QAU — University or Jail? (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
A groundless obsession with security has transformed even the physical appearance of this university. Published in Dawn, March 30th, 2024.
Imran Khan’s Resurrection (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Old faces in the new government are bad enough but Khan’s presence would have been worse. Published in Dawn, March 2nd, 2024.
‘Yes, I Voted. Here’s Why’ (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Even pseudo-elections could have done some good had Pakistan’s real issues been addressed. Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2024.
Ram Mandir — an ill portent (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Religious communalism in reincarnated India is no longer considered abhorrent. Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2024.
No Longer Jihadistan (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Experiments with cross-border jihad are thankfully over but nationalists are still being tyrannised. Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2023.
Dump all Degrees? (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Pakistani degrees will soon become trash in the global marketplace for jobs but there is a way out. Published in Dawn, December 9th, 2023.
Scapegoating the Refugee (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Failure of Pakistan’s strategic depth doctrine is why Afghan refugees are being victimised. Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2023.
No Innocents in Gaza (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
The West’s blank cheque for Israel is a renunciation of universalism and an endorsement of tribalism. Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2023.
Is Pakistan Unusual? (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Author Ahmet Kuru’s research reveals that many Muslim countries share Pakistan’s problems. Published in Dawn, October 7th, 2023.
Why Pakistan Fails in Space (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
That India succeeds while Pakistan fails in space owes to the different quality of their education. Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2023.
Why these Checkposts? (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Security doesn’t explain why you are stopped again and again at checkpoints by gun-toting soldiers. Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2023.
Dumbed Down Deliberately (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
By robbing its young of their power to reason, Pakistan is choosing backwardness over prosperity. Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2023.
Algeria honours Eqbal Ahmad (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Eqbal’s utterances of 50-60 years ago remain startlingly relevant in today’s troubled times. Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2023.
Two Tragedies, two Pakistans (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Two recent maritime tragedies remind us of two non-communicating, very different Pakistans. Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2023.
Don’t ban PTI (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
PTI’s downfall owes to Imran Khan’s hubris and arrogance but this is no occasion for rejoicing. Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2023.
Don’t Blame Imran Khan Alone (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Pakistan’s downward spiral owes to misplaced priorities, the army’s role, and deliberate miseducation. Published in Dawn, May 13th, 2023.
Muslims Aren’t this Way Elsewhere (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Raging lynch mobs are common in Pakistan but unusual in other Muslim countries. Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2023.
PTI-PML-N: Same or Different? (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
The similarity of PTI, PML-N ideologies means their power struggle won’t alter Pakistan’s future path. Published in Dawn, April 1st, 2023.
Balochistan Misunderstood (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Designers of the Gwadar CPEC project had only roads and the port in mind, not Gwadaris’ welfare. Published in Dawn, March 11th, 2023.
Don’t Blame the Chinese (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Europe was ruined by war, but Pakistan fell on its knees because of its own doing. Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2023.
Why Bash the Elite? (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Pakistan’s plight isn’t solely because its elite are corrupt; their values and worldview have failed. Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2023.
Why the TTP is Undefeatable (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
The mother of all questions is never asked – why should Pakistan fight the TTP? Published in Dawn, January 7th, 2023.
Mr Dar’s Pointless Jihad (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Pakistan’s poor are poor because of rapacious elites, not because of riba or bank interest. Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2022.
Mr Prime Minister — Listen (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Seizing a public university’s land for a six-lane highway will bring disgrace, not votes to PML-N. Published in Dawn, November 26th, 2022.
Modi’s Double-Engine Sarkar (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Retrograde cultural forces are strong in India yet it forges ahead while Pakistan regresses. Why? Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2022.
QAU’s Land Grabbed — Again (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Quaid-e-Azam University’s prime land has been illegally seized by a government agency in Islamabad. Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2022.
PTI: Water Car of Politics (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Just as the water car violated thermodynamics, Khan’s agenda for Pakistan violates commonsense. Published in Dawn, September 24th, 2022.
Floods and Photo Ops (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Pakistan will forever have rapacious leaders unless its people absorb universal human values and learn to think. Published in Dawn, September 03rd, 2022.
Pakistan’s Universities at 75 (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Scholarly discourse is rare and even basic competencies can be difficult to find in universities. Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2022.
Don’t Negotiate with TTP (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Talking to hardcore killers who understand only the use of force needlessly gifts them political stature. Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2022.
Israel’s Secret Weapon (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Brain power makes teeny-tiny Israel a technological giant before which every Arab country must bow. Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2022.
Bigger Military Role — Why? (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
An informed parliament and the ballot box should fix the meaning of patriotism, not security agencies. Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2022.
Pakistan Badly Needs a Rudder (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
To avoid shipwreck, Pakistan will have to deal effectively with militarism, overpopulation, and its skill deficit. Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2022.
Yearning for the Miracle Man (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Unless we allow children to think, the yearning for Miracle Man will continue. Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2022.
The ‘Honest’ Captain Myth (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Imran Khan may not be a money-chaser but his lust for power makes him dangerous for Pakistan. Published in Dawn, April 9th, 2022.
Pakistan’s Donald Trump — II (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
D-Day on D-Chowk will damage democracy, but PTI’s legacy of harm will extend much beyond that. Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2022.
Balochistan: the Foreign Hand? (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Forcibly disappearing Baloch students won’t eliminate terrorism but will weaken the federation of Pakistan. Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2022.
Another Scam in the Making (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Converting the PM House into a university is unworkable, wildly extravagant, and must be stopped. Published in Dawn, February 05th, 2022.
Khorana is Ours Too (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Unless Pakistanis learn to value the works of non-Muslims, science in Pakistan shall remain dead. Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2021.
The Pitfalls of Ideology (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Recep Erdogan and Imran Khan have given the driving seat to emotion and the back seat to reason. Published in Dawn, December 25th, 2021.
The Mutawwa are Coming (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Magistrates with armed police escorts are interrogating seven- to 12-year-olds on their Quran-reading skills. Published in Dawn, December 04th, 2021.
No, it wasn’t a Surrender (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
With TLP on board and TTP nearly so, PM Khan has scored a century against the ‘bloody liberals’ he hates. Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2021.
What should Imran Khan do? (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Making a mishmash of religion and politics won’t turn Pakistan into a welfare state. Here’s what can. Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2021.
Bystander Intervention (Muhammad Ali Falak)
General public has no acumen how to act as a catalyst of help and support, rather they add to the misery of the victim by being a spectator.
Learning from Afghanistan (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Though weak and corrupt, the former Afghan government has left behind excellent school textbooks. Published in Dawn, October 02th, 2021.
Lahore: Through ‘His’ Eyes (R. Umaima Ahmed)
Lahore is poorer without Tahir, the man who loved and owned his roots in the heart of the Walled City.
Extremists Targeting Extremists (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Even if targeted by extremists of other brands, Taliban need to abandon their earlier extremism. Published in Dawn, September 11th, 2021.
A Reformed Taliban? (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Pakistan should welcome the Taliban’s new face but must resolutely insist upon their civilised behaviour. Published in Dawn, August 28th, 2021.
Frenzied Crowd in an Islamic Republic (Hammad Raza)
Until and unless the discourse against women is changed through culture industry, such events are bound to occur time and again.
The Feudal Lords of Pakistan’s Academia (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
A relatively slow decline has become a thundering avalanche of collapsing ethics and disintegrating academic standards. Published in The Friday Times, Aug 23rd, 2021.
Who Messed Up Afghanistan? (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Russia and USA are squarely responsible for Afghanistan’s tragedy but Pakistan is certainly not innocent. Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2021.
Crime Deterrence (Muhammad Ali Falak)
It’s time the policymakers and the society must look away from the eyewash and resolve to find solutions based on modern policing, research and the ground realities of Pakistan.
What to Learn From China? (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Certainly not how minorities should be treated! But there’s much else that China can teach Pakistan. Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2021.
Inglorious Centenary (Asad Baloch)
With instability so deeply rooted in authoritarianism, how has the world’s most successful autocracy lasted for so long. A contributed article by Asad Baloch.
Cost of Enforced Modesty (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
By inviting mullahs to regulate biology textbooks the PTI government has put Pakistan in reverse gear. Published in Dawn, June 19th, 2021.
Why are Arabs so Powerless? (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Israelis have long known that brain will rule over brawn, a fact that some Arab rulers are only just discovering. Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2021.
Orwell’s Nightmare is Coming True in China (Asad Baloch)
The Chinese Communist Party is creating a digital mass surveillance system – one that has its resonances in George Orwell’s 1984.
Will OIC Confront France? (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
For Pakistan to keep its GSP-Plus status it will have to show the EU that it treats its blasphemy accused fairly. Published in Dawn, May 08th, 2021.
Intelligence of the Trailblazing Ants (Vaqar Khamisani)
What seems remarkable is the process of interaction between ants that results in solving a genuinely complex problem of route minimisation
Exempt from Accountability? (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
PM Khan has done a disservice to Pakistan by exempting certain institutions from performance requirements. Published in Dawn, April 17th, 2021.
Burning Sofas in Islamabad (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Setting sofas on fire brings back memories of the time when Islamabad was set ablaze in 2007. Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2021.
Inventing Cultural Nostalgia (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Glorifying violence & conquest through fictionalised history will have devastating consequences for Pakistan. Published in Dawn, March 06th, 2021.
Making Arabic Compulsory (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Forcing students to learn Arabic won’t make them virtuous but setting good examples of moral behaviour might. Published in Dawn, February 13th, 2021.
A Physicist’s Journey (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
A look at the exceptional life of physicist Riazuddin and his contribution to the development of physics and sciences in Pakistan. Published in The News Sunday, January 24th, 2021.
Cheating on Online Exams (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
The difficulty of preventing online cheating and low ethical standards means that these days most students cheat. Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2021.
Graduating in a Pandemic (Muhammad Ali Falak)
The fresh graduates and job seekers can seamlessly sail through the turbulent times by embracing the uncertainty and abridging the gap between expectations and the ‘new reality’. For good or bad; we must know, the world will never be the same again!
Muslims and Technology (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Without a culture of science Muslims will continue consuming technology without producing much. Published in Dawn, January 02nd, 2021.
عالمِ بالا سے جون ایلیا کا خط، پرویز ہود بھائی کے نام
جون ایلیا کی اولین شناخت اگرچہ شاعری ہے، تاہم وہ محض نظم ہی میں نہیں بلکہ نثر میں بھی ایک منفرد اسلوب کے حامل ہیں۔ ذرا تصور کیجئے کہ جون ایلیا اور مرزا نوشہ اگر اکٹھے موجود ہوں تو کیا محفل جمے اور بحث کئے جانے والے موضوعات کی کائنات کس قدر وسیع ہو۔ اور پھر جب جون ایلیا عالمِ بالا سے ڈاکٹر پرویز ہود بھائی کو خط میں اس کی تفصیل بیان کریں تو کیسا رہے۔ عامر سیدین آپ کے لئے یہ دلچسپ اور خیال کو مہمیز کرنے والی تحریرپیش کر رہے ہیں۔
The Academic Rankings Racket (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
By rewarding professors with phony achievements Pakistan has damaged universities beyond repair. Published in Dawn, December 12th, 2020.
Democracy in Peril (Asad Baloch)
In the age of artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithms, democracy seems to lose its ground.
Can We Finally End the ‘Two Finger Test’? (R. Umaima Ahmed)
The ‘two finger test’, also known as the ‘virginity test’, is one of many distressing travails a woman rape survivor experiences in Pakistan after an already traumatic ordeal.
Shockwaves Out of UAE (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Pakistan seeks to lead the Muslim world but civil society in the Middle East is evolving much faster. Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2020.
Salam’s Face Blackened (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
The world rightly ignores complaints of Islamophobia from a country that mistreats its religious minorities. Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2020.
Silence of the Spectators (Vaqar Khamisani)
Game theory explains the psychology of onlookers to stay mute despite witnessing tragedies.
The Vandalizing of Indian History (Dr. Ranjit Powar)
Ripping out parts from India’s historical narrative will amount to vandalism of the worst sort. Dr. Ranjit Powar responds to UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s decision to rename the under-construction Mughal Museum in Agra after Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
A Military is Only for War (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Had Sandhurst-trained UK officers run British organisations they too might have failed like PIA, PSM, etc. Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2020.
Public Execution is Not the Solution (Asad Baloch)
The aim of the punishment must be to help the culprits fix their behaviour, not to satiate the social bloodlust. Asad Baloch explains how public execution isn’t the solution to sexual offences, and how we can approach the issue more clearly and effectively.
Arab Cultural Narcissism (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Arab and Pakistani cultures remain self-congratulatory even eight centuries after Islam’s Golden Age ended. Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2020.
Single National Curriculum Tunnel (Muhammad Ali Falak)
The article elaborates why SNC will not match the hopes of the people; how local education is not of the international standards and why more serious educational reforms are needed.
Classless Education Up Ahead? (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Yoking ordinary schools to madressahs will impair the reasoning capacity of children and job competitiveness. Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2020.
Pak-India Education Compared (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
India and Pakistan’s new education policies will push their respective religious minorities into a corner. Published in Dawn, August 08th, 2020.
Animal Cruelty — Something Rarely Talked About in Pakistan (R. Umaima Ahmed)
Those who don’t show mercy towards helpless animals cannot be merciful with one another. With the rise in extremism in Pakistan, animal abuse has also been a matter of pressing concern and must be addressed by the government
Dissecting The Single National Curriculum (Dr. A.H. Nayyar)
The federal government wants to end educational apartheid in Pakistan, and hopes to achieve this through a uniform nationwide curriculum. But does the new syllabus accomplish the lofty goals? Is it even on the right path? Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2020.
Acing Your Fulbright (Muhammad Ali Falak)
This year the interest in Fulbright is manifold due to the exemption of GRE exam. Muhammad Ali Falak, being a Fulbright PhD candidate himself, addresses the current problems and their solutions, and explains what to expect while applying for Fulbright.
Hope with Caution, for a Better World (Adam and Arlie Hochschild)
Despite several environmental, health, economic, and political crises there’s still some hope for a better world. Written by Adam and Arlie Hochschild. EXCLUSIVE for EACPE.
Education: PTI’s Plan Exposed (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
The Single National Curriculum massively prioritises ideology over education quality and acquisition of basic skills. Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2020. Read it here in Urdu.
Why Is The World At A Precipice? How To Deal With It? (Noam Chomsky)
We are living in a remarkable moment, in fact a moment unique in human history. It is a moment of confluence of severe crises, at least four, which threaten the survival of organized human life on earth, not in the distant future. Exclusive for EACPE.
Disinfodemic (Muhammad Ali Falak)
In Pakistan, the avalanche of misinformation is getting larger and larger as the situation takes a turn towards the worse.
Budget Cut and University Conundrums (Muhammad Ali Falak)
The ministry of higher education must realize that research and development is an ongoing process that demands a smooth continuation of the projects, fast flow of funds and consistency in the policies related.
Virtual Mental Health Crisis (Muhammad Ali Falak)
E-learning lacks direct sensory contact with students who are at a distant geographic location, making it difficult for the faculty to notice any signs of mental illness in the students. Timely intervention can help many students escape anxiety and recover from depression
Online Challenges (Muhammad Ali Falak)
Universities in Pakistan should develop SOPs for their faculty, and conduct training and workshops on facilitating students with special needs.
Anti-intellectualism and Lynching of Academia (Dr. Ranjit Powar)
Intellectuals, educators and activists are catalysts who shape public opinion for social and human issues which influence policy making and affect countless lives. Why are governments afraid of liberal intellectuals?
Don’t Tear Down Statues (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Left-liberals in the West should ponder the effects of effacing historical symbols as Pakistan-India have. Published in Dawn, June 27th, 2020.
Baloch Lives Matter (Tariq Khosa)
By not attempting to heal Balochistan’s wounds, the powers that be have unleashed anger and anguish among the Baloch. Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2020.
Dangerous Delusions — Ertugrul Mania (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Faked history fuels revivalist dreams, creates false hopes, and suggests the way forward is through the sword. Published in Dawn, June 6th, 2020.
Some Take Science Seriously (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
The state’s scorn for science and surrender to religious forces has put Pakistan’s millions in danger. Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2020.
How to Implement Vocational Training Reforms in Pakistan (Hasan Mirza)
Most of Pakistan’s blue collar workers learn their work informally and have little to no formal academic education. Pakistan must look towards foreign countries for the adoption of an advanced vocational training system.
Covid-19 and the Rise of Assertive Data-driven Governments (Vaqar Khamisani)
As governments get comfortable with operating in this new interventionist mode, it could arguably regard it as the new normal even after the pandemic period ends.
How to Implement University Reforms in Pakistan (Hasan Mirza)
This two part series explores ways to improve the Pakistani research and university landscape in light of Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry questioning why Pakistani universities have been unable to help in the fight against coronavirus.
HEC: Seize the Corona Moment (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
What is called online learning can be worth its name if and only if there’s absolute transparency. Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2020.
Corona — Our Debt to Darwin (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Hopes for dealing scientifically with the virus rest upon Darwin’s discovery of the principle of natural selection. Published in Dawn, April 4th, 2020.
Coronavirus Outbreak: Myths vs Facts (Asma Tariq)
During a viral outbreak, rumors and misinformation can be dangerous. In this contributed article, Asma Tariq provides basic information about novel coronavirus and attempts to separate facts from fiction.
What When a Woman Dies? (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
To see where a woman stands in the social order just walk through a cemetery and read the gravestones. Published in Dawn, March 14th, 2020.
Picturing Afghanistan from a Different Lens (Ali Asad)
Prosperity and industrial growth along with education is needed to overcome sociopolitical imbalance in Afghanistan. Ali Asad explains what could be achieved if peace returns to Afghanistan.
Can there be a Critical Muslim in India? The Case of Sharjeel Imam
Why standing by Sharjeel Imam is more than a question of constitutionality. Written by friends of Sharjeel Imam in JNU and who are part of Eqbal Ahmad Study Circle.
Who Owns the Nile (Ali Asad Sabir)
Why Ethiopia’s new dam on the Nile river has Egypt worried about its water supply being cut off. What’s behind the Egypt-Ethiopia Nile dispute?
Lal Masjid: Appeasement Again? (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
To reward those who killed our soldiers and policemen is inexplicable and a prescription for a second round. Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2020.
Why Pakistan Loses its Best (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
This is the story of Pakistan’s most recognised mathematician and why we finally lost him. Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2020.
Powering Innovations with Smart Algorithms (Vaqar Khamisani)
In this article, you will learn how organisations can apply smart algorithms on their big data to enhance innovations leading to their rapid transformation.
Today, I am Proudly Iranian (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Outrage at America’s overseas rampages is joining together peoples with hugely different thoughts and beliefs. Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2020.
Power of Student Activism in Changing History (Dr. Ranjit Powar)
Politically aware and socially conscious students cannot be expected to be mute spectators to perceived injustice and hegemony. Written by Dr. Ranjit Powar.
Hooligans in High Professions (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
That so many from the professional classes resort to hooliganism owes to their Ziaist-style school education. Published in Dawn, December 21st, 2019.
Abdus Salam in China (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Dr Abdus Salam’s role in seeking China’s help for Pakistan’s atomic bomb has just been revealed. Published in Dawn, November 30th, 2019.
Our Ghost Mathematicians (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Ghost teachers in Pakistani rural schools are common enough but few know of our ghost mathematicians. Published in Dawn, November 09th, 2019.
The Holy And The Broken (Yangyang Cheng)
Salam: the First ****** Nobel Laureate is a documentary currently streaming on Netflix that looks at the life of Abdus Salam, the first Muslim scientist to win a Nobel Prize. In learning about his story — which included multiple visits to China, and a complicated relationship with his home country of Pakistan — Yangyang Cheng reflects on her own. When science is primarily funded by the state, what is a scientist’s civic duty to the profession, to one’s country, and to fundamental values?
Beguiled by Artificial Intelligence (Vaqar Khamisani)
This article highlights the importance of ease of interpretability of AI systems as solely relying on formal accuracy measures could mislead us to unpredictable and wrong conclusions.
God Bless Liberal Fascists (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Mr Prime Minister: welcome to the liberal camp! You are saying now what we liberals have said for 20 years. Published in Dawn, October 19th, 2019.
AI gaming and the Final Frontier (Vaqar Khamisani)
Both machines and humans display mastery in game playing but take an opposite route to achieve excellence.
Beware the Nuclear Con Man (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Nuclear strategists are actually not nuclear experts and have no ability to predict any significant nuclear event. Published in Dawn, September 28th, 2019.
Muslim Migration to Europe (Hassan Mirza)
As Islam grows in Europe, is Muslim integration and assimilation in secular European societies possible?
Ditched by the Ummah (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Lest we be unjustly harsh on countries hesitating to denounce India’s actions, let us admit that Pakistan too compromises frequently on essential principles. Read it here in English and here in Urdu. Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2019.
Genetic Algorithms: Why Evolution Works (Vaqar Khamisani)
The application of schema theorem is likely to rise substantially in scale as scientists uncover the role of evolution beyond biology.
Response to a Nuclear Disaster (Dr. A.H. Nayyar, Dr. Zia Mian)
Evacuation of a city like Karachi is almost unimaginable and certainly cannot succeed if it is not carefully planned and if the people do not cooperate.
Nuclear Submarines in South Asia: New Risks and Dangers (Zia Mian, M.V. Ramana & A.H. Nayyar)
This article traces India’s decision to deploy nuclear-powered submarines, some armed with nuclear weapons, and the debate in Pakistan on the utility of nuclear-armed submarines and the possible acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines.
Promises Broken and Kept (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Pakistan has kept its commitments to Kashmiris; now it must fulfil promises made to its own citizens. Read it here in English and here in Urdu. Published in Dawn, Aug 17, 2019.
Murder in the Name of Honor (Dr. Ranjit Powar)
Strangely, many a family’s honour is related to the social and sexual behaviour or choices of its women. When and how did this come to be?
Pakistan’s Slice of the Moon (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Aiming for a culture of science will serve Pakistan better than trying to match India’s new moon shot. Read it here in English and here in Urdu. Published in Dawn, July 27, 2019.
Success and Failure in Pursuit of Excellence (Vaqar Khamisani)
Achieving excellence is possible only through a holistically learnt knowledge built upon the pillars of both our successes and failures.
Clients and Patrons (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Here’s how a weak state can survive in today’s cruel world without a protector and patron. Published in Dawn, July 06, 2019.
University and Research Landscape of Germany (Hassan Mirza)
This article explains university education and research opportunities in Germany, which differs from the global Anglo-Saxon system in some respects. The information given is equally valid for the other countries which follow German university system.
HEC — Stormy Times Up Ahead (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
The Banuri-Rahman tiff provides an opportunity to debate the future shape of our universities. Published in Dawn, May 25, 2019.
Skill Development in Pakistan: a Need of the Hour (Hassan Mirza)
The developed world is aging fast and will need qualified and competent knowledge workers in coming years. Imran Khan’s government should strive to do agreements with different foreign governments for skilled manpower supply.
Is People’s Response to Terrorism More Dangerous than Terrorism Itself? (Dr. Ranjit Powar)
Hate-mongering and overly expressive hyper-nationalism after a terror attack is the worst reaction to terrorism. It may serve the nefarious agenda of demagogy, and actually help the terrorists attain their motives.
Eqbal Ahmad: A Public Intellectual with a Global Vision (Faizaan Bhat)
On 11th May 1999, Eqbal Ahmad, a prolific writer, thinker and an institution by himself, departed from this world in Islamabad. In this contributed article, Faizaan Bhat sums up his legacy.
Crunch Time for Universities (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Pakistan’s broken university system cries out for basic attitudinal changes; money cannot fix it. Published in Dawn, May 4, 2019.
Finding Solace in Infinity (Vaqar Khamisani)
The power of infinity ensures that there will be infinite instances when the lowest of the low odds will come out in our favour.
F-16 or JF-17 – which was it? (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
As silicon chips battle the adversary’s silicon chips the era of aerial dogfighting is closing down. Published in Dawn, April 13, 2019.
Roots of Monolithic Thinking amongst Students in Pakistan: A Critical Analysis (Dr. Adil Khan)
One of the main reasons why Pakistan is performing poorly in terms of educational quality is lack of critical thinking. In this paper, Dr. Adil Khan explores into causes of monolithic thinking amongst students at various levels of education in Pakistan.
Pakistan’s Terrified Christians (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
One hopes for the day when Pakistan has a prime minister like New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern. Published in Dawn, March 23, 2019.
Society, Women and Bahishti Zewar (Ziaullah Khan)
Despite the huge popularity of Bahishti Zewar, sadly the aim of the book seems to present an ‘ideal’ and ‘exemplary’ woman according to the needs and patterns of a feudal setup.
Zia’s Legacy: A Critical Analysis of Banning Student Unions (Haider Nisar Sawati)
On 9th of February 1984, General Zia ul Haq imposed a ban on student unions in all colleges throughout the country. This article discusses the rise and fall of Students Union in Pakistan.
Women Empowerment: Tapping the Sources within (Dr. Ranjit Powar)
Will women wake up, go beyond superficial appeasements and get down to the serious and challenging business of writing their own script?
Making Peace Prevail (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Crisis between nuclear-armed South Asian rivals is on the rise. Will there be another war over Kashmir? The column on Pak-India conflict that Dawn refused to publish.
Kashmir: What Would Gandhi Say? (John Scales Avery)
What would Mahatma Gandhi say about the threat of war between India and Pakistan, which has brought the two nations and the world to the brink of a nuclear catastrophe?
PTM and Khudai Khidmatgar Movement: A Feminist Comparison (Abid Ali)
Manzoor Pashteen has ignited the same spark that once Bacha Khan ignited by his non-violent movement. The message is clear: Pashtuns refuse to allow the state to misuse their areas as strategic playground.
Why Bangladesh Overtook Pakistan (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Eschewing militarism in favour of human development, Bangladesh set its initial priorities correctly. Published in Dawn, February 9, 2019.
Pakistan — A Permanent Martial State Legacy (Hammad Raza)
Had the leadership of Pakistan shown any signs of independence from colonial mindset, the situation might have been different. A contributed article.
Tamimi, Malala and Rahaf — Icons of Freedom (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
These young women must be celebrated for what they did and not judged by how the West sees them. Published in Dawn, January 19, 2019.
The Way of the Ghazal (Parvez Mahmood)
There is a constant theme in Urdu ghazal pertaining to suffering in silence. Parvez Mahmood takes us on a survey of ghazals to study the torments of the lover.
QAU’s Land is PTI’s Litmus Test (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Undoing the theft of QAU’s land will be a strong test of PTI’s stated resolve to fight corruption. Published in Dawn, December 29, 2018.
Madina state & ‘Naya’ Pakistan (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Is Imran Khan’s goal to adopt the Madina state’s laws and emulate it as a political entity? Published in Dawn, December 8, 2018.
Don’t Surrender to Mob Rule (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Pakistan must firmly reject the rule of religiously charged mobs. Instead it should aspire towards becoming part of civilised, cosmopolitan world society. Published in Dawn, November 17, 2018.
Science Feudalism in Pakistan (Irfan Khan)
How can students of science dare to say a word against the so-called feudals of science? Rather, they must pay homage to them and act like mere labourers in the class and laboratories, as per the system’s demands. A contributed article by Irfan Khan.
Looking Back to Look Forward (Abid Ali)
If the Pakistani state keeps repeating its misjudged policies, this would be a terrible choice. This is the time to look forward while keeping in mind the past mistakes. A contributed article by Abid Ali.
Why Attempts to Reform Pakistani Education Fail (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Every attempt to modernise education has run into an invisible brick wall of culture and conservatism. Published in Dawn, October 27, 2018.
The Government Must Revitalize the Article 25-A (Irfan Khan)
Balochistan is home to the highest proportion of out-of-school children followed by Fata. The government must consider the status of article 25-A and ensure free education for all children. A contributed article by Irfan Khan.
The Students Uprising (Abid Ali)
The recent students uprising in major universities of Pakistan needs attention. In this contributed article, Abid Ali explains the underlying issue and suggests its remedy.
Dam Equivalents: The Solution to Pakistan’s Water Crisis (Dr. Hassan Abbas)
We don’t need another mega project to solve our problems. What we need is a mega-vision. Dr. Hassan Abbas, an expert in hydrology and water resources, proposes solution to Pakistan’s water crisis. Read it here in English and here in Urdu.
QAU’s Presence Shrinking in THE World Universities Rankings 2019 (Irfan Khan)
The Quaid-e-Azam University’s ranking in Times Higher Education (THE) World Universities Ranking 2019 reflects a sorrowful decline from last year’s list. Irfan Khan explains why it happened and how to fix it. A contributed article by Irfan Khan.
Europe’s Perplexed Pakistanis (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Why do Pakistanis enjoying the West’s pluralism stay silent about pluralism within Pakistan. Published in Dawn, October 6, 2018.
Tips and Tricks to Pass IELTS Exam Within 10 Days (Anam Iqbal)
Are you planning to study abroad? Keen to work in an English-speaking country? By following these tips you can ace your IELTS Exam!
Pakistan Education: Please Stop Killing Creativity (Irfan Khan)
It is needed that critical reasoning is encouraged and an intellectual environment of free thought for healthy exchange of ideas is developed.
Save the Future of Pakistan (Abid Ali)
In almost all seminaries the only relationship between students and teachers is based on fear. A contributed article by Abid Ali.
Religious Bias Okayed (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
To wilfully use religious sentiment for worldly gain is now firmly part of Pakistan’s political culture. Published in Dawn, September 15, 2018.
A Pakistani Hawking? (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Pakistan has produced many good cricketers and businessmen but not a single mathematician. Published in Dawn, August 25, 2018.
Reclaiming Muslim Science (Ziaullah Khan)
Home-grown religious orthodoxy was responsible for naming the intellectual giants of Muslim civilisation heretics and for their persecution. A contributed article.
The Misconstrued Precept of Nationalism (Dr. Ranjit Powar)
A nation can progress and thrive only if there is an environment of peace and goodwill with its neighbours. A contributed article.
The Heinous Practice of Vani or Swara in Pakistan (Abid Ali)
Vani or Swara is a cultural practice in which girls are used as an article of trade to settle down the dispute between two families. A contributed article.
Europe: from Darkness to Enlightenment (Ziaullah Khan)
Europe entered into enlightenment when knowledge reached to the general public through the freedom of printing press. A contributed article.
Cyber Intimidation: A Bad Idea (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
To gag voices that dare criticise abuse of power cannot lead to a better and more viable Pakistan. Written by Pervez Hoodbhoy. Published in Dawn, June 23, 2018.
The People Next Door (Dr. Ranjit Powar)
Together, India and Pakistan could be a force to reckon with in the sub continent.
جعلی سائنس کا بڑھتا ہوا رجحان (Abdur Rehman Waraich)
محض سائنس کی اصطلاحات استعمال کر دینے سے کوئی دعویٰ سائنسی نہیں بن جاتا۔ اس کے لئے سائنسی طریقہ کار کے مطابق تحقیق ضروری ہوتی ہے۔ عبد الرحمٰن وڑائچ کی تحریر۔
دن کے خواب (Atiya Ansari)
عام طور پر دن میں خواب دیکھنے والوں کو سست اور بے عمل سمجھا جاتا ہے۔ عطیہ انصاری جدید تحقیق کی روشنی میں بتا رہی ہیں کہ دن میں خواب دیکھنا تخلیقی صلاحیتوں کی نمو کے لئے اہم ہے۔
U-Turns علمائے کرام کے (Hurr Ali Naqvi)
جدید دور کے تقاضوں سے ہم آہنگ ہونے کے لئے علمائے کرام کو ماضی میں دئیے گئے اپنے سخت گیر فتوئوں کو خود ہی رد کرنا پڑا ہے۔ حر علی نقوی مثالیں دے کر تجزیہ کر رہے ہیں۔
Snaring Mani Shankar in Lahore (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
In its frenzied attempt to portray Mani Shankar Aiyar’s ‘treachery’ at Forman Christian College in Pakistan, Indian TV channels conveniently overlooked valid and salient points in his speech.
What Drives Young Men to Embrace Religious Extremism in Pakistan? (Interview)
A mindset is created wherein young people imagine that they, and their religion, are beset by enemies lurking behind every bush. Pervez Hoodbhoy talks to Andy Heintz about why the word ‘liberal’ is so unpopular in Pakistan and the troubled legacy of international actors in the region.
The ‘Salam Centre’ Brouhaha (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Science suffocates when scientists are judged by their religion, race, ethnicity or any criterion other than scientific achievement. Published in Dawn, May 12, 2018.
Equality for All Citizens: Challenges and Way-out (Hammad Raza)
Pakistan’s dismal record on religious freedom is longstanding. The state has to play its proactive role to rekindle the agenda of making Pakistan a pluralistic state.
What India Owes to Nehru (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
India would have been a dump for crackpot science had Modi been its first prime minister. How much of Nehru’s India will be undone by Modi and his cronies remains to be seen. Published in Dawn, April 21, 2018.
A University Self-destructs (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Greed-propelled professors must be stopped from wrecking Quaid-i-Azam University. Published in Dawn, March 31, 2018.
Missile Worship Not Warranted (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Missiles like Shaheen or Agni are minor technical feats but testing them helps create war psychosis. Published in Dawn, March 10, 2018.
An Idea of Justice (Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmed)
Once upon a time, Hindus and Sikhs along with Muslims were settled in large numbers in the canal colonies from all over the undivided Punjab. Published in Daily Times, February 18, 2018.
Ramanujan and Salam — What Inspired Them? (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Exceptional genes plus fortunate circumstances is why some become maths-science superstars. Published in Dawn, February 17, 2018.
Inching Back From a Nuclear Holocaust (Dr. Zia Mian)
With egomaniacs like Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un in the driving seat, the world may be close to a nuclear war.
The Truth About the Partition of Punjab (Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmed)
The partition of Punjab proved to be one of the most violent, brutal, savage debasements in the history of humankind. Published in Daily Times, February 6, 2018.
Manipulating Pakistani Minds (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Gutter journalism on several Pakistani private TV channels has visibly reduced and degraded national cultural quality. Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2018.
Pakistan Should Act Responsibly (Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmed)
As members of the international community, we are expected to act responsibly in our neighbourhood and in international politics. It is about time we stopped living in a fool’s paradise and enter the realm of reality. Published in Daily Times, January 19, 2018.
Promises kept and broken — III (Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmed)
The achievements of a civilisation can be evaluated with the help of three criteria: how it treats women, how it treats minorities and how it treats the poor. Published in Daily Times, January 10, 2017.
Don’t Dare Mention Yemen (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Siding with those who deliberately seek to starve Yemen’s children has degraded Pakistan’s moral status. Published in Dawn, January 6, 2018.
Sovereignty Belongs to God — II (Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmed)
The debate on the Objectives Resolution brought out the consensus among Muslims of all varieties that Pakistan had to function as an ideal state under the sovereignty of God. Published in Daily Times, January 3, 2017.
Rights of Muslims and Minorities — I (Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmed)
Considering the actual development of the constitution and law in Pakistan it is preposterous to suggest that Jinnah wanted Pakistan to be a secular state, but all others who succeeded after him betrayed him! Published in Daily Times, December 28, 2017.
The Courage to Challenge the Nuclear World Order (M. V. Ramana and Zia Mian)
This article reflects on the nuclear disarmament activism that led up to the formation of ICAN and the new treaty, and the challenges this now poses to the nuclear weapon states.
Jinnah’s Multifarious Pledges (Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmed)
To keep harping on one speech of August 11th 1947, while ignoring how in 1940-47 Jinnah relentlessly kept saying that Hindus and Muslims can never be one nation is wrong. Published in Daily Times, December 23, 2017.
James Webb Space Telescope (Shahbaz Aslam Khan)
Shahbaz Aslam Khan explains the James Webb Space Telescope, NASA’s premier observatory of the next decade, which will study every phase in the history of our Universe.
The Story of Dr. Uttam Chand Ahuja of Okara (Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmed)
He was only two and half years old in 1947, but the house was still standing there as it had in 1947. Published in Daily Times, December 22, 2017.
Jinnah, Shariah and Secularism (Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmed)
From a political science point of view, when you solicit the support of people for a political objective and achieve it, it becomes a social contract and both sides are bound by it. Published in Daily Times, December 17, 2017.
Mainstreaming Jihad: Why Now? (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Operation Zarb-i-Azb’s success has persuaded the army that deviant militants can be successfully crushed. Published in Dawn, December 16, 2017.
Jinnah, Muslims and Minorities (Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmed)
On 14 August 1947 a distinct shift in Jinnah’s vision of Pakistan from an ostensibly secular to an Islamic was made explicit in his speech to the Pakistan Constituent Assembly. Published in Daily Times, December 14, 2017.
The Right to National Self-determination (Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmed)
The right of self-determination has always been exercised by big nations while minor nations and ethnic groups were compelled to accept membership of so-called nation-states based on ethnicity and language. Published in Daily Times, December 6, 2017.
Barelvis and the Pakistan Movement (Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmed)
Jinnah may not have anticipated that the organic relationship between Islam and the state would result in the rule of the ulema. Published in Daily Times, November 30, 2017.
Textbooks – Kudos to Punjab (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
The eventual revamping of Punjab’s school textbooks owes to a belated realisation that thousands of Pakistani lives were needlessly lost to militancy fuelled by hate materials in textbooks. Published in Dawn, November 25, 2017.
The QAU Strike Explained (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Perhaps the most worrying aspect of the QAU strike is that it exposes Pakistan’s failed attempt at nation building. As the May episode showed, ever-deepening ethnic and regional tensions need only a spark to ignite. Published in Dawn, November 4, 2017.
Is IS actually bad? UnIslamic? (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Our generals and politicians would rather bomb IS than argue logically against it because they know IS’s stated goal resonates with millions of ordinary Pakistanis. Published in Dawn, October 14, 2017.
Deradicalising Our Universities (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Why is terrorism growing by leaps and bounds in Pakistani universities and colleges? Common sense — not rocket science or high erudition — is enough for an answer. What must be done is also pretty clear. Published in Dawn, September 23, 2017.
Holy Men — Theirs and Ours (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Why have Indians and Pakistanis become so tolerant — nay, supportive — of holy men, whether of the spiritual or political kind? Why are those who aspire to power so successful in using religion to motivate their electorates? After all, this is the 21st century, not the 12th. Published in Dawn, September 2, 2017.
Battling Extremism (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Intolerance and bigotry on Pakistan’s campuses is symptom of a deeper malaise — disrespect for knowledge, disdain for free thought and inquiry, and penchant for authoritarianism. Published in Daily Times, August 21st, 2017.
Pak-India Nuclear War — Avoided (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
PAKISTAN and India celebrate their 70th anniversaries next week. Shall they be around for their 100th one too? It depends on how long their luck holds out, and if they can stop their mad rush to increase the chances of disaster. What’s new? Two weeks ago, a terrifying report published in the Indian Express should have scared sensible people into asking hard questions. But no one paid much attention to it — jaded publics on both sides would rather tune in to the hottest political intrigue or celebrity gossip than waste time on something that didn’t actually happen. Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2017.
The Ummah At War With Itself (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Where does this leave the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), whose job is to bring together and represent the ummah? Based in Saudi Araba, it has 57 member states and calls itself “the collective voice of the Muslim world.” The OIC has had nothing to say about wars that have consumed Syria, Iraq, Libya, or Yemen. Nor is it relevant to any other conflict between Muslim states or that within them. It has yet to give a single cent to desperate refugees who, instead, must rely on the West. Published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2017.
Pakistan’s Professor Mafia (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
It is time to reject the grotesque distortion of priorities and reorient Pakistan’s universities towards their major responsibility and purpose — teaching. Incentivising paper and PhD production has resulted in mega-corruption. HEC’s foolish policy must be reversed even though the professor mafia will bitterly oppose it. Else even duly certified degrees awarded by Pakistani universities will soon have the worth of an Axact degree. Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2017.
Why Remain a Petro-puppet? (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Pakistan must declare absolute neutrality in the Saudi-Iran conflict by immediately quitting the IMA. The recent attacks on key targets in Tehran — claimed by IS but which Iran’s Revolutionary Guards blame on KSA — makes this ever more urgent. The recruitment of Pakistani mercenaries to fight wars for KSA must stop and Gen Raheel Sharif must be ordered home immediately. If he is keen about fighting terrorism, there’s plenty for him to do here. Published in Dawn, June 10th, 2017.
The Saudization of Pakistan (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
It would be tragic if Pakistan should surrender its rich and diverse cultures to oil-rich bedouins who consume ferociously, produce nothing, read nothing, and despise art and beauty. It is all the more astonishing that ultra-religious Pakistanis should revere those who have systematically destroyed the sacred sites of Islam, erected hotels and shopping malls in their place. Instead of imagining a cultural connection that does not actually exist, Pakistan needs to look to its actual roots. As heirs to the ancient civilizations of Mohenjo Daro and Harappa, its younger generations must be told of their magnificent heritage. This essay was first published by Newsline magazine in 2008. It was updated for inclusion in the Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Pakistan (2017).
Kashmir: Hard Choices Only (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
“I recently received an extraordinary email from a troubled young Kashmiri in Srinagar. Days before the Indian authorities turned off the internet, Saif (not his real name) had watched on YouTube the 45-minute video documentary Crossing the Lines — Kashmir, Pakistan, India that I had helped make in 2004 and mostly agreed with its non-partisan narrative. A nationalist boy turned stone thrower, Saif is outraged by the brutality of Indian occupation. He is fortunate, he says. His 14-year-old second cousin lost his left eye to pellets.” Published in Dawn, May 20th, 2017.
پاکستان میں انتہا پسندی: پرویز ہود بھائی کا خصوصی انٹرویو
معروف آن لائن اردو کمیونٹی “ہم سب” کی نامور دانش ور ڈاکٹر پرویز ہود بھائی کے ساتھ ایک خصوصی نشست، جس میں پاکستان میں انتہا پسندی اور عدم برداشت کے اسباب اور عوامل، اور ان کے تدارک پر گفتگو کی گئی ہے۔
Why they Lynched Mashal Khan and Pehlu Khan (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
“Vigilantism is best explained by evolutionary biology and sociology. A fundamental principle there says only actions and thoughts that help strengthen group identity are well received, others are not. In common with our ape ancestors, we humans instinctively band together in groups because strength lies in unity. The benefits of group membership are immense — access to social networks, enhanced trust, recognition, etc. Of course, as in a club, membership carries a price tag. Punishing cow-eaters or blasphemers (even alleged ones will do) can be part payment. You become a real hero by slaying a villain — ie someone who challenges your group’s ethos. Your membership dues are also payable by defending or eulogising heroes.” Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2017. Read it here in Urdu.
انسانی شخصیت اور سیکھنے کا رویہ (Wardah Noor)
جو افراد عقل اور غور و فکر کے بغیر زندگی گزارتے ہیں، وہ انسان کم اور مشین کہلائے جانے کے زیادہ مستحق ہیں کیونکہ ان میں جب کچھ بھی بھر دیا جائے، وہ صرف اسی کے مطابق چلتے ہیں۔ اب یہ فیصلہ ہمیں خود کرنا ہے کہ ہمیں باشعور انسان بننا ہے یا ایسی مشینیں۔
End of Enlightenment? (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Even so, terrorists — unless they somehow seize nuclear weapons — are not an existential threat to humanity. The number of victims of terrorism is small compared to wars, traffic accidents, killings by deranged individuals, etc. Terrorism alone does not explain why the US is drifting away from its wonderful Enlightenment ideals. Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2017.
Conflict Between Religious Scholars And Scientists — Why Is It So? (Wardah Noor)
Science doesn’t claim to be based on any divine revelation, and hence, let it work the way humans deal in accordingly scientific method. This is what religious people need to regard about science. On the other hand, scientists need to realize that the path toward progress includes being sensitive to how others believe. When people from both the sides confront each other with lack of compassion, it’s unfortunate.
Who’s Pakistan’s Enemy Number One? (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Doubling Pakistan’s population means that there will only be half as much fresh water as today, the air will become yet filthier, pollutants will poison the land and sea, and road traffic will become nearly impossible. As poverty skyrockets, hordes of beggars will roam the streets, madressahs will swell in size and number, and the unemployed and unemployable will chafe in anger and frustration. They will be easily persuaded that their predicament comes from some international conspiracy. Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2017. Read it in Urdu here.
What If Scientists Behaved Like Mullahs? (Muhammad Tahir Ranjha)
One cannot find any fatwa by any scientist about accepting or not accepting the concept of gravity or the theory of relativity. There’s not a single example in the history suggesting that any scientist was killed or he killed someone for not accepting any theory. If scientists acted like mullahs then they would have incited to kill people on not believing in black holes.
Lacking the Scientific Method (Muhammad Bashir Baloch)
Scientific method is an evidence-based method for investigating truth and acquiring knowledge. We teach our students what science says, but most of times they don’t have a clue from where and how does this information come.
Lessons For Pakistan From Trump’s America (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
I cannot remember the last time when Pakistanis rallied together for a cause that was not specifically Muslim. Of course, Kashmir, Palestine, Bosnia and Myanmar are all worthy causes, but they are Muslim causes. In contrast, the thousands of Americans who stormed airports last month to protest Trump’s Muslim ban were there to protect a principle — that all peoples of all religions and ethnicities should have exactly the same rights. Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2017. Read it in Urdu here.
تخلیقی ذہن پہ تبلیغی اثرات: جنید جمشید اور دوسرے مشاہیر کا نفسیاتی جائزہ (Dr. Khalid Sohail)
An analysis of how an existential crisis hits the celebrities and changes their hearts and minds, and an individual starts questioning the very foundations of life: whether one’s life has any meaning, purpose, or value.
Rewarding Men of War (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Gallantry will have little place in this planet’s future wars — at least those between states. Technology will confront technology, with humans simply entering policy algorithms into robots on land, sea, air and space. AI will also arrange logistics for military campaigns. Good or bad, that’s the way it’s going to be. Published in Dawn, February 4th, 2017.
Grieving Abdus Salam and the Muslim age of darkness (Nayyar Afaq)
Will Pakistan be able to produce another Abdus Salam? The answer, in the present and in the near future, is a big no. The state of science in Pakistan is dismal, school curriculums fail to inspire any interest in this beautiful subject, orthodoxy is dominating society, and space for free thinking and rational enquiry doesn’t exist. The Muslim world, by and large, has the same scenario, and one can rightly refer to our present as the dark ages for Muslims.
Who is to Blame: Us or Fate? (Zuhaib Shah)
Every action and reaction, significant or insignificant as they may seem, play part in making things happen.
Abducting Social Activists (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
The army, police, and Pakistan’s security agencies have paid a terrible price in lives and material at the hands of religious fanatics. Extremist organisations and individuals have declared bloody war upon the state. Against the culture of intolerance, corruption, and militancy that is ruining Pakistan, only a few brave souls have dared to speak out. It is insane to crack down on them. Published in Dawn, January 14th, 2017.
Land Grab at QAU — Again (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Pakistan’s leaders must soberly consider the consequences of losing control over the nation’s public lands and its public assets. QAU may be just the tip of the iceberg, but it is an acid test of governance. It is time to demonstrate steely resolve and disprove the notion that Pakistan is a failed state. Mian Nawaz Sharif had opposed the land grab in 1996. His government must now protect the public interest by protecting the land of Pakistan’s premier state university. Published in Dawn, December 24th, 2016. Read it here in Urdu.
Promoting Anti-Science via Textbooks (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
A Biology textbook is normally expected to teach biology as science, meaning a scientifically based study of the structure, growth and origin of living things. But what if such a book instead says science must follow ideology and loudly denounces the core principles of biology, condemning these as wrong and irrational? Read it here in English and here in Urdu. Published in Dawn, December 3rd, 2016.
Changing Perspectives (Muhammad Bashir Baloch)
There is no refutation to science and even if there is one it will surely come from science itself using scientific method, not from outside. So if we are sceptical to something, we should consult our reasoning in order to refute it or accept it rather than taking sides based on dogma.
The Establishment’s Dilemma (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Missing from the establishment’s perception of national interest is a positive vision for Pakistan’s future. I could not find any enthusiastic call for Pakistan to explore space, become a world leader in science, have excellent universities, develop literature and the arts, deal with critical environmental issues, achieve high standards of justice and financial integrity, and create a poverty-free society embodying equalitarian principles. Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2016.
Debating Culture (Muhammad Bashir Baloch)
An educated debating culture is needed, where things are judged based on relevant information and evidences rather than our personal prejudices. We must differentiate between people and ideas. Talking about people and talking about ideas are two different things; ideas are never sacred and no idea is immune to scrutiny.
Pakistan’s Pseudoscience Menace (Interview)
Miseducation and the spread of pseudoscience in the country have harmed the teaching of science, feels Pervez Hoodbhoy in his interview for the Gulf News.
The Brain Filters (Muhammad Bashir Baloch)
There are certain problems from which our judgement still suffers. Our thinking process is not ideal in any sense; emotions and certain factors still drive us irrational. We are affected by them while listening and judging someone. I call these factors as filters on the basis of which we decide our response. These are filters of language, filters of beliefs, filters of cultures, values, attitude, expectations and intentions.
The Practicality Delusion (Muhammad Zain Mobeen)
Newton did not just create a whole branch of mathematics to come up with the laws of motion just so that centuries later reproducing these laws on exams could help someone get into medical school. Nor was any other scientific discovery made so that it could be used to kill off any trace of wonder and curiosity in children and instead brainwash them into believing that science and math are torturous hurdles that stand in the way of them and ‘success’.
Why Are We Failing in Science Education? (Muhammad Bashir Baloch)
Mark Twain, a renowned American writer, once said “If you don’t read newspapers you are uninformed and if you read it you are misinformed.” Same is the case with our education system today. We are producing a generation who is misinformed and has a very little knowledge of truth. Our educated and uneducated people both seem to think on same lines and in some cases so called educated people appear more dogmatic, more illogical and even prone to extremism in their thinking.
Bogus University Rankings (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Parents everywhere, and increasingly in Pakistan, want their children to go to a good university. This is an important decision about a student’s future — and an expensive one. Looking at university websites is no help because many misrepresent or lie. So they turn to international organisations thinking them to be neutral. But they don’t know what lies underneath. Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2016.
Shoreham’s Example (A.H. Nayyar)
Contravening international laws and standards, the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission has failed to make evacuation plans for those residing within a distance of 30 km from the plant; the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority failed to insist on it when approving construction. No evacuation plan means when people are asked to leave, there will be chaos — traffic logjams, riots, etc. Nearly all will get stuck and be exposed to radioactivity.
Celebrating Ignorance (Muhammad Bashir Baloch)
Is there any example in history when a civilization has been ruined just because they preferred evidence and logic. On the contrary, we may find such examples where irrationality spoiled the nations and perished their civilizations. One wonders why people celebrate ignorance?
The Hanging of Mir Quasem Ali (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Pakistan needs to do far more than Bangladesh. As a starter, it must no longer allow young Pakistanis in schools to be filled with wildly distorted versions of history. These ignore the horrors West Pakistan inflicted upon the Bengalis. Rather than defend war criminals or deny what happened in 1971, Pakistan should seek to normalise relations with Bangladesh. Truth and reconciliation is what is needed. Published in Dawn on 10th September 2016.
Everyone Bleeds in Afghanistan (Anwaar Hussain)
Once the present game of Buzkashi is over, with the wasted heroes lowered into their graves in flag-draped caskets, the politicians, the Generals and the Mullahs will promptly wash the blood off their hands with well-worded sorrow.
Pakistan’s Paranoid Politics (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Imagined conspiracies serve only to distract us from the enemy within, the religious extremists who have repeatedly declared they will wage unending war upon the country and its people until the establishment of an Islamic state in Pakistan. We need facts not finger-pointing if we are fighting those who murder Pakistan’s schoolchildren, lawyers, policemen, and soldiers. Published in Dawn on 20th August 2016.
سائنسی درسی کتابوں میں مذہبی آمیزش (Dr. Zulfiqar Khan)
سائنسی تعلیم کا مقصد طالب علموں کو محض سائنسی معلومات دینا نہیں بلکہ ان کے اندر سائنسی انداز فکربھی پیدا کرنا ہے۔ مذہبی خیالات کی آمیزش سے یہ انداز فکر خالص سائنسی نہیں رہتا کیونکہ سائنس کی دنیا مشاہدات و تجربات پر مبنی ہے جبکہ مذہب کی بنیاد ایمان بالغیب پر ہے۔ سائنس میں تقلید نہیں اور نہ ہی کوئی شے مقدس۔ سائنس میں قدیم کی بجائے جدید کو فوقیت حاصل ہے اور ہر بات، اور ہر دعوے کی تصدیق و تردید کا معیار مذہب سے بالکل مختلف ہے۔
Hidden Dangers (A.H. Nayyar, Zia Mian)
The Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) has finally cleared construction in Karachi of two large Chinese-supplied nuclear reactors. Approval of the Preliminary Safety Analysis Report (PSAR) submitted by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) was the final step required for building the K-2 and K-3 reactors. But this safety report, which is supposed to critically assess the safety of the reactor site, the reactor design, the management of the nuclear fuel, and possible accidents due to technical failure and human error and their consequences, is flawed in important ways. Published in Dawn on 13th August 2016.
Cooling down Kashmir (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
No one sees the Kashmir dispute having a solution in the foreseeable future. Everything has been tried: war, repression, elections, and inducements. The only question at present is how to prevent a bad situation from spiralling out of control. Lest thousands more die, it is now time for calm thinking, letting passions subside and moving ahead. Rather than look for ultimate solutions now, the present needs to be managed. Published in Dawn on 30th July 2016.
A Breath of Stale Blair (Anwaar Hussain)
At one time Tony Blair looked like a strong leader with great promise. Combined with a gift of gab, he seemed to overshadow all around him, at home and on the continent. Ironically, his unswerving support for the Neocons’ misadventures earned him the nickname of US poodle rather than a place in the European hall of fame. Subsequent events proved him, instead, to be a great deceiver, a past master at selling half lies and half truths, schooled rather in the art of never admitting, yet not categorically denying. History now bears out that all his moralizing, all his lofty rhetoric dished out, were in the sure fore knowledge of the Neocons’ real agenda. He only proved that his oratory skills and high-sounding rhetoric were nothing but the lamb talk of a wolf.
Why Liberals Are Losing? (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Liberals everywhere are fighting an uphill battle — and winning only rarely. It is so much easier to be backward looking, narrow, prejudiced, parochial, tribal, sectarian, and nationalist rather than be accommodative, global, and universal. It is even more difficult in Pakistan. While erasing the last 300 liberals may be a noble goal in the eyes of some, it is unlikely to solve a truly large and vexatious problem. Published in Dawn on 9th July 2016.
Social Progress Index 2016 and Pakistan (Anwar Akhtar)
The message from the SPI table for 2016 is terrible. Pakistan is staring into the abyss, a perfect storm of rapid population growth, social injustice, a huge street children population (estimated by the United Nations at 1.5 million), gender inequality, institutionalised state violence against women and chronic lack of economic opportunities for most people. Yes there’s a growing middle class, but in a country of 200 million, too many are left out.
A Generation Void of Dreams (Muhammad Zain Mobeen)
What troubles me the most is that we are raising a generation void of dreams. There are hardly any children nowadays that aspire to be great scientists, artists or historians. These are professions that have been labeled as impractical, unconventional and of course financially unstable, because according to our traditional wisdom if there is one thing that can be used to gauge one’s ‘success’ and satisfaction, it is definitely the size of one’s home and bank balance. Clearly, this way of thinking has gotten us nowhere.
The Caliph, Muslim Ummah and the concept of an Islamic state (Usman Asif)
This series of three articles will focus on these subjects: the institution of the Caliph, what the Muslim community (Ummah) is and what is the concept of an Islamic state. Focus will be on the plurality in understanding these institutions and concepts and how they have developed through history. (Part I, Part II, Part III)
This Ramadan (Anwaar Hussain)
Let us pause this Ramadan and ask a few questions from ourselves. Who were we? Where do we stand today? What happened to us along the way? Which way are we going?
Droning Mullah Fazlullah (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Fazlullah must go, whether by drone or otherwise. But what we want for ourselves, we must also want for those across the Durand Line. For this, the successors of Mullah Mansour — however many are yet to come — will also have to go. Published in Dawn on 18th June 2016.
Motel Kandahar: The Principles of Failure (Anwaar Hussain)
With the bulk of American forces now gone from Afghanistan, and with a mere token presence left behind, President Obama has allowed the remaining American troops to once again directly battle the Taliban, loosening restrictions on airstrikes and on ground combat in support of Afghan forces. The Americans just don’t seem to have learned much in their fifteen years stay in Afghanistan. Let’s see how. A contributed article by Anwaar Hussain, an ex F-16 fighter pilot from Pakistan Air Force.
A Balance Sheet For May 28 (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
The atomic bomb was supposed to create a state of bliss. Unsurprisingly that didn’t happen. Indeed, Pakistan’s security problems cannot be solved by expanding its missile fleet, buying more F-16s, or developing tactical nuclear weapons. Instead, the way forward lies in building a sustainable and active democracy, an economy for peace rather than war, a federation in which provincial grievances can be effectively resolved, elimination of the feudal order, and creating a tolerant society that respects the rule of law.
Is It Science or Theology? (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Science has no need for Pakistan; in the rest of the world it roars ahead. But Pakistan needs science because it is the basis of a modern economy and it enables people to gain decent livelihoods. To get there, matters of faith will have to be cleanly separated from matters of science. This is how peoples around the world have managed to keep their beliefs intact and yet prosper. Pakistan can too, but only if it wants. Published in Dawn on 7th May 2016.
Democracy Under Assault (Hammad Raza)
The concept of democracy as a political notion of governance for the people and by the people has now become an instrumental tool by impersonal forces to control the general masses. Deep strains on democracy can be seen in the threatening fractures all over the world.
Can Pakistan’s F-16s Fight Terror? (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
To destroy terrorism will require a massive change of public attitudes and a complete repudiation of Pakistan’s current policy. This uses two hoses to fight a terrible fire. One pours water to douse the flames. But the other hose spews petrol, subtracting from the gains made by the first. Published in Dawn on 16th April 2016.
Piety For Profit (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Commercialised piety now rakes in profits, reducing religion and spirituality to business. It’s time to get priorities right. Eliminating interest on loans, whether advanced for real or frivolous needs, has so far grabbed all the attention. But would a just God prefer that you pray to Him on a luxury prayer mat — even if purchased with a Sharia-compliant credit card? Why would He give lower priority to the Quranic injunction of adl (justice)? In a system that is unjust at the roots, surely the fight to build a just, sustainable, and compassionate society should take precedence over form and ritual. Published in Dawn on 26th March 2016.
Is Pakistan’s Problem Urdu? (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
No nation becomes stronger by having the ‘correct’ official language. Instead it gains strength when it addresses the real needs of its people. Likewise, education cannot be improved by flipping from English to Urdu or vice versa. Change can happen only when education is seen as a means for opening minds rather than an instrument of ideological control. Published in Dawn on 5th March 2016.
Science Education In Schools (Dr. A.H. Nayyar)
That science education in Pakistan is inadequate is saying the obvious. In fact, it is bad enough to scare students away. There is a long list of problems with science education in the country. Textbooks written for Pakistani textbook boards and colleges are dreary and uninteresting, and only overload students with facts. Badly printed, they are terse in their explanations, and care little for graphic presentations. Teachers are either untrained or poorly trained, and hence uninspiring. Many have poor knowledge of the subject they teach, and hence discourage questions, and kill curiosity. Published in Dawn on 4th March 2016.
Our Varsities Have Turned into Junk Factories (Interview)
Pervez Hoodbhoy speaks to MIT Technology Review Pakistan about science and technology in context of higher education including teaching, capacity-building of professors, current situation at universities and research.
N. Korea Follows Indo-Pakistan (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Bravo, North Korea! You have faithfully followed South Asia down the nuclear and missile gutter. State propaganda machines everywhere have successfully fooled gullible populations into lauding these ‘achievements’. Yes, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had threatened to make Pakistanis eat grass but only you had the guts to force an entire population to actually eat it. Your nuclear ambitions have deprived millions of a decent life, and hundreds of thousands of North Koreans are locked up in your wretched prisons. My congratulations to Kim Jong-un and others of the Kim dynasty. May they all rot in hell. Published in Dawn on 13rd February 2016.
Before I Speak of the Stars… (Dr. Ravi Sinha)
Let me speak first of Rohith Chakravarthi Vemula. I never met him. I wish I had, although that would have made me hardly any worthier of speaking about him. Had I met him, I would have come to know that I shared with him a passion for science, nature and stars. I would like to think that he would have found in me, despite my being from another generation, a comrade-in-arms and a fellow campaigner for a better world. Perhaps I would have also recognized a few of the scars left over from a childhood spent in poverty. But, there, the similarities would have ended.
Back From the Enemy Country (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Pakistan and India may be moving along divergent paths of development but their commonalities are becoming more accentuated as well. Engaging with the other is vital — and certainly possible. Although I sometimes took unpopular political positions at no point did I, as a Pakistani, experience hostility. The mature response of both governments to the Pathankot attack gives hope that Pakistan and India might yet learn to live with each other as normal neighbours. This in spite of the awful reality that terrorism is here to stay. Published in Dawn on 23rd January 2016.
Our Wonder Deficit (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
‘I WONDER’. These two words have incalculable power. It’s because of this innocuous phrase that humans stand at the top of the evolutionary ladder. Whereas animals look only for basic survival, you and I reflect, seek cause and comprehension, and speculate. Then, from wonder’s bosom springs expansive thinking. You theorise, explore depths, and perhaps have a Eureka moment. Without wonder there cannot be science or art. Published in Dawn on 2nd January 2016.
Burn These Books, Please! (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
The tiny number of Sindh’s children privileged to access British ‘O’ and ‘A’ level schools — and use their books — are doing okay. For the rest, one can only weep. Published in Dawn on 12th December 2015. Read the Urdu translation here.
Enough PhD’s, Thank You (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
No country becomes wealthy by printing a mountain of paper currency. And no university system becomes better by dishing out substandard PhD degrees, or by accepting vacuous research papers as valid. Instead, the way forward lies in adhering to strict ethical standards, cultivating excellence, rejecting mediocrity, and nurturing a spirit of inquiry and intellectual excitement. Published in Dawn on 21st November 2015. Read the Urdu translation here.
Interview: Pervez Hoodbhoy
Pervez Hoodbhoy speaks with Muhammad Akbar Notezai on liberalism, religious freedom, and extremism in Pakistan. Published in The Diplomat on 5th November 2015.
Win Pak-India nuke war? (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
More likely is that in the heat of the moment, reckless passions will rage and caution will take a backseat. A tit-for-tat exchange could continue until every single weapon, small and large, is used up on either side. It is difficult to imagine how any war termination mechanism could work even if, by some miracle, the nuclear command and control centres remain intact. At the end both India and Pakistan would win, having taught the other a terrible lesson. But neither would remain habitable. Published in Dawn on 31st October 2015.
Pervez Hoodbhoy’s Response To LUMS
LUMS has officially responded (Oct 24) to my article of Oct 2 with two assertions, both of which are wrong, needlessly personal, and indicative of the strong anti-science and anti-intellectual currents within that university. Published in Dawn on 27th October 2015.
پاکستان کی یونیورسٹیوں پر جنات کا حملہ (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
پاکستان کے تعلیمی اداروں کو روشن خیالی کا منبع ہونا چاہیے۔کھلے ذہن کے ساتھ نئی سوچ کو جگہ دینی چاہیے۔ نہیں تو یہ جانوروں کا باڑہ بن کر رہ جائیں گے۔ ذہنی طور پر سست اور نالائق پروفیسروں کی فوج کو ایسے طالب علموں کی ضرورت ہوتی ہے جو ان کی ہر بات پر سوال اٹھانے یا چیلنج کرنے کی بجائے اس پر سر تسلیم خم کریں ۔ وہ یہ جانتے ہیں کہ مافوق الفطرت اور خیالی واقعات سنا کر 20 سے 25 سال کے نوجوانوں کو موت کا خوف دلا کرڈرایا جا سکتا ہے۔
Jinns Invade Campuses (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Pakistan’s universities should have been beacons of enlightenment, open inquiry, and bold new thinking. Instead they are sheep farms. A legion of intellectually lazy and ignorant professors wants a breed of students who will submit to authority, not question or challenge. Published in Dawn on 10th October 2015.
پاکستان کا ڈونلڈ ٹرمپ (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
عقیدت کی حد تک حمایت کرنے والے لوگوں کو جارح رہنما پسند ہوتے ہیں۔ ٹرمپ، جنہیں امریکی تاریخ کا کھردرا ترین سیاستدان کہا جاتا ہے، نوکیلے اور ہتک آمیز الفاظ کا استعمال کرتے ہیں جبکہ عمران خان بھی ایسے ہی اپنا بلا گھماتے ہیں۔
Pakistan’s Donald Trump (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Made of the same stuff but packaged differently, the Trump-Khan duo has thrilled racial and religious extremists. The former leader of the Klu Klux Klan, David Duke, declared that of all presidential candidates, Trump is “the best of the lot”. Khan received still greater appreciation. He was nominated by the TTP as their representative to last year’s (cancelled) peace talks, the reward for leading massive “peace” marches protesting American drones. Resolutely refusing to condemn any Taliban atrocity, Khan would seek to shift the blame on the US. Published in Dawn on 19th September 2015.
Is Third Largest Large Enough? (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
In the present climate of a tribal blood feud between two nuclear-armed neighbors, vision and judgement have been severely impaired. Since 1998 we have pretended to be two responsible nuclear states. But calling off talks and hurling accusations (as well as artillery shells) exposes this myth. Meanwhile, those who stand to gain more power and influence from nuclear expansion are multiplying in numbers. It is hard to imagine what can restore sanity. Published in Dawn on 29th August 2015.
Review of “Eqbal Ahmad: Critical Outsider and Witness in a Turbulent Age” by Stuart Schaar (Hafsa Khawaja)
Although I became acquainted with his life and work long after his demise, his intellectual honesty, courage and brilliance has taught me to think, to learn and to question; inspiring me never to dim the dream of a progressive and peaceful Pakistan and world; to stay true to the pursuit of this vision. Written by Hafsa Khawaja.
Some Thoughts on the Discovery of Earth’s Bigger, Older Cousin (Salman Hameed)
Kepler 452b is a great candidate for life. But hold the celebrations. Astronomers estimate that 10% of stars in our galaxy host Earth-sized planets that may exist in the habitable zone. In a galaxy of 200 billion stars, that leaves us with 20 billion potentially habitable planets!
Herd Mentality in Politics (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
It is not easy to resist group conformity anywhere in the world. Our desire to somehow fit in moulds attitudes. We value social acceptance, seek assimilation, and fear rejection of our views. In fact the smaller a minority, the more it hesitates to express a contrary opinion. In repressive societies the penalties for not conforming can be severe, even death. Published in Dawn on 8th August 2015.
Math in Our Madressahs? (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Unless horizons are broadened by including secular subjects, madressahs will remain a perennial danger. Published in Dawn on 18th July 2015.
Weather Change: A Conspiracy? (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Pakistan’s weather is getting more extreme, less predictable. Concomitantly there is rising temptation to put the onus upon some human agency. Unsurprisingly, sinister and malign forces bent upon reshaping this country’s climatic pattern are being conjured up. But how well can they survive scientific scrutiny? Published in Dawn on 27th June 2015.
Why Pakistan Needs a Carl Sagan (Muhammad Ahmad Tirmazi)
Pakistan is blessed with countless young and intelligent people. Intelligence, however, in spite of popular belief, is not a requirement for being a scientist. There is just one requirement for being a true scientist, and sadly, most young minds in this country seem to lack it: curiosity.
The Pervaiz Rasheed Affair (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
When Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed spoke at the Karachi Arts Council on May 3, he stated the self-evident. Without explicitly naming madressahs, he said large numbers of factories mass-produce ignorance in Pakistan through propagating “murda fikr” (dead knowledge). Published in Dawn on 6th June 2015.
فقیر سائیں کا شعری کلام
یہ ایک ایسے شاعر کا مجموعہ کلام ھے جو اپنے آپ کو گم نام رکھنا چاھتا ھے۔ اس نے اپنا شاعرانہ نام فقیر سائیں رکھا ھے اور اسی نام سے اپنا تعارف کرانا چاھتا ھے۔
The Intellectual’s Intellectual (Kabir Babar)
Kabir Babar reviews Stuart Schaar’s new biography of the late Eqbal Ahmad. Published in The Friday Times on 22nd May 2015.
War to Mould Minds (Dr. A.H. Nayyar)
The coercion worked. Fearing for her life, Dr Bernadette Dean, an eminent Pakistani educationist and one of the 12 members of the Government of Sindh’s advisory committee on school curricula reform, has fled the country. She is a victim of a decades-long effort by religious extremists to control our education system. Published in Dawn on 17th May 2015.
More Lethal Than RAW (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Imagine that an enemy has perfected a super weapon that destroys reasoning power. Published in Dawn on 16th May 2015.
Eqbal Ahmed: A memoir of Munno Chacha (Vaqar Ahmed)
“Eqbal’s nick name was “Munno” (a small boy), an unlikely name for a larger than life figure. But, I think it was very appropriate as he was a very humble man who wore his brilliance very lightly.” A tribute to Eqbal Ahmad by Vaqar Ahmed published in Dawn on 14th May 2015.
Let Saudi Arabia Fume (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Pakistan must stand firm behind its parliament’s decision. Let the Saudis fume. We must not fight their war. They cannot afford to retaliate too harshly. But even if they do inflict some pain on Pakistan, it will be limited and we will emerge stronger at the end. Published in Dawn on 25th April 2015.
پاکستان، سعودی عرب کا ناگزیر ایٹمی پارٹنر (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
حال ھی میں پاکستان کی پارلیمان نے سعودی عرب کے تحفظ کے عزم کا اعادہ کرنے کے باوجود یہ قرارداد منظور کی کہ وہ یمن میں حوثی باغیوں سے لڑنے کے لئے سعودی عرب کی قیادت میں بنائے گئے بلاک میں شامل نہیں ھوگا۔ بیشتر پاکستانی ملک میں طالبان شورش کی وجہ سے قوت کھو چکے ھیں، اس لئے وہ ملک سے باھر ایک ایسے دشمن سے لڑنے کی مخالفت کر رھے ھیں، جس کا نام تک وہ پہلی بار سن رھے ھیں۔
Pakistan, the Saudis’ Indispensable Nuclear Partner (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
The Pakistani Parliament, even while stating its commitment to protect the territory of Saudi Arabia, recently adopted a resolution not to join the Saudi-led coalition fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen. Many Pakistanis are worn out by the Taliban insurgency at home and oppose intervention abroad, especially to fight an enemy whose name they are hearing for the first time and risk worsening relations with its backer, Iran. Published in International New York Times on 21th April 2015.
Saudi-Israeli anti-Iran nexus (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
A WAR-TORN world heaved a sigh of relief on Thursday night after success was declared at the Iran nuclear talks in Lausanne, Switzerland. Months of tortuous negotiations have ended for now, while a fuller agreement is to be finalised by the end of June. This is huge cause for celebration — peace has been given a chance. Published in Dawn on 4th April 2015.
The Sin and the Error (Dr. Ravi Sinha)
Future historians of India may well describe the past year as a year of political sin. This was the year in which the man who had earlier presided over the Gujarat Carnage was awarded the ultimate prize. The year saw an election that touched a new low marked by shallowness, vulgarities and lies – in no small measure by the labors of the man himself. Equally appalling have been the exertions of a large class of literati and glitterati to portray philistinism and inanities spouted by the most powerful mouth as wisdom of a visionary leader.
Saudi Academics Must Speak up for the Freedom to Dissent (John Polanyi, Nobel Laureate, Chemistry)
We write out of concern that the fabric of international co-operation may be torn apart by dismay at the severe restrictions on freedom of thought and expression still being applied to Saudi Arabian society. We have no doubt that members of KAUST share that concern, aware that the cruel sentence passed, for example, on Mr. Raif Badawi, who established a forum for open discussion, sent a shock around the world. We take real hope from the fact that the government of Saudi Arabia, responding to international outcry, is re-considering that sentence.
Let’s Go Nuclear — Safely (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Pakistan must indeed look towards nuclear energy, but only of the fusion kind. Cheaper by the day, small decentralised solar and wind units offer the best option for households. This will greatly decrease the pressure on gas, oil, and hydro generation and release energy for industry. Instead of chasing outmoded and dangerous 20th-century technology, it is time for us to follow the world into a cleaner, safer 21st century. Published in Dawn on 14th March 2015.
Healing Our Sectarian Divide (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
More razor wire, guards, and gun licences cannot assure the safety of Pakistani citizens. Whether Sunni, Shia, Christian, Hindu, or Ahmadi, they all live in fear. Real protection can come only by educating Pakistan’s upcoming generations that all faiths are entitled to equal respect, moving firmly and equally against all militant groups, and giving every Pakistani citizen exactly the same legal rights and privileges as any other. Published in Dawn on 21st February 2015.
If a Pakistani Went to Mars (Salman Hameed)
Reginald Foulds is ready to go on a one-way trip to Mars. His dream may be a step closer as he is amongst the final 100 candidates chosen by Mars One, a private organisation that is planning on sending humans to Mars by 2025.
Obama’s N-mission to India (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Wholly missed by Pakistani commentators was the positive part of Obama’s promise: he offered American assistance to help meet India’s goal of having solar capacity of 100,000 MW by the year 2022. This is 45 times the electrical capacity of the two Karachi nuclear reactors! If India can build this much solar capacity in a few years, why can’t Pakistan? Published in Dawn on 31st January 2015.
Notes on South Asia in crisis (The Daily Star, Bangladesh)
Here we publish a letter and an excerpt of an article. The letter was sent by four West Pakistani academicians in protest of West Pakistan’s brutal attack on East Pakistan in 1971. It was published in The New York Times on April 10, 1971. The article was written by the famous West Pakistani scholar Eqbal Ahmad. It was first published in Bulletin of Concerned Asian Scholars (Vol 4, No.1: Winter 1972). He was conferred the “Friends of Liberation War Honour” by Bangladesh in 2013.
Mosque versus State (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
A crisis is said to be a terrible thing to waste. Before the horror of the Peshawar atrocity fades from our collective memory let the state act decisively — albeit in small steps — to restore its right to regulate religious activities within its boundaries. Else the people of Pakistan shall continue to suffer terribly. Published in Dawn on 10th January 2015.
Impossible Lessons (Dr. Ravi Sinha)
It might appear as if we are back to the affair of impossible lessons. Are we going to elect a new people, as Brecht is supposed to have said somewhere? Are we going to conjure up a new way of life and rewire the social brain so as to give rise to a new civilization? If the haystack is ever ready to catch fire, what can we do other than making sure that no one
throws a matchstick into it? Any lesson about religion or about the make-up of a civilization is not likely to be of any real use.
It Wasn’t the Final Atrocity (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
The gut-wrenching massacre in Peshawar’s Army Public School has left Pakistan aghast and sickened. All political leaders have called for unity against terrorism. But this is no watershed event that can bridge the deep divides within. In another few days this episode of 134 dead children will become one like any other. Published in Dawn on 20th December 2014.
یونیورسٹیز کو کیسے پرکھا جائے (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
پچھلے ہفتے اخبارات کی شہہ سرخیاں کافی خوش آئند تھیں۔ ‘ایک پاکستانی یونیورسٹی کو یو ایس نیوز اینڈ ورلڈ رپورٹ نے دنیا کی 500 بہترین یونیورسٹیوں کی فہرست میں شامل کرلیا ہے’۔ بھلے ہی قائد اعظم یونیورسٹی اسلام آباد نے پڑوسی ممالک ایران اور ہندوستان کی 10 دیگر یونیورسٹیوں سے نیچے 496 ویں پوزیشن حاصل کی ہے، لیکن اس کے باوجود یہ ایک اچھی خبر ہے۔ کیا واقعی ہم ہماری اعلیٰ تعلیم کے گرے ہوئے معیار سے اوپر اٹھنے لگے ہیں۔
Misjudging Universities (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
The headlines earlier this week were celebratory: a Pakistani university has been included in the “500 Best Global Universities” by the US News and World Report. Although Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) in Islamabad occupied only the 496th place — well below 10 other universities from neighbouring India and Iran — this is welcome news. Have we actually zoomed up and away from the rock-bottom standards of our higher education? Published in Dawn on 29th November 2015.
سائنس کلچر کی غیر موجودگی (Zubeida Mustafa)
ایک ایسا معاشرہ جہاں سائنس کلچر پایا جاتا ہے، وہاں عقلی بنیادوں پر سوچنے کی قابلیت میں اضافہ ہوتا ہے، جو کہ تمام سائنس کی بنیاد ہے۔ سائنس کلچر کے لیے ہر کسی کا سائنسدان ہونا ضروری نہیں ہے، لیکن ہاں یہ ضروری ہے کہ لوگوں میں فزیکل اور سوسشل سائنس کے لیے قدر ہو، اور وہ شخصی ترقی اور بڑھوتری میں اس کے کردار سے واقف ہوں۔
No Science Culture (Zubeida Mustafa)
A society that has a science culture has characteristics which are essential for the growth and development of rational thinking, the basis of all sciences. One doesn’t necessarily have to be a scientist to enable a science culture to take root. But it is important that the people should have respect for science — physical and social — and recognise its role in their personal growth. Published in Dawn on 29th October 2015.
بے عقلی میں اضافہ (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
ایک بار جب شواہد غیرمتعلق ہوجائیں تو ہر چیز ممکن ہوجاتی ہے، بے ڈھنگے نتائج، عام فہم پر حملے عام ہوگئے ہیں۔
The Rise of Unreason (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Once evidence becomes irrelevant, everything becomes possible. With only preformed notions as guide, outlandish conclusions, offensive to common sense, are frequent. The progress of science may suffer, but society and individuals take the brunt. Published in Dawn on 8th November 2014.
Why Does Malala Yusufzai’s Nobel Bother so Many on the Left? (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
I have no expectations from the millions of my conspiracy obsessed fellow Pakistanis. But have Malala’s left-wing detractors – including those who I have long respected for their outspokenness in opposing multiple forms of oppression and imperialist wars – ever really bothered to know why she was shot? Published by TelesurTV on 5th November 2014.
مریخ پر کیسے پہنچا جائے؟ (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
اگر ہندوستان مریخ پر پہنچ سکتا ہے، تو پاکستان بھی پہنچ سکتا ہے، لیکن اس کے لیے پاکستان کو کئی مشکل کام کرنے ہوں گے۔
Sending Pakistan to Mars (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Pakistanis may well ask: can we do it too? What will it take? Seen in the proper spirit, India’s foray into the solar system could be Pakistan’s sputnik moment — an opportunity to reflect upon what’s important. Published in Dawn on 18th October 2014.
How TV Dupes Our Public (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Ratings-hungry TV channels eventually brought catastrophe to Pakistan. Their popular anchors gave space and sympathy to murderers and terrorists, and broadcast every lie, rumour, and idiocy that could sell. Published in Dawn on 27th September 2014.
Of Money-in-the-Blood and Blood-Money (Dr. Ravi Sinha)
It can be asked, perhaps more meaningfully, if great civilizations are created by money-in-the-blood types and one may wonder if Gujarati greats such as Narsi Mehta, Narmad, Govardhan Ram or Gandhi, too, had money flowing in their blood.
Siege of Islamabad: What Next? (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Thousands of fanatical followers, led by the cleric-cricketer combination of Tahirul Qadri and Imran Khan, hold Islamabad hostage. A year ago such a possibility seemed remote. What of the future? In the years ahead, this pair may become irrelevant. Published in Dawn on 6th September 2014.
South Asia’s Apostle of Secular Humanism – Josh Malihabadi (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Shabbir Hasan Khan (1898-1982) of Malihabad, known by his nom de plume as Josh Malihabadi, belongs to the pantheon of Urdu poets alongside giants like Ghalib, Iqbal, and Faiz. Yet Josh was not a particularly popular poet in his native land, India. For reasons that are not entirely clear, a decade after Partition – against the advice of his friend Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru – he chose to migrate to Pakistan. But Pakistan, where he lived his final years, turned out to be even less enamored with him.
Human Psyche: Soul or Mind (Dr. Khalid Sohail)
There was a time in history when human psyche was believed to be a soul. In the last few centuries, there has been a third model that is becoming more popular in the world. It is the secular model. Followers of such model call psyche, mind, not soul.
Seven Reasons to Kill (Dr. Khalid Sohail)
“Man is the only species that is a mass murderer, the only misfit in his own society. Why should this be so?” (N. Tribergen)
Science, Religion and the Building of Scientific Culture in Pakistan (Dr. Salman Hameed)
Science seeks answers about how the universe works. Religion provides inspiration to explore the natural world. The late American biologist Stephen J Gould called science and religion as two equal but separate spheres of life, or Non-overlapping Magisteria in his own words. The former deals with the physical world and the latter with the questions of ethics and the meaning of life. The building blocks of a scientific culture in Pakistan will have to be laid upon this mutual respect and separation of these two vital spheres of life.
Religious Persecution in Pakistan (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
Blaise Pascal, the famous 17th century philosopher and mathematician, observed that “men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it for religious conviction.” Published in Viewpoint online on 13th March 2014.
A Recipe to Create Gold in Space: Collide Two Dead Stars (Dr. Salman Hameed)
By the time our Solar system was born, many such collisions had enriched our Galaxy with gold (and other elements). The gas cloud that formed the Sun and the Earth already contained these elements. Some of this gold became part of the Earth. Four and a half billion years later, this rare element caught the attention of bipedal species and it became an object of desire and envy.
نیوکلیئر کراچی (Pervez Hoodbhoy, Zia Mian, A.H. Nayyar)
کراچی میں دو بڑے نیوکلیئر پاور پلانٹس کی سائٹ پر کام شروع کردیا گیا ہے- ان دونوں ری ایکٹروں میں سے ہر ایک کی پیداواری صلاحیت پاکستان میں موجودہ تمام نیوکلیئر پاور اسٹیشنوں کی مجموعی پیداوار سے زیادہ ہوگی- یہ پاکستان کے اب تک کے نیوکلیئر پاور اسٹیشنوں میں سب سے بڑا پروجیکٹ ہوگا- اس لئے چند بنیادی سوالات پوچھنے کیلئے ابھی زیادہ دیر نہیں ہوئی ہے تاکہ لوگوں کو، خصوصاً کراچی میں رہنے والوں کو پتہ چلے کہ کیا ہونے والا ہے-
The Nuclear Shadow Over Karachi (Pervez Hoodbhoy, Zia Mian, A.H. Nayyar)
A debate has started about the wisdom of building two large Chinese-supplied nuclear reactors in Karachi. The fundamental concern is that the nearly 20 million people living in Karachi—about one out of every 10 Pakistanis—could be at risk from these reactors. Published in Newsweek Pakistan on 22nd March 2014.
Jamil Omar – Indomitable Fighter – Rest in Peace (Pervez Hoodbhoy)
It was late 1979 – or maybe early 1980 – when I first met Jamil Omar. You could right away see that he was someone unusual. With intense, sparkling eyes and a determined chin, this young man had just returned from Romania and joined Quaid-e-Azam University as a junior lecturer in the computer science department. Published in daily Times on 21st March 2014.
