Tag: IPS

Islamabad, April 02, 2022 (PPI-OT):Colonialism, total rejection of which is not possible, is an ongoing phenomenon in the form of dominance of colonial powers on our ideas, philosophies, and theories, whose effects are visible in our incapacity to devise, define, and understand questions even in Islamic studies. The view was presented by Dr Humaira Iqtidar, reader in Politics, King’s College London, in her keynote speech during a hybrid seminar titled “Decolonizing Islamic Studies”, held at IPS on March 31, 2022.

The seminar was chaired by Professor Dr Qibla Ayaz, chairman, Council of Islamic Ideology, and moderated by Dr Taimia Sabiha, assistant professor, Department of Comparative Religion, International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIUI).

They were joined by Khalid Rahman, chairman, IPS, Professor Dr Fateh Muhammad Malik, former rector of IIUI, and Dr Humaira Ahmad, assistant professor, Department of Islamic Thought and Civilization, University of Management and Technology, Lahore, besides researchers and scholars who presented their observations.

While probing the prevalent theories, Dr Humaira Iqtidar maintained that many political theories and philosophies, which are based on limited historical experience and European quests, have been universalized.

Even though the decolonizing movement originally started in Zimbabwe, South Africa, and other African states when they questioned the prevalent educational structure and curriculum as the legacy of colonialism, it is the European centricity that is pervasive in the context of understanding DE colonialism across the globe. No one questions the universality of these philosophies as they are inculcated in society through knowledge and educational institutes.

This colonization of knowledge and industrial-scale education system stops us from asking questions like what is the purpose of producing and consuming knowledge. What knowledge is being produced and consumed? Who is producing knowledge? Etc.

Islamic studies has also been largely affected by this. The questions devised under Islamic studies were themselves deeply entrenched in colonial influence. These questions are developed in such a way that all the burden of violence falls on Muslims by making Islam appear violent and something that needs a compatibility check, while leaving no space for further questions.

The educational institutes are also established in link with these colonialism-entrenched questions. It is an effect of that educational training and colonial legacy that we have no capacity to raise the right questions.

While presenting the critique of Maulana Sayyid Abul A ‘la Mawdudi on nationalism that it is un-Islamic and a problem for democracy as it pushes humans towards racialism, Dr Humaira identified the limitations of the solution presented to this as colonial-inflicted. Building on this, she stated that decolonizing knowledge is a very difficult task as it doesn’t mean eliminating it.

The total rejection of colonial influence is not possible as we live with such institutions based on this influence and ideas. As for the creation of a possible solution, the need of the time is to combine different approaches and ideas creatively and understand our problems in a broader outlook.

In addition to this, she asserted the need to define questions, based on our ideas and practices, find answers ourselves, along with taking the curriculum into our own hands. Dr Humaira highlighted that the true meaning of decolonization is not about bringing the influence of colonialism to an end. She stated that decolonization of Islamic studies and knowledge requires the understanding of our history along with its mistakes, past experiences, lacking’s, and problems. Only then, it would shift the mind-set of people from the colonial influence.

Endorsing the ideas of Dr Humaira, Dr Fateh Malik commented on how the colonial powers, in particular the British, considered the strength of Islam as the biggest threat to them. He upheld the notion by mentioning how the creation of Pakistan – evidence of the strength of Islam, Muslim ideology, and united Muslims – was hindered several times by the colonial rulers.

He further said that the British are still afraid that Pakistan would become a true realization of its founder’s ideology and that’s why they have devised various means to maintain their colonial influence in the form of colonialization of knowledge.

Dr Humaira Ahmed upheld that the Islamic studies, as a discipline, is itself a project of colonialism and whose decolonization need to be done on two levels – the discipline of Islamic studies and within the discipline itself.

She identified the differences between madrasahs and university students, as a product of knowledge that is being imparted to them in different ways. The differences and problems of knowledge must be looked into through different aspects and at different levels, i.e. research, academia, etc. She also asserted that this task of decolonizing knowledge and Eurocentric approaches is huge and requires defined and trained people, who are unfortunately not there.

Dr Qibla Ayaz retained the idea of colonization of knowledge in Pakistan and the role of British institutions and people like Thomas Macaulay, who introduced the current education system in the subcontinent, in pushing the subcontinent into the pit of colonialism-inflicted knowledge and education structure. He also asserted the role of youth in pushing the DE colonial effort, the need for indigenized syllabus, and the requirement to decolonize other disciplines as well.

Rahman highlighted the need for a knowledge movement and work on decolonization which is multi-layered and multidimensional. He also underscored the necessity of including more and more disciplines in decolonizing efforts to achieve desired progress towards it. Lastly, he expressed the inclination of IPS in contributing to the cause with candour and invited researchers, students, and scholars to its ‘Indigenizing Policy Research’ Initiative to create a community of researchers to contribute to the needs towards the decolonization effort.

For more information, contact:
Outreach and Publications,
Institute of Policy Studies (IPS)
1, Street 8, F-6/3, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-8438391-3 (Ext: 122)
Fax: +92-51-8438390
Website: www.ips.org.pk

Islamabad, March 26, 2022 (PPI-OT):Pakistan continues to suffer from an ideological struggle once again as a section from within is deliberately trying to alter its ideological direction. Newspapers and different forms of conventional and social media are being used to distort the history. It is a responsibility of the government to teach Quran and Sunnah as per the constitution, but in a complete contrast, the teachings of Quran are being removed from the curriculum as part of a deliberate attempt.

These views were expressed by eminent economist, intellectual and former senator Prof Khurshid Ahmed while addressing online from the UK to an introduction ceremony of his series of books titled Armughan-e-Khurshid. The event was organized by Faran Club International, Karachi in collaboration with IPS on March 23, 2022.

Held in Karachi, the ceremony was also addressed online by Dr Anis Ahmad, chairman, Rehmatul-lil-Alameen Authority and the younger brother of Prof Khurshid Ahmad from Islamabad, Prof Tanzeem Wasti a close friend of Prof Khurshid Ahmad, Zahoor Ahmed Niazi, a well-known journalist from London, Dr Mohsin Ansari, president, Islamic Circle of North America from the US, whereas Khalid Rahman, chairman, IPS, Dr Shahida Wizarat, dean, Institute of Business Management, Karachi, Zaigham Mahmood Rizvi, chairman, National Platform for Housing Research, Bashir Jan Mohammad, a famous businessman, and Dr Irfan Haider, vice chancellor, Zia ud Din University, Karachi, spoke on the occasion about the personality of the distinguished scholar as well as over his new series of books Armughan-e-Khurshid.

The ceremony was moderated by senior anchor Aniq Ahmed, while the vote of thanks was delivered to the distinguished guests and participants by Nadeem Iqbal Advocate, general secretary, Faran Club International. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Anis Ahmed said that Prof. Khursheed Ahmed has explained Islam to the West in the language of the West, and in this day and age, the writings of the eminent intellectual are playing an important role in combating liberalism.

Prof. Dr. Shahida Wizarat said that the work of Prof Khurshid Ahmad in the field of Islamic Economics is of critical importance as in today’s world, the Western countries are continuing to influence the economic as well as social and ideological values ​​of developing countries. Zahoor Ahmad Niazi saw Prof Khurshid Ahmad as the most widely read personality of Tehreek-e-Islami after Maulana Maududi.

Khalid Rehman maintained that the purpose of the life of Prof Khurshid Ahmed was only to serve Islam and Pakistan. He informed that a few more publications from the series of books, which is based on the speeches and writings of Prof Khurshid Ahmad, are also in pipeline. He also revealed that these upcoming publications will be discussing some new topics including the political history of Pakistan while also shedding a light on how different governments from the recent past ran the state of affairs in the country.

For more information, contact:
Outreach and Publications,
Institute of Policy Studies (IPS)
1, Street 8, F-6/3, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-8438391-3 (Ext: 122)
Fax: +92-51-8438390
Website: www.ips.org.pk

Islamabad, March 09, 2022 (PPI-OT):The concluding session for volunteer students – who remained associated with IPS as part of a collaborative effort between CUST-VIS (Capital University of Science and Technology-Volunteers in Service) program and IPS’ Volunteer program – was held at the Institute on March 7, 2022.

The session was facilitated by Chairman IPS Khalid Rahman, who highlighted the ways in which young people of Pakistan can play their part in national defence and prosperity, especially through a mature and responsible use of social media in dispersing information, building perceptions, formulating public opinions, and instigating responses. He also informed the students about fifth generation war, while asserting the role that the students and youth can play in confronting the tactics of hybrid warfare being waged by adversaries.

It is worth mentioning that during their two-week long association with the Institute, which lasted from February 22 to March 7, 2022, the volunteering students had the opportunity to participate in various seminars and discussions with subject specialists, and perform certain tasks assigned to them by different departments of the Institute.

For more information, contact:
Outreach and Publications,
Institute of Policy Studies (IPS)
1, Street 8, F-6/3, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-8438391-3 (Ext: 122)
Fax: +92-51-8438390
Website: www.ips.org.pk

Islamabad, March 08, 2022 (PPI-OT):There is an increasing trend in Pakistan, especially within the youth, to celebrate their distinct identity, culture and civilization. This is despite the numerous deliberate efforts made by the adversaries to spread negativity, despair and indifference within the nation towards the country’s ideology, its strength and its future. There is thus a dire need to keep reminding, educating and sensitizing the nation about the rationale and significance of its ideology and how it can serve as the driving force for a prosperous future of the country. The first publication of Armughan-e-Khurshid series goes on to address exactly these objectives.

These thoughts were expressed unanimously by the speakers during the book launching ceremony of a recent IPS Press publication Pakistan Ki Nazriyati Asas, Nifaz e Shariyat Aur Madina ki Islami Riyasat. The book comes from a series of publications which compile the writings and speeches of the veteran politician and eminent scholar Professor Khurshid Ahmad on a variety of subjects of national significance.

The ceremony, which was co-organized by IPS and the University of Haripur on March 3, 2022, was jointly chaired by Dr Anwar ul Hasan Gilani, vice chancellor, University of Haripur (UOH) and Chairman IPS Khalid Rahman, moderated by IPS’ Senior Research Associate Dr Shahzad Iqbal Sham, and addressed by Professor Dr Bahadur Shah, former dean, Social Sciences, Hazara University, Mansehra, Dr Sultan Mahmood Qazi, associate Professor and director, Pakistan Study Centre, Abbottabad University, Dr Junaid Akbar, HoD, Islamiyat, University of Haripur, and Syed Nadeem Farhat, senior research officer at IPS.

Dr Gilani paid rich tribute to the author and said that apart from his internationally acclaimed contributions in the fields of Islamic economics and contemporary Muslim thought, his twenty-two years in the Senate of Pakistan demonstrated his insight on national and international affairs and showed his consistent efforts towards nation-building ad collective development. His books have contributed to spread the realization that Islam is a code of life that has been embodied by the Prophet of Islam for the rest of the world, and is relevant to all ages and spaces.

Rahman, who has also compiled and edited the book, said that the speeches and writings of Professor Khurshid Ahmad present an honest record of Pakistan’s political and legislative history, offer a contemporary understanding of the issues in view of the global scholarship, and give a foresight to their readers through their threadbare analysis and sound vision.

This book too brings conviction and confidence in an age of confusion and doubt. It connects with the roots and responds to the issues and questions by analyzing their origin and drivers. “Successive surveys have shown the public opinion of Pakistan in favour of an Islamic governance model and any suggestion otherwise defeats the idea, identity and the spirit of democracy in Pakistan”, he said.

Dr Bahadur Shah termed the publication “a source book” on the ideology of Pakistan and its journey towards the destination of an Islamic welfare state. He applauded the logic and references used in the book by the author, maintaining that this book is a historical document of great importance which has corrected the history, and that is why it is a must read.

Dr Mahmood found the book a contemporary rendition in the series of consistent approach on the ideological bases and destiny of Pakistan. He recalled the speeches, statements and writings of the founding fathers of Pakistan to conclude that unfortunately this clear vision and roadmap could not yet be actualized. Referring to several significative and expressive statements from each part of the book, Syed Nadeem Farhat indicated how ideology, education, and principles orientate the life of an individual and a nation towards a successful and accomplished survival.

Dr Akbar urged the audience to read the book as it contains very useful content for researchers over the topic of implementation of Sharia in Pakistan extensively and coherently. He also highlighted the conception of the book about the vital role of an individual in building a prosperous Pakistan based on the commands of Islam and Sharia laws. Conclusion of the ceremony, Dr Gilani showed his gratitude towards IPS for collaborating the event, while envisioning a long and fruitful collaborative journey for the two institutions.

For more information, contact:
Outreach and Publications,
Institute of Policy Studies (IPS)
1, Street 8, F-6/3, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-8438391-3 (Ext: 122)
Fax: +92-51-8438390
Website: www.ips.org.pk

Islamabad, March 01, 2022 (PPI-OT):The Kashmir conflict is ingrained with numerous constraints and complexities, and it only continues to get more and more compounded as time passes. The conflict demands the international community’s attention and arbitration to be resolved for the sake of the millions of lives of the region’s inhabitants, and the peace the people of Pakistan and India deserve to progress for the future.

These views were expressed by Victoria Schofield, an eminent British historian, author, scholar and biographer with a particular interest in South Asia and Kashmir conflict, during an exclusive talk held at IPS on the topic of ‘Kashmir: The Way Forward’ on February 26, 2022.

Schofield, who has visited both sides of the disputed territory many times and had opportunities to interview locals from both sides to ascertain their opinion regarding the whole situation, lamented that the people in the Indian occupied territory were still living traumatic lives, there were a number of civilian deaths and arrests every day, and armed soldiers roam the streets.

The speaker termed the whole situation a grave humanitarian crisis that needs the urgent attention of the world community, pressing that these human rights violations in IOJK need to be documented and reach the right places on a consistent basis. Schofield also reminded that the Simla Agreement does not bind Pakistan and India to resolve the Kashmir conflict only through ‘bilateral means’.

She said, the Agreement states that both the countries will try to resolve the issue bilaterally or through any other mutually agreed means. She stressed that this latter clause in the agreement needs to be highlighted to seek international mediation over the issue, which is critical as India’s hubris has continued to obstruct an amicable and bilateral resolution to the pain and suffering of the people of Kashmir.

She further opined that the resolution of this over 75-year-old issue needs to involve multiple stakeholders, including China because of its claim to Aksai Chin and Trans Karakoram Tract. She was of the view that the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and the Gilgit-Baltistan region, the Indian-Occupied Jammu, Kashmir Valley and Ladakh region may not necessarily have a similar opinion over the matter.

The session presided over by the IPS’ Vice Chairman Ambassador (r) Syed Abrar Hussain, was also joined by Ambassador (r) Ishtiaq Hussain Andrabi, Brigadier (r) Said Nazir Mohmand, Farzana Yaqoob, former AJK minister and secretary, IPS-Working Group on Kashmir, Syed Abu Ahmad Akif, former federal secretary, and Advocate Nasir Qadri, founder, Legal Forum for the Oppressed Voices of Kashmir (LFOVK), among others.

Several young activists hailing from the Indian-occupied territory of Jammu and Kashmir, including Dr Mujahid Gilani, and Ahmed bin Qasim, the son of long detained Kashmiri leaders Qasim Faktoo and Asiya Andrabi, also participated in the discussion after the talk.

The Kashmiri youth partaking in a session also voiced their opinion, stating that the ongoing human rights violations in Kashmir were just the symptoms emerging from the disease of illegal occupation. Its status quo was being protected by the Indian government, bureaucracy, military, and legal institutions together.

In his closing remarks, Ambassador (r) Syed Abrar Hussain stated that Pakistan has always tried to seek a resolution to this issue both through dialogue and in the form of international mediation on a number of occasions. India however remains adamant in its unilateral stance, he added. He reiterated that Kashmiris are the principal party to the international conflict, and no resolution would be achievable without empowering them with their right of self-determination.

For more information, contact:
Outreach and Publications,
Institute of Policy Studies (IPS)
1, Street 8, F-6/3, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-8438391-3 (Ext: 122)
Fax: +92-51-8438390
Website: www.ips.org.pk

Islamabad, February 28, 2022 (PPI-OT):Quality issues in solar panels, procedural malpractices in integration methods, inadequacy in solar product imports and lack of technical inspection for solar installations amid net-metering is hampering the transition towards renewable energy in Pakistan, an IPS study concludes.

Titled ‘Assessment of Net-Metering based Solar Systems Installed at IESCO and LESCO’, the study was carried out by Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) with the support of GIZ Pakistan (German Agency for International Cooperation) and Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB), with active participation of National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO), Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO), Renewable Energy Association of Pakistan (REAP), Solar Quality Foundation (SQF) and several solar vendors. The research analysis is based on assessment of 40 solar photovoltaic system located at different locations in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Lahore.

The study, which was carried out under the technical expertise of Dr. Hassan Abdullah Khalid, a post-doctorate in solar energy systems, and investigated and authored by Muhammad Hamza Naeem and Lubna Riaz under the Institute’s Energy, Water and Climate Change program – demonstrates that there is significant number of solar PV systems being installed which are non-compliant with the defined regulations and procedures of quality assurance, technical integration and international codes.

There is evidence of overlooking of technical quality aspects for regulated solar PV installations, including quality compromises on solar panel installations, inadequacy in the interconnection methods, the issues in the mounting structure and malpractices with the regulations which could bring the imperfection in technical integration methods based on overall market dynamics of solar accessories and even cause serious accidents which may prove to be very fatal and costly for the solar prosumers. A mechanism of technical inspection and quality check-up based on necessary parameterization is lacking in the services of distribution companies, too.

During the assessment, it was discovered that about 22% of the solar systems are equipped with the solar panels non-compliant with the quality parameters, where hotspots, snail trail contamination and delamination demonstrate the compromise of mandatory manufacturing standards, which are imported despite the existence of procedures for qualification of the quality-assured products. Moreover, the solar installations with inadequate interconnection methods are found to be 15%, with the percentage ratio of 10% of solar systems which have improper mounting structure and locality which can drastically reduce the longevity of the net-metering.

The report states that the allowance of installation of grid-tied solar system has opened up the power market of Pakistan towards electricity consumers being shaped as ‘prosumers’, where they are capable to supply environment-friendly and cheap power to the distribution grid. This facility of net-metering on the other hand, has also paved the way for productivity and profitability of many business entities associated with solar panels supply and retailers, system installations, smart devices, and training on the solar system operations and installations. The year 2021 witnessed a mushroom growth in adoption of net-metering facilities, where the concentration has been increased by more than one hundred-percent compared with the previous years, with the cumulative added capacity of more than 300MW.

While the grid-tied solar systems are required to export the energy units to the distribution utility and hence act as the power source in the vicinity of the load centers, several technical codes, quality assurances, procedural compliances and operational regulations have been defined by National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) for which, Alternative Energy Development Authority (AEDB), and the Ministry of Energy have also defined detailed guidelines for the grid connectivity to certify the solar vendors for solar system installations to only allow standardized installations.

With high profitability of businesses associated with solar systems however, the indication of malpractices and overlook of regulations has appeared to increase manifold, potentially posing considerable threats to an ambitious transition towards renewable energy at the grass-root level of the society in Pakistan.

The report also highlights that the electricity consumers have the unchecked tendency to go towards ‘less expensive’, quality-compromised solar systems, provided by a number of solar vendors to earn high profits unethically, eluding compliances of the technical and procedural regulations. Since the distribution utility is required to inspect the solar systems before interconnection, the resource and manpower available with the DISCOs are insufficient, which gives way to malpractices and bribe culture in this regard.

AEDB certifies solar vendors to ensure best-practices and have well-defined procedures and guidelines for the import of solar associated products, yet some of the solar vendors do not abide by them. The tendency of selling of the certification credentials by certified solar vendors and complete outsourcing of the solar system installation is on rise, whereas the quality non-compliant, inadequately interconnected, dangerously mounted and unregulated solar installations are also making space. On the other hand, quality non-compliant solar panels are also being imported due to legal and regulatory lacunas.

The report concludes with the recommendations to initiate the mechanism of technical inspection from the third-party companies, revival of Solar Quality Passport, digitalization of the application process, enhancement of capacity building of DISCOs and solar vendors, and transition towards smart metering infrastructure based on internet of things (IOT), in order to ensure that solar system installations in the country are done in line with standardized procedures and predefined guidelines.

For more information, contact:
Outreach and Publications,
Institute of Policy Studies (IPS)
1, Street 8, F-6/3, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-8438391-3 (Ext: 122)
Fax: +92-51-8438390
Website: www.ips.org.pk