Punjab Education Minister Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan said that development is a good thing but more problems are created if development projects are started without comprehensive planning. He was addressing a two-day "National Stakeholders' Conference on Land Acquisition, Resettlement and Rehabilitation" (LARR) in Pakistan organised by Institute of Social and Cultural Studies' (Sociology) National Centre for Resettlement and Rehabilitation (NCRR) here on Wednesday.
Senator Jahangir Badar, Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Mujahid Kamran, Member Punjab Assembly Ramesh Singh Arora, Dean Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences Professor Dr Zakria Zakir and leading practitioners and stakeholders from hydro, mining and urban infrastructure projects were present on the occasion.
Addressing the conference, Rana Mashhood said politicians made policies and Punjab government would involve and include recommendations of all relevant stakeholders in policy making. He said if the research regarding policies were done well, then the government could have implemented policies in a better way. He said research cells in the universities must be improved further and there is need to promote industry-university relationship. He said the government has a burden of heavy mandate and it wanted to do much more for the people. He said that the government is introducing Access to Information Act to improve efficiency of government departments.
He said that grievances of victims must be addressed during accomplishment of development projects. He said we could not move forward without the involvement of people. He assured the participants of the conference that he would brought their recommendations to the notice of Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif and other departments concerned. Senator Jahangir Badar said the development of nation is linked with development of education.
He said keeping in view the example of Singapore, the future based on knowledge-centered economy. He said under the leadership of Dr Mujahid Kamran, the university progressed both in quantitative and qualitative manner. He also lauded Dr Zakria Zakir for establishment of NCRR, which is the need of the hour. Dr Mujahid Kamran said keeping in view the circumstances of Pakistan, as dams and roads would now be constructed and Pakistan is also facing natural disasters, the NCRR would help cope with the issues of resettlement and rehabilitation. He also thanked Mashhood for taking interest in educational affairs. Throwing light on the aims and objectives of NCRR and conference, Professor Dr Zakria Zakir said if proper attention is not paid on the resettlement and rehabilitation of the victims of development projects including dams, construction of roads and infrastructure, housing societies, etc, the development would not occur rather it would create more problems and increase poverty level. Citing example of Brazil, Dr Zakir said dams and roads were constructed in that country but victims were not properly looked after. As a result, he added, the victims destroyed everything. He said that land was not only the source of income for the people but a matter of identity as well. He said capitalist mentality is dangerous and human must not be used as commodity.