SINCE the inception of Pakistan, we have been trying in strange ways to handle things in public-sector organisations, including universities. But we seem to be still groping in the dark in this regard because things continue to be far less than ideal.

I would narrate my personal experience in this regard. I had asked my professor in Germany to issue my progress report which I needed for an extension of my study leave at my university in Pakistan. Since he has been working from his home office owing to the Covid pandemic, he signed the report digitally.

After I sent it to my university in Pakistan, I was told that the professor’s signature was not legible. I explained the reason to the official concerned, but I was asked to resend the papers. I emailed the same report a second time while keeping the professor’s secretary in the loop and mentioned in the email that she, the secretary, could authenticate the signature if need be.

After a few days, I asked the university staff concerned about the status of my study leave application, and I was told that it had been decided by the committee concerned to ask my professor to send the report directly to the university. I then requested my professor a third time to send the same report. He said he has sent it already. Now I am just waiting to see how much further time the university will need for processing a simple routine application.

Apart from the waste of time owing to such strange practices, I wonder why there is so much lack of trust in our organisations. I am a grade 18 university lecturer, but the administration had no trust in me and raised unnecessary objections to my completely legal papers. What is this distrust about?

Hashim Khan
Paderborn, Germany

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2021