Places to visit in Pakistan

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Books in Pakistan: Market and Potential

More Readers, Better Publishers 

Teachers, and not parents, are the ones who can mould an adult public that craves for books suggests Muhammad Aamir Uppal.

 The News 1993

          In Pakistan writers must not only successfully apply their minds and express themselves well, but they must also master the art of successfully negotiating a variety of challenges - the most pernicious one being publishers’ attitude.

          There is a great deal of interdependence between writers and publishers that introduces elements of negotiation and reciprocity into their relationship. Writers need publishers in order to give their work broad circulation and to enable them to achieve a certain legitimacy in the public eye.

          While most publishers prefer to work with familiar and well established names, everyone recognizes the need for new talent. Still, few are ready to move beyond recognizing this need.

          An overview of Pakistan’s publishing scene tells a sordid tale. Aside from the efforts of a few strong and well established multinationals there are also a number of active indigenous general publishers who have done much to make publishing a legitimate and respected industry. All indigenous publishers tend to be handicapped by the constraints of lower capitalization and more limited distribution and marketing capabilities than their multinational colleagues.

          Another challenge facing publishers is that the sales potential for scholarly books is almost miniscule. One example is Dr. Mubarik Ali, a local historian who studied for a doctorate degree in Germany, and the author of 30 books, both in English and Urdu. Ali only last year wrote ‘Barr-e-Sagheer Mein Musalman Muashreyt Ka Almiya’ (The Tragedy of Muslim Society in the Subcontinent), but with fears of poor marketing potential, Progressive, Publishers, Lahore could only print a meager 500 copies. Given the fact that the book was published in Urdu which is not only most widely read language of the country, but is also the most popular language among academies interested in this topic.

          Consequently the production of every book involves a high degree of financial risk. It is the recognition of the sever limitations of the market for scholarly books that has led publishers to change their philosophical orientation and examine the possibility of publishing a selection of non-scholarly trade and textbooks in order to subsidise the substantial loses that are incurred in the production of scholarly work.

          Another problem publishers and writers have to confront is the non-existence of moral ethics and weak copyright laws. The piracy issue is a complicated one. From the publishers viewpoint, it is totally unjustified and an unmitigated evil. The increase in piracy has even stated threatening the future of many a reputed publisher.

          Aside from piracy, the other major difficulty facing publishers today is the question of how to sell their books. The problem is twofold. First only a limited market exists. Second, it is usually an uphill task to reach this small market,

          The second problem exists because of the lack of an efficient infrastructure. Publishers usually do not have wholesalers and distributors, promotional agencies and book clubs or even effective review media. Moreover, the logistical problems involved in moving books from  publishers’ warehouse to bookstores sometime can be onerous.

          There is little doubt that people read,, as is evident from the circulation figures for newspapers, but it is also a fact that they seldom pay to read. Libraries, government and civil institutions, do buy newspapers readily. However, the habit of reading books during leisure time is not widely practiced, even among the elite.

          That parents should encourage their children to read by buying books as gifts has been widely debated in the print media. Despite the validity of this argument, the fact is that most parents have little extra money to spend on gifts for their children and the extra they do have can be put to more practical use.

                  

          In view of this situation, it would appear that teachers have an important role to play in motivating children to read. Teachers must convince children that reading is not only informative , but the it can also be enjoyable. Publishers can do their part by producing books aimed at the children’s market.

          It is only when children start  reading at an early age that an adult public which reads for pleasure rather that purely utilitarian purposes will eventually emerge, thus, in time, the market for books will expand and therefore publishers should not fined it difficult to sell their books.

          All in all the problems facing writers and publishers in Pakistan can not be solved immediately and need to be tackled on several fronts at the same time.

Books and Magazines from Pakistan in Urdu and English

Pakistan Athletics

Pakistan Athletics: a proud past

Khaliq, Raziq, Mubarak, Iqbal once formed a dream team

From Muhammad Aamir Uppal                                                  March 1993

Exactly five years ago, in March 1988, a single column obituary note appeared in a leading English daily mourning the death of a former sprinter Abdul Khaliq.  The note was only a couple of paragraphs long buried inside a remote corner of the sports pages.

Khaliq certainly deserved more than a mere mention of his death.  As the news of the demise of the once fastest man of Asia passed unnoticed so did the state of Pakistan athletics that continues to follow a gradual decline.

Today, on his fifth death anniversary, one can recall the days of Abdul Khaliq – when undoubtedly Pakistan athletics were at their zenith.  With the likes of Ghulam Raziq, Mubarak Shah and Mohammad Iqbal representing the country together, it had been a dream team and one can only yearn for the return of those golden days.

This can also be judged from the fact that in the 24^th National Games in Lahore recently only three national records could be beaten whereas in the late 1950, no less that six Asian record were credited to Pakistan athletes at one time.

Ironically, despite the fact Khaliq won two successive gold medals in the Asian games in the 100 meters, he never had luck on his side in his entire international career that spanned the years from 1954 to 1962.

At the Rome Olympiad, he was nosed out in the quarter-finals on a photo-finish. He had clocked 10.4 seconds, a time which was only bettered y the eventual medalists. His 9.6 seconds for the 100 yards was an All British Games record in Manchester in 1957 and yet he failed to win a single gold medal in the Commonwealth Games for one reason or the other.

His records in the 100 and 200 meters are yet to be surpassed by and player in this country.

Ghulam Raziq was an athlete extraordinaire. The 34-years old Asian champ would certainly have worked miracles had his talent been discovered while he was in his teens. He started his international career after he had passed his prime and yet he remained at the top among the individual medal winners for Pakistan.

Winner of the President’s Medal for Pride of Performance in 1963, Pakistan’s ace hurdler was unaware of his fate in sports even after he had celebrated his 25^th birthday – an age when most athletes start thinking of retirement.

Incredibly, his last national title came at 36 and his timings at this ripe old age are hard to beat even today. His 14.0 second record in the 110 meters hurdles has only once been beaten – by Ghulam Abbas in Lahore in the National Games early this year.

His 14.3 seconds remained a record at the Asian level for quite some time, where he won gold medals in 1958 (Tokyo) and 1966 (Bangkok). He had also won a gold in Perth in the 1962 Commonwealth Games. It was a sort of record that Raziq never knocked down a hurdle in his entire career.

From amongst Khaliq’s other compatriots were Mubarak Shah and Mohammad Iqbal. Mubarak Shah made his debut for Pakistan Army in the International Military Cross Country Championship in Brussels in 1952 and earned national colours for the Athletic Meet in Teheran four years later.

This long distance runner excelled in the 3000 meters steeplechase apart from winning lanrels in 5000 and 10000 meters. In the 1962 Asiad he won two gold medals, each in the then record time. It was not until 1970 that his Asian record was beaten. In all he won three golds and a silver medal in the Asian Games.

Iqbal’s baptism in international athletics came in Helsinki’s Olympics (1952).  A man with a gigantic frame, he had a gold each in the Asiad (1958) and Commonwealth Games (1954) to his credit and at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics he moved up among the top ten of the world.

His best, however, came in the 1960 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Meet where he hurled the hammer to 63.1 meters to create an Asian record. His record at the national level stood for 32 years only to be broken by none other than his own son Aqarab at the 24^th Nationals.

From 1948 – when the Quaid-e-Azam inaugurated the First Pakistan Olympics – to 1993, Pakistan athletics have gone a long way of 45 years but, unfortunately, only a brief period from 1954 to 1960 can rightly be termed as the glorious one in Pakistan athletics history with the Tokyo Asian Games (1958) its peak point.

In Tokyo, Pakistan won 13 medals (5 gold, 4 silver, 4 bronze) not to be compared with the 19 medals won at the 1992 SAF Games.

Sadly enough, today we are more concerned about winning medals at the SAF Games only to beat countries like Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan. With the present state of affairs one can not think of winning a medal at the Olympics but at least dream for the glory of the days of Khaliq, Raziq and Iqbal.

Performances of Pakistan athletes (from 1954 to 1960)Read as competition, gold, silver, bronze, remarks

1.2^nd Asian Games, Manila, 1954 4, 4, 0, all gold medals in Asian records

2. Commonwealth Games, Vancouver, 1954 4, 1, 1 one Commonwealth  record broken

3.  Indo-Pak Dual Meet, New Delhi, 1956 Not available, two Asian record

4.   National Championship, Lahore 1956  -,-,-,  four Asian records

5.   Athletics Training Programme, England, 1956  -,-,-, new British Empire record in Javelin Throw

6.   National Championship, Peshawar, 1958  -,-,-, three Asian records surpassed

7.   3^rd Asiad, Tokyo, 1958  5, 4, 4, -

8.   Commonwealth Games Cardiff, 1958 0,2,2 –

9.   Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Dhaka 1960 -,-,-, three Asian records

10. Olympic Games, Rome, 1960 -,-,-, one athlete finished among top ten of the world.

The News International, March 1993

More of sports in Pakistan

2012 is the Olympic year - Pakistani Athletes at Olympics

A doubtful starter braces a sublime finish

Muhammad Aamir Uppal looks back at the careers of some of Pakistan’s real sporting heroes

“At the twilight of my life, I realize that my services were not properly utilized by the country” lamented Mubarak Shah, Pakistan’s celebrated athlete whom this scribe had a privilege to meet some three months back.  Today he is not more and one realizes how indifferent Pakistan athletics stand today.

Mubarak wanted to leave behind an army of athletes but he could ill afford such an ambitious project in a country where no infrastructure is available and little to keep the adrenaline flowing.

Today, sometime after his death, one can recall his days when undoubtedly Pakistan athletics were at their zenith. With the likes of Ghulam Raziq, Abdul Khaliq, Mohammad Iqbal and Mohammad Nawab representing the country together, it had been a dream team and one can only yearn for the return of those days.

This can also be judged from the fact that in the last five years only three national records could be bettered in the Pakistan National Games whereas in the late1950s no less that six Asian records were credited to Pakistani athletes at one time.

Mubarak Shah had made his debut for Pakistan Army in the International Military Cross Country Championship in Brussels in 1952 and earned national colours for the athletic meet in Tehran four years later.

This long distance runner excelled in the 3000 meters steeplechase apart from wining laurels in the 5000 and 10000 meters races. In the 1962 Asiad he won two gold medals, each in the-then record time. It was not until 1970 that his Asian record was beaten. In all he won three gold and a silver medal in Asian Games.

Ironically, throughout his career, Mubarak remained a doubtful starter for one reason or the other. Most of the times his health had prevented him from participation in some of the major competitions; disqualification for a false start excluded him from the rest. Unfortunately he could never overcome his problems at the starting-point.

Probably, Mubarak’s problem at the starting point owed much to the lack of training facilities available coupled with the lack of confidence that primarily stemmed from his humble background.

Despite all these impediments, Mubarak reigned supreme at the national scene for more than a decade (1954 to 1964). He received the highest civil awards of the Nishan-e-Imtiaz, Governor’s Award, President’s Pride of Performance medal and Presidential Award to list a few.

 Ghulam Raziq was an athlete extraordinaire. The 34-year old Asian champ would certainly have worked miracles had his talent been discovered while he was in his teens. He started his international career after he had passed his prime and yet he remained at the top among the individual medal winners for Pakistan.

Winner of the President’s Medal for Pride of Performance in 1963, Pakistan’s ace hurdler was unaware of his fate in sports even after  he had celebrated his 25^th birthday an age when most athletes start thinking of retirement.

Incredibly, his last national title came at 36 and his timings at this ripe old age are hard to beat even today. His 14.0 sec record in the 110 meters hurdles has only once been beaten, by Ghulam Abbas, so far.

His 14.3 seconds remained a record at the Asian level for quite some time, where he won gold medals in 1958 (Tokyo) and 1966 (Bangkok). He had also won a gold in Perth in the 1962 Commonwealth Games. It was sort of record that Raziq never knocked down a hurdle in his entire career.

From amongst Mubarak’s other compatriots were Abdul Khaliq and Mohammad Iqbal. Abdul Khaliq was undoubtedly the Fastest Man of Asia. Despite the fact that he won two successive gold medals in the Asian Games in the 100 meters, he never had luck on his side in his entire international career that spanned the years from 1954 to 1962.

 At the Rome Olympiad, he was nosed out in the quarter finals in a photo finish. Khaliq had clocked 10.4 seconds,  a time which was only bettered by the eventual medalists. His 9.6 seconds for the 100 yards was an All British Games record at Manchester in 1957 and yet he failed to win a single gold medal in the Commonwealth Games for one reason or the other.

His records in the 100 and 200 meters are yet to be surpassed by any player in this country.

Iqbal’s baptism in international athletics cam in Helsinki’s Olympics (1952).  A man with a gigantic frame, he had a gold each in the Asiad (1956) and Commonwealth Games (1954) to his credit and at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic he moved up among the top ten of the world.

His best, however, came in the 1960 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Meet where he burled the hammer to 63.1 meters to create an Asian record. His record at the national level stood for 32 years only to be broken by none other that his own son Aqarab Abbass at the 24^th National Games in 1992.

From 1948, When the Quaid-e-Azam inaugurated the First Pakistan Olympics, to date Pakistan athletics have gone a long way of 52 years but, unfortunately, only a brief period from 1954  to 1960 can rightly be termed as the glorious one in Pakistan’s athletics history with the Tokyo Asian Games (1958) its peak point.

In Tokyo, Pakistan won 13 medals (5 gold, 4 silver, 4 bronze) not to be compared with the 19 medals won at the 19922 SAF Games.

Sadly enough, today we are more concerned about winning medals at the SAF Games only to beat countries like Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan. With the present state of affairs one cannot think of winning a medal at the Olympics but at least dream about the glory of the days of Khaliq, Raziq and Iqbal.

This Obituary note was originally printed in The News on 1 April 2001 following the death of the legendry Pakistani Athlete.

Aamir Uppal on International Cricket

Larwood Makes A Clean Break From The Adelaide Obsessions

-         Muhammed Aamir Uppal –

-         Pakistani Cricketer (Sept. 1993)

It would have been unthinkable a few decades ago that a cricketer, whose career had been curtailed on the charges of backstabbing on gamesmanship, be awarded the title of Member of the Order of the British Empire. A bowler of intimidatory repute, who could never break away from his 'Bodyline' links, from a vital part of the darkest episode in the history of the game. Lithe and hollow-cheeked Larwood with a medium height never gave the looks of a fast bowler at first sight when he entered big-time cricket in 1925. But it was his perfectly-balanced run-up that gave him accuracy of the highest degree in his bowling. Despite the fact that his accuracy and perfectly copybook style enabled him to derive lethal pace, it was not until he became the effective instrument of Douglas Jardine's Bodyline ploy that success came to him. Earlier, his only major success had also been in Australia, when accompanying A.P.F. Chapman's side of 1928-29, he had match figures of 8-62 and remarkable contributions of 70 and 37 with the bat in the first Test at Brisbane. On the much talked-about 1932-33 tour Down Under he shared the ball with 'Gubby' Allen and Bill Voce. Larwood's short and fast ball coupled with occasional yorkers became so devastating that even a batsman of Don Bradman's calibre failed to maintain his average. But then all this had been made possible only due to the negative tactics of Jardine which Larwood effectively employed. Larwood took 33 wickets in five Tests at 19.51 apiece and in the last match at Sydney hammered his career-best (98) as nightwatchman but, by the end of the series, irreparable damage had been done to the game. So much so that the diplomatic rela- tions between the two countries had come to the breaking point and it also put an end to his career. Many English experts still maintain his ouster from Test cricket has more to do with an in- jury on his left foot than the bitterness of the Australian tour. It might be unwise to repeat his side of the story after 60 years but one wonders success in the Bodyline remains the only 'high' point in Larwood's career. His 33 wickets form nearly 40% of his tally in Test matches. Has he been honored for this reason only? Has English cricket really run short of its cricketing immortals or are they on their way to set new traditions? Who comes next on the list...Mike Gatting or the vaseline hero John Lever? No question, England and Australia had always remained torch bearers of cricket's great traditions but, unfortunately, players from the two sides also remain the planners of all the shameful moves in the history of the game.

Career Highlights: Name: Harold Larwood Tests: 21 Wickets: 78 (avg. 28.35) Best Bowling: 6-32 v Australia, Brisbane, 1928-29. Highest Score: 98 v Australia, Sydney, 1932-33. Career Wickets: 1427 (avg. 17.51) Best Career Bowling: 9-41 Notts v Kent, Trent Bridge, 1931. Best Career Score: 102* Notts v Sussex, Trent Bridge, 1931. 

This article was written after British Monarch honored Harold Larwood as  Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1993.

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