training Programme on “Participatory Techniques for Planning and Management of Rural Development Projects” is one such endeavor where Pakistan is supporting CIRDAP for regional collaboration. I feel that the professionals representing various member countries have valuable opportunity to interact with each other in a very conducive environment and share success stories as well lessons learned in the field of rural development. Such a useful blend of experiences would definitely go a long way in understanding the real core of rural development issues and cardinal factor namely, the peoples’ participation. I expect that the participants and the resource persons will do their best to achieve the desired objectives of this training programme, and I confidently hope that, while going back to their respective countries, they would carry with themselves thorough understanding of the participatory methods and techniques under implementation in the region and Pakistan on ground experience. I wish you all a very comfortable and fruitful stay in Pakistan. I wish all the best for this five-day programme and for the rest of your lives.” FK/AZC
The Executive Board of the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in its annual meeting held in New York, United States last week unanimously approved a grant of US$28.683 million for year 2009-2010 for health sector in Pakistan. The US$ 28.683 million grant is likely to be increased to US$ 86.700 million for 2009-2010. Secretary Health Mr. Khushnood Akhtar Lashari represented Pakistan in the executive board meeting. He presented Pakistan’s Country Programme to the Executive Board. Highlighting the priorities of the new government in the health sector, Mr. Lashari explained the major areas of the Country Programme which include children’s health, education, protection etc. Switzerland, Canada, and Norway spoke in favour of the proposed programme. Terming this as a major achievement for Pakistan, Mr. Lashari said it will bring in additional UNICEF resources to work for child health, education, emergency preparedness, water supply, and social protection, among other areas. AA/AZC
PR. No. 84. Minister for Health, Ms. Sherry Rehman and Secretary Health Mr. Khushnood Akhtar Lashari have condoled over the deaths of Dr. Javed Chaudhury, Executive Director, Federal Government Services Hospital, and Dr. Hassan Sadiq, National Programme Manager, National TB Control Programme, Ministry of Health. Dr. Javed Chaudhury succumbed to death today due to heart problems and kidney failures while Dr. Hassan Sadiq died on Saturday after a tragic accident on Motorway near Faisalabad interchange. In her separate condolence messages to the bereaved families, Ms Sherry Rehman said: “Ministry of Health will always value and remember the services that both Dr. Javed Chaudhury and Dr. Hassan Sadiq rendered for the betterment of health services at national level. Almighty Allah may rest the departed souls in eternal peace and grant the bereaved families the courage and patience to bear the irreparable losses with equanimity (Aamin). Secretary Health Mr. Khushnood Akhtar also condoled with the bereaved families. Lauding the services of both the senior health managers, Mr. Lashari said both Dr. Javed and Dr. Hassan were true professionals who worked day and night for bringing improvement in health delivery system in Pakistan. The Ministry of Health has arranged a condolence meeting at 9.30 a.m. tomorrow (Tuesday) where all officials of the Ministry of Health will offer prayers for the departed souls. AA/AZC
PR. No. 85. A meeting was held in the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, Islamabad under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for Food, Agriculture and Livestock, Ch. Nazar Muhammad Gondal to review status of payment by the sugar mills to the sugarcane growers for 2007-08 crop. The meeting was attended by the Secretary, Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, Can commissioners from the provinces of Punjab and NWFP and other officials of the MINFAL. Provincial Cane Commissioners apprised the meeting about status of payments of sugarcane growers by the sugar mills. The Minister showed serious concern about the low pace of payments to the growers and directed the provincial authorities to ensure that the billions of rupees pending as payments of the growers are paid before 30th June 2008 positively. The provincial authorities were also directed to initiate strict legal action against defaulting sugar mills under the relevant provisions of the provincial sugar Factories Control Act. The mills who do not come to the terms and fail to clear dues by due date shall be black listed. The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock along with Provincial Cane Commissioners will monitor the situation so that the grievances of the farmers are addressed appropriately and their dues are fully paid in time. EH/ank.
PR. No. 86. Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that his government is determined to provide all possible relief to the people especially the poorer and vulnerable segments of the population who are groaning under economic hardship for a long time. The Prime Minister was talking to a delegation of Ministers and MNAs who called on him at his Chamber in the Parliament this evening. The Prime Minister said that the government is fully alive to the difficulties facing the common man and despite the empty coffers will bring about a qualitative change in their lives. The Prime Minister said that his government has the resolve, the will and the ability to tackle the multiple challenges facing country including food and energy shortages. We have already taken concrete measures to address them, he added. The Prime Minister said that the provision of quality education and basic health facilities to poor people and redressing their grievances through employment generation and infrastructure development is the top priority of the government. Taking about his visit to Saudi Arabia the Prime Minister said that the Saudi Government has agreed to strengthen Pakistan’s strategic oil reserves to overcome the current energy shortages. The Saudi Government is also ready to invest in the exploration of oil and gas reserves and setting up of oil refineries in Pakistan, he added. The Prime Minister said that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia agreed to expand their bilateral cooperation in agriculture, defence, trade and industrial sectors. The MNAs felicitated the Prime Minister on his successful visit to Saudi Arabia and performing Umrah. They apprised him of the development projects they plan to initiate in their constituencies to redress the problems being faced by the people The delegation also congratulated the Prime Minister on his bold courageous decision to give permanent jobs to low paid contractual employees the government. The delegation comprised of Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah, Minister for Labour and Manpower, Ch. Ahmed Mukhtar, Minister for Defence, Mr. Qamar Zaman Kaira, Minister for KANA, Mr. Nazar Muhammad Gondal, Minister for Narcotics Control, Raja Pervez Ashraf, Minister for Water & Power, Sardar Saleem Haider Khan, MNA, Mr. Tasleem Ahmad Qureshi, MNA, Mr. Nadeem Afzal Gondal, MNA, and Mr. Muhammad Tariq Tarar, MNA. DSG/ank
PR. No. 87. A delegation of Pakistan Teachers United Front headed by Haji Abdul Ghafar Kudaizy called on the Prime Minister at his Chamber in Parliament House and called off their hunger strike on appeal of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister said that he will personally take up their case with all the four Chief Ministers and assured them sympathetic consideration of their just demands and his party is committed to improve the lot of teachers. The members of delegation expressed their full confidence on the assurance of the Prime Minister. Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah, Minister for labour and manpower, Mr.Qamar Zaman Kaira, Minister for KANA and Raja Pervez Ashraf, Minister for Water and Power were also present. DSG/wh
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