Syed Shujahat Ali
Civil Servant and Fulbright Scholar

The matter has been examined in considerable detail, and it is proposed that the proposal may, subject to the applicable rules and regulations, be considered for possible consideration by the competent authority, should it deem it appropriate to do so, after taking into account the financial, administrative, political and other implications that may or may not arise in the circumstances.

Furthermore, the recommendations of the Sub-Committee, while duly acknowledged and appreciated for their considerable intellectual and procedural contribution, would necessarily have to be examined in the broader context of the prevailing policy framework, fiscal constraints, institutional priorities and such other considerations as may, upon further examination, be deemed relevant by the competent authority.

It would, therefore, be somewhat premature to suggest that the proposal may be approved at this stage, particularly in the absence of a comprehensive assessment of the implications of approving it, as well as the implications of not approving it, both of which would, of course, require careful consideration.

Accordingly, the matter may be kept under active consideration, pending such further examination as may be considered necessary, with the understanding that no decision should be construed as having been taken until a decision has, in fact, been taken by the authority competent to take it.

In short, we are not saying no. We are merely suggesting that the question of whether to say yes should not be allowed to prejudice the possibility of a carefully considered decision to defer saying yes, which is, naturally, an entirely different matter.