HOW TO EXPLOIT EVERLASTING TREASURE OF KNOWLEDGE?

By:

Aariz Memon and Waqar Abro

There has not been a single ruler in the world that has emerged from the masses without sinking into the ocean of books. No one can deny the importance of books, and these are the books which have changed the economies of the world from socialism or capitalism into knowledge based economies. Now, the world is moving towards the knowledge based economies, and the experts of social sciences are claiming that the future of the world powers will highly be dependable on the educated population. And, the goals can not be achieved with out the effective and leading role of libraries.

Unfortunately, Pakistan is lagging behind in the race of exploiting treasures of knowledge- libraries. The European and other western states are on the line to make library as a significant part of their cultures as we celebrate cultural days. Hence, in the same way, library days will be celebrated to highlight the importance of the library and empower the nations with power of knowledge.

 The role of library is very important in the development of civilized and educated societies. Why libraries in Pakistan are in dilapidated conditions? Why the readers` interest is decreasing? Why there is not legislation for libraries to keep them abreast with the today’s information age? There are other questions too that are wriggling in the mind, but we people are responsible in not cultivating the library culture at large. The government and non-governmental organizations are also equally criminal for this huge catastrophe. Needless to say that despite possessing human resources in enormous amount, potential of students has been misused in our country, and in spite of depicting attention of the students towards libraries that have less bad effects, are motivated towards the technological age.

Now the question raises what concrete step to be taken to take advantage of treasure of knowledge and make it more glitter, influential, sweeter and purposeful for all.

Firstly, the law should be legislated for National policy of libraries of which most important stance to promote libraries culture at grass root level, be considered.

Secondly, there should be a separate directorate in the ministry of education.

Thirdly, existing libraries should be restructured- easy access to the latest books, should be opened 24/7 like in Singapore, Sri Lanka and the USA.

Fourthly, the role of teachers and educational institutions should be used as a catalyst for backing up the library culture.

Fifthly, financial stability is the backbone of all institutions. However, funds can be raised through the advertisement and sponsorship of the private and public firms.

Sixthly, libraries should be established at the ratio of 180 million/0.5 million at the minimum level.

Lastly, the role of media and non governmental organization should be devised for creating awareness for the readership. Moreover, it has been observed that communities libraries are benefiting a certain class, and that should be discouraged. The pleasure of reading of books is sweater than the pleasure of reading on the electronic devices. However, campaigns and seminars must be organized to increase the numbers of readers. Although, associations like PLA (Pakistan Library Association) has not played its pivotal role for increasing the readership and augmenting standard of libraries. 

In the 7^th century, the Muslim scientist in the dark ages emerged due to the effective role of libraries and educational societies, which not only lit the world and opened the doors for other developed states to exploit the unending treasure of knowledge, but also laid the foundations of many natural and social science disciplines. Therefore, it has become the need of the hour to regain the same lost glory again through above mentioned measures in order to bring out our motherland out of the shadowy world

Uniform education-within the reach

A breakfast comprising off a slice of bread, tea and newspaper, you think it’s another typical morning and then something not-so-typical springs up from those scrawny black and white pages. You’re stunned to see in the international page that David Cameron, the Britain Prime Minster, has enrolled his daughter in a state’s school. What may not be so earth-shattering for the Brits is a total shocker for a Desi guy. The news doesn’t let you turn further pages of the paper and engulfs you in a world of thoughts and ideas- the thoughts and ideas about the educational system in Pakistan. 

Educating means to broaden the minds of the people with knowledge and thought provoking skills. Here the scenario is quite contradictory. Education, a basic and essential need, is a mold of several types of different educational standards. The discrimination of the education system rears its ugly head right from the beginning, from the innocent stages of ‘A, B, C’, and ‘Alif, Bay, Tay.’

According to the 1973 Constitution, each citizen has an equal right to the basic services the state can provide; including clothing, housing, sanitation, jobs, and most importantly EDUCATION.

The quality of education tends to trace out the entire life one is going to have. Someone getting mediocre education usually ends up not having an exceptional career and thus he will remain poor. His children will get the same kind of schooling he got and the cycle will continue on forever. Same is the case for rich people. This is the trend we have to change.

Unfortunately, the government spends less than 2% of the GDP on the education, and every ruling party has been earmarking the meager portion for the basic need of the citizens. But, one thing can be done which has nothing to do with the scanty allocation- uniform educational system. Undoubtedly, new schools buildings, universities and complete enrollment of the children are the fundamental requirements to improve the literacy rate. From the meager amount, the federal and the provincial governments can easily create a uniform educational system across the country which will eliminate the multiple educational concepts, which creates sub-multiple society within a society.

How do you actually go on to achieve this target? The biggest step of all, the government has to stand up for this cause because it is the biggest stakeholder in the business of the management of the state.

Secondly, Higher Education Commissions at provincial and Divisional level must be created to put the syllabus on the modern lines. According to the 18^th amendment, education, now, is the provincial matter, but it does not mean that the every province will chalk out its own syllabus. Experts suggest that the provincial governments must be independent to formulate regional language syllabus, but science and arts studies must be made uniform with the mutual consultations of the federal and provincial bodies. In addition to it, each province will finance the plan according to the enrollment database.

Thirdly, updated and identical syllabus must be taught at the both school systems. This will create equality and similarity in the society and prevent from the clashes of the different thoughts and ideas.

Yet, nothing would be complete or effective until the implementation of the fourth and final step. Giving Urdu language the deserved worth that has not been given to it since the creation of Pakistan. Yes, we fought for it against the Bengali language, but that was it. Why should we make Urdu the official language of education? Many reasons.... In a society already divided by so many social and economic barriers, why not destroy one when we can afford to? Education should be imparted with due regard to the society’s common points, by reversing the current roles of Urdu and English education, we can revolutionize the current system. Everybody would be judged by the amount of information or knowledge he/she holds, not how well he speaks English or which accent he uses while speaking it! Science and Commerce books can easily be translated to suit us. As Doctor Syed Abdullah says in his article ‘Urdu Zareeyae Taalim’ “The scientist didn’t think about whichever language they were thinking in. They just expressed scientific facts the easiest way possible. These facts can be translated to suit our needs. Our mother tongue is in Urdu, we think in Urdu, so the learning process will be much faster as students would not have to accustom themselves with complex words each day’.

Our education system has been bombarded and toyed with for 64 continuous years. There’s no magic portion to revive it in a short period of time but if above mentioned measures are taken then a great progress can be made in the longer run which will put us in the category of ‘developed nations’.

and it shattered.

" Beta, Nashta tayar hai aur bai tumara intizar kar rahey hey" ( Son, the breakfast is ready and big brother is also waiting) Mom called me for the breakfast and I hurriedly took it as I was getting late for the classes at the library. Though there was a peaceful demonstrations call by a political group after irrespectable statements against the cheif of a rival politcal group by a senior minister of the ruling party. As I drove to Malir, I saw the activists of the rival party were holding playcards and some members of the group were signing a petition form in order to lodge their protest peacefully, and surprisingly all these activites were being carried on in a ground. Importanly, there was no voilence on the roads and the ways were clear for all the commuters. The daily business was same as usual.

On the way to library, I saw an accident and , for me, it was surprising to note that there was no mahem at the place and the ambulance reached at the spot at once and the injured person was taken to the nearest hospital. There was no aggression on the face of the injured person and he was expressing some forgiveness words to the driver who hit him.

The surprising story did not end here. It moves further. Where? at the parking area of the library. All the students have parked their vehicles in the suggested area. I was glad and astonishing too about the positive change in the people's behvior.

The continuous joting down of the notes made me to take a cup of tea. I rushed to the canteen with my class fellow-Masood Pardhan. I thought that the astonishing story was over now, but it continued. As we reached at the canteen, we watched a breaking news from the presidency and the Prime Minister house that all the ministers who had wealth in foreign countries would bring all their assets to the country. More, the PM would present the note in the supreme court himself against the orders of the chief justice.

The cirumstances since the morning brought smile on my face. More smiles were added when one of my good friends-Waqar Abro buzzed me and he told me happily that he had been selected for the post of Assistant Director in Sindh Education Department, and the selection was done on purely merit basis. It was a good news for me. I congratulated him and believed that now every deserving student would get due right.

In the evening, I was expecting some more good news. At the dinner, My bro brought another good news for me, and now it was about the start of the dialouges between the militants and the government. On the other side, it was decided in the federal cabinet that all the politcal parties would de-weponise themselves. I guess, the prayers of the public had worked and the positive will for the progress was being seen around.

Now my country cant be stopped from the development and progress because the citizens are more civilized now and there is dedication from the both public and the government to work for the betterment of the homeland. The citizen are talking about democratic and basic rights of the public,and more importanly now they are much familiar with the democratic culture. The media is not sentionalized and the writers are neutral.

You know what I have decided? My plans are changed now. I was planing to go to Canada for MS. I will puruse my Masters from a local universities because philosophers from different countries are coming to attend the lectures in the local universities. Additionally, the government has fixed an stipend for the graduates.

My cell phone was ringing and I recieved the call. It was Masood. " Dear, aaj library nai jana, Hasan Square per do parties k darmian clash huwa hai and roads saray blocked kerdiye and tyre jala rahey hey" (Dear, dont go to library today, two parties have clashed. All the roads are blocked an tyres are being burnt) I hurriedly opened my eyes and found myself on the bed even though earlier I was sitting on the library's chair and analysing the changing current scenario of the local affairs. I taunted Masood who got me up from a deep and sweet slumber which was presenting the actual vision of the founders of the country that they had envisioned before the creation of the homeland. Ohh!! I am getting late. Mom is calling me for the breakfast.

Brain Drained Pakistan

While interacting with your friends, you might have noticed their desire of studying abroad and settling in developed countries. The business of educational consultancy is flourishing day by day. Every day we see new advertisements in papers and sign boards with attractive educational slogans. Moreover, there has been rise in educational exhibitions where thousands of young students, having dreams of studying and settling abroad in their eyes, visit the educational marketing consultants with enthusiasm.

It is of the opinion of many prominent analysts and observers that the youth is the only hope to this country. It can bring reforms and shape it with according to the spirit of the founders of the homeland. On the contrary, the harbinger of the hope is not ready to take the responsibility on their shoulders. Though, there have been promising youth shows by several NGOs, in which the young people are invited to join different platforms to understand the political and legislative system of the country. But, the country is facing another dilemma in the shape of brain drain i.e. the brain drain of the youth. Thousands of our homegrown talented and veteran minds in different fields of natural and social science are serving other nations. There are many views of the youth on brain drain. Some remark this migration of intellectuality correct and vice versa.

Parkha Khan, Shadow Minister of Education, Health and Environment, represents the National party in Sind Youth Assembly, justifies the migration of talent by noting the examples of the tottering economy and bad law and order situation in Pakistan.

Qaiser Shahzad, Minister of Information Technology in the same assembly also backs his colleague by coming hard on the admission criteria of the local universities and their obsolete educational facilities. Furthermore, he says that a new comer might face some problems in foreign educational institutions in starting, but later on, he gets stable with the passage of time as it doen’t happen in Pakistan.

The Statistics reveal that thousands of specialized doctors have migrated to North America. Dr. Ayub Baloach, who recently visited his native village in Malir District after spending three years in Qatar, holds the opinion that handsome earning is the main stimulus that pushes up them to go to foreign land. When asked about the love to his homeland, he stressed that he had love for his country, but the unsatisfactory circumstances have made him to stay away from his native humble abode.

What a man wants in the life? This is the question of Jahanzaib Memon, a member of the youth assembly, and he mentions that emigrants get all the basic needs of life in the western countries such as food, shelter, life security, health and education. Don’t we have all these basic amenities in all major cities of Pakistan? We are not, actually, facing famine like Ethiopia.

Digging more reasons of brain drain, Humna Mehwish, Deputy Speaker of the assembly, says that better opportunities and education in foreign countries are the main compelling forces that drive the youth to risk all their assets to secure their future. 

Let us analyze the situation. We are the major ally in the so called war against terrorism and have been fighting others’ war to protect the western countries. Similarly, we are serving other nations, helping them in their economies and other fields. Pakistanis have become main part of British economy. This is the same case in the Gulf region. The observation depicts that we salute and work for others.

The migration of the youth means the migration of knowledge and the world is now going towards the knowledge based economy. Unfortunately, our dangling economy will remain far behind the international standard. Our blueprints of a better economy are being implemented by North Korea. This fact takes after the Urdu quote “Pakahey hum Khahay koi aur” (we cook and eats someone else).

Secondly and more important, it is the great loss of human resource. Nations need pillars to build up or revive the foundations, but here the pillars are giving shoulder to foreign structures. We talk about the vision less leaders. Will we be having same personalities in future? Yes off course! The knowledgeable loss will leave uneducated and fake degree holder legislators.

Let us go back to history. Did the westerners say good-bye to their lands during the Dark Age period? Did the Europeans colonize Asians and Africans or they were colonized. These are the some formidable questions that uncover the nation building formula. Europeans subdued four continents on their knowledge based planning instead of packing bags to live in foreign lands when there was mayhem in Europe and rule of the churches. And thus they rule in a manner that we still haven’t been able to step out of their shadow.

No one can deny the reasons behind the brain drain. Food, Shelter, education and job opportunities are basic rights of every person living in this world, but sadly, we're being deprived of them in Pakistan. And thus, the youth tries to find an escape route abroad being a youngster. However, our youth is making this good decision with wrong frame of mind. One must travel abroad to hone skills.

If our youth think that they can simply go abroad and live as they want there; they are wrong this brain drain is creating a negative image of our country. An example of Gulf State can be taken where Pakistanis are losing preference in job sectors, and Bangladeshis and Indians are getting more jobs same is the scene in England and Canada. If we don't use our skills to improve the condition of our country, the foreigners won't treat us equally. A bachelors in business studies is forced to work on a petrol pump in England only because the English think that we're desperate to earn bucks and we'll do anything for that. Therefore, instead of giving us proper jobs, we're treated like slaves. This situation will keep getting worse if we don't use our skills to improve the condition in our country.

BUDGET AND MISCONCEPTIONS AMONG COMMON MEN

Every year, the drum of BUDGET is beaten throughout the world. A state has to plan annually about the sources of income and the income’s proper utilization on the public sector development program and as well as protection of the borders and security of the nation. The government has a responsibility to use timely, reliable, and comprehensive financial information when making decisions, which have an impact on citizens’ lives and livelihood.  Strong centralized leadership is the key to solve the government’s long-standing financial management problems.

 Today, the budget 2011-2012 was presented in the lower house of the parliament with the rhetoric slogans by the opposition, and finally approved by the cabinet. The phrase “friendly budget”, usually, echoes in the both houses of the parliament and outside. And, the phrase is repeated by every federal government, though the implications bring opposite and grim picture of the said promises in the budget at the end of the fiscal year.  Very importantly, a budget is like a mirror for a nation in which it foresees the standard of the economy in the coming years, and ultimately that changes the living standard of the people.

Budget is a financial term which is often misunderstood by a common and a layman. A common man takes in the term BUDGET DEFICIT as a loss of the economy, and actually it does not mean that. Actually, budget indicates to a plan specifying how resources, especially time or money will be allocated or spent during a particular fiscal period. It does not mean business. In addition to it, budget deficit describes the excess of the expenditure over the revenues. Therefore, it must not be taken as a loss. Simply, we can say that a man has to spend Rs. 100 in order to meet his daily domestic requirements, but the man possesses Rs.90. So, he shorts with Rs. 10. Now, it is the test for the man that how he utilizes his resources in orders to meet the gap between expense and revenue. Similarly, a government chalks out the development programs to be initiated in the coming year and their costs.

Moreover, many developed countries like the US, the UK and Japan usually present a budget with deficit which does not reflect the economic status. Now a question arises that what are the parameters that measure the status of a stable economy. First, above 6% GDP growth, Second, Controlled inflation rate, third and the main export and import ratio, positive export ratio, undoubtedly, portrays the picture of the lucrative investment environment, finally the per capita income in response with population depicts complete scenario of an economy in a jiffy. Per capita means for each person and currently, Pakistan enjoys $2400 per year. When compared with the neighbors like Iran ($11200), India ($3400) and China ($7400), Pakistan is lagging far behind them.

It is another matter as to how much portion of the GDP is allocated for a particular department. It is up to a government’s priority whether it wants to boost defense to secure the borders or to brighten up the minds of the people with education. It must be noted that foreign aids and donations are not included in GDP growth.

As discussed earlier, a budget is mainly composed on the plans of income generation and consumption of the income.  The income sources are: The important and main source is TAX which is due right of a government and on the behalf of this main source of income, the government plans development programs for the welfare of the public. The other sources are the government owned large corporations which yield profit in billions if administered effectively and efficiently. In Pakistan, the state owned companies are in woeful conditions. In result, bailout packages are given to the white elephants in order to provide some oxygen. The pak railyway, Steel Mills and PIA are the best examples of the mismanagement. The companies are being run through the public tax instead of giving profit to the people in return. 

Sometimes, a budget can be like an earthquake which jolts a common man with shocks of tax increment. It is, basically, a financial policy. It brings, unquestionably, some negative effects on common citizens, but, on the other hand, it brings huge amount for the government for a particular fiscal period. Later on, the tax rate can be lowered when the money tank of the federal government is filled up with the collected tax. Additionally, it is important for the cabinet to inspire the people to welcome the tax widening by adopting austerity and other measures.

Budget and economy should not be confused and intermixed. In short, budget shows the futuristic picture of the economy and the plans to eliminate the bottlenecks in the way of development, whereas the economy presents the current scenario of the trade and commerce of a state.

an unexploited wealth

What a State needs to be progressive, prosperous, and have a higher fly in the comity of the nations? You will be probably thinking about dedicated and visionary leadership, unity in the nation, and more importantly about the natural minerals which boost an economy that creates lucrative business environment and millions of jobs. Yes, it is correct and Pakistan enjoys almost all kind of natural wealth that has been bestowed by the God.

Unfortunately, like other resources, the government of Pakistan has not been able to utilize an important physical human resource effectively and efficiently- youth of the country. The youth shares sixty percent of the total population which is mostly illiterate, un-skilled, and has become a burden on the economy instead of being a powerful dose to it, which is highly demanded by some developing countries such as Australia and Canada.

Instead of exploiting benefits, creativity and true leadership from it, is being used in unskilled professions. The youth which usually holds the flag of a country, and takes it with determination and enthusiasm towards the prosperity and development, is under the debris of unemployment, suffering from poor career counseling, and dithering from the vision. The graduates are revolving around the houses of MPA’s and MNA’s in order to get a job in government sector. Importantly, it is the slaughter of merit and oppression against those who burn midnight oil to make their dreams come true. The period of the life under which the youth fall, is the most productive and energetic. If their energies are not channeled they fail to captivate opportunities that come their way.

Moreover, there has been brain-drain in country due to worse law and order situation. A small part of the youth which is educated and highly skilled always dreams about developed countries. Is not a bad luck for us that a plant which was sowed, grown up in a country, and now the tree is giving fruits to the other nations? I don’t call it a misfortunate. I call it mismanagement and poor governance that has crumbled the dreams of the youth. Thousands of highly qualified doctors and engineers are serving in the western and the middle -eastern countries. Why not to serve in our homeland?

There is need to sort out the reasons for wasting such a valuable resource. The main responsibility lies on the shoulders of the government, which is unable to perform properly. The question rises why the youth especially in the rural areas is uneducated? The options of the answer are: allocation of educational budget less than the requirement (1.5% of GDP), corruption, and fewer opportunities of employment after graduation. Surprisingly, all options are correct to the answer. Therefore, there is serious need to increase the educational budget according to the UNO standard, and corruption, which is a venom in our society and running into our blood streams, needed to be eliminated by paying handsome salaries to the teachers and establishing honest educational accountability teams.

NGOs, undoubtedly, can play a pivotal role in nurturing up youth. There are thousands of non government organizations which are working every nook and corner of the country. It can be done by setting up recreation and youth centers in all districts of the country.

Communities and welfare societies, in this context, should not leg behind, and support the youth to remove its frustration at least by thought-provoking and motivational talks. It should be kept in mind that youth is our asset and this valuable wealth should not let be turned into a liability. Once Franklin Roosevelt right said “We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.”

The youth itself, in order to be a sturdy pillar of the country, will have to come up. Unfortunately, the spoon feed mindset prevail here especially in rural area. Whatever the facilities are available must be availed, though there are many problems.

Last and very crucial is determination and enthusiasm among the youth to achieve certain goals. Change has to be start from individuals. The youth has to show that they want change-peaceful change. A change which can alter the course of history, and assert the historians not to repeat the mantra of the blunders in their research papers, which we have committed in the past. If we are not changing ourselves, we cannot change the society. Turn up the pages of the history, you will come to know that nations have transformed themselves not others have done it. Daily long claims are made and blustering slogans are chanted, but are hollow and the implementation is not on the roads. Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.