ISLAMABAD (November 28 2006): Speakers at a book award ceremony on Monday paid rich tribute to the pioneer of rural development late Dr Akhter Hameed Khan. The ceremony was organised by Akhter Hameed Khan Resource Centre and the Council of Social Science Pakistan in association with Rural Support Programmes Network (RSPN) for awarding the Akhter Hameed Khan Memorial Award for the best book of the year.

The book titled "Beyond the Honour" were declared the best book of the year written by Dr Tahira S Khan on the subject of honour killing in Pakistan. Speakers said Dr Akhter Hameed Khan was an outstanding social scientist, who was recognised by other countries for his contribution to poverty alleviation through social mobilisation.

They highlighted his remarkable achievements, which include work at the Rural Development Academy in Comila (Bangladesh), the Daudzai Integrated Rural Development Programme (IDRP) in NWFP and the Orangi Pilot Project in Karachi.

Akhter Hameed worked for the survival of the downtrodden people of the society in adverse conditions, they said.

The RSPN chairperson Shoaib Sultan said that Khan always emphasised that no country could prosper unless its poor were made an integral part of the development process. Dr Khan also encouraged community's involvement in self-help, self-development and self-reliance, he added. He said he was a pioneer of the rural development and his contributions would remain a role model for the social scientists in the years ahead.

Sultan said Dr Hameed had great faith in the people in their willingness to do things themselves to improve their lot. Begum Dr Akhter Hameed Khan, Dr Rubina Saigol, Dr fayyaz Baqir of UNDP also spoke and highlighted the contribution of the late social scientist in the rural development. A documentary was also shown to the audience on the life and achievements of Dr Hameed Khan.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2006