From: MUBARAK.JAMAL@MTN-HOME.VA.GOV
Subject: Introduction to Parwaaz, Part III
Organization: Yale CS Mail/News Gateway
Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1992 23:50:00 GMT

 
|TAB||TAB||TAB|INTRODUCTION, PART III
 
Assalaamo alaikum,
 
Having stated our objectives, current projects, and modus operandi,
let us outline our future directions.  Firstly, our efforts in any
area are likely to be governed by a demand for them.  Though at 
present we are concentrating on electrical engineering, computers,
and communications, it has not yet been decided whether we will delve
in other areas or not.  Whether we seriously enter areas such as
mechanical engineering, or say, biotechnology, only time will tell.
 
Listed here are some of our planned projects.  As we grow and more ideas
come to us, this list will change and, hopefully, expand.
 
1.|TAB|Public Domain Software:  Though we have already been involved in
|TAB|transfer of PD software, there are now CDs available with enormous
|TAB|amounts of software on them.  We plan to ship these CDs to Pakistan
|TAB|and then have local groups distribute them further.
 
2.|TAB|Product Information and Procurement:  Again we have already done some
|TAB|of this work but it needs to be expanded.  People in Pakistan do not
|TAB|have access to toll free phone lines and it is difficult for them to
|TAB|buy the right equipment if they cannot compare prices and performance.
|TAB|We are trying to bridge this gap.
 
3.|TAB|Literature Search and Used Books:  Without access to journals and 
|TAB|technical manuals, research and development in Pakistan slows down.
|TAB|We are planning to send journals and other material to Pakistan
|TAB|and create local information houses from where other Pakistanis can
|TAB|obtain information.  Similarly, used books are direly needed by
|TAB|educational institutions in Pakistan.  We will try to facilitate
|TAB|the shipping of old books to Pakistan.
 
4.|TAB|Financing Student Projects:  As part of many an educational curricula,
|TAB|student projects are an important learning experience.  Parwaaz is
|TAB|thinking of financing small scale projects by raising money in the
|TAB|west.  One criterion for financing them is likely to be that these
|TAB|projects directly help the institutions where they are implemented.
|TAB|Thus, we will not be throwing money at the problem but rather will
|TAB|try to change attitudes.  Rather than have students burn tyres and
|TAB|throw rocks, if we can engender in them the feeling that these 
|TAB|institutions are theirs and they are to help build them, then we  
|TAB|would have achieved something.
 
5.|TAB|Computer Networking:  Parwaaz is at present studying what are the
|TAB|most efficient and cost-effective means of networking computers in
|TAB|Pakistan.  Telephone lines, satellite link-ups, and amateur radio
|TAB|are some of the methods under investigation.  Apart from an
|TAB|academic network, we are also investigating computer networking
|TAB|between NGO's and how networks in Pakistan can be connected to
|TAB|the outside world.  There are many models to choose from and we
|TAB|are trying to put things in a Pakistani perspective.
 
6.|TAB|Training of Members:  Of those who choose to work with us, many will
|TAB|return to Pakistan and will take up responsible positions in academia
|TAB|and industry.  By being members of Parwaaz, these people will become
|TAB|acquainted with what we can and what we cannot do for Pakistan.  We
|TAB|hope that they will go back and organize groups in Pakistan that will
|TAB|coordinate with us in our objectives.  They will act as our
|TAB|ambassadors and let others know what can be accomplished by using our
|TAB|services.
 
We hope this gives you a general idea of our plans for the future.  You
are welcome to join us and give us further ideas.  But let us sound a
word of caution.  We can at present take on very few members.  However, we
will expand as our work grows.  In future members we are not necessarily
looking for intellectual or academic brilliance, but rather an
understanding of appropriate technology, and an ability to get things
done.
 
Khuda Hafiz,
 
Jamal Mubarak
E-mail: mubarak.jamal@mtn-home.va.gov
 
 
P.S.  Please note that I do not read SCP.  I can reply to any followups
if they are also mailed to me.