Center for Peace,
Security & Development
BACKGROUND
The linkage between peace, security and development is well established through open public policy discussions. All three terms are vital for the progress and well being of any country. Yet, in a post-colonial state like Pakistan, the discourse on the issues which should have been settled long time ago still remains a source of endless controversy and confusion. In the last six decades or so, the lack of the culture of research in Pakistan, made it quite difficult to unleash a thought process which could enlighten cross section of society on those matters which deepen insecurity, cause intolerance, militancy, violence and terrorism in society.
Unlike some developed and developing countries, where the culture of research strengthened the constituency of democracy, peace; augmented a sense of security for people and gave priority tor development, many third world countries, including Pakistan are unable to provide quality education which can go a long way in creating a critical mass capable of bringing a significant change in society. When there is environment of purposeful and problem solving research having an impact on policies, one can expect qualitative change in the mode of governance and the functioning of state.
Pakistan is a pivotal state because of its enormous strategic and geo-political importance. With a population of 180 million people and faced with challenges ranging from homegrown terrorism to the deepening of intra-state conflicts, the state of Pakistan is under serious challenge not only from domestic sources of instability but also external pressures. Furthermore, the nascent democratic set-up in Pakistan also requires further consolidation so that issues which cause instability and chaos are sorted out and the essential norms of democracy are followed by all the stakeholders. Deepening of economic crisis, scarcity of resource particularly water and energy tend to augment insecurity in the country.
Karachi is the largest and the biggest city of Pakistan. As the industrial and commercial hub of the country with enormous ethnic and cultural diversity, Karachi provides a fertile ground for undertaking meaningful investigative research studies on those issues which are not only a threat to the city but also to the country. The lack of viable research think tanks in Karachi reflects an academic vacuum which is both a challenge and an opportunity.
While understanding the special characteristics of the city of Pakistan
and with a resolve to undertake problem solving research and discourse,
likeminded people have decided to establish a think tank on entering a
serious discourse on issues which not only impact on he people of megacities
like Karachi, but of Pakistan and the region of South Asia. Pursuing a
multipurpose and multidimensional approach, the think tank entitled, Center
for Democracy, Peace, Security and Development (CPSD) will strive for
playing a leadership role in filling the void which is so visible because
of the absence of a research culture in Pakistan.
NEWS
1st International Conference on "Peace, Security & Governance" is held on Feb 6-7,2011. Organized by Center for Peace, Security And Development (Dadabhoy Institute of Higher Education) in collaboration with Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.