THIS is apropos the article ‘Enough PhDs’, thank you’ (Nov 21). The writer has raised a very significant point at a critical time when our universities are in a state of acquiring more PhDs to meet the standards set by the Higher Education Commission.

The writer will agree with the fact that holding a PhD degree does not ensure any high level of intellect, instead it is just a path that leads to critical thinking and constructive mental activities, only if it is taken as a path and not destination.

Unfortunately in our society it is assumed as the final achievement after which a PhD is exempt from such strenuous sort of thing. Nevertheless, it does not mean we must show a red signal to the rise of PhD culture which is meant for development of society.

There is a great need for professional PhDs that can contribute to intellectual development, knowledge creation and resource mobilisation.

The main problem with our country is that here PhD-holders are considered just academicians; their role is confined to teaching students, neglecting other major contributions they can make in practical life, in their relevant fields and industries.

This is what makes PhD-holders inactive and their talent underutilised. The writer missed the real situations wherein PhDs are supposed to work.

Besides universities, how many think tanks, scientific research labs, incubation centres and research forums do we have to give our PhD scholars a chance to experience real life of a scholar and researcher? The need of time is to revise the culture, right from the induction of candidates for PhD, their proper academic grooming, research skills enhancement, etc.

In this way we can promote the culture of research in action and research for society, instead of piles of files and theses that end up in corners of libraries. There is need to see a broader picture wherein PhDs are not restricted to teaching in universities only. Once we have achieved all such goals and expected outcomes, we can then proudly say ‘thank you, enough done PhDs!

Kamran Ahmed Soomro

President, International Research Forum

Wuhan, China

Published in Dawn, November 27th, 2015