RAWALPINDI, Dec 4: The administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Kemal Dervis has praised Pakistani citizens’ effective volunteerism in responding to the devastating earthquake of last year.

“This response of citizens led to the establishment of the National Volunteer Movement (NVM) in Pakistan. Thousands of volunteers from all over the country and abroad participated in relief efforts urgently needed on the field. The United Nations Volunteer Programme gave its full support to the government of Pakistan to set up its NVM,” the UNDP official said on the occasion of the International Volunteers Day being observed on Tuesday.

“UNV works with governments to find ways and means for citizens to get involved, and Pakistan’s NVM is a fine example. Set up in response to the October 2005 earthquake, this movement has given the people of Pakistan a chance to join in the global response to disaster,” Mr Dervis wrote in the annual UNV report.

It is generally felt that the establishment of the NVM alone would not be sufficient, it needs proper institutionalisation covered by political commitment and legislation. World over, many governments are increasingly building volunteer infrastructures and establishing appropriate legal frameworks to support volunteers.

Pakistan has great potential of volunteerism ingrained in its culture and traditions but needs an effective mechanism to harness the potential for its contribution to the social and economic well-being of society. There is a realisation that the absence of an establishment capable of streamlining and organising the volunteers has resulted in the failure to utilise their enormous potential.

“The work of volunteers needs to be expanded beyond earthquake relief operation. There are several other spheres in our society which needs volunteers. The scope of NVM should be expanded to cover academic institutions from where thousands of students can volunteer themselves to play their role in society.”