HYDERABAD, Sept 24: A two-day national seminar on Curriculum for Pakistan Studies, organized by the Pakistan Study Centre, University of Sindh, concluded here on Friday.

Speakers called for a uniform curriculum for Pakistan study centres all over the country.

The seminar recommended that political, cultural and socio economic advancements that had taken place in the country must be included in the curriculum of Pakistan studies.

Eminent writer Ibrahim Joyo stressed upon Pakistan study centres to fulfil their responsibilities in creating awareness among youth about history, culture and socio-economic development in the country.

The vice-chancellor of the University of Sindh, Mazharul Haq Siddiqui, lauded the efforts of the Pakistan Study Centre for organizing the seminar. Dr Hyder Sindhi, the director of the National Institute of Pakistan Study, Quaid-i-Azam University, spoke at length on the status of centres.

Prof Lal Jiskani spoke on the history and working of the Pakistan Study Centre, University of Sindh. Prof Bashir Shaikh presented a draft curriculum for Pakistan studies incorporating all fields of study relating to the subject.

Prof Dr Jaffer Ahmed, the director of the Pakistan Study Centre, University of Karachi, spoke at length on curriculum, prospectus and functioning of the Pakistan Study Centre, Karachi.

He emphasized the need for collaboration among Pakistan study centres of the country. Prof Dr Rafia Ahmed Shaikh, Dr Habibullah Siddiqui and Prof Farzana Baloch also spoke on the occasion.

Earlier on Thursday, the vice-chancellor of the University of Sindh urged scholars and intellectuals to keep in mind the problems of society while preparing syllabus of any discipline, especially that of Pakistan Studies.

The vice-chancellor said universities were there to provide freedom of expression to their students and scholars to speak out the truth loudly. He stressed the need for updating Pakistan Studies by including culture and tradition of the people residing in the country.

He said the Higher Education Commission was providing help for updating curriculum of different disciplines. He said the National Institute of Pakistan Studies in Islamabad as well as other centres across the country should seek help from the HEC.

Prof Dr Hyder Sindhi, the director of the National Institute of Pakistan Studies, Quaid-i-Azam University, highlighted the problems faced by Pakistan study centres all over the country.

He said Pakistan study centres were established in 1976 all over the country and prior to it centres were started on trial basis in 1973. He said the output was very poor due to lack of teachers of Pakistan studies in colleges.

He said the Pakistan study must be incorporated as a major subject instead of minor subject in the syllabus. The dean of the faculty of social sciences, Dr Rafia Shaikh, who is also the director of the Pakistan Study Centre, University of Sindh, highlighted aims and objectives and need for organizing the seminar.

She said the Pakistan Study Centre was established in 1974. She said the main purpose of organizing the seminar was to undertake collective efforts for the development of curriculum for Pakistan studies in all six study centres.

She said that revised curriculum would be drafted in the light of discussions and suggestions of the seminar subject to be approved by the Board of Advanced Studies as well as the Academic Council. Eminent scholar Dr Habib Siddiqui, Prof Lal Jiskani and others also expressed their views in the working session of seminar on the first day.