In memory of Hashir Muneer

I was seeing his pictures yesterday. He looked so happy frolicking with his brother smiling straight at the camera as if to say, “Life’s good”. How then could the LUMS administration drive him to suicide?

Universities should nurture the budding talent of tomorrow much less prompt them to kill themselves.

They pride themselves for the amount of pressure they put on their students, calling it a CHALLENGING environment. Is it really productive to knowledge to over burden students to the breaking point - and beyond?

I fear IBA is going the LUMS way too. I remember my pals who were dropped by IBA in the first semester, shattered is too soft a word for what they felt. Luckily they had family support and other options.

But what happens if you’re dropped in your last semester? What resort do you then have? Isn’t it cruel that you suddenly snatch a student’s degree right when the destination is no near? Such a sever punishment for a few marks less (In IBA’s case they’ve dropped students in their 7th and 8th semester because their GPA fell below 2.0)

IBA and LUMS both believe in some cruel policies that are counter productive to education in the long run. If a student was good enough to make it to the eight semester, some leverage does not mean lowering your standards. All it entails is a little consideration for the future leaders of tomorrow.

“IBA - Leadership and ideas for tomorrow”.
Please don’t let there be no tomorrow!

All’s not right with the World

A massive earthquake has struck China killing thousands of people. Hundreds of school children are still buried beneath the rubble and are crying out for help. About 1 in 10 residents of Beichuan are either killed or injured. This is the 9th quake seen in the world since 2001.

Wheat prices are at an all time high. Economics fails to explain this phenomena because this year saw a bumper crop. Also demand for wheat fell all over the world. If supply is greater than demand, how can prices rise? How can there logically be a shortage of wheat? In Pakistan, you can blame it on smuggling and hording. But what about surplus economies like USA? Why are they facing wheat shortages?

Rice prices are increasing. Again supply is greater than demand, there was an excess of rice production this year like that of wheat. Yet our people are going hungry.

Where has the food of the world suddenly vanished?

Oil prices are steadily climbing. There seems to be an infinite ceiling. Today it is $128/barrel. By the end of the year forecasts say that oil prices will cross the $200 mark.

Some days back one of our countrymen went to purchase food for his family. He came back empty handed, he could not purchase anything. Consequently he committed suicide.

Suicide rates are now increasing even in the Muslim countries. A blanket of despair has fallen over the world.

Hatred is on the rise. There has been a 40% increase in xenophobia since 9/11. 2 days back a mob attacked a group of immigrants in South Africa with stones, whips and guns. Last month immigrant settlements were set on fire. Hate groups are rapidly sprouting up, exacberated by twisted leaders and world injustice.

My questions:

Where are we headed?
and -
Is there any linkage between these disturbing events?