Over the past two decades the political elite has very systematically and deliberately brought a misnomer for the education system of the country which was already on slippery path of degeneration since the decade of 1970. To restore the lost credibility of degrees of Pakistan’s educational institutions Higher Education Commission (HEC) was created by the government of President Musharraf in 20o02. But the powers and mandate of this useful quality education promoting body have been diluted in the previous PPP government.
The two mainstream political parties PPP, PML-N and their allies even tried to completely disband it in the garb of 18th Amendment, while devolving higher education to the provinces. However, HEC was saved by state institutions from political vandalism and it is performing the role of authenticating the degrees of student who want to pursue higher studies abroad and maintains a symbolic oversight over the academic activities of public sector and private sector universities. The Political elite despised the HEC because it stood against the political pressure to give clean chit to the members of parliament who submitted fake degrees to education commission.
The same attitude of animosity towards the value of true education and genuine degrees was displayed by a PML-N Senator Mushidullah Khan, Chairman Standing Committee on Civil Aviation when he strongly criticised the management of Pakistan International Airline (PIA) for sacking seven pilots and 73 cabin crew on account of their record of fake degrees and other relevant educational documents. The disciplinary action against the concerned PIA officials was taken in the light of Supreme Court verdict, which Mr. Khan innocently interpreted as not envisaging the dismals from service on fake academic record.
The fake degree holders may have been appointed on political considerations which has been an established norm in the governments of PPP and PML-N. That is why Senator Mushahidullah Khan has expressed his anger against the management of National Career. PIA used to be one of credible and prestigious airline in the world. It was the appointments of fake degree holders, inefficient and corrupt top officials that the airline decayed and its flights were banned on the international routes. The debt liability of the Airline has reached Rs. 450 billion. Frequent doses of bailouts did not improve its financial health. The previous government wanted to sell it at a throwaway price. The assets and liabilities of PIA were divided into core and non-core functions to pave the way for the privitisation of air traffic business and airplanes which are in good condition. However, the present government withdrew it from the privitisation list of Privitisation Commission; wants to revive it; make its service delivery; and once again turn it into a profitable organisation which it was in the decade of 1960s.
Economic Coordination Committee has approved a fresh bailout out package of Rs. 5.6 billion for the PIA and a second tranche of Rs. 8.4 billion shall be decided in the cabinet meeting. Purging the National Career from fake degree holders is a worth appreciation action and it should continue. But the matter of overstaffing of the organisation with political affiliations also needs urgent consideration.
