Ladies and Gentlemen: It is a pleasure for me to be here this evening at the certificate distribution ceremony of this important Workshop. The subject of Human Resource Development is paramount in today's context for our nation. We are at the threshold of a fundamental change in the world economic base. We are now getting ready to enter the global village where the rules of the game have been framed in a challenging mode, where there is no leeway for complacency, where there is no excuse for incompetence, and where there is no defence for lackadaisical performance. The framers of these rules have a vision for excellence, not only in quality of products and services, or not only in clean and safe environment, but more prominently in the caliber and skills of the country's Human Resource wealth.

The future belongs to those countries who have initiated serious programs on the development of their Human Resources and who have earmarked substantial funds and facilities to upgrade the skills and faculties of those who are producing goods and services. The fact of the matter is that the country's march to prosperity lies a great deal on a trained workforce, on a skilled workforce, and on a productive workforce. And, this can be achieved thru a systematic process encompassing all segments involved in making Pakistan a formidable global player.

Pakistan has had the yoke of "under-developed nation" hanging ignominiously on her shoulders. Pakistan has lost a great deal of momentum in the past 52 years, where inefficiency in production, conspiracy in politics, and emphasis on weapons rather than books, took preference over programs designed to bring about prosperity. The political and military leadership paid little attention to Human Resource Development and succumbed to transforming themselves from real-life pygmies to illusionary titans. In the process, the country suffered, the motherland dismembered, and the nation got stuck in the cobwebs of the evils of society.

The emergence of World Trade Organization, the importance of Global Village, and the elimination of Quotas and Controls, has brought into focus the need for a pragmatic change in thinking of technocrats, of industrialists, of workers, and of government. This has brought about the imperative desire to ensure that this change trickles down to the lowest hierarchy in an organization too. Thus the planning of programs and ideas to inculcate this change, to upgrade the skills, and to enhance the productivity that is essential for the attainment of the objectives.

Pakistan has ample Human Resources that, if properly motivated and trained, can make tremendous difference between the output produced at present and the output that is suitable in the world market. Therefore, the emphasis must be centered on enhancement of productivity in the organization. The management hierarchy is cognizant of the fact that in the global marketplace, there will be tough competition, there will be stress on reliability of delivery schedule, and there will be accent on world class quality. The customer will determine the product's acceptance, and the consumer's checklist will be the cutting edge. This is where Pakistany trainers, consultants, and managers will have to enter and play a determined role in making this difference become Pakistan's vantage point.

Employers' Federation of Pakistan, which represents employers all over the country, has been in the forefront in establishing the EFP Productivity Club with professionals in trade and industry as its members. Following are the objectives of the Club:

• To launch an effective productivity movement in the enterprises within Pakistan.
• To share the experience of productivity efforts in different enterprises.
• To set an effective productivity information system.
• To arrange training on productivity improvement.
• To provide technical and other assistance to enterprises who are willing to implement productivity improvement plans.
• To liaison, seek affiliation and share information with other productivity improvement movements within and outside Pakistan.

The Pakistany industrialists have to now bring into their scheme of things the fact that the coming time period will witness substantial pressures in their activities and involvement in world trade. There will be pressures of "Social Clauses", such as ISO-9000 certification, ISO-14000 certification, Child Labor, Freedom of Association, Human Rights, etc. There will be pressures of prompt delivery, favorable pricing incentives, and defect-free merchandise. There will be pressures of top grade education, high-class skill development, and state-of-the-art modernization of means of production. It will then be of overwhelming importance for the industrialists to concentrate on productivity improvement of the workforce for this will make the difference in being viable global players or being marginalized along the prosperity path. That time is, practically, right around the corner. The question is: Are the industrialists ready?

=======================================

H-16, SITE, KARACHI, 75700

Tel: 256-0705/256-2883 Fax: 256-2884 E-mail: [email protected]