A two day convention was organized by Transparency International – Pakistan (TI-Pakistan) on 22nd & 23rd November 2011 at Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad. It was attended by 318 participants from 32 different Universities of Pakistan.


Inaugural Session:
The event started at 10:00a.m with recitation from the Holy Quran by Mr. Tayyab a student of Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad. This session was chaired by Prof. Dr. Masoom Yasinzai, Vice Chancellor, Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad who was the Chief Guest.
Director Projects TI-Pakistan Dr. N.I. Khowaja briefly introduced Transparency International Pakistan. Prof. Dr. Masoom Yasinzai said that the youth of Pakistan is a real treasure if we can put them on the right path by training and educating them. He said that Pakistan is not a poor country, it is blessed with a lot of resources and we can utilize our resources when our youth will have knowledge. The knowledge of student counts and not his or her degree only.


First Session:
The first session was chaired by Prof. Dr. Razia Sultana, Chairperson, Department of History (Quaid-e-Azam University) Islamabad. This session began with the speech of Prof. Dr. Tariq Rehman, HEC Recognized Distinguished Professor, BNU. His topic was “corruption in policy making”. He said that lack of good governance is the main reason of corruption in Pakistan and the wrong decision making affects the overall society and ultimately the nation, so it is better to overview all the aspects before taking any decision. He said that we should vote without any pressure for good governance of Pakistan. He said that in Pakistan students pass their exams without study e.g. a medical student passes his or her exams without study so in future he or she will kill the people.


Prof. Dr. Razia Sulatana said that lack of good governance is Pakistan’s problem and wrong policy making harms the country. She said that institutions do not mean building; it means rules implementation, fair play. Violation of rules is one of the major problems of people of Pakistan and further added that financial corruption is the root of all types of corruption.She said that if there is rule of law, Pakistan would be corruption free. At the end she congratulated TI-P for its work in eradicating corruption.
A group activity took place in which participants were divided into 11 groups and every group was given a topic on which they gave 3 minutes presentation.


Second Session:
The second session was chaired by Prof. Dr. Lubna Abid Ali, Director, School of Politics and International Relations (QAU) Islamabad. Dr. Ayesha Siddiqa, Defence Analyst, Advisor (A & P) to the chairman, NAB and Trustee, TI-P was the speaker for this session. Her topic was “Strengthening Accountability Structure in Pakistan”.
In her speech Dr. Ayesha Siddiqa said that corruption is not about financial corruption but it is much more. We have corruption all levels; financial and non-financial. If we have unprofessional teachers, they affect the future of students. She explained that for accountability departments like FIA, NAB, and PPRA need to be strengthened and further added that rules and laws are to be abided by people. She said if we have the desire to get rid of corruption, we have to make the leadership accountable and said that this critical role can be played by the media. Youth are the future of our country and if we begin to educate our youth, ourselves and our families, we can bring the desired change in our country.
Prof. Dr. Lubna Abid Ali said that the youth of Pakistan can bring change in the society and for bringing change we need to change our attitude and further added that contentment is the key to success.


Last Session:
Topic for the last session of the day was “Stealing the Mind: the World View in School Textbooks”. Prof. Dr. Syed Khursheed Hasnain, Chairperson, Department of Physics, QAU, Islamabad was the speaker of this session. Speaking on the topic he said that basic problem of our textbooks is that our children have been confused; either they should follow Islam or another western country. He said that the youth of Pakistan must be familiar with the Heroes of our nation. Every citizen of Pakistan has a right to live a decent life but today things are not going according to our wishes.


Second Day First Session:
Second day began with Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology, QAU, Islamabad, Dr. Waheed Chaudhary’s speech on “Why Societies Develop Tendency for Corruption”.
In his address, he said that corruption breaks the society and discussed about the history of corruption and also highlighted public sector, private sector, individual level and group level corruption. He said that misbehavior creates corruption and first attack of corruption is on the ethic values of the society. In public sector corruption takes place due to misuse of authority and morality and traditions of a society change due to corruption. He said today selflessness has been replaced by selfishness and discussed two determinants of corruption which help us to understand the way of corruption (1) Economic (2) Non-Economic.
While discussing about determinants he said that poor documentation of economy paves the way to corruption and less education resulted in more corruption in the society. If people are less aware of their rights there would be more corruption, and poor governance and politics in education department increases corruption. He also spoke on corruption relating to students which includes missing or bunking classes, proxy attendance, harassment of faculty members and as a result of which students get results of their choices.
Prof. Dr. Hafiz-ur-Rehman, Chairman Department of Anthropology, QAU, Islamabad, who chaired the session, said that every society is corrupt and the reason of corruption is unlimited desires and limited resources. At the end he appreciated the work of TI-P and said that if we have limited desires so we can get rid of corruption very easily.


Second Session:
This session was chaired by Ms. Aneela Sultana Asst. Professor, QAU, Islamabad while Mr. Mohammad Nazim, Director General, Centre for the globally Responsive Leaders University of Management and Technology, Lahore was the speaker for this session.
His topic was “Possibility of Mass Movement against Corruption in Pakistan”. He said that the misuse of entrusted power for private gain is called corruption and if we want to overcome corruption, we need to make a strategy and youth should change the perception for bringing change in our society. Hazrat Mohammad (S.A.W) is the role model for us because he changed the system. He said that we need to enrich, empower, give good education to the youth and then our youth can be empowered to face challenges. We need to raise our voice and boycott against corruption. Youth are the future leaders of Pakistan.
While talking about mass movement against corruption he said that to empower masses in order to obtain their fundamental rights, we need to educate our citizens about their basic rights and address corruption. Before becoming a part of mass movement we have to do the dynamics of mass movement which includes self-organization, setting the course of direction and bring Islamic society in our country. Building a mass movement based on ‘informed action’ and knowledge is very important. We should educate people about their rights and it is not necessary that they be a part of our mass movement. We have to empower others who lack knowledge. Reach out and build alliances (networking), networking of people is very important, we need to bring groups together.
Mr. Mohammad Nazim discussed some success stories which were the best examples of mass movement and further added the key to a successful mass movement can be a concrete cause that connects people and we should have a group which can bring change and keep working after bringing change through networking of people. 
Ms. Aneela Sultana, the Chairperson, said that we can empower youth by giving them good education. We need to develop administrative checks, to make laws effective and make people accountable. At the end she thanked TI-P for organizing the convention.


A group activity took place in which 11 groups were made and a topic was given to each group for 3 minutes presentations. After the presentations prize distribution ceremony took place for the winners.