7 Pakistani Universities in QS World Rankings 2019

The QS World University Rankings 2019 has included seven Pakistani universities into the prestigious annual index of global varsities. The Higher Education Commission Pakistan (HEC) recognizes 174 universities in the country, including both private and public institutions.

PIEAS and NUST Islamabad being ranked in top 500 at 397 and 417 respectively. QAU Islamabad lies in range 551-560 and LUMS between 701-750. COMSATS University secures ranking 751-800, UET Lahore: 801-1000 and University of the Punjab placed in range 801-1000.

All seven Pakistani universities made to the list are based in either Lahore or Islamabad. However, not a single university from Sindh, K-P and Balochistan made it to the global ranking which raise serious questions to the standard of education in these provinces.

Increasing incidents of child sexual abuse

A report ‘Cruel Numbers 2018’ published by Sahil, which constitutes data from 85 national and regional newspapers, shows 3,832 child abuse reported cases in 2018 with an increase of 11 % as compared to 3,445 cases reported in the year 2017.

Out of the total number, 63% cases were from Punjab, 27% cases from Sindh, 4 % cases from KP, 3% cases from Islamabad Capital Territory, 2% cases from Balochistan, 34 cases from AJK and 6 cases were reported from Gilgit-Baltistan whereas 72% were reported from rural areas and 28 % from urban areas

The increase in incidents of violence on children in the form of child sexual abuse, kidnapping, underage marriages and murder is threatening for thriving of these innocents that require concrete actions from both Government and Society to curb these detestable incidents.

Pakistan: The Newest Tourist Attraction

After years of concerns because of terrorism and other security troubles, Pakistan is seeing a welcome return of tourists. Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation says there was a 70 per cent increase in international visitors last year. And they say this year has been even better. 

Prime Minister Imran Khan on various occassions termed tourism as one of his goverment’s key priority. Syed Zulfiqar Bukhari, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Tourism and Overseas Pakistanis, is hopeful that if they take 2.8% of the GDP that comes from Tourism to 10%, which he thinks Pakistan is far capable of, it can bring 25 billion $ per year to country’s economy. 

Pakistan needs to develop infrastructure, roads, facilities and services to be the next biggest tourist attraction worldwide as it has lot to offer international tourists from some of the highest mountains in world to beautiful lakes, delicious spicy food and very hospitable people. 

Why is Education a Burden?

Why is education a burden? Education is taken as a burden by most of the students of our society, even if they are forcefully studying or by choice. Because today's education focuses only on sound career and a happy life. But in the whole process of getting good education for a happy life, the "happiness" itself fades away from our lives. 

Students from the early stages are told that if they want a good job, they have to get valuable degrees. And not only they have to get degrees, they have to score good grades too. Many students are forced to get degrees they are not interested in, because of the so called "societal values" and pressure.

"Students burden will ease only when society changes its attitude toward education as a whole".

-Guo Zhenyou, Deputy Director of Chinese Society of Education