The argument presented against the University of Karachi’s admission policy in a letter by Mr Aaqib Uddin Mahesar published in these columns rests on an appealing but incomplete reading of equality. It invokes constitutional ideals and merit, yet overlooks a deeper question: can equality be meaningful without context?
To treat education as an abstract “constitutional right” without acknowledging structural disparities is to confuse formal equality with substantive justice. Removing categories such as domicile does not level the field; it ignores the uneven realities from which students emerge. A student from an under-resourced district does not compete on equal footing with one from an urban centre enriched with quality schooling and support systems. Ignoring this is not neutrality. It, rather, quietly preserves privilege.
The critique also assumes that merit exists in isolation. It does not. What we call “merit” often reflects accumulated advantages such as economic security, educational exposure and social capital. A purely score-based system risks rewarding privilege rather than potential. Regional considerations, therefore, do not undermine merit; they attempt to make it more meaningful.
One shall remember that justice is not sameness. As Aristotle argued, fairness lies in treating equals equally and unequals according to their differences. Geographic disparities in opportunity are precisely such differences. Overlooking them in the name of uniformity produces a system that appears fair but functions inequitably.
Universities, moreover, are not mere sorting machines; they are nation-building institutions. A public university must foster representation and mobility. Inclusive admissions are not a threat to unity but a safeguard against concentration of opportunity.
This is not to suggest such policies are beyond critique. They must remain transparent and responsive. Yet dismissing them outright reflects a narrow view of both merit and equality. The real challenge is not choosing between inclusion and merit but reconciling them with nuance and justice.
Dr Intikhab Ulfat
Karachi
