APROPOS the article ‘It wasn’t English’ (Dec 8). The writer says talented young people are at a perpetual disadvantage because they never got an opportunity to become fluent in English. Zubeida Mustafa blamed the English language for the ills faced by our education system.

Interestingly, the writer who worked for decades in an English language newspaper is now claiming that English is responsible for education’s dismal state. Alongside the writer, there are many in our country who think English is to blame for our sorry education system. I beg to differ.

It is incorrect that talented engineers, doctors and computer experts are losing because they are not fluent in English. The reality is you don’t need a good command over English to be a competent professional. All that is required is a basic understanding of English to understand the textbooks which are mostly written in this language.

I challenge any detractor of English to show one book on anatomy, physiology, engineering or even mathematics in Urdu or for that matter in a regional language.

To prove my point, I request all those opposed to the use of English to start writing in some other language.

Imtiaz Ahmed
Lahore

Published in Dawn, December 12th, 2017