ISLAMABAD, April 19: “Wealth is not without its advantages. But, beyond doubt, wealth is the relentless enemy of understanding”. Thus begins American economist John Kenneth Galbraith his book The Affluent Society published in 1958.

His critique may have been lost on the wealthy American society which the famous economist and diplomat had analysed but its wisdom is certainly reflected in the mission that many Pakistanis who have made it good in America have undertaken - to use a portion of their wealth for social development back home.

Their Pakistan Programme, which began in the health sector in 1989 — 12 years after the Association of Pakistani Physicians in North America was formed — has, after many transformations, developed into an integrated community development programme under a Human Development Foundation (HDF) created by them.

“HDF does not believe in giving hand outs to people. Our philosophy is to foster partnerships with the communities and work together. We believe that people are quite capable of recognizing their problems, finding solutions and implementing them provided they are given the resources and relevant skills,” said Dr Shahnaz Khan, co-chairperson of HDF, making “the mission statement” to Dawn during her recent visit to Pakistan.

Dr Shahnaz said HDF started its new strategy of integrated development in Mardan in 1999 and, encouraged by the good response, replicated it in Shamsabad in interior Sindh, Rahimyar Khan in Punjab, Zhob in Balochistan and small school projects in the poor localities of Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad.

After last October’s massive earthquake, a relief and rehabilitation centre was established at Bagh, Azad Kashmir, also.

HDF implements its integrated development programmes in partnership with local communities, the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF), Khushali Bank, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Lahore’s King Edward medical College, the National Rural Support Programme and the Tameer-e- Millat Foundation.

It starts its work by selecting a community of 1,000 households — usually one in which some Pakistani American has his roots - and motivate it to form Development Organisations (DOs) which identify and implement development work with the help of HDF.

HDF has integrated projects going on in 12 villages across the country, each costing on the average Rs3 million, said Dr Shahnaz.

These projects range from opening and running one-room schools and health centres, paving village streets and building drains, lining water courses, recharging karezes, providing micro credit and training in community management to constructing check dams in Balochistan.

HDF’s longest-going projects are located in villages around Mardan city where schools and health centres are being run in houses provided by community members and dirt streets are being paved by local volunteers.

These activities generated by HDF may not appear impressive in physical terms but the spirit of self-help that they represent does.