Today nearly all developed and developing countries are promoting partnerships and stakeholder participation has become part of the current policy model. Such partnerships, extending to all relevant players in society, will be even more important in arguing for, and acting to deliver changes in the ways of our mindset and practicality.

This collaboration and partnership is one of the greatest needs of the present time, to mobilize support at all levels for achieving the goals of sustainability. By forging of new partnerships -between governments, the private sector, academic and scientific communities, local communities, NGOs, industrial and the corporate sector, the media and all the stakeholders is the key to achieve a genuine culture of sustainability.

People understand the power of partnerships as a vehicle for concrete action. It makes sense to pool the resources, ideas and imaginations of all sectors of the society. It brings all the stakeholders together at a neutral forum to forge shared solutions.

Being a good partner means be must continually reexamine how we do business and resist efforts to rely on one-size-fits-all solutions. We must reach out to communities, businesses, and organizations and to the local, provincial and the federal governments.

The government, private sector and civil society playa crucial role if we are to succeed. New partnerships need to be formed; partnerships where all parties are out to find the best possible solutions.

The Government Sector has a very important role ensuring that the laws and rules are accounted for, with reduced role in day-to-day implementation and other operational activities. It has a broader role of bringing people together, guiding them plan and mange decisions -a more effective manager. These steps can help the governments to better serve its citizens and in its efforts to achieve the national development goals.

The private sector has a dominant role in the development process. Business has replaced government as the central engine of investment and development, particularly in the developing world. The present and next generation of policy makers must find ways to channel, private capital flows, to ensure investment for sustainable development, keeping in view the ultimate objectives of poverty alleviation.

Civil society organizations play key role in designing, funding, implementing and monitoring development assistance. They bring valuable expertise to the global development network -and make people-to-people ties that strengthen development at the grassroots. The civic engagement has increased substantially during the last few years, particularly in the poverty reduction strategy initiatives and this engagement can improve development impact by empowering citizens to participate in their country's development.

With this background Foundation for 'Progress' has embarked upon an innovative and ambitious program of extending support and cooperation to the relevant stakeholders in the fields of health, education, environment, women development and other social areas interlinked to self-reliance, community development and poverty alleviation. The sponsoring of the special 'Progress' ward, at Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology, Rawalpindi, the in-process tuberculosis and chest diseases institute and other educational projects are important milestones under this program.

Events Held Under The 'Progress' Program Of 
Building Partnerships, Promoting Sustainability

1. National Workshop: 'Environmental Awareness -Protection And Promotion'
   Mon 04th Feb 2002, At Hotel Regent Plaza, Karachi.
   In collaboration with the Ministry Of Environment, Education and UNDP.
   
   Participated by principals & heads of 325 Sindh based government educational institutions.
   
   
2. National Seminar: 'An Update On Industrial Ecology'
   Sat 18th May 2002, at FPCCI Auditorium, Federation House, Karachi.
   In collaboration with FPCCI, Ministry of Industries, Labor, Transport & Commerce, Govt. of Sindh.
   
   Participated by 150 delegates from 70 organizations.
3. National Workshop: 'Promoting Environmental Compliance And Enforcement'
   Sat 24th August 2002, at FPCCI Auditorium, Federation House, Karachi.
   In collaboration with the Sindh EPA & the Sindh Police Department.
   
   Participated by 200 delegates representing more than 52 public and private sector organizations.
   
   
4. National Declamation Competition: 'Schools -The Champions Of Environment'
   Sat 28th Sep, 2002, at FPCCI Auditorium, Federation House, Karachi
   In collaboration with the Department of Environment and Education, Govt. of Sindh.
   
   Participated by 3000 students from 25 educational institutions.
   
   
5. National Workshop: 'Environmental Education -A Strategy For Sustainability'
   Tue 07th Jan 2003, at FPCCI Auditorium, Federation House, Karachi.
   In collaboration with the Departments of Education, Environment & Alternate Energy, Forest & Wildlife & the Sindh EPA.
   
   Participated by 300 delegates representing 70 national and multinational organizations/institutions and Principals from 86 premier educational institutions (Schools, Colleges & Universities).
   
   
6. National Workshop: 'Eco Economics -The Winning Strategy'
   Tue 22nd April 2003, at Auditorium, Institute of Bankers Pakistan, Karachi.
   In collaboration with the Institute of Bankers Pakistan, Departments of Planning & Development, Environment & Alternate Energy, Forest & Wildlife, Govt. of Sindh.
   
   Participated by 300 delegates, representing 150 public and private sector institutions.
   
   
7. World Environment Day:
   Declamation Competition 'Youth -The Champions of Blue Revolution'
   Thurs 05th June 2003, at Auditorium, Finance & Trade Center (FTC), Karachi
   In collaboration with the University of Karachi, Departments of Education, Environment & Alternate Energy, Forest & Wildlife, Govt. of Sindh.
   
   Participated by 100,000 students representing 150 educational institutions (Colleges & Universities)
   
   
8. National Workshop: ‘Sustainable Port Development’
   Sat 13th Sep 2003, Defence Authority Creek Club, D.H.A Phase VIII, Karachi.
   In collaboration with the Department of Planning & Development, Govt. of Sindh & the Ministry of Communication, Govt. of Pakistan.
   
   Participated by 250 delegates from 101 public and the private sector organizations.
   
   
9. National Workshop On: ‘Water, Dams And Development’
   Wed 28th Jan 2004, National Library of Pakistan, Islamabad
   In collaboration with the Department of Irrigation & Power, Govt. of Sindh & the Ministry of Water & Power, Govt. of Pakistan.
   
   Participated by 350 delegates from all the four provinces of the country, including both dams proponents and opponents, engineers, dam builders, environmentalists, economists, industrialists, agriculturists, reps of civil societies, NGOs, government officials and policy planners, academia and research, community leaders, politicians, national and international organizations, including UN Systems, diplomats, members of the general public and many others.
   
   
10. National Conference On:
    ‘Sustainable Agriculture For Rural Development And Poverty Alleviation’
    Wed 19th & Thurs 20th May 2004, National Library of Pakistan, Islamabad
    In collaboration with the Deptt. of Food &  Agri, Govt. of Sindh & the Ministry of Food, Agri & Livestock, Govt. of Pakistan
    
    Participated by 350 delegates representing all the stakeholders from the four provinces of the country.
    
    
11. National Conference On:
    ‘Sustainable Transport – The Way Forward’
    Wed 06th & Thurs 07th Oct 2004, National Library of Pakistan, Islamabad
    In collaboration with the Deptt. of Transport & Inds., Govt. of Sindh & the Ministry of Inds. & Production, Govt. of Pakistan.
    
    Participated by 350 delegates, representing all the stakeholders from the transport and its related sectors.
    
    
12. International Conference On:
    ‘Sustainable Tourism’ – New Vision And The Moving Force For Poverty Alleviation
    Tue 12th& Wed 13th April 2005, Hotel Pearl Continental, Lahore, Pakistan
    Hosted by the Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of Pakistan
    Organized & Convened by Foundation for ‘Progress’
    In collaboration with the World Tourism Organization (WTO)
    
    Participated by more than 350 national and international delegates representing tourism and all the related stakeholders. International delegates represented: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, Iran, Korea, France, SAARC, WTO Headquarters Spain and WTO Regional Offices at Switzerland, Hong Kong and India.
    
    Country delegations at Ambassadorial and Consul General levels represented: Indonesia, Tunisia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Poland, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Yemen, Thailand, Kenya, Libya, Greece, Hungary and USA. International organizations and UN Systems including WWF, WHO, UNICEF, IUCN, UNDP, UNIDO, UNEP were represented through their Pakistan based missions.
    
    
13. World Environment Day 2005
    National Seminar On: ‘Building Livable Communities For The 21st Century’
    Mon 06th June 2005, D.H.A Creek Club, Karachi
    In Collaboration with Department of Environment & Alternate Energy, Govt. of Sindh & Defence Housing Authority Karachi.
    
    Participated by 125 delegates, representing stakeholders from the environment, housing and related sectors.
    
    
14. ‘Progress’ Sponsored Medical Facility for the Army Medical Corps (AMC)
    Sat 10th Dec 2005, AFIC/NIHD, Rawalpindi
    Sponsoring of a 30 Bed Cardiac Ward and Office Complex At Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology and the National Institute of Heart Diseases, Rawalpindi.
    
    
15. World Environment Day 2006
    National Seminar On: ‘Drylands Rehabilitation – Poverty Alleviation’
    Mon 05th June 2006, D.A Creek Club, Karachi
    In Collaboration and Cooperation with the Department of Environment & Alternate Energy, Govt. of Sindh & the UNEP
    
    Participated by 200 delegates, from 80 international, public, private sector and civil society organizations.