FEBRUARY, 2016 | ISSUE 2 | VOLUME 12 Price: Rs. 50 | Pages: 12 | www.educationist.com.pk | facebook.com/TheEducationistPK

218 schools builtin Balochistanwith WB support:Dr Abdul Tawab PAGE 03 PAGE 10

4th Convocation of University of Education

Obama targets illegal behaviorin higher education

WASHiNGtoN: theobamaadministration ishighlightinggrowing concernover soaring USstudent debt byforming a newenforcement unit tocrack down onillegal behaviour byhigher education

institutions. the Department of Education hassaid that it would create the unit having takenaction recently against several colleges forprofiting illegally from students with deceptivemarketing and inappropriate federal loans.Student debt has become an issue in the 2016presidential election. —Monitoring Desk

INBRIEF

Credit of change in PU goes to Dr Mujahid: Rana Mashhood

LAHoRE: PunjabEducation MinisterRana MashhoodAhmed Khan hassaid that the creditof change in theatmosphere ofPunjab Universitygoes to ViceChancellor Prof DrMujahid Kamranwho has provided

independent environment to the teachers,employees and students. He was addressing theconcluding ceremony of annual sports gala ofCollege of Earth and Environmental Sciences.CEES Principal Dr Sajid Rashid, ControllerExaminations Dr Shahid Munir and Dr MahboobHussain were also present. —Staff Report

Smily Dr Ahsan Akhtar Naz no more with us

LAHoRE: the funeralprayers of former Di-rector institute ofCommunicationStudies, Punjab Uni-versity, Dr AhsanAkhtar Naz were of-fered at New Campusjogging ground. PUVice Chancellor ProfDr Mujahid Kamran,teachers of journal-

ism including Dr Mehdi Hasan, Dr Shafiq Jullandhry, DrMujahid Mansoori, senior journalists Mujeeb urRehman Shami, Salman Ghani, Ata ur Rehman, oryaMaqbool Jan, Sajjad Mir, Najam Wali Khan, NaveedChaudhry, Ajmal Jami, renowned social and politicalpersonalities including Raja Munawar,

Nobel Laureate Dr Abdus Salam’s 90th

birth anniversarycelebrated on 29th Jan

Editor: Shabbir Sarwar

BY ALI ARSHAD

LAHORE: Punjab Higher Education CommissionChairman Dr Muhammad Nizamuddin said thatChief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has approved hisproposal regarding appointment of three pro vicechancellors in all public universities, however,some VCs didn’t like the idea.

Talking exclusively to The Educationist Dr Nizamsaid, “I had given the proposal to CM to appointthree PVCs trough proper selection boards and on

every step we will consult all stakeholders. I knowVCs didn’t like this idea. A PVC should be a goodmanager in all management issues,” he said.

Dr Nizam said, “Our colleges anduniversities can improve quality of highereducation with better facilities in labs,research based education, commitment ofteachers with their jobs and good student-teacher ratio. At MPhil level institutes arecatering to 20-25 students, an MPhil class

should have only 10-15 students and BS (4Years) 30-40 students. At universities levelthey are doing little bit good work in research.”

Meanwhile, Federation of All PakistanUniversities Academic Staff Association PunjabPresident Prof Dr Hasan Mobeen Alam and PUSecretary Academic Staff Association Dr MahboobHussain have said the proposal to appoint 3 pro-vice chancellors, without taking input from theuniversity teachers wouldn’t be accepted.

CoNtiNUED oN PAGE 02

BY SAEED AHMED SAEED

LAHORE: Finally, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has conducted theinterviews of candidates for the posts of vice chancellors of four public sectoruniversities of the province and the result is anxiously awaited in the academiccircles of Punjab.

Besides the chief minister, the interview panel also comprised EducationMinister Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan, Punjab Higher EducationCommission Chairman Dr Nizamuddin, LUMS Professor Dr Zafar IqbalQureshi and Information Technology University VC Dr Umar Saif. SearchCommittee head Syed Babur was not present in the interviews, sources said.

As many as 11 candidates, who were shortlisted by the Vice ChancellorSearch Committee after detailed interviews of around 90 candidates,appeared before the interview panel. One or two candidates make sure theirpresence through video link, sources told The Educationist.

Mian Shahbaz Sharif mainly asked questions about the vision of thecandidates keeping in view administrative issues of the relevant universitiesand problems faced by the country. Dr Zafar Iqbal Qureshi and Dr Nizam,who had already interviewed the candidates, they mostly remained mum andgestured to the CM’s concerns only. However, the CM encouraged otherpanellists to ask queries if any. Umer Saif and Rana Mashhood participatedon certain points to help the CM to probe the candidates.

Earlier a day before interview, all 11 candidates were informed just 30 to 45minutes before the scheduled time 5pm that the interview has beenpostponed once again and they should wait for the next call. Many candidateshave left for the venue when they received the call that ‘CM was not availablefor the interview due to some unavoidable circumstances.’ Earlier, there were

reports that the chief minister hasconstituted a high-level committee to‘evaluate the performance’ of PunjabUniversity Vice Chancellor Prof DrMujahid Kamran and the interviewswill be conducted after the report of thiscommittee. However, practically neitherany committee was constituted nor ithad any meeting.

The universities where VCs’ vacantseat were advertised included PunjabUniversity (PU), Lahore College forWomen University (LCWU),University of Sargodha (UoS) andMuhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Engineering & Technology,Multan (MNS-UET). The committee had recommended names of DrMujahid Kamran, Dr Zakria Zakar and Dr Zaffar Mueen Nasir for PU. DrUzma Qureshi, Dr Shahida Hasnain and Dr Rukhsana Kausar for LCWU.For UoS Dr Tahir Kamran, Prof Ishtiaq Ahmed and Zaffar Mueen Nasir,while three names for MNS-UET were Dr Shahid Munir, Dr ZubairAhmed and Dr Aamer Ijaz. All these candidates appeared for finalinterview before the CM and his panel.

Sources said after the interviews the chief minister discussed variousoptions with the panellists and finalised the names. Later Secretary HigherEducation Department Irfan Ali was advised accordingly to prepare the finalsummary at the earliest. It was also decided to maintain completeconfidentiality until final approval of the summary by the chief minister.

4 vice chancellors’ appointment

CM finally conducts interviews

CM okays 3 PVCs proposal; VCs don’t like: Nizam

BY AYESHA SIDDIQUE

ISLAMABAD: On a special directive of thePrime Minister Mian Muhammad NawazSharif, the Higher Education Commission(HEC) of Pakistan has reviewed qualityassurance and governance mechanism of 100universities, both in public and private sector,while 50 more universities are being reviewed.

HEC has constituted several panels ofexperts to review higher educationinstitutions across the country, with an aimto ensure adherence of universities’ policiesand practices to the defined QualityAssurance criteria and guidelines for Good

Governance. HEC ha planned to completethe review by the end of March 2016.

The initiative will not only improve qualityof teaching and research in the universities,but will also sensitize the higher learninginstitutions to contribute to the socio-economic priorities of the country. Prof. Dr.Mukhtar Ahmad, Chairman HEC, hasissued special instructions to expedite theprocess, being carried out under theauspices of HEC’s Quality Assurance Agency(QAA). It is pertinent to mention here thatbefore starting this review process, HECconvened a brainstorming session inNovember 2015 with the expert.

HEC reviews 100 universities’ governance and quality

HEC Chairman Prof Dr Mukhtar Ahmed and Queen Mary University, London Principal Prof SimonGaskell sign agreement to offer 180 PhD scholarships in 5 years to Pakistani students. —Story on P-2

WWW.EDUCATIONIST.COM.PK February, 201602 | IN FOCUS

BY ASMA IRFAN, MISBAH SAEED, IQBAL SHAHEEN& SAIMA RAFI

F orced marriage is a kind of domesticviolence and Islam also forbids it.Women empowerment is very

important for our national progress. Ourvillage women ever remain a strong helpinghand in agriculture development. Now alsoin cities women are actively participating inall fields of life and all profession. This isgood for our economy. These views wereexpressed by Prof Dr Zakria Zakar, DeanFaculty of Behavioural and Social Sciencesand Director of Institute of Social andCultural Studies, Punjab University, in anexclusive Interview with The Educationist.The details of his discussion with are:When did you start your professional careeras a professor?Dr Zakria: I started my professional career in1993 from Punjab University as a professor. Idid my PhD from Germany.

What are your interests and hobbies?Dr Zakria: My interest is capacity building andstudent building is my hobby. I feel happy whenopportunities aregiven to young people. As the

teachers of ICS Mr Akram Sumroo and MsSemab Bukhari are going to Arizona StateUniversity US from PU. In the next semester MrShabbir Sarwar and Dr Abida Ejaz are alsogoing there. Teaching is my passion. A soldiernever die for money, it is a passion behind it. Weopening up opportunities for faculty andstudents to best prepare our human resource.

Please tell something about your practicalexperience in women empowerment?Dr Zakria: We believe in womenempowerment. We have established a

Department of Gender Studies, where genderis studied and researched on equality basis.We have also established a daycare centre tofacilitate women faculty. Womenempowerment is very important for ournational progress. Our village women everremain a strong helping hand in agriculturedevelopment. Now also in cities women areactively participating in all fields of life andall profession. This is good for our economy.

Women harassment at workplace andcompulsory transfer of property to daughterare recent government steps, What mediacan do in this context?Dr Zakria: Media can spread awarenessamong people. If can affect policies and moldpublic opinion. Its very powerful thing.

As you have written some articles aboutdomestic violence, tell us about them.Dr Zakria: Yes, I begun this work due todomestic violence. You should look aroundyour surroundings, violence is ramped. Thereis child violence, violence against women andmental torture is also a violence. Forcedmarriage of girls by parents is also a kind of

domestic violence and is forbidden in Islam.These are some issues, which I focused on.

There is a separate Department for GenderStudies in PU. What is its role in womenempowerment?Dr Zakria: This department does not createwomen empowerment as such, but it createsknowledge and work force for it. It should beimplemented by other institutions. We aresending forty to fifty graduates from thisdepartment in professional fields, some ofthem are working in NGO, some are workingon international level for womenempowerment. Begum AtiyaInnayatullah hasdone MA 50 years before from ourdepartment, how much work she has donefor women empowerment.

What is your contribution towards societyform this department?Dr Zakria: We have given the society researchand work force. We are providing training incollaboration with national and internationalorganizations. Our Sociology and GenderStudies departments are among the mostactive discipline in the university. g

LAHORE: Punjab University PakistanStudy Centre organised a seminar inconnection with Kashmir Solidarity Day atAl Raazi Hall.

Renowned political leader of AzadKashmir Sardar Khalid Ibrahim, formerchief justice of Pakistan Justice (r) RiazSheikh, Air Marshal (r) Amjad Hussain,Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran,Vice Chairman Anti Corruption PunjabRana Ikram Rabbani, President JamiatUlema-i-Pakistan Pir Ejaz Ahmed Hashmi,renowned lawyer Ahmed Awais advocate, adelegation of lawyers from Jammu Kashmirheaded by Syed Babar Qadri, senior facultymembers and a large number of studentswere present on the occasion.

Dr Mujahid Kamran revealed that Israelin connivance with India had planned toattack Kahuta Atomic Plant through aerialassault and they had practiced jointexercises. He said that when Pakistan came

to know about their nefarious design, thePakistani government conveyed themessage to the Indian government that ifthey made any such attempt, then a fleet ofPakistan’s Mirage aircraft would destroyTrombay Nuclear Reactor in a suicidemission.

He said that after this message, India thenconveyed to Pakistan that the Kahuta plantwould not be attacked which proved thatPakistan had the ability to defend herself.He said that Pakistan’s leadership in thepast did not pay the required attention toKashmir issue which it deserved. However,he said, Prime Minister Mian NawazSharif ’s recent speech at the United Nationshad sensitized the nation and highlightedthe issue.

Sardar Khalid Ibrahim said thatunfortunately we were not aware of our caseregarding Kashmir. He said that Quaid-e-Azam’s stance on Kashmir was that

Kashmiris should be given right toplebiscite. He said that which sort ofdemocracy was in India where a singlefamily had ruled directly for over 43 yearsafter 1947? They said that Kashmiris hadconfidence in Pakistan and its people andwe were proud of being Pakistanis first andthen Kashmiris.

Syed Babar Qadri advocate from JammuKashmir said that he was very disappointedwhen he met Kashmir Committee and thiscommittee must be independent. They saidwe did not want Pakistan fight war for usbut since we understood Pakistan as ourlawyer, we wanted Pakistan to fight our casein the best manner and lobby for our rights.

Air Marshal (r)Amjad Hussain said thatHalwa was the only thing for KashmirCommittee. He said that every leadershipafter Quaid-e-Azam had failed in resolvingKashmir issue and we had lost manyoccasions where we could have liberated

Kashmir. He said that we need to work onresolving Kashmir issue in an organizedmanner. Former Chief Justice of PakistanJustice (r)Riaz Sheikh said that Nehru usedhis links with the wife of Lord Mountbattento include the area of Gurdaspur in India.Vice Chairman Anti Corruption PunjabRanaIkramRabbani said that the newgeneration was not aware of Kashmir issueand unfortunately, the Muslim countrieshad not jointly put pressure on India in thisregard.

Prof Dr Massarat Abid threw light on thereasons behind Kashmir issue anddiscussed various events in chronologicalorder. In her address, she said that Kashmirissue was bone of contention betweenPakistan and India. She said Kashmiriswere making efforts for their liberty andIndian government was killing innocentKashmiris. She said that Kashmiris must begiven their right to plebiscite. g

Distinction

Punjab University has awarded PhD degree toSumera Batool D/o Ghulam Qamber Naqvi in thesubject of Communication Studies after approval of her thesis “Comparative Analysis ofRepresentation of Religious Minorities in Pak-istani and indian Print Media (1990-2010)”.

Forced marriage a form of domestic violence: Dr Zakria Zakar

Stance on Kashmir should be clear, reasoned: Sardar Khalid ibrahim

Israel, India wanted to attack Kahuta: Dr Mujahid Kamran

ISLAMABAD: Queen Mary University of London(QMUL) in partnership with the Higher EducationCommission (HEC) Pakistan, has announced to offer180 scholarships in the next five years to Pakistanistudents wishing to enrol in PhD research programmes.

Under an agreement signed by the two sides atQMUL’s Mile End Campus recently, 36 scholarshipswill be offered to students per year. The first batch ofstudents is likely to join QMUL in September 2016.Prof. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman HEC andProf. Simon Gaskell, President and Principal,QMUL signed the agreement.

HEC will provide a maintenance allowance of£9,000 per year, while QMUL will cover the cost ofthe students’ tuition fee for a maximum period of 48

months. Students will be expected to cover any extracosts stipulated by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)to meet living costs for duration of their studies.

HEC and QMUL will mutually select thecandidates for the final award of scholarship. Thescholarships will be offered for the QMUL schoolsincluding School of Biological and Chemical Sciences,School of Electronic Engineering and ComputerScience, School of Engineering and Materials Science,School of Mathematical Sciences, School of Physicsand Astronomy, School of Business andManagement, School of Economics and Finance,School of Geography, School of Languages Linguisticsand Film and School of Law (Law and/or Centre forCommercial Law Studies). —Staff Report

HEC and Queen Mary University London sign agreement

180 PhD scholarships announced

g indian government killing innocent Kashmiris: Dr Massarat Abid

Dr Ahsan Akhtar Naz Continued from page 01

Chaudhry Akram, EjazChaudhry, Liaqat Baloch,Farid Paracha, Ameer ulAzeem, office-bearers ofvarious journalist organiza-tions, faculty members ofiCS and thousands of stu-dents of Dr Ahsan AkhtarNaz participated in theprayers. Liaqat Baloch ledthe prayer. in his condo-

lence message, Dr Mujahid Kamran said that the DrAhsan Akhtar Naz’s services in the field of journalismwould be remembered. He said that his students wereworking in all the media organizations. He said that theparticipation of thousands of people in his funeralprayer was a proof their association with him. iCS re-mained closed on Friday to mourn the sad demise of DrNaz. in-charge Dr Noshina and all faculty expressedtheir heartfelt grief and condolence and prayed for thedeparted soul.

WWW.EDUCATIONIST.COM.PK February, 2016 IN FOCUS | 03

LAHoRE: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan iqbal address a seminar on Pak-China Economic Corridor organised by PiNA and UMt. Mujeeb-ur- Rehman Shami, Altaf Hassan Qureshi, UMt Rector Hassan Sohaib Murad also present. Photo Credit: MeharYaqoob

FAiSALABAD: HEC Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, GCU Faisalabad VC Dr Muhammad Ali, GCWUF VC Noreen Aziz Qureshi, UoE VC Dr Rauf-i-Azam, UAF VC Dr. iqrar Ahmad Khan and others at industryAcademia Linkage at GCU-F. Photo Credit: by Naeem Sarwar Khan

PU iBA annual sports gala: Chief Guest Principal Law College Dr Shazia Qureshi, iBA in-charge SajidaNisar, Dr Mobbasshar Munawar Khan, faculty and students pose for a photo. the competitions ofcricket, badminton, table tennis, carom, race, football, tug-of-war and other sports were held.

GCU Vice Chancellor Dr Hassan Amir Shah along with Waleed iqbal (Grandson of Dr Allamaiqbal) and Prof Dr Khurshid Rizvi inaugurates the hostel room where Allama iqbal resided duringhis stay in GCU from 1895-1900. –Photo by Muhammad Ashraf

FC College University Rector James tebbepresents a souvenir to Balochistan GovernorMohammad Khan Achakzai.

PU Pharmacy College faculty Dr SyedNawazish-i-Hussain diplays his reseach paperat University of Strathclyde conference.

iSLAMABAD: AioU Vice Chancellor Dr Shahid Siddiqui presents a shield to National AssemblySpeaker Sardar Ayaz Saddiq after a seminar.

WWW.EDUCATIONIST.COM.PK February, 201604 | EDITORIAL

J unk foods such as donuts, boxed bakedtreats, processed foods and restaurant-fried foods contain trans fats. These

fats, which are produced by partiallyhydrogenating various types of oil, have beenlinked to serious health problems. Forinstance, they are known to increase yourlevels of “bad” cholesterol and decrease yourlevels of “good cholesterol,” which can boostyour chances of having heart disease,according to the Harvard School of PublicHealth. A study by Ms. Jean A. Welsh,M.P.H., R.N. et al., published in the "Journalof the American Medical Association,"determined that consuming large quantitiesof added sugars in junk foods can increaseyour blood fats and decrease your “good”cholesterol, thus also contributing to yourrisk of heart disease.

We all know what happens to our bodieswhen we drink a can of coke, or energydrinks. Now, a new info graphic from FastFood Menu Price reveals the significant toll aMcDonald’s Big Mac can have on our bodies

just an hour after eating it.The 7.5-ounce iconic burger consists of 540

calories, 240 of which are fat. According tothe info graphic, the burger can cause a spikein our blood sugar levels while increasing thelikelihood of compulsive eating after just 10to 20 minutes. However, claiming that ourblood sugar will climb to “abnormal levels” isonly partially true. This is because the fatfrom a Big Mac can slow down how food isemptied from the stomach and digested intothe bloodstream. But that’s not to say there’sno risk from eating the food; thecarbohydrates in it still cause spikes to insulinlevels, which increase insulin resistance, aprecursor to diabetes. A study found thateating fast food just two or more times a weekcould increase the risk of developing type 2diabetes by 27 percent in healthy people.

The sodium levels in a Big Mac (970milligrams) are also a cause for concern,since the amount in one Big Mac is 42percent of the daily recommended salt limit.We can safely consume 2,300 milligrams ofsodium a day, or 1 teaspoon per day,according to the Cleveland Clinic. Though weoften mistake dehydration for hunger, thereare many factors that can affect whether one

Big Mac causes dehydration, includingexercise, medical history, and our currentstate of hydration.

If you are hydrated, then there’s anotherreason you might crave seconds 40 minutesafter eating a Big Mac. The trans-fats (1.5grams in Big Mac) in fast food usuallyinflame the gut and interfere with the body’sability to produce appetite-controllingneurotransmitters, such as dopamine andserotonin, according to a study published inThe Journal of Clinical Investigation. The GI

tract also begins to absorb the high fructosecorn syrup found in the buns andcondiments, which in turn leads to theaforementioned insulin spikes, as well ashunger pangs.

Indulging in a Big Mac every so often won’tkill you, but eating it on a regular basis canhave consequences for your health.

(The writers are the students of BS 5thsemester at Institute of Communication

Studies, University of the Punjab, Pakistan)

U niversity life, of course,generates both anxiety andexcitement in students in their

early days owing to the unusualenvironment and new faces. Whenstudents start university, many of themsuffer from homesickness. It is a feelingthey obtain because of being away fromhome. They miss their homes, feel sadand would like to go back to see theirrelatives, friends, members of the familyand other familiar faces. According to asurvey report, approximately 70% ofuniversity students experiencehomesickness in the beginning ofuniversity life.

The atmosphere at the university, hostelor new accommodation is absolutelydifferent from their home. In this newenvironment, they have to do everythingon their own and no one is there to helpthem out as they are used to it at theirhome. All of this makes them feel sad and

they become isolated and aloof.Friends are quite helpful in hard times

but it is quite difficult to make new friendsin early days of university life due to thedifference of language andculture.Although students come across newpeople, they are reluctant to get help fromthem. In this scenario they remember theirfriends and miss them to a great deal.

In homesickness, people even misssounds, smell of their home cooking andthe places where they spent time. Theypine for their home. Their academic loadalso make them stressful. Even a pictureof their relatives, house or their hometown can make them feel sad and they gethomesick as a repercussion. They becomeanxious and want to go back home toshare their feelings with their family.

The magnitude of homesickness is notsame for all as some feel mildhomesickness and get rid of it soon whileothers experience the extreme. In somecases, people suffer from panic attacks ornightmares. They isolate themselvesfromsociety and do not interact withanyone. They may suffer from mentalbreakdowns if the conditions prevail.

There are some tips that can be usefulto overcome homesickness. Talking to adoctor or a professional or a counselingservice or even a good friend for goodadvice can be quite helpful in getting rid

of this situation. Even realizing that youare suffering from homesickness is thefirst step towards feeling better. Somepeople suggest that,one should go backhome but it is very difficult when peopleare studying or working abroad or faraway from home. Students can alsoparticipate in sports or social activities todefeat homesickness.

People who live abroad can overcomethe feeling to communicate with expatcommunities and in this way they canmake new friends that subsequently bevery helpful for them. They must extendtheir communication with the locals aswell to learn the foreign language andknow more about exotic culture. Thismakes them stop feeling isolated.

Modern technology has helped people alot to combat homesickness. Now peoplecan stay in touch with their relatives,friends and family through mobile phonesand social media such as Facebook, Skype,WhatsApp etc. because they can see themby video-calling.Students must learn theart overcome it it as early as possible foroptimum results and avoid study loss.

The writer is Punjab University PhysicsDepartment Chairman and Member

Syndicate on associate professor seat. Hecan be reached at:

hafizrafique42b1@hotmail.com)

Editor: Shabbir SarwarAssociate Editor: Muhsen Naseem; Executive Editor: Dr. Ifra Iftikhar

Email: editor@educationist.com.pkwww.educationist.com.pk - 136-J Gulberg iii, Lahore

Much has been said about the security ofeducation institutions, but what seems to bemissing is the basic understanding of what ismeant by security. Security is not a product

that can be bought, or a device that can be installed andpeople can rest easy afterwards. Security essentially is aprocess, which needs to be revised every now and then andchecked for loopholes or things that can get exploited.

Unfortunately, how security is being perceived andarrangements are being made at universities, colleges andschools across the country is a little worrisome. That does notmean that our security agencies or educational institutions’management are not sincere in their efforts, they are and havebeen doing their best to ensure the safety of the nextgeneration of this country.

The basic understanding of security seems to escape ourpolicymakers, administrators of educational institutions andlaw enforcement agencies. It should be understood thaterecting huge walls does not guarantee safety nor closingdown schools is the solution. These measures only create asense of fear in the society. What is desperately needed isfighting the very mindset and beefing up the intelligencenetwork to stop terrorists before they reach our children.

At the moment only cosmetic efforts have been made. Suchefforts can only provide little safety for the educationinstitutions of the country. First of all, a meaningful andhonest dialogue is needed between all the stakeholders. Thegovernment should tell parents and institutions’administrations about the real security situation and whatefforts are being made to curb another attack. The other thingneeded – which is probably more difficult – is that parentsshould put their trust in the government and institutions.

After the attack on Bacha Khan University (BKU), there is asense of insecurity among parents, teachers and students.What is desperately needed is a sense of trust betweendifferent stakeholders, and a trust on the government thatthey are doing sincere efforts to ensure safety of institutionsthat are responsible for building the nation.

On part of the government, they should make all out efforts,not only to contain the immediate danger but also themindsets that creates elements that are willing to killinnocent children. That is the true remedy of the disease ofterrorism faced by Pakistan. It is by no means an easy taskand government alone cannot achieve this. But the true targetshould be kept in mind while making policy decisions.

In the meanwhile, all efforts should be made to ensuresafety of educational institutions and it should be not just belimited to number of guards or height of walls.

Understandingsecurity

Homesickness and university students

How is junk food bad?

Prof. Dr.M Hafiz Rafique

By Usama Ghayyur Raja,Umair Sohail Saleemi,

Hafsa Rasheed andAyesha Akram

WWW.EDUCATIONIST.COM.PK February, 2016 OPINION | 05

I n the year 2014 a psycho path made aplan with his girlfriend to have amassacre on a summer school gathering

of the University of Helsinki. They managedweapons, maps and scheduled the time ofattack. This plan was leaked out just one daybefore the attack. The action of securityagencies on a leaked out piece of informationsaved the lives of several hundred students.

Security agencies put them in prison withevidences of maps and weapons before it happened a massacre.

Now, let us look at the situation in our national context. The terrorists’attacks being focused on educational institutions are alarming us aboutour security concerns. The death toll of the masses, students and teacherscaused by terrorist attacks is acclaimed as sacrifices in political rhetoricmerely to over shadow security lapse. Whether those martyrs willinglyembraced such destiny or it was their lot, is a matter to be pondered upon.

Going into the statistics of academic institutions and their contributionin the buildup of nation, we will have to keep in account that there are 177active higher education institutes available in Pakistan. 44,5000graduates are produced annually by higher education of Pakistan tobecome scientists, social scientists, doctors, engineers, law and policymakers and so on. A very small number of graduates select academics ascareer. It takes at least 22 years to earn a simple PhD degree which is abasic entry in academics. Professors and senior academicians are notproduced within a day after getting PhD. It is also a long journey ofintellectualism, knowledge dissemination, teaching and research.Academicians get the status of professor after their life time experience ofserving the nation. The academicians those are graduate from foreignuniversities have very good offers from abroad. It is their sacrifice to comeback homeland and serve national universities on minimum wages ascompared to the status, quality life and remuneration.

We are in the state of war for more than one and half decade. Thetragic demise of terrorist attack on Bacha Khan University, Charsadaclaimed the lives of 21 students including teachers as a big national loss.ISPR has also given statement that they were aware about securitythreats to universities, then it is really beyond comprehension why theyremained so negligent about security concerns for Bahca KhanUniversity (BKU). Security measures should have been taken to ensurethe safety of BKU to save the lives of students, teachers and staff beforetime. What about to take the responsibility of negligence in securitymeasures which resulted in 21 casualties including Dr. Hamid, a foreigngraduate and a scientist? Had it been better for Dr. Hamid to stay abroadinstead of coming homeland among irresponsible caretakers? Beingbrave and patriot, he had to pay the price of patriotism. His sacrifice isworth admirable but will it suffice.

(To be continued)

(The writer is a Research Fellow at University of Helsinki Finland.Hecan be reached at: zaheer.asghar@helsinki.fi)

T he ASER journey that startedrelatively quietly in the summerof 2008 has apparently ended

with a bang with the publication of thefinal report in 2015. No one could havepredicted the scale that was finallyachieved in 2015 – to sample 258, 021children (3-16 years) in 145 ruraldistricts covering 83,755 households

using 10,000 volunteers is a tremendousvictory in and of itself. To do so within the economic and politicalclimate of the past few years is even more of a triumph. Those whowere involved in this adventure will tell you that the journey wastreacherous – it met with both displeasure and with difficulties(with stories of volunteer teams being kidnapped in some areas andflooded in others).There is no doubt though that ASER haschanged the education landscape of Pakistan forever. The finallaunch was a moment to behold and the old veterans rightfullyproud and tearful. The date of the launch itself – exactly one yearafter the deadliest terror attack in Pakistan which killed 132 schoolchildren aged eight to eighteen years – was a poignant reminder ofthe scale of the challenge that lies ahead. The question we must asknow is: where do we go from here?

The precedent set by the citizens-led evidence based nationwideinnovations such as ASER that call attention to learning and accessissues is unparalleled. The ASER experience has shown us that it ispossible to collect large-scale data of a relatively good quality usinglow cost and non-intrusive approaches. These efforts have shownthat learning levels are consistently and persistently poor in mostparts of Pakistan. ASER 2015 National findings reveal that still45% class 5 children could not read class 2 level story inUrdu/Sindhi/Pashto in all rural districts.

The SDG’s and in particular Goal 4 for education, have set outeducation targets that are ambitious and if not addressed now, somewould argue unachievable. As Pauline Rose rightfully said recently(http://www.aserpakistan.org/index.php?func=blog_detail&id=17),it is now truly time for us all to get down to business. So, whatshould we be gearing towards and what exactly should that businessbe? The next step for ASER Pakistan is to take on a new set ofchallenges aligned to local, national and global levels to allow forboth the early detection of learning competencies and primary andpossibly secondary levels but also to aim to now provide scalablesolutions to improve learning outcomes.

One of the important dimensions to develop going forwardwould be the enhancement of the tools for assessing learningcompetencies. This would include development of tools inways that allows them to now move beyond assessing narrowsets of mechanical functions in computation and the ability torecognise characters and the ability to read a sentence orparagraph or a story when assessing reading competencies.Existing ASER data are not sufficiently rich or diagnosticenough to be able to make convincing judgements about whatwe may, for instance, call meaningful learning (for example

ability to read with full comprehension). It would beimportant to develop tools that allow us to detect meaningfullearning in far better ways.

It is also important to now start thinking about ways to use thispowerful movement in ways that help us to solve the problem oflow learning. The ChaloParhoBarho(CPB) campaign(http://itacec.org/itadc) provides one such example that can bedeveloped, re-designed and extended after evaluation as a means ofimproving learning outcomes. This existing campaign waslaunched by ITA as a citizen-led campaign which targeted childrenof primary school going age by providing special classes in the localschool for children with poor learning levels in language andarithmetic. The aim of these classes was to develop children’s’learning levels by using citizens withinthe community to improvethe educational status of their community’s children. Educatedvolunteers were recruited from the villages and then trained by ITAto conduct CPB classes in the local government schools.

The classes are held for children who have been identified usingASER tools as being unable to read properly and are not able to dobasic arithmetic operations. The program also caters to out ofschool children. Accelerated catch up classes are held after schoolfor these children. The objective is to also mainstream these out ofschool children into the formal schooling system. This programmewas inspired by Pratham’s flagship Read India campaign whichsimilarly aims to improve the reading, writing and basic arithmeticskills of children aged 6-14 years. Initiated in 2007, this programmehas since partnered with state governments to implement theprogramme effectively. An independent evaluation of this campaignby the Abdul JameelLatif Poverty Action Lab(http://www.povertyactionlab.org/evaluation/read-india-helping-primary-school-students-india-acquire-basic-reading-and-math-skills) has shown that whilst there are modest impacts on overallreading levels in the villages where camps were held, there was amuch larger impact observed on the subgroup of children thatactually attended the camps. The researchers argue that the positiveimpact of the summer camps in particular is quite noteworthygiven that they were organised in one of the poorest states in India(Bihar), one of the states evaluated under the programme.

There is room to move forward positively. The first step of thejourney was to create some noise, and few would argue that ASERhasn’t been successful in doing that. The next step, however, isharder still. Now we have to move beyond creating a furore totaking positive actions. And it is critical that the right steps aretaken now if we are to come close to achieving the ambitious SDGs.

(The author is an education economist, working on gender andeducation in Pakistan. She holds a DPhil. in Economics from the

University of Oxford and is a Visiting Researcher at the Institute ofEducation, University of London, a Research Fellow at the Centrefor the Study of African Economies, CSAE, Oxford and is a Senior

Research Fellow at Idara-Taleem-o-Aagahi, that implements ASERin Pakistan. She can be reached at:aser@itacec.org

www.aserpakistan.org)

The ASER journey: what now?

Muhammad Zaheer Asghar

Dr Monazza Aslam

Money galore: a slice of heaven forhungry eyes who are deprived of thatsight. The world has become a game ofmoney and orbits a wad of cash instead ofthe Sun. It dwells on capitalism andrefuses to let the mainstream populationto think otherwise. Picture a child eyeingthe latest gadget but he knows deepdown, there's nothing but air in his

pocket. The envy that builds up inside ofhim when he sees another person happily purchase it, more wood isadded to his fire of desire. Of course, untamed yearning instructsthoughts to become into actions. This particular scarcity leads tocrimes and snatches away the security of society.

The root of crime arguably, poverty, is coupled with materialismand this fact is most commonly overlooked. It does play animportant in crime in search of a more luxurious life. It iscommitted when an offender lacks something. Take a serial killeras an example: an Erotophonophile with unfulfilled 'needs' wouldclearly be caught red-handed after they've done mutilatingsomeone's corpse like Ted Bundy.

Media has brainwashed its audience into thinking that a person'sonly achievement in life is sensual pleasure. A lavish mansion with alarge swimming and a couple of sport cars somehow indicates aperfect life. It is the frustration of viewing advertisements of expensiveproductsor our very own dramas portraying characters belonging tothe elite. We are indirectly taught from day one that in order tosucceed in life is to get a job and yes, earn money to fulfill your needs.But what if one's wages is not up to par? What if it barely covers thebreadwinner's family's basic needs? Unfortunately, this is where theydo not obtain the key to happiness: money. We live in an age whereeven the poverty-stricken people are overly ambitious. The constantneed of gratification courses in people's veins. Let it be a poor man

feeling the need of shoes or a rich person wanting a new designer bag.Material wealth, no matter how much, cannot satisfy a person.

If we take a look at thecriminals' psyche, patience does not exist intheir dictionary. They adopt for the easiest and quickest way to obtainwealth. The thought of working in their sweat and blood to earn theirwages already dulls down the motivation. Instead, a year's worth ofsalary could easily be covered with robbing a bank in less than anhour. The benefits outweigh good conscience in this case and a personin the deep pits of desperation, finds this to be the best solution. Froma bird's eye view, we see rich and poor criminals. They range fromdrugs lords and mafia leaders to simple pocket-pickers.

According to certain approaches to criminology, power disparity isemphasized especially relating to class. The poor believe that they arestripped off their basic human rights and as a revenge, fighting back isthe only way out in the form of crimes. The blame goes to thegovernment too if we study their tax system and uneven distributionof wealth. People choose to strike back whenever they are oppressed.To look at this from a more sympathetic point of view, it is a hopelesscry for attention. Unfortunately, the man-made law is not in favour ofthem since there's an ever-widening gap between the social classes. Itis basically a bloodbath in terms of riches.

In conclusion, although poverty and crime are interdependent, thesociety should not create stereotypes. This does not mean that a poorperson is always a thief. Not all of them are foolishly eager to be betterthan the rest. It is true and a fact that poverty contributes to crime butthere are poor people who lead a normal life and ready to accept whatis destined in their lives. The bottom line is that poverty is the motherof crimes, because poors want to escape their miserable lifestyle andbe able to survive in this cruel and selfish world.

(The writer is a student of English literature at Department ofEnglish, University of the Punjab, Lahore and she can be reached at:

mail2hira@gmail.com)

Hira Rafique

Poverty - the root of crime

Security measures foruniversities in Pakistan-I

E motional state is really hard foranyone. Prolonged stress anddepression can affect your

performance and the state of depression forlong time leads to anger, which can evencompel to take non-productive steps. If youwant to excel in life, self-motivation is veryimportant hing. Always try to keep your

spirit high no matter how discouraging a situation is. Here are afew tips that I found useful to build self-motivation:

Making a life aim is the most powerful source ofmotivation; a single goal can give you motivation to makepossible impossible things. But having a simple cause anddream is insufficient. Your dream must be big enough toinspire you and must be realistic, challenging and to stretchyour ability beyond your comfort zone.

Don’t compare yourself to others, you have your own race solooking at others is irrelevant. Comparing yourself to otherswill eventually get you demotivated. The only competitor youhave is yourself. Try to become the best in yourself. You mightface obstacles on your way and you may think it’s difficult tomove on in certain situations but don’t quit, simply focus ontaking a step forward.

Don’t think about the difficulties just take one step further andhave the courage to continue. Another demotivation could be toface your past. Take it off yourself, you might have made mistakesin past and even disappointed your loved ones but it’s over andnothing can be undone. Today is a new day, have your chanceagain, a bright future is awaiting, so work hard and move on!

Live in present using past as only miles times watching goals toachieve in future.

(The writer is chairman Liberal Human Forum and DirectorVision Telecom. He can be reached at: faizan@vte.com.pk)

Techniques to avoid depression

Faizan Khalid

WWW.EDUCATIONIST.COM.PK February, 201606 | INTERVIEW

WWW.EDUCATIONIST.COM.PK February, 2016 INTERVIEW | 07

WWW.EDUCATIONIST.COM.PK February, 201608 | INTERVIEW

WWW.EDUCATIONIST.COM.PK February, 2016 NATIONAL | 09

A rrangementswere madeby the

people of IstanbulUniversity, to hearwith headphones, thespeeches in their ownlanguages, but thisfacility was rarely

used. My thesis wasto be delivered at the last session of the lastday. After my speech another scholar had togive his speech but he was not present at theoccasion so his time was also given to mewhich was a golden opportunity for me toprolong my discussions in some more details.I requested Dr.Rajab Dargan – the Turkishtranslator – that I would speak slowlyfor himto translate my discourse inTurkey:

“Here, I want to entertain the opportunity tospeak from the bottom of my heart, to myTurkish friends. I shall take purview of Pak-Turk relations, not only in relation to KhilafatMovement, but also appropriately discuss therelationship of Ata Turk with the Founder ofPakistan and Allama Iqbal. I want to tell thatfounding fathers of Pakistan had deep respectand honour for Kamal Ata Turk.

I acknowledge that in Turkey thepersonality and struggle of Ata Turk weremade controversial by some quarters and thevery sort of things also happen in Pakistanbut for the two nations, the work done byboth personalities is very substantial. AtaTurk gave fresh zeal to the dilapidated Turknation and made it strong, moderate andprogressive. This indeed is and will remaineternal. Houses built on weak grounds cannever sustain heavy storms, fragile anddelicate revolutions come as easy as a windblowing from somewhere and then instantlyvanishing into the sky.

The revolution of Ata Turk emerges on solidgrounds so that almost one century is lapsingbut no weakness is shown in its perseverance.In the life of nations minor changes come fora little time, and live nations purview theirdeeds and values periodically and where need

arises they provide for amendments same ashuman beings learn from passing time,nations learn the same way. Ata Turk builtgrounds of constitutional, democratic andliberal Turky with secular approach. Praise toNature, modern Turkey continues on newways of development by staying firm on itsgrounds, but also democracy is morestrengthened than before with increasedrespect for human rights.

I want to say here that many things havebeen said about Caliphate Movement,Indeed, South Asian Muslims ran a full-fledged movement for restoration of theCaliphate, but when in 1924 Turkish Nationitself announcing end of Khilafat Movementadopted constitutional and democratic waykeeping in view the then time’s newrequirements, the national leader of theMuslims of South Asia Iqbal openlysupported Ataturk, and even said that this isthe new “Ijtehaad” live- inference of theTurkish nation.

The whole authority of the legislation lieswith not one individual but with the electedparliament. Now, this authority will notbelong to the Caliph but parliament will itselftake full authority. Eventually other Muslimnations will follow similar path of the Turks.I admit that in some ways Iqbal's poetrycriticized Ataturk and his revolution, but sonof Iqbal Javed (who recently passed away, andthis also is a tragedy that the twenty-firstcentury Iqbal has left us) told me that whenIqbal was suffering from severe illnessMuslims of Durbin said to Iqbal that “We inall South Africa have led prayers for yourlong life”. Iqbal was then in his last period oflife on bed, he gave message to DurbanMuslims that, “What I wanted to do,I havedone already, now there is no need forprayers but do pray for Jinnah and MustafaKamal Pasha’s life.”

From this it can be estimated to what extentIqbal gave importance to Ataturk. On theother hand, you already know, how Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah looked to AtaTurk Mustafa Kemal Pasha as an ideal leader.

We all know that during the CaliphateMovement Quaid Azam remained isolated, hemade London his home, it is evident from hisbiography that how much he was involved inthe study of the book “Grey Wolf” often puttingnotes on the margins, and under-liningphrases. That is why Jinnah’s only daughterDina named her father as “Grey Wolf”. To sayso, if it was a sort of commitment with a rottenold system, then sure it had to be broken after1924. But we see that our ideological andintellectual foundations had been furtherstrengthened with the passage of time.

Mustafa Kemal Pasha was adorned in allundivided India. But these figures should notbe made idols and worshiped, every theorycan be taken to criticism all the way from itsinception to implementation, similarly noperson should be above this trial on reason.With due respect and dignity we both havegone through the experiences of democraticand military governments. Our two nationshave faced internal conflicts and confusions.Al-Hamd-o-Lillah, today the both civiliandemocratic governments are moving forwardwith success. Our real problem is that withhigh democratic constitutional values , notonly that we get our two nations meet with

human rights and liberties, but also removetheir economic and social issues, bring up thesuppressed classes of our society, no coercionshould be done to anyone.

At the end of my paper I would like to referIqbal’s couplet which he said during theKhilafat Movement;

Dawn emerges after killing hundredthousand stars,Mounting grief came over Ottomans; Do nosorrow.

Iqbal had no grief over the Ottomanspredicament. At the collapse of the OttomanCaliphate, with the leadership of Ata Turk anew dawn of democratic revolution rose assun rises. Iqbal feels joy when he says, “Dawnemerges after killing hundred thousand stars”.God bless with the dawn, which will one dayilluminate the Muslim World.”

Thank you

(Afzaal Rehan is one of the most liberal andprogressive religious scholar of the recent

times, and can be reached at:arehan@hotmail.com)

Ata turk and modern turkey

Afzaal Rehan

IISLAMABAD: Some 40Pakistanisecondaryschool teachers are set to departPakistan for the United States on theTeaching Excellence and Achievement(TEA)Programme.These government schoolEnglish language teachers, who were selectedthrough a competitive process, will have theopportunity to enhance their Englishteaching skills through this six-weekintensive programme.

“Past participants in the TEA Programmehave learned from each other, as well as fromnew American friends and colleagues. Wehave high hopes for this year’s participants,that they will make lasting connections tobenefit their students and schools throughoutPakistan for years to come,” said Ms. JenMacArthur, the US Embassy’s RegionalEnglish Language Officer, during the Pre-Departure Orientation organized by theUnited States Educational Foundation inPakistan (USEFP).

“The TEA Program prepares teachers toserve as leaders and education champions intheir communities when they return toPakistan andshare their newly acquiredknowledge with their peers and students,”USEFP Executive Director Ms. Rita Akhtaradded.

This year, 40 teachers representing everyregion of Pakistan were selected toparticipate in the TEA program. They will

spend a week in Washington, D.C.,where theywill meet US government representatives.This will be followed by a five-weekcollaborative training program at select USuniversities, where the teachers will learn thelatest techniques in teaching methodology.

The TEA Program in Pakistan, sponsoredby the US Department of State, has sentmore than 150 Pakistani teachers to theUnited States since 2012. The program has

been designed to buildon teachers’ existingexpertise and equip them with a betterunderstanding of lesson planning,methodology, and the use of technology inteaching.Program participants develop theseproficiencies, while also learning aboutdiversity and culture in the United States.

The Regional English Language Office ofthe Public Affairs Section of the US Embassyin Islamabad implements a wide variety of

programs both in Pakistan and througheducational exchanges. More informationabout the US Department of State’s Office ofEnglish Language Programs, including freeresources for teachers, can be found atAmericanEnglish.state.gov.

USEFP is a binational commissionestablished in 1950 by the governments ofPakistan and the United States. It is one of49 Fulbright Commissions worldwide.—PR

Empowering educators of tomorrow through cross-cultural academic exchangeg 40 Govt Secondary School English language teachers to visit the United States on teaching Excellence and Achievement Program

WWW.EDUCATIONIST.COM.PK February, 201610 | CONFERENCE

STAFF REPORT

LAHORE: University of Education conferred 44 PhD,153 MPhil degrees and 112 gold medals and meritcertificates on students at the 4th Convocation. As manyas 20 PhD degrees in Education, 14 in Urdu, 2 inEconomics and Psychology and one in each subject ofEnglish, History, Commerce, Political Science, Punjabiand Chemistry were awarded.

Punjab Governor/Chancellor University of EducationMalik Muhammad Rafique Rajwana,Punjab HECChairman Dr Nizam-ud-Din, UoE Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr.Rauf-i-Azam, Controller Examinations Dr. Ashiq HussainDogar, Registrar Dr. Manzoom Akhter, Principals of

Campuses, Directors of Divisions, members of Syndicateand Academic Council, GCU VC Prof. Dr. Hasan AmirShah, Regional Director AIOU Rasool Bakhsh Behram, Ex-VC’s of Education University Dr. Faiz-ul-Hasan and GCUDr. Khaleeq-ur-Rehman were present at occasion at ExpoCenter Johar Town.

The governor said that the progress and development ofPakistan is only associated with the education especiallythe key role of teachers in promoting quality educationcannot be neglected at any cost. “To get education is thebasic right of every human being and Government ofPakistan is very keen in providing a cheap and qualityeducation to every citizen.”

Punjab Governoralso appealed private educational

institutions to provide better opportunities of highereducation to poor students. He advised the students to helpa common man and poor segments of the society.

UoE Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr.Rauf-i-Azam gave adetailed brief about university, academic activities,prominent statistics and other related matters. He saidUniversity of Education consists of 10 Campuses, 03Divisions and 44 affiliated Colleges all over the Punjab.The university offers 41 degree programs includingBachelor, Post Graduate Diploma, BS Honours, Masterand MS/M.Phil and PhD programs. At present 21thousand students are on the rolls of UoE campuses anddivisions while 9000 students are studying at UEaffiliated colleges across Punjab.

University of Education 4th convocation Chancellor Rafique Rajwana, PHEC Chairman Dr Nizam award 44 PhD, 153 MPhil degrees, 112 gold medals

Punjab Governor Malik Rafique Rajwana , PHEC Chairman Prof. Dr. Nizam ud Din, UoE Vice Chancel-lor Prof. Dr. Rauf-i-Azam and others at the 4th convocation of University of Education.

Registrar Education University Dr. Manzoom Akhter and others come in the academic procession.

Dr. Nizam and Dr. Rauf-i-Azam present a shield to Punjab governor. Dr Ahiq Hussain Dogar, Controllor Examinations Governor Punjab Rafique Rajwana awards degree to a student.

VC Dr Rauf-i-Azam with faculty members.

Faculty members and administrative officers with VC.Dr intizar Hussain Butt, Dr Asmat Ullah Cheema, Dr Ayaz Khan, DrAbrar Hussain and others pose for a photo with VC.

Rasul Bakhsh Behram, AioU regional director and others listento the national anthem.

Dr Mumtaz Akhtar, Mrs Rauf-i-Azam and others listen to the national anthem.

WWW.EDUCATIONIST.COM.PK February, 2016 INTERVIEW | 11

INTERVIEW BY: AYESHA AKRAM AND HAFSARASHEEDTRANSCRIBED BY: USAMAGHAYYUR RAJA AND UMAIRSOHAILSALEEMI

D r. Sadaqat Ali, drug addictiontreatment specialist, is the ProjectDirector of Easy Interventions &

Willing Ways. He is a recognised name inaddiction psychiatry and counseling. In 1999Ali’s name was inducted in WHOinternational directory of professionals. He isauthor of many books & pamphlets on thesubjects of addiction, diabetes&management. He loves to train people onhow to intervene if a family member indulgesin self-destructive behaviors. The details ofThe Educationist interview with him arefollowing: Q. Tell us about your early education?Dr. Sadaqat Ali: My early education was at agovt. primaryschool. They are also called“TaatWalay School” in the local language. Iwent to Govt College Lahore for FSc (PreMedical) before I did my MBBS from theDOW University of Health Sciences.Apart from all this, I got training forpsychotherapy from the University ofMinnesota.Q. You have acquired overseas education inPsychiatry, how much improvement isrequired in Pakistan to reach theinternational standards? Dr. Sadaqat Ali: There is a lot of differencebetween the education standards here andthat of overseas. In Pakistan, some institutesare good while others are not up to the mark.Likewise, in overseas, some educationalinstitutes are better than others. The ratio isalmost the same. Let me put it this way.About 4% institutes are good here and sameis the case there. Q.How can we improveit in Pakistan?Dr. Sadaqat Ali: Naturally (pause). A cultureof real education should be created and notjust for the sake of degrees. Right now, allfocus is to get a degree. Q. Pakistan lacks qualified psychiatrists.What can be done, in your point of view, to

improve the quality and quantity? Dr. Sadaqat Ali: First of all, Psychiatry is notbeing given much importance as compared tothe study of medicine. But now the trend ischanging and emerging psychiatrists arebeing given an opportunity to workpractically. Lately, all they did was to teachand make more psychiatrists. In general,about 90% people in Pakistan don’t practiceafter getting qualified in psychiatry. Andmostly girls get admitted in this field so theirchances to work are rarer because their in-laws won’t let them after marriage.Q. Thousands of people suffer frompsychological issues in Pakistan but they arenot aware of their condition and don’tconsider it enough important. So how can weget rid of this situation? Dr. Sadaqat Ali: People can only be inclinedafter the removal ofsome false beliefs. Peoplebelieve everything is meant to happenbecause it’s a part of their fate or other peopleinfluence their fate by some magical spell orthe evil eye. So when the false beliefs aredispelled, people will get inclined all bythemselves. That’s why it is important toeradicate the false ideas.Q. What troubles do you face whenestablishing a clinic?Dr. Sadaqat Ali: It never felt as if there was aproblem. If there is any hindrance, weremove it and if it becomes difficult then wetry to make it easy. Q. Tell usabout your writingsin relevance totheaddiction.Dr. Sadaqat Ali: “Nashee Main Kahein WhoTanha Na Rah Jaye” is a book and familiesguide for the families that havesuch patient.Its 3rd edition is about to get published now. Q. Setting aside your professional life inwhich you are considered one of therenowned doctors, what impacts occurred inyour personal life?Dr. Sadaqat Ali: The impacts were great. Ithelped me manage my tensions in a betterway. It also becomes easier to decline thosewho pass ontension so obviously the affect

was great. It’s like if you feed others withsweet, you can also have it for yourself. Q. Do you have any wish left in life that youwant to fulfill? Dr. Sadaqat Ali: Thanks to Allah all mywishes have been fulfilled. Now I just haveone wish left which is that the people who areupset from me should not be upset anymore.That’s my only wish (exclaimed with cheer). Q. What is the real reason of growing drugaddict patients in the country? Dr. Sadaqat Ali: The reason of growingnumbers is that time is getting advancedfrom the technical view. And people areunable to keep pace with it because thetime is much faster and they are a littlebackward. The ways to spend life (skills),which were considered quite enoughbefore, are not sufficient now. That’s whypeople face difficulty in spending theirlives. People are unable to understand andperform the struggle required to spendlives. Though, people are changing due toelectronic and social media, but are alsobecoming the victim of depression becausethis progress is causing us to change.People think that they should have a car,house and the latest mobile phone. Nowthat media has shown public theirnecessities and that the quality of lifeshould be better. This is the reason why

people become a victim of stress, mentalanxiety and depression which makes themstart using drugs to feel comfort and restfulaccording to their own thinking. Q.Mostly which age group people aresufferdrug from addiction the most?Dr. Sadaqat Ali: The juvenile age group. 12-13 year old youth are suffering from thishazardous disease. Earlier, the age group was25-30 year olds. People used to suffer fromdrug addiction after achieving something butnow, they suffer even before doing anythingand destroy themselves. Q. What is the percentage of patients that getrehabilitated? Dr. Sadaqat Ali: A patient during treatment,gets rehabilitated. Like other diseases itdoesn’t have failure. There is no outcomeother than success in the drug rehabilitation. Q. People have pre-determined thought intheir minds that doctors make patients theirpermanent customers. What you say aboutit?Dr. Sadaqat Ali: Doctors can’t bear makingcustomers it will damage their honor andrespect in people. If a patient does not getcured after approaching a doctor then peoplewill receive a negative image of the doctor.Doctors want to build their reputation sothat people are positively impressed by them. Q. You have over 500 clinics in Pakistan.What are your future projects, if any?Dr. Sadaqat Ali: Right now there is a projectfor personal development, which comprisestraining in the corporate sector. It will belaunched this year in 2016 so my all focus ison it. The corporate sector in Karachi andIslamabad will have a personal developmentprogramme in which training for theorganizational, management and leadershipskills will be given.Q.Would you like to give any word of adviceto youth? Dr. Sadaqat Ali: I give youngsters the messageto “read write, listen speak, be visible, makenoise and leave behind your footsteps”,because that’s how you can win. g

False beliefs cause of psychological issues in thousands of people: Dr Sadaqatg No outcome worth more than success in drug rehabilitation g 90% female psychiatrists don’t practice in Pakistan due to their in-laws

ISLAMABAD: As many as 40 teachers from universities acrossPakistan were presented Best University Teacher Award for the year2014, in recognition of their outstanding performance. Each winnerwas awarded a certificate and a cash prize worth Rs. 100,000. Prof.Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman HEC and then KPK governorSardar Mahtab Abbasi were present on the occasion.

The award winners from public sector universities include: Dr.Shehzad Khalid, Professor at Bahria University, Islamabad; Dr.Shamsul Qamar, Professor at COMSATS Institute of InformationTechnology, Islamabad; Asstt. Prof. Dr. Khurram Khurshid,Institute of Space Technology, Islamabad; Dr. Samina Malik,Associate Professor at International Islamic University, Islamabad;Dr. Khalil Ahmed, Professor at Korakoram International University,Gilgit; Dr. Shaheen Akhtar, Associate Professor at National DefenceUniversity, Islamabad; Dr. Syed Abdul Ghaffar Bukhari, ActingHead of Islamic Studies Department at National University ofModern Languages (NUML), Islamabad; Dr. Jamil Ahmad,Assistant Professor at National University of Sciences andTechnology, Islamabad; Dr. Attiya Yasmin Javid, Professor atPakistan Institute of Development Economics, Islamabad; Dr. TariqYasin, Deputy Chief Scientist Department of Metallurgy &Materials Engineering at Pakistan Institute of Engineering andApplied Sciences, Islamabad; Dr. Tariq Mahmood, AssociateProfessor at Quaid-E-Azam University, Islamabad; Dr. UzairaRafique, Professor at Fatima Jinnah Women University,Rawalpindi; Dr. Hamid Mukhtar, Associate Professor atGovernment College University, Lahore; Dr. Mamuna Ghani, Deanand Chairman Department of English, Islamia UniversityBahawalpur; Dr. Muhammad Sarwar Khan, Professor at Universityof Agriculture, Faisalabad; Dr. Intzar Hussain Butt, AssistantProfessor at University of Education, Lahore; Engr. Dr. Riffat AsimPasha, Professor at University of Engineering and Technology,

Taxila; Dr. Muhammad Sharif, Professor at University of thePunjab, Lahore; Dr. Muhammad Younus, Professor at University ofVeterinary of Animal Sciences, Lahore; Dr. Raza-ur-Rahman,Professor at DOW University of Health Sciences, Karachi; Dr. NasirAfghan, Assistant Professor at Institute of Business Administration,Karachi; Dr. Abdul Razaque Shaikh, Professor at Liaquat Universityof Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro; Dr. Arabella Bhutto,Assistant Professor at Mehran University Institute of Engineering &Technology, Jamshoro; Dr. Khurshid Ahmed Abbasi, ChairmanDepartment of Pediatrics, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir BhuttoMedical University, Larkana; Dr. Zia-Ul-Hassan-Shah, AssistantProfessor at Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam; Prof. Dr.Naeem Tariq Narejo, Chairman Department of Fresh Water Biologyand Fisheries, University of Sindh, Jamshoro; Dr. Muhammad Arif,Assistant Professor at Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan; Dr.Abdul Haleem Shah, Chairman Department of Biological Sciences,Gomal University,Dara Ismail Khan; Prof. Dr. Habib Ahmed,Tenure Professor Department of Genetics, Hazara UniversityMansehra; Dr. Attaullah Shah, Assistant Professor at Institute ofManagement Sciences, Peshawar; Dr. Muhammad Tahir Sarwar,Assistant Professor at Khyber Medical University, Peshawar; Dr.Muhammad Azim Khan, Associate Professor at University ofAgriculture, Peshawar; Dr. Amir Nawaz Khan, Dean Faculty of Life& Environmental Sciences, University of Peshawar; Dr. ZahoorAhmad Bazai, Assistant Professor at University of Balochistan,Quetta; and, Dr. M. Ishtiaq, Assistant Professor at MirpurUniversity of Science and Technology, Mirpur.

The teachers from private sector universities who received theaward include Dr. Humaira Nadeem, HoD of PharmaceuticalChemistry, Department of Pharmacy, Riphah InternationalUniversity, Islamabad; Dr. Ahmed Faisal Imtiaz Siddiqi, Professorat University of Management and Technology, Lahore.

HEC Best University teachers Awards — 2014 Saudi–Iran relationsContinued from Page 12

Houthis; ensuing Iran’s heavy criticism of Saudi curbing of theShia insurgency in Yemen. Iranian President criticized Saudibombing of Yemen instead of peaceful resolutions. Saudi ForeignMinister accused Iran of meddling in Yemen’s internal affairs.Iranian President counter-accused Saudi Arabia of being “Al-Qaeda’s main hub”.

In 2010, Yemen’s pro-Saudi militia accused Iranian officersoffering military advice to the Houthis. In April 2015, two Iranianteens were sexually harassed by Saudi policemen at Jeddah airport.Iranian protestors clashed with police outside the Saudi embassy inTehran. Saudi authorities reacted by preventing a plane carrying 260Iranian pilgrims from landing, stating that it did not have a permit.Iran suspended Umrah for its citizens. Saudi Arabia, later, arrestedand conducted an investigation on the policemen.

After the 2015 Mina Stampede, Iran held Saudi authoritiesresponsible while a Saudi prince called for a ban on Iranians for thesafety of other pilgrims.

Earlier this year, on Jan 2, 2016, Saudi Arabia executed 47 people alongwith a prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. Iranian protestorsonce again attacked the Saudi embassy and set it on fire. Saudi Arabiareplied by immediately cutting diplomatic ties with Tehran. Other Gulfand African states followed suit. Yet Iran’s President Rouhani renouncedthe damage and labeled it unjustifiable.

A week later, Iranian foreign ministry claimed that Saudi Arabiapurposely targeted their embassy in Yemen, killing many guards. Butresidents of Sana’a and the Associated Press said that no visibledamage could be seen on the embassy building.

(The writer is The Educationist Executive Editor and AssistantProfessor at Mass Communication Department, Lahore Leads

University. She can be reached at: ifra1@live.com)

PREMiERE EDUCAtioN NEWSPAPER oF PAKiStAN

Publisher and Editor Shabbir Sarwar, printed at intekhab-e-Jadeed Press, 8 Abbot Road, and circulated from 136-J Gulberg iii, Lahore

Intizar Hussain’s demise createsa gap in literary circles

LAHoRE:Pakistan ismourning the saddemise of intizarHussain, a greatliterary figure,who in his early90s died inhospital aftercontractingpneumonia. Hewas born in Dibai,

a village in northern india's Bulandshahrdistrict in 1920s. He studied Urdu literature ata university in Meerut, india, and soonafterwards moved to Lahore, with theintention of returning after meeting figures inthe so-called Progressive Writers' Movement.in Lahore, he worked as a journalist andcolumnist, an occupation he continued untilrecently, writing in Urdu as well as English.Butfiction was his real forte. —Monitoring

Teachers’ self-concept is wrong:Dr Nasim Shaukat

LAHoRE: PunjabUniversity institute ofEducation andResearch’s firstdirector Prof Dr NasimShaukat has said thatteachers’ self-conceptregarding theirprofession is wrong asthey think that apoliceman is moredignified than them.

She said that iER was established by McDonald Lytton in1961 when Americans launched some training programsin Pakistan, was initially set up at Lawrence Road, wherenow Zeenat Laboratory is situated, and was later shiftedto the New Campus in 1962. She was addressing fifthceremony of compiling . Dr Nasim said that femaleMuslim students were dealt with discrimination inschools before partition. —Staff Report

MIT professor to start university without lectures, classrooms

NEW YoRK: Chris-tine ortiz, Massachu-setts institute oftechnology DeanGraduate Educationand a Professor ofMaterials Scienceand Engineering, istaking a leave fromher prestigious post

to start a radical, new nonprofit university that she sayswill have no majors, no lectures, and no classrooms. Ms.ortiz says she plans to create a nonprofit institution sothat "all of the revenue can be reinvested in the enter-prise to serve the public." —the Chronicle

PAK-US SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY PHASE 7

HEC chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed and US Ambassador David Hale sign an MoU for the 7th phase of Pakistan-US Science and technology Cooperation Programme. the MoU will provide more than $8 million in joint funding for high-level collaborative research in science and technology, with a new focus onhealth, water, energy and information technology.

BY ALI ARSHAD

LAHORE: The Chefs’ Association of Pakistan(CAP), member of World Association of ChefsSocieties (WACS) along with the College ofTourism & Hotel Management(COTHM)have launched the country’s firstNational Culinary Team of Pakistan.Provincial Minister for Education, Sports,Culture and Youth Affairs RanaMashhoodAhmed Khan was the chief guest at theceremony held at COTHM- Main Campus.

A large number of professionals from the

country’s chef-community and hospitalityindustry were also present at the occasion.

RanaMashhoodsaid, “The presence ofPakistani cuisine and Pakistani chefs atinternational culinary forums, events andcompetitions was always badly missed. Nowwith the evolution of this culinary team, thecountry will get recognition in this arenatoo.”He said, “The engagement of youth inpositive activities is the need of the hour.” Heappreciated CAP and COTHM’s efforts inrealizing the need and taking up thisinitiative to raise a national culinary teamto

represent the country globally. The ministersaid, “COTHM’s contributionin the HRdevelopment of the country through skill-based education and training programs isoutstanding. This institute has earned goodname for Pakistan,” he added.

CAP Corporate Vice President Waqar IlyasKhan said, “The development of NationalCulinary Team of Pakistan comprising thecountry’s best chefs is a landmark achievementmade under the banner of the CAP. Now theworld will come to know how amazing andskillful Pakistani cuisine and chefs are”.

COTHM, CAP launch nationalculinary team g 11-member team represents Pakistan in culinary competitions in turkey

T he year 2016came with thehistoric below

in Saudi-Iran relationsafter KSA executed 47people along with aprominent Shia clericSheikh Nimr al-Nimr.Reactionary Iranian

protestors attacked theSaudi embassy setting it on fire, promptingRiyadh to immediately cut diplomatic ties withTehran. Other Gulf and African states followedthe suit, yet Iranian President Rouhanirenounced the damage and labeled itunjustifiable.

This is not the first time that relations are sostrained.

In the late 60s, when the UK withdrew fromthe Persian Gulf, Iran and Saudi Arabia took thejoint responsibility of peace and security in theMiddle East. But within a decade, Iranchallenging the UAE’s claims, seized control ofthe Big Tunb, Little Tunb and Abu Moussaislandsin the gulf, which were thought to befull ofoil reserves. Saudi Arabia threatened by Iran’sincreasing military modernization anddominance of the region, countered the advances

made by Iran by building bilateral securityrelations with various other states in the region.And so relations began to strain.

Contrary to Saudi’s conservative beliefs, the Shahwanted to develop Iran along the lines of a Westernmodel of Modernization. The Shah’s modernizationwas seen as a major threat to Iranian culture andresisted by traditional rigid Iranian polity. In the70s, the resistance turned into a widespread popularIslamic revolution. Headed by Ayatollah Khomeini,the revolution culminated in establishing an Islamicrepublic of Iran in 1979.

Saudi King Khalid was pleased and stated thatwith the establishment of an Islamic republicthere was no obstacle holding back cooperationbetween the two states. Yet Khomeini, now theSupreme Leader of Iran, started to openly andharshly criticize the Saudi regime in 1987, labelingthem a “band of heretics” and stating that “…vileand ungodly Wahhabis are like daggers whichhave pierced the heart of the Muslims from theback”. These statements were sufficient to enddiplomatic relations between the two nations.

The sectarian differences have been one of themajor issues fueling the conflict. Sunni Saudi asided with Iraq in the Iran-Iraq War of 1980against Shia Iran. Saudi Arabia providedassistance of US$25 billion to Iraqi forces and

encouraged other Gulf States to do the same.Saudi Arabia increased its oil production to coverthe cost of the war and to reduce Iran’s capacity tofund its own military campaign. But as oil pricesplunged, the Saudis lost billions of dollars. In themeantime, Iran repeatedlywarned Saudi Arabiaofdire consequences for supporting Iraq.

In 1987, Iranian pilgrims clashed with Saudisecurity forces causing death of 400 pilgrims.Iranian protestors retaliated by attacking theSaudi embassy in Tehran and detaining residingSaudi diplomats. Saudi Arabia responded withending diplomatic relations and banning Hajjvisas for Iranians. In 1988, theIran-Iraq entered aceasefire and the war was over giving way tobetter relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990 was a positiveturn for Iran-Saudi Arabia relations. The invasionwas opposed on both sides as the two rejected theuse of force to resolve regional problems, withIran even supporting UN sanctions on Iraq. Tieswere officially restored in 1991 and Iranians wereallowed Hajj visas. This was followed by theIranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayatimeeting with King Fahd and proposing that Iran,as a strong regional power,must be included inthe Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to ensurestability. He blamed weakness of the GCC in

failing to prevent the Kuwait invasion.The OIC meeting was held in Tehran in 1997.

Saudi participation further strengthened theprocess of reconciliation between the two states.Followed by, a visit of the Saudi ministerialdelegations to Iran and the Iranian PresidentMohammad Khatami visiting Saudi Arabia in1998. This was the first visit of the IranianPresident to Saudi Arabia after the 1979 Islamicrevolution. The visit was motivated by Iran’s needfor Saudi support as it looked for a reallocation ofOPEC producing quotas and discussion over itsrole in regional security alliances, to ensurestability in Persian Gulf.

Earlier in 1988, a Comprehensive CooperationAgreement was signed between both nationsagreeing to cooperate in the field of economics,culture and sports. In 1999, King Fahd urgedother Persian Gulf countries to follow Saudi’s leadand improve relations with Iran. But SaudiArabia was criticized by the UAE for ignoring thedispute over the three islands. Saudi Arabiaoverlooking UAE concerns signed another Saudi-Iranian security agreementin 2001.

Soon after, Shia Houthi rebels from Yemencrossed over to Saudi Arabia killing two borderguards and occupied the strategically importantMount Al-Doud. Yemen, Saudi Arabia and otherArab nations accused Iran of backing the

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Saudi–iran relations: the dust and groove

Dr. ifra iftikhar