Discourse on Madrassah Education Reform in Pakistan: Challenges to State Narrative and its Implications

It is generally perceived that Madrassah produce extremism which possesses a threat to the peace and security of the state and to the world as well. Government along with local and International community wants to eradicate extremism and terrorism through reforming Madrassah education. The purpose of current study is to answer the question “why attempts of Madrassah reforms were unfruitful”? By focusing on it, study is divided into three phase such as to find out; different narrative on Madrassah reform, potential barriers in the way of reform and skepticisms associated with reformist policy. The main objective of current study is to understand the problems regarding Madrassah reform through realistic approach by addressing main question what are the challenges in developing alternative narrative on Madrassah reforms and its implications? The main investigation has three driving questions that what Madrassah reform means in point of view of different actors? What are main obstacles in the process of reform? And what are skepticisms about reform? In this qualitative study stakeholder interviews have been conducted. Results of the study indicates that Government narrative with regards to Madrassah education reform is to bring them into mainstream whereas religious community think that there are hidden agendas behind the modernization of Madrassahs. They viewed Madrassahs reforms to dilute the attention of religious sector from religious education to western education. Similarly, it viewed that changes in curricula, financial control, regulatory change, and vested interest are the main hurdles in the way of reform.

Estimation of Tidal Energy Utilizing Different Harnessing Techniques Through Geographical Information System within Creek Area of Indus Delta, Sindh Province, Pakistan

The global energy demand is currently being met by depleting sources of fossil fuels (oil, gas, coal, etc.). A deteriorating supply and an ever increasing demand have led to a major increase in fuel prices over this decade. Since fossil fuels are diminishing, the effect of this strong dependence is becoming an increasing concern. Energy services bolster the socio-economical development of a country, so a sustainable energy system is essential for the growth of a country’s economy. Regrettably, like many other countries, Pakistan is also facing worse energy crisis. Climate change and energy shortage drive Government of Pakistan to replace traditional sources of energy by alternative energy sources. Electricity generation by tidal sources has an important contribution in reducing environmental pollution, while on the other hand relatively less cost with inexhaustible and highly predictable energy source makes it further appealing. Pakistan has a 1000 kilometer coastline comprising of complex creek networks in Indus deltaic region of the Sindh province, which could be utilized for the installation of tidal plants. However there is no significant data analysis so far and the rationalize thinking, to utilized the freely and existing energy, has been made for this purpose. Therefore the major aim of this research is estimation of tidal energy resources utilizing different harnessing techniques through Geographical Information System (GIS) within the creek area of Indus delta. It is highlighted that there is no research conducted relative to the GIS method in tidal data (both tidal elevation and tidal current) of Sindh region. For this purpose different data sets are collected from different sources such as satellite imageries (Acquired from ESRI), tidal elevation data of six different locations and tidal current data of twelve different locations (Both acquired from Hydrography Department, Pakistan Navy) and incorporated into GIS environment to develop digitized layers and maps. Geostatistical Analysis tool is applied to analyze different interpolation methods to predict tidal data (both tidal elevation and tidal current) at un-observed locations and between these methods, Ordinary Kriging method is chosen for interpolation. Four models are compared for tidal elevation data : (i) Stable (ii) Circular (iii) Spherical and (iv)Exponential and four different models have been compared for tidal current data : (i) Stable (ii) Circular (iii) Exponential and (iv)K-Bessel . These models are compared, evaluated and cross-validated for selection of finest model for predictions of data at un-known locations. Power density maps are generated from selected model and based on these maps and suitable bathymetry three potential sites are selected for tidal range technology plants (Total estimated output power from these sites using VETT turbine is 358.29 MW) and thirteen site are selected for marine current technology farms (Total estimated output power from these sites using Verdant Power turbine is 2754.7MW).