Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain on Geo News programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’ on Tuesday said, ” I am amazed that those who have not read a book in their life will decide the future of children in Punjab.”
Fawad expressed concerns over the news that the Punjab Curriculum and Textbook Board (PCTB) confiscated an Oxford University Press (OUP) Social Studies book for grade 7 on Monday for including Malala Yousufzai’s picture. He said that when he looked into the matter, he came to know that the Punjab Assembly has formed a board to look into such matters.
The minister said removing Malala’s image is not a problem of a political party, instead, it is a reflection of the division in society.
“It is quite unfortunate that this division exists,” he added.
“Political parties are not the issue,” said Chaudhry. “Every political party has some conservative voices that have a negative approach owing to the prevalent syllabus being taught in the country,” he added.
Highlighting the Punjab government’s decision to remove a chapter on reproduction, Chaudhry said that in this way, we will mentally impair the next generation.
“We already have many conservative individuals around us. And in the future, if we don’t pay attention to our curriculum and teachers, social problems will increase,” said Fawad. He further added, “Extremism is already high in Pakistan.”
Reacting to the removal of Malala’s book from Peshawar University during Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) last tenure, Fawad stressed that governments should not submit to pressure.
“This depends on individuals and their mindsets, as conservative mindsets lead to extremist trends,” added the minister.
Fawad said that such conservative decisions by individuals will make Pakistan lose the position it has created for itself while fighting the war on terror.
