AS a graduate, I know of several former jobless graduate students, and a few privileged ones too, having lucrative jobs. The difference is not of merit but of class and social status. In Sindh, jobs from grades one to 16 are either sold or gifted to cronies by ministers or waderas (ie legislators). Grade 17 and above jobs fall within the purview of the Sindh Public Service Commission, which is either redundant or serves only as a rubber-stamp.

Sindh has historically suffered from the worst kind of governance, the root-cause of which is feudalism. Most waderas have no ideological affiliation with any party, and switch loyalties just to acquire power, including being in charge of allocating jobs, which are then either sold or gifted to cronies. The result is joblessness and desperation among many meritorious youth, which has birthed both extremism and separatism in the province.

But our youth should not be desperate. They must do two things. Firstly, they must seek out teachers who can help them improve their written and spoken English. Fluency in the language is a great equaliser and gives youth the confidence to compete for suitable jobs. Secondly — and most importantly — they must unite to liberate themselves from the shackles of feudalism by refusing to elect waderas and instead electing candidates from the lower-middle class.

Syed Zakir Ali Shah
Jamshoro

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2017