HRCP conference on Human Rights and Democratic Participation concludes

ISLAMABAD, Apr 10 (APP):Federal Minster for Education Shafqat Mahmood on Wednesday said that government is introducing ‘Single National Certification’ for a uniform curriculum in country’s education system.

He was addressing the closing session of the conference organized by Human Rights Commission of Pakistan under the theme of National Conference on Human Rights and Democratic Participation.

The closing session was also addressed by PML-N leader Dr. Ahsan Iqbal, PPP’s Farhatullah Babar, , MNA Muhsin Dawar and others.
In his key note address, the Minister education said that a commission has been formed to coordinate with the provinces for a consensus and take all stakeholders on board.

He said that the discrimination in education led to problems in the society and a certain segment decided to opt English medium teaching model for progress leaving majority of the population behind.

Responding to some comments of the speakers, the Minister said national media is more than free to spread all kinds of news. Any pressure on media is against the factual situation.

Talking about the 18th Amendment, the minister said that how government could roll it back as it requires simple majority in both houses of Parliament but the opposition was spreading propaganda against it, however I personally have concerns with some provisions of the amendment, he added.

Former Senator Ferhattullah Babar, leader of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) stressed the need of strengthening the federal parliamentary system instead of quashment of 18th amendment to tackle the challenges.

He said that any attempt to curtail the rights and interests of the federating unites will undermine the integrity of the state.

Mohsan Dawar, Member of National Assembly, said that media has come under the intense pressure in the form of termination of jobs and an escalation in the harassment of journalists, who expressed diverse opinion, adding without freedom of speech, country could not flourish.

He said that Afghanistan was a huge consumer market for Pakistanis but now India and China replaced us just because of our wrong polices. There should be an open boarder for economic progress in the region.

Ahsan Iqbal, MNA, said that if the 18th Amendments rolled back then political anarchy could be created in the country adding that for progress continuity in the socio economic policy is required not amendments in the constitution.

He said that twenty years ago country’s GDP was very strong and Pakistan was at number one in the Asia but what happened then that now our economy is going worst as compared to the neighboring countries.