Training under PAIDAR

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG, Al-bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad 1^st March 2023: The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) concluded an extensive six-week training program under the Poverty Alleviation and Inclusive Development Across Rural Sindh (PAIDAR) program funded by the European Union (EU).

 

the training concluded with a certificate distribution ceremony held at NED University Karachi and was chaired by Special Secretary Planning and Development Department Mr. Khair Muhammad Kalwar, Development Advisor EU mission Carlo DE Rosa, National Programme Coordinator Mr. Badar Ul Islam, UNIDO Lead trainer Mr. Peter Hurst and Pro Vice Chancellor NED Dr. Muhammad Tufail Jokhio. Moreover, Mr. Nima Bahramalian, Industrial Development Expert from UNIDO headquarters attended the ceremony online.

 

After an extensive on-field and classroom training program, the trainees from the five selected districts of Sindh province, namely: Thatta, Sujawal, Larkana, Tharparkar, and Badin, presented business ideas that can be piloted by the community members. Going forward, the PAIDAR program will support business development, creating employment and economic activity at a local level.

 

 

 

 Gokina Smart Village

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG, Al-bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad 25 February 2023: On February 25, 2023, The Smart Villagey Gokina pilot project comes under the umbrella of Smart Villages of Pakistan, a nationwide initiative launched by the MoITT in 2021 together with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), USF, and Huawei. The official launching of the Gokina pilot took place on 22 February 2023 with the presence of His Excellency Mr. Syed Amin ul Haque, Federal Minister, MoITT.

 

Education– Gokina village has a high school for boys and girls. However, it was found that there were no science teachers, particularly in girls’ schools, which creates hurdles for students in getting benefits both, in terms of learning as well as competing for the future professional opportunities that science subjects offer at national and international levels. The project has identified an e-education provider (Tele-Taleem) to bridge this gap.

 

Health– There is a medical center in the village with limited to no medical services available. The health worker is responsible to provide very basic health advice and services to the community members. It was also highlighted that the biggest challenge in getting access to health services is time-consuming as it involves commuting to Islamabad, no emergency services, no doctors, and the absence of a pharmacy, etc. The project has identified an e-health provider (Sehat Kahani) to bridge this gap.

 

 

 

 The 9th U.S.-Pakistan TIFA Council Ministerial

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG, Al-bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad 25 February 2023: On February 23, 2023, the United States and Pakistan concluded the ninth meeting under the U.S. – Pakistan Trade and Investment Framework (TIFA).  The meeting was chaired by United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Pakistan’s Minister for Commerce Syed Naveed Qamar.

The officials engaged in trade- and investment-related issues and concerns, including agriculture, digital trade, intellectual property protection and enforcement, labor rights, good regulatory practices, and women’s economic empowerment.  Both governments resolved to increase dialogue on these topics, to deepen the economic bilateral relationship and further the prosperity of working people in both countries. 

In recognition of the importance of agricultural and digital trade to the economic relationship, the Ministers directed officials to intensify engagement in these areas in advance of the next TIFA Council meeting. 

The U.S. appreciated the efforts by Pakistan to improve worker rights and protections and strengthen its intellectual property regime.  Both sides affirmed the importance of an effective IP regime, achieving high labor standards, and following good regulatory practices. 

The U.S. welcomed the substantive conclusion of technical work on market access for beef from the United States; the ministers noted that work to operationalize this arrangement would be expedited.

Both sides expressed their intent to enhance engagement on market access and the reduction of barriers for additional agricultural products. 

Pakistan welcomed the ongoing engagement on market access for its mangoes and fresh dates and asked the U.S. to review additional market access requests for agricultural products once the current work is complete. 

The Ministers issued a separate Joint Statement reflecting progress and commitments under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Joint Efforts to Empower Women and to Promote Women’s Entrepreneurship.  The collaboration seeks to elevate women’s role in Pakistan’s long-term economic growth by supporting supplier diversity and inclusive value chains, mentorship and peer learning, and equitable and inclusive access to the global marketplace.

The Ministers looked forward to ongoing and regularized inter-sessional work under the TIFA during 2023, and to reconvening the TIFA Council in Islamabad in 2024.

 

 Derek Chollet visits Pakistan

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG, Al-bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad 18 February 2023: 

Counselor of the U.S. Department of State Derek Chollet and a delegation of senior U.S. government officials, including Counselor of the U.S. Agency for International Development Clinton White, and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Pakistan Elizabeth Horst visited Islamabad on February 16 -17 to highlight the importance of our bilateral partnership and reaffirm our countries’ shared goals.   

While in Pakistan, Counselor Chollet discussed a wide range of issues including strengthening economic ties, cooperating to address the impacts of the climate crisis, expanding our people-to-people connections, and conveying U.S. solidarity with the Pakistani people as they continue to recover from the devastating 2022 floods.   

“The United States and Pakistan have a robust partnership based on decades of bilateral cooperation and support, and we look forward to strengthening our relationship in trade, investment, climate, clean energy, health, security, education, and other shared priorities,” said Counselor Chollet.  

Following the January 9 Conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan in Geneva, Counselor Chollet’s visit provided a chance to learn more about the progress Pakistan has made so far in response to the floods and how the United States and other donors and partners can most effectively support Pakistan’s resilient recovery.  To date, the United States has provided more than $200 million in the assistance provided to support disaster resilience and flood response efforts in Pakistan.  This continued assistance reflects the endurance of the bilateral partnership and the United States’ long-term commitment to Pakistan and its people. 

Counselor Chollet met with Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to discuss strengthening the U.S.-Pakistan bilateral partnership, including increased economic cooperation and Pakistan’s needs as it continues to recover and rebuild following the floods.   

In a meeting with Army Chief General Munir, Counselor Chollet discussed security cooperation and counterterrorism efforts.  At a meeting with Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Dr. Aisha Ghaus Pasha, the delegation also talked about economic reform and improving the regulatory environment in Pakistan to boost foreign investment, including from U.S. businesses.   

The Counselor also met with Minister of Planning Ahsan Iqbal to discuss Pakistan’s flood recovery and future opportunities within the U.S.-Pakistan Green Alliance.  The Green Alliance builds upon the rich U.S.- Pakistan history of environmental collaboration and will help us jointly meet the agricultural, energy, water, and economic needs of the present and future.  Through the Green Alliance, our two countries will support each other to holistically strengthen climate resilience, pursue energy transformation, and foster inclusive economic growth.  

The U.S. government will build on the dialogues of the Counselor’s visit at the first Trade and Investment Framework Agreement Council of 2016 next week and the second Energy Security Dialogue and Climate and Environment Working Group this Spring.  The U.S. government is dedicated to expanding the full range of trade, security, education, people-to-people, climate, and clean energy cooperation and ties between the Pakistani and American people to promote a more stable, secure, and prosperous future for both our nations.

 

 UNDP early warning system in Pakistan

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG, Al-bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad 15 February 2023: Ministry of Climate Change and UNDP Pakistan held a four-day training, supported by the Green Climate Fund, for government officials and technical teams on assembling, installing, commissioning, and operating Early Warning Systems (EWS). The intervention is aligned with the Government of Pakistan and UNDP’s mandate to mainstream environmental concerns into national and sub-national development planning processes.

 

These Early Warning Systems will be installed in the 24 most climate-vulnerable valleys of Gilgit Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This initiative, by UNDP’s GLOF-II project, is an important step towards climate adaptation and in building the resilience of communities. For any future climate-induced disasters such as Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), these systems will provide timely warning for safe evacuations.

 

 

 

 UNSG on tourism and terrorism

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG, Al-bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad 13 February 2023: The UN SG delivered the following speech on tourism and terrorism: Terrorism is an affront to humanity.

 

It targets people of all ages, cultures, religions, and nationalities.  

 

It undermines the values that bind us together.

 

And it threatens collective efforts to promote peace and security, protect human rights, provide humanitarian aid, and advance sustainable development.

 

We must be more vigilant than ever.

 

Terrorist and violent extremist groups are finding fertile ground on the internet to spew their vicious venom.

 

Neo-Nazi, white supremacist movements are becoming more dangerous by the day. They now represent the number one internal security threat in several countries – and the fastest growing.

 

We must act to confront the challenge.

 

Through prevention, by addressing the underlying conditions that can lead to terrorism in the first place. 

 

Through inclusion, ensuring counter-terrorism strategies reflect a wide array of voices — especially minorities, women, and young people. 

 

And by placing human rights at the core of all counter-terrorism policies.

 

Today and every day, let us work together to build more peaceful, inclusive, and stable societies in which terror and violent extremism have no home.

 

 

 

 THE INTERNATIONAL DAY

OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IN SCIENCE

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG, Al-bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad 12 February 2023: The UN SG delivered the following speech on the occasion of The International Day of Women and Girls in Science:

On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we highlight a simple equation: More women and girls in science equals better science.

 

Women and girls bring diversity to research, expand the pool of science professionals, and provide fresh perspectives to science and technology, benefiting everyone.

                                                    

There is growing evidence that gender bias in science is leading to worse outcomes, from drug tests that treat the female body as an aberration, to search algorithms that perpetuate bias and discrimination.

 

Yet in too many places around the world, women and girls’ access to education is limited or denied completely.

 

As women look to progress in scientific careers, inequalities and discrimination continue to thwart their potential.

 

Women make up under a third of the workforce across science, technology, engineering, and maths and even less in cutting-edge fields. Just one in five professionals working on Artificial Intelligence is a woman.

 

We must – and we can – do more to promote women and girl scientists:

 

Through scholarships, internships, and training programs that provide a platform to succeed.

 

Through quotas, retention incentives, and mentorship programs that help women overcome entrenched hurdles and build a career.

 

And crucially, by affirming women’s rights and breaking down stereotypes, biases, and structural barriers.

 

We can all do our part to unleash our world’s enormous untapped talent – starting with filling classrooms, laboratories, and boardrooms with women scientists.

 

 

 

 The International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG, Al-bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad 7 February 2023 This year, 4.3 million girls are at risk of female genital mutilation, according to the latest UNFPA estimates. This number is projected to reach 4.6 million by 2030, as conflict, climate change, rising poverty and inequality continue to hinder efforts to transform gender and social norms that underpin this harmful practice and disrupt programmes that help protect girls.

 

“Female genital mutilation (FGM) violates the rights of women and girls and limits their opportunities for the future in health, education and income. Rooted in gender inequality and power imbalances, it is an act of gender-based violence that harms girls' bodies, dims their futures, and endangers their lives.

 

“But we know that change is possible. With just eight years left to reach the global target of eliminating FGM, only collective and well-funded action across a diverse group of stakeholders can end this harmful practice.

 

“Changing gender and social norms that encourage FGM is critical. Men and boys are powerful allies in the effort. Increasingly they are challenging power dynamics within their families and communities and supporting women and girls as agents of change.

 

“The UNFPA-UNICEF global Joint Programme on the Elimination of FGM has supported over 3,000 initiatives within the last five years where men and boys actively advocate to bring an end to the practice.

 

 

 

 Animal Diseases Surveillance System to Improve Livestock Sector in Pakistan

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG, Al-bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad 3 February 2023 Despite its importance in terms of income, trade, employment, livelihood, nutrition, and share in agriculture GDP, the livestock sector has not received the attention it deserves. To harness, livestock potential and development in Pakistan meaningful collaborations between organizations are required.  Taking a step in this direction Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Pakistan and the Ministry of National Food Security & Research, the Government of Pakistan have initiated a Project under Technical Cooperation Program (TCP) to improve the animal disease surveillance system and establish a real-time animal disease reporting system in Pakistan. The announcement was made at a two-day inception workshop held at a local hotel in Islamabad on Wednesday.

 

In his welcome address, Dr. M. Akram, Animal Husbandry Commissioner, Ministry of National Food Security and Research Government of Pakistan (MoNFSR) said that this collaboration with FAO under TCP is a welcoming step. It is hoped that the feasibility study will be completed in the next six to nine months to establish an animal disease surveillance system in Pakistan. Livestock has huge potential but we only earn USD 350 million annually in exports. In addition, we cannot meet our local per capita requirements. A majority of the livestock farmers are living on a subsistence level and are unable to make livestock a commercial enterprise. Being the custodian of the livestock sector in Pakistan, this is a huge challenge for the MoNFSR.  We need to enhance the productivity of our livestock as well as add value to it. Therefore, this collaboration with FAO is very encouraging. The inception workshop will be the first milestone, as it will allow deliberations from the experts, learn about the existing disease surveillance systems in various provinces, best practices, and lessons learned. The valuable suggestions from the participants will steer the feasibility study in the right direction.