WITH reference to the lead article A step forward? (November 7), it is our national psyche that any move to change the status quo meets with stiff resistance. It is also the political conviction of those in opposition that they should oppose the government’s move however rationale it may be. Our inability to debate sensitive issues in a national and civilized manner is the main cause of failure of democracy in Pakistan.

SYED ALI MUKHTAR ZAIDI

Hyderabad

 

Strangle the stress stimuli

With reference to Anjum Niaz’s column Strangle the stress stimuli (December 12), I think I would not be alone in saying that reading her articles is one of the most tedious tasks.

She has absolutely no idea what she’s talking about a fact that she makes with very little success in her choice of verbose words and incidents which she spins such a yarn about that we, the reader, are left wondering what in Lord’s name is she going on about.

Her articles beat out my comparative politics class reading when it comes to being boring, complicated and wordy, and I am a Masters student, all my readings are difficult and dry. So, saying her articles beat my readings in those factors is no exaggeration and a mere indication of how horrible they are.

The article on stress is by far the worst article I have ever read. And the face of the Ukrainian opposition leader did not disfigure because of stress but it was the result of poisoning.

BISMA SHAHID LOAN

Waco, Texas, USA

 

Business schools under scrutiny

With reference to the article Business schools under scrutiny (December 12), the writer is absolutely right in his assertion that we are producing large numbers of poor quality business graduates because they go through a lenient selection criteria and are not taught Pakistan specific curriculum.

I think not only are we producing low-calibre business leaders we are also leaving a vacuum of trained clerical and administrative staff. Business schools may be afraid of increasing their selection criteria because it will result in lower enrolment. However, they can strike two birds with a stone.

The drop in enrolment in BBA and MBA due to toughening up of selection criteria can be compensated by providing vocational courses in record keeping, book keeping and the like. For a more Pakistan oriented curriculum the Higher Education Commission should play a role in encouraging Pakistani writers to write related books. Business organizations can also give incentive to writers for writing case studies about their organization, benefiting both the organization and the students.

The author is right that the past glory of a BBA or an MBA can be brought back by looking inwards instead of importing text and case studies from abroad.

SALMAN A. KHAN

Karachi

 

Fear of opinion

With reference to the article Fear of opinion (December 12), in a conservative society like ours, it is tough for people to express their opinion or concern over the things that we like best to comment on. The chief reason is that we often display ourselves as extreme critics or unworthy admirers.

In several circumstances, we not only ignore the person and his opinion but also go to the extent of degrading him by hook or by crook. Moreover, fearing unpleasant remarks from others, many of us simply don’t voice our ideas and precious opinions.

MUNEER AHMED DOMKI

Larkana