Iqbal Saleh Muhammad welcomes textbook regulatory authority; opposes conflict of interest

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Iqbal Saleh Muhammad, an eminent publisher and bookseller, has welcomed the idea of forming an authority to regulate the contents of textbooks but at the same time he has strongly opposed a possible conflict of interest.

“It’s fine to have a regulatory body to monitor the contents of textbooks but the same body should not be mandated to publish these books because it will lead to conflict of interest which must be avoided in the larger national interest,” the Managing Director of Paramount Books pointed out during a television talk show aired recently. 

“In the past there used to be an organization by the name of National Book Council. Founded in early 1960s, it was being headed by the great Ibne Insha for many years. After acquiring the skill set from developed countries like England and Japan, they facilitated and trained the publishers and booksellers. It was a golden era for publishing and bookselling in the country,” he recalled. 

He didn’t mince words in stating that publishing books was not the cup of tea for every Tom, Dick or Harry, adding that only those having the understanding, experience and expertise of the profession could deliver the goods. 

“Everyone cannot publish high quality books just by assembling a group of authors and engaging some illustrators. Publishing is a thinking job. Only experienced and talented publishers can be expected to produce quality books,” he explained.

Iqbal Saleh Muhammad, whose company Paramount Books has been in business for the past 72 years, regretted that they have had to engage raw hands who needed on-job training in the absence of institutions who could teach editing or book production.

He dispelled the impression that professional publishers committed far too many errors or mistakes in their books.

“Professional publishers have a system of self-regulation. They treat the manuscript submitted by the authors and subject specialists with utmost respect and care. A full process, in which a number of meetings and discussions take place, is in place before any book comes out. Obviously it’s humanly not possible to bring out a book which is completely error-free but they are just minor errors which are removed in revised editions,” he clarified.

The same talk show, hosted by senior journalist Aamir Zia, was also participated by Aziz Khalid, Chairman, Pakistan Publishers & Booksellers Association (PPBA), and Javed Jabbar, a former federal minister and advisor of National Curriculum Council, who bitterly criticized the recent decision of the Punjab Curriculum & Textbook Board (PCTB) to have banned around 100 textbooks in the province without serving notices to the publishers.