The Pakistan chapter of the Washington-based "Jinnah Foundation of Peace and Public Policy" (JFPP) will be inaugurated on March 23. Addressing a press conference here on Monday, Federal Parliamentary secretary, Cabinet Division, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, who is also the National Co-ordinator of the JFPP, said that Jinnah foundation would be a representative platform for 98 percent population of the country, which have been denied of their basic rights, adding that this segment of the society would be empowered politically, socially, and economically.

Dr Firdous was of the view that only two-percent elite class has taken the entire population hostage and all the resources of the country were being used in its direction.

She said that Jinnah foundation has no political agenda and it intended to seek involvement of the general public in policy-making.

Dr Firdous said that the foundation would focus on four subjects, including, education, health, local economic empowerment and good governance. She disclosed that there would be national, provincial and districts co-ordinators, who would plan keeping in view felt needs of the masses.

"25 persons each would be nominated for each of the four subjects in all the four provinces and these 400 nominees would hold general debate on local policy at council level from March, 2005 to February 2006," she added.

Dr Firdous said that the main purpose of the efforts was to achieve results on the basis of dialogue on important issues, and to train the emerging leadership in different spheres of national life.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2005