HYDERABAD: National and international scholars, political analysts, researchers, vice chancellors, varsity students during 3-day international conference on ‘Democratic Transition in Pakistan’ at Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Convention Centre of University of Sindh were of the view that democracies in South Asia were badly hampered by authoritarian traditions, rise of fundamentalism, communal conflicts, social violence, weak economies, sectarianism, provincialism, ethical divides, regionalism and corruption. Area Study Centre, Far East and Southeast Asia, University of Sindh, Jamshoro under aegis of Higher Education Commission, Islamabad organised the event. Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman HEC of Pakistan said that strong political leadership with highest possible moral bearings, increased provincial autonomy and a cohesive national fabric were ways forward to preservation and promotion of democracy in the country. He said, “It is high time to bid adieu to regional, provincial, sectarian and communal differences, we need to build strong cohesive national identity to defeat the threats facing Pakistan in the face of South Asian and global geo-political perspective”. Dr Ahmed appreciated efforts of Dr Fateh Muhammad Burfat, Vice Chancellor, Director Area Study Centre, Far East and Southeast Asia Prof Dr Hamadullah Kakepoto and their team upon having convened event they termed ‘contextually significant and apt’. He asserted that there prevailed several misperception as regards financial allocations made to public sector universities in various provinces by HEC; clarifying that HEC followed policy of strict need and merit in award of funding. “We have, in last five years alone, disbursed to Sindh public sector universities grants worth Rs 140 billion. We as facilitating office always feel glad to transact needed encashment to higher education institutions in country with absolutely no preferred biases, we love all institutions alike”, he emphasized. Dr Ravichandran Moorthy, Head International Relations Cluster, National University of Malaysia said that Southeast Asia was one of most economically dynamic and vibrant regions of the world. He said it also was called ‘economic tiger’ by World Bank, and adding that it was home for 630 million people and that it had shown remarkable economic progress and political development over the last two decades. “Political systems and development in this region are varied in many ways, largely subscribing to differing values, political history and the conception of ‘correct’ governance. As far as democracy is concerned, the region is in transition towards greater democratic process. In fact, it has been in transition since independence from colonialism (with the exception of Thailand) in the 1950s and 60s”, he informed. Ten Southeast Asian states inherited different political systems-Brunei was an absolute monarchy; Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia had constitutional monarchs; Laos and Vietnam were socialist states while Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines were democratic republics-“all with different levels of democratic development”, he elaborated. He advocated leadership, statesmanship, peoples’ choice and will, constructive mass engagement in the political processes, South Asian states’ enhanced economic cooperation and higher investment in education sector as pathways to transit to democratic system of governance. “The challenges democracy confronts in Pakistan include lack of higher income, liberal values and tolerant culture, lack of good governance patterns, sustainability of electoral practice every five years, sovereignty of rule of law, peace prevalence, interfaith harmony, pluralism, provincial autonomy, judicious distribution of resources and opportunities, safeguarding culture promoting civil liberties and human rights”, Dr Burfat stressed. Dr Burfat expressed gratitude for helping varsity win recent funding of Rs 1,600 million. Muhammad Hassan, Director General (East Asia Pacific), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad said that liberal values, healthy education system, tolerant culture, sound economy and an informed, vibrant and engaged citizenry were vital for transition and consolidation of democracy in Pakistan as had been learnt from multiple experiences in the South Asian context. Published in Daily Times, February 7th 2018.