Role of HRD in Improving Governance in the <strong>SAARC</strong> RegionA culture of hospitality, friendliness and openness, freedom,courage, resilience, determination, courage and hard work.A strong family based value system.Sufi culture of tolerance, love and social solidarity.A melting pot of cultures and civilizations.Colonial heritage with popular use of the English language.Well established civilian and military institutions.Pakistan’s‘soft power’assetsDemocratic roots with active civil society, media and judiciary.Pakistan’s‘soft power’ <strong>Resource</strong>sPopulation of 180 million with a strategic locationA globally connected economy with privileged access toChina and the Gulf marketsA growing middle class with a young population above 60 percentin the age group 15-40 Years Considered as the world’s 4th largestlabor forceAbundant mineral resources (coal, gas, marble, chromite, rock-salt,gem, stones, etc.)Agriculture, textiles, livestock, horticulture, hydro, renewable energy,tourism and marine resourcesA nuclear power with advanced military and defense productioncapabilitiesDiaspora of 6 million distributed all over the worldPakistan’s<strong>Development</strong> NeedsEducation reforms at the primary, middle andtertiary levelsGovernance reforms at the local, provincial andfederal levelsCapacity building, research and assimilatingglobal best practicesRevival of the economy with fiscal, monetaryand exchange reformsResolution of contentious constitutional issuesMindset change mitigating emotionalism,cronyism, nepotism, parochialismChannelizing‘soft power’ fordevelopmentRight kind of education at home and in schoolsInculcation o f v alue s ystem b ased o n k indness, tolerance,knowledge, rational th i nking, positivism, humility, generosity,d iscipline, solidarity, et c Gender empowerment by educating the girl child and femaleparticipation in public affairs Free flow of Ideas and dialogue to resolve contradictions Promotion of arts, culture and traditions to provide outlets foryouth energy Learning best practices from other countries and benchmarking Acknowledging importance to development of ‘soft power’ Best time to inculcate ‘soft power’ is at kindergarten, primary andsecondary level53
<strong>SAARC</strong> <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Resource</strong> <strong>Development</strong> <strong>Centre</strong>Challengesin harnessing‘soft power’No ConceptualizationLack of mindset and awarenessResistance to changeExpediencyLack of data, research, capacityRestrictive standards and stereotypesAbsence of institutions with requisiteexpertise‘Soft Power’is a key toSuccessSoft Power is allabout attitudeThank You54