Speakers at an international conference have urged East Asian countries including Pakistan to follow the socio-economic model of Malaysia for rapid progress, take advantage from Japanese education system for equipping masses with a clear vision and learn from the success story of Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia regarding tourism as this sector continues to play a key role in their economic and social development.
This they said while presenting their research papers in the two-day international conference which kicked off here at Sindh University's Area Study Centre Far East & South East Asia on Monday.
The scholars from various national and international universities including the host University of Sindh Jamshoro, University of Karachi, University of Peshawar, Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science & Technology (SZABIST) Karachi, University of Perlis, Malaysia, University of Kaula Lumpur, Malaysia and University of Tokyo Japan presented their research papers in the conference on the first day while the recommendations will be prepared today (Tuesday).
Inaugurated by Sindh University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Abida Taherani, the 1st session of the conference was chaired by Dean of Social Sciences University of Malaysia. The speakers termed the non-availability of educational facilities to the people as major cause of creating social issues in under developed countries in the region. On the occasion, Dr Fateh Muhammad Burfat of Karachi University said while presenting his paper that the social structure of the societies existing in a particular region fabricated the wide picture of their cultural, ethnic, religious and linguistic background.
He said the 'oneness' and sense of belongingness among the member states had been paving the way for further development in the ASEAN and Apec, unlike SAARC. "Pakistan can follow the socio-economic model of Malaysia, as the Malaysian economy is growing by leaps and bounds. Malaysia has also been successful in managing national integrity very well despite its multicultural, multi-ethnic and multi-religious contradictions. The New Economic Policy (NEP) introduced by Malaysia after its May 13, 1969 race riots worked well to achieve inter-ethnic economic parity, and to eradicate poverty, and has succeeded in avoiding inter-ethnic discrimination," said Dr Burfat.
Another speaker Dr Saba Sultan from Karachi University said: Pakistan can take advantage of the Japanese education system which is responsible for equipping masses with a clear vision. The Education and training system of Japan is very much based upon the personality development, and this is one of the pertinent reasons that Japan is experiencing a rapid growth in science, technology and economic development.
She added that Pakistan and Japan started under deplorable conditions and faced similar hardships. Japanese economy was torn out by the World War. Pakistan had a very negligible industrial base, and a very poor economy with limited human and power resources, at the time of independence. Pakistan did have raw materials and good agricultural resources but it persistently neglected its human resource development and its constantly fluctuating economic policies resulted in its remaining underdeveloped. However, according to her, Japan converted the militarily trained nation to a very successful industrial labour and entrepreneurs.
Another speaker Dr Sarfraz Khan from Peshawar University said Pakistan could learn from the success story of Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia regarding tourism, as the tourism sector continued to play a key role in their economic and social development. He said: Thailand annually exports $180 billion comprises of agricultural products, fish, rice, textiles, rubber, automobiles, jewellery and computers/electronic appliances. "International tourism contributes to nearly $ 16 billion, 7% of its GDP.
He said Thailand and Pakistan had been victim of political instability and military interventions into politics. "In both countries frequent military take-overs have caused instability and revolt," he said. On the occasion, Zahida Rehman Jutt, Meroona Gopang, Ghazala Panhwar, Shabana Tunio, Farkhanda Warsi from Sindh University also presented their research papers based on the social problems of Far East & South East Asian countries.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Perlis University, Malaysia Zuraidah Muhammad Zain and Dean Faculty of Social Sciences University of Malaysia Dr Huzili Hussain spoke about the role of their varsities in country's development by providing the state with well-educated and well-trained manpower.