From left: Kassim Lakha, Founding Director PHDF; Farrokh Captain, Chairman PHDF;Ms Shahnaz Wazir Ali, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Social Sector; Mr. Qaim Ali Shah, Chief Minister Sindh; and Mrs. Faryal Talpur, MNA and Chairperson Special Committee on NCHD	From left: Farrokh Captain, Chairman PHDF; Mrs. Faryal Talpur, MNA and Chairperson Special Committee on NCHD; and Ms Shahnaz Wazir Ali, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Social Sector

Karachi: Pakistan’s efforts to promote education in the rural and under-privileged parts of the country through the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) received a major boost on April 7 when a meeting of the Pakistan Human Development Fund was held at the Sind Chief Minister House.

The NCHD programs appeared to have lost steam in the past few months and had run into serious snags. Inertia marked the day-to-day working of the NCHD. Quite a few well-meaning initiatives were threatened with the prospect of total abandonment. The April 7 meeting at the Sind Chief Minister House has reversed the disconcerting trend, thanks to the sustained strivings of Mr Pervaiz Lodhie, a founding board member, and his PAL-C associates stationed in Washington. Mr Lodhie is confident that instead of what appeared to be a “guaranteed shutdown”, the NCHD schemes will now constitute a “new program that will be bigger than before.”

The eventful April 7 meeting was attended by the Chief Minister Sindh, Mr. Qaim Ali Shah; Mrs. Faryal Talpur, MNA and Chairperson Special Committee on NCHD; Ms. Shahnaz Wazir Ali, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Social Sector; Pir Mazahar-ul-Haq, Education Minister Sindh; Ms. Nafisa Shah, MNA; Cabinet Secretary, Provincial Secretary Education and members of the Commission attended the meeting. Federal Secretary for Education in person and Federal Secretaries for Finance and Health participated through representatives

From left: Pervaiz Lodhie, Founding Director PHDF; Dr Omar Atiq, Founding Director PHDF; Ms. Nafisa Shah, MNA;Shoaib Kothawala, Director PHDF; Dr Nasim Ashraf, outgoing Chairman NCHD and Founding Director PHDF; and Khalid Ahmed, Manager Finance, PHDF	From left: Farrokh Captain, Chairman PHDF; Mrs. Faryal Talpur, MNA and Chairperson Special Committee on NCHD; and Ms Shahnaz Wazir Ali, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Social Sector

According to a communication of Mr. Zulfiqar Ahmad, Chief Executive Officer,
Pakistan Human Development Fund, the participation of a large number of policy makers in the meeting “exhibited the political will needed for the continuation of National Commission for Human Development (NCHD).” The meeting also witnessed “a healthy participation from overseas members of the Board including Mr. Pervez Lodhie, Mr. Shoaib Kothawala and Dr. Omar T. Atiq from the USA, Mr. Irshad Khokhar from UK and Mr. Abdul Azeem M.A. Al Shamali from Kuwait. The presence of these expatriates not only showed the commitment of the Board to the cause but also had positive effect on the policy makers to renew their commitment with more vigor and zeal. Some major outcomes of the meeting are summarized as follows:
  “Mrs. Faryal Talpur on behalf of the Government of Pakistan reiterated the commitment of the Government of Pakistan that Education is the basic right of every

citizen of Pakistan. Applauding the support role of NCHD, she assured that the government’s assistance will be continued, despite the financial constraints faced currently by GoP;
“ Mrs. Talpur appreciated the work of NCHD in the field of Universal Primary Education, Literacy and health projects, especially, educating women in rural areas and requested the Board Members to continue supporting the initiative by generating funds through their linkage with the donors, corporations, philanthropists and governments;
 “The Board deeply appreciated the backing of the Government of Pakistan in continuing NCHD initiatives for human development in Pakistan through education and health sector interventions and, especially, Mrs. Faryal Talpur for her vision and continuous support in tough times.
  “ The Board urged the need of  a proper awareness campaign nationally and internationally for projecting the achievements of the Commission and the tacit government support for NCHD which will go a long way in reviving the interest of the expatriates, donors, corporations and philanthropist;
 “Each Director of PHDF pledged US$ 10,000 towards fund to be used for the awareness and marketing of  NCHD achievements within and outside Pakistan. The directors who were not present will also be requested to contribute;
  “ The Board urged the need and requested Mrs. Talpur to visit the USA and UK to represent the women of Pakistan and help improve the soft image of Pakistan in the Western world. Mrs. Faryal Talpur agreeing to the idea, accepted the invitation and informed the Board that she will be coming to the US and UK in July 2009;
 “ Mrs. Talpur emphasized that appropriate resolutions will be passed in both the National and Provincial Assemblies for the support of NCHD to re-affirm government support;
  “ It was agreed that Mrs. Talpu,r on behalf of the people of Pakistan, will write to the US Congressmen thanking them for their support and re-affirming the government’s support to NCHD;
 “ The Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah graciously announced Rs.1million donation for the NCHD programs in Sindh;

“The Board formally requested Mrs. Faryal Talpur to be the Chairperson of the National Commission for Human Development. “
 

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