I wanted to see the article to see what else jumps out. But I still remain with my initial impression that the editorial board of Nature is very astute to hit it on the head with … a total lack of investment in the social sciences and policy research, disciplines that encourage the asking of questions that autocratic regimes frequently dislike answering.

There is one accomplishment of HEC that will reap dividends many times over and was perhaps one for which the cost was the least. It is the digital library and access to knowledge far and wide. Every student in Pakistan should get access to this library. Nay, every person in Pakistan. Broadband access to the library. Free! Wifi access points can do this and more, block by block, basti by basti.

Let the freedom of ideas ring through the freedom of information.

Perhaps a follow up article or if the authors can share their observations and research on the above two issues as the space is limited in these publications and one can only hit few points.

Finally, ‘let the perfect be the enemy of the good’. HEC is not perfect. It is not managed by perfect people. Mistakes will be made. But mistakes in the name of education are good mistakes.

An educated Pakistani, at any level, is a better Pakistani.

Here I must mention, Pakistanis need to spend more time on doing original research on matters of faith. The educated need to take back the matters of ilm from the ignorant mullahs. I am afraid that the sexy disciplines of sciences are getting too much prominence.

Pakistanis have paid a very heavy price for not questioning often.

This is a weakness of Pakistan and other total control regimes. It is not the education but the nature of the culture that forces the answers. And then there is the culture of the personal faith of the experts. That too creates a tunnel vision. Not seeking answers from outside. This too needs to change.

I am still in awe of the scope of ‘The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam’ by the great Allama. If you read the thought and the logic of the thought and the breath of the references! I hold opinion that even today, no other author has put such diversity of thought in one coherent form. This kind of reach should be the necessary part of standard college education.

Yet, those Pakistanis who have questioned often, they too have paid a very heavy price on ‘kyoun boltal hai?’ Pakistanis should come to the aid of those who question. Even if they do not agree with him or her. The right to ask question is more important than the question itself.

(And then there is my lovely and sage wife, who keeps reminding me (and she patiently understands why I do not listen to her) that I waste my time over these things.)

And too often, things get centered around individuals and not ideas. I am shocked to see posts that say Adil and Pervez are the only two people who can talk about Pakistani education. Dismayed. Not about their abilities, but that people think in these platitudes. Worse, if this is really true. Or even the partisan statements about Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman. The culture of personality. This should be rejected.

No need to have ‘wawa clubs’. No need to have kool aid sippers show up to bash the other guy and squash any discussion. Then there is rampant censorship of all forms. Ahem.

Someone mentioned roots. Yes, Pakistanis need to work on roots. Far and deep.

But above all, critical thinking. Ask questions. Demand answers.

A discussion of bad ideas is better than no discussion.