The Russian Card

The Russian Card
Dr. Jassim Taqui

The Russians mean business. They quickly adapted to the peculiar political system in Pakistan by opting to focus on cementing ties with the strong military Establishment.
According to  ISPR, a Russian military delegation visited the restive North and South Waziristan tribal regions on Thursday. The Russia’s Deputy Chief of General Staff, Col. General Israkov Sergi Yuryevich, led the visitors.
A Pakistan army statement said the delegation was briefed about efforts to clear the northwestern tribal region along the Afghan border from terrorists belonging to different militant groups, mainly Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Al-Qaeda remnants.
The delegation, also accompanied by Pakistan's Lt. Gen. Nazir Butt, was also briefed about border management and socio-economic development projects in the area for enduring stability, it added.
North Waziristan and South Waziristan are two of seven tribal regions in Pakistan where the army launched full-scale onslaughts to clear them from TTP and its allies in 2014 and 2009 respectively.
According to ISPR, the army has cleared militants from 90 percent of the region.
Al-Bab has the credit to be the first to recommend stronger ties with Russia way back in 2002. 

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American Ambassador David Hale Meets with Pakistani Women Business Owners

American Ambassador David Hale Meets with Pakistani Women Business Owners

Al-Bab Report

Islamabad, March 31, 2017: American Ambassador David Hale met with over 60 Pakistani women entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and capacity-building organizations at the U.S. Embassy for a Supply Chain Diversity Expo hosted by the U.S. Pakistan Women’s Council and WECREATE/Pakistan.  Ambassador Hale congratulated the entrepreneurs on starting businesses and urged them to continue to inspire others with their creativity and determination.  He also recognized WECREATE/Pakistan and USPWC Corporate Member Companies, including Proctor and Gamble, TRG, Engro, PepsiCo, General Electric, Citibank and The Coca-Cola Company for providing women-owned businesses the opportunity to market their products and services to industry leaders.

“The U.S.-Pakistan Women’s Council is a  model of assistance that mobilizes female talent, builds international economic ties, and promotes economic growth and social stability, all of which benefit both Pakistan and America,” said Ambassador Hale.

Procter & Gamble and PepsiCo briefed the entrepreneurs on their procurement processes and offered to help interested female suppliers connect with relevant procurement teams in their companies.  During this session, Procter&Gamble’s Communication Manager, Claudia Manuel, said “When Pakistani women succeed, we all win.” USPWC intends to facilitate continuing connections through its networking platform and working with TRG to host a second supply chain diversity event in Karachi later this year.

Women entrepreneurs attending the event had received training at WECREATE/Pakistan, and the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) through the U.S. Embassy-supported Pakistan Women Entrepreneur Program (PWEP) managed in partnership with American University.  Participants from the World Bank’s Women^X entrepreneurship training program, conducted with Enclude at Government College University, also took part in the event.

The Expo is the second in a series of events planned under the USPWC supply chain diversity initiative, which aims to help women-owned businesses access sustainable markets by linking them with corporate procurement representatives.  The first of these events occurred in April 2016 at Packages Limited in Lahore.

U.S. Office of Defense Representative Delivers Aircraft to Pakistan Army

U.S. Office of Defense Representative Delivers Aircraft to Pakistan Army

 Al-Bab Report

Islamabad, March 31, 2017: On 24 March, the Office of Defense Representative - Pakistan made another delivery of Cessna aircraft to the Pakistan Army.  Since November 2016, the Pakistan Army has received six Cessna planes:  two Cessna 208 Caravans and four Cessna 206H aircraft.  These aircraft will assist the Pakistan Army with their air mobility capability by enhancing the Army's ability to conduct medical evacuations, as well as provide limited troop and equipment transport.  Pakistan's Army Aviation Command thanked America for the generous contribution.  American security assistance continues to build the counterterrorism capabilities of Pakistan's security forces.  The United States and Pakistan are stronger when we work together to combat terrorism.

US and the Aurat Foundation Celebrate Women’s Achievements

The United States and the Aurat Foundation Celebrate Women’s Achievements

Al-Bab Report

Islamabad, March 31 -  Pakistani women are making the country proud by excelling in all walks of life. Today, the United States and the Aurat Foundation celebrated women’s achievements at a ceremony held in Islamabad. 

Addressing the participants, USAID Mission Director Mr. John Groarke in his opening remarks, said: “Increasing women’s participation in Pakistan’s economy is vital for its economic growth and stability.  Now is the time to reflect on the progress made, to call for change, and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.”

America promotes gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in Pakistan to enable them to fully participate in and benefit from economic, social, and political developments and help advance peace and security.  In partnership with the Government of Pakistan, U.S. programs help address and prevent gender-based violence and promote entrepreneurship and economic empowerment, political participation, and access to quality education and healthcare for women and girls.

The President of Aurat Foundation,  Dr. Masooma Hassan, highlighted the achievements of the USAID-supported Gender Equity Program (GEP) which has transformed the lives of Pakistani women through access to justice, combating gender-based violence (GBV), economic empowerment, and raising awareness of their rights as Pakistani citizens.

The highlight of the event was the art competition entitled “Be Bold for Change” in which students from GEP-supported universities in Rawalpindi and Islamabad participated.  Director Groarke met students who participated in the competition and distributed prizes to the winners. The event also featured a classical dance performance by Amna Marwaz on women’s empowerment, which was greatly appreciated by the audience.

The Gender Equity Program educates women about their rights at home, at work, and in society. The program is working to expand women's access to justice and human rights, while combating GBV. 

27 million people risk famine

27 million people risk famine
Al-Bab Report

NEWYORK/DAKAR/NAIROBI/AMMAN, 29 March 2017 : Water shortages, inadequate sanitation, poor hygiene practices and disease outbreaks are posing an additional threat to severely malnourished children in northeast Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen, UNICEF said today.

Across the four famine-threatened countries, nearly 27 million people are reliant on unsafe water which, for malnourished children, can lead to fatal diarrheal diseases.  

“The combination of malnutrition, dirty water and poor sanitation sets off a vicious cycle from which many children never recover,” said Manuel Fontaine, UNICEF Director of Emergency Programmes. “Because unsafe water can cause malnutrition or make it worse, no matter how much food a malnourished child eats, he or she will not get better if the water they are drinking is not safe.”

In northeast Nigeria, 75 per cent of water and sanitation infrastructure in conflict-affected areas has been damaged or destroyed, leaving 3.8 million people with no access to safe water. Displaced families are putting enormous pressure on already strained health and water systems in host communities. One third of the 700 health facilities in the hardest-hit state of Borno have been completely destroyed and a similar number are non-functional.

In Somalia, the number of people needing access to water, sanitation and hygiene in the coming weeks is projected to increase from 3.3 million to 4.5 million – about a third of the population. Many water sources have dried up or are contaminated, toilet facilities are in short supply, and water-borne diseases are rampant. More than 13,000 cases of cholera and acute watery diarrhoea have been reported since the beginning of the year, nearly five times more than in the same period last year. Water prices have risen six-fold in the remotest areas – putting it out of reach of the poorest families.

In South Sudan, 5.1 million people lack safe water, adequate sanitation and hygiene. Half of the water points in the country have been damaged or destroyed. As a result of seasonal dry weather, low water tables are reinforcing competition for water among people and animals, with the result that scarce water sources are being over-used. Lack of adequate sanitation facilities and poor hygiene practices are spreading disease. A cholera outbreak in June 2016 produced more than 5,000 cholera cases and over 100 deaths.

In Yemen, ongoing conflict and mass population displacement have left at least 14.5 million people without adequate drinking water, basic sanitation and hygiene, while causing damage to water infrastructure. An outbreak of cholera and acute watery diarrhoea in October 2016 continues to spread, with over 22,500 suspected cases and 106 deaths. Almost 2 million children are at risk of diarrheal diseases which, even before the conflict, were the second leading cause of death among children under the age of five. The primary health care system in the country is on the verge of collapse, putting the lives of millions of children at risk.

UNICEF’s response, alongside its partners in the four affected countries, includes:

•        In northeast Nigeria, providing safe water to nearly 666,000 people and treating nearly 170,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition over the last 12 months;

•        In Somalia, providing 1.5 million people with access to 7.5 litres of water per day for 90 days, or until the next rains due in April, promoting lifesaving hygiene behaviours, rehabilitating boreholes, establishing new water sources and ensuring appropriate water, sanitation and hygiene services in cholera treatment centres. An oral cholera vaccination campaign – the first of its kind in the country – is also under way to vaccinate half a million people; 

•        In South Sudan, working with the World Food Programme to fly in nutrition, health, water and sanitation services to children in remote areas; and accelerating hygiene promotion and water safety measures in epidemic prone locations;

•        In Yemen, working with partners to keep health facilities functional for the prevention and treatment of malnutrition among the most vulnerable children, and supporting water and sanitation services for 4.5 million people, many of them are displaced.

“We are working around the clock to save as many lives as we can as fast as we can,” said Fontaine. “But without an end to the conflicts plaguing these countries, without sustainable and unimpeded access to the children in need of support and without more resources, even our best efforts will not be enough.” 

France welcomes Climate Change Act

France welcomes Climate Change Act

Al-Bab Report

The Embassy of France in Pakistan warmly welcomes the adoption of the Climate Change Act, which has been recently passed by both the chambers of Parliament, Pakistan thus becoming the fifth country in the world to adopt a specific legislation on climate change.

The French Embassy extends its congratulations to the government of Pakistan for this much-needed legislation, which will provide a framework for tackling the impacts of climate change and for strengthening Pakistan’s climate resilience and adaptation.

It wishes to thank particularly the Ministry of Climate Change, the Minister, Mr. Zahid Hamid and his whole team, all local and international partners and NGO’s for their precious contribution and cooperation for the success of COP21 and for its implementation.

The Embassy of France reassures its complete support in this domain and will stay committed, with new projects on green energy in Pakistan being developed by the French Agency for Development in 2017.

USDA initiative aims to bolster Pakistani agricultural exports

USDA initiative aims to bolster Pakistani agricultural exports

Al-Bab Report

Islamabad, March 22, 2017: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has invested more than $4 million in a six-year distance learning project initiative to support the Government of Pakistan’s efforts to increase agricultural trade.  This program’s goal is to strengthen Pakistan’s ability to comply with international trade rules to increase gross domestic product through greater commodity exports.

Since 2011, USDA and partners, CABI (Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International) and Texas A&M University, have joined forces to create a distance learning project to bolster Pakistan’s sanitary and phytosanitary (also known as SPS) skills and knowledge. With interactive workshops supplemented by online training modules, the USDA SPS Distance Learning project is advancing Pakistan’s adoption of international plant and animal health standards by training 30 Department of Plant Protection officials and other Pakistani agricultural professionals.  The workshops and training modules focus on a range of topics, including pest-risk management, market access, treatments, and inspections. 

“Proper regulation of exports and imports is key to meeting the demands of foreign buyers as well as protecting Pakistan’s domestic agriculture and consumers.  We are hopeful that these courses will serve as a resource for Pakistan’s phytosanitary regulators,” said Agriculture Counselor David Williams. 

The success of these training modules in Pakistan has made SPS Distance Learning Modules a key component of a new USAID initiative called the Food Safety Network, which will expand the curriculum to include animal health and food safety and deploy them globally in several languages.  

Agriculture is Pakistan’s second largest sector, accounting for more than 21 percent of GDP.  It remains by far the largest employer, with 46 percent of the labor force working in the sector.  For the nearly 62 percent of the Pakistani population in rural areas, agriculture is a vital part of daily life. The US government supports Pakistani scientists and farmers to improve agricultural productivity in Pakistan, and to meet economic objectives and food security needs, with USAID allocating more than $350 million in funding to support Pakistan’s agricultural sector from fiscal year 2002 to 2015. 

The turmoil of 600 m children

The turmoil of 600 m children

Al-Bab Report

NEW YORK / ISLAMABAD - 22 March 2017: Some 600 million children – or 1 in 4 children worldwide – will be living in areas with extremely limited water resources by 2040, according to a UNICEF report released on World Water Day.

The report, Thirsting for a Future: Water and children in a changing climate, looks at the  threats to children’s lives and wellbeing caused by depleted sources of safe water and the ways climate change will intensify these risks in coming years.

“Water is elemental; without it, nothing can grow. But around the world, millions of children lack access to safe water -- endangering their lives, undermining their health, and jeopardizing their futures. This crisis will only grow unless we take collective action now,” said UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake.

According to the report, 36 countries are currently facing extremely high levels of water stress, which occurs when demand for water far exceeds the renewable supply available. Warmer temperatures, rising sea levels, increased floods, droughts and melting ice affect the quality and availability of water as well as sanitation systems.

Population growth, increased water consumption, and higher demand for water largely due to industrialization and urbanization are draining water resources worldwide and also in Pakistan.

In an effort to build resilience of communities to better cope with the future risks of water scarcity, UNICEF Pakistan is working with federal and provincial governments and NGO partners to build and rehabilitate facilities that can ensure efficient management of water supply. The sector partners also collaborate to raise awareness on the issue. Moreover, UNICEF supports the government on all levels to ensure national and provincial water and sanitation policies and strategies make provisions for risk informed decisions in order to secure reliable water supply services in communities, households, schools and health centers.

When children have no choice but to use unsafe water, it exposes them to potentially deadly diseases like cholera and diarrhoea. Many children in drought-affected areas spend hours every day collecting water, missing out on a chance to go to school. Girls are especially vulnerable to attack during these times.

The poorest and most vulnerable children will be most impacted by an increase in water stress, the report says, as millions of them already live in areas with low access to safe water and sanitation. 

The report also notes that: 

·       Up to 663 million people globally do not have access to adequate water sources and 946 million people practice open defecation. 

·       Over 800 children under the age of five die every day from diarrhoea linked to inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene; 

·       Globally, women and girls spend 200 million hours collecting water every day. 

·       The impact of climate change on water sources is not inevitable, UNICEF says. The report concludes with a series of recommendations that          can help curb the impact of climate change on the lives of children. Such measures include: 

·       Governments need to plan for changes in water availability and demand in the coming years; Above all, it means prioritizing the most                    vulnerable children’s access to safe water above other water needs to maximize social and health outcomes.

·       Climate risks should be integrated into all water and sanitation-related policies and services, and investments should to target high-risk                  populations. 

·       Businesses need to work with communities to prevent contamination and depletion of safe water sources. 

·       Communities themselves should explore ways to diversify water sources and to increase their capacity to store water safely. 

“In a changing climate, we must change the way we work to reach those who are most vulnerable. One of the most effective ways we can do that is safeguarding their access to safe water,” Lake said.

  

Celebrating Australian Day

Celebrating Australian Day

Dr. Jassim Taqui

The Australian High Commission celebrated Australia Day in Spring 2017 in Islamabad in a unique style. She invited a large number of people virtually from all walks of life and celebrated the event by arranging a musical performance that highlighted the shared and diverse cultural heritage of Pakistan and Australia. The performance featured Pakistani-Australian singer/songwriter Mahmood Khan, who had flown in from Australia especially to join the celebrations, and students from the Leif Larsen Music Centre Hunza playing traditional Burushaski music of Gilgit-Baltistan on Rabab and Sitar. A world music artist originally from Lahore, Mahmood topped the Australian music chart in 2009 with the single ‘Like the River’ recorded live at the Sydney Opera House. Mahmood is known in Pakistan for his recordings with the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

Speaking on the occasion, theAustralian High Commissioner Margaret Adamson said that the theme of this year’s Australia Day function: Celebrating Cultural Diversity was an opportunity to reflect on the cultural diversity of Australia and Pakistan and the strong people-to-people links between the two countries in the 70th year of Pakistan’s existence and of diplomatic relations. “Australia is one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse nations in the world, where a migrant arrives to start a new life every 1 minute and 29 seconds. Almost 400 different languages, including indigenous languages, are spoken collectively by Australia’s 24 million people, and an estimated 75 percent of Australia’s population identify with an ancestry other than Australian,”  Adamson said.

Over 55,000 people of Pakistani origin are living and working in Australia. These people-to-people links and a shared diversity of culture strengthen the Australia-Pakistan relationship.”

Speaking on the occasion, the chief guest Khurram Dastgir described the relations between the two countries as wonderful, hoping the cultural heritage will further strengthen the relations between Pakistan and Australia.

Adamson stole the show by her hospitality, big heart, and charisma. She is loveable, kind and very popular among the diplomatic community and civil society. 

States urged by UN experts to act now against racial profiling and incitement to racial hatred

States urged by UN experts to act now against racial profiling and incitement to racial hatred

Al-Bab Report

GENEVA (21 March 2017) – UN human rights experts* are calling on governments around the world to take action now to stop fear and misinformation about minorities and migrants which are fuelling increasing incitement to racial hatred and racial profiling.

In a statement marking International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (21 March), the experts on racial discrimination say a number of measures are needed immediately including anti-racism training for police and judiciary as well as steps to eliminate institutional racism.  

“Political leaders and media voices that stigmatize certain ethnic groups, migrants and refugees as prone to criminality or terrorism, or as responsible for economic malaise, encourage racial contempt that can provoke prejudice, discrimination and even verbal and physical violence,” the experts said.

“This chain of cause and effect has become all too clear, given the rising incidence of racist hate crimes in countries where minorities and migrants face increasingly hostile rhetoric,” they stressed.

The experts are also warning that differences in the treatment of people of African descent and other minorities in the law enforcement and criminal justice systems are not only ineffective, but pernicious. They say racial profiling breaches the basic right of individuals targeted thereby denying them equal protection of the law, and are urging Member States to seriously address the structural racism such people already suffer on account of their ethnicity or minority status.

“When this discrimination is normalized, it exacts an increasingly heavy toll, as targeted individuals risk internalizing a sense of stigma and marginalization. More broadly, disproportionately high criminal conviction rates and penalties for minorities erode their trust in government institutions and reinforce the discrimination they experience,” the experts said.
 
“In recent years, counter-terrorism and anti-drug measures have resulted in an increased reliance on racial profiling.  Economic crises in various countries have only exacerbated existing discrimination, and migrants and minority groups are being penalized through hostility, discrimination, and even violence,” the human rights experts emphasized.

They want Governments to conduct human rights and anti-racism training for law enforcement and criminal justice authorities including police officers, prison staff, immigration and asylum officers, and judges. They are also urging the collection and public reporting of disaggregated data on minorities in policing and criminal justice systems.

The experts also want to see the establishment and enforcement of laws with appropriate penalties for criminal offences motivated by racial discrimination; the elimination of institutional racial bias through strong guarantees in the justice system, together with enforcement mechanisms and remedies.

They are stressing that grassroots programs should be implemented to counter misinformation and racism, foster dialogue between different cultures, and build societies of mutual trust and respect.

“Governments must make sure that minorities, including migrants and refugees, are treated as equals and are fully integrated in society, through access to housing, healthcare, education, and social services,” the experts concluded.

(*) The experts in this statement: The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination; Mr. Mutuma Ruteere, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; The Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent. 

An attempt to impeach Trump

An attempt to impeach Trump

Dr. Jassim Taqui

Barak Obama and Hillary Clinton are in action again. This time their aim is to destabilize the democratic system. Like any bad loser, they are using the congressional intelligence committees hearings into the alleged  Russian meddling in the US election. Evidently, the objective is to ignite the public attention and agitate their followers against the Trump administration.

Obama has acted mysteriously. He put all his weight behind Hillary Clinton even as he dumped her as the Secretary of the State. One wonders as to how he justifies his support of Hillary for Presidency when he thought she was not fit for the post of the Secretary of the State.

Even before the House Intelligence Committee starts its investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the US election, to be followed later by a Senate intelligence inquiry, the battle lines have been drawn. 

Democrats started to show disrespect of Republican-controlled hearings in the Congress. They even asked for “ independent” investigation.

Republicans have rebuffed those calls, arguing that they would preside fairly and not shy away from asking tough questions even if that may hurt their own party or president. Clearly, Obama has succeeded in his scheme of dividing the American nation.

Obama is also trying to cover his undemocratic move when he wiretapped President Donald Trump during elections campaign in violation of the American laws. He also used his intelligence agencies to defame Trump; descending into a Third World leader

One gets the impression that the democrats are attempting to prepare the ground to impeach the President Donald Trump within two years by endeavoring to establish his link with the Russians. If they succeeded in their mission, the Vice President Mike Pence would complete the tenure as per the US constitution. Pence is known to be the Establishment man. It is the same Establishment, which leaked to the US media fake stories about Trump- Putin contacts during the elections campaign in violation of the American laws.

Taliban to join Moscow moot

Taliban to join Moscow moot

Dr. Jassim Taqui

In a major development in the turbulent Afghan civil war, Taliban has agreed to participate in the 12-nation Moscow moot to be held on 14^th April next.

The process of informal consultations was initially started by Pakistan, China, and Russia in December and was expanded to six-nation talks in mid-February with the participation of Afghanistan, India, and Iran. The US, some Central Asian states, and the EU will also be invited to next month’s meeting.

Afghanistan welcomed the Russian Federation’s recent position with regards to peace and stability in Afghanistan which states that their recent contacts with Afghan armed groups are aimed at promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region.

Taliban fighters have to lay down their arms, cut their ties with terrorist groups and join the peace talks to ensure durable peace and stability and end fighting in Afghanistan.

Moscow has won the support of all main players by showing commitment to the facilitation of peace in the region. Moscow affirmed that  the contacts with the Taliban were only aimed at national reconciliation in Afghanistan.

Pakistan and Chia complimented the Russian diplomacy by using pressure on Taliban to join the Afghan reconciliation process.

Russia is writing history by advocating peace in resolving the regional conflict. It is hoped that the four main players (US, Iran, India and Pakistan) would stop interfering into the internal affairs of Afghanistan.

ILO : Workshop on multinational enterprises

Workshop on multinational enterprises, social policies, and fundamental principles & rights at work successfully conducted

Al-Bab Report

LAHORE (ILO News) - 16 March 2017: International Labour Organization (ILO) in close collaboration with the Employers’ Federation of Pakistan (EFP) organized a 3–day workshop on Multinational Enterprises, Social Policies and Fundamental Principles & Rights at Work (FP&RW). The workshop was supported by the Government of Japan through the Project on “More and better jobs through socially responsible labour practices in Asia.

CEOs, directors and other representatives from the export oriented sports goods manufacturers in Sialkot, representatives from the brands, trade bodies, business associations and the Chamber of Commerce & Industries as well as representatives from ILO’s constituents (government, employers’ and workers’ organizations) attended the workshop. Members of the Task Force established under the Project were also present.

This workshop strengthened the participants’ understanding of the key elements of Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy Declaration (the MNE Declaration) with particular focus on the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (FP&RW). These concern Freedom of Association and the Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining, Abolition of Forced Labour, Non-discrimination and Equality and Elimination of Child Labour. Furthermore, the participants discussed how the principles of the International Labour Standards relate to business and the workplace and the further steps needed to be able to apply these principles within company operations and the supply chain. The ILO Helpdesk for Business on International Labour Standards was also introduced to the participants. Other topics included the importance of social dialogue in industrial relations and ways to effectively support business partners to improve compliance with FP&RW.

The resource persons, Ms Emily Sims, Manager ILO Helpdesk for Business, Geneva, Mr Fasihul Karim Siddiqi, Secretary General of EFP, Mr Syed Saghir Bukhari, Senior Programme Officer, Mr Mian Muhammad Benyameen, National Project Coordinator and Mr Ijaz Ahmed, Project Officer, ILO Country Office for Pakistan facilitated the lively discussions.

The workshop was concluded by a panel discussion on challenges solutions to apply the FP&RW principles and the development of individual (company) and collective action plans defining the way forward.

Ms Ingrid Christensen, Country Director, ILO Country Office for Pakistan was the Chief Guest on 3rd day of the workshop. In her closing remarks, she thanked the participants for their active participation in the workshop. She emphasized that integrating the FP&RW is not only an obligation but can also impact business positively, including being more competitive, and achieving higher productivity, profitability and business sustainability. “Certificates of participation” were awarded to all the participants.

20 French universities touring Pakistan to reinforce higher education cooperation

20 French universities touring Pakistan to reinforce higher education cooperation

Al-Bab Report

The Pak France Higher Education week comes to an end today. 20 French universities visited different cities of Pakistan for five days, culminating yesterday in the celebration of a “French Day” at the Higher Education Commisco-organized by the HEC and attended by the Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training, Engineer Muhammad Balighur Rehman.

This event echoes a first “Pakistan Higher Education Day” held in France last year, as the relations are strengthening with the establishment of new offices of Campus France, the French Higher Education promotion agency, across Pakistan.

Among the universities visiting Pakistan this week were some of the most important French institutions, as the Conference des Grandes Ecoles, Agreenium, Centrale Nantes, ENSA Nantes, INSA Lyon, Paris 1 – Sorbonne, Sorbonne Abu Dhabi. This large presence of 20 institutions reflects the real interest of French scholars to build more bridges with Pakistan. All were enthusiastic regarding future cooperation; they greatly appreciated discovering Pakistan and were deeply grateful to have been welcomed so warmly in this country.

As stated by H.E. Martine Dorance, Ambassador of France, the two countries have forged a strong and long lasting agenda of cooperation in academic and scientific fields. Over the past years, hundreds of Pakistani students have obtained their PhD in the best higher education institutions.

This agenda is deemed to be reinforced after this French week in Pakistan, as new avenues for cooperation and concrete exchanges have been explored. France is eager to increase the number of Pakistani students in its universities and will welcome them with open arms. New partnerships -apart from the rich scientific cooperation already maintained- in the fields of social sciences, especially business and management as well as archeology, will be developed.

This successful Pak France Higher Education Week is also a reflection, more broadly, of the long lasting and vivid friendship ties enjoyed by France and Pakistan for 70 years, as France was one of the first countries to recognize the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in 1947.

New IPU and UN Women map shows women’s representation in politics stagnating

New IPU and UN Women map shows women’s representation in politics stagnating
Al-Bab Report

Geneva-New York - The number of women in executive government and in parliament worldwide has stagnated, with only marginal improvements since 2015, according to the data presented in the Women in Politics 2017 Map launched today by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and UN Women. The Map, which depicts global rankings for women in the executive and parliamentary branches of government as of 1 January 2017, shows slow progress towards gender equality in these areas at regional and national levels. The presentation took place at a joint IPU-UN Women press conference in New York, in the context of the ongoing session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW61). 

Women’s political empowerment and equal access to leadership positions at all levels are fundamental to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and a more equal world. With limited growth in women’s representation, advancement of gender equality and the success of the SDGs are jeopardized. 

The 2017 edition of the Map shows a slight drop in the number of countries with a woman Head of State and/or Head of Government from 2015 figures (from 19 to 17). However, the data reveals a significant increase in the number of countries with a woman Head of State and/or Head of Government since the IPU-UN Women Map’s first edition in 2005 (from 8 to 17).¹

Progress in the number of women Members of Parliament worldwide continues to be slow. IPU data shows that the global average of women in national parliaments increased just slightly from 22.6 per cent in 2015 to 23.3 per cent in 2016. Women Speakers of Parliament have however significantly increased in number, now at an all-time high of 19.1 per cent, but obviously still far from gender balance. For more information on women in parliament, see IPU statistics on women in parliament  and the report Women in parliament: the year in progress.

“These developments show that progress in gender equality remains slow in all structures of power and types of decision-making. Power is still firmly in men’s hands, and although we have witnessed some positive trends—for example, the current record number of 53 women Speakers of Parliament out of 273 posts, globally—much remains to be done if women are to play on a level field with men,” said IPU Secretary-General Martin Chungong. “Equal representation in positions of power is a fundamental precondition for truly effective and accountable democracy.”

The number of women Ministers barely changed, rising to a total of 732 (compared to 730 in 2015); women’s participation at the ministerial level now stands at 18.3 per cent.  

The top five countries with the largest share of women ministers are in Europe and the Americas. Bulgaria, France, Nicaragua, Sweden and Canada have surpassed the 50 per cent mark of women in ministerial positions. These results can be largely attributed to a clear political commitment at the highest decision-making level—both France and Canada’s leadership have committed to parity in government—and to a genuinely gender-sensitive political culture. Sweden has the world’s first self-proclaimed feminist government, and Bulgaria has seen an overall increase in women’s participation and decision-making in all spheres of power in public and private sectors, both nationally and internationally. 

By contrast, Finland and Cabo Verde—which in 2015 had high rates of women ministers, ranking first and second, respectively—fell significantly behind. Finland saw a dramatic decline in women ministers in 2017, dropping from 62.5 to 38.5 per cent. Cabo Verde, normally a high-flyer, fell from 52.9 to 25 per cent (a 52.8 per cent loss of its share of women cabinet members).

“These data powerfully tell the story of the persistent missing voice of women,” said UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. “We can see that over time, the overall proportions of women in politics are changing for the better, although certainly not fast enough. However, the overall stagnation and specific reversals are warning bells of erosion of equality that we must heed and act on rapidly. The drive to protect women’s rights and achieve substantive equality for women in leadership will take joint action across parliaments, governments, civil society and international organizations. This must include the repeal or amendment of existing discriminatory laws, and the support of women in all forms of representation, including at the highest levels of government.”

Regional highlights: trends for women ministers

Continuing a trend since 2015, Africa saw a steady decline in the number of women ministers.  Women hold 19.7 per cent of the region’s ministerial posts in 2017, having first surpassed this percentage in 2012 after seven years of rapid progress. The Congo and Zambia outperformed the rest of the region, adding four and six women ministers and reaching women’s representation rates of 22.9 per cent and 33.3 per cent, respectively.

2017 saw the Americas make significant gains, bringing women’s representation to 25 per cent (from 22.4 per cent in 2015) and setting a new regional high; however, the region saw a drastic drop in women Heads of State/Heads of Government after the Presidents of Brazil and Argentina left office. Canada and Nicaragua surpassed gender parity in ministerial positions, while Trinidad and Tobago and Uruguay approached or exceeded 30 per cent. By contrast, Brazil continued its downward trend, dropping from a 25.6 per cent representation rate in 2014, to 15.4 per cent in 2015 and finally, four per cent in 2017. 

In Asia, women held 11 per cent of ministerial posts (from 10.6 per cent in 2015). Indonesia became the country in the region with the highest participation of women in government (25.7 per cent), while Viet Nam and Nepal experienced steep declines drifting below five per cent. 

Gains were minor in the Arab States, where women’s representation in senior executive posts reached 9.7 per cent (from 9.5 per cent in 2015). Tunisia’s rate of women’s representation rose significantly from 10.5 per cent in 2015 to 23.1 per cent in 2017, after two additional women joined the government, while the UAE increased women’s presence in government to 26.7 per cent; these are the only two countries in the region to surpass 20 per cent.  

In Europe, the total percentage stood at 22.5 per cent (up slightly from 21.6 per cent in 2015). Remarkably, while the Nordic countries have traditionally led on women’s representation in politics, the 2017 data shows this region suffered the largest setback globally with a 6.2 per cent drop in the number of women ministers from 2015, although women still account for 43.5 per cent of the executive in the region overall. Bulgaria, where women’s representation rose to 52.9 per cent from 17.6 per cent in 2010, quickly climbed the ladder in the world ranking from 45th to 1st. The United Kingdom and Romania gained the most women ministers in absolute terms (three), while Estonia, Belarus and Italy lost the most (two). 

After steady increases in women’s representation since 2012, the Pacific region stagnated (remaining at 13 per cent, as in 2015). Given the small size of the region (only 14 countries), slight changes in numbers have significant impact in terms of the share of positions held by women. 

‘Soft’ power portfolios

The IPU-UN Women Map, supported by Global Affairs Canada, the department that leads Canada’s international development and humanitarian assistance, also calls attention to the fact that women continue to hold the lion’s share of so-called ‘soft issue’ portfolios in government. However, there is evidence of some change: for the second time since 2005, the Family/ Children/ Youth/ Elderly/ Disabled portfolio is not among the two most common women-headed Ministries. At 8.7 per cent, the Environment/ Natural Resources/ Energy portfolio is for the first time the most commonly held portfolio by women ministers, followed by Social Affairs at 8.2 per cent. 

Data on women ministers reveals that 30 per cent of environment ministers are women (47 out of 161), a 10 per cent increase from 2015. IPU research indicates the ascent of the environmental category is likely due to the appearance of a few, very recent, new portfolios such as Climate Change and Sustainable Development, which are held by women to a considerable extent. Of particular note, there is a change in the number of women in charge of women’s affairs, with a 10 per cent decrease to 64 women ministers out of a total of 77 ministries. This means that the number of men leading this ministry is on the rise.

¹ As of January 2017: Bangladesh, Chile, Croatia, Estonia, Germany, Liberia, Lithuania, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Namibia, Nepal, Norway, Poland, Republic of Korea, Switzerland, United Kingdom.