ISLAMABAD, May 21, 2008 - Supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Ministry of Finance, the Competitiveness Support Fund (CSF) held a certificates distribution ceremony for students and faculty members of department of economics, Quaid-e-Azam University for their conducting of the Pakistan Executive Opinion Survey 2008 for the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report 2008-2009.

Executive Director of the Higher Education Commission, Dr. Sohail Naqvi, awarded the group with certificates of appreciation, acknowledging their contribution and achievements.

"Our organization feels very proud to have been part of such a prestigious exercise, and I would like to appreciate CSF for introducing such a remarkable opportunity for the academia," said Dr. Aliya Khan, Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Economics, Quaid-e-Azam University. "Their initiative has proven to be a milestone for opening a discussion between the academia and industry for realizing the need to bridge the gaps and jointly work for development of competitive and innovative economic initiatives".

More than 230 top-level business executives operating in Pakistan were surveyed by students from Pakistan's leading universities and business schools to capture their opinion on the business environment in which they operate.

The participating students came from a vide range of academic backgrounds reflecting the most important sectors of academia. CSF has created a database of more than 100 students, who have been sensitized on the issues of global competitiveness and Pakistan's economic environment.

The Global Competitiveness Report has been the World Economic Forum's flagship publication since 1979 and is widely recognized as the world's leading cross-country comparator of factors affecting economic competitiveness and growth. The Executive Opinion Survey is a major component of The Global Competitiveness Report and provides the key component that turns it into a representative annual measure of a country's economic environment and its ability to achieve sustained growth.

Support for CSF is part of the $ 1.5 billion in aid that the U.S. Government is providing, through USAID, to Pakistan over five years to improve economic growth, education, health, governance and for earthquake reconstruction.