Published: Infofish International 5/2013
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Mehangaee Ka Jin - مہنگایی کا جن
Mehngai ke jin ne maara
مہنگایی کے جن نے مارا
Mar gaya ghareeb bechara
مر گیا غریب بیچارہ
Pehle hee baara bachay the
پہلے ہی بارہ بچے تھے
Aaya ik aur aankh ka tara
آیا ایک اور آنکھہ کا تارا
aik he dil aur khwahish mand
ایک ہی دل اور خواہش مند
Komal, Kamini, zona, zara!
کومل، کامنی، زونا، زہرا
Itne masayal aur ik dil
اتنے مسایل اور ایک دل
karay tu kia mazhur bechara
کرے تو کیا کرے مظہر بیچارہ
Mazhur Butt
مظہر بٹ
مہنگایی کے جن نے مارا
Mar gaya ghareeb bechara
مر گیا غریب بیچارہ
Pehle hee baara bachay the
پہلے ہی بارہ بچے تھے
Aaya ik aur aankh ka tara
آیا ایک اور آنکھہ کا تارا
aik he dil aur khwahish mand
ایک ہی دل اور خواہش مند
Komal, Kamini, zona, zara!
کومل، کامنی، زونا، زہرا
Itne masayal aur ik dil
اتنے مسایل اور ایک دل
karay tu kia mazhur bechara
کرے تو کیا کرے مظہر بیچارہ
Mazhur Butt
مظہر بٹ
دیسی مرغی - - Desi Murghi
ik baar kuch aisa hua
ایک بار کچھ ایسا ہوا
Mein net pe chalte chalte
میں نیٹ پےچلتے چلتے
bahut door tak nikal gaya
بوہت دور تک نکل گیا
dekha tu ird gird mere
دیکھا تو ارد گرد میرے
murghion ka ghoal tha
مرغیوں کا غول تھا
gori chitti lambi naati
گوری چٹی لمبی ناٹی
patli moti gori gori
پتلی موٹیگوری گوری
chiknee chiknee murghian
چکنیچکنیمرغیاں
kuk kuk karti murghiyaan
کک کک کرتی مرغیاں
apni adaoan mein yakta
اپنی اداؤں میں یکتا
naaz mein apne bemisaal
ناز میں اپنے بے مثال
mein bhi unke jaal mein
میں بھی انکے جال میں
holay holay phans gaya
ہولے ہولے پھنس گیا
kuch din tu guzray khair se
کچھ دیں تو گزرے خیر سے
phir par nikalay murghi ne
پھر پر نکالے مرغی نے
aur bewafa ne zulm ka
اور بےوفا نے ظلم کا
tora mere sur per pahaar
توڑا میرے سر پر پہاڑ
moqa milte hee kameeni
موقع ملتے ہی کمینی
phur se urr hamsaye kee mudair per
پھرر سے اڑ ہمسایے کی منڈیر پر
ja baithi aise ke jaise
جا بیٹھی ایسے کے جیسے
mujh se kabhi aashna hee na thi
مجھ سے کبھی آشنا ہی نہ تھی
tab mujhe yaad aaeen bahut
تب مجھے یاد آئیں بہت
apne watan keee murghiyaan
اپنے وطن کی مرغیاں
namkeen jin ka rung he
نمکین جن کا رنگ ہے
pakeeza jin ka ung he
پاکیزہ جن کا انگ ہے
dil he jin ka ba safa
دل ہے جن کا با صفا
hein jo mujassam ba wafa
ہیں جو مجسّم با وفا
ghar kee murghi ko kabhi
گھر کی مرغی کو کبھی
Daal na samjhay koi
دال نہ سمجھے کوئی
farm ki murghi he kam aseel
فارم کی مرغی ہے کم اسیل
desi murghi hee ko jaano
دیسی مرغی ہی کو جانو
tum apne jeene kee sabeel!
تم اپنے جینے کی سبیل
- Mazhar Butt
مظہر بٹ
ایک بار کچھ ایسا ہوا
Mein net pe chalte chalte
میں نیٹ پےچلتے چلتے
bahut door tak nikal gaya
بوہت دور تک نکل گیا
dekha tu ird gird mere
دیکھا تو ارد گرد میرے
murghion ka ghoal tha
مرغیوں کا غول تھا
gori chitti lambi naati
گوری چٹی لمبی ناٹی
patli moti gori gori
پتلی موٹیگوری گوری
chiknee chiknee murghian
چکنیچکنیمرغیاں
kuk kuk karti murghiyaan
کک کک کرتی مرغیاں
apni adaoan mein yakta
اپنی اداؤں میں یکتا
naaz mein apne bemisaal
ناز میں اپنے بے مثال
mein bhi unke jaal mein
میں بھی انکے جال میں
holay holay phans gaya
ہولے ہولے پھنس گیا
kuch din tu guzray khair se
کچھ دیں تو گزرے خیر سے
phir par nikalay murghi ne
پھر پر نکالے مرغی نے
aur bewafa ne zulm ka
اور بےوفا نے ظلم کا
tora mere sur per pahaar
توڑا میرے سر پر پہاڑ
moqa milte hee kameeni
موقع ملتے ہی کمینی
phur se urr hamsaye kee mudair per
پھرر سے اڑ ہمسایے کی منڈیر پر
ja baithi aise ke jaise
جا بیٹھی ایسے کے جیسے
mujh se kabhi aashna hee na thi
مجھ سے کبھی آشنا ہی نہ تھی
tab mujhe yaad aaeen bahut
تب مجھے یاد آئیں بہت
apne watan keee murghiyaan
اپنے وطن کی مرغیاں
namkeen jin ka rung he
نمکین جن کا رنگ ہے
pakeeza jin ka ung he
پاکیزہ جن کا انگ ہے
dil he jin ka ba safa
دل ہے جن کا با صفا
hein jo mujassam ba wafa
ہیں جو مجسّم با وفا
ghar kee murghi ko kabhi
گھر کی مرغی کو کبھی
Daal na samjhay koi
دال نہ سمجھے کوئی
farm ki murghi he kam aseel
فارم کی مرغی ہے کم اسیل
desi murghi hee ko jaano
دیسی مرغی ہی کو جانو
tum apne jeene kee sabeel!
تم اپنے جینے کی سبیل
- Mazhar Butt
مظہر بٹ
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Is Urdu Dying?
Sunday, August 26, 2012 | DailyTimes
Sir: The other day I received an interesting note from a friend-researcher who was awed at the loss of originality in our regional languages, especially Urdu. According to her recent research experience in north Sindh and southern Punjab, “Rich languages (Sindhi, Punjabi, Siraiki and Urdu in particular) of Pakistan are quickly replacing their vocabulary with English.” She also cited a glaring example of how English is grossly being inducted in Urdu giving Urdu a look that she does not hesitate to call “funny”. After reading the following model strip of ‘cocktail’ Urdu, the readers will also agree with her and surely deplore the degradation of our national language:
“Hamain legal issues mein support nahi hai, need-based training honi chahiye, kya hamain technical person ki need nahi? Project level par technical person nahi the, ek shelter officer har jaga ki monitoring kar raha tha is liye achay way mein community ko guide nahin kar raha tha. First to male or female staff hamaaray paas tha, abhi nahi. Hamaray exposure visits karain, quarterly meeting to hoti hai lekin ground par training baat hi kuch aur hai. Hamain bohot saari training chahiye, project-designing par hamain train kiya jae, knowledge diya jai, ke ham is problem ko kaise handle karain.”
Use of English words is not restricted to Urdu, but almost all regional languages have fallen prey to this trend. If we look at Japanese, we note that they try to Nipponise foreign words to make them appear Japanese. This may be so with some other languages but in the case of Urdu, it has ceased to develop and grow into a complete language since long. About three decades ago, some work was done by the Urdu Board to assemble technical terms in Urdu (istalahaat) but even then most of the substituted Urdu words were taken as they were either from Arabic or Persian. Since then and especially after the advent of computers, no work has been done to upgrade the Urdu language.
Another reason for the fall and decline of the Urdu language is the cultural callousness, indifference and lack of interest in adopting Urdu for research. This is also true for other regional languages. Thus, teaching in these languages and their use as a medium of education are prevalent in the lower classes but as we climb to higher studies, these languages disappear and are replaced by English or perhaps other languages.
Needless to say, without cultural changes and revival of interest in Urdu as a language, Urdu and no regional language would survive.
MAZHAR BUTT
Karachi
Sir: The other day I received an interesting note from a friend-researcher who was awed at the loss of originality in our regional languages, especially Urdu. According to her recent research experience in north Sindh and southern Punjab, “Rich languages (Sindhi, Punjabi, Siraiki and Urdu in particular) of Pakistan are quickly replacing their vocabulary with English.” She also cited a glaring example of how English is grossly being inducted in Urdu giving Urdu a look that she does not hesitate to call “funny”. After reading the following model strip of ‘cocktail’ Urdu, the readers will also agree with her and surely deplore the degradation of our national language:
“Hamain legal issues mein support nahi hai, need-based training honi chahiye, kya hamain technical person ki need nahi? Project level par technical person nahi the, ek shelter officer har jaga ki monitoring kar raha tha is liye achay way mein community ko guide nahin kar raha tha. First to male or female staff hamaaray paas tha, abhi nahi. Hamaray exposure visits karain, quarterly meeting to hoti hai lekin ground par training baat hi kuch aur hai. Hamain bohot saari training chahiye, project-designing par hamain train kiya jae, knowledge diya jai, ke ham is problem ko kaise handle karain.”
Use of English words is not restricted to Urdu, but almost all regional languages have fallen prey to this trend. If we look at Japanese, we note that they try to Nipponise foreign words to make them appear Japanese. This may be so with some other languages but in the case of Urdu, it has ceased to develop and grow into a complete language since long. About three decades ago, some work was done by the Urdu Board to assemble technical terms in Urdu (istalahaat) but even then most of the substituted Urdu words were taken as they were either from Arabic or Persian. Since then and especially after the advent of computers, no work has been done to upgrade the Urdu language.
Another reason for the fall and decline of the Urdu language is the cultural callousness, indifference and lack of interest in adopting Urdu for research. This is also true for other regional languages. Thus, teaching in these languages and their use as a medium of education are prevalent in the lower classes but as we climb to higher studies, these languages disappear and are replaced by English or perhaps other languages.
Needless to say, without cultural changes and revival of interest in Urdu as a language, Urdu and no regional language would survive.
MAZHAR BUTT
Karachi
A matter of great national interest
The Nation, Newspaper | September 02, 2012
In 2009, a complete list of bank defaulters was published and shown on electronic media. A report of the same was also submitted in the Supreme Court (SC), so that all those businessmen, political leaders, retired army men and journalists who were among over 3,300 people who got Rs 153.5 billion loans written off from 11 financial institutions between 1999 and 2007 could be bought to book. However, it is disappointing to note that this matter of great national interest was never pursued in earnest and the defaulters were set free to enjoy.
The SC has just ordered NAB in the containers case to either recover the amount incurred on the case from the accused and in the event of failure bear the mark-up on it. It would be fully justified if the honourable SC also passes a similar order against the above bank loan defaulters and the financial institutions involved in the scam. NAB or the concerned financial institutions should be penalised by making them pay the mark-up on the huge amount of Rs 153.5 billion if they fail to recover the same in grace time awarded by the SC. Unless quick action is taken, it is feared that the nation will lose this amount forever.
Mazhar Butt
In 2009, a complete list of bank defaulters was published and shown on electronic media. A report of the same was also submitted in the Supreme Court (SC), so that all those businessmen, political leaders, retired army men and journalists who were among over 3,300 people who got Rs 153.5 billion loans written off from 11 financial institutions between 1999 and 2007 could be bought to book. However, it is disappointing to note that this matter of great national interest was never pursued in earnest and the defaulters were set free to enjoy.
The SC has just ordered NAB in the containers case to either recover the amount incurred on the case from the accused and in the event of failure bear the mark-up on it. It would be fully justified if the honourable SC also passes a similar order against the above bank loan defaulters and the financial institutions involved in the scam. NAB or the concerned financial institutions should be penalised by making them pay the mark-up on the huge amount of Rs 153.5 billion if they fail to recover the same in grace time awarded by the SC. Unless quick action is taken, it is feared that the nation will lose this amount forever.
Mazhar Butt
Seafood industry: Some bottlenecks
http://beta.dawn.com/news/755700/seafood-industry-some-bottlenecks
ALTHOUGH Pakistan’s seafood exports have grown considerably even after the EU ban but this achievement cannot be attributed to real increase in terms of value. Pakistan is still getting lower prices for its fishery products than neighbouring countries such as India.
The boost in value can mainly be attributed to weakening of rupee against dollar and export of the last bit of edible fish in Pakistan waters to cheap markets such as China, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, and some other countries of the Far East. Some parts of the cache are also being exported to Egypt and the Middle East.
It is good news that somehow the MFD has persuaded the EU to lift the ban of seafood exports on Pakistan. However, it must be noted that allowing one or two processing units is not going to resolve the problem.
The entire fishing sector needs immediate steps for revamping and renovation.
Unless this is done, it will not be possible to establish traceability and a cold chain. A look at the harbour shows no signs of improvements in the artisan fleets’ design or the technology employed in the processing units.
Fish could be seen stashed on dirty fish harbour floors and sold and transported with little or no ice.
Most of the seafood processing units do not have adequate facilities for making ice and the ones which do have, their equipment is usually out of order and just a showpiece to comply with formalities.
Almost all processing units are run by obsolete equipment, as well as by poorly insulated stores where finished product is let to deteriorate due to rapid fluctuations in storage temperature.
It has been noted that products from most of the processing plants and exporters can hardly fulfil the right kind of product core temperature requirement of the leading shipping companies. Other shipping lines are lax on this issue and would even accept half frozen products for shipments. This irregularity must be regularly checked before every shipment.
A reasonable balance ought to be kept between indiscriminate catching of all kinds of fish and their seasons and conservation if the welfare of the industry is desired.
MAZHAR Karachi
ALTHOUGH Pakistan’s seafood exports have grown considerably even after the EU ban but this achievement cannot be attributed to real increase in terms of value. Pakistan is still getting lower prices for its fishery products than neighbouring countries such as India.
The boost in value can mainly be attributed to weakening of rupee against dollar and export of the last bit of edible fish in Pakistan waters to cheap markets such as China, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, and some other countries of the Far East. Some parts of the cache are also being exported to Egypt and the Middle East.
It is good news that somehow the MFD has persuaded the EU to lift the ban of seafood exports on Pakistan. However, it must be noted that allowing one or two processing units is not going to resolve the problem.
The entire fishing sector needs immediate steps for revamping and renovation.
Unless this is done, it will not be possible to establish traceability and a cold chain. A look at the harbour shows no signs of improvements in the artisan fleets’ design or the technology employed in the processing units.
Fish could be seen stashed on dirty fish harbour floors and sold and transported with little or no ice.
Most of the seafood processing units do not have adequate facilities for making ice and the ones which do have, their equipment is usually out of order and just a showpiece to comply with formalities.
Almost all processing units are run by obsolete equipment, as well as by poorly insulated stores where finished product is let to deteriorate due to rapid fluctuations in storage temperature.
It has been noted that products from most of the processing plants and exporters can hardly fulfil the right kind of product core temperature requirement of the leading shipping companies. Other shipping lines are lax on this issue and would even accept half frozen products for shipments. This irregularity must be regularly checked before every shipment.
A reasonable balance ought to be kept between indiscriminate catching of all kinds of fish and their seasons and conservation if the welfare of the industry is desired.
MAZHAR Karachi
Seafood industry goes T20!
http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=177714
Friday, October 12, 2012 - Much like the T20, Pakistan is also losing wicket on the seafood export market with drop in export earnings by 21 per cent in value and more than 20 percent in volume. Pakistan has already lost three major buyers,viz Japan, USA and EU, of its fishery products and doesn’t have many more stable and potential export markets left out to survive the industry which has already gone non-viable and in shambles.
With depleting wild fishery stocks there is least effort made either by the entrepreneurs or the government to embark on aggressive shrimp and fish farming. Whatever freshwater fish is being farmed is not even enough to satisfy the domestic demand lest save it for regular export.
It’s high time that the authorities woke up and addressed to the long unattended problems of the seafood industry to bring it in line with India or Bangladesh. Pakistani seafood is imported by existing importing origins only as a filler when their factories or stocks run dry due to failure of input from India or Bangladesh.
Moreover, Pakistani seafood is not getting the same price for their products as these countries who sell their products at high premium. Our seafood industry can only be expected to survive if serious attention is paid to its problems and immediate necessary steps taken to reform it.
Mazhar butt, Karachi
Friday, October 12, 2012 - Much like the T20, Pakistan is also losing wicket on the seafood export market with drop in export earnings by 21 per cent in value and more than 20 percent in volume. Pakistan has already lost three major buyers,viz Japan, USA and EU, of its fishery products and doesn’t have many more stable and potential export markets left out to survive the industry which has already gone non-viable and in shambles.
With depleting wild fishery stocks there is least effort made either by the entrepreneurs or the government to embark on aggressive shrimp and fish farming. Whatever freshwater fish is being farmed is not even enough to satisfy the domestic demand lest save it for regular export.
It’s high time that the authorities woke up and addressed to the long unattended problems of the seafood industry to bring it in line with India or Bangladesh. Pakistani seafood is imported by existing importing origins only as a filler when their factories or stocks run dry due to failure of input from India or Bangladesh.
Moreover, Pakistani seafood is not getting the same price for their products as these countries who sell their products at high premium. Our seafood industry can only be expected to survive if serious attention is paid to its problems and immediate necessary steps taken to reform it.
Mazhar butt, Karachi
Our Seafood Industry
http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-11-137588-Our-seafood-industry
Note: the 2nd letter is also by me and had already been published by Pak Observer
Monday, October 15, 2012
Pakistan is losing its hold on the seafood export market with a 21 percent drop in value and more than 20 percent in volume. Pakistan has already lost three major buyers – Japan, the US and the European Union – of its fishery products and doesn’t have many stable and potential export markets to export its seafood products to which can revive its industry which is already in a shambles. Despite the depleting wild fish stocks, hardly any efforts are being made by entrepreneurs or the government to embark on aggressive shrimp and fish farming. The freshwater fish which is being farmed is not enough even to meet the domestic demand.
It’s time the authorities woke up and addressed the long-unattended problems of the seafood industry to bring it on a par with India and Bangladesh. Pakistan’s seafood is imported by the existing buyers only as filler, when their factories or stocks run dry due to failure of input from India or Bangladesh. Moreover, Pakistan’s seafood is not getting the same price as these countries which sell their products at a high premium. Our seafood industry can only survive if serious attention is paid to its problems and immediate necessary steps are taken to reform it.
Mazhar Butt
Karachi
*****
It is unfortunate that the marine resources of Pakistan are being pillaged by smugglers and nothing is being done to stop this pillage. The highly prized tuna is being smuggled to Iran. Yellow-fin tuna, which is valued as ‘the beefsteak of the sea’, continues to be fished indiscriminately and smuggled out to Iran where it is smoked or canned and sold as a healthy substitute for beef. Shoals of yellow-fin tuna, or dhawwan, as it is called locally, occur along the Makran coast.
They rank next to blue-fin tuna and albacore, which is also eaten raw as a delicacy in Japan as sashimi or sushi. It is a pity that our tuna, sharks and other fish are being smuggled out due to lack of good fishery management and control. Our sea is being exhausted of its valuable fishery stocks so alarmingly that the government must take some effective measures to stop this.
A resident
Karachi
Note: the 2nd letter is also by me and had already been published by Pak Observer
Monday, October 15, 2012
Pakistan is losing its hold on the seafood export market with a 21 percent drop in value and more than 20 percent in volume. Pakistan has already lost three major buyers – Japan, the US and the European Union – of its fishery products and doesn’t have many stable and potential export markets to export its seafood products to which can revive its industry which is already in a shambles. Despite the depleting wild fish stocks, hardly any efforts are being made by entrepreneurs or the government to embark on aggressive shrimp and fish farming. The freshwater fish which is being farmed is not enough even to meet the domestic demand.
It’s time the authorities woke up and addressed the long-unattended problems of the seafood industry to bring it on a par with India and Bangladesh. Pakistan’s seafood is imported by the existing buyers only as filler, when their factories or stocks run dry due to failure of input from India or Bangladesh. Moreover, Pakistan’s seafood is not getting the same price as these countries which sell their products at a high premium. Our seafood industry can only survive if serious attention is paid to its problems and immediate necessary steps are taken to reform it.
Mazhar Butt
Karachi
*****
It is unfortunate that the marine resources of Pakistan are being pillaged by smugglers and nothing is being done to stop this pillage. The highly prized tuna is being smuggled to Iran. Yellow-fin tuna, which is valued as ‘the beefsteak of the sea’, continues to be fished indiscriminately and smuggled out to Iran where it is smoked or canned and sold as a healthy substitute for beef. Shoals of yellow-fin tuna, or dhawwan, as it is called locally, occur along the Makran coast.
They rank next to blue-fin tuna and albacore, which is also eaten raw as a delicacy in Japan as sashimi or sushi. It is a pity that our tuna, sharks and other fish are being smuggled out due to lack of good fishery management and control. Our sea is being exhausted of its valuable fishery stocks so alarmingly that the government must take some effective measures to stop this.
A resident
Karachi
Plenty of fish
TFT CURRENT ISSUE| November 30 - December 06, 2012 - Vol. XXIV, No. 42
Sir,
With domestic catches down by 40 percent, it is least surprising that smuggling of high-valued fish to Iran has slowed down or stopped. But international prices have also declined by 50 percent. This will reflect badly on exports and will result in the loss of valuable foreign exchange. At the same, this lowering of fish prices is not seen in the local market which proves that the situation is not the way it has been reported by the Fisheries Association.
All the low-priced fish which were once regarded as 'junk fish' and ended up in the fish meal drying yards or fed the eagles and vultures with some meagre portion scavenged by the poor Bengalis and Burmese for subsistence are certainly of no interest to Iran. What Iran was after was our tuna, the 'Beefsteak of the Sea'. And that is there no more due to seasonal factors as well as depletion of fishery stocks. Ribbon fish, Indian mackerel and small species of sea breams and croakers are sought after by the Far East and further down South East Asia. These are low priced fish and do not have much bearing on the domestic market changes during winters when local consumption turns high.
Mostly large sized fish such as marine mackerel, tuna, sharks, dogfish, croakers, eels and catfish and fresh water farmed fish find their way to most of the fish eateries in the country who mostly sell them as fried fish. Pomfret, red snapper and sea bass (Gisser) are delicacies and are consumed by the Arabs or the local rich people.
Our fish are not playing the role as food, as much as they should, in fulfilling people's dietary needs.
Mazhar Butt,
Karachi.
Sir,
With domestic catches down by 40 percent, it is least surprising that smuggling of high-valued fish to Iran has slowed down or stopped. But international prices have also declined by 50 percent. This will reflect badly on exports and will result in the loss of valuable foreign exchange. At the same, this lowering of fish prices is not seen in the local market which proves that the situation is not the way it has been reported by the Fisheries Association.
All the low-priced fish which were once regarded as 'junk fish' and ended up in the fish meal drying yards or fed the eagles and vultures with some meagre portion scavenged by the poor Bengalis and Burmese for subsistence are certainly of no interest to Iran. What Iran was after was our tuna, the 'Beefsteak of the Sea'. And that is there no more due to seasonal factors as well as depletion of fishery stocks. Ribbon fish, Indian mackerel and small species of sea breams and croakers are sought after by the Far East and further down South East Asia. These are low priced fish and do not have much bearing on the domestic market changes during winters when local consumption turns high.
Mostly large sized fish such as marine mackerel, tuna, sharks, dogfish, croakers, eels and catfish and fresh water farmed fish find their way to most of the fish eateries in the country who mostly sell them as fried fish. Pomfret, red snapper and sea bass (Gisser) are delicacies and are consumed by the Arabs or the local rich people.
Our fish are not playing the role as food, as much as they should, in fulfilling people's dietary needs.
Mazhar Butt,
Karachi.
E for effort
The Friday Times | Pakistan's First Independent Weekly Paper | TFT CURRENT ISSUE| December 07-13, 2012 - Vol. XXIV, No. 43
Sir,
Article 25-A of the constitution obligates the state to provide free and compulsory quality education to children aged 5 to 16 years. "The state shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of five to sixteen years in such a manner as may be determined by law," it says.
As to how this is being implemented in government schools can easily be assessed by such phenomena as ghost schools, phantom teaching staff, poor student attendance, deplorable physical conditions of most government schools, lack of extra-curricular activities, incompetent teaching staff, lack of teachers, low salaries for teachers, corruption in the education departments and the policy that every government school must declare a 100 percent pass result regardless of whether some or all of its students cheated or failed, whether they attended the school or not, or whatever they did of the books supplied to them free of cost.
If taught properly with honest conviction, there is every chance that students who go to government schools can do as well as those who go to private schools. We need reforms in the education system before it is too late.
To start, the provincial education ministries must review and change their policy to eradicate callousness and corruption from the departments and schools. The policy of forcing government schools to 'window dress' their results must be done away with, as it is neither ethical nor patriotic and only serves the vested interests of a few.
Attendance of students (75 percent or more) should be made compulsory. Ghost schools and phantom teachers must be brought to the book. The competence of the teaching staff should be reviewed and retested, and improved where needed. To accomplish all this, severe disciplinary action will have to be taken to reform or drive out the black sheep.
But the pay scale of competent teachers who are made to work at salaries that are not high enough for a dignified living must also be reconsidered. Headmasters with more than 15 years of teaching experience of which they are in charge for at least eight, are paid Rs 60 per month as 'charge fee' and only Rs 1,000 a month as conveyance allowance.
How can one expect these teachers with low salaries and no fringe benefits to perform their professional duties with keen interest? Unhealthy working conditions are directly related to economics, but with newer funds pouring in it is hoped that the provincial education ministry will look into the matter.
It must also be ensured that there is no corruption in the spending of educational funds. It goes without saying that a good educational foundation goes into the making of a real functionally literate person who is capable of serving his nation better.
Mazhar Butt,
Karachi
Sir,
Article 25-A of the constitution obligates the state to provide free and compulsory quality education to children aged 5 to 16 years. "The state shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of five to sixteen years in such a manner as may be determined by law," it says.
As to how this is being implemented in government schools can easily be assessed by such phenomena as ghost schools, phantom teaching staff, poor student attendance, deplorable physical conditions of most government schools, lack of extra-curricular activities, incompetent teaching staff, lack of teachers, low salaries for teachers, corruption in the education departments and the policy that every government school must declare a 100 percent pass result regardless of whether some or all of its students cheated or failed, whether they attended the school or not, or whatever they did of the books supplied to them free of cost.
If taught properly with honest conviction, there is every chance that students who go to government schools can do as well as those who go to private schools. We need reforms in the education system before it is too late.
To start, the provincial education ministries must review and change their policy to eradicate callousness and corruption from the departments and schools. The policy of forcing government schools to 'window dress' their results must be done away with, as it is neither ethical nor patriotic and only serves the vested interests of a few.
Attendance of students (75 percent or more) should be made compulsory. Ghost schools and phantom teachers must be brought to the book. The competence of the teaching staff should be reviewed and retested, and improved where needed. To accomplish all this, severe disciplinary action will have to be taken to reform or drive out the black sheep.
But the pay scale of competent teachers who are made to work at salaries that are not high enough for a dignified living must also be reconsidered. Headmasters with more than 15 years of teaching experience of which they are in charge for at least eight, are paid Rs 60 per month as 'charge fee' and only Rs 1,000 a month as conveyance allowance.
How can one expect these teachers with low salaries and no fringe benefits to perform their professional duties with keen interest? Unhealthy working conditions are directly related to economics, but with newer funds pouring in it is hoped that the provincial education ministry will look into the matter.
It must also be ensured that there is no corruption in the spending of educational funds. It goes without saying that a good educational foundation goes into the making of a real functionally literate person who is capable of serving his nation better.
Mazhar Butt,
Karachi
Why fishermen pay bribes
http://beta.dawn.com/news/748778/why-fishermen-pay-bribes
DURING the 1990s inflation began to increase in Pakistan at a rapid pace, so much so that now it has become almost unbearable for the common man or businessmen to bear costs.
Fisheries too, being an important national industrial sector, have faced its brunt. Though official subsidies, granted to the fishermen by way of restricted import and distribution by the Fishermen’s Cooperative Society (FCS), have been in vogue and mainly restricted to monopolised import of marine diesel engines and nylon twine by the FCS. But their benefits have not fully reached the fishermen due to reported manipulation of these duty - free items by vested interests.
Consequently, the fishermen still have to purchase these items from the black market, the cost of which reflects upon the operating and initial cost of fishing vessels.
Diesel, which is the exclusive fuel used for operating marine diesel engines to run fishing vessels, continues to be denied any subsidy at any time even though fisheries falls under the ambit of the ministry of agriculture, livestock and fisheries, which had been allowing substantial subsidy to agriculturists on operating elements like electricity for running tube - wells, fertilisers, agricultural machinery, seeds, etc.
The subsidised tractor scheme is still in vogue to help farmers reduce the initial and operating cost. However, it has not been so with the fishing sector which has seldom met with a sympathetic and benevolent look from the government.
To meet their livelihood, fishermen have to take longer cruises spreading over two to four weeks in the open sea in search of fishing grounds. Despite the 200 miles EEZ of Pakistan, the sea has become a limit for them because if they go far in the Sindh coast, they and their boats face the risk of being seized by the Indian navy. Alternatively, if they head for Balochistan, then they have to pay illegal gratification to ‘the mighty ones’ of the fishing area there. A fishing boat desiring to fish in Balochistan waters has to pay a bribe of up to Rs50,000 to the ‘mighty lord’ of the fishing ground sought for through his agents in Karachi.
Seemingly the government cannot afford to subsidise on fuel but it can at least do better on other essential fishing items and fishing trawlers that are so imperative for the uplift of our national fishing sector and the fishermen as a whole, as it is they who are the backbone of the fisheries sector and they rightly deserve consideration of their genuine pleas.
Will the government wake up and attend to the problems of fishermen and take immediate necessary measures to resolve them?
MAZHAR Karachi
DURING the 1990s inflation began to increase in Pakistan at a rapid pace, so much so that now it has become almost unbearable for the common man or businessmen to bear costs.
Fisheries too, being an important national industrial sector, have faced its brunt. Though official subsidies, granted to the fishermen by way of restricted import and distribution by the Fishermen’s Cooperative Society (FCS), have been in vogue and mainly restricted to monopolised import of marine diesel engines and nylon twine by the FCS. But their benefits have not fully reached the fishermen due to reported manipulation of these duty - free items by vested interests.
Consequently, the fishermen still have to purchase these items from the black market, the cost of which reflects upon the operating and initial cost of fishing vessels.
Diesel, which is the exclusive fuel used for operating marine diesel engines to run fishing vessels, continues to be denied any subsidy at any time even though fisheries falls under the ambit of the ministry of agriculture, livestock and fisheries, which had been allowing substantial subsidy to agriculturists on operating elements like electricity for running tube - wells, fertilisers, agricultural machinery, seeds, etc.
The subsidised tractor scheme is still in vogue to help farmers reduce the initial and operating cost. However, it has not been so with the fishing sector which has seldom met with a sympathetic and benevolent look from the government.
To meet their livelihood, fishermen have to take longer cruises spreading over two to four weeks in the open sea in search of fishing grounds. Despite the 200 miles EEZ of Pakistan, the sea has become a limit for them because if they go far in the Sindh coast, they and their boats face the risk of being seized by the Indian navy. Alternatively, if they head for Balochistan, then they have to pay illegal gratification to ‘the mighty ones’ of the fishing area there. A fishing boat desiring to fish in Balochistan waters has to pay a bribe of up to Rs50,000 to the ‘mighty lord’ of the fishing ground sought for through his agents in Karachi.
Seemingly the government cannot afford to subsidise on fuel but it can at least do better on other essential fishing items and fishing trawlers that are so imperative for the uplift of our national fishing sector and the fishermen as a whole, as it is they who are the backbone of the fisheries sector and they rightly deserve consideration of their genuine pleas.
Will the government wake up and attend to the problems of fishermen and take immediate necessary measures to resolve them?
MAZHAR Karachi
Pakistan departments streamlining fisheries trade issues
http://www.icsf.net/es/samudra-news-alert/articledetail/49570-Pakistan-depart.html?language=SP
December 25,2012
Having failed to persuade the European Union to open seafood exports to their region, the various fishery departments in Pakistan are at loggerheads for unfair intrusion into the affairs of each other oblivious of the fact that the fisheries sector has already greatly suffered at the hands of their disharmony and lack of coordination and conviction.
The fact is that the Fishermen Cooperative Society (FCS) is a cooperative for the welfare of fishermen and their ancillaries such as fishing boat owners, mole holders, boat builders, ice and ration suppliers, fuellers, fish processors and others, whereas the Federal Marine Fisheries Department (MDF) and the Karachi Fish Harbour Authority (KFHA) are independent and autonomous departments assigned with the administrative and advisory responsibilities concerning fisheries.
As such, these departments find no role in the FCS except to carry out their ordained duties more efficiently and operate in coordination with the FPC or other fishery departments. It is the failure of these departments which is making them to save themselves from the ignominy of inaction by vying to seek undignified entry into an independent institution like the FCS, which has different functions to carry out according to its mandate.
Needless to say, the FCS has also failed to perform as it should and also needs major reforms to get rid of its old, salutary and inefficacious role as a cooperative for fishermen.
To make the Society really beneficial for the fishermen or the fishery, it should take immediate measures to stop bungling of a big chunk of commission it charges and earns through the sale of all fish landed and auctioned at the Karachi Fish Harbour and see to it that not a single fish gets sold out without paying prescribed commission to it.
Illegal auction of fish also ought to be taken strict notice of and steps taken to improve the condition of the fishermen as well as of the Karachi Fish Harbour to bring it in line with international standards so as to resume fish trade with the EU again.
Mazhar Butt
December 25,2012
Having failed to persuade the European Union to open seafood exports to their region, the various fishery departments in Pakistan are at loggerheads for unfair intrusion into the affairs of each other oblivious of the fact that the fisheries sector has already greatly suffered at the hands of their disharmony and lack of coordination and conviction.
The fact is that the Fishermen Cooperative Society (FCS) is a cooperative for the welfare of fishermen and their ancillaries such as fishing boat owners, mole holders, boat builders, ice and ration suppliers, fuellers, fish processors and others, whereas the Federal Marine Fisheries Department (MDF) and the Karachi Fish Harbour Authority (KFHA) are independent and autonomous departments assigned with the administrative and advisory responsibilities concerning fisheries.
As such, these departments find no role in the FCS except to carry out their ordained duties more efficiently and operate in coordination with the FPC or other fishery departments. It is the failure of these departments which is making them to save themselves from the ignominy of inaction by vying to seek undignified entry into an independent institution like the FCS, which has different functions to carry out according to its mandate.
Needless to say, the FCS has also failed to perform as it should and also needs major reforms to get rid of its old, salutary and inefficacious role as a cooperative for fishermen.
To make the Society really beneficial for the fishermen or the fishery, it should take immediate measures to stop bungling of a big chunk of commission it charges and earns through the sale of all fish landed and auctioned at the Karachi Fish Harbour and see to it that not a single fish gets sold out without paying prescribed commission to it.
Illegal auction of fish also ought to be taken strict notice of and steps taken to improve the condition of the fishermen as well as of the Karachi Fish Harbour to bring it in line with international standards so as to resume fish trade with the EU again.
Mazhar Butt
Streamlining fisheries trade issues
http://beta.dawn.com/news/773777/streamlining-fisheries-trade-issues
HAVING failed to persuade the European Union to open seafood exports to their region, the various fishery departments are at loggerheads for unfair intrusion into the affairs of each other oblivious of the fact that the fisheries sector has already greatly suffered at the hands of their disharmony and lack of coordination and conviction. The fact is that the Fishermen Cooperative Society (FCS) is a cooperative for the welfare of fishermen and their ancillaries such as fishing boat owners, mole holders, boat builders, ice and ration suppliers, fuellers, fish processors and others, whereas the Federal Marine Fisheries Department (MDF) and the Karachi Fish Harbour Authority (KFHA) are independent and autonomous departments assigned with the administrative and advisory responsibilities concerning fisheries.
As such, these departments find no role in the FCS except to carry out their ordained duties more efficiently and operate in coordination with the FPC or other fishery departments. It is the failure of these departments which is making them to save themselves from the ignominy of inaction by vying to seek undignified entry into an independent institution like the FCS, which has different functions to carry out according to its mandate.
Needless to say, the FCS has also failed to perform as it should and also needs major reforms to get rid of its old, salutary and inefficacious role as a cooperative for fishermen.
To make the Society really beneficial for the fishermen or the fishery, it should take immediate measures to stop bungling of a big chunk of commission it charges and earns through the sale of all fish landed and auctioned at the Karachi Fish Harbour and see to it that not a single fish gets sold out without paying prescribed commission to it.
Illegal auction of fish also ought to be taken strict notice of and steps taken to improve the condition of the fishermen as well as of the Karachi Fish Harbour to bring it in line with international standards so as to resume fish trade with the EU again.
MAZHAR BUTT Karachi
HAVING failed to persuade the European Union to open seafood exports to their region, the various fishery departments are at loggerheads for unfair intrusion into the affairs of each other oblivious of the fact that the fisheries sector has already greatly suffered at the hands of their disharmony and lack of coordination and conviction. The fact is that the Fishermen Cooperative Society (FCS) is a cooperative for the welfare of fishermen and their ancillaries such as fishing boat owners, mole holders, boat builders, ice and ration suppliers, fuellers, fish processors and others, whereas the Federal Marine Fisheries Department (MDF) and the Karachi Fish Harbour Authority (KFHA) are independent and autonomous departments assigned with the administrative and advisory responsibilities concerning fisheries.
As such, these departments find no role in the FCS except to carry out their ordained duties more efficiently and operate in coordination with the FPC or other fishery departments. It is the failure of these departments which is making them to save themselves from the ignominy of inaction by vying to seek undignified entry into an independent institution like the FCS, which has different functions to carry out according to its mandate.
Needless to say, the FCS has also failed to perform as it should and also needs major reforms to get rid of its old, salutary and inefficacious role as a cooperative for fishermen.
To make the Society really beneficial for the fishermen or the fishery, it should take immediate measures to stop bungling of a big chunk of commission it charges and earns through the sale of all fish landed and auctioned at the Karachi Fish Harbour and see to it that not a single fish gets sold out without paying prescribed commission to it.
Illegal auction of fish also ought to be taken strict notice of and steps taken to improve the condition of the fishermen as well as of the Karachi Fish Harbour to bring it in line with international standards so as to resume fish trade with the EU again.
MAZHAR BUTT Karachi
Dens of Corruption
http://tribune.com.pk/story/491089/dens-of-corruption/
Published: January 8, 2013
KARACHI: About four months ago, I bought an apartment in Defence, Karachi. I applied for a sale deed registration at the relevant registrar’s office. When I went to collect the said deed after four months, I was told that it was not ready yet and that I should check again after a few weeks. Accordingly, I went there to collect the document but was again told it was not ready and that I should contact them after two months. Boggled by this reply, I consulted a lawyer and he told me that it does not take this long to register a document with the registrar. Equipped with this knowledge, I again went to the registrar’s office but no one there was inclined to give me any response about the fate of my document. Finally, a clerk opened up his day book, turned some pages and pointed to the blank entries there, which he explained were due to the reason that I had not applied for urgent registration and that my case had not even been forwarded yet for processing. More than four months had passed since I applied for the sale deed registration and yet I was told that the registrar’s office had not done anything about it.
I had a heated argument with the staff there, with the employees treating me as if I was a fool. While this altercation was going on, a person on the premises approached me, introduced himself as an advocate and said that he could get my documents for me and save me from more trouble. The long and short of the story is that the advocate took my receipt number, came out of the office of the registrar as if he owned the place and told me that he would deliver me the registered sale deed provided I bribed him or if I brought the seller into the office. How on earth could I bring in the seller who had already been paid in front of the registrar and had left after signing the documents at the time of the submission? I was finally reduced to thrashing out a deal with the advocate — who I discovered was a tout of the registrar’s office. He then went to his house and brought me the original sale deed and other official documents and thus the saga ended.
The moral behind this story is that the property registrar offices have turned into dens of extreme corruption and there is no check on their nefarious activities. How outrageous it is that they should pass over official records to their touts to blackmail applicants who come to register their documents? Evidently, this is not possible without the collusion of the registration office staff who employ such touts to firstly, illegally identify people who are complete strangers to them; secondly, these touts act as frontmen for the registration authorities to extort money from applicants by deceiving them that their documents would be registered if they bribed them and all this goes on while the documents have already been registered through the normal process and are lying with the registration authorities but who do not want to deliver them to the applicants without fleecing them.
The ministry concerned and the revenue board must look into the corruption brewing at the property registration offices. NAB must look into the issue as well and investigate how the employees at the registrar’s office live beyond their means and without any scruples of conscience or remorse.
Mazhar Butt
Published: January 8, 2013
KARACHI: About four months ago, I bought an apartment in Defence, Karachi. I applied for a sale deed registration at the relevant registrar’s office. When I went to collect the said deed after four months, I was told that it was not ready yet and that I should check again after a few weeks. Accordingly, I went there to collect the document but was again told it was not ready and that I should contact them after two months. Boggled by this reply, I consulted a lawyer and he told me that it does not take this long to register a document with the registrar. Equipped with this knowledge, I again went to the registrar’s office but no one there was inclined to give me any response about the fate of my document. Finally, a clerk opened up his day book, turned some pages and pointed to the blank entries there, which he explained were due to the reason that I had not applied for urgent registration and that my case had not even been forwarded yet for processing. More than four months had passed since I applied for the sale deed registration and yet I was told that the registrar’s office had not done anything about it.
I had a heated argument with the staff there, with the employees treating me as if I was a fool. While this altercation was going on, a person on the premises approached me, introduced himself as an advocate and said that he could get my documents for me and save me from more trouble. The long and short of the story is that the advocate took my receipt number, came out of the office of the registrar as if he owned the place and told me that he would deliver me the registered sale deed provided I bribed him or if I brought the seller into the office. How on earth could I bring in the seller who had already been paid in front of the registrar and had left after signing the documents at the time of the submission? I was finally reduced to thrashing out a deal with the advocate — who I discovered was a tout of the registrar’s office. He then went to his house and brought me the original sale deed and other official documents and thus the saga ended.
The moral behind this story is that the property registrar offices have turned into dens of extreme corruption and there is no check on their nefarious activities. How outrageous it is that they should pass over official records to their touts to blackmail applicants who come to register their documents? Evidently, this is not possible without the collusion of the registration office staff who employ such touts to firstly, illegally identify people who are complete strangers to them; secondly, these touts act as frontmen for the registration authorities to extort money from applicants by deceiving them that their documents would be registered if they bribed them and all this goes on while the documents have already been registered through the normal process and are lying with the registration authorities but who do not want to deliver them to the applicants without fleecing them.
The ministry concerned and the revenue board must look into the corruption brewing at the property registration offices. NAB must look into the issue as well and investigate how the employees at the registrar’s office live beyond their means and without any scruples of conscience or remorse.
Mazhar Butt
Unfair practice
http://tribune.com.pk/story/497638/unfair-practice/
Published: January 23, 2013
KARACHI:
Notices to the industrial consumers of the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) have been issued, in which they have been asked to pay additional deposits based on the average gas consumption during the last 90 days, failing which their gas connections will be disconnected. This is a new way that the SSGC seems to have employed to extort money from the already beleaguered industrial sector. Most industries have closed or are operating at less than 20 per cent of their capacity, while some are in the process of looking for more viable industrial pursuits, yet the present demand by the SSGC applies equally to all industries regardless of their operational status.
Those industrial units whose gas consumption has not increased but has rather decreased during the period of 90 days specified are still being sent demand notices for additional deposits. I believe that this comes under unfair trade practices. Therefore, the authorities concerned, including the judiciary is requested to intervene and prevent the SSGC from charging this amount.
Mazhar Butt
Published: January 23, 2013
KARACHI:
Notices to the industrial consumers of the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) have been issued, in which they have been asked to pay additional deposits based on the average gas consumption during the last 90 days, failing which their gas connections will be disconnected. This is a new way that the SSGC seems to have employed to extort money from the already beleaguered industrial sector. Most industries have closed or are operating at less than 20 per cent of their capacity, while some are in the process of looking for more viable industrial pursuits, yet the present demand by the SSGC applies equally to all industries regardless of their operational status.
Those industrial units whose gas consumption has not increased but has rather decreased during the period of 90 days specified are still being sent demand notices for additional deposits. I believe that this comes under unfair trade practices. Therefore, the authorities concerned, including the judiciary is requested to intervene and prevent the SSGC from charging this amount.
Mazhar Butt
Speedy justice
Daily Times | Saturday, March 09, 2013
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2013%5C03%5C09%5Cstory_9-3-2013_pg3_7
Sir: After the lower courts were instructed by the honourable chief justice (CJ) to dispose of long pending cases, it became heartening to note that old cases were transferred to another court of the same level for speedy disposal of the same. However, It was shocking to note, at least in one civil case, that a learned judge of the lower court, and possessing the same jurisdictional powers of that judicial forum, passed an order stating that the order passed earlier was null and void in the eyes of law — not his exact words but a gist of them. The question that comes to my mind is: does the transfer of a case or a judge in the same jurisdictional forum empower the new judge or court to override and nullify the orders passed by the preceding judge in the same forum and in the same matter? It does not appeal to my common sense that the negation of one’s colleague judge’s orders is lawful or in the interest of justice, the matter clearly falling in the jurisdictional ambit of the higher court. Such incidences, if allowed to occur, will only open the door for more delays and circuitous litigation because the affected litigant will definitely opt for a revision with the district judge, after which there could be apparent chances that the unlawful order will be reversed or stuck down. It would not be out of place to state that such arbitrary and careless use of speed in deciding judicial matters will only deny justice to litigants and will give results to the concept of ‘haste makes waste’. It may be desired of the honourable Supreme Court (SC) to see that the adjudicating courts do not use the powers or jurisdiction of the appellate courts or tend to act as summary courts while speedily deciding matters that, as a rule, ought to be decided on merit only.
MAZHAR BUTT
Karachi
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2013%5C03%5C09%5Cstory_9-3-2013_pg3_7
Sir: After the lower courts were instructed by the honourable chief justice (CJ) to dispose of long pending cases, it became heartening to note that old cases were transferred to another court of the same level for speedy disposal of the same. However, It was shocking to note, at least in one civil case, that a learned judge of the lower court, and possessing the same jurisdictional powers of that judicial forum, passed an order stating that the order passed earlier was null and void in the eyes of law — not his exact words but a gist of them. The question that comes to my mind is: does the transfer of a case or a judge in the same jurisdictional forum empower the new judge or court to override and nullify the orders passed by the preceding judge in the same forum and in the same matter? It does not appeal to my common sense that the negation of one’s colleague judge’s orders is lawful or in the interest of justice, the matter clearly falling in the jurisdictional ambit of the higher court. Such incidences, if allowed to occur, will only open the door for more delays and circuitous litigation because the affected litigant will definitely opt for a revision with the district judge, after which there could be apparent chances that the unlawful order will be reversed or stuck down. It would not be out of place to state that such arbitrary and careless use of speed in deciding judicial matters will only deny justice to litigants and will give results to the concept of ‘haste makes waste’. It may be desired of the honourable Supreme Court (SC) to see that the adjudicating courts do not use the powers or jurisdiction of the appellate courts or tend to act as summary courts while speedily deciding matters that, as a rule, ought to be decided on merit only.
MAZHAR BUTT
Karachi
NOT-SO-FREE JUDICIARY (On Judiciary in Pakistan)
http://www.worldlawdirect.com/forum/miscellaneous-topics/19913-such-scot-free-judiciary-no.html
20.11.2008
There is long going high talk about the independence of judiciary. While this is not a bad idea at all but the question is: Is it worthwhile to let the judiciary have its way given the state of 'elements' which constitute it?? I think not. The entire judiciary needs major reforms, inter alia, not only in the mode of appointments and termination of judges but also in harnessing, controlling and regulating the conduct of the officers of the court, viz the lawyers.
Lawyers, pleaders or the officers of the court as they are called 'grow' up to be selected as future judges. If their conduct and reputation during their legal practice is not exemplary and they are 'chosen' to decide the fate of litigations it is not hard to conceive the kind of judiciary we would be having and how the 'independence' of judiciary would end up in killing justice. Unfortunately, the conduct and character of many lawyers is not exemplary and they do not seem to be bound by any code of conduct. Since the lawyers are dominant fiduciaries of the litigating clients many of them are wont to 'exploit' them as well as play the role of 'devil's advocates'.
There have been many cases of non-prosecution, non-appearance and non-filing of necessary documents with the courts within the statutory period which go unreported. The wretched client, in search for justice, mostly suffers the brunt of law at the hands of his lawyers deliberate negligent conduct or incompetency while the lawyer is seldom held accountable for his excesses. This is all primarily due to the dominant position of the lawyer and the inefficiency of Bar Councils to cater for such contingencies. Bar Councils which are bodies of the lawyers cannot be said to be impartial in taking action against their member lawyers for their 'atrocities' committing aganst their clients.
Not that an independent accountability council be set up for hearing complaints against dishonest lawyers but also a separate and independent body should also be set up to select lawyers for the post of judges not only on the base of their experience but also their general reputation and past conduct. A judgeship qualification exam should also be made mandatory for lawyers aspiring to become judges of the higher courtsas well . Their conduct as well as that of those in the civil courts also be monitored by some independent agency. Needless to say corruption is too rampant among the court's paralegal staff . At every step the litigants have to throw them dough to expedite their work and most of the lawyers and their so called 'munshis' form a part of that 'cult'. Bribery is a common feature witnessed at the lower courts while the method of fleecing at the higher courts (excluding the Supreme Court) is done under a 'sophisticated streak' of extortionism. It is almost impossible to get certified copies of documents at the lower courts without greasing the palms of the copyist and the other concerned staff. Judges who were once lawyers themselves and had spent years in these courts cannot claim to be ignorant of this situation yet they seem to be helpless or uninterested or negligent in seeking measures to get rid of the corruption menace with the para legal staff...and to set the judiciary right. I dare say that without improving on some of the evils mentioned hereinabove and which cling and overshadow the existing judiciary
The idea of a free and independent judiciary would be nothing but a fancy and futile exercise.
Mazhar Butt
20.11.2008
There is long going high talk about the independence of judiciary. While this is not a bad idea at all but the question is: Is it worthwhile to let the judiciary have its way given the state of 'elements' which constitute it?? I think not. The entire judiciary needs major reforms, inter alia, not only in the mode of appointments and termination of judges but also in harnessing, controlling and regulating the conduct of the officers of the court, viz the lawyers.
Lawyers, pleaders or the officers of the court as they are called 'grow' up to be selected as future judges. If their conduct and reputation during their legal practice is not exemplary and they are 'chosen' to decide the fate of litigations it is not hard to conceive the kind of judiciary we would be having and how the 'independence' of judiciary would end up in killing justice. Unfortunately, the conduct and character of many lawyers is not exemplary and they do not seem to be bound by any code of conduct. Since the lawyers are dominant fiduciaries of the litigating clients many of them are wont to 'exploit' them as well as play the role of 'devil's advocates'.
There have been many cases of non-prosecution, non-appearance and non-filing of necessary documents with the courts within the statutory period which go unreported. The wretched client, in search for justice, mostly suffers the brunt of law at the hands of his lawyers deliberate negligent conduct or incompetency while the lawyer is seldom held accountable for his excesses. This is all primarily due to the dominant position of the lawyer and the inefficiency of Bar Councils to cater for such contingencies. Bar Councils which are bodies of the lawyers cannot be said to be impartial in taking action against their member lawyers for their 'atrocities' committing aganst their clients.
Not that an independent accountability council be set up for hearing complaints against dishonest lawyers but also a separate and independent body should also be set up to select lawyers for the post of judges not only on the base of their experience but also their general reputation and past conduct. A judgeship qualification exam should also be made mandatory for lawyers aspiring to become judges of the higher courtsas well . Their conduct as well as that of those in the civil courts also be monitored by some independent agency. Needless to say corruption is too rampant among the court's paralegal staff . At every step the litigants have to throw them dough to expedite their work and most of the lawyers and their so called 'munshis' form a part of that 'cult'. Bribery is a common feature witnessed at the lower courts while the method of fleecing at the higher courts (excluding the Supreme Court) is done under a 'sophisticated streak' of extortionism. It is almost impossible to get certified copies of documents at the lower courts without greasing the palms of the copyist and the other concerned staff. Judges who were once lawyers themselves and had spent years in these courts cannot claim to be ignorant of this situation yet they seem to be helpless or uninterested or negligent in seeking measures to get rid of the corruption menace with the para legal staff...and to set the judiciary right. I dare say that without improving on some of the evils mentioned hereinabove and which cling and overshadow the existing judiciary
The idea of a free and independent judiciary would be nothing but a fancy and futile exercise.
Mazhar Butt
Illegal orders
Daily Times | Saturday, March 16, 2013
Sir: Having been pushed into unending litigation for many years, it makes me think about why there is no accountability for judges who pass illegal orders. Why is a judge, who acts illegally in imparting justice, allowed to simply walk away unpunished? To clear my point, let me first explain what an illegal order is. It is an order illegally passed by a judge against whom the aggrieved files a review, revision or appeal as a last chance for getting justice and is an order that is remanded by the appellate court on the grounds of being illegal, null and void. Needless to say, a judge will only pass an illegal order if he is incompetent, callous or has some unknown reasons for taking such liberty with the law. If anyone wants to count the number of illegal cases reverted and retried he can look them up in law digests or ask any senior lawyer. It is definitely not desirable that any judge pass illegal orders or judgments for any reason and my prayer is that, if he does, he ought to be held accountable and appropriate action, such as suspending him, be taken by the higher ups. Unless judges too are made accountable it may not be possible to serve justice as the law itself tends to act as a tool of destruction in incompetent hands. If accountability is desired it should be desired for all without exception. It may be requested that the Judicial Council look into this matter as well.
MAZHAR BUTT
Karachi
Sir: Having been pushed into unending litigation for many years, it makes me think about why there is no accountability for judges who pass illegal orders. Why is a judge, who acts illegally in imparting justice, allowed to simply walk away unpunished? To clear my point, let me first explain what an illegal order is. It is an order illegally passed by a judge against whom the aggrieved files a review, revision or appeal as a last chance for getting justice and is an order that is remanded by the appellate court on the grounds of being illegal, null and void. Needless to say, a judge will only pass an illegal order if he is incompetent, callous or has some unknown reasons for taking such liberty with the law. If anyone wants to count the number of illegal cases reverted and retried he can look them up in law digests or ask any senior lawyer. It is definitely not desirable that any judge pass illegal orders or judgments for any reason and my prayer is that, if he does, he ought to be held accountable and appropriate action, such as suspending him, be taken by the higher ups. Unless judges too are made accountable it may not be possible to serve justice as the law itself tends to act as a tool of destruction in incompetent hands. If accountability is desired it should be desired for all without exception. It may be requested that the Judicial Council look into this matter as well.
MAZHAR BUTT
Karachi
Acquiring court orders
http://beta.dawn.com/news/796473/acquiring-court-orders
ON Sept 3, 2007, I had pointed out through these columns that court record and orders were either manipulated or stolen from a banking court. One such final order was stolen in 2000 and has not been retrieved or issued against the real date on which its certified copies were applied for.
After a series of complaints were made, the learned judge instead supplied a copy thereof in current dates by which time the limitation was over. In the meantime, the court proceeded with the case by issuing a sale certificate to the plaintiff/auction purchaser against which serious objections were at once lodged by the defendant but to no avail.
The learned judge self-admittedly said that he was ‘pressured’ by NAB and, in turn, ‘instructed’ by some senior judge to dispose of the case on the deadline and obviously that too in favour of the country’s one of the biggest bank defaullters whose name already happens to be with the Supreme Court.
By favouring them in the case matter, the aim was to shun and offload the third party from legal interruption with the obvious intention of squeezing out very substantial ‘reward’ which NAB, as a rule, is said to charge banks on such recoveries or from plea bargains.
With the passing over of the limitation due to failure of the banking court to issue appropriately dated and valid copy of the stolen order, the appellate court was not inclined to entertain the appeal, thus depriving the defendant of his fair right to justice.
This being so, will the honourable Supreme Court recall the matter and see why action was not taken against that banking court for alienating with final order and not supplying it to defendant on the date it was applied for until this day?
Needless to say, the defendant cannot be held liable for the delay in issuing order by the court as also envisaged in the Limitation Act. But, unfortunately, the courts rarely shift from the conventional practice of knocking out even merited cases on forced-out technical grounds, thereby unconsciously condemning such defendants unheard and in doing so unintentionally defeating the service of justice to the already aggrieved party.
May I request the Supreme Court to check this ancient trend in the courts below as the same is outrightly not what the Supreme Court aspires for.
MAZHAR BUTT Karachi
ON Sept 3, 2007, I had pointed out through these columns that court record and orders were either manipulated or stolen from a banking court. One such final order was stolen in 2000 and has not been retrieved or issued against the real date on which its certified copies were applied for.
After a series of complaints were made, the learned judge instead supplied a copy thereof in current dates by which time the limitation was over. In the meantime, the court proceeded with the case by issuing a sale certificate to the plaintiff/auction purchaser against which serious objections were at once lodged by the defendant but to no avail.
The learned judge self-admittedly said that he was ‘pressured’ by NAB and, in turn, ‘instructed’ by some senior judge to dispose of the case on the deadline and obviously that too in favour of the country’s one of the biggest bank defaullters whose name already happens to be with the Supreme Court.
By favouring them in the case matter, the aim was to shun and offload the third party from legal interruption with the obvious intention of squeezing out very substantial ‘reward’ which NAB, as a rule, is said to charge banks on such recoveries or from plea bargains.
With the passing over of the limitation due to failure of the banking court to issue appropriately dated and valid copy of the stolen order, the appellate court was not inclined to entertain the appeal, thus depriving the defendant of his fair right to justice.
This being so, will the honourable Supreme Court recall the matter and see why action was not taken against that banking court for alienating with final order and not supplying it to defendant on the date it was applied for until this day?
Needless to say, the defendant cannot be held liable for the delay in issuing order by the court as also envisaged in the Limitation Act. But, unfortunately, the courts rarely shift from the conventional practice of knocking out even merited cases on forced-out technical grounds, thereby unconsciously condemning such defendants unheard and in doing so unintentionally defeating the service of justice to the already aggrieved party.
May I request the Supreme Court to check this ancient trend in the courts below as the same is outrightly not what the Supreme Court aspires for.
MAZHAR BUTT Karachi
Waterless DHA
Dawn 25 March 2013
Sir, This refers to the clarification issued by the Cantonment Board Clifton (March 19) in response to my complaint ‘Waterless DHA’. First of all, the CBC has not redressed my complaint. All six small flats of the building where I live continue to be starved of water. So far no practical steps have been taken by the CBC to mend the broken or choked water mains, nor a single drop of water has been supplied to the residents. It would have been fair for the CBC PRO to emphasise the importance of timely payment of water tax if the residents were not perpetually deprived of water for years without any effort on part of the authority to execute its responsibility. Almost all the commercial areas of the DHA are waterless and are forced to buy contaminated water from external sources at a heavy price. This fact can be verified through an independent
survey. On top of that the residents are unfairly forced to pay phantom water bills to the CBC when it is an established premise that one should not be doubly taxed. If the CBC cannot provide water they must not bill for it.
MAZHAR BUTT
Sir, This refers to the clarification issued by the Cantonment Board Clifton (March 19) in response to my complaint ‘Waterless DHA’. First of all, the CBC has not redressed my complaint. All six small flats of the building where I live continue to be starved of water. So far no practical steps have been taken by the CBC to mend the broken or choked water mains, nor a single drop of water has been supplied to the residents. It would have been fair for the CBC PRO to emphasise the importance of timely payment of water tax if the residents were not perpetually deprived of water for years without any effort on part of the authority to execute its responsibility. Almost all the commercial areas of the DHA are waterless and are forced to buy contaminated water from external sources at a heavy price. This fact can be verified through an independent
survey. On top of that the residents are unfairly forced to pay phantom water bills to the CBC when it is an established premise that one should not be doubly taxed. If the CBC cannot provide water they must not bill for it.
MAZHAR BUTT
E-deception
The Friday Times | TFT CURRENT ISSUE| March 29 - April 04, 2013 - Vol. XXV, No. 07
Sir,
Internet service providers in Pakistan are fleecing their customers with substandard service. I was using an internet connection by a leading ISP recently. Whenever I complained to them about their deplorable service, they always responded with those clichéd sentences that their operators have memorized, assuring me that they would do all they can to resolve the problem. But I continued to pay my bills on time.
One day, I found a link through which I could check the speed of my internet, and was shocked to see that they were giving me less than 50 percent of the contractual speed. I spent days checking my hardware and software, because that is what their representatives told me to do, but found out that there was nothing wrong at my end.
Later on I found out that a number of ISPs are deceiving unaware customers by giving them speeds that were much less than they were paying for. This is unfair.
The monitoring authorities concerned should take action to stop this outrageous practice right away.
Mazhar Butt,
Karachi.
Troubled waters
April 26 - May 02, 2013 - Vol. XXV, No. 11 | The Friday Times
The resumption of seafood exports is not going to bring too many economic benefits either to the fishermen or the country because of poor landings of shrimp and timeless sporadic landings of cephalopods. The whole fisheries management suffers from lack of planning and control.
Fishermen are exploited by unlicensed agents who are free to conduct their illegal businesses at the harbor. They openly rob the fisherman cooperative society of their rightful commission and do not pay their taxes. It is these rogue elements who ruin fish quality before it is processed, by mishandling, mixing, and adulterating the catches. Unless these scavengers are thrown out of the harbor, the product quality will not meet export standards.
Local fish prices are already sky high and in some cases even higher than export prices. Cultured shrimp and other fish serve 50 percent of the world fish needs. Aquaculture is growing worldwide at the rate of 8 percent per annum. World markets are flooded with low-priced cultured prawns and fish, but no measures have been taken in our country towards this goal.
Our oceans have already run out of their natural wild marine stocks and there is no hope of replenishing them through strategic fisheries planning and control. Prime varieties of fish and shrimp have already become extinct and only the left over varieties of shoal fish, which were once not even exportable, are being caught ruthlessly only to be sold for peanuts to cheap buyers.
It is unlikely that EU would pay us export prices that match those paid to India. It can be assumed that it will buy from Pakistan only select fillers that it cannot get from our competitors India and Bangladesh.
Mazhar Butt,
Lay of land
The Friday Times ISSUE | May 03-09, 2013
There is a vast stretch of land on the far side of the Karachi fish harbor channel that has historically been used for boat building, boat repairing and had a fueling station.
Because of a lack of infrastructure, this area was called Kala Pani. Just short of Kala Pani, a Chota Gate led to what is now called Machher Colony.
Years ago, the government allocated a plot in that area to set up a seafood processing plant. The fisheries authorities first sold the nearby plots for cheap to their favorites, and then some rogue groups began to occupy other plots in the neighborhood. None of this land was sold publicly, for fair value.
Now the Karachi Fish Harbor Authority, in concert with its absentee allottees, is battling against the land mafia, who is unwilling to surrender the possession of that land.
The best resolution to this problem is for the KFHA to cancel all previous allotments and sell the land through public auctions. At the same time, a major cleanup operation should be carried out to throw out the illegal occupants. That is the only way a fair amount of money will go into the national exchequer.
Mazhar Butt
Science and Society
TFT CURRENT ISSUE | May 10-16, 2013 - Vol. XXV, No. 13 The Friday Times
Sir, I think it is unfair to blame religion for the decay of scientific fervor particularly among the Muslims. Science flourished best during tyrannical eras - a fact that is quite evident from a look history. Pakistan is replete with scientists but they are merely academics or copy cats having little or no talent or inclination for technical or innovative work. It's a pity not knowing even a single Pakistani scientist who has made any technological accomplishment in the last few decades, and there is a lack of any patent for any tangible invention of any type. It is self-motivation and not religious beliefs that tend to bring scientific and technological progress. Even government funding is not necessarily required for scientific work. One just ought to have a will. Were it not so, some Muslims wouldn't have won acclaims for their scientific achievements abroad. Here in Pakistan, poverty, non-protection of intellectual property rights, and a lack of appreciation are the main reasons why our people lag behind in the field of scientific and technological innovation and inventions.
Mazhar Butt, Karachi.
Our seafood exports
http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-11-128479-Our-seafood-exports
Although Pakistan’s seafood exports have grown considerably even after the European Union’s ban, this achievement cannot be attributed to a real increase in terms of value. Compared with its neighbouring countries, such as India, Pakistan is still getting lower prices for its fishery products. The boost in value can mainly be attributed to the weakening of rupee against the dollar and the export of the last bit of edible fish in Pakistani waters to cheap markets such as China, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand and some other Far East countries along with Egypt and the Middle East. It’s good news that somehow the marine fisheries department has persuaded the EU to lift the ban on seafood exports from Pakistan but it must be noted that allowing one or two processing units is not going to resolve the problem just as a swallow doesn’t make a summer. The entire fisheries and fishing sector needs immediate revamping and renovation. Unless this is done it is doubtful if it will be possible to establish traceability and cold chain.
Unfortunately, a look at our harbour shows no signs of improvements in fleets design or the technology employed in the processing units. Fish is still stashed on the dirty fish-harbour floors and sold and transported with little or no ice. Most of the seafood processing units do not have adequate facilities for making ice and the ones which do have equipment are usually out of order. Almost all processing units are run by obsolete freezing and cold-storage machinery and equipment. There are poorly insulated stores where finished product deteriorates due to rapid fluctuations in storage temperature. The EU continues to be the largest market for Pakistani shrimp and some kind of fish. But with the dwindling stock of shrimp as well as fish, I am afraid export of these to the EU will be done at the cost of our fauna and flora. A reasonable balance ought to be kept if the welfare of the industry is desired before it is wiped off and the last fish caught.
Mazhar Butt, Karachi
Utilising export refinance facility
http://beta.dawn.com/news/747932/utilising-export-refinance-facility
RECENTLY the SBP has reduced the discount rate by 1.5 per cent, thereby reducing it to 10.5 per cent. Since the discount rate is linked to export refinance, exporters have urged the authorities to reconsider lowering it as well.
The reduction in export refinance to exporters will tend to assist exporters to boost their exports but the question is: Is all the export refinance already advanced to them fully employed by the exporters for the purpose it is advanced for?
Looking at the overall performance of the industrial exporting sector, it is doubtful that export refinances are genuinely employed for the right purpose. Although this tendency may be found in many exporting industries, the most badly hit exporting sector due to this irregularity is the seafood exporting industry.
A few years ago the largest seafood exporter in Pakistan got busted due to vagaries of utilising bank loans of more than Rs2bn out of which Rs95m is still unpaid or said to be written off by its financing institution without the SBP’s approval.
Even after this, conditions in the fisheries sector have not improved and poor fishermen are not readily paid for their hauls by exporters. This shows the poor cash flow of those exporters who have already used the huge amounts of export refinances from the financial institutions, but are unable to pay promptly.
It also goes to show that the low-interest money that was advanced to them for buying raw seafood has been siphoned away in other pursuits, thereby creating cash crunch to such exporters. Had all export refinances been invested for the intent they were advanced, seafood exporters should be able to pay for their purchases of raw material (fish/shrimp) to the hardworking fishermen on the spot.
But this is not being done. This fact alone reflects on the mystery of misutilisation of export refinances by exporters.
Frozen seafood is an expensive item and soon builds up in value to meet the 1:1 ratio of borrowing vs exports (previously the SBP ratio was 1:2.4 or one part borrowing vs 2.4 times export).
The banks usually count eligibility for export refinance on the basis of this value and sooner or later are risked to lose their money if the same has not been spent for the right purpose of its granting, viz, purchase of fresh seafood for processing and exports.
Although financial institutions are bound to verify the stocks hypothecated against export refinances/loans advanced, this is seldom done or done in a superficial casual manner.
Thus financial institutions never come to evaluate the real value of stocks held by the exporter to cover the loan. Then there comes a time when the exporter faces market upsets or quality claims; his exports dwindle to meet the set export target and he goes bust.
Although this aggravation may continue for some years unnoticed by the loan-giving agencies, finally there goes a blast and the matter ends up in the hands of banking courts.
This is a very serious matter which need foremost and immediate attention of the SBP and other concerned authorities if they are looking for better outcome of export refinance facility to exporters not only in the seafood exporting sector but in the overall exporting industries of Pakistan.
If the utilisation of export refinancing facility is fully employed in any exporting sector, be it fisheries, textiles and manufacture of other items, there is no reason that these industries won't flourish without raising an unfair hue and cry over mildly inflated export refinance rates.
MAZHAR BUTT Karachi
Bringing defaulters to book
Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2012.
KARACHI: As far back as 2009, a complete list of bank defaulters was floated in the media. A report of the same was also submitted with the Supreme Court and it was expected that the apex court would take up the matter and bring to book the businessmen, politicians, retired army officers and journalists who were among over 3,300 people who had loans worth Rs153.5 billion written off from 11 financial institutions between 1999 and 2007.
However, it is disappointing to note that this matter of great national interest has been let in abeyance for some unknown reason and the defaulters, as well as their bankers, have not been held accountable for their actions. It would be fully justified if the honourable Court passed an order against the bank loan defaulters and their accessory financial institutions and ordered NAB or the institutions concerned to bear the mark-up on the bungled up amount if they fail to recover the same in the grace time awarded by the Supreme Court. A similar order has been passed by the Court in the missing Nato containers case. Unless there is quick adjudication on the case, the national exchequer will lose billions of rupees.
Mazhar Butt
Online access to electricity bills
Published in The Express Tribune, October 13th, 2011.
KARACHI: In this day and age, it is a bit surprising that our utility providers do not have systems in place whereby their consumers can access their billing information online. For instance, to get a bill for my electricity connection, whenever it is not delivered on time, I have to go to the local KESC office, and spend a lot of time in getting a copy. This is a waste of time and even the utility would be better off if it enabled its subscribers to access this information on the internet.
Also, at times, when there is a dispute in the bill, a subscriber needs the entire billing history, or for a certain period of time. This, too, is usually very difficult to get hold of, though it should be a formality for a consumer who pays his bills in full and on time.
The KESC would be doing it millions of consumers a huge favour by moving this whole system of billing online.
Mazhar Butt
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