With reference to the article What a mess! (November 21), the writer has pointed out the real problem lies with our educational system and that it is being taken over by dictators.
Appointments of retired generals and retired professors have become common than appointments of fresh graduates in our public sector enterprises. In fact a VC recently suggested that only ‘military vice chancellors’ should be appointed. Like alll other decisions taken by our generals and other non-entities in health, this decision is also based on the wishful thinking that military-men are the right remedy for the malaise.
The phenomenon of health universities is indeed an eye-opener. The end result, like other ad-hoc measures, is another white elephant where the ‘charter’ allows the vice chancellors to abuse even more powers. However, the author missed one fundamental point and that is that he is suggesting measures to the same dictator and his appointed cronies as governors who in the first place have demonstrated their complete disrespect to the voice of the academia and that are the students, teachers and employees.
If reforms are to be carried out then it has to be followed by a movement, one of genuine reform that also includes changing the acedemic content in academic institutions and utilities like electricity, gas and water/sewerage etc. Because it is in a movement that people begin to see that they can take decisions about their own lives instead of being dictated about them.
DR RIAZ AHMED
Karachi
Going round in circles
With reference to the article Going round in circles (October 24), our foreign policy is the outcome of our internal policy. In fact, it are our internal circumstances that have shaped the foreign policy.
Pakistan failed to control sectarian violence. That coupled with the emergence of the Taliban, militants and others, promoted the kalashnikov culture and orthodox dogmas. In addition to this every so often, the military has managed to throw a spanner in the country’s external affairs. However, what is truly shameful is the fact that our legislators and policy makers are not sincere with the country’s prestige. That’s why Pakistan has had to face many failures on international fronts. It’s time to call out and to seek advice and suggestions from ex-officials in order to resolve long standing disputes.
SYED ALI MUKHTAR ZAIDI
Hyderabad
Women’s woes
With reference to the article Women’s woes (November 7), every now and then I come across an article about the sufferings of women. And every time I wonder if things are really as bad for women as depicted by some of the feminist writers.
The fact is that the respect that women get here, they hardly get it in other societies. Over here,we see men waiting for hours in mile long queues to pay bills or submit forms; women on the other hand are repected and get preference before all other men and no matter how long the line is, they simply walk to the front of the line and have their work done in a jiffy. Climb a bus or a train and we see men offering their place to women. There are many such examples.
RAJA KHALIQ ZAMAN ANSARI
Karachi
Adam and Steve .../
With reference to the article Adam and Steve ... (December 5), in any message, its content (idea) is very important. Keeping this thing in mind, I tried my best to find the main idea that the writer wanted to deliver by narrating the story of same sex marriages in the US to the readers of a Pakistani newspaper.
Are we really so helpless in following Uncle Sam that we are ready to disregard our own morals and values? Will our youth, by following John and Tom, become more satisfied citizens of this country? We have our own social and cultural values and we have many other more important and sensitive issues to discuss and to find their solution.
