KARACHI: Former director general of ports and shipping Abdul Malik Ghauri has been appointed the new chief editor of the Urdu Dictionary Board. With the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Sept 8 ordering the federal and provincial governments to take measures to promote Urdu as the official language, Mr Ghauri said when he was offered the position in the light of the apex court`s decision he had no hesitation in accepting it as he knew the ropes. `I was told that we [the Establishment Division] cannot find any suitable man and if I could take the helm. Since I have never turned down a request, I consented,` he explained.

When pointed out that his predecessors had been eminent lexicographers and literary personalities such asMaulvi Abdul Haq, Dr Abdul Lais Siddiqui and Dr Farman Fatehpuri, he said: `I have never considered myself as abureaucratorbehavedlike one.

`Besides, I have close links with the literati. Moreover, I understand rules and procedures of government departments as I have 25 years of work experience in Karachi administration.

Mr Ghauri, who assumed the editorship charge nearly a month ago, told Dawn that the Urdu Dictionary Board planned to take out a concise dictionary within a few months. It also intended to reprint some out-of-print volumes of the 22-volume Urdu dictionary, he said, adding that plans were under way to make an advisory council comprising literary personalities who could contribute to the board.

Established in 1958 by the federal ministry of education, the Urdu Dictionary Board was then known as the Urdu Development Board (UrduTaraqqi Board) and its name was finally changed to Urdu Dictionary Board in 1982.

Till 2007, the board fell under the federal ministry of education, but after the passing of the 18th constitutional amendment, it now comes under the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage.

From September 2012 to September 2015, Mohammad Arif, resident engineer of the Quaid-i-Azam Mazar Management Board, was holding the additional position of chief editor at the Urdu Dictionary Board.

Dr Rauf Parekh, former chief editor of the dictionary board from 2003-07, was of the opinion that the government actually had no interest in the promotion of the Urdu language. `By appointing such people it intends to destroy such institutions.` he said.

Prof Sahar Ansari, former chief editor of the Urdu Dictionary Board from1998-2000, said: `They should have chosen someone who has a degree in language or linguistics. A word buff who understands nuances and connotations of a particular word.

What about rumours that non-relevant persons are being deputed to the board because it sits on prime land? `Yes, it is deliberately being done. I have always heard that it is a white elephant and can be utilised for something else,` said Prof Ansari.

22-volume dictionary Sadly, he said the efforts of all those diligent and conscientious scholars and lexicographers who put together the 22-volume Urdu dictionary after toiling for more than 50 years had never been properly acknowledged or celebrated at government level. `There has never been any appreciation,` he lamented.

`Such dictionaries exist only inEnglish, German and Arabic,` said Dr Parekh.

Former and current employees of the board also despair over the state of affairs. According to them, working under people who do not possess relevant qualification is demotivating.

Naturally this raises the question why are qualified persons not being hired for the post? According to sources, there are two main reasons: budget and pay scale.

Earlier, the board was an autonomous institution that received a generous budget and thus they were able to purchase paper and ink on their own and not get entangled in bureaucratic red tape.

The budget was reduced to Rs100,000 a month that was spent on salaries and maintenance of the building, the sources said.

Speaking to Dawn, Mr Ghauri acknowledged this problem and saidthat he had written to the prime minister and requested a budget increase.

`We need money to buy paper and ink so that we can get work done for which we have been appointed,` he claimed.

Another issue that deterred qualified people from taking up the position was the government pay scale or BPS, the sources said. `When I was offered the position, I was told that I would be appointed as grade-20 officer, a payscale that I already have,` said a former chief editor. In other words, qualified people are unwilling to take up the position that does not offer them attractive salary or has no budget for the work they would like to undertake.

Asked if there was any way the situation could be salvaged, Dr Parekh said: `We need a forceful personality such as Jamiluddin Aali [he passed away on Monday]whosavedtheUrduDictionary Board from many such challenges in the past.