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Govt technical institutes in shambles
GOVERNMENT-run institutes imparting technical education in Karachi are transforming into an excellent example of authorities’ neglect, as unavailability of required funds, absence of qualified teachers, lack of scientific equipment and labs are compelling students to opt for private institutions offering better education.
The number of students enrolled at the city’s technical institutions has started declining and academicians associated with these institutions fear that if the government’s neglect towards technical education persists, students will stop getting enrolled at these institutions for acquiring technical education, which would result in the closure of these institutes.
Experts believe that despite tall claims and pledges by the education department and the directorate of technical education, technical institutes seemed to be the most neglected area in Karachi.
All public sector technical institutes, which were renowned in the past, including the Govt College of Technology (GCT), Jamia Millia Technical College, Govt Saify Technical College and Jinnah Polytechnic Institute, are now in a shambles owing to the negligence of the authorities.
The Government College of Technology, SITE, is facing acute shortage of laboratories and equipment for conducting practical exams. Besides, due to lack of qualified faculty the college can hardly maintain the standard of education.
“At present, the authorities are providing 50 paisas per student for laboratory works in each period. The institution also lacks qualified faculty, who can assist students in performing practical works,” a GCT faculty member said.
Despite being disaffiliated by the NED University of Engineering and Technology for absence of laboratories and qualified faculty, the GCT administration failed to acquire ample funds to run the institution, although the authorities had promised to arrange the same, he added.
The same is the condition of the Govt Polytechnic Institute of Lyari, once one of the most prestigious polytechnic institutes in the country. The works division of the education department has also failed to adequately maintain the GPI buildings and other infrastructure.
Owing to a cash crunch, the education department also cut the funds for laboratory works at various technical institutions, including Govt Saify Edizahabi Institute of Technology, Jinnah Polytechnic Institute, Swedish Technical Institute Landhi, Technical Training Centre Hyderi, and Jamia Millia Polytechnic Institute Malir.
New translation software
Pakistan is currently working on a new software aimed at achieving simultaneous interpretation and translation of spoken and written texts in English and other Pakistani languages, said Dr Mohammad Qasim Bughio , Chairman Sindh Language Authority while presiding over a recent Sachal Sarmast national seminar in Islamabad.
The Pakistan Academy of Letters, the Shah Latif Social and Cultural Organization and the National Rabita Council had organized the event.
Dr Bughio described the new project as an addition to the ongoing measures to promote understanding and communication between the principal languages of Pakistan to advance further the message of tolerance preached by the famed sufi poet, Sachal Sarmast.
He said the new software would be the country’s contribution for the forthcoming world summit on information society, which has thrown up the idea that the concept of world being a village had yielded a new concept in which society would get preferential treatment on the basis of equitable information it would offer to keep pace with new advances.
Anti-HIV medicine for newborns
Drugs have been developed with the help of which transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) from a pregnant woman to her baby can be stopped. The cost of the drug is not too high.
This was revealed by Dr Sharaf Ali Shah of the Sindh AIDS Control Programme, Dr S. Abdul Mujeeb of the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre and Dr Asif Aslam of Unicef at a press briefing on Saturday. The drugs must be administered to the woman when she goes into labour.
Answering a question, Dr Shah said the drugs were not currently available in Pakistan. “But I hope soon it will be available here too.”
Dr Shah said the Global Fund had given $11 million to Pakistan, which would be utilized in combating tuberculosis, malaria and HIV or AIDS. The money is supposed to be distributed through non-governmental organizations.
“Under this programme, drugs would be made available to combat AIDS or HIV too.” He said this year, of the 86 cases of HIV or Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome that were reported from Sindh, 22 involved users of injectable drugs.
Dr Shah said between June and November an outbreak was reported from Larkana where 990 tests were carried out which unearthed 24 HIV positive cases. Twenty of the cases involved use of injected drugs.
Larkana was fast becoming a centre for drug supply, he said. “Addicts from all parts of the country have been converging on the city because illicit drugs are easily available there.” — Dawn Science Dotcom Report
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