Pakistan: Social Progress

This thread is to post news items about the state of social progress and human development in the country. This includes articles related to education, healthcare, and other human development issues.

Please remember to link your source.

Thanks.

US to provide $105 million: Fulbright scholarships

ISLAMABAD, Dec 17: Pakistan and the United States on Saturday signed an agreement on a new $157.5 million Fulbright scholarship programme spread over a period of five years for 750 students pursuing MS and PhD degrees.

The funding for the MS and PhD degrees, involving a $105 million commitment by the United States and $52.5 million by the HEC, brings Pakistan to the top of the list on Fulbright programme.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Dr Attaur Rehman and the Executive Director of United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP), Dr Grace Clark, and was witnessed by US Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker.

Dr Ata said Pakistan was working on a strategy to move forward from agro-based to knowledge-based economy by unleashing the creativity of its younger generation.

He said the programme would provide an opportunity to the young students to be part of the socio-economic development of the country.

He was appreciative of the United States for helping the country in “a really big way” and said students would get admissions in top US universities in many disciplines; including basic and applied sciences, information technology, bio- technology, management, economy, etc.

The US ambassador termed the signing a “historic” moment that would expand cooperation and bring the two countries closer.

He said Pakistan would top the list of 140 countries that compete for Fulbright scholarships. Dr Grace Clark described the signing as a “momentus occasion”.

Under the programme Pakistan would contribute $10.5 million to the programme annually for five years, while the US Agency for International Development will provide $4.5 million annually for the same period.

About 50 students would be funded annually for the PhD programme while 100 for the MS programme.—APP

http://www.dawn.com/2005/12/18/nat1.htm
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‘Pakistan remains in low-level skills trap’: Development economists conference opens
By Sher Baz Khan

ISLAMABAD, Dec 19: Economic experts told a conference here on Monday that low standards of vocational, creative and cognitive skills had resulted in huge losses to Pakistan in output, exports and employment and left it far behind in the race for knowledge-based economy.

The three-day Annual General Meeting and Conference of Pakistan Society of Development Economists (PSDE) is exploring “the dark aspects of Pakistan economy” in the light of research papers of some well-known national and international economic experts.

“Pakistan has remained in a low-level skills trap for too long. If it wants to move to the knowledge economy then it must break up this trap,” said Dr A.R. Kemal, president of PSDE and director of the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE).

In his keynote address Dr Attaur Rehman, adviser to the prime minister on technology, suggested that Pakistan learn from the experience of China which adopted the strategy of massive human resource development to become the world’s fastest growing economy.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz opened the conference, which has been organized by the PIDE in collaboration with the British Department for International Development (DFID), the German Foundation Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), the National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB), the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) and Zarai Traqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL).

Dr Kemal said cost-effective and demand-driven investment in education and skill was required but it alone would not suffice “until institutions were developed that recognize the value of investing in people and provide dignity, respect and fair deal for working men and women”.

In Pakistan, he said, training of various skills was imparted through polytechnics, vocational training centres, apprenticeship schemes, various training and vocational institutions and the Ustad-Shagird system in the informal sector.

However, the total 546 technical and vocational institutions had the capacity to produce only 200,000 skilled people every year which was nothing compared to the country’s population.

Besides, people in these institutions were not trained in accordance with the demand and requisite quality, he pointed out.

Dr Kemal said Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) has been set up in the Punjab and similar organizations were being set up in the other provinces as well, however, the authority should not just focus on enhancing the enrolments, they must provide good quality relevant training because it was a common impression that technical training in Pakistan had little relevance to industry.

The chairman Higher Education Commission, Dr Attaur Rahman, said that science and technology had widened gape between the rich and the poor. “However, this situation can be improved through education and skill-development,” he added.

Dr Rahman said that socio-economic development was no longer dependent on natural resources, as the vision for the future was knowledge-driven. In this scenario the key challenge for Pakistan was to become a significant competitor in the global knowledge-based economy.

“Pakistan is blessed with a huge pool of creativity as it has 100 million of population below the age of 25. However, the challenge is to empower this population with quality education and skills and provide them opportunities to contribute to the process of socio-economic development,” HEC chief said.

In the morning session, Prof M. Ali Khan delivered the Iqbal Memorial lecture. Prof E. Evenson, Department of Economics, the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA, chaired the session.

Prof Khan said different individuals obtained very unequal profits from virtually equivalent economic or cultural capital, depending on the extent to which they could mobilize by proxy the capital of a group.

In the first regular session of the conference, 12 papers were presented and discussed in the areas of skill development, population and gender issues, agriculture, and exchange rate.

Former finance minister, Sartaj Aziz, who chaired the afternoon’s session, underlined the need for competitiveness for successes in this age of globalization, which depended on technology and skill-development.

Pakistan had to go a long way in this regard, he said. “We need to carry out, both industry-wise and locality-wise, research to identify skill mismatch and requirements of different industries like leather, textile etc located in different areas”.

Mr Aziz said the enrolment in vocational institutes was very low in Pakistan and suggested to convert high schools into vocational training institutes to overcome this problem rather than setting up new ones.

Dr Karen Wagner of the University for Technology and Economics, Berlin, Germany, said that cross national comparisons were a useful concept as they helped to analyse the functioning of different national systems and explained what outcomes could be achieved by different means and inputs. They did not only identify differences between systems but also how systems worked.

http://www.dawn.com/2005/12/20/nat2.htm
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Teledensity ratio rises from 3 to 15 per cent

ISLAMABAD, Dec 22: Privatization and Investment Minister Dr Hafeez Shaikh said on Thursday the opening up of Pakistan’s telecom market to the world had increased the teledensity ratio from 3 per cent to 15 per cent.

He stated this while delivering his inaugural address on the occasion of 7th Annual Conference of the South Asia Network of Economic Research Institutes (SANEI), organized by Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) here.

The minister said that infrastructure issues were connected with the role of the government, adding, however, the government’s role should be restricted to formulate policies.

Acknowledging the government’s role in the economy, the minister said that in South Asia region we lacked effective network and governance, according to a press release issued here.

It was for the economists to suggest the focus of the governments while discussing ownership, finance, regulation and management, he added.

“We need to pool our resources and to form think-tanks to deliberate on proper utilization of public resources and to improve governance,” Dr Hafeez further stated.

Welcoming the delegates, Dr A. R. Kamal, Secretary Coordination SANEI, informed that SANEI’s headquarters had been shifted from New Delhi to Islamabad and this conference was the first of its kind in Pakistan.

He remarked that inadequate infrastructure resulted in slow growth and the conference would focus on the governance and infrastructure issues, which was being participated by Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and other member states.

In his keynote address, Prof. T. N. Sirinivasam stressed upon the need to enhance economic relations among the member countries on bilateral basis.

Potential growth of each country was under constraint due to insufficient infrastructure, he said.

Later talking to the representatives of the media, Dr Hafeez Shaikh said that talks with Etisalat were on and good progress was being noticed whereas handing over modalities were also being discussed, which would be tabled before the Privatization Commission Board and the Cabinet Committee on Privatization (CCoP) for a decision.

He termed the privatization of PTCL a good signal for Pakistan’s economy and replied that a team of Etisalat would soon visit Pakistan.

He further stated that efforts were being made to complete the privatization of PSO, PPL, Pakistan Steel, NITL and some fertilizers plants in the first quarter of 2006 while EoIs for the privatization of Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) have been invited.

Under the ‘Privatization for the People’ programme, the government was considering for new public offerings, he added.—APP

http://www.dawn.com/2005/12/23/ebr1.htm
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KARACHI: WB to provide $100m annually: Education reforms

KARACHI, Dec 23: Sindh Education Minister Dr Hamida Khuhro said here on Friday that the World Bank has pledged an annual funding of US dollars 100 million to the Sindh Education Department for enhancing literacy, promotion of technical and IT education and provision of facilities at schools in rural and urban Sindh.

Talking to newsmen after a meeting with World Bank officials at her office, she said that the government was doing a lot to overcome lacunas in education sector, but owing to scarcity of resources, the World Bank has been approached to help the provincial government in this regard.

Sindh minister for education and literacy Dr Hamida Khuhro on Friday held a detailed discussion with World Bank mission at her office to workout a plan of uplift of education sector in the province with the assistance of the WB.

The WB team consisted of its senior social sector specialist Ms Tahseen Sayyad and senior education specialist Ms Sophia Shakeel, while the provincial secretary education Ghulam Ali Pasha, a team of recently established Reform Support Unit, led by Iqbal Hussain Durani, assisted the minister.

Senior official of Punjab government Khalid Gillani and Additional Secretary Finance, Sindh Mrs Nahid Durani were also present.

The meeting discussed in detail the issues of education in Sindh to finalize a plan to ensure speedy and sustainable development of this sector.

Both the sides decided to streamline the early childhood education component and also to include into plan the provision of missing facilities to the schools.

According to the education minister, the World Bank officials assured all possible assistance to perform the gigantic task of bringing reforms in education sector.—PPI

http://www.dawn.com/2005/12/24/local6.htm
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‘Education budget will be raised up to 4pc of GDP’

KOHAT, Dec 24: Federal Education Minister Lt-Gen (retired) Javed Asharf Qazi said on Saturday that the government had decided to increase school education budget from 2.7 per cent to 4 per cent of the GDP to improve quality of education at grassroots level. Talking to journalists at the 12th day parents-day function of Garrison Cadet College here, he said the increase would substantially enhance student enrolment and improve teaching skills.

The allocation would be released to the provinces which would focus on improvement in education infrastructure and quality of courses.

The minister said the government had increased the budget of higher education manifolds.

He said poor education standard was weakening social fabric of the society, (true that!) adding that corruption, malpractice and disregard for ethical values were hampering the process of national development.

He underlined the need for focusing on character building of students, inculcating discipline and leadership qualities in them. He advised the students to devote their energies to achieving academic excellence in the fields of science and technology.

He lauded the contribution made by the founders of the college and expressed the hope that it would maintain its superb standard.

Earlier, Brig (Retd) Tariq Saeed, principal of the college, in his welcome address said the college had earned laurels in academic and sports activities and mentioned developmental projects currently in pipeline.

Later, the minister gave away prizes, medals and trophies to prominent students for their outstanding performances in academic, sports and extracurricular activities.

The academics trophy was bagged by Faizan Taj and best cadet in sports trophy went to Aabid bin Aabid. Shamsul Hayat was decorated with the principal trophy.

Ghazali House was declared the best house of the college.

Earlier, the cadets presented a parade and displayed PT and gymnastic performances.

The principal gave souvenir to the minister who visited different stalls. —-APP

http://www.dawn.com/2005/12/25/nat24.htm
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the Tribal areas...

Increasing child labour linked to illiteracy

By Our Correspondent

KHAAR (Bajaur Agency), Dec 24: Speakers at a seminar attributed the increasing child labour in the Bajaur tribal agency to lack of education facilities and employment opportunities. They were speaking at a one-day seminar on the “Lack of Education Facilities in the Tribal Areas and Government’s Responsibility”, organized by the Bajaur Development Organization, a local NGO.

The speakers said the agency was lacking in education facilities, and unemployment and growing poverty had given rise to child labour in the tribal areas.

They said the government made tall claims about provision of education facilities, but took no practical step to improve situation.

They said schools were approved and set up in the agency on the recommendation of influential people. This was evident from the fact that majority of the primary schools in different parts of the agency were being used by the Maliks and tribal elders as their private guest houses (Hujras), they said.

The tribal population, particularly the womenfolk, lagged behind in education, which resulted in low literacy rate in the Bajaur agency.

The speakers urged the government to announce a special package for the tribal agency to set up educational institutions.

http://www.dawn.com/2005/12/25/nat25.htm
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WB concerned over schools’ shortage

Bureau Report

PESHAWAR, Dec 27: The World Bank has attributed governance related problems to serious shortage of schools in rural areas and poor quality of public sector education across the NWFP. The bank, which launched a comprehensive report this week, said that the cost of schooling, distance to the nearest schools and parents’ concerns about security for their children, particularly daughters, restricted their access to education in the province.

The provincial government has been suggested to reduce the cost of schooling for households, address parents’ concerns for the safety and security of girls, scale up education supply by engaging private sector and focus on districts which still lagged behind in development.

Highlighting the major constraints, which affect public sector education in the province, the bank said: “The central causes of poor quality of education are widespread governance problems that result in low teachers attendance, school closures, often poorly- qualified teachers, and serious shortage of schools in the rural areas. Finally, allocated non-salary budget funds do not reach the intended local school, but are illicitly diverted”.

The report observed that due to these factors 1.9 million children, including 1.1 million girls, in the 5-9 years age bracket were left out of school with an overall net enrolment ratio of 47 per cent.

It has been suggested that the government should aim at increasing the overall enrolment by at least six per cent annually and female enrolment by eight per cent, which would improve the net enrolment ratio to 66 per cent by the year 2015.

To achieve this goal, the report suggests that the government should introduce stipends for students in public and private sector institutions, raise demand for girls’ education by providing missing facilities to all secondary schools for girls and focus attention on under-developed districts.

Regarding improvement of quality of education in public sector institutions, the bank said, the government should ensure presence of qualified teachers, non-salary funds should reach the schools, make all new teachers appointments through specific and increase monitoring.

http://www.dawn.com/2005/12/28/nat42.htm
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$80,250 grant for Balochistan hospital

By Our Reporter

ISLAMABAD, Dec 28: Japan on Wednesday extended $80,252 to an NGO for provision of medical equipment for a hospital in Kuchlah, Balochistan.

Japanese Ambassador Nobuaki Tanaka signed the grant contract with Malik Abdul Rashid Kakar, the chairman of Kuchlak Welfare Society here, says a press release.

Japan provided $79,821 to the society in 2003 for construction of the hospital in the village.

The facility aims to provide preventive and curative health services to an estimated 100,000 under-privileged people in the region of Killi Malik Abdul Ali, Kuchlah, a slum situated in the north of Quetta city.

The hospital will be equipped with modern medical equipment such as X-ray, ultrasound and anaesthesia machines, etc.

The grant has been provided under Japan’s “Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects”.

The scheme was initiated in 1989 and Japan has so far extended $12,328,940 to small-scale social sector development projects all over Pakistan.

http://www.dawn.com/2005/12/29/nat11.htm

way to go Japan Thanks.
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Fate of WB-financed hospital in jeopardy

By M. Sadaqat

HARIPUR, Dec 29: The fate of funds earmarked for the under construction District Headquarters hospital under the Structural Adjustment Credit Programme of World Bank hangs in balance as the provincial health department failed to utilize the amount in the stipulated time, official sources told Dawn.

The 210-bed DHQ hospital project had been launched in 1995 which was to be completed in three phases by 2003. However, the project was delayed for eight years and its first phase comprising OPD, Casualty, pathology, X-ray, ICU and medicines departments was completed at a cost of Rs60 million in 2003 instead of 1998. The administration block, four operation theaters, medical, surgical, gyaene, ENT and eye wards, labour room, nursing hostel, doctors’ hostel and MS residence were to be completed in the last two phases.

During 2003, sources said, the provincial government had decided to complete the facility in one go and approved PC-1 of the remaining portion of the hospital earmarking Rs110 m for construction buildings, Rs35 m for purchase of equipments and Rs150 million for staff salary.

The staff’s salary, according to agreement, was to be disbursed from the WB funds from 2003 to December 2005.

The provincial health department asked the district government and district based health authorities to ensure purchase of equipments and hiring of technical, non-technical staff without any further delay as according to official sources the district had to spend these funds before 2005 or would surrender leaving the project incomplete if it failed to make the project operational.

The district health department initially employed 30 nurses for the new hospital from the same head and secured the release of Rs1.8 million for salaries out of a total Rs150 million.

The new DHQ, according to sources, had a sanctioned strength of 218 employees including technical staff while in the non-technical category it could be provided with 151 employees in different grades and cadres.

So far, they said, Rs50 million had been released from the construction head out of a total of Rs110 and Rs4 million had been spent out of the total allocation for new staff. The remaining funds remained unspent, they said. The health authorities have also failed to purchase equipment for the new facility.

The provincial government had again revised the construction cost of the building during September 2005 from Rs112.03 million to Rs199.885 million, which further delayed the project.

Contractors have also reportedly suspended their work owing to a delay in clearing their outstanding bills.

It is believed that if the SNE for doctors and other staff had been approved and the required strength of doctors and their support staff had been hired, the first phase of new facility would have by now become operational.

Chief Minister of the NWFP Akram Khan Durrani had inaugurated the facility during May 2003 and ordered to make it operational but local health authorities had succumbed to the pressure of certain interest groups and failed to run the facility, despite the fact that its first phase was almost ready. Local residents called for immediate action against officials who delayed the DHQ project’s completion and demanded the provincial government’s intervention for the hospital building’s completion and its early operation.

They said in the absence of a fully-capable health facility in their area, they had to take seriously ill patients to other cities, adding some times patients’ condition was too fragile for such journeys.

They also said that the funds allocated for hiring of staff and other purpose under WB SAC program should not be surrendered.

http://www.dawn.com/2005/12/30/nat19.htm
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