Why I Began Paper Making in Pakistan

``Shukria`` (Thank You!) Tajima San (Sahib) from the bottom of my heart for your efforts in the areas of paper production and the promotion of literacy in Pakistan.

Ras

(And just in passing, while you visited Adiala
jail, you may have run across one of its (current?)occupants who is an old friend and former PPP MNA Naveed Qamar who ironically also had aspirations of educating people in our country of origin.)

Re: Zahra

It is Mr Tajima Shinji.

``The most effective means to reform a social structure wherein rich become ever richer and the poor ever poorer can be achieved only through the provision of basic education and the development of functional literacy for all the people in Pakistan in the 21st Century.``


Thank you for spelling out the crux of the matter!

I just read your article yesterday after I finished ordering my UNICEF Cards` stock for the new season. It was a great timing :-)!

PS: Chowk Staff:
It`s hard to figure out if it`s Mr. or Ms. Shinji? Had you clearly stated that in the intro then it would have been a great help. Also, is there an email address to Mr. or Ms. Shinji?

Thanks in advance!

Non-availability of Paper could be ONE of the causes of underdevelopment in Pakistan. The problem that is causing non-delivery of instructional material to schools is the in-efficient and corrupt system of school and education management. By the way, this disease is not only common in Pakistan -- all developing countries are suffering from it. In 90% of the drop-out cases the reason cited is ``can`t afford to buy books and uniforms``.

Some ways to solve the issue of non-availability of instructional (redaing/writing) material in classrooms are:

1) Get rid of the provincial textbook boards - it is there where the real corruption starts;

2) Textbook publishing should be privatized;

3) Local NGOs should be contracted to deliver the textbooks and other materials to schools every year; Involving local bus owners who have transportation services between villages may also be a good idea to deliver books to far off villages;

4) District education offices should be made to function as ``post-offices`` only where the commuication takes place between different partners (this is what they are doing anyhow - just take the money out of their hands);

5) Make village education committees responsible for ensuring that each and every child in school has access to paper/books/notebooks.

Terrific!

Wishing you all success.

Regards.

Dear Tajima,

Wellcome to chowk !Your article was indeed very heartening.What a great idea to start this project.My sincere prayers are with you and your colleagues, that the project continues to flourish, and the level of literacy in our country benefits greatly from this .It would be so nice to see that happen. It has been one of my dreams for Pakistan.

Well done , and all the best !

Shirin

Thank you :)

Some more facts...

http://www.yale.edu/jie/u97f5a.htm

I. Title: Paper and Paperboard

Rank of Sector: (III)

Name of Sector: Paper and Paperboard

ITA Industry Code: PAP

II. Comments: The United States has in recent years become a

major supplier of pulp to the Pakistan market, and in PFY-98 is

estimated to have supplied approximately 5,000 metric tons of

chemical wood pulp, or over 12 pct. of the country`s total pulp

imports. The U.S. share is expected to increase to 20 pct. of

the total import market for pulp because of the price

competitiveness of its softwood pulp. Major competitors are

Canada, Sweden, France and Indonesia.

The size of the newsprint market is estimated to have diminished

by nearly 13 percent in PFY-98 to approximately 61,000 metric

tons, but the overall value of imports has remained fairly

constant. Printers and publishers have commenced using

locally-produced writing and printing papers, which are both

lower in price and superior in quality to imported newsprint.

Recent major suppliers are Russia, Brazil and New Zealand.

Local production meets the bulk of the country`s requirements for

waste paper, as well as for both coated and uncoated paper.

Pakistan produces approximately 100,000 metric tons of waste

paper per annum. The import market for this commodity has

increased from 21,000 to 30,000 metric tons this fiscal year.

Pakistan`s paper and paper-board production increased in recent

years with the establishment of new mills and the expansion of

existing plants. Additionally, the superior quality of imported

materials and the relatively small price difference between local

products and imported materials have established a market

preference for imports. The most promising sub-sectors for U.S.

exports are: Softwood pulp and specialty papers.

III. Data Table:

U.S. MILLIONS 1995/96 1996/97 1997/98

D. Total market size 277.90 255.23 325.46

E. Total local production 144.72 155.75 185.5

F. Total exports 0.98 0.90 0.00

G. Total imports 134.16 100.38 139.96

H. Total imports from U.S. 35.00 22.00 15.75

I. Exchange rate (Rupees/$) 33.60 39.10 42.40

N.B. The above statistics are unofficial estimates for Pakistan

Fiscal Years (PFY), July-June.

______________

Aisha F Sarwari

Thank you and the people of Japan for their care and concern for of and for peoples of Pakistan. Could not agree with you more on the need for universal basic education in Pakistan. Can sufficient volumes of paper be created for this to be a viable option for school children from poor families? How long does the process take? Do school children have to spend time (how much time) to gather the raw materials to maufacture paper. What is the quality of hand made paper? How long will it last?

Again, My sincere gratitude for your and nation`s commitment to advance and betterment of disadvantaged Pakistanis.