Local Problems

Dear All,

The following article “Local problems” by “ Salman Abid”  source “The News- 27-02-2010”.

Democracy is always linked with strong grassroots political and social institutions. Unfortunately, in Pakistan, we have faced a serious crisis of democracy especially at the grassroots level. And not always because of military dictators. Recently the Punjab coalition government run by the two largest political parties Pakistan Muslim League (N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) have unanimously passed a proposed amended bill of local government 2010 in the name of democracy and decentralization in the country.

For more details: http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/feb2010-weekly/nos-27-02-2010/pol1.htm#3

 

 

 

Vanishing Voices

Dear All,

The following article “Vanishing Voices” by Aziz Ali Dad, source “The News- 27-02-2010”.

There is no document of civilization that is not at the same time a document of barbarism." Walter Benjamin

Because of the compression of time and space under the influence of technology the contemporary age is known as "Global Village". This is the first time in the history of mankind that local, national, regional and international events influence one another in various ways. Gilgit-Baltistan is also not immune to globalisation. My main focus here would be to take stock of the tripartite challenges posed by globalisation, communication and modernity for the survival of indigenous languages of Gilgit-Baltistan. Examining the current situation of indigenous languages in the region vis-à-vis exogenous forces, which include, market forces and their repercussions on local vernaculars.

For more details: http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/feb2010-weekly/nos-27-02-2010/pol1.htm#3

 

 

Sunday party

Friday, February 26, 2010 Harris Khalique   In the darkness and apathy that surround us, the passing of another great man, scholar, poet and politician, Ajmal Khattak, was yet another blow to his comrades and disciples who believe in creating a modern, progressive and humane society in this country. A man of impeccable character, Khattak struggled all his life for what he stood for – a socialist, secular, democratic and enlightened Pakistan where fundamental issues of class and nations inhabiting the state are fully resolved and everlasting peace is established in the subcontinent and Afghanistan.   I always find it hard to express condolences to the bereaved family or close friends and it becomes harder when someone larger than life passes away. As it was mentioned once before in this column, no one lives forever and people die in every society but sooner or later their place is taken over by some able successors. Our tragedy is different. Great people who leave us are seldom replaced. We are losing our major intellectuals and politicians of integrity at an alarming pace. It is a kind of a social deforestation where large trees with thick foliage protecting us from scorching sun are falling down and since no saplings were planted, watered and nurtured by society for years, this is fast becoming a barren land. But we must refuse to give up hope and as long as someone continues to believe in the same ideals and professes, preaches, struggles to realize these ideals, things will eventually change.   For more details: http://thenews.jang.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=226227

 

The Myth of a 'Modern' Financial System for Developing Countries

The myopic vision of IMF policies

A financial system is a structure that channels funds from agents with surplus to those with a deficit. Financial systems are crucial for the allocation of resources in a modern economy. A powerful question to ask then in the context of developing countries is what the relationship between growth and the financial system is. Does growth lead to the development of the financial sector or do financial systems create growth? What can be concluded is that there is a positive correlation between growth and financial structures. The more important debate lies in the relative contribution of banks and financial markets in stimulating growth.

The financial system can affect growth through a number of ways. These include, first by determining how much saving is lost (1- φ) and secondly through affecting the marginal efficiency of capital (A). By allocating funds towards a project (through collecting information on high yield project, etc), finance can raise A. It can also affect the saving rate. The less risk is handled by the financial system the less will the economy save, the less will be investment and hence the less will be growth and subsequently development. Development also has social and non economic ideas linked to it. The neoclassical school believes that development is a technical aspect and makes no link to social and normative aspects. This view creates substantial flaws in the models of financial systems that emerge, especially for developing countries where culture and social norms play an important role.

For more details: http://www.chowk.com/articles/myth-of-a-modern-financial-system-for-developing-countries-tehmina-tanveer.htm

 

 

New Arrival

Dear All,

I am Pleasure to inform you that “ Aalmi Encyclopedia” translated by “Yasir Jawad”  published by “Al-Faisal Nashran” is available our Development Resource Centre (DRC).

I am also dispatching encyclopedia for Regional offices Development Resource Centre (DRC).

 

 

 

Have faith in Faiz's promise of people's victory

ISLAMABAD, Feb 17: Speakers at a conference held here on Wednesday resolved to use Faiz’s poetry to correct the nation’s course and steer the country out of the present impasse.

 They underlined the need to put faith in, and promote, the optimism that Faiz inspires about the ultimate victory of the people in their struggle for social justice, freedom, equality and peace.

They emphasized the poet’s active role shoulder to shoulder with the working class to establish a just society free of exploitation, oppression and economic disparity.

The conference was organised by Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO), an NGO.

Prominent among those who spoke on the occasion were poets Iftikhar Arif, Fehmida Riaz, Harris Khalique, intellectual Ashfaq Saleem Mirza, trade union leader Abdul Sattar. Aslam Azhar, who played a formative role in making the PTV a creative organ of the state, presided over the conference.

Poet Fehmida Riaz read a paper on “freedom of expression and lamented the manner in which the freedom of expression had been subverted especially by the TV channels. In her opinion, it was full of empty noise.

For more details: http://epaper.dawn.com/ArticleText.aspx?article=18_02_2010_002_012

 

 

Masud's travel stories in tradition of Insha

Source: Dawn News

 

ISLAMABAD, Feb 9: It is a good omen for the capital’s cultural scene that one evening sees several literary events, each drawing sizable gathering.That sentiment surfaced at the launching ceremony of Masud Alam’s Urdu travelogue Chalo held under the Civic Café programme of the Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO) on Tuesday evening.

Poet, writer and social activist Harris Khalique said on the occasion that Masud Alam, being proficient in English language, deserved special praise for writing in Urdu, knowing well that writing in English brings more recognition and money.

He stressed the need for writing prose in the national languages including Sindhi, Balochi, Pashto, Seraiki, Hindku, besides Urdu, to reach out to the common people.

Mr Khalique said Masud Alam’s collection of travel stories is in the tradition of Ibne Insha, who wrote simple, witty and absorbing prose.

Earlier Zafar Zeeshan, head of programme, SPO, in his introductory remarks described Masud Alam as a unique writer, who has used his journalistic eye to come up with creative prose. He said that this combination is not very common.

Picking up the thread from this point scholar Ashfaq Salim Mirza also praised the writer, who is son of Air Commodore (retired) Mahmud Alam. Like his father, Masud too joined Pakistan Air Force but paid adieu to it and moved on to journalism and filmmaking.

Masud Alam, who is currently working with BBC, read a story of a travel in a fictitious airline where you get neither snacks nor newspapers free. He talked in his humorous way about small airlines that have taken over the crowding airlines.

Masud’s travelogue has also earned kudos from Mohammed Hanif, author of A Case of Exploding Mangoes.

Press Release

 

 

Re: NGO Sector in Pakistan: Issues and Challenges

Source: Daily Times

 The situation demands the attention of key stakeholders including the government, funding agencies, NGOs and research organizations to learn the new dynamics of the corporatised voluntary sector and sort it out for the survival of voluntarism.

 Unlike other countries in the South Asian region, the NGO sector in Pakistan has seen rapid changes in the development context. A mushroom growth of voluntary organisations took place during the Zia regime, when the sector was being fed USAID funding in return for Pakistan's support in the Afghan War. Back then this sector was active in the areas of education, health and community infrastructure, with the exception of the Women's Action Forum (WAF), which challenged the discriminatory Hudood Ordinance. This trend continued until 1999 due to the wrapping up of local bodies institutions by elected governments in the 1990s. It then switched to strengthening local governance systems (LGS) in 2001 when Pervez Musharraf's government introduced the Devolution of Power Plan for the reform of the local government system. Most of the programmes of large and medium scale organisations were aligned with LGS in a variety of ways. Parallel to the implementation of the two phases of the system, the political scenario due to the occurrence of 9/11 was drastically changed. Since then, militant forces are threatening peace and development in Pakistan. The driving force that changed the direction of NGOs were funding agencies that signed agreements with federal governments for the provision of funds in selected areas of interest, without considering the needs of sustainability for ongoing programmes.

For more details please click here: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010

 

New Arrivals

Dear All,

 

This is to inform you that "Yeh Khana-e-aab o Gill" selections from Jalal Uddin Rumi's (Diwan-e Shams Tabrizi) urdu translation by

“Fehmida Riaz” available our Development Resource Centre.

 

I am also dispatching this book for all Regional Offices “Development Resource Centre”.