"Welcome to Gold Mine International. GMI helps you build a profitable, home-based business. Currently, there's a vast amount of interest in work-at-home programmes, so now is the time to get in and start building your business. In GMI, the work you do now will provide residual income for you and your family for years to come. Once you've chosen a business plan, you'll need to promote it. Please feel free to use the resources on this site and good luck with your business. If you're looking for an honest online business opportunity, GMI is the best choice."

The above is the mission statement of GMI, a Norway-based gold company that has garnered a lot of attention from Pakistani youth, particularly Karachi. These young people market the company's products for which they are paid. "I think this is a blessing and I might take it up as a business in the near future as it is safe and profitable," M. Osama Mahmood, one of the regular investors of GMI and a B.Com student told Kolachi. Osama, along with countless other people, are working for GMI and are attracting more and more people to invest in it.

Explaining how he came to know about GMI, Osama said that since "the company is based on network marketing, the owners of GMI don't market their product officially so people learn about it through word of mouth. I used to work at a call centre as a CSR when a friend told me about GMI. At the time, I thought it was a scam." A year later, however, Osama's friends from his neighbourhood gave him a GMI presentation, explaining how the scheme works. "And this is how I was convinced that an investment of $60 is not a useless investment at all," he adds.

Osama explains that all the members are required to do is pay half the price of a gold product that costs $60 (Rs4,800). "Once you have done that, you're part of the GMI network. You then have to grow your tree by getting six more people to invest," he explains. In essence, one is required to get one investor under one's tree and then that investor is required to get one and so on and so forth. "You get $30 (Rs2,400) in your account after a completing a set of six members under your tree. It is never-ending…the more the members, the more the money."

GMI is fast becoming a trend among university and college-going students who want to make some extra money without being a burden on their parents. "My parents give me transport fare, lunch money as well as money for cell phone credit, but you still need money for recreation," says Faizan Rehman, a student of Sir Syed University, who is another active member of this 'money-making scheme'. Students like Faizan argue that it is hard to ask parents for money all the time, especially after the huge amount of money they dole out as tuition fees apart from bearing their daily expenses. "Thus, an investment in GMI proves very helpful in such cases as you can spend your own money," justifies the 23-year-old.

In fact, many students have also taken up GMI as a means of supporting their families. However, this greatly narrows down their career choices as they don't think about the quality of work they are doing. Instead, they are solely focused on the fact that they are making good money. "Several friends have taken up GMI as a business and are making a lot of money as well. However, not everyone can run after investors and give presentations because it requires a lot of time and energy. It becomes very hard to concentrate on your studies if you're into GMI full-time," adds Faizan.

Others, however, disagree. Consider, for example, Anib Abbas who recently passed his Intermediate exams with an A-grade and is earning $120 (Rs9,600) a week. "For me GMI is quite useful and I have managed to balance my studies alongside. I think more people should become a part of this company as it earns you easy money."

But what about parents? Do they know that their kids are chasing investors in order to make extra money? Osama believes most parents are aware as the $60 for an initial investment is provided by the parents – just as his did. Osama's parents, who wished to remain anonymous, confirm the fact that they were ware of this investment. "When children are mature enough to take such decisions you should not discourage them. You should give them a chance," they say adding that 'so far nothing bad has come out of it.'

But as addictive as these money-making schemes are [that work on the pyramid principle], there are a lot of ambiguities, argue critics. You are asked for an initial investment (in this case $60) and are promised a high return of investment within a few days or weeks or depending on your first assignment. While the explanation seems plausible, the GMI is a little sketchy on details. Members only discuss ways to spend the 'extra money' you will earn rather than informing new members of the fact that if you fail to invite six more members to be part of the network, then the money is wasted.

Moreover, there are no details of the main officials of GMI in Pakistan or a record of the transactions that take place within the country. This must include the name of the bank where GMI has an account. Also, since GMI is unregistered, a company under a similar name of 'Gold Mine International (Pvt) Ltd', based in Karachi and registered with the Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, creates further confusion. Observers say while there is chance of financial profit in such schemes, there is an equal probability of loss as well which one should not ignore.

The term 'call centers' brings to mind fat pay cheques, regular bonuses and a plethora of perks along with a secure workplace environment. However, there is more to these call centers than what meets the eye. "Leading call centers in Karachi have packed working shifts, 24 hours a day. Constant monitored supervision coupled with an employee's average successful calls determines the performance and dividends paid," Naveed Usmani, who has worked for Ensign Communique call centre as a Customer Support Representative (CSR), told Kolachi.

"It is mainly the money that attracts youngsters to call centers, especially those who need the money to pay for their education or to support their families," says Moez Mujtaba who used to worked for TRG and Axact as a CSR. However, he added, this can seriously affect one's studies given the demanding nature of the job. In fact, it is not possible to give optimum performance if you are studying and are required to do night shifts at work. "There is so much going on at work, from meetings to attending calls continuously and this makes it very difficult to concentrate on one's studies in the morning," said Moez.

Meanwhile, Asadullah, who is a design unit team leader at Axact, Offshore Communications, explained how a CSR really works. CSR training lasts for about one to two weeks at the most and is conducted either by local in-house trainers or through video conferencing by international trainers, who directly assign clients with training, mostly from the US, UK and Canada. "Work hours for CSRs at standard call centers are from 8pm to 9am but now there are plenty of local companies that have forcefully extended working hours till 10 and even 11," he said.

A CSR's job can be categorised into support and sales. Those in support receive inbound calls from local companies such as Mobilink, Telenor and Ufone or from international clients depending on the call center. Sales, on the other hand, involves different marketing or recovery strategies such as making outbound calls to random customers locally and internationally, convincing them to buy different products, schemes or requesting existing bank customers to make their due payments.

"Many students who are working at call centers end up dropping out of college or university and working full-time," said Moez. This is because the chances of growth at call centers are quite bright as one can be promoted to team leader, supervisor and account manager rather quickly. "If there are no financial problems at home, then parents discourage their children from working while they are studying. But there are some parents who encourage their kids to make quick money at these centers," he added. Then there are those who wish to pay for their education, thus taking up jobs here.

Others, however, disagree with this view. Naveed, who has also worked for SVL and ARY call centers, said that he has never seen or heard of anyone who quit their studies in order to follow a career at a call center. In fact, he said he and his friends got their degrees while working as CSRs.

So which centers make for a popular choice among students? While talking to a group of 10 students from three different universities in the city (Iqra University, IBA and Karachi University), Kolachi learnt that Axact and TRG are the top two places where these students would like to work part-time.

There is a downturn in business, however, after the introduction of new American work policies that restrict companies in the US outsource internationally, along with high taxation regulations because of the recession.

Asad added that there are many reasons for the increasing phenomenon of call centers and their success in India in comparison to Pakistan. These include Microsoft's huge investment in India because of which it is attracting many local and international campaigns along with the fact that the country's two computer engineering universities have made it to the top-100-universities-of-the-world list.

As for call centers in Pakistan, they still have a long way to go, maintained Moez. "The scope and exposure in this field is very limited. No matter what position you acquire you have to make or receive calls like others. Yes, the salaries are good in many places but the chances of growth are limited," he added.

Every day Akhtar Joshi, a 19-year-old waiter at a restaurant in the city, considers returning to his hometown given the deteriorating economic and political conditions here. But something or the other, he says, happens that forces him to stay on and continue with his part-time job that at least earns him some money.

Joshi recently finished with his Intermediate and is seeking admission in a university along with doing a few computer diploma courses. He hails from Gilgit, but wants to stay back in Karachi which he believes is a city of opportunities.

He isn't entirely wrong. Considering the growth of restaurants in Karachi over the past few years, such jobs often don't require much skill or qualification. "All you need is a few weeks of training, on the job," he says. It is because of the availability of such opportunities that several young people are able to make some money while they are studying. Moreover, considering the rate of unemployment most are content to have a job even if it does not fit their career. Also, employers are now more understanding and encourage part-time employees as they are willing to work on low-wages.

Habiba Younus is one such 22-year-old team leader at a local call centre, who is currently doing her Masters in Mass Communication. "My cousin and I saw an ad asking for call agents. We applied for the position and got the job. Initially, our families disapproved because they felt it would affect our education but nothing of the sort happened," she told Kolachi. 'Work less, earn more' is the motto of this particular field which "is beneficial to someone like me who is earning for the sake of fun. I wouldn't mind working in this field even after I have completed my studies," adds Younus. Atif, a cashier at a local pizza franchise, has a similar story to tell. A third year student studying International Relations (IR) at a university, Atif shared that he comes from a family of blacksmiths and despite the fact that his father owns a business, he is not interested taking charge. He wanted to do something on his own which is why he is working as a cashier. "The money I earn is mine and my family has no issues with how I choose to spend that money," he points out.

Kolachi also learnt that some students may be working in one field, studying another but ultimately want to do something that neither corroborates with their degrees nor their jobs. "I am studying IR only for the sake of getting a degree. I am more interested in Media Studies and will seek a job in the media industry," he confides.

There are others, however, who are working part-time because of their circumstances. 26-year-old Nasir Jamal, an Executive Data Manager, disclosed that he has been working in this profession because he needed the money. "I have some experience in media and production and have always wanted to explore that further, but had to do this because I have to support myself," he says.

Similarly, Maula Madad, a cashier at a restaurant and Zaki Hashmi Ahmed, a finance coordinator say that their current jobs aren't really what they want to pursue as a career but since they needed the money, they took up these jobs.

The problem of middlemen plagues almost every kind of handicraft made in Sindh. The primary issue is the lack of access of the artisans to business centres and areas where their craft can be sold directly to customers. Middlemen exploit this loophole, and in the process, also exploit the makers of traditional craft.

One victim of this menace is Jandi (lacquer word) from Hala. In order to assess the present status of the craft of Jandi and measure the plight of craftsmen engaged in the manufacture of this handicrafts, one needs to explore the history of this craft.

"District Hala is noted also for another manufacture -- that of lacquered ware. Of this work, the rings for table napkins, work boxes, pen, cases, rulers, vases, flower-stands, boxes with flat or rounded tops in nests, and a variety of other articles, are made chiefly in the town of Khanoth. The legs of charpais (or native bedsteads) are also lacquered. The wood of which these articles are made, and on which the lacquer is laid, is from the bahan tree and is remarkable for its lightness." This is what A.W Hughes had stated in 1876 in his book, The Gazetteer of Sindh.

Now-a-days, the main centre is Artisan Colony of Bhit Shah, where craftsmen from Khanoth and Hala Old were settled during early eighties when the Sindh government gave them residential quarters and workshops. However, still there are artisans working in Khanoth and Hala Old.

At present 100 craftsmen are engaged in the production of lacquer work. Since the income of artisans is not sufficient to meet even their basic needs of food and clothing, they take loans from Seths or middlemen. As a result, a majority of them owe Rs30,000 to Rs40,000 to these middlemen.

Muhammad Soomar, an artisan based at Khanot, informed Indus Watch that the menace of indebtedness started 15 years ago, when a nearby forest was completely decimated and artisans started to purchase wood from far off sites.

These craftsmen did not have sufficient cash or enough space to procure the wood in large quantities and store it, so middlemen arose, who arranged wood and gave loans to artisans.

Economics of some prominent articles

To measure the plight of artisans in monetary terms, it would be appropriate if one looks at the economics of making a few well known items.

One artisan can make one swinging cot or cradle in a month. Since the wood for this cradle is supplied by a trader or middleman, the artisan is paid only Rs6,000. This includes labour costs, and also serves as the reimbursement of expenses incurred on the purchase of colour, coal etc. It is estimated that around Rs2,000 are incurred on procurement of colour and coal etc. Therefore, the net income of a craftsman making one swinging cot is only Rs4,000.

The same product is sold in the market by the trader at the price ranging between Rs18,000 to Rs20,000 whereas his investment is around Rs11,000. His profit hovers around 40 per cent.

Other items in much demand are wooden sofa sets. One craftsman takes 20 days to make one set. For this he is paid only Rs4,000, which also includes the expenses incurred on the purchase of colour, coal etc. As such, he receives around Rs2,000 as labour charges. The same sofa is sold in the market at a price ranging from Rs12,000 to Rs15,000 by the trader, whose investment is around Rs7,500.

Traders, however, defend their decisions. They claim that artisans do not complete ordered items on time and if left on their own, use substandard raw material, thus making the standard of the output questionable.

A few residents of Khanoth were of the opinion that these artisans do not work regularly and also misuse the loan amount. Some social scientists suggest that as these craftsmen do not receive good incomes despite their hard labour, so they become alienated and became non-serious in their performance.

It may be noted that this art is transferred from one generation to the next. The current generation, however, is not being involved and taught this skill, because this work does not provide gainful employment. Therefore, it is feared that after a few years, there will be no Jandi artisan left in Sindh.

Recommendations

• Nurseries of Bahan trees should be developed in Khanoth so that Jandi workers can get wood at competitive rates.

• Display and sale centres should be established near workshops and markets to be managed by people chosen by artisans.

• Technical support in product diversification and designs should be provided to revive old designs and market items in high demand.

• Loans on soft terms should be advanced to relieve artisans from the shackles of loans from traders and middlemen.

• Artisans should be given medical facilities and health insurance cover

• An institutional arrangement should be devised for monthly payment to artisans when they retire.

• Craftsmen should also be trained in making trade associations, so that they can export their products without the exploitation of traditional exporters.

• Technical support and training in devising new design procedures should be provided to make furniture detachable and easy transportable.

• Training in making proper packing and packaging should also be arranged.

How is a Jandi item made?

According to Jam Mitho Khan Bhutto, an artisan who holds a Pride of Performance award, an item of Jandi is finished after going through the thirteen steps.

As a first step, raw wood is cut into pieces according to the requirement of the item to be prepared. In the second step, the chopped wood is chiselled and brought into shape. In third step, the requisite design is carved with the help of equipment called Nahoo. The fourth step is called Maath in Sindhi, wherein the design is more refined and unnecessary portions of wood are removed with the help of a "Poe Ranbhow." During the fifth step, the first coat of any colour is applied. In the sixth step, the second coat of colour, mostly yellow, is applied. The seventh step is especially done at Hala, where Roghani work (yellow dots) is done. This step is also called Janhwar. In the next step, black or any other colour is applied. In the ninth step, with the help of Richhi, floral designs are carved into the wood. In the tenth step, colour is applied on this engraved flowering. In the eleventh step, unnecessary coats of colour are removed, so that design can be made clear. In the twelfth step, glitter is applied with the help of oil and cotton cloth. In the last step, which is called Boraki, unnecessary wood in the middle of the item is removed.

What does a Jandi artisan need?

Equipments used in Jandi, can conveniently be divided into four parts -- tools (wooden and iron), colour, lathe, and wood.

Wooden tools

• Lakar: Almost a four feet long stick. The cable made of animal intestine is tied from one end to the other to move the wood.

• Wooden peg: One iron peg is fixed in wooden peg, which is thrust in the earth according to the height needed.

• Dhuro: This is a right angle shaped structure in which another iron peg is fixed and placed against the wooden peg.

• Pango: This is soft wood derived from a date tree, used for spreading colour on the surface of wood.

• Handles: Handles of some iron tools are made of wood so that they may not hurt the hand.

Iron tools

• Iron pegs: They are used to fix the wood between them to move it easily with the help of Lakar.

• Wahoolo: This is a spade-like small tool but very sharp edged, used to carve the log so that it can easily be given required shape.

• Saw: This is used to cut wood.

• Nahoo: This is an iron tool with a crescent-like sharp edge at the end and a wooden handle used to carve the piece of wood into the required rough shape.

• Rambo: Nahoo like tool but with a flat sharp edge, used to smoothen the piece of wood.

• Khhurchan: This is a two sharp flat-edged tool, used to remove the unwanted colour from the applied colour.

• Richhi: This is Khhurchan sized thin-edged tool, used to cut patterns in the colour.

• Borakhhi: A two-sharp-edged tool, used to cut the piece of wood from inside.

• Rohi: It is used to sharpen iron tools on it.

Colour

Hard colour used for Jandi, which is why it lasts for centuries if not adulterated and applied properly. Colour is made from "Lak" a redish substance found from trees like Babul and berry tree. Roghni is the special colour which attracts the attention of visitors. The Jandi of Hala, Khanoth and Bhit Shah is famous exclusively on account of this colour. This colour is made only from lakh and nothing is added in it, while other colours are made by mixing other substances also.

Lathe:

This machine was introduced in the last quarter of twentieth century. The wood is given required shape on this machine. During this process, Nahoo and Rambo are used. Before this machine, the whole work was done purely with hands, which needed very much power and energy. This machine is useless for the process of colouring.

Wood:

Bahan wood used in Jandi. No other wood can be used for this purpose. Bahan is very light, soft and durable wood. Its surface allows the hard colur of Jandi to stay long without any decay, with a glaring varnish. While other kinds of wood, do not have these qualities.

Procurement of wood is the most difficult thing for the Jandi workers. Some time back till the final quarter of the last century, there was plenty of Bahan trees on the Bank of river Indus, which became prey of feudals and landlords. Where once grew the forest of these trees, now there are lands being cultivated illegally by such people. Therefore, nowadays, it is being fetched from the far-off places like from Dadu and beyond.