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Table of Contents
There is much talk about introducing higher pay scales through the Tenure Track System (TTS) in the universities of Pakistan. Among other things, the system encourages evaluation of social scientists. This is a thorny issue because the very idea of evaluation is so complex, sensitive and problematic as to invite hostility or despair. The following remarks are offered, therefore, in a spirit of humility and more to open the debate than to impose a final solution.
First, as in other good universities, research publications and not mere teaching should be the major criterion of judging the competence of academics. To get published in a peer reviewed, indexed, scholarly journal is a fairly established way of ascertaining merit. If a scholarly journal is indexed on many indexes it may be assumed that it has more impact on the scholarly community. This serves as the basis of quantification of merit. For instance, points could be given on each index the journal is on up to a maximum of five. So, one could get between zero to five points per published paper depending upon whether one has published in journal on no index or one on five or more indexes (a paper with two or more authors should be evaluated differently so that points are divided among the authors).
Conference proceedings are not evaluated as stringently as articles in peer-reviewed indexed journals. Thus the marks of a paper in a proceeding should be less (half of an article in a journal on one index).
Books can be of variable standard. The crux of the matter is the press and even more importantly, reviews in indexed journals. Books should be given points only if they are published by a major commercial or major academic publishing house. And even then just one point is enough. There should, however, be another one point per positive review in an indexed journal and half a point in non-indexed publications.
Academics should also be able to claim points for Ph.D and M.Phil theses they supervise provided the theses are evaluated and examined by external examiners. Not more than one point needs to be given to a Ph.D and only half a point to an M.Phil thesis. The reason for allocating less marks for supervision of research is that some supervisors do very little actual supervision allowing the students to sink or swim on their own.
In
my view a rough criterion of quantification of merit will become available using
the ideas suggested here.
To
do research, however, the universities will have to create state-of-the-art
libraries and laboratories. As journals can be obtained through the internet,
this is easier now than before. Moreover, research trips and assistants for
field work will have to be provided to academics as a matter of course.
These steps will bring the best minds to the universities otherwise we will lose whatever talent we have to other jobs or foreign countries.
Recalling our Pioneers: Late Hamza Alavi
On
1st December 2003 one of Pakistan’s leading social scientists passed away. Had
someone who had reached the top of the powerful professions __
politics, military, bureaucracy, judiciary, industry __ died the
state would have lowered the flag or, at least, made headlines in the official
media. But Hamza Alavi was a scholar so he was not showered with awards and
plots of land while alive nor was he given the attention of the state when he
died. And yet, he was a man who influenced generations of social scientists,
especially those working in the progressive tradition, in Pakistan.
He
was born in Karachi on 10th April 1921 and he gave up banking to join the
academic profession. He taught at some of the world’s best universities __
British, American and Asian __ retiring as professor from the
University of Manchester. His articles appeared in many books and in scholarly
journals and Dr. Mubarak Ali, the well-known historian, got some translated into
Urdu. The books comprising his articles are called Jagirdari aur Samraj and Pakistan:
Riasat ka Bohran. They bring the thoughts of this great scholar to those who
cannot read English very well.
In
2002 S. M. Naseem and Khalid Nadvi published a book entitled The Post-Colonial State and Social Transformation in India and Pakistan as
a festschrift to Professor Alavi. And,
indeed, he deserves this honour because it comes from people who sincerely feel
that they are intellectually indebted to him. For this recognition Hamza Alavi
did not have to sneak into the corridors of power.
Hamza
Alavi’s greatest contribution to political theory is the concept of the “salariat”.
The idea is that the colonial state, which is a modern state, creates a large
ubiquitous bureaucracy. Such a bureaucracy is necessary to control people more
effectively and tax them more systematically. The state, therefore, becomes the
greatest single employer. Most of the educated people, or at least those who are
educated in the educational institutions created by the state, want jobs. These
people, who are employed and draw a salary, or who aspire for employment, or
their dependants, are the “salariat”.
Such
a salariat, says Hamza Alavi, was the product of the British colonial rule in
India. This salariat is not one homogeneous whole. Its highest members, in the
civil bureaucracy and the military, are extremely powerful. Indeed, they are the
rulers, in lieu of elected leaders, in a conquered country. The lowest members
can hardly make both ends meet. But all live by the salary which comes from that
which the farmers produce from the land, the workers produce in factories, and
taxation.
This
concept helps us understand both the Pakistan movement and the rise of ethnic
movements in Pakistan. The Hindu and Muslim salariats competed for jobs and
power in pre-partition India. Thus, in Hamza Alavi’s view, Pakistan was not
obtained for Islam but for Muslims. The difference is crucial and relevant
today. If Hamza Alavi is right, and all the evidence supports his point of view,
the creation of a theocracy is not what the Quaid-i-Azam would have approved of.
He was a liberal democrat who wanted the Muslim salariat to live without fear of
Hindu domination but did not want a theocracy.
The
rise of Bengali, Sindhi, Pashtun, Balochi ethnicity is because the salariats of
these groups aspire for their share in power and goods and services the state
provides. They resent Punjabi domination while state functionaries justify it.
Hamza Alavi, in common with others in Pakistan and abroad, has developed this
line of thinking in several papers.
During
the course of this analysis he has referred to major developments in
Pakistan’s history. He has given an account of how the politicians, because of
their weakness and infighting, could not prevent the bureaucracy from
consolidating its power. The military also joined a little later and, since
then, the military-bureaucratic complex has been the most powerful entity __
called the ‘establishment’ __ in Pakistan. He also tells us that
the bureaucracy dominated in the first two interludes of military rule, but
during General Zia-ul-Haq’s days, military was dominant. Among other things he
tells us about the lives of the peasants of the Punjab and, in general, about
women in Pakistan’s male-dominant society. Although papers about politics and
society would appeal to more people, the papers on how the transition from
feudalism to colonial capitalism took place in South Asia would repay reading.
The
latest papers on history, arguing that the communal stridency in Indian Muslims
was the result of the Khilafat Movement, are most intriguing. If this is true
then Gandhi contributed, however indirectly, towards creating Muslim
aggressiveness and assertiveness in India! These are questions which need to be
debated at length.
Hamza
Alavi has something for everybody. His work should be read and discussed and not
ignored as it generally is in our universities.
Hamza
Alavi is no more with us but his writings are. Pakistani universities hardly
make their students read these writings presumably because they question the
false myths laboriously constructed by official spin doctors. The best way to
honour this great mind would be to reprint his works, make them known to
students and understand our society in the light of the insights they give us.
(Contributed by Dr. Tariq Rahman)
Federal
Government:
·
is developing Rs. 400 to Rs. 500
million programme for providing support to the weaker universities. HEC Chairman
and Minister In-charge for Science and Technology, Prof. Dr. Attaur Rahman has
said the focus of the programmme would be towards providing financial assistance
to the ‘weaker’ varsities in Sindh and Balochistan. (Dawn,
April 11, 2004)
·
is compiling a comprehensive
database of all science faculties in public and private sector universities and
has sought every possible detail about the faculty members, students,
laboratories and research activities. (The News, March 1, 2004)
·
has decided to sponsor a programme
of Master and Ph.D degree in Population Sciences at the universities of Punjab,
Faisalabad and Karachi. (Dawn, February 20, 2004)
·
has launched ‘Pakistani Teachers
Education and Professional Development Programme’ in collaboration with the
United States. The three-year programme envisages state of the art training of
250 teachers in vital subjects of Mathematics, English and Science in the
American Institutions with the assistance of USAID. (The
News, January 8, 2004)
·
The Ministry of Education and
Microsoft have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for skill training in
information and communication technology to students and teachers over the next
five years. (The News, January 19,
2004)
·
Has been given the chair of the
SAARC Committee of Heads of University Grants Commissions/equivalent bodies. The
decision was taken at a two-day meeting of heads of University Grants
Commissions of SAARC countries held in Islamabad. HEC will provide 20 Ph.D
scholarships and 10 Post-doctorate fellowships annually for SAARC countries from
July 2004. (Dawn, June 18, 2004)
Has decided
to establish a Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Pakistan at
Islamabad. The Council will establish 200 research chairs at public sector
universities and postgraduate colleges and also be responsible for sharing in
developing and funding strategic research programmes with a variety of
government, business and non-profit organisations. The Council under the
government umbrella will not only develop networking of database of research
available in institutions within the country and abroad but also be responsible
for dissemination of research findings through conferences, seminars and
database networking. (Higher Education
News,
April 2004, p. 4)
Has decided to bestow the title of
“Distinguished National Professors” upon 15 outstanding educationists,
scientists and scholars of the country in recognition of their contributions in
various fields to honour their achievements. They will share their vast
knowledge by delivering academic/research lectures in various universities of
Pakistan. They will also supervise/co-supervise M.Phil/Ph.D students, as well as
conduct workshops/training courses at national level for young faculty members
on modern aspects of their fields. (Higher Education News, April
2004, p. 5) From among the 15
Distinguished National Professors three are members of COSS; Dr. Ahmed Hassan
Dani, Dr. Asghar Qadir and Dr. Tariq Rahman. COSS offers its congratulations to
them.
·
HEC has approved a scheme “Better
Incentives for Faculty Members” to award incentives to faculty members of
public sector universities and institutions of higher learning. Under the
scheme, each university may award three or more monthly salaries in a year to
in-service regular faculty members based on their research performance profile
including research publications of national and international repute, number of
M.Phil/Ph.D theses supervised, grants won and honours and awards received. The
incentives will be extended purely on merit but in no case the number of
recipients will exceed 25% of the faculty strength in each department. (Higher
Education News, April 2004, p. 5)
It is planning to increase the
number of Ph.Ds produced each year to about 1,500 by the year 2009. (Higher
Education News, April
2004, p. 6)
·
It is supporting two research
studies in Anthropology at Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) Islamabad at a cost of
Rs. 1.5 million. The projects entitled “Efficacy of Water Users Organisations
and Water Management in Agriculture (A Study of Water Crisis and Irrigation
System in Pakistan)” and “Social Response to Global Satellite Television
Broadcasting in Pakistan” are being conducted under the supervision of Dr.
Hafeez-ur-Rahman and Dr. Anwar Iqbal, Department of Anthropology, QAU
respectively. (Higher Education News,
April 2004, p. 7)
HEC has initiated a programme for Social Sciences Research in France for five research scholars each from Pakistan and France to explore research partners in the fields of Social Sciences and Humanities for furtherance of research activities. The candidates will be required to submit a brief proposal describing the theme of their research as well as the research studies conducted by them together with the details of the work to be done during their stay in France. (Higher Education News, April 2004, p. 8)
·
Under its post-Doctoral Foreign
Fellowship Programme for University Teachers 2003, HEC provides an opportunity
for active university teachers holding Ph.D degrees to work in well equipped
universities/research laboratories of the world in the priority fields of basic
and applied sciences, engineering, agriculture, ICT, social sciences, arts and
humanities. The Pakistani researchers are given an opportunity to work in
new/emerging fields of education, research and to acquire new technologies from
advanced countries. National Science Management Committee has selected 25
candidates under this programme. They include seven social scientists. (Higher
Education News, April 2004, p. 10)
·
HEC has signed a Memorandum of
Understanding with Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) under which 40
candidates from the higher education sector will be sent to pursue
Post-graduate/Doctorate programmes in Germany every year. HEC will support a
number of postgraduate/doctorate students from several of its target
institutions of higher education for postgraduate/doctorate degree studies in
Germany, starting in 2004 until 2009. (Higher
Education News, April 2004, p.1)
·
Has approved a scheme submitted by
Government College University, Lahore to establish Sustainable Development Study
Centre. The Centre will undertake research on development issues with particular
reference to environment. The scheme will cost Rs. 9.90 million. (Higher
Education News, March 2004, p. 6 )
·
HEC has decided to launch a new
scheme of monographs and textbook writing at the cost of Rs. 35 million. The
scheme aims at encouraging the professors and researchers of public sector
universities and research organisations to write curriculum-based monographs and
textbooks. (Dawn,
March 4, 2004)
·
Has announced the launching of a
national digital library, under which institutions of higher learning will be
able to have access to over 11,600 full text online journals of international
publishing houses. (Dawn, February 24,
2004)
·
British Council, Pakistan and HEC
have signed an agreement on the Management of Higher Education Links Programme
between the universities of Britain and Pakistan. Under the programme, higher
education links would be established for three years between top Pakistani and
British educational institutions. These links would generally be between the
departments rather than individuals or institutions. The programme is open to
all chartered universities/degree awarding institutes in public and private
sectors of Pakistan. (Higher Education
News, February 2004, p. 5)
·
Has issued the subject-wise merit
list of 1,000 indigenous Ph.D fellowship awards. The list has been prepared on
the basis of GRE test held on December 28, 2003 at 15 different centres
throughout the country. They include 206 social scientists. Under the scheme,
more than 23,000 candidates applied for the fellowship out of which 19,000 were
short-listed for the test. More than 15,000 candidates appeared in the test and
only 1,900 candidates secured 50 per cent or above marks. (Dawn,
February 15, 2004)
·
Has worked out a new curriculum of
special education for graduate and postgraduate courses offered by public-sector
universities. The National Curriculum Review Committee (NCRC) of HEC also made a
number of recommendations and suggestions to enhance the credibility of the
discipline in institutions of higher learning. (Dawn,
January 24, 2004)
·
Has decided to interlink research
facilities available at the public sector universities in the country. The
objective of the programme is to allow all private and public sector
institutions and laboratories to have an access to all laboratories in the
country. (The News, January 13, 2004)
·
HEC will separately negotiate the
Tenure Track System (TTS) and the Model University Ordinance (MUO) with each
public sector university to make them acceptable to the universities. (Dawn,
December 24, 2003)
·
Has initiated ‘International
Research Support Programme’ through which 70 Ph.D students from public sector
universities and degree-awarding institutions of Pakistan will be selected to
conduct research abroad. The programme will facilitate the scholars to conduct
research for a period of six months in prominent international universities. (Dawn,
December 23, 2003)
·
Under its Strengthening of Social
Sciences Programme, HEC has approved Rs. 5.4 million for promoting and
developing the Department of Public Administration by cultivating a rigorous
research methodology and academic development through qualified scholars and
internet and satellite dialogues. (Information provided by Department of Public
Administration, Gomal University, D. I. Khan)
·
Has approved a sum of Rs. 500,000/-
for a study titled “Peoples Participation and Local Government: A Case Study
of District Government in North Western Pakistan” by Shadiullah Khan, a
faculty member of the department of Public Administration, Gomal University, D.
I. Khan. (Information provided by Department of Public Administration, Gomal
University, D. I. Khan)
·
Has selected Ghulam Muhammad Kundi,
a faculty member and a Ph.D scholar at Department of Public Administration for
three-month training programme under “Faculty Development Programme”.
(Information provided by Department of Public Administration, Gomal University,
D. I. Khan)
Government
of the Punjab
·
Melbourne University of Australia will start a pilot project
of teacher’s training in the Punjab to train teachers at the tehsil level. (Dawn,
May 11, 2004)
·
The Government of the Punjab has
approved an autonomous institute of Punjabi Language and Culture. A panel of
experts will design the Charter of the Institute.
(Dawn, January 14, 2004)
·
The Punjab Assembly has passed a
bill for setting up a university at Gujrat. The university shall include the
faculties of Arts, Social Sciences, Science, Technology, Islamic and Oriental
Learning, Management and Administrative Sciences and Engineering. (Dawn,
January 15, 2004)
The
NWFP Government has constituted a Commission under the Shariat Act 2003 to
enhance literacy rate and improve the quality of education besides recommending
changes in the curriculum in accordance with the teachings of Islam. (Dawn,
December 21, 2003)
The
Government of Sindh will launch an Early Childhood Education plan to enhance the
existing rate of early childhood education
up to 60% by the year 2015 costing Rs. 18.06 billion. A total of 24,734
teachers, instructors and supervisor will be employed to execute the plan. (Dawn,
February 6, 2004)
Dawah
Academy of IIU has published a special issue of its magazine, Dawah. The 256-page issue contains articles by leading scholars and
writers on the life and contributions of Maulana Abul A’ala Maudoodi. The
Academy has so far published special issues on Allama Iqbal and Dr. Hameed Ullah.
(The News, April 12, 2004)
Allama
Iqbal Open University (AIOU), Islamabad
Allama
Iqbal Open University has decided to start a direct Ph.D programme in Social
Sciences and Humanities. In this regard the University has started to register
as many as 300 retired and in-service Ph.D supervisors form all over the country
as Research Associates who will be paid Rs. 100,000 per Ph.D. (Dawn, January 10, 2004)
Quaid-i-Azam
University (QAU), Islamabad
·
National Institute of Psychology
organised annual Job Fair on May 08, 2004.
·
Department of History organised a
workshop on “History Writing” on April 17, 2004. Dr. Lal Baha, Dr.
Saeeduddin Dar, Dr. Sikandar Hayat, Dr. M. Naeem Qureshi and Dr. Zarina Salamat
presented papers on different aspects of history.
·
FJWU organised a two-day workshop
on Canadian Studies on February 23-24, 2004 in collaboration with Canadian High
Commission. The objective is to promote Canadian Studies in Pakistan.
Representatives from different universities and post-graduate colleges
participated in the workshop. (The News, February 24,
2004)
·
It has set up the Canadian Studies
Resource Center Pakistan (CSRCP) in collaboration with Canadian High Commission,
Islamabad. (The News,
February 24, 2004)
Department
of Defence and Diplomatic Studies, FJWU
·
has initiated a collaborative link
with the University of Bradford on Security Studies to be approved by Higher
Education Commission and British Council. After approval, the link will become
active and the Department will start a joint research programme with the Peace
Department of University of Bradford.
·
The Department organised:
1.
Workshop by Ms. Flourie Storie on “Conflict Resolution” on April 8,
2004.
2.
Lecture by Dr. Christian Wagner on “European Integration and Lessons
for South Asia” on April 27, 2004 in collaboration with Hans Seidel
Foundation.
3.
Seminar on “The Cost of Nuclearisation for Pakistan” by Mr. Ross
Masood and Syed Talat Hussain on May 15, 2004 in collaboration with Hans Seidel
Foundation.
National
University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Rawalpindi
NUST
has established International Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IIPCR).
The Institute will serve as an incubation centre for new approaches to resolving
old conflicts and as a much needed forum for the balanced projection of
Pakistan’s own security apprehensions. The institute will enable national as
well as foreign intelligentsia to interact in order to create a valid
information base encompassing pressing issues of global security and peace. The
efforts of the Institute would lead to creation of options for peaceful conflict
resolution that can in time replace the need to exercise military alternatives
whenever a conflict threatens to escalate in any part of the world. The
Institute will be headed by Senator Javed Jabbar. (Higher
Education News, February 2004, p. 8)
Bahauddin
Zakariya University, Multan
Department
of History organised a speech competition “Quaid-i-Azam: Khaliq-e-Pakistan”
(Quaid-i-Azam Founder of Pakistan) on February 26, 2004.
The
Department of Political Science has submitted the following two research
proposals to Government College University, Lahore and Japan International
Coopertion Agency (JICA) respectively for funds:
1.
“Devolution Plan: Area of Conflicts”.
2.
“Features of Legislative Leadership in Pakistan: An Empirical
Analysis”.
The
Department of Economics has signed an agreement with Department of Economics,
University of Strathclyde, Glasgow for the establishment of Academic/Research
Link Programme between the two departments
The
Academic Council of Sindh Agriculture University has decided to discard outdated
syllabus being taught for the last 25 years and update it as per the HEC
recommendations. (Dawn, January 1, 2004)
University
of Azad Jammu and Kashmir
·
is switching over to semester
system.
·
has launched M.Phil/Ph.D programmes
in Linguistics. Initially, the programme is restricted to faculty members only.
·
Islamic Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organisation (IESCO) in cooperation with the faculty of Education,
Mohammed-V University, Morocco has launched a postgraduate programme for
training trainers in Arabic language for the benefit of educators in Muslim
countries. (Higher Education News,
April 2004, p. 12)
·
The Sir Syed Memorial Society (SSMS)
has finalised a plan to establish a science and technology university in
Islamabad. (Dawn, March 4, 2004)
·
On the successful completion of six
years of its inception, Institute of Development Studies and Practices, Quetta
organised on March 7-9, 2004 an international conference on the grand thinker
and activist, Edward Said. It also organised a Learner’s Conference and
graduation ceremony.
·
LEAD Pakistan sponsored the annual
seminar of Pakistan Environmental Law Association (PELA) on Green Peace through
Public Interest Litigation. The seminar was held on March 13, 2004 in Lahore.
·
UNESCO’s Director-General in charge of
Social and Human Sciences, Mr. Pierre T. Sane visited Pakistan to address a
Conference on “The State of Social Sciences and Humanities: Current Scenario
and Emerging Trends” organised by the
Higher Education Commission and UNESCO in collaboration with Fatima Jinnah Women
University, Rawalpindi and Council of Social Sciences, Pakistan in Islamabad on
December 15-17, 2004. He was accompanied by Mr. Hahn Chaigbong, Director of
UNESCO’s Division for Social Science Research and Policy.
·
Under Mr. Sane’s leadership, UNESCO has
reorganised and modernised its work in the Social and Human Sciences (SHS) at
Headquarters in Paris and worldwide. Focus is being given to the development of
international, regional and national development strategies, in areas like
poverty reduction and human rights, women and gender issues, communication
strategies, and other key areas. UNESCO’s work supports the efforts of its
member states and various multi and bilateral organisations in reaching the
Millennium Development Goals by 2015. UNESCO’s work also includes follow up
activities related to the World Conference on Racism (2001), the World Social Form II and III and the World Social Science Congress, held in Vienna in 2003.
·
UNESCO has started a Foresight Programme to enhance the
ability of the UNESCO to anticipate the major changes effecting its fields of
competence, to combine the long term view with present decisions and to provide
forward looking view that can inspire its action. It will help UNESCO to
“maintain, increase and diffuse knowledge” and encourage “cooperation
among the nations in all branches of intellectual activity”. UNESCO has an
advisory body called Council on Future on Foresight. It is designed to collect
opinion and recommendations of the best specialists and groups of experts in the
field of foreseeing. Members include twelve Nobel Prize winners, several eminent
personalities and experts of world renown and the principal leaders of main
future-oriented NGO’s involved in the Foresight programme. (Social
and Human Sciences Newsletter, No. 4, January-March 2004, pp. 12-14)
·
Bridge Initiative was founded in 2001 by a
French telecommunication agency and an American NGO to bridge the gap between
the Davos’ and the World Social Forum. The
first meeting focused on building trust and the 2002 meeting revealed point of
agreement on major problems of globalisation. Third meeting was held between the
Division of Social Sciences Research and Policy and the Division of Relations
with National Commissions and New Partnership and Bridge Initiative on November
10-11, 2003 in Paris. The meeting focused on two issues: How to redefine or
strengthen the multilateralism and how to reduce social inequality. The meeting
also called for the thinking of current international decision making process
along with issues of democratic governance and social justice. The full report
is accessible at www.bridge-intiative.org. (By, Alejandro Navarro and German
Solinis, “Bridge Initiative”. Social
and Human Sciences Newsletter, No. 4, January-March 2004, P. 21)
Conference on State of Social Sciences
Conference
on the “State of Social Sciences and Humanities: Current Scenario and Emerging
Trends” was held in Islamabad on December 15-17, 2003. It was organised by
Committee on the Development of Social Sciences and Humanities, Higher Education
Commission and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation
(UNESCO), Islamabad in collaboration with Fatima Jinnah Women University,
Rawalpindi, and Council of Social Sciences, Pakistan. The conference was hosted
by Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad. The proceedings of the conference have
been published in a volume ‘Proceedings
of the Conference on State of Social Sciences and Humanities: Current Scenario
and Emerging Trends’ by Fatima
Jinnah Women University. The following papers were read in the conference:
First
Session: Current Scenario and Emerging Trends: Psychology, Sociology, Philosophy
and Anthropology
1.
Dr. Najama Najam, “Divided We Fall: A Case for Merger in Social
Sciences and Humanities”.
2.
Dr. Yasmin Nilofer Farooqi, “Role of Clinical Psychology in
Pakistan”.
3.
Dr. Aijaz Ali Wassan, “Current Scenario and Emerging Trends in
Sociology”.
4.
Dr. Arifa Farid, “Current Trends in Western Philosophy”.
5.
Dr. Absar Ahmed, “Philosophy — Current Scenario and Emerging
Trends”.
6.
Dr. Hafiz-ur-Rehman Chaudhary, “Status of Anthropology in Pakistan
(Past, Present and Future)”.
Second
Session: Current Scenario and Emerging Trends: Economics, Public Administration,
Mass Communication/Journalism
1.
Dr. Pervaiz Tahir and Ms. Nina Gera, “The State of Economics: Current
Scenario and Emerging Trends”.
2.
Mrs. Raheela Tajwar, “Emergence of Third Sector in Pakistan”.
3.
Dr. Sadiq Ali Gill, “Sensitivity Requirements in Public Administration
of Developing Countries with Special Reference to Pakistan”.
4.
Dr. Bushra Hamid, “Current Scenarios and Emerging Trends in Business
Administration”.
5.
Anjum Zia, “Current Scenario and Emerging Trends in Mass
Communication”.
Third
Session: Current Scenario and Emerging Trends: International Relations,
Political Science, History, Strategic Studies, Women Studies, Pakistan Studies,
Islamic Studies, Education
1.
Dr. Iftikhar N. Hassan, “Women Studies __ A Psychological
Perspective”.
2.
Dr. Sharif-al-Mujahid, “History __ The State of Discipline:
An Overview”.
3.
Ms. Samina Awan, “Prevailing Trends in the Discipline of History: A
Reappraisal of History Teaching at Allama Iqbal Open University”.
4.
Dr. Farzana Bari, “The State of Women Studies in Pakistan”.
Fourth
Session: Current Scenario and Emerging Trends: Languages, Fine Arts, Area
Studies
1.
Dr. Riaz Ahmed, “Research Publication of Pakistan Study Centres, Area
Study Centres, and Centres of Excellence in Social Sciences in Pakistan”.
2.
Bahadur Khan Rodeni, “The State of the Social Sciences and Humanities:
Current Scenario and Emerging Trends”.
3.
Dr. Shirin Zubair, “Critical Literacy Awareness: A New Approach to
Teaching Literacy Texts”.
4.
Mr. Joan L. G. Baart, “Sustainable Development in the Maintenance of
Pakistan’s Indigenous Language”.
5.
Dr. Mubina Talat, “Linguistics Versus Literature Controversy in the
Teaching of English”.
1.
Dr. Inayattullah, “Qualitative Development of Social Sciences in
Pakistan”.
2.
Dr. Pervaiz Tahir, “Quantitative Development of Social Sciences from
1985-2002”.
3.
Dr. Sabiha H. Syed, “The State of Migration and Multiculturalism in
Pakistan”.
4.
Dr. Zarina Salamat, “Recommendations for Further Direction”.
Sixth
Session: Social Sciences Research: Divorced from Realities and Policy Making
1.
Dr. Kaniz Yousuf, “Barriers in Research in Social Sciences”.
2.
Dr. Iftikhar H. Hassan, “An Evaluative Survey of Ph.D Studies Completed
in Last Ten Years in Universities of Pakistan both Public and Private”.
3.
Dr. Rizwan Malik, “A Review of the Discipline of South Asian Studies in
Pakistan”.
4.
Ms. A. Anne, “Social Audit of Governance and Delivery
of Public Services”.
5.
Ms. Inger Liz, “Pakistan and Norway __ Migration, Research
Cooperation and Social Transformations”.
The
Board of Advanced Studies and Research, University of Karachi has approved
enrolment of three students for M.Phil/Ph.D programme. They include:
1.
Huma Binnat-e-Zaheer, “Afghanistan Mein Taliban Ka Daur-e-Hukomat” (Taliban
Rule in Afghanistan).
2.
Mona Zahoor, “Damishq Mein Islami Safaratkari Ka Irteqa (41 Hijri-231
Hijri” (Emergence of Islamic Diplomacy in Damascus: 41 Hijri-231 Hijri)).
3.
Zaib-un-Nisa, “Abbasi Ehd Ki Khwateen Ki Ilmi-o-Samaji Hassiyat” (The
educational and social status of women of Abbasid dynasty).
Dr.
Nigar Sajjad Zaheer, Chairperson, Department of Islamic History will supervise
the theses.
Department
of Political Science, Islamia University, Bahawalpur
Mrs.
Yasmin Roofi is working on Ph.D thesis “Ethnic Nationalism and Political
Development in Pakistan: A Case Study.” Supervisor:
Dr. Khawaja Alqama (BZU Multan).
Mr.
Ghulam Nabi Sahar has been enrolled for Ph.D. The title of his thesis “The
Impact of One Unit Rule on the Socio-Political Conditions of Sindh
(1955-1970)”. Supervisor: Prof. Dr. M. Hassan Shaikh.
Department
of History, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan
Mr.
Muhammad Shafique Bhatti is working on Ph.D thesis “British Historiograpohy of
Muslim India (1800-1857)”.
A
total of 1,215 scholarships were offered by donor countries to Pakistani
students during the last eight years of which 1,045 were availed. Federal
Minister for Education Zubaida Jalal told the Senate that 170 scholarships under
Cultural Exchange Scholarships Programme could not be utilised during the
period. (Dawn, February 20, 2004)
Conferences, Seminars and Special Lectures
Islamabad
Policy Research Institute, Islamabad organised:
·
a
seminar on “Arms Race and Nuclear Developments in South Asia” on April
20-21, 2004.
·
a
four-day lecture series titled “Islam, International Law and the Emerging
Global Order” on May 24-27, 2004.
Institute
of Strategic Studies, Islamabad organised
the following public talks:
·
Ian
Talbot, “Jinnah’s Vision for Pakistan and the Emerging Pak-India Détente”,
on March 11, 2004.
·
Bertrand
Badie, “The Powerlessness of Power”, on March 12, 2004.
Institute of Policy Studies, Islamabad organised the following conference, seminar and lecture:
·
Conference
on “Emerging Regional and Global Situation and Pak-China Relations” on April
6-7, 2004.
·
Seminar
on “US, Israel and Middle East” by Dr. Norton Mezivinsky and “Imperialism
Now”, by Dr. Roger Van Zwaneberg on January 16, 2004.
·
Lecture
on “Muslim World and Challenges of Globalisation” by Prof. Kamal Hasan on
June 5, 2004.
The
Pakistan Institute of Development Economics
(PIDE) organised 19th Annual General Meeting and Conference on
January 13-15, 2004.
Christian
Study Centre, Rawalpindi organised
the following lectures:
·
Dr.
Ibrahim Abu Rabi, “Global Peace and Justice: Religious Perspective” on
January 16, 2004.
·
Sean
McDonagh, “Spirituality of Ecology” on March 18, 2004.
Foundation
for Research on International Environment, National Development and Security
(FRIENDS)
Rawalpindi organised the following national seminars in
collaboration with Hanns Seidel Foundation:
·
“Pakistan
__ The Difficult Road to Democracy” on February 23, 2004.
·
“Pakistan’s
Economy – Where are the Micro Benefits?” on May 26, 2004.
Pattan
Development Organisation, Islamabad
organised a discussion on “Lessons for Pakistan from Indian Election
Conduct” on June 10, 2004.
The
Department of International Relations, University of Sindh awarded Ph.D degrees
to the following students:
1.
Zulfiqar A. Chughtai, “The Role of Public Opinion in the Making of
Pakistan’s Foreign Policy from 1972-1988”, Supervisor: Prof. M. I. S.
Bukhari, 2003.
2.
Azra S. Kandhar, “Anglo-Sindh Relations During Talpurs Period,
1783-1843”, Supervisor: Prof. K. S. Akhund, 2003.
Dr.
Abdul Latif Qureshi, Assistant Professor, Department of International Relations,
University of Sindh received Ph.D degree from Area Study Centre for North
America and Africa, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad in 2003.
Title of his dissertation:
“Threats to Gulf Security and U.S Options”.
Honours and Awards for Social Scientists
Honours:
·
The Christian Science Monitor has rated Dr. M. Rafiq
Afzal’s book Pakistan History and
Politics 1947-71, Oxford University Press, 2002 among the top ten best
selling work on South Asia.
·
Dr.
Atta-ur-Rahman, Chairman Higher Education Commission and Minster in charge for
Science and Technology has been ranked as top productive scientist of the
country. According to a study
conducted by Pakistan Council for Science and Technology, initially 709
scientists out of a total 3,500 scientist employed in the public sector
universities and R&D organisations were classified as productive. Out of top
ten classified scientists five belong to HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry,
University of Karachi. (The News, February 23, 2004)
·
Federal
Minister in charge, Ministry of Science and Technology, Coordinator General
COMSTECH, Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman and Chairman Higher Education Commission was
honoured by Russia with a memorial gold medal for contribution to World Science
and International Scientific Collaboration. The award was conferred on him at
the inaugural session of 9th International Symposium on National Product
Chemistry on January 10, 2004 by Professor Victor Kartsev, Chairman Scientific
Foundation, Russia. The decision to confer the award was announced by Scientific
Partnership Foundation of Russia in September 2003. (The
News, January 13, 2004)
·
Dr.
Maneesha Tikekar’s book Kumpanapalikadala
Desh: Pakistan, (Marathi),
Pune, 2002 has received the following two literary awards:
1.
Mumbai Marathi Granthsangrahalaya’s Anant Kanekar Award __
Best Book (Category-Travelogue) 2003.
2.
Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad’s Keshavrao Vichare Award __
Best Book (Category __ Non-fiction Serious Literature) 2003.
·
Dr.
Maneesha Tikekar launched in March 2004 Centre for South Asian Studies under
Freedom First Foundation, Mumbai.
·
Dr.
Moonis Ahmar visited Asia Research Centre, London School of Economics and
Political Science as a Visiting Fellow under Asia Fellows Programme Follow-up
Grant. During his stay at the LSE, he did research on "Bangladesh-Pakistan
Relations: From Conflict to Cooperation" under the Follow-up Grant.
·
Dr Ayesha Siddiqa, has
been awarded a nine-month fellowship at the Washington-based Woodrow Wilson
International Centre for Scholars. The programme is funded by the Wilson Centre
in collaboration with the Fellowship Fund for Pakistan (FFFP), a charitable
trust based in Karachi. Dr Siddiqa is the first Pakistani scholar to win the
award as a fellow-in-residence. During her stay at the Wilson Centre she will
carry out research and writing on a project titled “Military Inc.: The
Political Economy of Militarisation in Pakistan”.
Some Books and Articles Published During 2003-2004
·
Ahmad
Ejaz, Hindu Fundamentalism in South Asia,
Pakistan Study Centre, University of the Punjab, Lahore, 2003, 95 Pp.
·
Dennis
Rondinelli and G. Shabbir Cheema (eds.), Reinventing
Government for the Twenty-First Century: State Capacity in a Globalising Society,
Westport, Kumarian Press, 2003.
·
Iftikhar H. Malik, Islam,
Globalisation and Modernity: The Tragedy of Bosnia, Vanguard, Lahore, 2004.
·
Inayatullah
(ed.), Towards Understanding the State of
Science in Pakistan, Council of Social Sciences, Islamabad, 2003, 157 Pp.
·
Shahrukh
Rafi Khan, Pakistan Under Musharraf
(1999-2002) Economic Reform and Political Change, Vanguard Books, Lahore,
2004.
·
Surrendra
Singh, Politics of Regionalism in Pakistan
Kalinga Publications, Delhi, 2003.
·
Maneesha
Tikekar, Pakistan Across the Wagah: An
Indian’s Sojourn in Pakistan, Pomilla and Co., New Delhi in association
with Bibliophile South Asia, New Jersey, 2004.
·
Massarrat Abid (ed.), Quest
for Democracy in Pakistan: Role of Fatima Jinnah, Pakistan Study Centre,
University of the Punjab, Lahore, 2003.
·
Nazli
Mohsin (ed.), Another World is Possible:
Transforming Cultures of Conflict – Evaluating Peace, Rozan, Islamabad,
2004, 160 Pp.
·
Pervez
Iqbal Cheema and Imtiaz H. Bokhari (eds.), Conflict
Resolution and Regional Cooperation in South Asia, Islamabad Policy Research
Institute, Islamabad, 2004, 182 Pp.
·
S.
Akbar Zaidi (ed.), Social Science in
Pakistan in the 1990s, Council of
Social Sciences, Islamabad, 2003, 319 Pp.