THE finance minister, while referring to the government`s steps for curtailing non-development expenditures, disclosed recently some of the recommendations of the `rightsizing committee`. One of the recommendations was to wind up a number of literacy and cultural organisations that have been functional for around five decades. The recommendations of the committee, if approved, would result in either a shutdown or merger with other institutions.

The list includes the Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) that was established in 1976 for the promotion of Pakistani languages andliterature,andforthe welfare of the community of writers and intellectuals. Since its inception, PAL has been doing a remarkable job at both national and regional levels, publishing booksin allPakistanilanguages on literature, linguistics and cultural topics.

The rightsizing committee has recommended PAL`s merger into the National Language Promotion Department (NLPD), which, according to the committee, would ultimately be handed over to a federal university. It is a strange move, as everybody knows that all public-se ctor universities are themselves facing financial crises. In certain cases, they are not even able to pay salaries to their staff regularly, what to talk of initiating a research-based project or any other positive activity.

Any compromise on PAL`s independent status will be an unwise move. While the government spends billions of rupees on lawmakers and non-developmental activities, bears losses worth billions of rupees on sick state-owned enterprises, and gives huge amounts to run unprofitable entities, the PAL budget should not be that big a burden on the state exchequer.

Shams fafrani Karachi