PIMA's biennial moot highlights failures in health, education sectors

KARACHI: Despite the government spending an estimated Rs3,000 billion on healthcare and education, the country still struggles to provide quality services in these crucial sectors, laments Jamaat-e-Islami leader Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman. 
He was addressing the Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA) 27th Biennial Central Convention at the Expo Centre recently. 
The convention’s closing session, attended by health professionals, scholars, and activists from both Pakistan and abroad, underscored the urgent challenges facing the nation's healthcare and education systems. 
Hafiz Naeem voiced frustration over the deteriorating conditions, especially in Sindh and Balochistan, saying, "At 77 years old, Pakistan still cannot provide basic health, education, or justice. The state is failing in its responsibility to ensure justice and peace."
He highlighted that Sindh’s health budget is Rs300 billion, while the national health budget stands at Rs1,300 billion. However, many areas still lack adequate primary healthcare services. “The situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa isn’t much better, and even Punjab falls short of ideal healthcare standards,” he regretted.
The JI emit also condemned the increasing commercialisation of education and healthcare, particularly in the private sector. "Medical education now costs millions, making it inaccessible to the middle class. 
"Education, which should be the state’s responsibility, has turned into a commercial enterprise, leaving 90pc of the population without access to higher education," Naeem remarked, adding that over 27.5 million children remain out of school. 
"What will become of these children? They are more likely to be pulled into gangs or substance abuse than to receive an education," he warned.
Reflecting on the societal consequences of this neglect, he recalled a time when quality education was provided by government schools, which produced many of Pakistan’s leaders. 
He blamed the government for the decline in public education, saying it was increasingly outsourcing schools to the private sector through public-private partnerships. "We are slowly distancing ourselves from this core responsibility," he commented.
Dr. Hafeez ur Rehman, President of the Alkhidmat Foundation, drew attention to the dire healthcare situation in Gaza, where ongoing conflict has left thousands suffering. He outlined Alkhidmat’s humanitarian efforts in delivering medical supplies, food, and shelter despite the Israeli blockade. 
"We have sent ambulances, medical supplies, and mobile hospitals to Gaza, working alongside local and international partners to alleviate the suffering of those trapped in what is effectively an open-air prison," he said.
The session also included virtual addresses from international speakers, including Dr. Mohsin Ansari, President of the Islamic Circle of North America, and Sheikh Omar Suleiman, President of the Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research. Both stressed the importance of Muslim leadership in humanitarian efforts and global justice advocacy.
In another significant session, Dr. Babar Saeed and Prof. Atif Hafeez, President of PIMA, discussed the future of healthcare in Pakistan. They emphasised the urgent need to focus on prevention, particularly as healthcare costs rise and the disease burden increases. 
They stressed the need to prioritise prevention through public health initiatives such as vaccination drives and health education campaigns.
At the convention, the recurring theme was the pressing need for reform in both healthcare and education. Speakers called for the state to take greater responsibility in ensuring that all Pakistanis have access to quality services in these essential sectors.