| It had the deceptive brevity of a FIR. The newspaper editorial mentioned that ‘about 13,000 candidates appeared in a Public Service Commission exam in Lahore.’ Nothing unusual about that, considering that over 80,000 persons graduate from our 22 Universities each year, and having received the best education the country could offer them, they might want to return the favour by working for their country. |
| The editorial continued: ‘The candidates included 1000 doctors, 500 veterinary doctors, 800 engineers and 500 lawyers. Again, nothing unexpected about a thousand doctors reluctant to add to the swell of 55,572 registered doctors already practicing in the country, even though their education might have improved the present anaemic ratio of 2008 persons to one doctor. The 500 veterinary doctors may have decided to apply because they live in a country which has abdicated all responsibility for the health of its citizens and animals to the private sector, which then subcontracts that service to God. |
Published in THE NATION 17 Dec. 1992, and reprinted in THE ARMLESS QUEEN (1994). |
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