3rd IBA MUN: In a first, foreign students slug it out on Pakistani turf over the world’s thorniest issues

From Kashmir to social networking, the Arab Spring to nukes, the debates and learning rage.


Our Correspondent January 21, 2012

KARACHI:


When Hindun Harahap, a student of International Relations in Indonesia came across a Facebook page on a UN model conference taking place in this part of the world, she immediately requested the organisers take her on.


“The conference seemed so interesting. I just wanted to come here at any cost,” said a thrilled Harahap on the sidelines of the third Model United Nations at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi or MUNIK, which attempts to simulate 14 of the UN’s committees and organs.

This was the same motivation for Felix Pal, an Australian student, who was chairing a UN committee at the conference. “The scale of the conference is huge. I have never participated [in one] where there are so many committees and students.”

Both Pal and Harahap who are among the seven international students from places like Hong Kong and Kosovo, can found talking it out with their Pakistani peers as delegates of member countries in the classrooms of IBA’s university campus which have been turned into committee rooms. Around 1,200 students from universities and schools across the country will be debating international issues and drafting resolutions as part of the exercise.

The largest delegation, comprising 300 students, came to the UN committee for disarmament and international security at the IBA auditorium, where smartly turned-out students debated the effects of nuclear wars as well as the importance of teleological advancement.

In another room, where members of Unesco were seated, the discussion focused on the merits and demerits of social media. A delegate from China, defending its conservative stance on social media, firmly stated, “Social media threatens national security,” and cited the example of the Arab Spring, in which the medium was used to provoke uprisings. A member from Brazil argued on the privacy concerns of social media. “Social networking sites such as Facebook infringe on privacy.”

In the room where members of one of the most important organs of the UN, the Security Council, were present, representatives turned to the issue of Kashmir.

A student, who was representing Iran, said, “Kashmir has been an issue for six decades and needs to be solved.” Israel agreed, as its delegate strongly stated, “resources were being wasted and it is in the interest of everyone for there to be a stable Kashmir.”

Students participating in the mock conference believe that such events benefit them. “These conferences enhance public speaking. Also when we prepare for them, we become aware of the issues in the world,” said Mujtaba Raza, a third-year student at Szabist.

An O’ Level student from St Michael’s Convent, Areeba Athar, concurred, “We come to know about real issues surrounding people. It helps in building confidence and self-esteem.”

The event, which has attracted foreign students for the first time, is aiming at becoming the biggest UN model in South Asia, said Umer Irfan, an IBA student. Irfan, who was heading the WTO committee, said that their aim is to pass draft resolutions and promote healthy debates.

Earlier at the opening ceremony, the former city nazim, Mustafa Kamal, spoke on how important it is to empower students. He said that the majority of the population is young, and the responsibility for change and development lies on their shoulders.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 22nd, 2012.

COMMENTS (3)

Cool Dude | 12 years ago | Reply

Well Done MUNIK 2012 Management Team :)

Abdul Samad Nizamani | 12 years ago | Reply

I was there at the conference. It was simply an amazing experience. I say Kudos to the organizing team for makin such a huge event possible without any mismanagement at all. They definitely deserve a standing ovation.

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