Memoirs and gossip: A former bureaucrat shares his experience of working with the govt

Autobiography takes into account the history and problems of Sindh.


Hafeez Tunio December 26, 2011

KARACHI: As a child, Fazlullah Qureshi used to adore playing with clay toys and mud. Now, at age 70, the former bureaucrat is brimming with new ideas and creativity with an amazing memory. 

Referred to as a ‘living encyclopedia’ at an event organised to launch his autobiography, Kujh Yadoon Kujh Galhiyoon [Memoirs and gossip], published by the Sindhica Academy, talks about everything you need to know about Sindh – the people, the landscape and the problems it faces. According to Dr Suleman Shaikh, the founder of the Sindh Graduate Association, the book is a brief yet important write-up on the history of the province from 1947 to 1980.

In these memoirs, Qureshi has tried to portray the social landscape of Sindh, while providing a brief account of different problems, issues faced by the people of Sindh.

Known as Fazal to family and friends, he started his career as a civil servant in the 1960s that continued till his retirement as a federal secretary in 2005. His elder sister, R N Qureshi, spoke about his commitment to Sindh. She said that as a child he used to love the Indus River and played with clay toys because it reminded him of the wet land along the body of water.

Born in November, 1940 in Sukkur, the bureaucrat studied at the Islamia College and went on to the University of Sindh. He also attended the University of Glasgow and the Institute for Social and Economic Development in Washington.

After completing his education, he worked for the provincial government and severed as the planning and development secretary and additional chief secretary Sindh before moving on to the federal government where he worked as the vice-chairperson for the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority. He has witnessed the country go through good  and bad times, from General Ayub Khan to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to Nawaz Sharif and General Pervez Musharraf.

Speaking on the occasion, Fazlullah Qureshi recalled the economic progress Sindh made in British era. He said “there is no precedent of economic growth of Sindh from 1937 to 1955 when total population of the province was around 6 million.”  He, however, added that Sindh suffered a major loss when Hindus left the province for India.

He said that Sindh not only paid its all outstanding dues to the British government, but developed its infrastructure including barrages and canals. “The Kotri Barrage is evidence of this development,” he said.

Qureshi, who had spent most of his life in the Sindh statistics and planning department, said that Sindh suffered a big loss due to the Indus Water Treaty in 1960 under which eastern rivers of Pakistan --Sutlej, Beas and Ravi -- were handed over to India. He regretted that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto as a cabinet member in the Ayub government “played a key role in negotiations.” After the Indus Treaty, the Punjab government constructed the Chashma and Jehlum Link canals and took Sindh’s share of the water too, he said.

Responding to a question about Sindh’s share in the natural resources, Qureshi said that Sindh produces 70 per cent of the country’s gas and oil and consumes nearly 40 per cent whereas Punjab produced only five per cent and used more than 60 per cent. In his book he also mentioned some of his disagreements with other bureaucrats and cabinet members over their dealings with Sindh. The first volume of the book has 504 pages and is an objective analysis of Sindh with official facts and figures, the Financial Commission Award (1975 to 1976), water treaties and martial law in Sindh.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27th, 2011.

COMMENTS (3)

mansoor laghari | 12 years ago | Reply sir fazal quereshi no doubt,remained renowned officer who always tried his best for development for sindh, he has vast experince of serving in civil service as additional secretary planing department, and later in nepra, now , whenever he is asked a question on tv chanels on technical issues he elaborate them very easily, no doubt, his book would be source of knowledge on history and ups and downs of countr.
Makhdoom S.F.Qureshi | 12 years ago | Reply

Having known Mr.Qureshi for almost four decades, he, certainly, without any doubt, has contributed to an unprecedented extent towards the welfare, well-being as well as socio-economic and political up-lift of the Sindhis; from official as well as non-government fora.

An altruistic, honest (to an unbelievable extent), very learned, qualified & a seasoned economist/technocrat/philinthropist Mr.Qureshi has left no stone unturned while crusading for the legitimate rights of Sindh; unfortunately, systematically looted, plundered by the refugees so-called/self-proclaimed ruling elite backed by the Punjabi dominated civil & military establishment right from the day of Pakistan's borthday when they annexed Karachi as capital of Pakistan and usurped Sindh government surplus budget funds, properties etc. and allotted evacuee properties, jobs between the refugees, mostly with fake claims, testimonials, degrees, etc. etc. etc. while totally depriving and denying sons of the soil of their ligit rights.

A stunning treatise of historical events, Mr.Qureshi's autobiography presents a fish eye view of developments in different arenas of the country, and has analysed the same with professional acumen.

A must read for every consentious, literate and nationalist Sindhi and Sindh's well-wisher.

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