The 21st Annual General Meeting and Conference of PSDE, PIDE/FES Pakistan, Islamabad, December 19-21, 2005

The 21^st Annual General Meeting and Conference of the Pakistan Society of Development Economists was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Shaukat Aziz. The theme of the conference was “Skill Development, Productivity and Growth”. Professor Dr. Karen Wagner of the University for Technology and Economics, Berlin, Germany delivered a lecture on “Productivity and Skills in Industry and Services: A Britain-German Comparison”.

Eighth Sustainable Development Conference (SDC), SDPI/FES Pakistan, Islamabad, December 7-9, 2005

The Eighth Sustainable Development Conference (SDC) hosted a number of reputed national and international scholars, academicians, researchers and activists, both from the civil society and the government. The speakers covered SDC’s six major themes, which include women and gender issues, livelihoods, WTO and governance, health, peace and people’s rights, and child labor.Panels on Earthquake, Injuries/Disabilities and Rehabilitation and Disaster Management were also organized at the conference.

Finalisation of WEBCOP's institutional structures, WEBCOP/FES Pakistan, Lahore, December 01, 2005

WEBCOP's general council meeting revisited memorandum of understanding and announced four new chapters. Regional chapters are made autonomous in carrying out the activities. Changes incorporated in General Council Body. Technical and resources advisory for WEBCOP was also planned. Governmental tasks force to be informed rigorously about WEBCOP's position in various industrial laws and policies.

Information and consultation programmes on the rules and structures of Pakistan Workers Federation (PWF), WEBCOP/FES Pakistan, Rawalpindi, December 02, 2005

  The objectives and design of this activity were

  To:

·         accelerate the merger process of three federations under Pakistan  Workers Federation;

·         Widely disseminate information regarding unification process under Pakistan Workers Federation;

·         Develop broad understating of the Constitution, Standing orders, rules and regulations to avoid conflicts at the grass root levels.

Roundtables on “Code of Conduct and Social Compliance, recent development in the promotion of social compliance “,FES Pakistan, Karachi,  October 29, 2005.  

• The activities of different stake-holders around codes of conduct in Sialkot/Multan/Karachi ,perspective and experiences of participants,

• Complaint mechanism’ :procedures and explanation and

• The future needs of workers organizations in the activism around codes of conduct.

Training workshop” Training of trainers”, PILER/FES Pakistan, Lahore, October 04, 2005.                                                                                   

The third training workshop of the series of “training of trainers” was held in Lahore .The objectives of these workshops are to strengthen informal sector worker’s organisations and networks to mobilize and organise workers in the targeted sectors together with access to requisite skills and trainings. Prior to this two workshops were held in Karachi in July, 2005.

Radio and Women Development program, Baahn Beli/FES Pakistan, Tharparkar, September 27, 2005.                                                     

After Successful experience of conducting radio and women development program and evaluating the positive impacts on village women of Taluka Nagarparkar from 2001 to 2004, the program is replicated with some modification in working with women in 11 villages of Taluka Chachero.A series of Workshops has been started since September 2005.

• First workshop was held on September 27, 2005 at village Bijharo Taluka Chachro;

• Second workshop was held on September 28, 2005 at village Nagarparkar;

• Third workshop was held on October 02, 2005 at village Lesbela.

Assessment Centre for "Young Professionals Network (YPN)", Quetta, August 28, 2005.                                                                        

During a one-day assessment, 17 outstanding young people from Quetta, Pishin and Qilla Abdullah districts have been selected to become members of YPN. Among the selected are three women.

Regional Seminar and Training for Staff and Partners Event Management: Practical introduction “Open Space” , Karachi , August 01-06, 2005.
The Regional Seminar and Training for Staff and Partners was consist of three interactive phases in which participants were practically exposed to the Open Space Technology. After experiencing this moderation technique in a seminar on “Religion-Society-Governance: The Role of Ethical Concepts in the Shape and Development of State and Society in South Asia”, participants were invited to reflect on their experiences from the methodological point of view. During the final phase, they were eventually guided through the design and facilitation of an Open Space event of their own.
 

International Summer Course on "The Role of Youth in Achieving the MDG", Ayubia, July 10-20, 2005.

The course gathered young professionals from seven countries, including Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka and concluded with the adoption of a detailed action plan.  

Establishment of Provincial chapters of citizen media commission (CMC) ,CMC/FES Pakistan, Balochistan , June 20, 2005.

Citizen media refers to media which are influenced by citizens, media that serve the interests of citizens (rather than the interests of corporations or Governments or groups with specific interests), media that represent a part of civil society, or civil society as a whole. The Provincial chapter of citizen media commission was established in Balochistan and Citizen media Dialog  on June 20.  The main objectives were the Strengthening of independent and pluralistic electronic media in Pakistan , orientation of civil society organisations and concerned citizens regarding citizens’ media rights and citizens’ media responsibilities and the establishment of regional and grass-root network of Citizens’ Media Commission to strengthening the democratic freedom and accountability of electronic media  

Female Voters education , AWARD/FES Pakistan ,Various Districts of NWFP, June 2005

Female Voters education at union council  level and candidates and polling agents at district level  were held in Malakand , Dir Lower , Hangu , Kohat , Banu , Sawabi , Mardan , Kohistan , Laki Marwat , Batagramand Upper Dir. The main objective of these vocational trainings was to Increase women’s participation on reserved seats in all the tiers of local government elections in selected districts of NWFP.

A Three days Training Workshop for Journalists , PPF/FES Pakistan, Larkana Sind, May 11-13, 2005

The workshop was held at the cultural and social centre of the Larkana Labor Hall, which was attended by 24 participants, including 11 women. Participants The main Objectives were to to train and develop journalists in rural centres of Pakistan ,to improve the coverage of social issues, especially issues concerning women ,To act as a catalyst to the induction of rural women as professional journalists ,to promote exchange of information and experiences among journalists of rural and urban centres about reporting social issues and to highlight the problems regarding journalists’ terms and conditions of work and advocating their cause with the concerned stakeholders.One another workshop has been conducted in Larkana district in June.

Seminars “Democratic Market” , PATTAN/FES Pakistan,Muzaffargarh, April 2005

The Seminars  were attended by all  political parties .The main objectives of these Seminars were to train and educate members of political parties and office bearers about the need for inner party democracy and political parties reforms,  Creating the spirit of coexistence and tolerance among rival political parties and their chapters at local level and to enhance the citizens' interest and confidence in political parties , which are the cornerstones of democracy.

The  dates and locations of Seminars  were :-

12.04.05    Muzaffargarh/

19.05.05    Sargodha/

24.05.05    D.G. Khan/

19.06.05    Jalalpur

Women's  conference and rally, PATTAN/FES Pakistan, Multan ,March 06, 2005

The main Objectives behind Women Conference and rally were to Highlight women’ issues and problems by focussing on emerging challenges by organising public forums ,to Increase awareness and confidence level of women to take collective actions and to Provide a forum for interaction for common women, women activists and women’s representatives at all tiers of governments.

Meetings of “Young Professional Network (YPN)“, NWFP / Bahawalpur / Sukkur , February 2005

Pakistani Youth should be involved in the discussion and implementation of all policies relevant to Pakistani society. The aim of YPN is to empower promising young talent in order to facilitate their professional advancement into decision-making positions. YPN examines challenges to Pakistani society and discuss vital issues in world affairs. At present there are three YPN Groups in NWFP, Bahawalpur, Sukkur, Quetta. YPN monthly meetings were held regularly  in Provinces.

A conference  “Economic and political integration in the SAARC Region”, PIDE/FES Pakistan, Islamabad, 10-12. January 2005

The theme of this year’s conference was  “Regional Co-operation and Economic Growth”.   Leading scholars from Pakistan and abroad participated in this Conference. The Conference was organized by Pakistan Society of Development Economists (PIDE) and Co-hosted by Freiedrich Ebert Stiftung, World Bank, United Nations Population Fund, Asian Development Bank, and National Bank of Pakistan.