The Business | EDITORIAL/OPINTueIsdOay , FeN bruary 090, 24021 Time to activate provincial HECs DR NAAZIR MAHMOOD hated now. There was no race to pub - Now it has been over ten years that the what Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, adviser lish sub-standard ‘research papers’ matter is in a limbo. Currently, all the Boards and Universities in Sindh, said n view of some recent decisions with multiple names as authors. There money for higher education is given to at a recent presser, this particular pol - Chief Editor and policies of the HEC, and were no professors who could claim the HEC which in turn distributes it icy is not an attack on provincial au - keeping in mind the post-18th authorships of hundreds and in some among the universities. The right ap - tonomy, it is simply a matter of Irfan Athar Qazi AmIendment educational scene in the cases thousands of papers of dubious proach is to enable and empower the educational qualification and its worth. country, perhaps it is the right time to research. provincial HECs and the money for Chairman of Sindh HEC Dr Asim Hus - E-mail: [email protected] start devolving higher education man - There were no search committees higher education should also be trans - sain appears to have better sense in this agement to provinces and activate that looked for VCs, and ended up ferred to them, curtailing the red tape matter as he is in favour of associate [email protected] provincial HECs. This suggestion may making a mockery of the entire system in the HEC in Islamabad. The HEC at degrees. shock some well-wishers of higher ed - of appointing heads of universities. the federal level should confine itself Following the 18th Amendment ucation in Pakistan. Gen Musharraf himself had Lt-Gens as to setting standards – and that too in should not mean that the quality of ed - Tijarat House, 14-Davis Road, Lahore If you look at the broader picture, it VCs of universities including the Uni - consultation with provincial HECs. ucation suffers in provinces. It simply will make perfect sense. Twenty years versity of Punjab. Even now, universi - Universities in each province should be means that the provinces establish ro - 0423-6312280, 6312480, 6312429, 6312462 ago, when the government of General ties such as Air University, Bahria accountable to their own provincial bust institutions and structures, and Cell # 0321-4598258 Musharraf formed a committee to University, Foundation University, Na - HECs and not to the federal or national universities are free to make their de - transform the erstwhile University tional University of Modern Lan - HEC. cisions – provided they are in line with Grants Commission (UGC) into the guages, and many others have retired The decision to discontinue the two- the standards set by the national HEC Higher Education Commission, tech - personnel from security forces heading year undergraduate degree programme and implemented and overseen by 1270-B, Peoples Colony No I, Off: Chenone nocrats such as Shams Lakha and Dr universities. But the same appointment and replace it with an associate degree provincial HECs. The Sindh Universi - Atta-ur-Rahman sprang into action. for other universities goes through a programme is a step in the right direc - ties Amendment Act 2018 is good in Road, Faisalabad, Ph: 041-8555582 They were amply supported by inter - rigmarole of advertisements, short list - tion. Around the world, a minimum of essence but needs improvements that national donors including the World ings, and interviews, where senior pro - 16 years of education is a must to ob - the provincial HEC should recommend Bank. Throughout the nine years fessors and deans are lined up in tain a bachelor’s degree, but all stu - in consultation with stakeholders from ISLAMABAD / RAWALPINDI of Gen Musharraf’s dictatorship, the dozens. dents must have an exit option after all degree-awarding institutions in the N-125 Circular Road, Ph: 051-5551654, HEC was projected as a success story. Again, it is true that the HEC has two years to get an associate degree. In province. Undue interference of the 5532761, Cell # 0300-8567331 Hardly anyone can dispute that the done some good work such as intro - the context of Pakistan, where the en - HEC from Islamabad in matters of uni - KARACHI HEC has done some good work over ducing new disciplines and facilitating rollment ratio in higher education is versities must stop. 3rd Floor Kehkashan Mall 172-I Block II PECHS two decades but that is not the whole new universities, but ideally all this just nine percent, it is imperative that The opportunity to do graduation as Opp Rehmania Masjid Main Tariq Road story. should have been done by provincial more students enroll in universities and external candidates must continue, as Ph: 021-34524550, Cell # 0300-8251534 The reports of its success were HECs with some guidance from the degree colleges. there are not thousands but millions of highly exaggerated. Many of its poli - HEC in Islamabad. The argument that There are many students who cannot students who study at home or with pri - cies right from the beginning were provinces lack the potential to establish complete a full four-year degree pro - vate tuition and appear for exams. The highly discriminatory, smacked of total and manage their own HEC is mis - gramme due to financial constraints. system of exams for external candidates Administering oblivion to local realities, and pro - placed. The competency of the person - That is why there is a need to introduce may be improved to ensure better qual - moted a technocratic approach that had nel who come to join the HEC in an associate degree programme in all ity. Similarly, the drama of degree ver - little value for the actual promotion of Islamabad may also be questionable, as degree-awarding institutions. Restor - ification by the HEC in Islamabad must the vaccine higher education in the true sense of it can be at the provincial level. The ap - ing the old system of two-year bache - come to an end now as it has caused The countrywide rollout of the Covid-19 vaccination this term. It is correct that the UGC pointments at the HEC should follow a lor’s degree programmes is ill-advised tremendous hardships to thousands of started in the country with a special event at the PM’s worked more like a post office and provincial quota as it is a federal insti - and the teachers who are protesting students trying to verify their degree. It House, a critical care specialist at the Pakistan Institute of used to transfer grants to universities tution. should ideally be demanding the intro - should be the university itself that Medical Sciences, Dr Rana Imran Sikandar, received the that the federal government allocated If our provinces have dozens of uni - duction of two-year associate degrees should verify the degree, as happens in first injection. The next day the National Command and Op - to it. But the best part of the UGC was versities and hundreds of campuses and four-year bachelor’s degrees other countries. The next meeting of the eration Centre launched the first phase of the campaign for that it gave universities nearly com - with thousands of professors, the same across Pakistan. Provincial HECs Council of Common Interest (CCI) the frontline healthcare professionals. The second phase is plete freedom in their academic mat - provinces may also find suitable can - should be coordinating and initiating must raise the issue of transferring to cover people over 65 years of age followed by those in ters. didates to staff their provincial HECs. all such programmes rather than the higher education funds to provinces and the above 60-year-age bracket, and the third phase all oth - Universities had a system to appoint Our universities in all provinces need HEC in Islamabad. In nearly all uni - reducing the powers of the HEC to just ers except those under 18 years. The aim, Special Assistant their vice-chancellors by recommend - resources to establish new depart - versities of Pakistan, the two-year de - standard setting, and not trying to mi - to the PM (SAPM) for Health Services Dr Faisal Sultan, told ing the names of three senior profes - ments, introduce new disciplines, and gree programme is already defunct. cromanage universities across the coun - journalists, is to develop herd immunity by vaccinated 70 sors to the chancellor who was in most hire the best teachers from across the In some degree colleges, two-year try. The new PhD policy of the HEC percent of the population. He went on to suggest that a large cases governor of the province where country and perhaps from around the undergraduate programmes are still of - also needs some comments, but that I number of the people already infected by the virus do not the university was located. There was a world. The 18th Amendment rightly fered; these should be replaced with as - leave to another column. need vaccination as they are unlikely to get re-infected; system of teacher promotion which transferred higher education to the sociate degrees. Anyone completing an other health experts, however, say those having contracted took into account both seniority and the provinces but CJ Iftikhar Chaudhry did associate degree should be able to The writer holds a PhD from the infection also need to be vaccinated for a stronger and long- number of publications. There was no not like it and stopped the devolution complete another two years’ education University of Birmingham, lasting immunity.For the first phase of the immunization tenure-track system which is much of higher education by a court order. to get a bachelor’s degree. Contrary to UK and works in Islamabad. drive China has donated a million doses of its Sinopharm vaccine. The World Health Organisation’s COVAX Facility is to provide another 17 million doses of AstraZeneca vac - cine by June. Orders have also been placed for procuring vaccines form several other sources. It is good to know that the supplies will soon be plentiful. Indian interference Administering the vaccine, though, may become a challeng - ing task. Many even in developed counties are resisting vac - cines, claiming they change the DNA. In Pakistan, where in Balochistan polio vaccine drives are violently opposed by a certain section MASUD AHMAD KHAN of society as a Western conspiracy to reduce Muslim popu - lation by rendering children impotent, Covid-19 vaccines he province of Balochistan may not be accepted easily. Some otherwise sane people are spreads over an area of apprehensive, too, about possible adverse side-effects. It is 347,188 square kilometres imperative therefore to raise public awareness about vaccine and accounts for 43 percent of the safety.It is worth noting that the various vaccination kickoff T entire country. Balochistan was of events were overseen by the Prime Minister in Islamabad and great importance to the USSR in her chief ministers in all the four provincial capitals as well as in pursuance of the southward drive to AJK and Gigit-Baltistan. gain access to warm waters. Since In our case, the PM and the CMs may have decided not to then, Balochistan has been the focus do that lest some thought they were taking advantage of their of foreign intervention due to its geo- positions. Considering that there are many doubters, they strategic placing in the region. The need to be seen leading by example. As for the concerns about Gwadar port lies at the opening of side-effects, it would be helpful to highlight the experience of the Strait of Hormuz through which Dr. Sikandar, the first Pakistani to get the injection. He told 40 percent of the world’s oil passes. an interviewer that he did 4km jogging the same evening, and It also provides an energy corridor was in good health. The doctor also pointed that this vaccine for shipping gas and oil from Central where they get orders. In 2015, Pak - is like any other people take as children such as BCG just Asian States to the Arabian Sea. istan handed over three dossiers to after birth, polio vaccine till the age of five and several other Indians feel threatened by Pak - the then Secretary General, Ban-Ki- vaccines throughout life. Other health experts should also be istan’s growing power as well as the Moon, about India’s interference in called on to address, through the media, any doubts that some speedy progress of CPEC, especially Balochistan, erstwhile FATA and people may have about the Covid-19 vaccines. in Balochistan. India is neither happy Karachi. In 2017, another dossier with CPEC nor the Chinese presence was delivered by Pakistan’s perma - in Gwadar since it is being taken as a nent representative Maleeha Lodhi threat to the Indian Sea Line of Com - which had proof of Indian interfer - munication (SLOC) and regional ence in Balochistan and the rest of hegemony. The Indian objective is to Pakistan. In November 2020, yet an - undermine Pakistan’s economy by other dossier was shared with the Why a national image matters? disturbing peace in Balochistan and United Nations, five permanent MALEEHA LODHI view that the country’s image is of economic incentives. He counter - countries but also their publics not allowing the development of the members of the Security Council and little significance. The expression posed the soft power of “persua - whose opinion can impact on gov - Gwadar port to safeguard her SLOC. OIC as well. It contained India’s at - rime minister Imran Khan ‘soft image’ is often used in Pak - sion and cooption”, to the “power ernment policy to support a coun - Furthermore, India is sponsoring ter - tempts to undermine CPEC and made a number of asser - istan but without any real under - of coercion” represented by the try’s objectives. Similarly, rorism in Pakistan—particularly in overall Pakistani progress. It was tions recently at the standing of what it means or hard power of military and eco - international opinion matters as it Balochistan—by using also revealed that the Indian ambas - lauPnch of a documentary film encompasses. There is even less nomic strength. And he saw cul - creates perceptions about a coun - Afghanistan’s soil and incite a sepa - sador and consulate general in Jalal - about the irrelevance of promoting awareness about what ‘soft power’ ture, political values and foreign try that can help or hinder its abil - ratist movement by Baloch dissi - abad had been involved in giving a ‘soft image’ of the country. is, what constitutes it and why policy as the main sources of soft ity to achieve its foreign policy dents abroad. financial support to TTP and dissi - These statements warrant com - countries, big and small, deploy it power. Other scholarly studies goals. Thus, soft power efforts are In fact, the Indian prime minister dent Baloch elements. India had al - ment as the prime minister isn’t to advance their goals in the point out that a range of diverse at - crucial to positively shape percep - played the Balochistan card against located Rs80 billion (695 million alone in holding these views. world. Put simply, a positive tributes can comprise soft power tions abroad and ensure that a Pakistan on August 15, 2016, during dollars) to raise a militia of 700 peo - Other people also subscribe to this image of a country reflects and resources. They include a coun - country’s narrative is heard and his Independence Day speech and ple in Pakistan to disrupt CPEC proj - opinion. generates soft power. try’s governance and human rights accepted. denounced Pakistan for its so-called ects. The prime minister said that the The image of a country obvi - record, its educational, scientific Endeavours to build a good human rights abuses in Balochistan. It was also revealed during the people of Pakistan should not be ously derives from its various at - and technological prowess, culture image and be ‘liked’ in the world On March 3, 2016, a serving naval press conference that a former Indian concerned about creating a ‘soft tributes — society, culture, values, and heritage, media and commu - enables countries — powerful and officer working for RAW, Kulb - ambassador and an Indian general image’ of the country only to economy and politics. Every coun - nication, entertainment, tourist at - not so powerful — to more effec - hushan Jadhav, was arrested in visited a Baloch training camp in the please outsiders, specifically the try has strengths and weaknesses. tractions, business practices, and tively promote economic (trade Balochistan for manning terrorist ac - Haji Gak area of Afghanistan. India West. He asked a rhetorical ques - Emphasising the positive aspects of course its foreign policy con - and investment) and diplomatic tivities in the province. In a video, he supported and funded terrorist attacks tion: what does a ‘soft image’ re - of a country is not about pleasing duct. goals (eliciting cooperation to ad - confessed that his purpose was to on Pearl Continental in Gwadar, the ally mean? Will creating such an others or being defensive. In fact, The world’s most powerful vance core interests). ‘National hold meetings with Baloch insur - Chinese consulate in Karachi, at Or - image mean the “world will con - not doing so allows rivals or ad - states, that possess formidable branding’ represents a key part of gents and carry out activities with mara and targeted the Karachi Stock sider us as very good?” This, he versaries to define you and seize military and economic strength — these efforts and seeks to convert their collaboration.” He also con - Exchange as well. The suicidal attack argued, only reflects an inferiority the narrative, to the country’s and ‘stand on their own feet’ — soft power resources into an iden - fessed that his mission was to disrupt on the Baloch leader, Siraj Raisani, complex and the mark of people detriment. use soft power in their strategies, tifiable ‘brand’ to attract others. CPEC development and destabilise which was being controlled from who lack self-confidence. Only an Turning to the concept of soft and spend a great deal of resources Again, it is a way to engage inter - Balochistan by supporting terrorists. Spin Boldak in Afghanistan, killed independent and confident nation power, its greater importance on this, not because they lack con - national attention to promote a India is fuelling insurgency in 400 innocent people. commands the respect of others. today is a consequence of our fidence, but as this helps to mag - country’s economic and commer - Balochistan by funding, training and The western border is now being The prime minister is right that changing times. In a world funda - nify their influence and cial interests in competitive global arming terrorists through active sup - fenced –a project worth 532 million an image should not be manufac - mentally transformed by techno - supplement their ‘hard power’. markets. port of its consulates at Jalalabad and dollars. 84 percent of the western tured merely to please others. That logical and scientific advances as Western countries have long been For Pakistan, which has long Kandahar. India is also trying to cre - border has been fenced and hundreds would never work as any hollow well as the information revolution practising this while China is now suffered from international image ate an ISIS chapter in Pakistan and of border outposts have been created. characterisation bereft of reality the nature of power has also been investing heavily in soft power problems, in part due to mis-char - went on to relocate 30 Daesh mili - In Balochistan, Pakistan has also will lack credibility. There can changing. Widely accepted is the projection and making vigorous acterisations and deliberate distor - tants from India to the Pak-Afghan completed a 1100 kilometres long also be no disagreement with his fact that military and economic efforts to win hearts and minds tions and partly because of border. In 2014, Ajit Doval, the In - trench, which is 3 meter in depth and assertion that national confidence power are not the only determi - globally. on-ground realities, it is even more dian National Security Advisor, vis - about 4 meters in width, along the comes from “standing on one nants of a country’s international Building a positive image as imperative to undertake soft power ited Iraq to create an understanding Balochistan-Afghan Border. The own’s feet” and not relying on aid standing and clout. Nor are they part of a soft power strategy is efforts to correct misperceptions, and working relationship with world’s so called biggest democracy or borrowing from outside. How - regarded adequate any more to even more important for develop - and more importantly, to project its Daesh. India was also behind the has become a rogue state which is ever, the projection of a ‘soft guarantee success in securing for - ing and smaller countries in order many positive socioeconomic at - Kabul gurdwara attack as well as the fanning state terrorism. image’ that he regards as futile eign policy goals. Increasingly a to raise their standing and enhance tributes and rich heritage of arts, Jalalabad prison attack which was The world community needs to seems to be based on a misunder - country’s reputation and positive their outreach in a crowded inter - civilisation and culture. This re - claimed by ISIS. RAW has also take notice of Indian state sponsored standing and is at odds with what image count and play a pivotal national environment. In an in - quires, for a start, official recogni - launched web radio and live podcasts terrorism and all the dossiers that he has said at other times. He has role in earning respect and en - creasingly multipolar and tion that the endeavour is vital for in the Balochi language for online contained irrefutable proof of India’s often stated how tourism and Pak - hancing its diplomatic weight in hyperconnected world, power is the pursuit of its national goals and listeners to promote its propaganda involvement in Pakistan. The Pak - istan’s scenic beauty can help to international affairs. much more dispersed between and foreign policy interests. It needs, campaign. On June 23, 2018, India istan army is playing a pivotal role promote the country’s image and Harvard scholar Joseph Nye, within states. This drives the need above all, imagination to craft such inaugurated the ‘Free Balochistan’ for ensuring durable peace and de - attract more visitors. Also, at the who introduced the notion of soft to influence a diverse array of ac - a strategy and incorporate it into its office in New Delhi which is being velopment in the province by pro - same launch event he lamented power, defined it as the ability to tors and many more nations in otherwise staid diplomacy. run by Baloch dissidents with the tecting national assets and by how PTV dramas no longer attract shape the preferences of others pursuit of foreign policy goals. The writer is a support of RAW. Most of the Baloch eliminating the safe haven of terror - overseas audiences as they once and achieve outcomes through “at - Soft power not just aims at influ - former ambassador dissidents who are operating outside ists. The whole nation is standing did, which again contradicts the traction” rather than coercion or encing policymakers in other to the US, UK and UN. Pakistan regularly visit India from shoulder to shoulder with the Pak -