Streaming Media

Media Type

Keynote Address

Publication Date

12-15-2003

Description

I am grateful to the organizers of this Conference for providing me the opportunity to address this august gathering of scholars, practioners, donors, public and civil society institutions and ultimate beneficiaries of rural development policy and progammes, not only in Pakistan, but also from our neighbouring countries in South, West and Central Asia. I have had the pleasure of keeping in touch with the AKRSP since its inception through my senior colleague and teacher, Mr. Shoaib Sultan Khan. His commitment, sense of dedication and sincerity have turned this small experiment into an international success story. In my previous incarnation as World Bank’s Director of Poverty and Social Policy Department I had carried out an evaluation of thirty Social Funds and AKRSP was certainly one of the more successful projects. Consequently, as Country Director for Central Asian Republics I made a modest contribution by introducing a project on the lines of AKRSP in Tajikistan. That project according to my information is doing well. I also had the pleasure of visiting the Northern Areas two years ago and had intensive interaction with the staff and beneficiaries of various AKRSP activities. On the basis of this assessment, I wish to extend my felicitations to all those who have been involved in this project in the past or present as stakeholders. It is very rare that we have successful institutions which have survived over a period of two decades. I must therefore pay tribute to H.H. the Aga Khan for his generous support and leadership in turning AKRSP into an outstanding institution and for having done a pioneering job.

Notes

Keynote address delivered at the International Conference on Lessons in Development – The Experience of AKRSP held at Islamabad on December 15, 2003

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