Achievements

During a short span of just two years since its inception the Center has established a remarkable record of achievements. It has achieved a commendable stature in the field of research, training, development and community support on the basis of the Center’s efforts and activities. The Center has organized following major activities:

• Two-day training workshop on designing and preparation of project proposals



The Center organized a two-day workshop at its premises on 2nd and 3rd May 2001 on designing and preparation of project proposals, for benefit of the activists of prominent community based organizations and the non-governmental organizations in Sindh. About twenty seven delegates from the nook and corner of the province attended the workshop, which was aimed at capacity building of local community based organizations in conceptualizing and formulating development projects in conformity with the needs and requirement of their own communities. The participants shared their experiences as well as their problems while learning the techniques for effective designing and preparation of projects.

• Seminar on "Water Shortage in Sindh: Cause, Consequence & Cure"



The Center organized a seminar on the above topic on 9th April 2001 at Hotel Marriott Karachi, where all the stakeholders were brought together to sort out this highly controversial and sensitive issue. The speakers included Lieutenant General Zulfikar Ali Khan, Chairman of Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), the chairman of Indus River System Authority (IRSA) and a host of other experts representing a cross section of the stakeholders. The daylong proceedings were attended by a large number of policy makers, government representatives, growers’ representatives, institutional heads, independent researchers, academicians, diplomats, and NGO activists. A set of recommendations came forth as a result of the deliberations and discussions held in the seminar. The Center intends to public the papers as well as the discussions in its next report for wider dissemination.

                                    


• Dissemination of World Commission on Dams’ Report



The Center arranged a dissemination briefing for media on recently launched report of the World Commission on Dams at Karachi Press Club on 2nd April 2001. Prof. Muhammed Ali Shaikh, Director of the Center who had attended a workshop on the subject in Sri Lanka, briefed the newsmen about the content as well as its implications on the future of big dams in Pakistan and other countries of the world. The event was very well covered by the media and initiated a national debate on the issue.

• Consultancy on ‘Violence Against Women (Karo- Kari)’



The violence against women is a common phenomenon in the rural as well as urban society of Pakistan, particularly in Sindh. The tribal tradition of killing a woman, and in some cases a man also, on the suspicion of their illicit relations is denoted as Karo-Kari or so called ‘honor killing.’ The Center through one of its staff members provided consultancy to Sindh Journalist Network (SJN) in conduct of a study, funded by UNICEF, on the menace of Karo-Kari in Sindh. The objectives of the study were to examine the scale of domestic violence against women in Sindh especially with reference to the practice of ‘Karo-Kari.’ The study was also to inquire and explore the real causes behind killing of women in the name of honor. The Center, being consultant in the project, framed the questionnaires, trained the enumerator, analyzed the primary data and prepared the final report.

• Training Project on the System of Juvenile Justice in Pakistan



The Center also provided consultancy to SJN in a training project on juvenile justice system in Pakistan. The project on “Supporting Implementation of UN Convention on Rights of Child (CRC) through training package about juvenile justice in Pakistan,” was funded by UNICEF. The main objective of the project was to create awareness on the juvenile justice system in vogue in the country, especially with reference to recently promulgated Presidential Ordinance on the subject. Government officials attended these workshops from the departments of police, prisons, judiciary, and social welfare as well as the active NGO of the province. In this connection, three two-day training workshops were held in Hyderabad, Karachi and Larkana on 12-13, 18-19 and 22-23 December 2000, respectively. More than hundred delegates were trained in these workshops informing them about the international standards of administration of juvenile justice as well as the prevailing juvenile justice system in Pakistan.

• Study on Sustainable Livelihood for Fisher-folk Communities in Sindh



This study was initiated in April 2000, when the military government announced the plan for devolution of power and responsibility through establishment of district governments. The study was aimed at assessing the local government plan of the government and the peoples’ perception about it. The study analyzed the scheme and highlighted its advantages and disadvantages as well as merits and demerits in order to help formulate a better strategy.

• Study on Sustainable Agriculture in Sindh: Issues and Options



This study was initiated in early 2000, and was completed eight months later in August 2000. The objective of the exercise was to study the impediments in sustainable agriculture and identify the factors responsible for agricultural crisis in Sindh. This study covered the basic issues related to the sector including irrigation and drainage, agriculture input delivery system, marketing, credit and taxation issues in agriculture sector including fisheries and livestock. The study also examined the impact of unsustainable and crisis–riddled agriculture sector on the socio-economic conditions of the growers in Sindh. Policy recommendations were also forwarded for bringing sustainability and improvement in the agricultural productivity in the province.

• Seminar on ‘Agriculture Crisis in Sindh’



Agriculture is one of the main supporting pillars of Pakistani economy, both in terms of export earnings as well as providing livelihood to more than half of the country's population. However, due to lack of committed and concerted policy initiatives, as well as insufficiently focused attention on part of the policy-makers coupled with certain natural factors have resulted in a slowdown of this otherwise vigorous sector of the economy. In this background, the Center held a high profile seminar on ‘ Agriculture Crisis in Sindh’ on May 9, 2000. The main objective of the seminar was to bring all the stakeholders at one platform, including policymakers, researchers, academicians and the representatives of growers’ community to discuss the root cause of the crisis and recommend solutions.

• Poverty Analysis in the Coastal Sindh (Case Study of Keti Bunder)



It has been held by many that the fisheries livelihood resources of the coastal communities in Sindh are fast depleting, resulting in conditions of abject poverty in the community. This study was initiated with the objective of identifying the factors responsible for this situation. The study suggested measures for arresting the basic cause of poverty in the coastal region so as to ensure socio-economic improvement in the livelihood of the community.

• Politicization of Bureaucracy in Pakistan



This study was conducted in 1999, in backdrop of growing realization that the process of politicization of bureaucracy in Pakistan is fast affecting the very fabric of the democratic and political institutions of the country. This realization was coupled with the fact that the politicization of bureaucracy has also been undermining the professionalism and standard of the service. The study identified the factors responsible for this state of affairs as well as the basic cause of frailty of the political institutions, which in turn give opportunity to bureaucracy to take in their hands the policy formulation function in the State structure. The study gives historical perspective right from the colonial era, discussing the post independence role of various institutions as well as major reforms brought in the bureaucratic structure. In the conclusion, the study presents policy recommendations for de-politicization as well as for reforming the institution.

• Socio-economic Impact of Cyclone-02A on Coastal Sindh



The Center initiated this study in response to the emergency situation following the deadly cyclone in the coastal areas of Sindh in 1999. Its foremost purpose was to portray the real facts regarding the impact of Cyclone –02A that hit the coastal region of Sindh on May 19-20, 1999. The objective was to evaluate the prevailing precautionary measures undertaken by the people and various government departments. The study presents policy recommendations so as to facilitate the government and local communities in undertaking short term as well as long-term rehabilitation plans for the disaster-hit people.

• The Subject of Pakistan Studies; Myth and Reality



This study was initiated and completed in March 2001. The study was to scrutinize the textbooks and recommended books for Pakistan Studies from junior level to post graduate level. The motive behind conducting this study was to know the standard and the quality of the content of this compulsory subject books that are being taught to our younger generation. The study critically evaluated the books and listed the errors in facts, emphasis and interpretation. The study also analyzed the implications of teaching distorted history on students and society at large. In the end some suggestions have been given to improve the quality of books.