USAID team briefed on water, energy sectors' progress

A two-member USAID Assessment Mission visited LCCI on Saturday to discuss the establishment of centres of excellence in various universities of Pakistan with special focus on water, energy and agriculture development in the country.
The USAID Assessment Mission included Professor Michael Philips from Cornell University and Engineer Arshad Hameed Abbasi. LCCI Senior Vice President, Kashif Younis Meher gave a detailed briefing to the members of the team on water, energy and agriculture. He told the mission that improved services to address the issues being faced by water, energy and agriculture sectors would definitely benefit Pakistan a lot. He said that before long-term planning, the country direly needs short-term solution to water issues with the neighbouring country. He said that if the foreign aid is not used with proper attitude and good intention, it could destroy the identity and the cultural attributes of any nation.
Meher said that the aid is for the people or for the government, it makes the difference. He, however, hoped that the mission would complete its assessments in shortest possible time for framing up the basis of the proposed centres of excellence in various universities of the country. He observed that the areas selected by USAID like agriculture, energy and water are of great importance and particularly very critical for the country's economy. The challenges are enormous and the business community in particular is in a fix to cope with these challenges. He said that the efforts to align higher education of Pakistan with the modern and best practices of the world will also contribute to a great extent.
The idea of establishing the centres at selected varsities of the country for bringing betterment in these areas is a step in the right direction, he added. LCCI former presidents Tariq Hameed, Mian Muzaffar Ali and former Senior Vice President, Abdul Basit also spoke on the occasion. The USAID Mission would stay in Pakistan till December 8 to interact with key persons in the organisations countrywide including research institutes, associations, professional groups and technical specialists in order to add their valuable input to the endeavour.