Tazeen Akhtar
Intellectual property theft is common in Pakistan. Creation is not the cup of tea of everyone. Unfortunately it is happening in nowhere else than at the top level department of Pakistan that is responsible for the publication of , not only the books of authors and researchers but the curriculum books for the students as well. One can easily imagine how worst the state of affairs is at this department called National Book Foundation cum National Text Book Board.
IPR violation has been noticed in this organization is related to the publication of two story books for children. NBF have collected stories from different authors. These books consist of stories of children from different countries. Two such books have been published so far.
Interesting as well as unfortunate is the books have been published with the names on title of those writers who have authored not a single story inside these books. These two “authors” are Akhtar Raza Saleemi and Adil Riaz. The books carry their names on the title as compilers.
Akhtar Raza Saleemi is known poet in the literary circles of Islamabad Rawalpindi.He was not supposed to take credit of other’s work in the name of compilation. How much work is needed to gather few stories in the shape of a book that the compiler is credited this way? Both Akhtar Raza Saleemi and Adil Riaz should think upon it.
Both books consist of 16 stories each. One book includes 5 stories translated by Nasar Malik , selected from children’s literature in Indonesia, Angola, Australia and Albania. The second book contains 4 stories selected and translated by Nasar Malik from children’s literature in Afghanistan, Germany, Philippines, and Morocco.
Moreover one story authored by Nasar Malik of Denmark has been published with the name of lady in one of these two books.It is the story of Sri Lankan children “Maha Deena Mutta” that has been translated by Nasar Malik and attributed to a lady.
Now see here, the “compilers” are taking credit by giving their names on the title as if all stories have been authored by them , and practically they can not proof the matter even. Or it has been done deliberately to oblige the lady?
Here it is worth recalling our news story in Aug 2021 during COVID-19 about the highly irresponsible actions of the Managing Director of this department. Mr. Mazhar Hameed, the MD is the selection of PTI government. He remained away from his duties in the month of Aug 2021. It was the peak of Corona in Pakistan. Later it was revealed by insiders that he was Corona Positive during the month of Aug. On return , he did not sanitize his own office as well as the building of NBF.
Moreover the MD did not obey the directions of NCOC about 50% presence during Corona. MD strictly ordered all staff to be present. And himself vanished for the whole month.
NBF is publishing the books to oblige the favorites only since long. Merit is the least thing to be taken care of in selection of the drafts of the books for publication. NBF continuously publishes the books authored by the big names only to please them and throws away the drafts of those who do not have lobby or big position. One can easily see this favoritism in the list of publications by the NBF.
MD National Book Foundation Violating Corona SoPs – 100 % Presence of Staff – Kept his own Corona + Secret
