National Academic Council meeting 2010
The annual meeting of the National Academic Council (NAC) was held on May 19, 2010, in the new campus of the institute situated in the sector F/6-3, Islamabad. The Academic Council provides policy guidelines for the institute to design its research activities and improve performance by reviewing previous programs.
The annual meeting of the National Academic Council (NAC) was held on May 19, 2010, in the new campus of the institute situated in the sector F/6-3, Islamabad. The Academic Council provides policy guidelines for the institute to design its research activities and improve performance by reviewing previous programs.
Chairperson, Prof. Khurshid Ahmad, initiated the proceedings by welcoming the Council members and while expressing the hope towards benefitting from the knowledge and expertise of the Council members, highlighted the role of the National Academic Council in providing guidance to the institute. He maintained that the institute has remained successful in attaining 80% of the goals set in the previous years.
Director General, Khalid Rahman, presented a review of the activities and performance of IPS. He outlined the program by dividing the presentation into five parts which included; general overview of the institute, summary of 2009 tasks, activities held from January-April 2010, proposed themes for 2010-2012 and the progress on the new campus construction.
Mr. Akram Zaki expressed full confidence in the overall performance of the institute and the proposed programs for the future and commended the leadership of the institute in the planning and execution of the new campus project.
While making recommendations for the institute in its research program, he maintained that the ideals of Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal can be realized by practicing a system that is based on the democratic values with the concept of welfare at the core and ensures the rights of all the provinces. In this connection he expressed satisfaction over the distribution of resources which has been agreed upon in the eighteenth amendment few weeks earlier. While appreciating the supremacy of the parliament which has been achieved in principle with the promulgation of Eighteenth Amendment, he maintained that the abolition of Concurrent List has increased the responsibilities of the provinces to a great extent, and IPS can play its role by promoting research and dialogue in these areas.
Discussing the security studies in IPS agenda he condemned the use of force for curbing terrorism and stressed that this can only be achieved through supremacy of rule of law and the abolition of social injustice, hence he suggested that the research agenda should include the recommendations for turning the security state into welfare state.
He suggested that the implementation of the principles of policy enshrined in articles 28-39 of the constitution of Pakistan should be given special consideration in the research agenda set for future programs. The leaders or policy makers should be motivated to submit its report in the legislative assemblies, which has never occurred yet. Furthermore, while deliberating on the Taxation system in Pakistan, he maintained that the prevailing taxation system, owing to the greater percentage of indirect taxes, is based on injustice, because, the poor has to bear more taxes than the rich.
Dr. Saeeda Asadullah Khan reiterated the opinion of Mr. Akram Zaki and deliberating upon the role of students and teachers in research and as opinion makers, she suggested that the institute should engage itself more in collaboration programs with different universities. She appreciated the initiative of establishment of the institute’s women section and expressed the desire to further increase its strength.
Lt. Gen (R) Assad Durrani highlighted the importance of studying the Islamic political system in search of a better substitution for the existing system.
With regard to the policy formulation, Ambassador (R) Rustam Shah Mohmand suggested that there is a need to focus on the poverty reduction, economic productivity, quality education, and human resource management. He emphasized on increasing institutionalized contacts with media, politicians, foreign think tanks and different universities and maintained that Pakistan should develop neighborly relations with India on equal footings. He suggested that under the theme of Mulim Ummah, IPS should play its role in highlighting the Palestine problem. The issue ought to be highlighted in the media and other think tanks as well.
In his brief and comprehensive comments Mr. Amanullah Khan suggested that in the background of Pakistan being an agricultural country, the research concerning the agricultural policies should get some focus at IPS. While commending the research and dialogue activities held at IPS on Kazakhstan, he emphasized the need to focus on the rest of Central Asian countries as well. Also he recommended carrying out some research work on the water issues between India and Pakistan.
Dr. S. M. Zaman highlighted the need to analyze the dynamics of debt crisis Pakistan has been facing since decades. He maintained that the military operations in Swat and tribal areas of Pakistan require much intellectual considerations, and in this relation there is a need to define the phenomenon of terrorism. In the wake of some contradictory approaches being adopted by a particular quarter in Pakistan Dr. S. M. Zaman recommended the institute to take some initiatives for strengthening the Ideology of Pakistan. While expressing satisfaction over the recommendations concerning the education system in Pakistan documented in the earlier publications of IPS, he proposed the establishment of a cell in order to deliberate on the syllabus being taught in the educational institutes in Pakistan.
Allama Riaz Hussain Najafi highlighted the deeply embedded relation of madrassahs and mosques with the general masses and stressed that a culture of tolerance should be developed in the society and the role of ulema community is very important in this regard. Furthermore, he said that the instances of immoral practices on the part of the political leadership are not a good sign for the society. The political leadership ought to be morally sensitive if the society has to prosper, he maintained.
Senator S. M. Zafar underscored the importance of building strong institutions for the democracy to prevail in the country. Pointing towards the recent increase in the role of Civil Society in Pakistan, he suggested that this is a rich subject for research and analysis. Its nature, role and other dynamics should be studied in order to create awareness about this growing phenomenon. He maintained that the most positive aspect of the Eighteenth Amendment concerns the power delegated to the Election Commission during the elections. And in this regard he was of the view that the expectations, Civil Society has from the Election Commission, should be highlighted.
He emphasized that the creation of new provinces has now become inevitable and in the upcoming years he saw an increase in the number of provinces in Pakistan. In this relation he highlighted the importance of analyzing the criteria over which new provinces can be made, and the amendments in the constitution which are deemed necessary for such a move. He highlighted the need to have a proactive attitude towards the India Pakistan peace process which has already been started and suggested that the institute should continue research and dialogue on this vital issue. He maintained that the abolition of Concurrent List has increased the responsibilities of provinces to a great extent and efforts should be made to help them meet the challenges.
Furthermore, he underscored the importance of conducting research on the issues concerning Pakistan’s nuclear weapons program, and the status of women in Pakistani society as an important part of the human resource development.
While endorsing the appreciation of the IPS performance by other Council members, Mr. Shamshad Ahmad Khan held that the institute is moving into right direction. Regarding the ongoing debate in the country about making of new provinces he maintained that this is the demand of the ethnic or linguistic makeup of the country, however, the administrative setup do not require any such change. In fact any such move will exacerbate the problem of corruption and other bureaucratic inconsistencies. He expressed his concerns over the challenges Pakistan has been facing on several fronts, however, he highlighted the importance of having greater focus at IPS on domestic issues in order to move on the path of progress and maintained that no outside power can harm Pakistan if we are strong from within.
Dr. Anis Ahmad highlighted the importance of learning from the successful development models, and recommended the addition of Malaysia along with Turkey in the research agenda. He said that the education sector needs special attention with regard to research. Expressing his worries over the increasing tilt of the younger generation towards militancy he highlighted the need to inquire the factors responsible for such inclinations.
In the background of the rising voices for the economic emancipation of women, Dr. Anis Ahmad deliberated on the importance of the strong family structure and suggested to make a balance between both the themes. He recommended that research should be conducted to evaluate the factors which are leading towards the disruption of this balance. In order for the institute to meet the international standards, both in research and production he coined the idea of establishing a Quality Enhancement Cell, and also suggested some structural changes in the major themes decided for the upcoming year.
Barrister Saadia Abbasi recommended that the institute should strive to increase the impact of its research on the political and economic institutions in Pakistan. She maintained that for Pakistan to achieve prosperity it would have to rely solely on its own domestic resources.
Expressing his confusion over the role of political parties in the student politics in Pakistan, Dr. Anwar Hussain Siddiqui maintained that, ironically, despite of open condemnation of student unions by all the major political parties of Pakistan, student politics is gaining strength with the active support of the political parties. In this regard he suggested that a proper code of ethics should be maintained if it has to be legitimized at the decision making levels. Furthermore, regarding the role of the women in the parliament he recommended that the election system
should be oriented in a way that can ensure the selection of qualified women for the parliament.
Dr. Rafique Ahmad suggested the institute to carry out regular and organized study on corruption. Discouraging the concept of macroeconomic stability, he supported the idea of welfare budget. Besides stressing the need to study the social dynamics of Pakistan including the behavior of Civil Society, government and youth etc, he highlighted the need to study the internal dynamics of Indian state and society.
Mr. Fasih-ud-Din made suggestions at three levels of analysis; national, regional and global. At national level he made three recommendations for research and analysis. One, the implications of NFC award should be professionally analyzed. Two, the repercussions of the Eighteenth Amendment, particularly, the abolition of Concurrent List should be reviewed. Three, the theme of poverty and development should be added in the national agenda for research. At the regional level of analysis he suggested that instead of focusing on the bilateral relations of different countries the focal point should be the regional dynamics in a broader sense of the word. With regard to the global level he was of the view that the dynamics of the World Trade Organization and the repercussions of the Global Economic Crisis should become a part of the research agenda.
Dr. Inaam-ur-Rahman suggested that the spirit which was seen in the masses at the time of the independence needs to be revived, and stressed the need to take initiatives aimed at eradicating social injustice from the society.
Dr. Adnan Sarwar, while acknowledging the insensitivity which exists among the general masses towards the deteriorating conditions in the society, was of the view that hope should not loose its importance in all circumstances. By making the examples of Durand Line and Indo-China border, he suggested the inclusion of some projects in the research agenda about the issues regarding frontiers.
In the context of economic emancipation of women Dr. Iffat Dar maintained that the attitude of women against the bread earning role of the man is not playing a constructive role in the social system of Pakistan.
While making advice to focus more on problem resolution rather than fixation, Justice Fida Muhammad Khan highlighted the importance of three institutions for bringing positive change in the society; education, media and mosque, and recommended to focus research upon these institutions.
Concluding the meeting Prof. Khurshid Ahmad expressed his gratitude to the members for their active participation in the meeting and for the suggestions given by the Council members. He maintained that the institute would try to the level possible to benefit from the suggestions given. Stressing the need for a continuous feedback he emphasized that while the review meeting takes place only once a year members are expected to regularly share their opinions on the ongoing activities at the institute.
