| 29 June 2004 | Tuesday | 10 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425 |
Another bloodbath
Following a proposal by the Higher Education Commission, the NED University of Engineering and Technology is planning to increase the remuneration of a professor emeritus from the existing Rs10,000 to Rs25,000 per month.
In its 12th meeting, scheduled for July 8, the varsity senate will probably be taking up an honorarium-related resolution that the university syndicate passed on June 9. The latter had endorsed the HEC's suggestion for the increase, but certain amendments were required in the statutes.
Under its existing rules regarding the post of professor emeritus, adopted in June 2001, the university can appoint a limited number of professors emeritus from among eminent retired faculty members (MPhils/PhDs) who have served the university for a minimum period of 10 years as professors.
The honour carries no formal administrative duties but a professor emeritus is expected to contribute to the academic life of the university, including continuation of his or her own research or research-supervision lectures, seminars, colloquia or other duties as determined by the varsity's vice-chancellor.
Emeritus status normally lasts for a lifetime. However, under the rules, the status can be terminated if the professor so desires or the syndicate, by a three-fourths majority revokes it after finding that the contribution of the professor to the academic life of the university was unsatisfactory.
At present, the NED varsity pays Rs10,000 per month each to its two professors emeritus, in addition to their pension. If the senate too okays the HEC-recommended increase in the rate of honorarium, the university will have to pay an additional amount of Rs360,000 per year, an amount that probably could fund at least two full-time teachers.
According to an HSC notification, dated May 26, 2004, which has been circulated for consideration by all the public sector universities, a university may appoint a maximum of two professors emeritus. Normally, the appointment of a professor emeritus at any university is placed at the discretion of varsity vice-chancellor.
University teachers feel that there should be some commonly agreed and uniform evaluation mechanism for the appointment of faculty members to such post and to reduce chances of any favouritism.
The incumbent should not involve himself in activities outside the university and dedicate himself to the academic and research activities at the institution.
Also, they said the grant should be for a certain period, otherwise there were possibilities that in the long run, the professors, while sitting in the academic council and the senate, could be open to influence by vice-chancellors and university administrations.
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A delegation of the University Technology Petronas, Malaysia, visited the NED University on June 26, to engage recently-graduated students and faculty members in exploring how they could be stimulated to pursue research degrees in Malaysia in the areas of chemical, civil, electrical, electronic and mechanical engineering, besides information technology.
The Malaysian team comprised three officials and senior teachers, including Dr Ahmad Fadzil. In addition to the meetings with the vice-chancellor, deans and chairpersons of different departments, the delegation interviewed 60-70 students.
It earlier visited institutions of higher learning in Islamabad and Lahore as well and plans to appoint 10-15 graduates from the NED varsity to the posts of research assistants.
They would be required to undertake 13 hours of academic activities per week in the form of tutorials or laboratory demonstrations or any other related activities, an NED teacher involved in the process said.
The dean of the faculty of civil engineering and architecture, Prof S A Rafiqui, said that the exercise would enable students of the Muslim countries to put their talents to good use. They could apply their thoughts and abilities for research of their own choice, which was in line with their national needs as well, he added.
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In the meantime, the NED University of Engineering and Technology Officers' Association has elected its office-bearers. Those who have been elected unopposed by the association are, S Wasi Uddin (president), Muhammad Ayub Sheikh (vice-president), Khawar Jamiluddin (general secretary) and Shamsul Haque Khan.
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The new building of the department of genetics at the University of Karachi was inaugurated by the leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community, Dr Syedna Mohammad Burhanuddin, on June 25. Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan also attended the inauguration ceremony. The academic activities at the new building named will commence from January, 2005, with start of the new academic session.
There are some more buildings, including the Nadira Panjwani Centre, which have yet to be declared open, but the university administration is waiting for suitable chief guests. The building for the mass communication institute is about to be finished.
On the other hand, commencement of construction work on another three buildings, including the food science department (functioning at a temporary place for years), despite availability of funds has been pending for over a year, and this needs the attention of the university administration.
Another bloodbath
Hilal-i-Pakistan laments that an armed attack on farmers in Garhi Yasin area has left nine people dead, seven of them women, which again proves that most of the victims in such tragic events are innocent people.
The daily points out that usually absconders, locally called Bhagelas, have been behind such carnages. When these criminals are fed up with the jungle life, they come to villages and fan disputes and enmities between groups. Villagers are forced to shelter the outlaws for their protection. thus the culture of crime is promoted.
To prevent such bloodbaths and restore the writ of law, the daily says, it is imperative to rein in the absconders. Because the criminals are allowed to move freely and brandish their weapons, the entire succumbing to the deadly trend of weaponization.
Kawish writes that complaints about corruption in government departments were usually made by the common man, but now the scourge is so deep-rooted that even government functionaries have started talking about it. In a recent statement the new chief minister of Sindh, Dr Arbab ghulam Rahim, has said that unscrupulous officials have destroyed the system meant to help the people.
A glaring example in this regard, the daily says, is of the provincial irrigation department which has not only failed to ensure a judicious distribution of water, but also devours funds allocated for the maintenance of irrigation network.
As a result, breaches are frequently occurring in canals when there is an acute shortage of water in Sindh. A major reason for this is that funds earmarked for strengthening embankments are not utilized and embezzled.
The same is the case with health, education and other departments, says the paper and deplores that although government functionaries accept the fact about corruption being rampant in different departments, they take no step to curb it. This gives a free hand to the corrupt.
Sach says that Sindh has become a land of protests as processions, rallies and hunger strikes becoming the order of the day. Even government employees are seen taking to the streets to draw attention of the authorities to their problems.
Recently, employees of the provincial food department launched a protest campaign, demanding regularization of their service and payment of dues. According to reports, the government of Ali Mohammad Mahar had approved a summary on the issue but the bureaucracy blocked its enforcement. The paper says the new chief minister should take notice of the situation and ensure implementation of the decision.
Awami Awaz writes that despite a ban on jirga, such a tribal gathering in the Razidero area has ordered that a six-year-old girl should be killed as a kari. It urges the government to implement the ban on jirgas and save the life of the minor girl and other people from the mediaeval tradition.