Ahmad Salim - South Asian Research and Resource Centre

South Asian Research and Resource Centre

In 2001, Salim and his Christian friends, Leonard D'souza and Nosheen D'souza (http://www.thecypresstimes.com/article/Christian_News/Christian_News_International/A_PAKISTANI_COUPLE_AND_THEIR_SONS_HAVE_FACED_DEATH_THREATS_AFTER_COPRODUCING_DRAMATIC_DOCUMENTARY_CALLED_BURNING_ALIVE_THE_FATE_OF_PAKISTANI_CHRISTIANS/31711), formed the South Asian Research and Resource Center (SARRC). SARRC is a private, non-profit archive, focusing on development and peace with special emphasis on the rights of religious minorities and indigenous people. It has pioneered resource and documentation services in the Pakistani non-profit sector.

Research Studies Conducted since 2003 include:

• Bonded Labour in Pakistan ’s Mines Sector – 2002, for the International Labour Organisation. Islamabad/Geneva
• Messing Up the Past: Text Books of Pakistan 1947-2000, conducted for Ford Foundation, 2003
• Studies on Curricula and textbooks reforms – Development Department, Embassy of Netherlands, 2002–2003 (with co-authorship Dr. A.H Nayyar)
• Critical Issues in Education Policy – A Citizens’ Review of the National Education Policy 1998–2010, Commonwealth Education/Save the Children – UK, Islamabad, 2006 (with co-authorship Dr. A.H. Nayyar)
• Violence against Women for Ministry of Women Development, Govt. of Pakistan, 2004
• Violence, memories and Peace building for Christian Socialists in Sweden/SIDA/Olaf Palme International Centre, Sweden, 2005
• Tolerance, a pilot project, University of Uppsala, Sweden, 2006
• Equal Citizens? Friedrich Neumann Foundation, FNS, Islamabad 2006
• Role of Minorities in Nation Building with Focus on Karachi, Church World Service Pakistan/Afghanistan, Karachi 2006
• Pluralism and Diversity in Asia : Protecting and Promoting the rights of religious minorities through education and training, minority rights Group International, UK 2007
• Common spiritual Heritage for Peace and Harmony, Heinrich Boll foundation, Pakistan/Afghanistan, (German Organization), Lahore 2008
• Religious Fundamentalism and its Impact on non-Muslim, Christian Study Centre, funded by Church of Sweden, 2008
• The Issues of Joint and Separate Electorates Systems, Christian Study Centre, funded by Church of Sweden, 2008
• Sufism and Peace, Church world Service, Pakistan / Afghanistan, Karachi 2008
• State Accountability and Education rights of Minorities in Pakistan (A pre-roundtable background paper), 2008, IDRC, Canada
• Textbooks for Religious Studies (Ethics) Grade III to Grade XII for National Book Foundation, Ministry of Education, Government of *Pakistan are being prepared for 2009–2010, education sessions.
• Textbooks on parliamentary Democracy (Grade V, VIII and X) for SDPD (United Nations Development Programme)
• Development of 10 textbook modules for non-Muslims students in Pakistani schools. These proposed texts have been developed as alternative educational materials with the support of Minority Rights Group, UK

SARRC contains a wealth of information on minorities, development, gender, security and violence which have been focal to the evolution of history and society of the region. The SARRC has acquired and preserved information including fact-sheets, unpublished material, manuscripts, policy papers and official reports of various Commissions and Committees. Almost all of the important newspapers, periodicals, books, reports and documents published during the last two centuries are preserved under one roof.