Interest free Banking

Published by VIEWPOINT (Lahore, October 08, 1978)
Written by Muhammad Tufail Mirza


A Lot has so far been written on interest free banking, but much of it, written by different financial institutions and economic experts, smacks of hollow appreciation and does not indicate any practical measure for the successful introduction of interest free banking.
The prevalent socio-economic system is centuries old, and in it the only incentive for the depositor of money has been saving and profit. Nobody likes to invest money unless he has a clear understanding that his investment will bring him profit. Islam denounced the evil of interest because it stood for the creation of a society which may be free from avarice and blind greed for money.
The need is to change the entire economic structure based on greed and avarice. How can it be just that the banks are allowed to invest public money in profit-yielding business and the depositors are advised not to share the profits on the ground that it is interest?
To do away with interest on money, new incentives in the shape of encouragement to small business concerns should be offered to the investors where the public may invest. The solution lies in proper and sincere planning through which a person may invest his money, and receive maximum guarantee for security and profit.

By Muhammad Tufail Mirza.

Women Teachers

Published by VIEWPOINT (Lahore January 29, 1978)
Written by Muhammad Tufail Mirza

A great deal of space in the daily papers and periodicals is devoted to women teachers' problems. Probably not a single day passes when we do not learn about their poor plight.
The men teachers get their problems resolved with a little moving about. But the women teachers fail even to receive their salaries in time. The are treated brutally by the male clerical staff. We are, perhaps, not conscious of the obligations which drive our mothers, sisters and daughters to travel miles to educate our young generation. After a month's hard work when they find their purses empty as ever, it is natural for them to get frustrated and discouraged.
The Education department is meant to ensure smooth working of the educational institutions under its administration. This is the responsibility of the teachers and not the clerical or executive staff. Part of the task of the secretarial staff is to arrange payment of emoluments to the teaching staff.
The second factor responsible for delay in the disbursal of pay and other amounts is the appointment of fresh and inexperienced headmistresses fail to prepare bills and submit them in time.
Some of the problems the women teachers in Lahore are facing include the following:

1. They have not yet received their December pay. The excuse is that their service books are not complete.
2. Teachers of grade 8 and above have not received the dues for the month of June 1977.
3. The have not received the arrears of their teaching allowance for September 1976 to April 1977 (Eight months).
4. Recreation allowance for the year 1977 has not been paid to them.
5. The arrears of enhanced allowances (House Rent, Transportation and big city allowance) have not yet been paid. 

These are only a few irregularities I could find. The matter does not end here. A serious probe will reveal a lot more.

By Muhammad Tufail Mirza.

Education Policy

Published by VIEWPOINT  (Lahore, November 05, 1978)
Written by Muhammad Tufail Mirza

THIRTY ONE years have passed since the creation of Pakistan and still 80 percent of its peoples are illiterate. We can blame it on a defective education policy, but our administrative set-up is equally responsible for it. A country may have an unquestionable education policy, but it will bear fruit only if the departments responsible to its implementation are properly structured.
At present, we have an office of Director, Public Instruction, in each Province with Directorates at the divisional level and offices in districts.
Direct concern with school education is that of District Education office. The administrative staff of these offices have the least taste for education. The teachers, particularly lady teachers, are harassed and tormented. The salaries are never paid regularly. They have to waste days and months for their petty jobs like transfers, preparation of service books and grant of leave. It is difficult to expect them to devote undivided attention to education.
Next come the preparation of syllabus and books and them the training of the in-service teachers. These tasks, if handled properly, will definitely have a solid and educative impact on the younger generation.
Under the new education policy, considerable provision has been made for various kinds of vocational training. This will definitely attract more students, reducing the rate of illiteracy besides making the trainees successful citizens prepared for harsh realities of life.
Islamiat as been made compulsory from the Primary to the University level and this is most welcome step for a Muslim nation. Intermediate classes have been annexed with high schools. So, there will now be three stages elementary education, secondary education and university education.

By Muhammad Tufail Mirza.

Police Reform

Published by VIEWPOINT (Lahore July 1, 1979)
Written by Muhammad Tufail Mirza

LAYING the foundation stone of an exemplary Police officials to win the confidence of the public. The police force is undoubtedly the backbone of civil administration, but unfortunately, owing to corruption mingled with terror, the general public is afraid of getting anywhere near police officials.
During the British rule over the Indian sub-continent, the police were employed to terrorise the people of this region so as to keep a tight hold on the Government. But even after independence, the police continued to be an alien force. The disease has gone so chronic that mere advice can have no effect upon the old police officials who consider "Danda" and "Lathi" as the only resort for the free nation. If we are serious in reorganising the entire structure of this department, we shall have to retire all those old officials who can by no means be changed. As compensation such officials should be paid full pension. The in-service training courses should be conducted regularly so as to impart a new spirit to the young officials. The Inspector General Police Punjab is definitely sincere in making positive reforms in the police department. But favourable results can only accrue if the curriculum for training is entirely changed and the police officials are induced to imbibe a purely Islamic spirit. Strict action should be takedn against all those officials who resort to inhuman ways and terrorise the gentle people. Professional and regular criminals should be treated differently from the persons who were never required by this agency and miserably involved in baseless cases for the first time.

By Muhammad Tufail Mirza.

Agrarian Economy

Published by VIEWPOINT (Lahore, May 21,1978)
Written by Muhammad Tufail Mirza.

ONE hopes agriculture will get top priority in our new financial budget which is expected to be out in a few weeks' time.
Thirty-four million acres of land in our country is irrigated by canal and out of this cultivated land 28 million acres is menaced with salinity. According to our experts, the country is losing 15 acres of land under water and salinity every hour. Sind is the main sufferer, and according to experts the province may turn into a lake before long. A special report in 1973 on the future prospects of our agricultural lands had disclosed that during the next twenty years our land would be so much exhausted that it would stop giving produce. It is frightening prospect. But we have taken no steps for the proper cultivation of barani areas. The Barani Land Commission setup by the previous Government prepared a working paper containing certain valuable recommendations. An important observation made by the commission, based on the work of experimental farms in the districts of Attock and Rawalpindi, showed that the barani lands can give three times more produce.
Twenty Eight million acres out of 34 million acres cultivated under canal system is, to varying degree, going waste under water and salinity. It means only six million acres of land is free from disease. Woul it not be proper, therefore, to concentrate on planing for the betterment of barani lands which seem to be our future hope.
Barani lands need water which can be provided by installing more and more tube-wells and constructing small dams. The Punjab Government recently appointed a high-powered Barani Implementation Committee, under a military officer. If the Agriculture Department allowed this committee a free hand, and proper funds are allocated for the coming financial year, the Committee may produce a useful report.

By Muhammad Tufail Mirza.

Urban Transport

Published: VIEWPOINT (LAHORE, May 06,1979)
Written by Muhammad Tufail Mirza

OUR problems are so many in number that if we start counting them, we may, perhaps, fail to complete the list. However, despite frustrations in the past experienced in moving the authorities to action, I cannot but raise the transport issue again and again. Big cities like Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi are worst hit by transport problems. Karachi is lucky to have at least the facility of private transporters, but in Lahore and other big cities, the Urban Transport has full monopoly. This autonomous department enjoys absolute powers, and yet it is always grumbling about losses, And why should it not run in loss when from conductor to high-ranking officer, everyone tampers with the income of this department? It is no more secret that only a small part of the daily income goes into the Corporation's kitty. 
It has become almost a tradition that when we talk of corruption in any department, the department concerned asks us to hold our tongue by putting a questions if there is any department which can claim to be free from corruption and, thus, the objection is filed. We can only regret at this callous attitude. One can reform on self only by realizing one's shortcomings and by self-criticism. 
A private transporter, even in the presence of high competition, earns enough not only to richly feed his family but adds to his fleet of buses every year. Along with other expenses, they have to please the traffic police with undue gratification, whereas the Urban Transport has no such problem. One thing very interesting I am reminded of here is that the Government has forbidden the private transporters to ply their buses for local purposes, but the district authorities with the gracious help of traffic police have given a free rein to the transporters who ply buses on Lahore-Kasur route, who transgress all laws and norms of human behavior. They enjoy every facility even at the risk of human dignity and life. This is the only route where even tickets are not issued, and conductors bravely break laws.
Coming back to Urban Transport, the public has at least the right to question if this department is short of funds and is always running in loss. Why does it not give its business to the private transporters on a control and commission basis? In this way it will not only save itself from the danger of loss, but will stand to profit also. The collection of toll tax at Ravi and such other bridges is in private hands, and the Government gets the lump sum amount in advance. Can't we try this experience, providing remedy to the urban transport and alleviation transport problems of the general public?   

By Muhammad Tufail Mirza.

Small Industries

Small Industries

The poor working of corporations and autonomous bodies has forced the Punjab Government to consider whether or not to disband some of these. The develop rural and semi rural areas it was decided to stimulate small-scale industries here. A run-fledged independent organisation small industries Corporation was established. Despite all its ills this Corporation has been looking after the promotion of the carpet industry and the provision of technical services to leather, metallurgy, ceramics light engineering, cutlery, sports goods, rubber and plastic industries.

When we talk of exports we can not ignore the fact that 35 percent of the total exports depend on goods manufactured by our small industries. Even our Planning Commission has admitted the importance of small industrial units. The Commission has made certain recommendations in its report for 1975-80. The CMLA had issued a directive to the provincial governments stressing the importance and role of small industries in improving the economy of the country. Moreover, We cannot close our eyes to the repercussions feared if this Corporation was actually disbanded. These are: wide unemployment (remember 75 percent of our industrial labor is working in small industries; frustration to the small investors; sudden fall in industrial production).

It is hoped that the Punjab Government will take measures to improve the working of Small industries Corporation rather than closing it down altogether.

This article written by Muhammad Tufail Mirza in VIEW POINT (Lahore June 18, 1978)