The local government system should be strengthened so that the local issues could be solved at local level, stressed speakers at a panel discussion held at Punjab University organized by its Department of Economics on Monday.
Pakistan Institute of Development Economics Vice Chancellor Dr Nadeem-ul-Haq, Ms Tooba Sayid from AWP and WDF, lawyer Usama Khawar, AWP and development practitioner Ammar Rashid and Pakistan Institute of Development Economics’ Zia Banday, Chairman Department of Economics Prof Dr Mumtaz Anwer Choudhary, faculty members and a large number of students were present on the occasion.
Addressing the participants, Dr Nadeem said that the Constitution provided equal rights to the citizens. He said that there should be one law for the rich and the poor. He said that there was a need to bring change in the mindset of the people for construction of high rise residential buildings for controlling spread of cities. He said that the universities should do research for resolving social issues being faced by the society.
The Pakistan Institute of Development Economics VC said that bureaucrats did not benefit from research while dealing with social issues. He said that public libraries, community centres and playgrounds played positive role in upward mobility of the poor. He said that the culture of entrepreneurship should be promoted for social mobility of the poor. Dr Zia Banday said that people should come forward for resolving their own issues.
