THIS is apropos the report ‘Confucius comes to Karachi’ (March 7) and letters by Tariq Khoso and Manik Meer about the Chinese language project. I feel sorry to see that the project, for which I worked really hard, is in the doldrums. The Chinese language project was launched on the directive of the then president Asif Ali Zardari.

I was appointed consultant for the project by the Sindh government and my services were placed at the disposal of the education department.

The work done during one year of my contract included meetings with numerous government and semi-government organisations. I translated classroom charts from English to Chinese, Sindhi and Urdu, selected government teachers on merit to be trained as master trainers.

I selected schools for children where Chinese was to be taught, and coordinated between the Chinese embassy/consulate and Karachi University, as well as the University of Sindh, to set up Confucius institutes.

I visited the NUML, HEC, Chinese embassy and the Foreign Office to obtain scholarships from the Chinese government for master trainers and collected books and material for teaching.

I also wrote a book on Chinese language learning in Chinese, English, Sindhi and Urdu to facilitate young learners. It is available at many bookstores.

In fact, my services were hired for one year. But before its expiry, I was recommended for extension for two years in October 2012 but it was not approved for reasons best known to the authorities.

Now the department has advertised for the same post, i.e. consultant and, subsequently, for the project director of Chinese language for which I applied. However, the vacancies have not been filled so far.

The education department should look into it.

Faiz Mohammed Khoso

Ex-ambassador & consultant,

Chinese language project

Karachi