KARACHI, Nov 13: Higher education should not be taken as only a key to acquire good job and prosperity but should be made a source to understand social traditions. This was stated by the vice-chancellor of the University of Karachi, Prof Dr Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui, while speaking at the annual students-parents-teachers get together at the Department of Genetics, University of Karachi here on Monday.

Dr Pirzada said that higher education was a privilege not within the reach of every Pakistani. Even in the developed countries majority does not reach this level of education, he added saying that those who are blessed with this opportunity must show objectivity and perseverance to sustain the hardships to meet the demands of higher education.

Objectivity and perseverance was the theme of this programme in which British politician Lord Shokat Nawaz Khan, educationist and social worker Sheikh Mohammad Zoomkawala, famous writer and actor Kamal Ahmed Rizvi, actor Zeba Shehnaz, former cricketer Shoaib Mohammad, and artist Fozia Khan were featured.

A panel of students asked these dignitaries and celebrities interesting and thought provoking questions which were answered at length.

Lord Shokat Nawaz Khan answering to a question said that in Pakistan even children had been exposed to political awakening but the format of politics in Pakistan was totally different from that of the west.

Asked why he refers to Quaid-i-Azam often in his conversation, Sheikh M. Zoomkawala said he was inspired by the personality and attitude of Mohammad Ali Jinnah who worked tirelessly for building a strong nation.

Kamal Ahmed Rizvi declared that he had stopped writing as according to him he was unable to find people who could comprehend his scripts.

He said truth was often bitter and the society had lost the taste for bitterness. Now our society is not ready to take criticism, he added.

Zeba Shanaz admitted that in spite of the fact that she mostly played comic roles, she was very strict and disciplined in life.

Shoaib Mohammad said the best thing he learnt from his father was patience. He shared with the audience that his father legendary Hanif Mohammad used to take pain to secretly come to see him batting so he would not get nervous.

Artist Fozia Khan said that her first priority was looking after her children and often mother overwhelmed the artist in her.

Dr Shakeel Farooqi, KU student adviser and host of the evening, presented vote of thanks and said that even at the university level significance of teacher-parent interaction could not be undermined.

He said that the Department of Genetics was making efforts to bring three elements of the society: students, teachers and parents to one platform to not only help students in gaining confidence in our values and traditions but also to enhance their performance and academic culture.

The programme was held in the courtyard of Dr Syedna Mohammad Burhanuddin Hall.

—APP