KARACHI, July 30: The Karachi Women’s Peace Committee organized a public opinion forum to elicit major deterrents to the growth and welfare of the country, says a statement issued on Tuesday.

It said the forum was attended by organisations and individuals with a strong social service background.

Former federal minister and founder-president of Baanh Beli, Javed Jabbar, was of the view that sufficient emphasis and investment, as well as updating and evaluation of our education programme, has not been done as had been the case in the US, Britain and other countries.

He said the self-appraisement was vital as was the self-discipline.

Javed Jabbar also emphasised the need of strengthening the civil society.

Former ambassador Mehdi Masud suggested that the government should pay utmost attention to peoples’ development in education and economic well-being.

Barrister Irshad Abdul Kader commented that absence of rule of law fractured the law. This had to be rectified if the country is to move ahead in the right direction.

He said a code of law exists in Pakistan and the need is to implement it ethically and in a competent manner.

President of All Pakistan Women’s Association (APWA) recalled how as a student she had attended meetings where the Father of the Nation had encouraged students to make suggestions stating that he was there to listen and learn.

Air Commodore (Retd) Athar Hussain said that though the law and order situation had improved in the recent months, a great deal more had to be done so the citizens could enjoy a sense of freedom and security.

Mehr Alvi, chairman of Pakistan Red Crescent Society, said lack of national character, discipline and education are the three major problems.

Architect and town-planner, Arif Hasan, who is the president of Urban Resource Centre, referred to absence of a broad consensus on institutional issues and absence of consultative process on planning and development.

Rahila Rahim of the HANDS emphasised the need for political education of the masses to assist them in participating in the political process.

Dr. Fateh Mohammad Burfat, Chairman of Karachi University’s Sociology Department, called for women development programmes to facilitate national progress.

Dr. Mansoor Dar and A. Majeed of Rotary Club International placed illiteracy and lack of education as the number one national problem.

The moderator of the Forum, Nargis Rahman, who is also the chairperson of Karachi Women’s Peace Committee, announced that the public opinion forum of this sort would be a continuing series drawing more sections of the community, both in interaction and linkage to persuade every serving government to listen to the voice and address the needs of the citizens of the country.

Ashraf Liaquat Ali Khan, Siddique Shaikh, Sultan Chawla, Dr. Uneza Niaz, Dr. Mehr Hassan, Rehana Afroze, Hameed Maker, Aban Jamal, Nargis Rahimtoola, Amina Murad, Dr. Laila Haswani, Shahnaz Ramzi, Feroz Shah Gilani, Shahina Badar and Sabareen Mirza also expressed their views on the occasion.—APP