March 26, 2008	Wednesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 17, 1429

ISLAMABAD, March 25: Peop-le’s participation is key to the success of democracy and it is important for Pakistan’s future, said Ray Kyles, British Deputy High Commissioner in Pakistan, on Tuesday.

Speaking at a ‘Showcase ceremony of project citizen Pakistan’, arranged by the Centre for Civic Education (CCE), he said democracy would only get stronger in Pakistan if the individual stands up to be counted.

“We are ready to help you build the democracy you want and deserve, but it is up to the people to make it a success,” he said.

Earlier, students of seven selected public and private schools exhibited policy formulation skills for solution of problems of provision of clean drinking water, garbage disposal, pollution and begging.

The students recognized the need for themselves and the citizens to work together with the government to resolve the problems that afflict them and the society. Most of the groups were of the view that cause of the persistence of most issues was not lack of appropriate policies but policy non-implementation.

Dr Bernadette Dean, head of the Institute for Educational Development Agha Khan University Karachi, applauded work of the participants and termed it excellent.

She hoped that the students would play an active role in resolving the problems being faced by the society.

The talent and awareness level of the school students show that our children are second to none in the world, said film maker, Samar Minallah and writer Irfan Ahmad Urfi, who were judges at the showcase hearing.

The speakers on the occasion said programmes like the Project Citizen Pakistan should be made part of the regular curriculum.

Executive director CCE-Pakistan Zafarullah Khan said young students had exhibited amazing civic skills and knowledge to bring hope to their communities. The judges awarded “Outstanding School” prize to the students of the Government Comprehensive Girls High School, Dhoke Kashmirian Rawalpindi. Students of the Fauji Foundation Model School Rawalpindi earned the title of “Excellent school” and the Divisional Public School was declared the “Best school”.