if policy research was improved, the government would be able to implement its policies in a better way, says Rana Mashhood.
Education Minister Rana Mashhood said on Wednesday that without comprehensive planning, all development projects risked being counter-productive.
Addressing a two-day national stakeholders’ conference on land acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation organised by the Institute of Social and Cultural Studies at Punjab University, the minister said that the government would take all stakeholders on board while formulating its policies.
He said that if policy research was improved, the government would be able to implement its policies in a better way. He said research cells at universities must be improved further. There was also a need to promote industry-university liaison.
Rana Mashood said that the government enjoyed a heavy mandate and wanted to do more for the people of the province.
He said that the government was introducing an access to information law to improve the efficiency of government departments. Public grievances must be addressed while formulating development projects, he added.
The minister assured the participants of the conference that he would bring their recommendations to Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s attention.
Senator Jahangir Badar of the PPP said that the development of a nation was linked to the development of education.
Vice Chancellor Mujahid Kamran said that in view of Pakistan’s circumstances, a large number of dams and roads would be constructed. He said National Centre for Resettlement and Rehabilitation (NCRR) would help cope with issues of resettlement and rehabilitation particularly in disaster-hit areas.
Elaborating on the aims and objectives of NCRR and conference, Dr Zakria Zakir said that if proper attention was not paid to resettlement and rehabilitation of displaced people, any development projects launched would prove to be counterproductive.
Citing the example of Brazil, Dr Zakir said that dams and roads were constructed but displaced people were not properly looked after. He said that land was not only a source of income for people but a matter of identity as well.
He said that capitalist mentality was dangerous and humans must not be used as commodity. He said that the answer to most problems of rehabilitation and resettlement lay in a scientific approach.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 4th, 2013.
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