| Department of Development Studies |
| Perspectives |
| Masters in Development Studies Program at CIIT
focuses on perspectives that have a bearing on the emerging
and most current trends (knowledge, skills & practices)
related to socio-economic development sustainable development.
Emphasis is also placed on providing a sound basis for
conceptual understanding of issues related to Pakistan.
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| Importance |
| Growing relevance of the subject |
Many developing countries have limited success in achieving higher
economic growth and poverty reduction due to many factors, of which the most
important one is the insufficient emphasis on the historical, present and
emerging patterns and trends of ‘development’ and related aspects. Such notions are vividly
discernable in Pakistan’s formal commitments to the United Nations Millennium Declaration which
lays down the eight important Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the Charter
of the WSSD (World Summit for Sustainable Development), the Beijing +5 Process-National Platform for
Action, and many other similar Relevant Ratified International Instruments that have important implications for Pakistan.
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| Future Development Imperatives |
It is already becoming evident that the rapid growth of
transformative technologies and the growing impact of globalization (World
Trade Report), while offering opportunities for progress
also pose serious constraints to the development process, particularly in the
developing countries - the World Trade Organization (WTO) is an important illustration
of such an aspect. The most important international obligation which the
government of Pakistan finally endorsed on 31st December 2003, The Poverty
Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), of Pakistan (www.finance.gov.pk), amply indicates the
new and emerging development-related challenges which the country needs to cope
with over the coming years.
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| Requirement of a large number of Development Professionals |
More importantly, these also clearly
highlight the requirement for a large number
of development professionals equipped with the new dimensions
of development understanding who would be required in the
development sector in the coming years. The most revealing
fact remains that while a large market exists, there are
insufficient candidates with opportunities, appropriate
qualifications, skills and knowledge for such undertakings.
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