16 May 2004	Sunday	25 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

KARACHI: If Pakistan wishes to achieve the sustainable development, it will have to improve its socio-economic indicators ahead of growth targets compounded by assured sustainable policies for the progress of the civil society.

Vice President, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Engr M.A. Jabbar says that the FPCCI believes that sustainable development is only possible if efforts are directed to develop indigenous capacity for political good governance, open markets and free trade, and scientific and technological institutions.

As engines of modern societies, science and technology are fundamental to the intelligent management and use of natural resources, environmental stewardship and economic development - in short - they are essential to sustainability, he adds.

Advances in agricultural biotechnology will be essential in raising developing world food productivity in order to feed burgeoning population. Application of new technologies will be crucial to providing adequate and safe water. Clean and renewable energy technologies will be needed to ensure sufficient and sustainable energy supplies for a country like Pakistan.

The pursuit of technical knowledge is an ongoing process; the knowledge base must be constantly renewed and replenished, Jabbar says adding the biological and physical sciences and engineering must work closely with the social and behavioural sciences to speed the application of innovations and insights to the needs of society.

Despite being an agro-based economy, Pakistan is still not sufficient in food crops. There is a need to apply scientific techniques in lifting the productive achievement in agro-sector of economy.

He urges the government to emphasize the importance of public and private partnerships in addressing these problems.

The Human Development Index in Pakistan is even lower than in the region. According to the Human Development Report-2003 - Pakistan was ranked at 134th even after India 131st and Bangladesh 129th in the list of the Countries of the World. Per capita income of Pakistan has been less than $500 since long.

Jabbar said that Pakistan has also been lagging behind in education and health. Literacy rate in 2002-03 was accounted for 48 per cent as compared with India 60 per cent and Bangladesh 65 per cent. Pakistan is amongst 12 bottom line countries less than 2 per cent of GDP in education and health. Over 70 per cent of the population does not have direct access to clean drinking water.

Head of Research and Economic Cell of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Ishaq Subhani said that 95 per cent of the budgetary allocation in education goes to recurring expenditures like salaries, leaving negligible portion for development.

In Punjab, only five per cent out of total budget allocation goes towards development side of education followed by 20 per cent in Balochistan and 7.5 per cent in Sindh, he said while quoting a recent study of Pakistan Institute of Development Economics.

To a query what our industrialists and businessmen are doing to improve social sectors particularly health and education - he says that community based businessmen are setting up hospitals and education institutes besides participating in charitable hospitals.-ASK