UoK - SAARC Simulation Exercise

Opening Day

“SAARC meant to bring change in the region but the desired change is no where to be seen. The apparent reason of this may be the abject poverty and the persistence of unresolved conflicts that hamper the peace of the region. The dilemma is that 5 out of 8 member countries of SAARC are enlisted in the United Nation’s LDC list i.e. Least Developed Countries. SAARC has not moved beyond the declarative pronouncements with no potential achievements” said Former Foreign Secretary, Mr. Shamshad Ahmed, while delivering the key note address at the Second SAARC Simulation Exercise organized by the Department of International Relations, in collaboration with Hanns Seidal Foundation on February 25th 2010 at the HEJ Auditorium. This Exercise is a unique form designed to actively engage students from various Pakistani Universities. The project intends to foster knowledge on SAARC countries. In addition to this, students will also learn communication strategies. Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui, in his message, said that such programs encourage independent and critical thinking in our youth which is the need of time. Through such programs, well developed social and professional skills can easily be inculcated among them. Other speakers including Prof. Dr. Moonis Ahmer – Chairperson Department of International Relations, Prof. Saleem Memon – Dean Faculty of Social Sciences, Dr. Martin Axmann – Resident Representative, Hanns Seidal Foundation, Islamabad and Dr. Naeem Ahmed, Chief Coordinator, SAARC Simulation Project highlighted the aims and objectives of the Exercise. They told that Students from eight different departments of International Relations and Political Science have been selected to represent eight different member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Each Department has chosen, trained and prepared a team of eight students, who will strive for their countries’ interest in a (virtual) negotiation. Each student will perform the role of a minister of the SAARC country that his/her department represents. The important matter is that the students have prepared themselves over a period of several months in order to deliver a convincing performance which will be judged on the basis of academic, interpersonal and strategic competence. The first aim is to learn about policies of SAARC member states. The students will be judged not only by their knowledge of the country which they represent but also by the knowledge of their member states. The second aim is to learn effective and polite debating and interpersonal communication, lastly, the aim is to learn how to define objectives and how to achieve them in the course of an open debate. Students from various Universities of Pakistan including Quiad-e-Azam University - Islamabad, University of Sindh - Jamshoro, University of Balochistan, University of Punjab, and University of Peshawar etc. participated in the program. The Exercise will be continued tomorrow as well.

Second Day

“Women’s empowerment is a common ideal shared by all the SAARC member states. No development can be called development without women’s development.” These views were expressed by the Women and Gender Development ministers of the SAARC countries on the second day of “Second SAARC simulation exercise.” This simulation exercise is being organized by the Department of International Relations, University of Karachi in collaboration with Hanns Seidel Foundation, Islamabad on 25th, 26th and 27th February. There were three session on the second of the SAARC simulation exercise. The first session was on Women Empowerment and it was moderated by Minhas Majeed, lecturer, Peshawar University. The students- ministers of SAARC member countries, represented by different Pakistani universities unanimously reached certain conclusions regarding women’s empowerment and development. The ministers said that women faced very miserable conditions. Education, health and employment opportunities are not equitably available to women in South Asia. Gender based discrimination is widely prevalent and little has been done to ameliorate it. One of the ministers said that no society can ever hope to develop itself while ignoring women in it. Women trafficking, exploitation, work place harassment and female infanticide are some of the challenges that are to be surpassed. The second session was on poverty alleviation and it was moderated by Mr.Farhan Hanif Siddique, Assistant professor, University of Karachi. The social welfare ministers of the SAARC countries said that poverty is the most real and pressing problem of South Asia. The ministers were of the view that there were internal and as well as external dynamics involved in the perpetuation of the phenomenon of poverty. Unjust distribution of wealth within the societies of the region is primarily responsible for wide gulf between the rich and the poor. The priorities of the governments, the minister maintained, had to change because poverty alleviation required utmost and concentrated attention on the part of the decision makers. The third session was on “South Asian Court of justice” (SACJ), and it was moderated by Ms Faiza Mir, lecturer, University of Baluchistan. The law and justice ministers of the SAARC countries proposed to create a South Asian Court of Justice modeled on the lines of European Court of justice. They said that South Asia had full potential to create regionally consensual legal regime that can create an environment of mutual trust and harmony.

Third Day

“The development of communication and information technology requires regional networking among SAARC countries. This networking happens to be the first prerequisite for creating a vibrant communication and information industry“. These views were expressed by the student- information ministers of SAARC member states on the third day of the “Second SAARC Simulation Exercise“ organized by the Department of International Relations, University of Karachi in collaboration with Hanns Seidel Foundation, Islamabad on 25th, 26th and 27th February. There were three sessions on the third day of the simulation. First on “SAARC Plan of Action on Information and Communication Technology” (ICT) moderated by Ms. Nabiha Gul, Cooperative Teacher, Department of International Relations, University of Karachi. The theme of the second session was “Promotion of Primary Education Cooperation” moderated by Ms. Ishrat Abbasi, Lecturer, University of Sindh, Jamshoro. The third session was on SAARC Human Rights Convention moderated by Ms. Gulshan Majeed, Lecturer, and University of Punjab. The first session of the day concentrated upon reaching certain lines of action which could benefit all South Asian states in terms of infrastructural development needed for the growth of Information Technology and Communication sectors. India presently happens to be the leading country in the region in Software industry. Without having regional networking the prospects of IT development were not very bright. The Students-Education Ministers from the SAARC countries emphasized upon the crucial role that primary education plays in the development of nations. The ministers agreed to form regional networks for the growth of elementary education in the SAARC countries. They unanimously raised the point that education always precedes economic and political development. The final session was on SAARC Human Rights Convention and student-Head of the States of SAARC countries conducted that. The decision was reached upon making a committee to establish a Human Rights Regime that could guarantee human rights at the grass roots level in the region. The heads of states deemphasized all practices and aberrations that seriously jeopardized human rights prospects for the common people in SAARC countries. As a result of three days deliberations the SAARC heads of the states reached several conclusions enumerated in Joint Communiqué. In Joint Communiqué SAARC states agreed that poverty; illiteracy, discrimination, economic exploitation and terrorism are the commonly faced challenges which can only be managed through sustained mutual cooperation. Therefore, all member states should make efforts to deepen relations aimed at furtherance of general human welfare in the region. The students who performed in the simulation were given certificates. There were also prizes for the Best Team and individual awards for the First and Second best students. The Best Team award went to Department of International Relations, University of Peshawar. The two Best Students Awards were won by Zahra Iftikhar from Department of Political Science, Forman Christian College University, Lahore and Sadaf Asif from Department of International Relations, University of Karachi. Mr. Martin Axmann- the resident representative of Hanns Seidel Foundation, Islamabad- said in his concluding remarks that the exercise basically meant to groom students’ communicative, diplomatic and intellectual skills. He said that the issuance of a Joint Communiqué by the Students’ SAARC Simulation exercise is a great achievement which reflects an abundance of capabilities of students and team leaders. Professor Dr. Moonis Ahmar, Chairperson, Department of International Relations, University of Karachi said in his concluding remarks that a pragmatic approach is needed for the resuscitation of potentially successful organization like SAARC. Dr. Moonis said that there is a possibility that the Joint Communiqué of the students’ Second SAARC Simulation Exercise could be sent to the SAARC Secretariat in Kathmandu. He appreciated students, team leaders and other participants of the simulation exercise. Pakistan, he added, has no dearth of brilliant minds, the point is to transform into real advantage for the society.The vote of thanks was given by Dr. Naeem Ahmed-Assistant Professor, Department of International Relations, University of Karachi and Chief Coordinator of the Second SAARC Simulation Exercise. Dr. Naeem Ahmed thanked all those who worked hard for making the program a success. He also appreciated the assistance rendered by the Hanns Seidel Foundation, Islamabad. He also thanked ambassador (retd.) Shamshad Ahmed Khan for his presence an active participation.