Changing orientation: Book on development communications launched

Author says the book aims at creating awareness about socio-economic rights.

ISLAMABAD: A book focussing importance of development communications was launched at a select gathering of students, educationists and journalists at the Riphah Institute of Public Policy (RIPP) auditorium on Monday.

While speaking to The Express Tribune about the book “Development Communications”, the author, Dr Abdul Jabbar Khan, said “The sole objective of authoring the book was to change orientation of people towards development. This book has been published by a Pakistani and an Indian publisher, which speaks about need for development awareness not just in Pakistan but in other countries too,” he said.



Dr Khan said there was a dire need to communicate development. “Pure development should be communicated without political conversation and agendas, as priority should be socio-economic change which can only be done when people are aware of their social and economic rights,” he added.

He said there is a need to create an environment that enlightens masses about their rights. “There is no reason for people to forego their rights to the elite or people sitting in parliament and those who have political power,” he remarked.

Writers, journalists and educationists have a
great power to create awareness among the masses, he said.

RIPP Director Rashid Aftab said “We were looking for such a book since long, as this topic was often ignored and neglected in our syllabi,” he said.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Farheen Zafar, an undergraduate student at university said studying development communications had been an enlightening experience.



“We were unaware of so many rights and concepts prior to studying this course. We are future generation of the country. Until and unless we know intricacies of development communications, we will not be able to use this powerful tool to bring any sort of positive change in the society,” she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 24^th,  2015.