Abdul Sattar
THE recent decision of the Punjab Government making it mandatory for universities to teach students the Holy Quran with translation is a positive step. The KP Assembly and the National Assembly have also passed resolutions urging the government to introduce the study of the Holy Book with Urdu translation. This shows that our law-makers are really interested in promoting the teaching of Islam and spreading the message of God. Governor Punjab Muhammad Sarwar had been making efforts for this purpose, constituting a seven-member Committee of Vice-Chancellors in April to submit recommendations over the issue. A notification issued by the government states that a student will not be awarded a degree if he or she does not study the Holy Quran with the translation. “Lecturers in all universities of Punjab will teach the Holy Quran with translation to all students,” said the notification. It added that the Holy Book will be taught separately from the Islamiat subject, which is already being taught at universities.
Governor Sarwar believes that success in the world and the hereafter can only be achieved through proper implementation on the guidelines of the Holy Quran. Many agree with him on this, advising the Governor to extend the scope of the law, bringing first university-going students of his own family and extended family from the UK, admitting them to Punjab’s universities and letting them benefit from this great blessing which cannot be available in the land of infidels where they are residing at the moment. He should urge other overseas Pakistanis to do the same because then the country would be brimming with graduates having a comprehensive knowledge of the Holy Scripture. This will make God happy and we might be showered with His endless bounties.
If the government manages to teach English translation of the Holy Quran then the Governor could also ask Prime Minister Imran Khan, whose sons would soon be joining any place of high learning, to bring them back to Pakistan, sending them to Punjab’s universities that would offer a purely religious and spiritual environment. Our Prime Minister, being a devout Muslim, a firm believer in spiritualism and a great advocate of the Quran’s learning, cannot dare to refuse such an offer that involves rekindling the hearts of his sons with the divine light and the message of the Quran. In fact let us extend it to the entire federal cabinet, Punjab’s cabinet, KP cabinet and all bureaucrats and civil servants. Why should anyone be deprived of this great blessing? Let Sindh burn in hell if they do not introduce such great schemes but if the PTI is in power at centre and two provinces, it must oblige its’ all ministers, advisors and bureaucrats working under their governments to follow it strictly.
Members of National Assembly and Senate should also prove that there is no dichotomy between what they say and what they act. They must admit their own children or grand-children in Pakistani universities to acquire this Quranic knowledge, which will not benefit them in this world but in the hereafter as well. The Governor and our parliamentarians should also make sure that more than 22 million children, who are out of school for years and majority of whom are from Punjab, be brought back to the places of learning within three months. They must know that attaining knowledge is mandatory for every Muslim—men and women. They must follow this saying of Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) zealously. Some years ago, a report on the state of education claimed that of the 36 districts of Punjab, only 7 were able to retain 97% target – the target of student retention – for all three months, whereas 26 districts could not retain the target percentage in any of the month. That was during the time of Shahbaz. The situation is said to be much worse now.
The ills of Punjab can be blamed on the Sharifs but in the most perfect province on the planet-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the state of education is not rosy either. In KP, according to a report, out of 27,350 functional schools, 7,182 schools are bereft of basic necessities like electricity. The report showed 21,033 primary schools and 6,388 schools were running without electricity. Moreover, 794 schools out of 5,538 secondary schools are in a similar condition. It is a matter of shame for a government that claims to have given importance to education that 2,203 schools including 346 girls’ schools are without boundary walls and 5,047 schools including 1,298 girls’ schools have no clean drinking water facilities. The government also seems to be indifferent towards the issue of hygiene as 2,229 schools including 1,854 for boys and 375 for girls have no toilet facilities for students and staff members.
The Governor is an important leader of PTI and close aide to Khan. He should highlight educational problems of the country with a missionary zeal. It is not only KP or Punjab but the entire country that offers a dismal picture of education with more than 48 per cent of schools in the country running without toilets, boundary walls, electricity and drinking water. Many hope before the launching of this translation project, our schools will be provided with all the stated facilities that they lack at the moment. It may also be mentioned that the Higher Education Commission’s budget has recently been slashed that has jeopardised the future of many Pakistan students studying inside and outside the country. It has also affected the research work at universities, forcing the places of learning to increase their fee. The fee hike would deprive millions of students of education. Therefore, all parliamentarians and members of provincial assemblies should spring into action, increasing not only the budget of provincial bodies for higher education but compel the federal government to help HEC. For a long time the country has not witnessed the establishment of new universities. Efforts must be made to set up at least one hundred new higher education places to cater to the rising population.
—The writer is freelance columnist.
