Islamabad:
The former mayor and educator of Lahore Mian Amer Mahmood has said that Pakistan’s governance system cannot function effectively without the creation of new provinces, arguing that the current structure with large provinces has become unfeasible.
Speaking in an awareness seminar at a private university in Islamabad, Mahmood warned that the country’s educational crisis is being deepened, with 25 million children outside the school, one of the populations outside the world’s largest school. “These children will become an obstacle to the country’s progress,” he said, citing a survey that found 70 percent of seventh grade students who could not read a second -degree textbook.
He pointed out that only one percent of the population arrives at the University, while 44 percent of children suffer from malnutrition, which increases fears that future generations are not even able to work productively. “We have strengthened our defense, but we have failed in public welfare,” he added, emphasizing that the government must prioritize social, economic and political well -being.
Mahmood criticized successive governments in the last 80 years for not bringing a significant change, noting that countries that gained independence at the same time have surpassed Pakistan in development.
He said that the Punjab government was spending RS4,400 per child per month, less than the rate of a decent private school, however, government schools continue to have a lower performance despite having facilities.
Regarding broader governance problems, the former governor regretted that murder trials take 16 to 18 years to conclude, devastating the families of the victims and perpetrators.
