Academia stresses need for producing social scientists

Peshawar—The Academia of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has stressed the need for producing more and more social scientists so that the social problems confronting the society could be dealt with amicably.

Scholars representing various institutes of the province were expressing their views in a panel discussion titled “Social Science: prospects and challenges to Pakistani society and academia” held under the auspices of Institute of Management Sciences Peshawar.

Moderated by Dr. Waqar Hussain Syed, the discussion was attended by a large number of teachers, students and media men.

Dr. Nasir Ali Khan, Director IM Sciences on this occasion said that multiple social problems confronting the society called for an increase in the number of social scientists adding that this goal could be achieved if the Higher Education Commission would allocate more funds for social sciences research.

Dr. Anwar Siddiqui President Council of Social Sciences Pakistan, while referring to the ill performance of various government departments said that academic institutions should be run by qualified experts and not by the bureaucracy.

Dr. Nasir Jamal, Vice Chancellor, Kohat University of science and technology (KUST) while expressing himself said that scientists may help in predicting earthquake but the affectees of earthquake or other natural calamities could only be comforted and consoled by social scientists. “We need to make our ideas follow action and not our actions follow ideas,.” added Dr. Nasir Jamal.

Concluding the discussion Dr. Waqar remarked that it was high time to realize and appreciate the importance of social sciences and revise the academic courses right from school to university level. “We have social institutions as well as funds, yet we lack social scientists expertise,” said Dr.

Waqar adding that Social Sciences was not a substitute to Natural Sciences, yet it was complementary to it. Realizing the importance of the Social Sciences discipline, the Institute of Management Sciences announced its 4-years B.Sc (Hons) Undergraduate Program in Social Sciences. This new program was highly appreciated by the audience.