THE Higher Education Commission (HEC) has introduced several fully-funded programmes for Pakistani students to pursue research-based studies, including PhD and master’s, from prestigious foreign universities.

The purpose of introducing these programmes was to create a critical mass of highly qualified resources equipped with scholarly knowledge and advanced pedagogy as well as research skills that could benefit the local universities and the country at large.

But, many of the research scholars could not complete their degrees despite receiving timely funding for four years from the HEC. While the HEC is responsible for not properly monitoring the performance and progress of the scholars, there is one other element that has been the major cause of delay in scholarly pursuits; Wolt! What is that, many of you might ask. Well, it is a famous on-demand food delivery service across Europe and in some other locations.

It offers flexible work hours and a reasonably good salary package for its food delivery staff. This motivates Pakistani scholars in Europe to abandon their research careers and adopt a new profession as food delivery riders. If it goes unnoticed, Pakistan will soon produce an army of food delivery riders instead of research scholars.

For many, it may be shocking to know that the HEC spends on average Rs22 million – return airfare, four years of tuition fees, and four years of living allowance/stipend – from taxpayers’ money to produce a food delivery rider.

The authorities concerned should immediately intervene in the matter, take necessary corrective measures to stop this menace, and ensure the timely return of research scholars for their better utilisation in the country.

Aijaz A. Shaikh

Jyväskylä, Finland

AGE RELAXATION: The decision by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government earlier this year to increase the age limit for the Provincial Management Service (PMS) exam was a step in the right direction. The federal government should also provide similar respite for the upcoming Central Superior Services (CSS) exam 2022. This will go a long way in alleviating the miseries of thousands of young Pakistanis who have lost their jobs in the wake of the Covid-induced financial crisis.

Asim Khan

Lahore

LIBRARY ISSUES: The Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto Memorial Library in Larkana holds a great importance for the locals, but it is facing several management issues. It remains overcrowded most of the time and students hardly find a place to study in peace. The entrance to the library is extremely narrow, and when it opens at 8am, there is often a pandemonium to enter and reach the reference rooms before the others. The management may charge a nominal fee which will keep the non-serious people away.

Faizan Raza

Larkana

BEGGARS IN KARACHI: Scores of beggars dominate parts of Defence Housing Authority, Karachi, especially in commercial areas where eateries abound. The relevant authorities for some strange reason prefer to act as silent spectators. Recently, when I asked a beggar to do something better, he actually became furious and asked me to mind my own business!

Tahir Hassan

Karachi

INCOME INEQUALITY: According to the recent Global Trends 2040 report, Pakistan has experienced a slight decline in income inequality in the last three decades. Income inequality has been increasing in most developed economies, such as the US, China and Russia. The world average income inequality is 37, as measured by the Gini coefficient. Pakistan is below the average for the last three decades. Pakistan should take initiatives to make this decline substantial in the future.

Ali Azlan

Lahore

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2021