WITHOUT first formulating a uniform educational and health policy for the country, the federal government transferred ministries relating to health and education to provinces after the passage of the 18th Amendment.

The provinces accepted the assets but were reluctant to absorb the federal government employees deployed in these ministries.

Now when provinces are autonomous, politicians instead of pursuing federal policies in this regard started sowing seeds of disintegration in so far as education was concerned.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa the provincial government asked for drastic changes in textbooks of educational institutions and historical documents.

The name of M.A. Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, is being removed from books. If this trend of reviving old prejudices is allowed to spread, it will pave way for regionalism on the basis of language, ethnicity, religious beliefs and other biases, shaking the very foundation of Pakistan.

For the time being, this matter may look small, but the irony of fate is that events of greater and deeper consequences always emerge from trifles. Our leaders ought to solve this complex problem before it spreads across the country and results in ‘disintegration of unity’.

RAJA SHAFAATULLAH Islamabad

Opinion

Editorial

‘Source of terror’
Updated 29 Mar, 2024

‘Source of terror’

It is clear that going after militant groups inside Afghanistan unilaterally presents its own set of difficulties.
Chipping in
29 Mar, 2024

Chipping in

FEDERAL infrastructure development schemes are located in the provinces. Most such projects — for instance,...
Toxic emitters
29 Mar, 2024

Toxic emitters

IT is concerning to note that dozens of industries have been violating environmental laws in and around Islamabad....
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...