SPDC annual review meeting held

Although the devolution plan 2001 has encouraged women participation, the electoral malpractice and local elite stratum's traditional influence have virtually hampered their genuine empowerment process, the annual review 2006-07 of social development in Pakistan revealed.
Presenting the annual review 2006-07 social development in Pakistan evolved by the Social Policy and Development Centre (SPDC), Dr Aisha Ghaus-Pasha said that women empowerment has been a question mark since the devolution plan 2001. "A little evidence has been found of women empowerment, though the move is on the right direction," she maintained.
A large number of participants from different walks of life including economists, researchers besides Managing Director SPDC, Dr Khalida Ghaus and John Moore-CIDA attended the launching ceremony of the annual review held at a local hotel here on Saturday.
Lack of commitment from the provincial governments, Dr Aisha held as a big obstacle in the implementation of the devolution plan to the grass root level to ensure smooth transition of power to powerless of the society including women and the poor in general.
She expressed apprehensions over the non-implementation of the devolution plan by the provincial governments, as its interference in the matters of the District Co-ordination Officers (DCOs) and Executive District Officers (EDOs) had continued since the plan initiation.
Regarding expenditure in the development of health sector, she said that the review had found it discouraging, though huge fund allocation had been made in this sector. "The rate of improvement in the post devolution phase has declined, as it is clear that there is improvement but not compared to the education sector." She maintained that healthcare sector had been neglected giving rise to disparity in the country. In context of utility provision, the water supply, according to review, she said has not improved.
The local government's major focus has been on the economic development, she said and pointed out that social development had been ignored significantly, as inequality in the service provision had widened over the years.
The other major issues, Dr Aisha pointed out that opposition elected members had not been included in the uplift process, while impartation of the skill development had also been neglected. The resource mobilisation has been poor, which could have been done on a larger scale, she added.
John Moore expressed disappointment over not widely publication of reports in the newspapers on the devolution plan. Earlier, Dr Khalida Ghaus highlighted the functions and objectives of the SPDC. She also spoke on the review and highlighted its salient features.