PRESS RELEASE
Pakistan Development Network
Contact Mahmood Hassan Ref: PDN
Tel 08451308990; Mob 07905524463
E-mail: [email=“[email protected]”][email protected]
Pakistan Development Network Launched at the House of Commons
Hilary Benn Urges British Pakistanis and NGOs to Combat Tsunami of Poverty
Secretary of State for International Development called upon the NGOs to also make efforts to combat silent but deadly tsunami of poverty. He was speaking at the launch of the Pakistan Development Network at the House of Commons.
The event was also attended Jack Straw, Foreign Secretary, Mark Lyall-Grant, British High Commissioner in Pakistan, various MPs and more than 250 representatives from 150 leading British organisations.
Mr Benn, who visited Pakistan last month, said during his visit he was struck by the magnitude of people suffering under deep poverty. Around 40 million people in Pakistan, he said, were living below poverty line, with less than $1 a day. He hoped that the Pakistan Development Network will be a “really valuable way” to counter silent tsunami of disease and illiteracy in Pakistan.
Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw said it was terrific to watch the economic progress Pakistan had made in the past few years. This growth, he said, is necessary, but by no means sufficient as its benefits had yet to be passed on to the people trapped in vicious cycle of poverty.
Mohammad Sarwar MP, Honorary President, and Khalid Mahmood MP, Patron of the Network, who hosted the event, explained the need for such a platform of British NGOs involved in development and development related work in Pakistan and thanked the guests for attending in such large numbers.
British High Commissioner in Pakistan, Mark Lyall-Grant, and patron of the Network, described the initiative as an opportunity for British Pakistanis and a mechanism to engage in the development of the country of their origin. Stressing upon the audience to distinguish between charity and development, Mr. Grant said, the impact of development on deterring poverty was much longer lasting than charity.
Dr Maleeha Lodhi, Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK, and patron of the Network, admitted that Pakistan had many miles to go to improve its abysmal ranking in human development indicators. She hoped that initiatives like the Pakistan Development Network will go a long way in achieving this objective. She emphasised on the benefits of favorable trade policy on poverty reduction.
Other speakers at the event included Stephen Bubb, CEO of ACEVO, Ahmed B Mehboob of PILDAT and Mahmood Hassan, Chairman of Islamic Aid which is acting as a host to the Network and had sponsored the launch event.
[ENDS]
The Pakistan Development Network has been initiated to create a platform for British NGOs engaged in development work in Pakistan. It aims;
a) to promote interaction and knowledge sharing between British NGOs involved in development work in Pakistan;
b) to liaise with the British and Pakistani governments and other actors involved in development in Pakistan;
c) to support and provide capacity building, specific to the development needs and culture in Pakistan; and
d) to raise awareness of the work of member organisations in the UK, in particular among 750,000 British Pakistani community and seek ways to promote their support/involvement with their work.