ACCORDING to media reports, Saudi Arabia’s Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal plans to build the world’s tallest building in Jeddah less than two years after the Burj Khalifa was inaugurated in Dubai. The investment firm agrees to $1.2 billion deal to build Kingdom Tower exceeding more than 3,000 feet, which will break the record of the current tallest building.

Reality is that nowadays due to lack of spending on education and research, the Muslim and Arab world is passing through the darkest period of its history. Poverty, hunger, political uncertainty and lack of medical facilities have become part and parcel of lives of the people in the Muslim world. Several African countries are also passing through the worst drought in its history. Owing to lack of better education and research facilities thousands of young talented people are going to western countries in search of better future and jobs. Developed countries are getting benefit from their talent and abilities.

According to Unesco, Asian and Arab countries spend less than 0.1 per cent of their total income on research work which is four times less than African countries which are spending 0.5 per cent of their total income. No university of Muslim countries is included in the world’s top 500 universities.

The fact is that the world’s tallest building in Dubai could not stop economic turmoil in the emirate. Instead of spending huge amount of money on high rise buildings and other luxuries, high spending on education, universities and research centres can provide better opportunity to the young generation and can also bring economic revolution in Islamic countries.

KHAWAJA UMER FAROOQ Jeddah

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.