KARACHI, July 28: Senior educationists, physicians, scientists and philanthropists of the city have expressed their concern over the dearth of qualified psychiatrists in Pakistan.
Speaking at a ceremony, they observed that the situation had largely hampered the availability of a way to help people vent their feelings.
The event was organised to acknowledge laurels brought to the country by renowned psychiatrist and researcher of the country, Dr Amin A Gadit.
The Vice-Chancellor of the Karachi University, Prof Pirzada Qasim, addressing the occasion regretted the diminishing intellectual capacities even among the highly educated members of society.
“We somehow are exposed to a scenario where even the small fraction of highly educated individuals, including those possessing PhD degrees, do not reflect to be intellectuals and are not in a position to provide required guidance to the local youth in particular and society in general,” he said.
Renowned philosopher and former VC of the Hamdard University Prof Mazoor Ahmed, in his presentation, underscored the need to understand the mental make-up of Muslim youth.
There was urgency, he said, to assess whether the defect in their intellectual paradigm was organic or situational that was leading to growing intolerance.
He also suggested an impartial analysis of the factors leading to the trend of suicidal events among the youth, adding that there was an urgency to comprehend the underlying factors and come forward with the most realistic intervention.
The proposed seminar which, he said, must focus on the “Psychology of Terrorism” and be attended by respected notables from across the country could be a point of catharsis enabling society to address the trend in a most efficient manner.
The philosopher also hinted towards the rampant double standards in society.
“The issue before us is of the large majority and our future generations, who would be staying in this very country and should be provided a peaceful and just system,” he said.
Prof Ahmed strongly suggested forums providing opportunities to the masses for discussions and dialogue and helping them restore their relationship with each other.
“This very lack of dialogues has exposed us to violence and intolerance,” he remarked.
The Adviser to chief minister, Fatima Surayya Bajia, observed that it were individuals like Dr Gadit who had tried to understand the suffering of ordinary people and also tried to make people in general realize the agony of those suffering in oblivion.
She acknowledged that the number of unregistered sufferers was growing with every passing day due to no realistic approach and indifference of a large majority in society.
Renowned paediatrician and former dean, Faculty of Medicine, KU Prof Abdul Ghaffar Billoo recommended the need for concerted efforts to increase the number of psychiatrists and psychologists in the country.
He also regretted that the stigma attacked to psychiatric ailment further aggravated the agony of those suffering from emotional disorders.
Abdul Sattar Parekh, Dr Arshad Rahim, Hanif Kalia, and Mohammad Siddique Polani were among many of the speakers who eulogized Prof Gadit for his contribution to the field of psychiatry and research in the country.—APP