Support to Indus Resource Centre for strengthening the local governance initiative
By Nasir Panhwar

Khairpur, August 25: IUCN Pakistan’s Sindh Programme under PEP is providing support to Indus Resource Centre for strengthening the local governance initiative. IRC is working in two Districts of Sindh i.e. Dadu and Khairpur with focus on good governance, education, economic initiatives, natural resource management and health.

As a first step, capacity mapping exercise with IRC staff based at Khairpur was conducted on August 25, 2004.This would help identify the areas for capacity building. During the visit, environmental orientation workshop for IRC staff was also undertaken. Similar activities are envisaged for IRC Dadu in September 2004.

At a concluding session of environmental orientation workshop, the Director IBA Sukkur, Mr. Nisar Ahmad Siddiqui gave away the certificates to the participants. Speaking on the occasion, he said that training is important tool for improving skills and learning is continuous process. Mr. Siddiqui said that unfortunately focus has been given to erecting buildings in education sector, whereas quality of education is ignored. He said that universities are producing graduates just for public sector, which has no more employment opportunities. He said that private sector has ample employment opportunities, but the graduates of public sector universities are unable to meet the requirement of private sector. He said that teachers can play vital role in improving the quality of education by inculcating healthy practices among the students who are expected to be honest and responsible citizens of the country. Mr. Siddiqui said that environment is an integral part of rural society and degradation of environment has direct implications on the quality of life. He urged the participants that concentrated efforts may be undertaken at all level for the betterment of environment. He appreciated the efforts of IUCN for working on the issue of environment. 

Zohra Rehmat Ali of IUCN presented an overview of the workshop and said that range of topics were covered in the workshop to sensitize the participants about the environmental challenges. She said that understanding about the concepts of environmental management is crucial.

Nasir Ali Panhwar of IUCN said that capacity building of Indus Resource Centre in the field of environment would be undertaken on long term basis and in this regard, need assessment is being carried out to identify the areas of intervention. He said that civil society organizations can play pivotal role in not only creating awareness but also addressing environmental issues at local level.  Naveed Khayal of IRC informed about the various activities of IRC in Khairpur District.

The participants of the workshop said that as agents of change it is their first and foremost obligation to take this message to the community. Gul Mastoi of LEAD Pakistan also spoke on the occasion.