“It Is the Hour
of Your Ministry”
Tariq Banuri’s Call at HDFNA Fundraiser
By M. Shahid Yousuf
 |
Dr.
Tariq Banuri |
Dr.
Alamgir Khan |
Dr.
Zeenat Anwar |
Novi,
Michigan: Dr. Tariq Banuri, speaking on the occasion of the
9th Annual Fund Raiser of the Michigan Chapter of Human Development
Foundation (HDF), echoed Dalai Lama’s statement following
9/11 when he wrote, “This is the moment of your ministry.
This is the time of teaching. What you teach at this time,
through your every word and action right now, will remain
as indelible lessons in the hearts and minds of those whose
lives you touch, both now, and for years to come. We will
set the course for tomorrow, today. At this hour. In this
moment. Let us seek not to pinpoint blame, but to pinpoint
cause.”
In a speech of some 30 minutes, Dr. Banuri said that a lot
is at stake here. Quoting from Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s
work “The Black Swan” in which the concepts labeled
by Dr. Banuri as mediocratistan and extremistan
conjure up two different worlds we live in. Dr. Banuri described
how the knowledge of average events counts for little in this
world. “You understand average you understand nothing.”
He explained that we live in the realm of the unexpected and
even expert knowledge has become irrelevant. “Expertise
prepares you for the normal. People are speaking within the
box.” “The better your reputation (as an expert)
the worse your prediction.” “We live in a risk
society.”
Nida
Javaid, Shahid Tahir and Khurshid Qureshi |
Weaving
a tapestry of numerous threads of thought, he urged the gathered
intelligentsia to ponder about our role at this juncture.
The theme “who are we” permeated throughout his
talk. He urged the Muslim community to build a bridge. He
urged the audience to explain to others the people we are,
as we live our lives and not the ones with labels. Metaphorically
he urged the audience to go the “four people who hold
the sky” implying the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom
in this ministry. He urged the audience to recognize the momentous
nature of our time and build a just community with tolerance,
love, courage and sacrifice. “Two thousand and seven
is the hour of your ministry.”
Dr. Tariq Banuri besides being the recipient of Pakistan ’s
prestigious civilian award “Sitara-e-Imtiaz” is
a leading world authority on social policy issues. Stockholm
Environment Institute gives the following description of Dr.Banuri:
“Dr. Tariq Banuri is the Director of the Asia Centre
of the Stockholm Environment Institute. His work focuses on
conceptual as well as practical issues in development policy
— including the integration of environmental, social,
and economic dimensions into the policy framework, the analysis
of the growing contribution of ‘knowledge institutions’
(higher education, research, industrial R&D) in creating
wealth, the role of institutions and governance, and the challenge
of poverty eradication. He has broad experience in Pakistan
in policy development through a combination of research work
and the organization and leading of multi-stakeholder participation.
He was a leading member of a multi-stakeholder initiative
to introduce pollution taxes in Pakistan…”
He has served on national as well as international policy
development bodies and research networks, including the board
of governors of Pakistan ’s central bank, Pakistan ’s
Environmental Protection Council, the Steering Committee on
Higher Education established by the President of Pakistan,
and the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC),
in which he was a convening Lead Author. In recognition of
his services to research and education, the President of Pakistan
conferred on him the medal Sitara i Imtiaz (SI).
Human Development Foundation was celebrating its 10th anniversary
since its founding in 1997. The Foundation was formed in 1997
to empower disadvantaged people by facilitating a non-political
movement for a positive social change and community empowerment
through mass literacy, enhanced quality of education, universal
primary health care and grassroots economic development. It
is a 501-C-3 (IRS code) organization. It enjoys the highest
star rating , four stars, from Charity Navigator which rates
various charities in USA . According to 2005 statistics 82.1%
of its funds went towards the program expenses with administrative
expenses constituting 7.3% and fund raising expenses accounting
for 10.4%.
HDF raised well over $150,000 in a gathering of some 600 attendees.
Additional commitments have not been totaled at this time.
HDF annual fundraising functions have become for the Pakistani
community of engineers, doctors, businessmen and community
leaders premiere events. Noted intellectuals of world-class
credentials have graced these gatherings. Last year Dr.Adil
Najam was the keynote speaker.
Dr. Zeenat Anwar, Member of Board of Directors HDFNA informed
the audience about the progress of its programs in Pakistan
such as micro credit which has US $ 1.1 million in circulation,
the progress from informal schools to formal schools, vocational
programs, preventive and curative health initiatives. She
stressed that HDFNA is not affiliated with the Government
of Pakistan in any way and has no relationship with NCHD (National
Commission on Human Development) of Pakistan Government. Dr.
Alamgir Khan informed the audience of the earthquake relief
activities of HDFNA.
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