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Third Seminar

The Third Seminar of FOCUS Pakistan was on "Enhancing Pakistan's Image by Empowering Women" Held on 3rd February 2005 at Avari Hotel, Lahore.

The Speakers included Js. (R) Nasira Javed Iqbal, Begum Mehnaz Rafi (MNA), Zarrin Aziz (President, First Women Bank), Qudsia Lodhi (Provincial Minister), Maha Raja Tareen (MPA), Dr. Shaista Nuzhat and Asnath Kanwal. Secretary General, Muzaffar Muhammad Ali read a verse from the Holy Quran and a Hadith, in which the importance of women in building a better society was appreciated. President, Dr. M. Owais Farooqui introduced the speakers and acted as moderator for the seminar.

Ms. Neelofar Bahtiar (Advisor to the Prime Minister on Women Development) sent her message clarifying the amendments in the law regarding women empowerment and equal rights under consideration of Government. Dr. Ghazala Irfan read her message.

Columnist Asnath Kanwal and Dr. Shaista Nuzhat (Director, Punjab Institute of Art, and Culture & Language) read their papers and with a literary touch highlighted the pathetic condition of women in Pakistan. Qudsia Lodhi and Maha Raja Tareen advocated their government's policies. Nasira Iqbal said much had been done in Pakistan for empowerment of Women, yet there was greater need to take more concrete steps to check indiscrimination and violence against women. She said the international women's conference held at Beijing in 1995 was the first moot that had raised the issue of women's empowerment and identified 12 areas of their suppression and indiscrimination which need corrective measures. These include poverty, education, health care, and violence, lack of respect and opportunities and economic inequity. She appreciated the government's decision of increasing women's representation in the assemblies and local councils as a step in the right direction.

MNA Begum Mehnaz Rafi said the dream of women empowerment could not be realized unless society changed its negative thinking and attitude against women. She said she would soon move a bill in the National Assembly against domestic violence of women to check its increasing trend in the country. She also reiterated lack of progress in implementation of Beijing declaration.

First Women Bank President Zarin Aziz said women constituted half of the country's population that needed an equal participatory role. Women had played an important role in reviving economies of many countries on the globe. In Pakistan, she said, Women's participation was hampered by lack of access to capital and credit, information and market linkages, lack of business and management skills and decision-making

Ms Nilofer Bakhtiar said the government had taken significant steps for women legal, political, economic and social empowerment. A multi-pronged approach had been adopted with a shift from merely welfare approach to a long-term development Program. It included direct public-private partnerships and greater collaboration with donor and UN agencies. She said the Women Development Ministry had also worked upon a network of overseas Pakistani Women to connect them with the development activities in Pakistan.
 

A meeting of the Executive Committee was held on 8th January 2005 at 12 Saint John's Park Lahore Cantt. at 4:30 pm. Dr. Owais Farooqi, Bashir A. Sheikh, Khawar Rafique, Muzaffar Muhammad Ali, Shahida Tahir, Khalid Ghias, Sajid Bashir, Khurshid Akhtar Khan, Samreena Anwar, Kamal Monnoo, Dr. Nadeem and Aamir Bhatti were in attendance.

Committee approved the minutes of the last meeting and approved the membership of Mr.Kamal Monnoo, Dr.Nadeem Ahmad, Syed Fakhar Imam, Hafiz Ghaznavi and Shireen Haq.

Executive Committee reviewed media coverage of the previous seminar on the National Priorities. On New Year's Eve, Focus Pakistan hosted to a visiting combined expatriates delegation of Pakistani and Indian origin residing in USA, Canada and England. An interactive session was held at Press club in coordination with Anjuman Asiaye Awam. Later the same evening the peace delegation was invited for a dinner meeting at Lahore Gymkhana.

It was decided that the third seminar will be on "Enhancing Pakistan's Image by Empowering Women" and will be held on February 3rd at Avari Lahore.

A list of proposed participants was presented by Secretary General and numbers of other names were added by members. Secretary was requested to contact the speakers and confirm their participation.

It was also announced that the fourth seminar will be on "Pak-US Relation: Past, present and Future". Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz will be invited as Chief Guest while US Ambassador, ex foreign ministers and ambassadors in US will be the Special Guest.

President Dr. Owais Farooqi told the Committee that CBR has sent a detailed Performa to be filled for the exemption of tax and this matter will be undertaken by President and Secretary General.

Mr.Sajid Bashir, country coordinator for Great Britain suggested that Focus Pakistan should initiate a series of grand shows in UK to introduce the organization as UK has a large number of expatriates. He was requested to make a proposal in this regard for the committee's consideration. He also offered to facilitate in this regard. A detailed discussion on this aspect was held.
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Second Seminar

FOCUS Pakistan, in its effort to bring awareness and address most important national issues, organized its second seminar on the subject “What should be our National Priorities in the Current International Perspective?” Main focus of the seminar was Sustainable Development, Education, Law`n`Order and Political system. The seminar was held on Wednesday 20th October 2004 at Pearl Continental Hotel. Mr. S. M. Zafar, Syed Fakhar Imam, Lt. Gen. (R) Moeen-ud-Din Haider, Mr. Imran Masud and Mian Saif-ur-Rehman delivered their opinion. Seminar was attended by a large number of intellectuals and was followed by an interactive session with the speakers. Former Law and Foreign Minister, and now a Senator, S. M. Zafar was asked to comment about the role of constitutional and judicial system of the country. He stated that superior judiciary has lost its prestige due to interference of the executive. In order for it to regain its lost glory, judges should stay and generals should go away. This will help restore people’s faith in the system. He further stated that only two things, security and justice were the main public welfare issues of our state. Former Governor Sindh and Federal Interior Minister, Lt.Gen. (R) Moeen-ud-Din Haider addressed the law and order. He stated that all the problems of Pakistan were interrelated. He said education should be focused which may produce not only good students, but also responsible citizens. He called for foiling the designs of elements fanning terrorism. On one hand he highly praised madaris for educating poor students, and on the other hand he cautioned that there were some elements that were toeing their own agenda in the name of Islam. Former Speaker National Assembly and a Federal Minister, Syed Fakhar Imam spoke about the political system and stated non- existence of a viable political system in the country. Expressing his disappointment he further added that in 57 years of independence, we have failed to even evolve a legitimate political system. No government completed its tenure nor it had been handed over peacefully. We must compete to find our place in the international markets, as we cannot live on charities. Provincial Education Minister Imran Masud was requested to deliberate and inform the audience on state of education in the province. He stated “It is the time to take a start. Our government has prioritized goals and education is at the top of the agenda.” He proudly claimed that Punjab has the highest literacy rate among the four provinces, standing at 70%. “We had made our intentions clear by allocating a record amount of Rs. 43 Billion for education which formed 26% of the total Budget.” Senior Journalist Mian Saif-ur-Rehman talked about Sustainable Development. He elaborated how we can achieve the goal through proper education, health care, healthy environment and Justice. The seminar was opened by a verse from Quran and Mr. Muzaffar Muhammad Ali, Secretary General FOCUS Pakistan stressed in his opening remarks that the sustainable national priorities could be set only on the basis of national consensus and conscience, and we must adopt a strategy to gain this goal. He said that this seminar is a wake-up call for the nation. Dr. Owais Farooqui, President FOCUS Pakistan, was the moderator of the seminar and introduced the invited guests and the speakers. In his presentation, he mentioned the dismal performance of Pakistan in the most recent UNDP report where our country dropped from 120 to 144 positions on the international HDI (Human Development Index). He further stated that internal conflicts and poor performance of social development sector offers a main stumbling block keeping Pakistan behind rest of the developing nations.

Launching ceremony of Focus Pakistan, Nov 4 2002.
Keynote address by President, Focus Pakistan, Dr. M. Owais Farooqui
Invited Guests: Prominent Media Personnel, Political Reps, Businessman, Intellectuals and Diplomats

Special Guest, Federal Minister of Information Technology, Mr. Nisar Memon with some founding members of Focus Pakistan (Khurshid Akhtar Khan, Khawar rafiq, Muzaffar M. Ali, with President, Focus Pakistan and Other guests.)

Thomas Shea, a lawyer and peace activist based in Seattle, Washington at a reception by Focus Pakistan, Jan 12, 2003.

Mayor of Walthum county, Mr. Fazal Rehman, with a group of expatriates from England hosted by Focus Pakistan.

Shahid Ahmad Khan, national Co-Chair for Senator John Kerry, at a reception arranged by Focus Pakistan, Feb 2003.

Hollyangelman and David Morton of ‘Wheels for Humanity’ hosted by Focus Pakistan, May 28, 2003.

A group photograph of participants at the farewell reception in the honor of Sheldon Rappoport of US Consulate by Focus Pakistan