Noted speakers gave their two cents on the conditions that prevail in the country.
PHOTO: EXPRESS
Dr Khan was speaking at a conference organised by KU’s Political Science department and the Young Social Reformers, a group working on youth empowerment and progressive community development for a better world, at KU Arts Auditorium.
The conference titled, ‘Role of Youth in Relief and Rehabilitation Work for a Constructive and Prosperous Pakistan,’ aimed to encourage youngsters to discover and apply their abilities for the development of society.
According to Dr Khan the country will progress when all stakeholders work together with positive energy. “All stakeholders must utilise their abilities and skills to eradicate problems being faced by the country. Society cannot prosper without education and only those countries which have realised the importance of education are on the top of the world,” he said adding that countries which do not give attention to their education sectors are far from any kind of progress or development.
Speaking on the occasion, senator Imamuddin Shouqeen said that students look at things differently but their perspective changes once they enter their professional lives. He claimed that not a single doctor or teacher likes to go to rural and underdeveloped areas to perform duties. “Recently, as per court’s directives, the government transferred over 100 doctors to perform duties in Thar and other affected areas, but they objected claiming that their household affairs are being affected due to transfer orders,” he said. “[This is] despite the fact that to get government jobs they willingly show interest to work anywhere as per requirement,” added Shouqeen.
Another speaker, former member of National Assembly, Ali Raza Abidi, said that our country needs immediate economic rehabilitation to overcome its financial crisis which is greater than before. In the past three months, inflation has increased at rapid rate, he said. He claimed that a family, which could manage its day to day affairs within Rs30,000, now needs at least Rs36,000 to bear the same expenses. At the same time, the bread earner of the family has not received any salary increment, he added.
According to Abidi, Karachi provides up to 70% revenue to the country but no serious efforts have been made for its development.
“Salaried persons, industrialists, and others pay more tax than agriculture land owners,” he claimed while advising youngsters to focus on social and rehabilitation works in their respective localities.
Meanwhile, Central District Municipal Corporation Chairperson Rehan Hashmi said that wars will be fought on water related issues in the future. He informed the audience that in the recent past, most casualties have occurred due to shortage of food and not because of a lack of medical facilities. According to him, many districts in Sindh do not have access to clean drinking water. He asked the students to benefit from alternate platforms and to not depend on the government for every matter.
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Noted lawyer, Zia Awan, informed the audience that the country is ranked second, after the United States of America, in charity work around the globe. Pakistani people have never hesitated in donating cash, support and volunteer work during any kind of emergency including natural disasters, he said.
He recalled audience that entire Balakot town was destroyed in the earthquake back in 2005, and Karachiites were at the top in collecting and distributing charity for the people of the town, who were helpless and needed immediate support.
Awan said that mismanagement in donation and charity work is a separate issue but the masses are not easily discouraged and they always come forward to provide a helping hand at the time of need.
“Unfortunately, Karachi falls under danger zone of natural calamities. The city could face Tsunami or earthquake anytime in future,” he said. “The concerned metropolitan departments and provincial and federal governments should design and implement laws keeping this scenario in mind as they are responsible for the protection of public,” added Awan.
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“Every individual in the world faces stress but if one handle it with a positive mindset, then it will help them in reducing the problem, if not completely uprooting it,” said motivational speaker, Athar Khan, adding that a person’s facial expression is actually the mirror of their thoughts and if one has a positive thinking approach, one will be calm and peaceful in life.
He told audience that on average eight people died per second around the world so they, the audience, should be thankful for the lives they have.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 10th, 2018.
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