PSF and SPO join hands for poverty alleviation

Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF), Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), and Strengthening Participatory Organisation (SPO) on Tuesday joined hands to improve livelihood of the people through collaborative programmes. The decision to this effect was taken in a meeting of PSF Chairman Professor Dr Manzoor H. Soomro and SPO Chief Executive Naseer Memon on Tuesday at PSF.
PSF Member Science Dr Khalil Ahmed Ibupoto, Member Finance Riazul Islam and Chief Scientific Officer Ms Farhat Rajpar were also present, said a news release. They discussed in detail a number of joint ventures including identification of core areas for mutual co-operation, initiation of inquiry-based science education under Pak-French joint programme La main a la pate for girls, arranging training and workshops for capacity building of the poor and rural communities for their improved livelihood.
PSF and SPO mutually agreed that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) would be signed shortly. Programme Specialist, SPO, Isma Sana and, Senior Scientific Officer (SSO), PSF Abdul Rauf were nominated as focal persons to liaise for finalisation of the MoU and chalking out mutual activities.
Joining hands by PSF and SPO will be a good example of public-private partnership for poverty eradication and socio-economic development of the country through non-formal science education and capacity building. PSF established in 1973 through an act of National Assembly and working under the Ministry of Science and Technology is a premier agency for the promotion and funding of scientific research and popularisation of science in Pakistan.
It undertakes a number of science popularisation activities including science caravans (mobile science exhibitions), establishment of science centers, museums, herbaria and planetaria, strengthening of the laboratories of the government high schools in rural areas, organisation of science and technology fairs and expos, preparation and distribution of science posters for schools, organising science poster, essay and quiz competitions, holding popular science lectures, donation of popular science magazines and scientific books to schools, universities and research and development organisations and teacher training workshops on inquiry based science education.
SPO is a non-profit company registered on January 15, 1994. SPO has diversified to cover the emerging issues in the particular socio-economic and political context of Pakistan. Currently, SPO's core areas are democratic governance, social justice and peace and harmony.
In addition, SPO has a component of special projects that deals with disasters and emergency situations, such as earthquake in Azad Kashmir, floods in Balochistan and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Human rights lies at the heart of SPO's core programme of democratic governance, social justice and peace and harmony in society.
The core programme aims at nurturing democracy, justice and peace in the state and society through capacity building, action research, awareness raising, advocacy, policy dialogue, dissemination of information and literature, mobilisation of communities, developing partnership with local organisation and encouraging and supporting peace movements.