There are such individuals in Pakistani society who have demonstrated an amazing, inspiring and dogged commitment to their professional interests and passionate causes -- for reasons that reflect the larger societal goals that they have pursued.
And perhaps success has not come their way, as it has to others. But these men and women have been undeterred, and their drive and determination almost unstoppable, I have in mind, Syed Aziz Agha, when I say this.
Now I have known him for three decades as a never say die sport fishing promoter, a saltwater fishing guide, environmentalist, photographer, free lance journalist, and writer. I have heard him through all these years as he has battled against assorted power groups, and argued his heart out against vested interest lobbies that are entrenched in the fishing world, and the marine life and environment that we have.
It would be, honestly speaking, very difficult to determine how much of inner satisfaction Aziz Agha (now 55 years old) has for all that he has done all his life for a cause that has not many such vocal protagonists. But there is one reason that has made him very happy indeed. This is the publication of a unique book that he has written, and published this year, and which was launched at a more than impressive ceremony at a hotel, appropriately chosen for its location near the Creek Club.
The 200 page book, is "A guide to Saltwater Sportfishing in Pakistan." It is not only very readable, but there are exciting, dramatic and informative photographs that reflect the subject that the book is about. But it is not a tourist's approach to the subject that Aziz Agha has. It is a book that makes the reader contemplate the serious and grim issues that characterise the profile of marine environment - and at one point in the book he describes it as "frightening." Syed Aziz Agha is a very engaging and untiring speaker on this subject of fishing and marine environment and related fields and dimensions.
In a recent conversation he listed three main problems that are faced in this field. Firstly, there is overfishing, secondly, there is excessive illegal netting, and thirdly there is a very disturbing level of marine pollution. Where does the marine pollution come from? He said that untreated sewerage from the Lyari and the Malir rivers were major sources of this pollution. And on each of these points he can speak at any time, with enthusiasm laced with an agitated state of mind. There has always been a sustained protest in how he looks at what is happening on this scene.
But now, I suspect, he also realises that his has been a rather lonely battle. But then that is often the way with serious causes that one espouses and upholds. I wonder if that is what someone called the loneliness of the long distance runner. In Agha's case, in three decades I have been a quiet witness to the names and faces that have changed in the canvass of his life. But he has remained steadfast in his cause for a better marine environment.
He believes that "if we learn to live in harmony with the marine habitat, it will help retain our marine resources...our ocean is not a bottomless cornucopia". He goes on to contend that "we anglers along with nature lovers and conservationists have a positive role to play if we are to protect and preserve whatever is left of our marine environment, which is Nature's gift to the citizens of Karachi.
Let us join hands and create a lot of noise where necessary, against the abuse of the marine environment. Nature reminds us how important marine resources are and that its availability is not unlimited."
From here my conversation with Agha moved to the availability of seafood in Karachi - this bustling port city. He was very candid when he said that almost all the seafood available in Karachi is unsafe and unfit for human consumption - as it is "polluted." For those who like seafood this is bad news. But then this veteran sportfishing champion suggests that the best fish is available at the Empress Market in Saddar. The reason for this is that the foreigners residing in Karachi visit that market regularly and the traders there ensure that acceptable standards are maintained there, he explains.
One of the compliments that the book carries about Aziz Agha is from the President of the International Game Fish Association, Rob Kramer. He says, "As the world's leader in recreational fishing and game fishing conservation, IGFA is proud of the work that our International Representative Syed Aziz Agha is accomplishing in Pakistan. We now have 325 representatives in over 120 countries around the world. These individuals, like Syed Aziz Agha are working in their local communities to make a difference. His organisation, Agha's Sportfishing provides a very effective media to inform anglers on what they can do to help preserve the fishing resources for future generations. We must not be discouraged when we see threats to the resources we love and enjoy."
There was a time when the performance and reputation of the Kesc was better than that of the Wapda. No more. That I write this column in the middle of a power failure in the vicinity of this newspaper's office is just one way of relating to the city wide power crisis that has got aggravated -- with more system failures within the Kesc. Karachi, in June 2007, is in the middle of another nightmare.
In a way, Kesc is perhaps helping the Cable Operators Association of Pakistan with its power failures. The association has warned TV channels that it will stop telecast of channels and programmes that do not meet the norms and standards that it has set.
But that is another issue. Karachi has suffered two months of power shortage, reflected through its power failures and loadshedding. A disturbing aspect of this is that there has been just about no energy conservation either in Karachi or elsewhere in the land of the "pure." In localities battling darkness, neon signs and shopping centres have been glowing, either because of Kesc or the generators that have become integral to the power scene.
I was talking to a political science teacher last week who was unwilling to be upset at the power crisis in Kesc. He was more anxious and even depressed about the power crisis that is reflected in the ban on the private TV channels. That power crisis is what I am focused on, he said sadly. And then added, " Why don't more people write about it?
AND FROM MR. DOUBT COMES THIS BIT OF INFORMATION:
"Why did you walk out in the middle of my speech"? demanded the company chairman of one of his senior executives. "It was a very important meeting of the shareholders and you chose the crucial moment to walk out when I had been speaking for only forty-five minutes." "I am sorry, sir" replied the senior executive, "but it wasn't anything personal. I was just sleep walking."
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