An interactive session with a delegation of local government officials

A delegation of course participants from AHK-NCRD (Akhtar Hameed Khan – National Centre for Rural Development) visited IPS on 21st November 2013 to have an insight on the policy research work of IPS and its contribution in the national policy matters.
The delegation consisted of local government officers from different departments of Punjab, Sind and Azad Kashmir regions, who are attending a training course at AKH-NCRD.
The delegation was briefed about the vision and mission of the IPS. The achievements and contributions of the organization were also shared with the participants. The interactive session was moderated by manager IPS LEAD, Naufil Shahrukh. The discussion, which was conducted by IPS Lead Coordinator Irfan Shahzad, highlighted the research and findings of IPS on various matters of national importance such as energy crisis, primary, secondary and advanced education, religious education institutes (REI’s), role of private academic institutions, importance of Urdu in national education, lack of attention on agriculture and livestock, etc. The contributions and recommendations of IPS on the aforementioned subjects were also underlined in the discussion.

The delegates also expressed their opinions and suggestion on various other matters of national importance. They were excited to share their views during the discussion and hoped that their questions and opinions will reach the policy makers and relevant authorities through the platform of IPS.
In the end, DG-IPS Khalid Rahman concluded the session stressing upon the importance of staying united at this time of need. He urged to end discrimination of all sorts on all grounds. He also underscored the need for such interactive sessions as they not only provide a platform to the people from different walks of life to express their opinions on matters of vital importance, but they also connect the organization to the people at the grass root level.