Special interest groups

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 433.

A Special Interest Group (SIG) is a community with an interest in advancing a specific area of knowledge, learning or technology where members cooperate to effect or to produce solutions within their particular field, and may communicate, meet, and organize conferences. They may at times also advocate or lobby on a particular issue or on a range of issues but are generally distinct from Advocacy groups and pressure groups which are normally set up for the specific political aim; the distinction is not firm however and some organizations can adapt and change their focus over time.

Pakistan has a number of think tanks which mainly revolve around Internal Politics, Foreign Security Issues, and Regional Geo-Politics. Most of these are centered on the capital, Islamabad, and have been founded by former Military and Intelligence Personnel.

Other think tanks concern religion and how its influence could grow in an otherwise unreligious country. These are centered throughout the country and work under the umbrella of the mammoth Jamaat-e-Islami with headquarters in Lahore and have immense global influence, reach and regard among Muslims.

There are several other think tanks as well, such as those concerning the state of education in the country which holds many former or present educationists. There are also think tanks concerning human rights, women rights, labour rights, justice, city development, heritage protection and environmental protection, all headed by the country's urban dwelling, and educated elite living, most of who have studied and/or worked abroad. Most are known to the general public through seminars and newspaper articles, or conducting workshops and lectures at colleges and universities.