By Zar Alam Khan
ISLAMABAD: An influential contractor in Chitral is again using substandard material in the reconstruction of a bridge in Yarkhun valley after the collapse of another bridge in the area days after its completion killing three persons, the local residents alleged.
Talking to Dawn, they also accused contractor Mohammad Khan of changing the design of the bridge and decreasing its width in connivance with the officials of the works department though Rs140 million had been sanctioned for the project.
When the residents held a protest demonstration against the poor quality work on the bridge connecting their area with other parts of the district, the contractor assured them that fresh and quality material would be used in the project. However, a few days later he restarted work at the site using the same old stuff.
When the bridge collapsed in August 2006, the local residents had collected its material including strings, bolts and plunks and stored them in a nearby field. With the passage of time most of the material got damaged due to weathering and became unfit for use.
The residents of Yarkhun said the reconstruction of the only bridge connecting their area with other parts of the district had been in the cold storage for the over three years.
Official sources said the executive engineer works had imposed Rs1.4 million fine on the contractor and also recommended his blacklisting for failing to complete the project on time but so far action has not been taken against him.
Public representatives in the area said Mohammad Khan was also responsible for inordinate delay and poor quality work in major development projects in the district. They said misuse of funds, delay and poor quality work had been detected in a number of projects.
They cited the examples of the Booni-Shandur road, Molkhow road and Mastuj bridge projects which were awarded to the same contractor wholly or partially and were still incomplete.
When contacted, contractor Mohammad Khan rejected all the allegations and said to avoid backlash of the residents of Yarkhun, MNA Shahzada Mohiuddin and MPA Ghulam Mohammad were trying to make him a scapegoat and tarnish his image among the local people.
He said the elected representatives had tried to award the project to their cronies by floating tenders three times which caused delay in completion of the work. He said neither he was using the old material in the reconstruction of the bridge nor had reduced its width.
About extra payment made to him in the Attahk water project, he said the earlier estimate was made by an inexperienced consultant, after which another consultant raised the cost of the completed work, adding most of the payment had still not been made to him.--Dawn
Friday, December 25, 2009
Discord over Norwegian-funded project in Chitral
By Zar Alam Khan
ISLAMABAD: The Rs1 billion Norwegian funded Chitral Integrated Area Development Project (CIADP) will not produce desired results and is poised to create political polarisation in the area due to lack of clear plan and flaws in its execution system, development experts pointed out.
They said though the Norwegian government had taken a good step for development of Chitral, it did not take all the stakeholders into confidence before launching the mega project with the current district nazim from Jamaat-i-Islami as the head of its steering committee. Besides, questions are also being raised why Islamabad-based contractors, the Thrive, had been hired for management consultancy when there were non-profit making agencies that had already carried out a number of development projects in the valley.
About 10 to 20 per cent of the funds would go to the contractors, they said. Furthermore, there will be unnecessary expenditures on office hiring in Islamabad and Chitral by the contractors. Since the early 1980s, a number of NGOs have been working in the development sector and none of them has ever hired a contractor for execution of its schemes. Projects identification is done by the local communities and the schemes are executed on the basis of their feasibility. The contractors for CIADP have, however, neither taken local elected representatives of mainstream political parties into confidence nor briefed them about the schemes.
The project document is also silent on the much needed programme component - physically productive infrastructure projects. Besides, the contractors have not been able to satisfy the proposed implementing partners, community representatives and the beneficiaries on the modality of the programme and recruitment of the staff. The focus of the contractors has been on employing low-paid staff without considering its adverse impact on the quality of management.
MNA Shahzada Mohiuddin expressed regret that he was neither taken into confidence nor briefed about the project. He said the mandate of the district government had already ended and the future of the system was ambiguous. He claimed that the provincial government had also expressed its displeasure over the way it had been bypassed in launching the project. “The CIADP has been developed as if it is a slush fund for the district nazim. This is not good for Chitral. One person should not be in the deciding chair keeping in view the geo-political landscape of Chitral,” the MNA said, adding the JI nazim was taking undue political benefit from the project propagating that he had brought the funds for development of Chitral.
Mr Mohiuddin also objected to the formation of the project steering committee and said the area MNA, MPAs and representatives of all political parties should be included in it. He said instead of the district nazim the committee should be headed by the DCO who represents the provincial government and coordinates all development works. The district government overlooks only the portion of work controlled by the district assembly which is only a fraction of the overall development projects and does not include the provincial annual development plan and many other funding sources through the federal and provincial governments.Besides, the handlers of the funds are selecting projects sites without involving experts for feasibility study. Four areas have initially been selected and are being given lump-sump money with the task to carry out unspecified projects. These areas are: Beori valley,
Kargin, Chuinj villages in Mastuj tehsil, Nishkow in Molkhow and Runmbur in Kalash valley.
The MNA said projects launched in these areas would not complete in four to five years because the localities neither have local support organisations nor sufficient manpower. It would have been more productive had the fund utilised for the development of infrastructure in whole the district. He said educational institutions lacked buildings and primary schools having two rooms each accommodated six classes. The funds could have been used for providing missing facilities including classrooms in schools, he added.
When contacted for comments, Terje Thodesen, Counsellor Development, and Terje Barstad, Minsiter Counsellor, at the Norwegian Embassy in Islamabad brushed aside the apprehensions and said they had completed all requirements and formalities before launching the project.
They said the project visualised in 2005 was launched on June 23, 2009, and would be completed in the year 2014 covering all parts of Chitral. They said the project proposals had come from the district government. During a Logical Framework Approach (LFA) workshop in 2007, all the stakeholders including the local NGOs were taken on board. In December 2008, they also held a meeting with the officials of the provincial local government department in Peshawar. The terms of reference were advertised and given to the local people.
They said the Islamabad-based management company, the Thrive, won the project as no other firm took part in the bidding which was open to all. Besides, the aim to award the project to Thrive was that it is the neutral firm having no political or whatsoever affiliations in the district. The steering committee is headed by the district nazim while a representative of the firm is its secretary. They said funds were not given under the direct control of the district nazim as the project was being executed by the company while the embassy oversaw its working. The hiring of staff for the project was also carried out by the company, they added. They said they were always ready to brief any political representative about the project, but so far nobody has contacted them.--Dawn
ISLAMABAD: The Rs1 billion Norwegian funded Chitral Integrated Area Development Project (CIADP) will not produce desired results and is poised to create political polarisation in the area due to lack of clear plan and flaws in its execution system, development experts pointed out.
They said though the Norwegian government had taken a good step for development of Chitral, it did not take all the stakeholders into confidence before launching the mega project with the current district nazim from Jamaat-i-Islami as the head of its steering committee. Besides, questions are also being raised why Islamabad-based contractors, the Thrive, had been hired for management consultancy when there were non-profit making agencies that had already carried out a number of development projects in the valley.
About 10 to 20 per cent of the funds would go to the contractors, they said. Furthermore, there will be unnecessary expenditures on office hiring in Islamabad and Chitral by the contractors. Since the early 1980s, a number of NGOs have been working in the development sector and none of them has ever hired a contractor for execution of its schemes. Projects identification is done by the local communities and the schemes are executed on the basis of their feasibility. The contractors for CIADP have, however, neither taken local elected representatives of mainstream political parties into confidence nor briefed them about the schemes.
The project document is also silent on the much needed programme component - physically productive infrastructure projects. Besides, the contractors have not been able to satisfy the proposed implementing partners, community representatives and the beneficiaries on the modality of the programme and recruitment of the staff. The focus of the contractors has been on employing low-paid staff without considering its adverse impact on the quality of management.
MNA Shahzada Mohiuddin expressed regret that he was neither taken into confidence nor briefed about the project. He said the mandate of the district government had already ended and the future of the system was ambiguous. He claimed that the provincial government had also expressed its displeasure over the way it had been bypassed in launching the project. “The CIADP has been developed as if it is a slush fund for the district nazim. This is not good for Chitral. One person should not be in the deciding chair keeping in view the geo-political landscape of Chitral,” the MNA said, adding the JI nazim was taking undue political benefit from the project propagating that he had brought the funds for development of Chitral.
Mr Mohiuddin also objected to the formation of the project steering committee and said the area MNA, MPAs and representatives of all political parties should be included in it. He said instead of the district nazim the committee should be headed by the DCO who represents the provincial government and coordinates all development works. The district government overlooks only the portion of work controlled by the district assembly which is only a fraction of the overall development projects and does not include the provincial annual development plan and many other funding sources through the federal and provincial governments.Besides, the handlers of the funds are selecting projects sites without involving experts for feasibility study. Four areas have initially been selected and are being given lump-sump money with the task to carry out unspecified projects. These areas are: Beori valley,
Kargin, Chuinj villages in Mastuj tehsil, Nishkow in Molkhow and Runmbur in Kalash valley.
The MNA said projects launched in these areas would not complete in four to five years because the localities neither have local support organisations nor sufficient manpower. It would have been more productive had the fund utilised for the development of infrastructure in whole the district. He said educational institutions lacked buildings and primary schools having two rooms each accommodated six classes. The funds could have been used for providing missing facilities including classrooms in schools, he added.
When contacted for comments, Terje Thodesen, Counsellor Development, and Terje Barstad, Minsiter Counsellor, at the Norwegian Embassy in Islamabad brushed aside the apprehensions and said they had completed all requirements and formalities before launching the project.
They said the project visualised in 2005 was launched on June 23, 2009, and would be completed in the year 2014 covering all parts of Chitral. They said the project proposals had come from the district government. During a Logical Framework Approach (LFA) workshop in 2007, all the stakeholders including the local NGOs were taken on board. In December 2008, they also held a meeting with the officials of the provincial local government department in Peshawar. The terms of reference were advertised and given to the local people.
They said the Islamabad-based management company, the Thrive, won the project as no other firm took part in the bidding which was open to all. Besides, the aim to award the project to Thrive was that it is the neutral firm having no political or whatsoever affiliations in the district. The steering committee is headed by the district nazim while a representative of the firm is its secretary. They said funds were not given under the direct control of the district nazim as the project was being executed by the company while the embassy oversaw its working. The hiring of staff for the project was also carried out by the company, they added. They said they were always ready to brief any political representative about the project, but so far nobody has contacted them.--Dawn
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Ten killed in Lowari Pass traffic accident
CHITRAL: Ten passengers were killed and four others injured in a road accident on the Lowari Pass near Dir Sunday, police said.
According to the Dir and Chitral police, a Land Cruiser carrying 14 passengers was on way to Chitral from Dir. When the vehicle reached Daro Khwar near Gujar on the Lowari Pass at 2pm, it went out of the driver’s control due to some technical fault and fell down into a hundreds of feet deep ravine.
As a result, nine passengers died on the spot and one succumbed to injuries later. The others were injured, some of them critically.
The bodies kept at the DHQ Hospital in Dir have been identified as Inayatullah, son of Baraat Khan, Chitral; Sharifullah, son of Rehmatullah, Ayun; Misal Khan, his wife and son from Shah Mansoor, Swabi, and Sartaj and Dilaram, residents of Lower Dir.
The Dir police said they have handed over three bodies to the Chitral police who could not be identified.
The injured admitted to the DHQ Hospital Dir were identified as Waqar, Habibullah, Tariq and Ehsan.
According to the Dir and Chitral police, a Land Cruiser carrying 14 passengers was on way to Chitral from Dir. When the vehicle reached Daro Khwar near Gujar on the Lowari Pass at 2pm, it went out of the driver’s control due to some technical fault and fell down into a hundreds of feet deep ravine.
As a result, nine passengers died on the spot and one succumbed to injuries later. The others were injured, some of them critically.
The bodies kept at the DHQ Hospital in Dir have been identified as Inayatullah, son of Baraat Khan, Chitral; Sharifullah, son of Rehmatullah, Ayun; Misal Khan, his wife and son from Shah Mansoor, Swabi, and Sartaj and Dilaram, residents of Lower Dir.
The Dir police said they have handed over three bodies to the Chitral police who could not be identified.
The injured admitted to the DHQ Hospital Dir were identified as Waqar, Habibullah, Tariq and Ehsan.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Steps urged to enhance border security in Chitral
By Zar Alam Khan
ISLAMABAD: Fearing more criminal and anti-state activities from across the border in Afghanistan, people of Chitral have asked the federal government to strengthen the local police and border security force on a priority basis.
Though Chitral has remained unaffected from Taliban militancy so far, its over 300-km-long poorly watched porous border with the three provinces of Afghanistan - Wakhan, Nooristan and Kunar – has seen unchecked movement of Afghan nationals including smugglers and criminals into the valley. And the recent kidnapping of a Greek national from Kalash valley has further exposed the vulnerability of the district to such an eventuality.
Security experts believe that any long-term strategy to contain Taliban resurrection and keep the Malakand division from any future militant activity is fraught with failure until Chitral-Afghan border was protected through enhanced security measures.
The Chitral police with its current strength of about 1,050 personnel are poorly equipped and unable to meet growing security concerns besides discharging their routine duty in the district spreading over 14,850 square kilometres. Besides, most of the Chitral Scouts personnel which used to man the border till the withdrawal of Russian forces from Afghanistan in 1989 now remain posted out in Gilgit-Baltistan and the violence-hit districts of the NWFP.
As the dust settles on the military operation against Taliban militants, the federal government is all set to raise a strong police force of 11,000 personnel for the Malakand division which will replace the army to maintain peace in the region. Though Chitral is a
district of the Malakand division and has suffered huge economic losses due to the recent law and order situation and is at the risk of increased militancy through its borders with Afghanistan as well as Swat and Dir districts, the government has strangely kept it
out of the future security arrangement.
When contacted, MNA from Chitral Shahzada Mohiuddin, however, said Interior Minister Rehman Malik had assured him that the district would get its share in the recruitment of 11,000 police personnel for the Malakand division. He said the minister was well aware of the security problems of the district and determined to strengthen the police and the border security force.
ISLAMABAD: Fearing more criminal and anti-state activities from across the border in Afghanistan, people of Chitral have asked the federal government to strengthen the local police and border security force on a priority basis.
Though Chitral has remained unaffected from Taliban militancy so far, its over 300-km-long poorly watched porous border with the three provinces of Afghanistan - Wakhan, Nooristan and Kunar – has seen unchecked movement of Afghan nationals including smugglers and criminals into the valley. And the recent kidnapping of a Greek national from Kalash valley has further exposed the vulnerability of the district to such an eventuality.
Security experts believe that any long-term strategy to contain Taliban resurrection and keep the Malakand division from any future militant activity is fraught with failure until Chitral-Afghan border was protected through enhanced security measures.
The Chitral police with its current strength of about 1,050 personnel are poorly equipped and unable to meet growing security concerns besides discharging their routine duty in the district spreading over 14,850 square kilometres. Besides, most of the Chitral Scouts personnel which used to man the border till the withdrawal of Russian forces from Afghanistan in 1989 now remain posted out in Gilgit-Baltistan and the violence-hit districts of the NWFP.
As the dust settles on the military operation against Taliban militants, the federal government is all set to raise a strong police force of 11,000 personnel for the Malakand division which will replace the army to maintain peace in the region. Though Chitral is a
district of the Malakand division and has suffered huge economic losses due to the recent law and order situation and is at the risk of increased militancy through its borders with Afghanistan as well as Swat and Dir districts, the government has strangely kept it
out of the future security arrangement.
When contacted, MNA from Chitral Shahzada Mohiuddin, however, said Interior Minister Rehman Malik had assured him that the district would get its share in the recruitment of 11,000 police personnel for the Malakand division. He said the minister was well aware of the security problems of the district and determined to strengthen the police and the border security force.
Flood affected people of Sonoghor in Chitral seek rehabilitation
By Zar Alam Khan
ISLAMABAD: Despite the passage of over two years, no practical steps have been taken either by the federal or provincial governments to provide relief to the affected residents of Sonoghor village in the Mastuj tehsil of Chitral who were displaced by one of the biggest natural catastrophes in the history of the district.
On June 27, 2007, a glacier overlooking the scenic village burst and the avalanche/floodwater swept away houses, orchards, standing crops and other property. The mayhem continued for over three days and again hit the village one year later. As a result, as many as 115 families were displaced while 38 houses completely buried under the flood. The displaced residents have since been living in inhuman conditions in makeshift camps in nearby villages. Initially, they were provided relief items by some local NGOs who later also discontinued the assistance due to lack of funds.
Government officials and elected leaders have been making promises after promises to compensate and rehabilitate the affected people but so far no help has reached them. The residents also blocked the Chitral-Shandur road on the occasion of the annual polo tournament this year in protest against the government’s indifference to their sufferings and to convey their demands to the higher authorities. However, local officials in order to avoid any embarrassment again hoodwinked the people on false promises and got the road cleared.
Officials in the district could not be contacted for comments. However, MNA from Chitral Shahzada Mohiuddin told this correspondent that in the year 2007 he had requested the then government to compensate the residents on a pattern similar to the affected people of the October 2005 earthquake in Hazara and Kashmir and help them rebuild the destroyed houses. He said the affected people in the earthquake zone were provided Rs175,000 per destroyed home by the government for reconstruction purposes.
“In spite of a surfeit of files travelling at high speed between the offices of the Provincial Relief Commissioner and the federal governments, no relief has been forthcoming for the poor residents,” he regretted.
He said continued inaction was projecting the government in poor light especially in an area where the ruling party enjoyed solid support. He said he was continuously in touch with the departments concerned seeking a relief package for the rehabilitation of the affected people.
ISLAMABAD: Despite the passage of over two years, no practical steps have been taken either by the federal or provincial governments to provide relief to the affected residents of Sonoghor village in the Mastuj tehsil of Chitral who were displaced by one of the biggest natural catastrophes in the history of the district.
On June 27, 2007, a glacier overlooking the scenic village burst and the avalanche/floodwater swept away houses, orchards, standing crops and other property. The mayhem continued for over three days and again hit the village one year later. As a result, as many as 115 families were displaced while 38 houses completely buried under the flood. The displaced residents have since been living in inhuman conditions in makeshift camps in nearby villages. Initially, they were provided relief items by some local NGOs who later also discontinued the assistance due to lack of funds.
Government officials and elected leaders have been making promises after promises to compensate and rehabilitate the affected people but so far no help has reached them. The residents also blocked the Chitral-Shandur road on the occasion of the annual polo tournament this year in protest against the government’s indifference to their sufferings and to convey their demands to the higher authorities. However, local officials in order to avoid any embarrassment again hoodwinked the people on false promises and got the road cleared.
Officials in the district could not be contacted for comments. However, MNA from Chitral Shahzada Mohiuddin told this correspondent that in the year 2007 he had requested the then government to compensate the residents on a pattern similar to the affected people of the October 2005 earthquake in Hazara and Kashmir and help them rebuild the destroyed houses. He said the affected people in the earthquake zone were provided Rs175,000 per destroyed home by the government for reconstruction purposes.
“In spite of a surfeit of files travelling at high speed between the offices of the Provincial Relief Commissioner and the federal governments, no relief has been forthcoming for the poor residents,” he regretted.
He said continued inaction was projecting the government in poor light especially in an area where the ruling party enjoyed solid support. He said he was continuously in touch with the departments concerned seeking a relief package for the rehabilitation of the affected people.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Reduction in PIA flights to Chitral slammed
By Zar Alam Khan
ISLAMABAD: Member National Assembly (MNA) from Chitral Shahzada Mohiuddin has criticised Pakistan International Airline (PIA) for reducing the number of flights on the Chitral route in complete disregards to the communication problems of the district.
Talking to this correspondent here on Saturday, he said the national flag carrier had recently diverted one of Chitral’s flights from Peshawar to Kabul besides giving another on Islamabad-Chitral route to Gilgit-Baltistan.
He said people of Chitral faced immense problems due to the closure of the only land route via the Lowari Pass in winter. This year, due to the military operation in the Malakand division, the valley remained cut-off from rest of the country even in summer. In this situation, the PIA flights become the only way of communication for the people of the area, he added.
Earlier the PIA operated 11 flights a week from Peshawar and daily one flight from Islamabad but now the number of flights from Peshawar has been reduced to six while Sunday’s flight from Islamabad has been diverted to Gilgit-Skardu route. Besides, the only one flight on Saturday from Peshawar has been shifted to Peshawar-Kabul route.
On the other hand, most of the flights from Peshawar are cancelled on the pretext of inclement weather leading to rush of passengers including women and elderly people both at Peshawar and Chitral who cannot travel by road through the Malakand division due to security reasons particularly after four Chitrali passengers were shot dead by Taliban militants in the Bajaur area this year.
He said instead of taking political decision on allocation of PIA aircraft for commercial flights, the authorities concerned should take into account the communication problems of Chitral which remains cut off from rest of the country due to absence of an all-weather route. He said the people of his area had rendered great sacrifices for maintenance of peace not only in their own district but also in other parts of the NWFP. In return, they should not be punished by snatching whatever facilities they have been availing for the last many years, he added.
The MNA also called upon the managing director of PIA, Capt Ejaz Haroon to consider Chitral as a special case and increase the flight on the route at least till the completion of Lowari Tunnel.
ISLAMABAD: Member National Assembly (MNA) from Chitral Shahzada Mohiuddin has criticised Pakistan International Airline (PIA) for reducing the number of flights on the Chitral route in complete disregards to the communication problems of the district.
Talking to this correspondent here on Saturday, he said the national flag carrier had recently diverted one of Chitral’s flights from Peshawar to Kabul besides giving another on Islamabad-Chitral route to Gilgit-Baltistan.
He said people of Chitral faced immense problems due to the closure of the only land route via the Lowari Pass in winter. This year, due to the military operation in the Malakand division, the valley remained cut-off from rest of the country even in summer. In this situation, the PIA flights become the only way of communication for the people of the area, he added.
Earlier the PIA operated 11 flights a week from Peshawar and daily one flight from Islamabad but now the number of flights from Peshawar has been reduced to six while Sunday’s flight from Islamabad has been diverted to Gilgit-Skardu route. Besides, the only one flight on Saturday from Peshawar has been shifted to Peshawar-Kabul route.
On the other hand, most of the flights from Peshawar are cancelled on the pretext of inclement weather leading to rush of passengers including women and elderly people both at Peshawar and Chitral who cannot travel by road through the Malakand division due to security reasons particularly after four Chitrali passengers were shot dead by Taliban militants in the Bajaur area this year.
He said instead of taking political decision on allocation of PIA aircraft for commercial flights, the authorities concerned should take into account the communication problems of Chitral which remains cut off from rest of the country due to absence of an all-weather route. He said the people of his area had rendered great sacrifices for maintenance of peace not only in their own district but also in other parts of the NWFP. In return, they should not be punished by snatching whatever facilities they have been availing for the last many years, he added.
The MNA also called upon the managing director of PIA, Capt Ejaz Haroon to consider Chitral as a special case and increase the flight on the route at least till the completion of Lowari Tunnel.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Corruption, politics behind Chitral's power crisis
By Zar Alam Khan
ISLAMABAD: As Chitral is facing worst ever electricity crisis, a tug of war among the politicians coupled with rampant mismanagement and inefficiency of the local power utility officials have further compounded the miseries of the consumers leaving no room for resolution of the problem.
Though small hydropower units have been set up and are working efficiently even in remote villages of the valley through monetary and technical know-how provided by the private sector, power crisis in the main town having a population of about 40,000 has deteriorated during the last a couple of years.
The local power house generates about one megawatt; 1.2 megawatts are supplied from the Reshun hydropower station in the Mastuj tehsil while about 1.5 megawatts come from the national grid against the total demand of about three megawatts. However, the consumers allege that the Pesco officials show the production of Chitral town powerhouse at 600 kw and do not give account for the electricity coming from Reshun and the national grid.
The consumers say sufficient electricity is available in the town and more can be generated with ease, but local political leaders have messed up with the issue for their own vested interests. All the political leaders including the district nazim of Jamaat-i-Islami, a provincial minister belonging to the PPP and the PML-Q MNA have played games for their own vested interests. When one leader tries to resolve the issue, others waste no time to sabotage his efforts lest he gets credit for it.
Fed up with the power breakdowns some time stretching up to over 20 hours daily, thousands of consumers led by convener Movement for Restoration of Electricity Wg Cdr (retired) Fardad Ali Shah took to the streets recently demanding transparency in utilisation of the available electricity and investigation into alleged mismanagement, corruption and misuse of authority by the Pesco officials. Members of the movement claimed that the local power station was producing over one megawatt, its maximum rated output with two turbines, but there was no record where the remaining 400 kw was being utilised.
The powerhouse has 55 employees most of whom remain absent from duty. Strangely, each employee is enjoying 600 units free electricity which they scrounge up to 4,000 units by subletting free electricity to others.
The local powerhouse has five generators which are never operated even though fuel was provided for them by the local administration. The consumers said the resident engineer of the power house had refused to operate the generators. The consumers alleged that essential parts of the generators had already been sold out by the officials.
ISLAMABAD: As Chitral is facing worst ever electricity crisis, a tug of war among the politicians coupled with rampant mismanagement and inefficiency of the local power utility officials have further compounded the miseries of the consumers leaving no room for resolution of the problem.
Though small hydropower units have been set up and are working efficiently even in remote villages of the valley through monetary and technical know-how provided by the private sector, power crisis in the main town having a population of about 40,000 has deteriorated during the last a couple of years.
The local power house generates about one megawatt; 1.2 megawatts are supplied from the Reshun hydropower station in the Mastuj tehsil while about 1.5 megawatts come from the national grid against the total demand of about three megawatts. However, the consumers allege that the Pesco officials show the production of Chitral town powerhouse at 600 kw and do not give account for the electricity coming from Reshun and the national grid.
The consumers say sufficient electricity is available in the town and more can be generated with ease, but local political leaders have messed up with the issue for their own vested interests. All the political leaders including the district nazim of Jamaat-i-Islami, a provincial minister belonging to the PPP and the PML-Q MNA have played games for their own vested interests. When one leader tries to resolve the issue, others waste no time to sabotage his efforts lest he gets credit for it.
Fed up with the power breakdowns some time stretching up to over 20 hours daily, thousands of consumers led by convener Movement for Restoration of Electricity Wg Cdr (retired) Fardad Ali Shah took to the streets recently demanding transparency in utilisation of the available electricity and investigation into alleged mismanagement, corruption and misuse of authority by the Pesco officials. Members of the movement claimed that the local power station was producing over one megawatt, its maximum rated output with two turbines, but there was no record where the remaining 400 kw was being utilised.
The powerhouse has 55 employees most of whom remain absent from duty. Strangely, each employee is enjoying 600 units free electricity which they scrounge up to 4,000 units by subletting free electricity to others.
The local powerhouse has five generators which are never operated even though fuel was provided for them by the local administration. The consumers said the resident engineer of the power house had refused to operate the generators. The consumers alleged that essential parts of the generators had already been sold out by the officials.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Chitral demands share in Malakand fund
By Zar Alam Khan
ISLAMABAD: Though exemplary peace prevails in Chitral, one of the districts of the Malakand division, the violence and subsequent military operation in Dir and Swat have left a devastating effect on the poverty-stricken people of the valley.
Chitral’s location among the rugged Hindukush mountains keeps it cut off from rest of the country for half of the year in winter. This year, however, Chitralis remain stranded even in summer due to the military operation in the Malakand division. Inside the valley, road infrastructure, healthcare and educational facilities are almost non-existent. The government allocates funds for districts on the basis of their populations due to which Chitral gets a paltry sum every year. However, with the operation in the region nearing conclusion, the residents of Chitral expect that the federal government would announce a special package to compensate the losses which they have suffered due to blockade of roads and collapse of the tourism industry.
Area-wise Chitral is the largest district of the NWFP and accounts for nearly 60 per cent of the Malakand division. Unlike the violence-affected districts, Chitral borders three lawless Afghan provinces of Kunar, Nooristan and Badakhshan in the west. It also opens through numerous passes to militancy-hit Swat and Dir districts in the southeast and south. When seen in such a geographical setting, Chitral could have very easily become a centre of attraction and safe haven for the fleeing Taliban militants. However, the people of the valley played their collective role in maintaining peace in the area.
MNA from Chitral Shahzada Mohiuddin says time has come people of Chitral should be rewarded for their role in maintaining peace under the prevailing circumstances. “Otherwise, there is a danger that they would start thinking that peace has failed to bring them any dividend.” Should taking arms, breaking the law, killing innocent people and blowing up schools are a prerequisite to bring in development? There is a danger that the sense of deprivation can drive people towards a negative approach to attain their rights, he added.
In a letter to Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance Shaukat Tarin, Mr Mohiuddin hailed the decision of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani for allocating Rs50 billion for the Malakand division but warned that his area should not be excluded from the package because Chitral has indirectly suffered unprecedented economic losses due to the violence. He said at least 5 per cent of the amount should be set aside to make for the economic losses the current turmoil in the region has caused to Chitral.
He also urged Federal Minister for Information Qamar Zaman Kaira and Lt-Gen Nadeem Ahmed of the Special Support Group not to ignore Chitral while allocating the funds for development of the violence affected districts.
ISLAMABAD: Though exemplary peace prevails in Chitral, one of the districts of the Malakand division, the violence and subsequent military operation in Dir and Swat have left a devastating effect on the poverty-stricken people of the valley.
Chitral’s location among the rugged Hindukush mountains keeps it cut off from rest of the country for half of the year in winter. This year, however, Chitralis remain stranded even in summer due to the military operation in the Malakand division. Inside the valley, road infrastructure, healthcare and educational facilities are almost non-existent. The government allocates funds for districts on the basis of their populations due to which Chitral gets a paltry sum every year. However, with the operation in the region nearing conclusion, the residents of Chitral expect that the federal government would announce a special package to compensate the losses which they have suffered due to blockade of roads and collapse of the tourism industry.
Area-wise Chitral is the largest district of the NWFP and accounts for nearly 60 per cent of the Malakand division. Unlike the violence-affected districts, Chitral borders three lawless Afghan provinces of Kunar, Nooristan and Badakhshan in the west. It also opens through numerous passes to militancy-hit Swat and Dir districts in the southeast and south. When seen in such a geographical setting, Chitral could have very easily become a centre of attraction and safe haven for the fleeing Taliban militants. However, the people of the valley played their collective role in maintaining peace in the area.
MNA from Chitral Shahzada Mohiuddin says time has come people of Chitral should be rewarded for their role in maintaining peace under the prevailing circumstances. “Otherwise, there is a danger that they would start thinking that peace has failed to bring them any dividend.” Should taking arms, breaking the law, killing innocent people and blowing up schools are a prerequisite to bring in development? There is a danger that the sense of deprivation can drive people towards a negative approach to attain their rights, he added.
In a letter to Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance Shaukat Tarin, Mr Mohiuddin hailed the decision of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani for allocating Rs50 billion for the Malakand division but warned that his area should not be excluded from the package because Chitral has indirectly suffered unprecedented economic losses due to the violence. He said at least 5 per cent of the amount should be set aside to make for the economic losses the current turmoil in the region has caused to Chitral.
He also urged Federal Minister for Information Qamar Zaman Kaira and Lt-Gen Nadeem Ahmed of the Special Support Group not to ignore Chitral while allocating the funds for development of the violence affected districts.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Koreans refuse to restart work on Lowari Tunnel
By Zar Alam Khan
ISLAMABAD, June 27: A meeting held to discuss resumption of work on the Lowari Rail Tunnel project here on Saturday failed to persuade the Korean company officials to return to the site.
The Koreans Sambu company officials expressed their inability to move to the site in Upper Dir and resume work due to security concerns, a participant of the meeting told Dawn.
However, on the assurance of the elected representatives from Chitral and Dir that they would be provided foolproof security, the Korean consultants and workers sought more time to reach the final decision after consulting their government, he added.
The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Communication Dr Arbab Alamgir Khan, Minister of State for Communication Chaudhry Imtiaz Safdar Waraich, Minister for Frontier Regions Najmuddin Khan from Dir; MNA Shahzada Mohiuddin and MPA Ghulam Mohammad from Chitral, besides the chairman and other officials of the National Highway Authority (NHA).
Work on the project was suspended with the launch of the ongoing military operation in Malakand division. The Korean Sambu company officials and consultants from other countries, who have been shifted to Islamabad after suspension of the work, referred to media reports of law and order situation and killings in the region and expressed their inability to move back to the site to resume work.
When told by the representatives from Chitral that there was complete peace in their valley and they could restart the work from the northern portal, the Koreans maintained that due to the prevailing security situation and curfew in the Malakand division, supply of construction material and other equipment from Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi had stopped.
The first phase of the project was completed in January this year and the second and final phase was to finish in 2010 according to the original plan. However, the suspension of work on the project for an indefinite period due to the current security situation in the tunnel’s southern site in Upper Dir has created concerns among the people of Chitral that the tunnel may not be completed on time.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Former MPA Maulana Jehangir passes away
CHITRAL: Former MPA from PF-90 Chitral-II and the district chief of Jamiat Ulemai-Islam (JUI-F) Maulana Jehangir has died of cardiac arrest. He was 60 years of age. He suffered a massive heart atatck at Singoor and was rushed to the DHQ hospital Chitral where he died at about 6.15pm. Maulana Jehangir was elected MPA from the platform of the MMA in the elections 2002 from upper Chitral and remained a member of the NWFP assembly till a few months before the general elections of February 2008.
It may be noted here that three other persons died of cardiac arrest within the last about 24 hours in Chitral. Maulana Jehangir had reportedly gone to offer condolence in the house of one of the deceased where he suffered heart attack.
Chitral Today expresses its deepest shock over the untimely death of Maulana Jehangir and pray to God to rest the soul in eternal peace and give courage to the family to bear the irreparable loss. (Ameen)--Bashir Hussain Azad
It may be noted here that three other persons died of cardiac arrest within the last about 24 hours in Chitral. Maulana Jehangir had reportedly gone to offer condolence in the house of one of the deceased where he suffered heart attack.
Chitral Today expresses its deepest shock over the untimely death of Maulana Jehangir and pray to God to rest the soul in eternal peace and give courage to the family to bear the irreparable loss. (Ameen)--Bashir Hussain Azad
Friday, June 19, 2009
PTV's apathy towards Chitrali martyrs - Letters
This refers to the letter by Bashir Hussain Azad published in Chitral Today on June 19, regarding PTV's coverage of the martyrs of Malakand operation. I fully agree with the writer that PTV has totally ignored the martyrs from NWFP particularly those from Chitral. Eight soldiers of Chitral Scouts laid down their lives on the first day of the operation in Maidan of Dir Lower in defense of their motherland and the bodies of the shuhada were flown to Chitral in one day and PTV or any other channel even did not mention their shahadat in their news bulletins let alone paying tributes to them. The number of martyrs from Chitral has been multiplying since then and their bodies are flown to Chitral and buried quietly. No TV channel, newspaper except a few Chitrali online newspapers mentioned the brilliant sacrifice of their lives in defense of Pakistan by these brave sons of Chitral. This is not first time that Chitrali soldiers and officers have offered their lives in defense of their motherland. This is a historical fact that Chitral has been offering its sons to save Pakistan since 1948 war with India. Nearly 80 shuhada from Chitral sacrificed their lives in Kargil misadventure.
The leading television channels do not tire creating hype by scandalizing trivial events and small issues but have badly failed to highlight the great sacrifice rendered by those brave sons of the soil. We Chitralis are extremely frustrated and disappointed over the apathy of our television channels particularly our national television PTV.
Sultan Mehmood
Garam Chashma, Chitral
----------------------------------------------------
Pakistan Television gives coverage to the martyrs of war in Swat and Waziristan frequently but in most of the cases the martyrs covered by the channel are from Punjab. Soldiers and junior officers of the Army who are martyred also hail from NWFP. I am watching PTV telecasting exclusive programmes on martyrs from Punjab and Balochistan and not on those belonging to NWFP. I would particularly refer to Samiullah Shaheed, who hailed from Koghozi in Chitral. As a coincidence, his father's name is Pakistan and a son of “Pakistan” from NWFP sacrificed his life for Pakistan, the homeland of 170 million people.
I wish NWFP had its own television channel or any industrialist from this province had a TV channel of his own, so that martyrs of the ongoing war for Pakistan could be given proper coverage. We are fed up with alien channel and bipartisan publicity.
Bashir Hussain Azad,
Chitral.
The leading television channels do not tire creating hype by scandalizing trivial events and small issues but have badly failed to highlight the great sacrifice rendered by those brave sons of the soil. We Chitralis are extremely frustrated and disappointed over the apathy of our television channels particularly our national television PTV.
Sultan Mehmood
Garam Chashma, Chitral
----------------------------------------------------
Pakistan Television gives coverage to the martyrs of war in Swat and Waziristan frequently but in most of the cases the martyrs covered by the channel are from Punjab. Soldiers and junior officers of the Army who are martyred also hail from NWFP. I am watching PTV telecasting exclusive programmes on martyrs from Punjab and Balochistan and not on those belonging to NWFP. I would particularly refer to Samiullah Shaheed, who hailed from Koghozi in Chitral. As a coincidence, his father's name is Pakistan and a son of “Pakistan” from NWFP sacrificed his life for Pakistan, the homeland of 170 million people.
I wish NWFP had its own television channel or any industrialist from this province had a TV channel of his own, so that martyrs of the ongoing war for Pakistan could be given proper coverage. We are fed up with alien channel and bipartisan publicity.
Bashir Hussain Azad,
Chitral.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Call to operate C-130s to Chitral
By Zar Alam Khan
RAWALPINDI: A large number of students and their parents belonging to Chitral have been unable to visit the valley during the summer vacations due to the blockade of the road and unavailability of seats on PIA’s Islamabad-Chitral flights.
A visit to PIA’s booking office in Rawalpindi showed crowds of people scrambling for reservation of seats. However, most of them returned empty-handed after being informed that seats were not available till the end of this month.
Most of the passengers said they had been visiting the office to reserve seats for the last many weeks, but without any success.
They said each year they visited their native villages in Chitral during the summer vacations. However, this summer they were still unable to proceed to the valley as the road via Mardan and Dir remained blocked due to the ongoing military operation and curfew in the region.
Some people are still travelling through Dir after taking a long detour via Bajaur Agency. However, most of the passengers, especially those accompanied by women and children, avoid travelling on the route due to security concerns.
The PIA operates one flight daily from Islamabad to Chitral but mostly it is cancelled due to inclement weather particularly on the 10,500-foot-high Lowari Pass.
A large number of Chitralis living in Karachi, Lahore and other cities have also reached here en route to Chitral but they too are unable to proceed due to unavailability of seats in the PIA flights and road blockade in the Malakand Division through which Chitral is reached.
Talking to Dawn, most of the passengers said the government should make arrangements to end the blockade of the valley and as a first step increase the number of PIA flights or operate C-130s on the route.
The passengers said due to deteriorating law and order situation in the NWFP, particularly after the suicide attack on the Pearl Continental Hotel in Peshawar, they could not go to Peshawar for onward journey to Chitral. Therefore, they said, the national flag-carrier should operate at least two flights daily from Islamabad to Chitral.
They also called upon their elected representatives to take up the issue with the authorities concerned and get a special package announced for ending their communication problems till the situation in the Malakand Division normalised.
RAWALPINDI: A large number of students and their parents belonging to Chitral have been unable to visit the valley during the summer vacations due to the blockade of the road and unavailability of seats on PIA’s Islamabad-Chitral flights.
A visit to PIA’s booking office in Rawalpindi showed crowds of people scrambling for reservation of seats. However, most of them returned empty-handed after being informed that seats were not available till the end of this month.
Most of the passengers said they had been visiting the office to reserve seats for the last many weeks, but without any success.
They said each year they visited their native villages in Chitral during the summer vacations. However, this summer they were still unable to proceed to the valley as the road via Mardan and Dir remained blocked due to the ongoing military operation and curfew in the region.
Some people are still travelling through Dir after taking a long detour via Bajaur Agency. However, most of the passengers, especially those accompanied by women and children, avoid travelling on the route due to security concerns.
The PIA operates one flight daily from Islamabad to Chitral but mostly it is cancelled due to inclement weather particularly on the 10,500-foot-high Lowari Pass.
A large number of Chitralis living in Karachi, Lahore and other cities have also reached here en route to Chitral but they too are unable to proceed due to unavailability of seats in the PIA flights and road blockade in the Malakand Division through which Chitral is reached.
Talking to Dawn, most of the passengers said the government should make arrangements to end the blockade of the valley and as a first step increase the number of PIA flights or operate C-130s on the route.
The passengers said due to deteriorating law and order situation in the NWFP, particularly after the suicide attack on the Pearl Continental Hotel in Peshawar, they could not go to Peshawar for onward journey to Chitral. Therefore, they said, the national flag-carrier should operate at least two flights daily from Islamabad to Chitral.
They also called upon their elected representatives to take up the issue with the authorities concerned and get a special package announced for ending their communication problems till the situation in the Malakand Division normalised.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
Update on Chitral
For full and up to date coverage of Chitral, please log on to chitraltoday.com. thanks
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Over 40,000 people stranded as bridge in Chitral's Yarkhun valley awaits reconstruction
Dawn
By Zar Alam Khan
ISLAMABAD: The government’s failure to reconstruct a bridge in a far-off valley of Chitral has left its over 40,000 residents stranded for the fourth consecutive summer this year.
The bridge on the Yarkhun river near Khotanlasht was constructed in 1980 but it collapsed in August 2006 due to lack of maintenance cutting off the over 100-km-long valley of over 50 scattered villages stretching up to the Boroghil Pass bordering the Wakhan corridor of Afghanistan.
As a result, the area has been facing a crisis-like situation in the absence of supplies of essential commodities and basic healthcare facilities. Ironically, there is even no basic healthcare centre in the entire valley and a dispensary set up in the Dizg village was also closed down a few years ago. The worse affected are patients needing emergency medical treatment including aged people, women and children. Besides, due to absence of transport, people have to travel on foot from the destroyed bridge to reach their villages and vice versa.
Hundreds of students including girls from the four villages near the collapsed bridge have to attend their schools situated in Brep village across the river. When the bridge collapsed, they remained out of school for three months till a pedestrian bridge was set up at the site. Crossing the dangling and quite long suspension bridge is like playing with one’s life. Early in the morning and in the afternoon, crowds of students can be seen on the bank of the river waiting for their turn to cross the bridge one by one, as the bridge is also used by other people and for shifting of luggage, etc. The residents said they had been going through mental distress and were also concerned about the safety of their children. One person has already lost his life while crossing the river.
Though the reconstruction of the bridge could take hardly one or two months, too many political stakeholders have complicated the matter to achieve their own vested interest making the residents suffer. As the area is far off and has no communication links, the affected people’s pleas after pleas for resolution of the problem have fell on deaf ears despite the fact that their political representatives had made promises to reconstruct the bridge on many occasions.
During the last about three years, every political party hoodwinked the people and sent contractors to the site who carried out some groundwork that too by fits and starts and then disappeared. So far, work on the project has been started and closed for fourth time but there is no hope that the work presently going on at a snail’s pace at the site would be completed any time soon.
When the bridge was washed away, the then provincial government of the MMA deliberately put the project into the cold storage and did not release the required funds on time. However, MMA’s successors in the province turned out to be more callous and did the same with the project. In the 2008 elections, the PML-Q candidates Shahzada Mohiuddin and Ghulam Mohammad returned to the National and the provincial assemblies mainly through the votes of the Yarkhun valley after promising to reconstruct the bridge as a priority project. But after reaching the assemblies, these two leaders have also been buying time on one pretext or the other. Instead of ensuring the reconstruction of the bridge, the MPA made it a publicity opportunity and proudly opened a plaque in his name on April 21, 2008, declaring that work on reconstruction of the bridge has been started. Had there been political will to resolve the public issue, the bridge would have so far been reconstructed, regretted the residents.
By Zar Alam Khan
ISLAMABAD: The government’s failure to reconstruct a bridge in a far-off valley of Chitral has left its over 40,000 residents stranded for the fourth consecutive summer this year.
The bridge on the Yarkhun river near Khotanlasht was constructed in 1980 but it collapsed in August 2006 due to lack of maintenance cutting off the over 100-km-long valley of over 50 scattered villages stretching up to the Boroghil Pass bordering the Wakhan corridor of Afghanistan.
As a result, the area has been facing a crisis-like situation in the absence of supplies of essential commodities and basic healthcare facilities. Ironically, there is even no basic healthcare centre in the entire valley and a dispensary set up in the Dizg village was also closed down a few years ago. The worse affected are patients needing emergency medical treatment including aged people, women and children. Besides, due to absence of transport, people have to travel on foot from the destroyed bridge to reach their villages and vice versa.
Hundreds of students including girls from the four villages near the collapsed bridge have to attend their schools situated in Brep village across the river. When the bridge collapsed, they remained out of school for three months till a pedestrian bridge was set up at the site. Crossing the dangling and quite long suspension bridge is like playing with one’s life. Early in the morning and in the afternoon, crowds of students can be seen on the bank of the river waiting for their turn to cross the bridge one by one, as the bridge is also used by other people and for shifting of luggage, etc. The residents said they had been going through mental distress and were also concerned about the safety of their children. One person has already lost his life while crossing the river.
Though the reconstruction of the bridge could take hardly one or two months, too many political stakeholders have complicated the matter to achieve their own vested interest making the residents suffer. As the area is far off and has no communication links, the affected people’s pleas after pleas for resolution of the problem have fell on deaf ears despite the fact that their political representatives had made promises to reconstruct the bridge on many occasions.
During the last about three years, every political party hoodwinked the people and sent contractors to the site who carried out some groundwork that too by fits and starts and then disappeared. So far, work on the project has been started and closed for fourth time but there is no hope that the work presently going on at a snail’s pace at the site would be completed any time soon.
When the bridge was washed away, the then provincial government of the MMA deliberately put the project into the cold storage and did not release the required funds on time. However, MMA’s successors in the province turned out to be more callous and did the same with the project. In the 2008 elections, the PML-Q candidates Shahzada Mohiuddin and Ghulam Mohammad returned to the National and the provincial assemblies mainly through the votes of the Yarkhun valley after promising to reconstruct the bridge as a priority project. But after reaching the assemblies, these two leaders have also been buying time on one pretext or the other. Instead of ensuring the reconstruction of the bridge, the MPA made it a publicity opportunity and proudly opened a plaque in his name on April 21, 2008, declaring that work on reconstruction of the bridge has been started. Had there been political will to resolve the public issue, the bridge would have so far been reconstructed, regretted the residents.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
the last breaths of Kalasha language in Kalkatak village of Chitral
By Fakhruddin
According to linguistic experts, 6,000 languages in the world will reduce to half in the middle of this century if language shifting continued in the same rate as it is now. Speakers of a minority language shift to a majority language due to many reasons.
In our county, a number of languages are endangered. Kalasha is one of them. Kalasha, the language spoken by a minority in Chitral, is threatened of extinction because its speakers are adopting the major language of Chitral, Khowar. The best example of this shift is the village of Kalkatak in southern Chitral. The inhabitants of Kalkatak have changed their mother-tongue three times during the last century.
They gave up Kalasha, adopted Palula, and then abandoned Palula for Khowar. Now, the last remnants of the Kalasha language will soon disappear from the village.
At the beginning of the last century, the language of Kalkatak was Kalasha, an Indo-Aryan language; and the language of an ancient tribe also called Kalasha, which today lives in three valleys in Chitral, Bumboret, Rumbur and Birir. There are only about a dozen elderly people living in Kalkatak who still know Kalasha, but they do not like to speak it. The Kalasha language will be extinct from the village with the death of this handful of people.
Muhammad Wali Shah, an elderly man of 72, says: "The people with whom I used to speak Kalasha in my childhood, do not like to speak it now". He added that until 60s, he could still find some company with whom to speak the language, but after that no one likes to converse in the language.
Kalasha was still dominant in the village in the 30s. No one had yet left it for Palula or Khowar, and some non-Kalasha speakers had even learnt it. Salah Khan, another elderly man, says: "My father was a Khowar speaker who immigrated to the village from Madak and married a Kalasha woman of the village. There was Kalasha in my home and this is why I know Kalasha".
Rahim Khan, a man of 40 and a son of Kalasha parents, does not know Kalasha at all, but speaks Palula. He says "I learnt Kalasha from my parents along with Palula and Khowar in my childhood, but later on I forgot the language, since Palula was so dominating." He speaks Palula with his children.
The people of Kalkatak gave up Kalasha because they felt inferior, and because it was easy to adopt other languages. In the time of the Kator ruler, all Kalasha of the area were in the Rayat class -- the lowest class. The people of the upper classes were using 'Kalash' as a derogatory term for the people. The people were hesitant to speak the language in front of Khowar speakers. The difficulties increased further when a fort was constructed in the village in 1930 for the son of a Khowar-speaking ruler, and many Khowar speakers came to the village with the prince.
Wasim Khan, born in 1937, says: "The people of Kalkatak gave up Kalasha because they felt inferior. Other tribes in the area considered the Kalasha inferior in status, and because of the Kalasha language this inferiority was more visible. The people of Kalkatak thought that people considered them inferior because they spoke Kalasha."
The villagers already knew Palula and Khowar along with their mother tongue and they had no difficulty in adopting either of these languages. The interaction and intermarriage of the villagers with Palula speakers from the Biori valley had already made them fluent in Palula. For a long time they were speaking these languages along with Kalasha.
Khoshani, an old lady of the village, says: "My parents were Kalasha speakers and my mother-tongue was Kalasha. I used to speak Kalasha as long as I was with my parents. I stopped it when I married and began to speak Palula. My mother-in-law was a Palula speaker from Biori and the language in my parents-in-laws' house was Palula."
Muhammad Salim, an influential Kalasha man, migrated to Biori Valley with his family to protect himself from enforced labour under the mehtar. He stayed there for a long time and came back to the village with the Palula language. His children spoke Palula. The summer-pastures of the villager also lie at the eastern end of the Biori valley. The people of Kalkatak had to go through the valley with their goats in order to get there. The shepherds of both language communities had a lot of interaction with each other while in the pastures.
The inhabitants of a small village called Serdur, near Kalkatak, are immigrants from Biori. They have been there for three generations. They still speak Palula, and depend on Kalkatak for many things. Until recently, they had no graveyard or Mosque, and they still come to Kalkatak for the Eid prayers.
To the people of Kalkatak, 'Kalasha' was a term not only used for a language but also for a tribe who were considered inferior, and, perhaps more importantly, for a religion which was considered infidel. To them, speaking Kalasha meant being perceived as inferior and infidel. Although the people of Kalkatak had given up the Kalasha religion long ago, they had kept the language.
Meanwhile, the Kalasha of Suwir - a village across the river to the west of Kalkatak - took an oath never again to speak Kalasha. The villagers collectively gave up the language. This must have had a great effect on the people of kalkatak.
The Kalasha language is taking its last breath in the village of Kalkatak. The few speakers of Kalasha in the village are in their seventies. With the death of these people the last symbol of the Kalasha tradition will disappear from the village forever.
According to linguistic experts, 6,000 languages in the world will reduce to half in the middle of this century if language shifting continued in the same rate as it is now. Speakers of a minority language shift to a majority language due to many reasons.
In our county, a number of languages are endangered. Kalasha is one of them. Kalasha, the language spoken by a minority in Chitral, is threatened of extinction because its speakers are adopting the major language of Chitral, Khowar. The best example of this shift is the village of Kalkatak in southern Chitral. The inhabitants of Kalkatak have changed their mother-tongue three times during the last century.
They gave up Kalasha, adopted Palula, and then abandoned Palula for Khowar. Now, the last remnants of the Kalasha language will soon disappear from the village.
At the beginning of the last century, the language of Kalkatak was Kalasha, an Indo-Aryan language; and the language of an ancient tribe also called Kalasha, which today lives in three valleys in Chitral, Bumboret, Rumbur and Birir. There are only about a dozen elderly people living in Kalkatak who still know Kalasha, but they do not like to speak it. The Kalasha language will be extinct from the village with the death of this handful of people.
Muhammad Wali Shah, an elderly man of 72, says: "The people with whom I used to speak Kalasha in my childhood, do not like to speak it now". He added that until 60s, he could still find some company with whom to speak the language, but after that no one likes to converse in the language.
Kalasha was still dominant in the village in the 30s. No one had yet left it for Palula or Khowar, and some non-Kalasha speakers had even learnt it. Salah Khan, another elderly man, says: "My father was a Khowar speaker who immigrated to the village from Madak and married a Kalasha woman of the village. There was Kalasha in my home and this is why I know Kalasha".
Rahim Khan, a man of 40 and a son of Kalasha parents, does not know Kalasha at all, but speaks Palula. He says "I learnt Kalasha from my parents along with Palula and Khowar in my childhood, but later on I forgot the language, since Palula was so dominating." He speaks Palula with his children.
The people of Kalkatak gave up Kalasha because they felt inferior, and because it was easy to adopt other languages. In the time of the Kator ruler, all Kalasha of the area were in the Rayat class -- the lowest class. The people of the upper classes were using 'Kalash' as a derogatory term for the people. The people were hesitant to speak the language in front of Khowar speakers. The difficulties increased further when a fort was constructed in the village in 1930 for the son of a Khowar-speaking ruler, and many Khowar speakers came to the village with the prince.
Wasim Khan, born in 1937, says: "The people of Kalkatak gave up Kalasha because they felt inferior. Other tribes in the area considered the Kalasha inferior in status, and because of the Kalasha language this inferiority was more visible. The people of Kalkatak thought that people considered them inferior because they spoke Kalasha."
The villagers already knew Palula and Khowar along with their mother tongue and they had no difficulty in adopting either of these languages. The interaction and intermarriage of the villagers with Palula speakers from the Biori valley had already made them fluent in Palula. For a long time they were speaking these languages along with Kalasha.
Khoshani, an old lady of the village, says: "My parents were Kalasha speakers and my mother-tongue was Kalasha. I used to speak Kalasha as long as I was with my parents. I stopped it when I married and began to speak Palula. My mother-in-law was a Palula speaker from Biori and the language in my parents-in-laws' house was Palula."
Muhammad Salim, an influential Kalasha man, migrated to Biori Valley with his family to protect himself from enforced labour under the mehtar. He stayed there for a long time and came back to the village with the Palula language. His children spoke Palula. The summer-pastures of the villager also lie at the eastern end of the Biori valley. The people of Kalkatak had to go through the valley with their goats in order to get there. The shepherds of both language communities had a lot of interaction with each other while in the pastures.
The inhabitants of a small village called Serdur, near Kalkatak, are immigrants from Biori. They have been there for three generations. They still speak Palula, and depend on Kalkatak for many things. Until recently, they had no graveyard or Mosque, and they still come to Kalkatak for the Eid prayers.
To the people of Kalkatak, 'Kalasha' was a term not only used for a language but also for a tribe who were considered inferior, and, perhaps more importantly, for a religion which was considered infidel. To them, speaking Kalasha meant being perceived as inferior and infidel. Although the people of Kalkatak had given up the Kalasha religion long ago, they had kept the language.
Meanwhile, the Kalasha of Suwir - a village across the river to the west of Kalkatak - took an oath never again to speak Kalasha. The villagers collectively gave up the language. This must have had a great effect on the people of kalkatak.
The Kalasha language is taking its last breath in the village of Kalkatak. The few speakers of Kalasha in the village are in their seventies. With the death of these people the last symbol of the Kalasha tradition will disappear from the village forever.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Why don't we care for our displaced brothers? - Letters
This is with reference to the letter by Sherzad Ali Hyder in
which instead of giving answer to my earlier letter he has
tried to divert attention from the actual issue and also
expressed grave concern over the attitude of the young
generation of Chitral. The most interesting aspect of the
letter was his idea of research which he thinks will help
in changing the Chitralis, specially the youth.
I would like to correct the gentleman that Chitrali youth do
not need any research to find out that their thinking is
negative or positive; what they need is to identify the
self-centered elements among them due to which the
people of Chitral have been suffering since long.
The very recent example is the fund raising campaign in the
name of Lowari Tunnel and the way it was used by some
individuals. Had there been awareness amongst the people
who gathered these funds, the money would not have been
used in such a wasteful manner.
Why the gentleman has become so personal is another
point to ponder. It clearly shows he has no material
defence in support of the said NGO.
Secondly, I would like to make it clear that being a
journalist, I am duty bound to speak for Chitral and expose
those who work against its interests. If a journalist does
not point the weaknesses of any person or an organization
playing with the innocence of the masses, it would be
dereliction of duty, lack of professionalism and in many
cases favouritism.
Zulfiqar Ahmad
Islamabad
-------------------------
This letter refers to Qazi Fazal Elahi's letter and reaction of Mr. Zulfiqar Ahmad. I would like to make two simple points. Qazi's argument is valid and considerable number of Chitralis in Rawalpindi/Islamabad is resourceful, therefore they can contribute for the mentioned cause. Since CDF is accountable to its members thus Mr. Zulfiqar's demand is fair enough and CDF should give an account of the progress. However, the objective judgment of Mr. Zulfiqar about CDF' activities may not be correct as he does not qualify for such sweeping statement as single individual no matter how well educated, strong intellectual and seasoned analyst he is. I do not appose the criticism, as it always guides individuals and organizations in gauging their paths for direction and one cannot claim hundred percent successes is struggle. This is inherited (at least I admit) problem with majority of Chitrali who highlight the weaknesses and avoid to look at positive aspects of the same thing. This behavior is reflected in the reactions of majority of our young generation to any issue. A thorough social research may be required to determine the causes of such an established mindset and attitude which is socially destructive. This may further increase the process of social division in our society which is already fragile.
Sherzad Ali Hyder
Islamabad
---------------------------------------
I am writing these lines after going through the letter of Qazi Fazal Elahi (May 12) in which he has lamented the apathy of Chitralis towards their Muslim brothers displaced from Malakand Division.
Qazi Sahib refers to a recently formed NGO called Chitral Development Forum and says it "collected approximately Rs1600,000 for the purposes of a mega cultural show and a seminar on Lowari Tunnel. It means Chitralis and Chitrali NGOs have the capability to play their role and contribute their share on humanitarian grounds as and when needed."
Nobody can disagree with the writer about the capabilities of the Chitralis. However, recent history of the so-called welfare organizations launched by Chitralis leaves much to be desired. The NGO referred to above collected huge donations from Chitralis living in Rawalpindi and Islamabad in the name of Lowari Tunnel and promising that over 22 ambassadors and scores of federal ministers were to attend the seminar in Serena Hotel aimed to bring development to Chitral. However, the seminar turned out to be a closed door debate of stereotypes while the so-called cultural show even brought embarrassment to the organizers let alone demonstrate the true culture of the proud people of Chitral.
My request to the honorable Qazi Sahib is: Can he ask the NGO to give account of the money collected in the name of Chitral. Otherwise, the confidence of the people of Chitral on civil society organizations will further shatter and the Chitralis will remain a silent spectator to human sufferings as in the case of Malakand Division.
Zulfiqar Ahmad
Islamabad
--------------------------
In the light of tradition reported from the holy Prophet (peace be upon him), the
Muslims have been enjoined to provide assistance to their Muslim brothers
whether they are oppressed or oppressor. As a result of the ongoing fighting
between the armed forces and militants, one and half million people of
Malakand including women and children have shifted to relatively peaceful
parts of the country. Various political parties, organizations and NGOs and
other kind-hearted individuals and families are extending support to the
violence affected people of Malakand.In this time of need, the Chitralis and
Chitrali welfare organizations are nowhere in the list of those extending
support to these less fortunate Muslim brothers and sisters. The absence
of Chitralis and various welfare organizations in providing relief to violence
affected people of Malakand is felt greatly. It is worth mentioning that the
recently formed Chitral Development Forum had collected approximately
Rs1600,000 for the purposes of mega cultural show and a seminar on
Lowari Tunnel. It means that the Chitralis and Chitrali welfare
organizations have the capability to play their role and contribute their
share on humanitarian grounds as and when needed.
The Chitrali doctors, lawyers, traders' unions, govt employees and public
in general must come forward and help their brothers.
Qazi Fazal Elahi
Islamabad
Monday, May 11, 2009
Call to appoint doctors in Mastuj
Report GH Farooqui
CHITRAL: Speakers at a workshop here strongly condemned the health department for its continuous failure to appoint a doctor at the Rural Health Centre of Mastuj despite the fact that four posts of doctors were sanctioned for the centre.
The one-day workshop on human rights was organized by Easy and Equitable Access to Justice Program for Women, a project of Legal Awareness Program for Human Rights (LAPH), in collaboration with the Human Rights Monitoring Committee, Mastuj.
The speakers said the health department had no regard for people's problems and was ignoring their requests to appoint doctors in the whole area. They said there was no lady doctor in the area and the residents were compelled to rush their women to the Aga Khan Medical Centre at Booni in times of emergency.
But they regretted that most of the time the patients died on their way before reaching the hospital due to the dilapidated condition of the road.
On the other hand, they also alleged that taking undue benefit of the situation, the the Aga Khan Health Service's medical center at Booni was overcharging the poor patients.
The workshop was presided over by Abdul Rehman, a social worker from Mastuj.
Chairman Board of Director LAPH Niaz Ali Shah said his organization was working for uplift of humanity especially for protection of women's rights. He said LAPH arranged seminars and workshops for raising awareness among the masses regarding human rights.
He said they also supported widows for their rehabilitation and helped poor students in order to decrease the dropt-out ratio besides providing free legal assistance to poor and helpless women. For this purpose, they have opened three free legal aid centers which help oppressed segment of society.
He thanked Tehsil Nazim Chitral Sartaj Ahmad Khan for his support for protecting human rights.
He said there was great discrimination in different agencies and women were totally being ignored. He said there are only 135 schools for girls in the valley and for boys the number was 565; there are 606 female teachers against 1,827 male teachers; a male doctor has to check up to 4,000 patients but a lady doctor has to see over 40,000 patients.
Those who spoke on the occasion were Haji Imatuddin, Nazir Shah, Bibi Saliha, Salahuddin, Muhiuddin and Shakira Naz.
CHITRAL: Speakers at a workshop here strongly condemned the health department for its continuous failure to appoint a doctor at the Rural Health Centre of Mastuj despite the fact that four posts of doctors were sanctioned for the centre.
The one-day workshop on human rights was organized by Easy and Equitable Access to Justice Program for Women, a project of Legal Awareness Program for Human Rights (LAPH), in collaboration with the Human Rights Monitoring Committee, Mastuj.
The speakers said the health department had no regard for people's problems and was ignoring their requests to appoint doctors in the whole area. They said there was no lady doctor in the area and the residents were compelled to rush their women to the Aga Khan Medical Centre at Booni in times of emergency.
But they regretted that most of the time the patients died on their way before reaching the hospital due to the dilapidated condition of the road.
On the other hand, they also alleged that taking undue benefit of the situation, the the Aga Khan Health Service's medical center at Booni was overcharging the poor patients.
The workshop was presided over by Abdul Rehman, a social worker from Mastuj.
Chairman Board of Director LAPH Niaz Ali Shah said his organization was working for uplift of humanity especially for protection of women's rights. He said LAPH arranged seminars and workshops for raising awareness among the masses regarding human rights.
He said they also supported widows for their rehabilitation and helped poor students in order to decrease the dropt-out ratio besides providing free legal assistance to poor and helpless women. For this purpose, they have opened three free legal aid centers which help oppressed segment of society.
He thanked Tehsil Nazim Chitral Sartaj Ahmad Khan for his support for protecting human rights.
He said there was great discrimination in different agencies and women were totally being ignored. He said there are only 135 schools for girls in the valley and for boys the number was 565; there are 606 female teachers against 1,827 male teachers; a male doctor has to check up to 4,000 patients but a lady doctor has to see over 40,000 patients.
Those who spoke on the occasion were Haji Imatuddin, Nazir Shah, Bibi Saliha, Salahuddin, Muhiuddin and Shakira Naz.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Chitrali baby's life saved at pims
By Zar Alam Khan
ISLAMABAD: The life of a newborn baby born to a couple in a Chitral village with a major congenital deformity in the passageway from mouth to stomach was saved after an operation at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) Islamabad.
According to Bulbul Hussain, a resident of Bakarabad in Chitral, when the condition of his son deteriorated soon after birth, local doctors told him to take the baby to a major hospital immediately. The parents took the baby to SherpaoHospital in Peshawar where he was diagnosed with tracheoesophageal fistula with esophageal atresia (a condition in which the passageway from the mouth to stomach is not formed and has communication through the airway).
However, considering the seriousness of the case, the doctors at the Peshawar hospital referred the baby to Pims in a critical condition.
The baby was admitted to the paediatrics surgery ward at the Pims for two days after which he was operated upon by a team of pediatric surgeons, including Associate Professor Dr M. Amjad Chaudhry and Dr Saifullah Khan.
Dr Saifullah, who is also a resident of Birzoz village in the Yarkhun valley of Chitral, told this correspondent on Tuesday that after the operation the baby was doing well and had been discharged from the hospital. He said this could be the first case of its nature in the medical history of Chitral.
ISLAMABAD: The life of a newborn baby born to a couple in a Chitral village with a major congenital deformity in the passageway from mouth to stomach was saved after an operation at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) Islamabad.
According to Bulbul Hussain, a resident of Bakarabad in Chitral, when the condition of his son deteriorated soon after birth, local doctors told him to take the baby to a major hospital immediately. The parents took the baby to SherpaoHospital in Peshawar where he was diagnosed with tracheoesophageal fistula with esophageal atresia (a condition in which the passageway from the mouth to stomach is not formed and has communication through the airway).
However, considering the seriousness of the case, the doctors at the Peshawar hospital referred the baby to Pims in a critical condition.
The baby was admitted to the paediatrics surgery ward at the Pims for two days after which he was operated upon by a team of pediatric surgeons, including Associate Professor Dr M. Amjad Chaudhry and Dr Saifullah Khan.
Dr Saifullah, who is also a resident of Birzoz village in the Yarkhun valley of Chitral, told this correspondent on Tuesday that after the operation the baby was doing well and had been discharged from the hospital. He said this could be the first case of its nature in the medical history of Chitral.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Tight security for Lowari Tunnel staff ordered
Chitral Update report
ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Standing Committee on Communications here on Monday recommended “proper security” for foreign consultants and engineers working on the Lowari Tunnel project.
The committee meeting held in the Parliament House under the chairmanship of Saeed Ahmed Zafar expressed serious concern over the activities of criminal elements and militants against foreign technical experts in the country.
The meeting was informed that many engineers and experts belonging to China and other countries had been kidnapped and killed in Balochistan and the NWFP.
The committee called upon the authorities to ensure safety to the foreign workers at the Lowari Tunnel.
ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Standing Committee on Communications here on Monday recommended “proper security” for foreign consultants and engineers working on the Lowari Tunnel project.
The committee meeting held in the Parliament House under the chairmanship of Saeed Ahmed Zafar expressed serious concern over the activities of criminal elements and militants against foreign technical experts in the country.
The meeting was informed that many engineers and experts belonging to China and other countries had been kidnapped and killed in Balochistan and the NWFP.
The committee called upon the authorities to ensure safety to the foreign workers at the Lowari Tunnel.
Taliban flexing muscles for Chitral?
Report Zulfiqar Ahmad
ISLAMABAD: After completely ruining the peace of Swat, Buner and
Dir, now the next destination of Taliban seems to be Chitral, the
largest district of Malakand Division.
Sources told this reporter that the next target of Taliban is definitely
Chitral, where they could not reach due to the closure of the Lowari
Pass for the last over five months due to snow.
They are flexing their muscles to show dominance in the valley as quite
a large number of their like-minded hardliners are already there, said the
sources. According to these sources, Taliban access to Chitral will
damage the peace of the valley to the point of no return as the population
of the district consists of three communities - Sunni, Ismaili and Kalash.
Expressing grave concern and fear over the possible shift of Taliban
to Chitral after opening of the Lowari Pass, Chitralis living in twin
cities of Rawalpindi-Islamabad have demanded of the government to
deploy troops replacing the handful of paramilitary personnel on Lowari
top.
They said if the government did not take precautionary measures
to stop the Taliban from entering Chitral, soon the already backward
valley would present the view of Stone Age with no education and
other basic amenities of life.
They said Taliban will easily enter Chitral through Lowari Pass as
hardly five to six police personnel that too with meager arms
ammunition deployed on the way was no big threat to them.
The recent killing of nine personnel of Chitral Scouts in Dir by the
Taliban has sparked anger throughout the serene valley.
In Chitral, they said, everybody is Afzal Khan Lala. The people of
Chitral are the most peace-loving in the whole country and any
conspiracy to sabotage the peace of teh valley would be retaliated
with full force of the local people, they added.
ISLAMABAD: After completely ruining the peace of Swat, Buner and
Dir, now the next destination of Taliban seems to be Chitral, the
largest district of Malakand Division.
Sources told this reporter that the next target of Taliban is definitely
Chitral, where they could not reach due to the closure of the Lowari
Pass for the last over five months due to snow.
They are flexing their muscles to show dominance in the valley as quite
a large number of their like-minded hardliners are already there, said the
sources. According to these sources, Taliban access to Chitral will
damage the peace of the valley to the point of no return as the population
of the district consists of three communities - Sunni, Ismaili and Kalash.
Expressing grave concern and fear over the possible shift of Taliban
to Chitral after opening of the Lowari Pass, Chitralis living in twin
cities of Rawalpindi-Islamabad have demanded of the government to
deploy troops replacing the handful of paramilitary personnel on Lowari
top.
They said if the government did not take precautionary measures
to stop the Taliban from entering Chitral, soon the already backward
valley would present the view of Stone Age with no education and
other basic amenities of life.
They said Taliban will easily enter Chitral through Lowari Pass as
hardly five to six police personnel that too with meager arms
ammunition deployed on the way was no big threat to them.
The recent killing of nine personnel of Chitral Scouts in Dir by the
Taliban has sparked anger throughout the serene valley.
In Chitral, they said, everybody is Afzal Khan Lala. The people of
Chitral are the most peace-loving in the whole country and any
conspiracy to sabotage the peace of teh valley would be retaliated
with full force of the local people, they added.
Chilim Jusht festival from next week
By Our Correspondent
CHITRAL: Chilim Jusht, the spring festival of Kalash people living in the three valleys of Bumburate, Rumbur and Birir, will commence in the second week of May and continue for five days, activists of Kalash development said.
Preparations for the festival have been started and the Kalash people, both male and female, are seen in city markets busy in shopping for the occasion. They have gotten many suits of traditional clothes stitched, renovated their houses and replaced the old utensils.
The festival usually attracts a large number of tourists to the valleys, but the Kalash activists said the turnout this year might be low because of the security situation in the Malakand division.
They said that during the festival, the number of tourists to the valleys reached its peak and all the hotels and rest houses were occupied to their capacities by the visitors.--Dawn
Four SHO s awarded
CHITRAL: Four station house officers of Chitral were awarded cash prizes and commendation certificates for their outstanding performance in curbing the menace of drugs in their respective areas, by DPO Mohammad Saleem Khan Marwat here on Monday.
Those who received the rewards were Mohammad Khalid of Drosh, Ali Murad of Arandu, Zafar Ahmed of Ayun and Inayatullah of the Chitral city.--Zahiruddin
Those who received the rewards were Mohammad Khalid of Drosh, Ali Murad of Arandu, Zafar Ahmed of Ayun and Inayatullah of the Chitral city.--Zahiruddin
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Man seeks protection against brother in Chitral
CHITRAL: Mujahidur Rahman, a resident of Jughoor village, demanded of the government to provide him justice and safety against his elder brother, who ‘attempted to murder’ him on Saturday evening.
Addressing a press conference in the general ward of DHQ hospital here on Sunday, he alleged that the District Nazim, Maghfirat Shah, was using his influence to save his brother.
Mujahidur Rahman said he had a land dispute with his brother Jamshedur Rahman, who called him at his home on Saturday evening for a compromise, but allegedly fired at him, injuring him critically.
He said that although the police registered a case against the accused Jamshed and his accomplices, but no arrest had been made due to the ‘interference of the district nazim’. He alleged that some months ago, the local police had implicated him in a false case of forgery to pressurise him to withdraw from his claim on the land.
Mujahidur Rahman feared that the accused would go scot free due to the explicit support of Maghfirat Shah. He said the police did not bother to provide him security at the hospital, while the accused was free and could attack him again.
He claimed that due to his implication in the false case, he lost his job in Saudi Arabia. Mujahidur Rahman demanded of the chief minister, chief secretary and the IG police to help him. --Zahiruddin
Addressing a press conference in the general ward of DHQ hospital here on Sunday, he alleged that the District Nazim, Maghfirat Shah, was using his influence to save his brother.
Mujahidur Rahman said he had a land dispute with his brother Jamshedur Rahman, who called him at his home on Saturday evening for a compromise, but allegedly fired at him, injuring him critically.
He said that although the police registered a case against the accused Jamshed and his accomplices, but no arrest had been made due to the ‘interference of the district nazim’. He alleged that some months ago, the local police had implicated him in a false case of forgery to pressurise him to withdraw from his claim on the land.
Mujahidur Rahman feared that the accused would go scot free due to the explicit support of Maghfirat Shah. He said the police did not bother to provide him security at the hospital, while the accused was free and could attack him again.
He claimed that due to his implication in the false case, he lost his job in Saudi Arabia. Mujahidur Rahman demanded of the chief minister, chief secretary and the IG police to help him. --Zahiruddin
Suspension of Saturday flight flayed
CHITRAL: The residents of Chitral have condemned the PIA management for diverting its Peshawar-Chitral flight on each Saturday to Kabul.
Talking to this correspondent, they said that it was a great injustice with the people of Chitral, who greatly depended on such flights.
They said that due to closure of the Lowari Top road the postal system also greatly depended on the PIA flights.
They said that the management of the national airline should make some alternate arrangement for the Peshawar-Kabul route instead of diverting the Chitral flight.--Zahiruddin
Talking to this correspondent, they said that it was a great injustice with the people of Chitral, who greatly depended on such flights.
They said that due to closure of the Lowari Top road the postal system also greatly depended on the PIA flights.
They said that the management of the national airline should make some alternate arrangement for the Peshawar-Kabul route instead of diverting the Chitral flight.--Zahiruddin
Economic emancipation of women promised
By Zahiruddin
CHITRAL: Chairman of Biyar Local Support Organisation (BLSO) Syed Sardar Hussain Shah has said that the organisation is working on an extended programme to give economic emancipation to the womenfolk.
Talking to Dawn here on Saturday, he said that the BLSO was established three years ago with the help of the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP).
He said that the organisation gave top priority to the women development from the day of its establishment in its area of activity in union council Charun.
Giving details of the programme, Mr Shah said that initially 140 women were imparted training in small enterprises in the leading institutions of Islamabad and Lahore who further trained the educated as well as the illiterate housewives.
He said that micro-credit scheme was then introduced which enabled the women to launch their own business on small-scale while guidance and counseling was provided to them on each step.
Mr Shah said that utilising their training in different trades, the women started manufacturing different articles like shampoo, organic jam, tomato paste apart from embroidery and raising household poultry and honeybees. He said that the women were also trained and helped to grow vegetables on commercial scale to supplement their income.
Describing the story of success, he said that the embroidery articles produced by the women were of superb quality and were put to exhibition in Islamabad on national level and the BLSO received demand of the articles from different countries including India and UAE. He said that the women also made carpets from pure wool, which were also in great demand.
The BLSO chairman said to discourage the middlemen, the organisation established a display centre at Booni to pool the produce of the women for onward marketing.
He said that according to a recently held survey, the women associated with BLSO earned more than Rs20,000 a month which helped them lead a respectable life while the number of suicide cases in the area had also declined.
Mr Shah said that the BLSO had also set up a maternity home at Charun Oveer which was a remote area and it had greatly helped to reduce the number of maternal and neonatal deaths.--Dawn
CHITRAL: Chairman of Biyar Local Support Organisation (BLSO) Syed Sardar Hussain Shah has said that the organisation is working on an extended programme to give economic emancipation to the womenfolk.
Talking to Dawn here on Saturday, he said that the BLSO was established three years ago with the help of the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP).
He said that the organisation gave top priority to the women development from the day of its establishment in its area of activity in union council Charun.
Giving details of the programme, Mr Shah said that initially 140 women were imparted training in small enterprises in the leading institutions of Islamabad and Lahore who further trained the educated as well as the illiterate housewives.
He said that micro-credit scheme was then introduced which enabled the women to launch their own business on small-scale while guidance and counseling was provided to them on each step.
Mr Shah said that utilising their training in different trades, the women started manufacturing different articles like shampoo, organic jam, tomato paste apart from embroidery and raising household poultry and honeybees. He said that the women were also trained and helped to grow vegetables on commercial scale to supplement their income.
Describing the story of success, he said that the embroidery articles produced by the women were of superb quality and were put to exhibition in Islamabad on national level and the BLSO received demand of the articles from different countries including India and UAE. He said that the women also made carpets from pure wool, which were also in great demand.
The BLSO chairman said to discourage the middlemen, the organisation established a display centre at Booni to pool the produce of the women for onward marketing.
He said that according to a recently held survey, the women associated with BLSO earned more than Rs20,000 a month which helped them lead a respectable life while the number of suicide cases in the area had also declined.
Mr Shah said that the BLSO had also set up a maternity home at Charun Oveer which was a remote area and it had greatly helped to reduce the number of maternal and neonatal deaths.--Dawn
Workshop on women's rights held in Chitral
Report GH Farooqui
CHITRAL: A one-day workshop on women rights was held at Mulkho, some 98 KM from here. The programme was jointly organized by Khow Local Support Organization (KLSO) and Mulkhoh Cultural and Historical Society (MCHS) supported by Legal Awareness Program for Human Rights (LAPH).
Bashirullah, Manager KLSO, pointed out the main problems faced by women of the area like lack of health acre and education facilities. He said there is only one high school for 18,990 population which is not sufficient. He said women are being empowered by imparting them training in different skills like honey bee keeping, handicrafts etc. He said no society can develop until they involved women in the decision-making process because they are important component of the community.
Niaz Ali Shah, Chairman Board of Director of LAPH, highlighted women's rights on legal point of view. He said the main cause of women frustration was our attitude and denying women property rights and ignoring them in decision making. He said women are half of our total population and we should bring them forward for sustainable development. He said some are depriving women of their basic rights through wrong and traditional practices.
The speakers said due to discriminations we treated sons and daughters unequally which created frustration amomg females.
Ms Gulshad, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, highlighted women's rights on Islamic point of view as well as according to UN human rights charter.
Ghulam Muhayuddin lamented that due to our traditional practices women reamined undeveloped.
Chairman KLSO Mukarram Shah said women are deliberately being neglected and they are not given their rights. He said a nation can never develop until their women did not work shoulder to shoulder with their men.
CHITRAL: A one-day workshop on women rights was held at Mulkho, some 98 KM from here. The programme was jointly organized by Khow Local Support Organization (KLSO) and Mulkhoh Cultural and Historical Society (MCHS) supported by Legal Awareness Program for Human Rights (LAPH).
Bashirullah, Manager KLSO, pointed out the main problems faced by women of the area like lack of health acre and education facilities. He said there is only one high school for 18,990 population which is not sufficient. He said women are being empowered by imparting them training in different skills like honey bee keeping, handicrafts etc. He said no society can develop until they involved women in the decision-making process because they are important component of the community.
Niaz Ali Shah, Chairman Board of Director of LAPH, highlighted women's rights on legal point of view. He said the main cause of women frustration was our attitude and denying women property rights and ignoring them in decision making. He said women are half of our total population and we should bring them forward for sustainable development. He said some are depriving women of their basic rights through wrong and traditional practices.
The speakers said due to discriminations we treated sons and daughters unequally which created frustration amomg females.
Ms Gulshad, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, highlighted women's rights on Islamic point of view as well as according to UN human rights charter.
Ghulam Muhayuddin lamented that due to our traditional practices women reamined undeveloped.
Chairman KLSO Mukarram Shah said women are deliberately being neglected and they are not given their rights. He said a nation can never develop until their women did not work shoulder to shoulder with their men.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Encroachments on state lands in Chitral
By Islamuddin
Chitral is the biggest district of NWFP covering an area of about 15,000 square kilometers. Only 3% of this land is either under cultivation or built up and the remaining 97% land, comprising mountains, glaciers, forests, pastures, barren land and riverbed has traditionally been held by the people in common (shamilat). The entire population in the catchment areas have historically enjoyed user rights on these categories of lands.
In 1975 the Govt. of NWFP issued a notification to regulate use of the common land (shamilat). Under this notification control over the 97% land, comprising shamilat was given to the state, while the people were allowed user rights subject to state regulations. However, either owing to connivance or political pressure the Govt. machinery was unable to control and regulate the state land.
In 1977 when the PPP Govt. was overthrown, the landed aristocracy shifted its loyalty and became camp follower of Ziaul Haq in return for his support to subvert Bhutto’s Land Reforms. With the active patronage of Ziaul Haq, the judicial process was also manipulated to give legal cover to the encroachments of state land. Official custodians of state property opted to stay on side lines, while landed aristocracy fought out their cases in the courts. With the Govt. keeping out of the legal battles, the Notification of 1975 was not pressed into service until 2005, when the Chitral Dost Alliance made it an election issue. Again in the 2007 general elections the Notification of 1975 was made an election issue by the PPP candidate for the provincial seat. Soon after the election, in march 2007, the provincial Govt. of NWFP issued a circular to the settlement staff of Chitral not to transfer state lands to private individuals.
The people of Chitral have pined great hopes with the coalition Govt. of NWFP. Both PPP and ANP are perceived to be pro-poor parties. Their intention to implement 1975 Notification is a testimony of their commitment. But, as the saying goes, the taste of the pudding is in the eating. The people of Chitral want to see action on the ground. So far no drive has been launched to remove encroachments and reclaim state lands. We have yet to see the state impleading itself in cases involving state property. In fact it is still the other way round. State lands continue to be encroached. Land mafia is again trying to close ranks with the new ruling parties to protect their vested interests and defeat the laws of the land. Any further delay to establish writ of the Government may push it to evacuating state lands through military action.
On the one hand state is being deprived of its property and on the other hand reckless use of the land is pushing Chitral towards environmental catastrophy. Forests and glaciers are disappearing, roads and river leads are shrinking causing floods due to overflow. Land erosion, windstorms and floods have become order of the day. The people of Chitral are looking towards the Govt with expectancy. They are demanding of the Govt. to assert its authority. Encroachments should be removed and closed cases, where the Govt. failed to implead itself in land disputes, should be reopened. In case there are legal impediments, these should be removed through legislation.
The existing situation is simply untenable. How can 99% people survive on 2% land, while 98% land remains out of bound for them due to official apathy? The Govt must establish its writ and restore public confidence in its ability to do justice. It is time to act before it is too late and the suggested action should not confine itself to the reclaiming of the encroached state land but it must also include action against officials and elected representatives who failed to protect Govt. interests.
Chitral offers the promise of becoming the richest district, if it can reclaim its control over the 97% state land, which it can lease out to the local people. At present it is paying hefty amounts to land grabbers for buying sand, concrete and stones from the illegal occupants of river beds for its different development projects in the construction sector. It reflects poorly on the state and the people of Chitral, that a few land grabbers are fleecing them. Before the people of Chitral are pushed to the wall, the state must come to their rescue as well as to establish its own writ.
Kaghlasht Festival in Chitral concludes
Report GH Farooqui
CHITRAL: Chairman National Assembly Standing Committee on Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas Shahzada Mohiuddin said some 130 million rupees have been approved by the federal government for different uplift schemes in Chitral. He was speaking as chief guest at the concluding ceremony of Qaghlast Festival on Thursday. The MNA assured the participants of blacktopping the Mulkhow and Qaghlasht roads. He also announced Rs30,000 for the management committee of the festival. He said the young generation should participate in healthy activities to save themselves from social evils. He also presented the winner and runner-up trophies to different teams. Thousands of people participated in the final where the management committee had arranged for traditional plays with cultural shows and folk dance to enthrall the spectators. Other speakers on the occasion demanded water supply to this ground to irrigate it and for construction of a road. In the final of polo, Kosht defated the team of Booni by 3 to 2 goals. Sardar Ahmad was captain of the winner team while Shahzada Sikandarul Mulk led the runner-up team. Sardar Ahmad was also declared as man of the match. As many as six polo teams participated in the tournament.10 football teams participated in the festival. During the semi final Morder football tams versus Reshun team and Kushum versus Mastum contested in which Morder and Kushum football teams qualified for final match. In football, Morder defeated Kushum with a penalty as the match remained equal till the end. Muhammad Qadir was captain of winner team and Zulfiqar Ali of runner-up team. The Morder team captain was also declared man of the match. As many as 16 teams participated in cricket tournament. The cup went to the Booni team which defeated Medical Star with seven wickets. Inamullah of Booni white teams was declared man of the match while M. Zakeer of medical rep team was announced man of the tournament. In Tug of War, Mastuj Tehsil won the trophy by defeating Mulkhow. A total of 40 persons participated in race competition. Zahurul Hassan of Koragh scored 1st position, Shamsud Rehmat of Morder 2nd position and Amir Ali of Kosht remained third. 10 teams participated in volleyball tournament and the final match was played between Chitral Scouts and Booni in which Chitral Scouts defeated Booni by two to zero. A local traditional match called Ghaluchun Ghal was played between Booni and Mulkhow team in which Booni defeated Mulkhow. A competition of musical chair was also held among special people.
CHITRAL: Chairman National Assembly Standing Committee on Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas Shahzada Mohiuddin said some 130 million rupees have been approved by the federal government for different uplift schemes in Chitral. He was speaking as chief guest at the concluding ceremony of Qaghlast Festival on Thursday. The MNA assured the participants of blacktopping the Mulkhow and Qaghlasht roads. He also announced Rs30,000 for the management committee of the festival. He said the young generation should participate in healthy activities to save themselves from social evils. He also presented the winner and runner-up trophies to different teams. Thousands of people participated in the final where the management committee had arranged for traditional plays with cultural shows and folk dance to enthrall the spectators. Other speakers on the occasion demanded water supply to this ground to irrigate it and for construction of a road. In the final of polo, Kosht defated the team of Booni by 3 to 2 goals. Sardar Ahmad was captain of the winner team while Shahzada Sikandarul Mulk led the runner-up team. Sardar Ahmad was also declared as man of the match. As many as six polo teams participated in the tournament.10 football teams participated in the festival. During the semi final Morder football tams versus Reshun team and Kushum versus Mastum contested in which Morder and Kushum football teams qualified for final match. In football, Morder defeated Kushum with a penalty as the match remained equal till the end. Muhammad Qadir was captain of winner team and Zulfiqar Ali of runner-up team. The Morder team captain was also declared man of the match. As many as 16 teams participated in cricket tournament. The cup went to the Booni team which defeated Medical Star with seven wickets. Inamullah of Booni white teams was declared man of the match while M. Zakeer of medical rep team was announced man of the tournament. In Tug of War, Mastuj Tehsil won the trophy by defeating Mulkhow. A total of 40 persons participated in race competition. Zahurul Hassan of Koragh scored 1st position, Shamsud Rehmat of Morder 2nd position and Amir Ali of Kosht remained third. 10 teams participated in volleyball tournament and the final match was played between Chitral Scouts and Booni in which Chitral Scouts defeated Booni by two to zero. A local traditional match called Ghaluchun Ghal was played between Booni and Mulkhow team in which Booni defeated Mulkhow. A competition of musical chair was also held among special people.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Chitral polytechnic institute remains incomplete
CHITRAL: Establishment of polytechnic institute in the district remains a dream for another year as the building is unlikely to be completed by June due to lack of funds, sources in the works and services department told this correspondent.
They said that the scheme was short of Rs6 million for which the finance department had been approached which was yet to be entertained. The estimated cost of the building was Rs78.530 million and work on it had started three years ago. Its stipulated time of completion was June 2008 but it was delayed by one year due to the slow pace of work.
The people of Chitral had attached importance to the establishment of the polytechnic institute as there was no institution for technical education in the district.
A resident said that Chitral was the only district in the province having no polytechnic institute. After passing matriculation examination, the students had to go to other neighbouring districts to seek admission in classes of associate engineering but very few seats were made available to them.
He said that classes were to be commenced in the polytechnic institute right from the current year but it could not be possible due to negligence of the works and services department.
Sources in the finance department said that due to slow progress in the construction work, some of its funds were diverted to another district which caused shortage of funds.
The residents have demanded of the government to release funds to ensure completion of the work before June so that classes could be started during the current academic year.--Zahiruddin
They said that the scheme was short of Rs6 million for which the finance department had been approached which was yet to be entertained. The estimated cost of the building was Rs78.530 million and work on it had started three years ago. Its stipulated time of completion was June 2008 but it was delayed by one year due to the slow pace of work.
The people of Chitral had attached importance to the establishment of the polytechnic institute as there was no institution for technical education in the district.
A resident said that Chitral was the only district in the province having no polytechnic institute. After passing matriculation examination, the students had to go to other neighbouring districts to seek admission in classes of associate engineering but very few seats were made available to them.
He said that classes were to be commenced in the polytechnic institute right from the current year but it could not be possible due to negligence of the works and services department.
Sources in the finance department said that due to slow progress in the construction work, some of its funds were diverted to another district which caused shortage of funds.
The residents have demanded of the government to release funds to ensure completion of the work before June so that classes could be started during the current academic year.--Zahiruddin
Monday, April 27, 2009
Bodies of nine Chitral Scouts personnel killed in dir arrive in chitarl
Report Bashir Hussain Azad
CHITRAL. The whole of Chitral was saddended when the bodies of nine Chitral Scouts personnel killed by militants in Lower Dir arrived here in Army helicopters on Monday.
Those who embraced martyrdom and whose bodies arrived here were: Naib Subaidar Nasirullah from Barinis, Sepoy Amanullah, Soweer, Drosh; Sher Nawaz, Rayeen, Torkow; Bahadur Shah, Warkup, Turkow; Ajayeeb Khan, Moomi, Lotkow; Bashir Ahmed, Reshun; Sher Azam, Sinlasht, Bashiruddin, Verkhop, Torkhow, and Zakir Khan.
The bodies were first taken to the Headquarters of Chitral Scouts in the city and later sent to their native villages in ambulances, and laid to rest with full military honour.
Meanwhile, two personnel were injured and hospitalized in Dir area. they were Sirajuddin from Torkhown and Rehmat Khan of Barenis.
CHITRAL. The whole of Chitral was saddended when the bodies of nine Chitral Scouts personnel killed by militants in Lower Dir arrived here in Army helicopters on Monday.
Those who embraced martyrdom and whose bodies arrived here were: Naib Subaidar Nasirullah from Barinis, Sepoy Amanullah, Soweer, Drosh; Sher Nawaz, Rayeen, Torkow; Bahadur Shah, Warkup, Turkow; Ajayeeb Khan, Moomi, Lotkow; Bashir Ahmed, Reshun; Sher Azam, Sinlasht, Bashiruddin, Verkhop, Torkhow, and Zakir Khan.
The bodies were first taken to the Headquarters of Chitral Scouts in the city and later sent to their native villages in ambulances, and laid to rest with full military honour.
Meanwhile, two personnel were injured and hospitalized in Dir area. they were Sirajuddin from Torkhown and Rehmat Khan of Barenis.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Another good news for Chitral - Letter
The election MNA Shahzada Muhiuddin as chairman of the National Assembly standing committee on Kashmir affairs and Northern Area is another good news for the people of Chitral. This whole year has been favourable for Chitral, because we have already a provincial minister after 39 years.
It is a fact that Chitral and Northern Areas have the historical and traditional links since time immorial. We have common languages, traditions and the people in both sides face same kind of problems, our honorable MNA has a great vision and insight about the problems of both the areas. The election of Mohiuddin as a chairman of the important committee shows the appropriate decision in a suitable time. We the people of Chitral hope that our MNA will not lose this opportunity to serve the people of our area by improving the communication links, road network and people-to-people contacts. These areas have great potentials in the field of tourism and our MNA has the experience in the field of tourism as well, and it is hoped that he will struggle to serve his area to take the locality out of the deep abyss of backwardness. For the first time our district ahs got two high-profile posts in the government and we hope their efforts will bear fruits very soon. These leaders now should come out of the politics of confrontation and persue the greater politics of reconciliation for the development and betterment of our area as well as our beloved country.
Bashir Hussain Azad,
Chitral.
It is a fact that Chitral and Northern Areas have the historical and traditional links since time immorial. We have common languages, traditions and the people in both sides face same kind of problems, our honorable MNA has a great vision and insight about the problems of both the areas. The election of Mohiuddin as a chairman of the important committee shows the appropriate decision in a suitable time. We the people of Chitral hope that our MNA will not lose this opportunity to serve the people of our area by improving the communication links, road network and people-to-people contacts. These areas have great potentials in the field of tourism and our MNA has the experience in the field of tourism as well, and it is hoped that he will struggle to serve his area to take the locality out of the deep abyss of backwardness. For the first time our district ahs got two high-profile posts in the government and we hope their efforts will bear fruits very soon. These leaders now should come out of the politics of confrontation and persue the greater politics of reconciliation for the development and betterment of our area as well as our beloved country.
Bashir Hussain Azad,
Chitral.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Pay raise: Making police Mughal-e-Azam
I welcome 100% increase in the pay of Police Jawans and officers in NWFP and other Provinces and at the same time, I raise a question on the police stations in NWFP and other provinces. Problems of the masses do not relate to the police pay and allowances, our problems relate to police culture in the police station. An SHO getting 16000/= rupees pay per month was showing the attitude of Hitler and Pharoh in police stations. Now an SHO getting 32000/= rupees pay per month will become “ Moghal-e-Azam” An ordinary citizen will never dare lodge an FIR in the police station or register a complaint in the presence of the “ Moghal-e-Azam” . More over, former SHO used to demand minimum Rs 15000/= for listening to a complaint. Now the better privileged SHO will demand double of that amount to listen to the complaint of an ordinary person.
I suggest that curriculum of the police training schools may also be changed and methods of instruction in police academies may also be revised so that there is some sort of difference between a police and a “Dracola”. Cent percent increase in pay should not be instrumental to increase the rate of bribes up to 100% in future.
Bashir Hussain Azad,
Chitral.
_________________________________________________________________
I suggest that curriculum of the police training schools may also be changed and methods of instruction in police academies may also be revised so that there is some sort of difference between a police and a “Dracola”. Cent percent increase in pay should not be instrumental to increase the rate of bribes up to 100% in future.
Bashir Hussain Azad,
Chitral.
_________________________________________________________________
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Mohiuddin made chairman NA Kashmir committee
ISLAMABAD: MNA from Chitral Shahzada Mohiuddin was on Thursday appointed chairman of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas. He will have the status equal to a federal minisiter.
The government decision is subsequent to the MNA's support to the ruling Pakistan People's Party which he announced before the presidential election. Earlier, the distribution of the Benazir Income Support Programme cards in Chitral was also entrusted to him.
The government decision is subsequent to the MNA's support to the ruling Pakistan People's Party which he announced before the presidential election. Earlier, the distribution of the Benazir Income Support Programme cards in Chitral was also entrusted to him.
PPP veterans demand dissolution of district cabinet
Report GH Farooqui
CHITRAL: A convention of Pakistan People's Party senior workers (pioneers) was held at Jilani house presided over by Gul Nawaz Khaki.
Hundreds of party workers especially senior members attended the convention. The participants through a unanimous resolution demanded dissolution of the district cabinet of the PPP and selection of an interim cabinet. The participants also extended a previous resolution in which they had expressed no-trust in the district cabinet. The senior workers strongly criticized the office-bearers of the present cabinet and alleged that they had committed 'treachery' which resulted in the defeat of PPP candidate in the 2008 elections. Senior workers of PPP who attended the convention from very far flung areas suggested to save the party from division in different groups and to unite all workers and members to strengthen it. They said the cabinet members under a conspiracy had recommended the name of a non-popular person for the ticket of National Assembly seat who was defeated badly. They stressed upon the workers to detail a delegation and to meet provincial minister Saleem Khan for uniting the party workers.
The speakers also condemned some of the party workers who cast their votes in favor of an opposition candidate. Extending the previous resolution of 19th April, they felicitated provincial President Syed Zahir Ali Shah and expressed full confidence in his leadership. They had criticized Najmuddin Khan for selecting his near and dears ones as party leader; as a result the party was divided in groups and faced great loss. They also announced that anyone nominate by Najmuddin Khan would be rejected in future. Those who spoke on the occasion were Shahzada Nisar Jilani, Subhanud Din, M. Hassan, Haji Muhammad, Haji Abdul Rehman, Engineer Taimour Shah, H. Haider, Burhan Shah Advocate, Babu Muhammad, Zahir Shah, Haji Karam Elahi and Gul Nawaz Khaki.
A large number of senior workers of PPP attended the convention. They announced that next meeting would be held on 5th May to decide the future plan.
CHITRAL: A convention of Pakistan People's Party senior workers (pioneers) was held at Jilani house presided over by Gul Nawaz Khaki.
Hundreds of party workers especially senior members attended the convention. The participants through a unanimous resolution demanded dissolution of the district cabinet of the PPP and selection of an interim cabinet. The participants also extended a previous resolution in which they had expressed no-trust in the district cabinet. The senior workers strongly criticized the office-bearers of the present cabinet and alleged that they had committed 'treachery' which resulted in the defeat of PPP candidate in the 2008 elections. Senior workers of PPP who attended the convention from very far flung areas suggested to save the party from division in different groups and to unite all workers and members to strengthen it. They said the cabinet members under a conspiracy had recommended the name of a non-popular person for the ticket of National Assembly seat who was defeated badly. They stressed upon the workers to detail a delegation and to meet provincial minister Saleem Khan for uniting the party workers.
The speakers also condemned some of the party workers who cast their votes in favor of an opposition candidate. Extending the previous resolution of 19th April, they felicitated provincial President Syed Zahir Ali Shah and expressed full confidence in his leadership. They had criticized Najmuddin Khan for selecting his near and dears ones as party leader; as a result the party was divided in groups and faced great loss. They also announced that anyone nominate by Najmuddin Khan would be rejected in future. Those who spoke on the occasion were Shahzada Nisar Jilani, Subhanud Din, M. Hassan, Haji Muhammad, Haji Abdul Rehman, Engineer Taimour Shah, H. Haider, Burhan Shah Advocate, Babu Muhammad, Zahir Shah, Haji Karam Elahi and Gul Nawaz Khaki.
A large number of senior workers of PPP attended the convention. They announced that next meeting would be held on 5th May to decide the future plan.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Agriculture sector needs to be revisited in Chitral
By Our Correspondent
CHITRAL: The agriculture sector needs designing a comprehensive, cost-effective and responsive system, incorporating soil conservation techniques and extending the area under-cultivation to make the sector sustainable and lucrative.
Agricultural expert Nauroze Wali told this scribe here on Wednesday that although the agriculture was occupation of major portion of the population but the income accrued from it was very low to support families without supplementing other occupations.
He said that only three per cent of the total area of the district was cultivable while the rest of it contained mountains, forests, glaciers, snow and rocks. He said that with the rapid increase in population, the area under-cultivation went on shrinking as the lands were used for construction purposes.
“It is a pity that the sector engages more than sixty per cent of the manpower but it fulfils less than fifty per cent of their needs keeping the farmers needy and indigent for ever,” he said. Although, mechanised farming had adopted in all parts of the district for the last two decades but the methods of farming and approach for crop choice was still obsolete, he said.
He said that the land was not suitable for wheat crop but it was grown on more than 99 per cent area under-cultivation without caring its output. He said that the district could be divided into many zones due to its enormous size and each zone was suitable for certain crops. When persuaded by Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP), the farmers of Garam Chashma valley switched over to potato crop which fetched them lucrative income.
Mr Wali appreciated the efforts of the AKRSP for promoting fruit and vegetable in the area and imparting training to the women for the first time to generate income. The agriculture section raised nurseries of fruit trees and distributed the saplings of the improved qualities of apricot, apple and pear among the farmers, he said. He said that some valleys were known for the superb quality of local species of apple and pear and had great potential to change the very destiny of the farmers.
Regarding the livestock and poultry, he termed the situation of farmers more pitiable and said that the sector was hit by fodder shortage and vulnerability to diseases.
Meanwhile, a number of farmers said that apart from the agriculture department of the province, some other government-run organisations were also launched here for the promotion of agriculture, but they failed miserably. They described the names of on farm water management programme, project for horticulture promotion and the agriculture section of Chitral Area Development Project.
They said that the irrigation department miserably failed to complete more than ten projects of irrigation channels to bring more land under cultivation. They said that thousands of hectares of arid land could be brought under cultivation to increase the agricultural produce.
They said that agriculture could be transformed into a full-time profession if the potential was fully exploited on scientific basis with earnestness of the government. They said that the Lowari tunnel was nearly completion providing all-weather road to the district and it would increase the profitability of Chitral’s horticulture sector.--Dawn
Appointment of female EDO chitral hailed
CHITRAL: Lady Councillor Zulaikha Rahim has appreciated the appointment of Gulsambar Begum as executive district officer education in Chitral.
In a press statement issued here on Wednesday, she expressed the hope that the officer was well-conversant with the problems of education of the district and she would prove her mettle by raising the standard of education. She said that sector of female education needed special attention and the newly appointed EDO would use her best abilities in this regard.--Zahiruddin
Posted by MY CHITRAL at 11:56 AM 0 comments
Earth day observed in Chitral
CHITRAL: To create public awareness about importance of earth and conservation of natural resources, the Program for Mountain Area Conservation (PMAC), Ministry of Environment, held an event at Garam Chashma in collaboration with teh Conservation Management Committee (CMC) and village conservation committees (VCC). In this connection, a walk comprising students of different schools was also held. the participants carrying banners inscribed with messages to protect the earth walked through different bazaars and ended at GHS Garam Chashma. A function was also held in Government Higher Secondary School Garam Chashma where Amir Wali Khan, President CMC, was chief guest while the ceremony was presided over by Khuda Panah, Principal of this school. Atta Elahi, education officer of PMAC, briefed the participants. He said we should protect the earth and save it from pollution as it was like our mother.--GH Farooqui
Khowar program - Letter 2
On 21st April, the people of Chitral throughout the country and abroad with great joy and excitement watched Khyber news telecast in Khowar. Before 5pm people switched their digital devices to Khyber News, because in Chitral and Gilgit the channel is no longer available on Asia Sat-3, which is very popular among viewers.The first maiden attempt was well thought and well tailored attempt. I have a piece of suggestion for Khyber News. I propose that the 60-minute slat should be divided into four segments of equal timings i.e. 15 minutes each for news with current affairs corner, personality of the week and topic for the week.It would be convenient of the channel is made available on Asia Sat-3 once again.
Bashir Hussain Azad,
Chitral.
Khowar program - Letter 1
Hats off to the Khyber News initiative on Hindko and Khowar news in its regular telecast. After first Hindko news last week, Chitrali programme of news and views was telecast on Tuesday, 21st April 2009, at 5pm. Television is a powerful media and more than one million viewers of Khowar in Chitral, Gilgit and other parts of the Country and abroad now have access to electronic media through the Khyber news. I do congratulate the management of Khyber news for this initiative. I do hope the channel will include more informative segments like “ hot topic of the day” , or “ interesting conversation of the day” etc. I suggest only 20 minute for each segment. It would be convenient if the channel is linked up to Asia sat-3.
Dr. Inayat Ullah Faizi
Chitral.
50 small powerhouses for Chitral promised
By Our Correspondent
CHITRAL: District Nazim Maghfirat Shah has said that the federal minister for science and technology had assured the district government of construction of over 50 small hydro-power stations in Chitral.
Led by the district nazim, a team of the district government called on Minister Azam Swati in Islamabad on Wednesday to apprise him of the hydro-power potentials in the district and seek help of the ministry in this regard.
Talking to Dawn by telephone, the district nazim said that the minister expressed deep interest in the power potential of the district and accepted the invitation of the team to visit Chitral with a technical team to observe the sites.
He said that the delegation of the district government consisted of district Naib Nazim Sultan Shah, member district council Abdul Qayum Baig and others. He said that the district government had approached all relevant quarters to exploit the hydro-power potentials of the district from the very beginning.
He said that the fifty sites had a generation capacity of more than 500 kilowatts each and would provide cheaper electricity to the locals which would decrease burden on the forests. He said that the forests were depleting fast as the people depend on it to secure firewood in the absence of alternate sources.--Dawn
CHITRAL: The agriculture sector needs designing a comprehensive, cost-effective and responsive system, incorporating soil conservation techniques and extending the area under-cultivation to make the sector sustainable and lucrative.
Agricultural expert Nauroze Wali told this scribe here on Wednesday that although the agriculture was occupation of major portion of the population but the income accrued from it was very low to support families without supplementing other occupations.
He said that only three per cent of the total area of the district was cultivable while the rest of it contained mountains, forests, glaciers, snow and rocks. He said that with the rapid increase in population, the area under-cultivation went on shrinking as the lands were used for construction purposes.
“It is a pity that the sector engages more than sixty per cent of the manpower but it fulfils less than fifty per cent of their needs keeping the farmers needy and indigent for ever,” he said. Although, mechanised farming had adopted in all parts of the district for the last two decades but the methods of farming and approach for crop choice was still obsolete, he said.
He said that the land was not suitable for wheat crop but it was grown on more than 99 per cent area under-cultivation without caring its output. He said that the district could be divided into many zones due to its enormous size and each zone was suitable for certain crops. When persuaded by Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP), the farmers of Garam Chashma valley switched over to potato crop which fetched them lucrative income.
Mr Wali appreciated the efforts of the AKRSP for promoting fruit and vegetable in the area and imparting training to the women for the first time to generate income. The agriculture section raised nurseries of fruit trees and distributed the saplings of the improved qualities of apricot, apple and pear among the farmers, he said. He said that some valleys were known for the superb quality of local species of apple and pear and had great potential to change the very destiny of the farmers.
Regarding the livestock and poultry, he termed the situation of farmers more pitiable and said that the sector was hit by fodder shortage and vulnerability to diseases.
Meanwhile, a number of farmers said that apart from the agriculture department of the province, some other government-run organisations were also launched here for the promotion of agriculture, but they failed miserably. They described the names of on farm water management programme, project for horticulture promotion and the agriculture section of Chitral Area Development Project.
They said that the irrigation department miserably failed to complete more than ten projects of irrigation channels to bring more land under cultivation. They said that thousands of hectares of arid land could be brought under cultivation to increase the agricultural produce.
They said that agriculture could be transformed into a full-time profession if the potential was fully exploited on scientific basis with earnestness of the government. They said that the Lowari tunnel was nearly completion providing all-weather road to the district and it would increase the profitability of Chitral’s horticulture sector.--Dawn
Appointment of female EDO chitral hailed
CHITRAL: Lady Councillor Zulaikha Rahim has appreciated the appointment of Gulsambar Begum as executive district officer education in Chitral.
In a press statement issued here on Wednesday, she expressed the hope that the officer was well-conversant with the problems of education of the district and she would prove her mettle by raising the standard of education. She said that sector of female education needed special attention and the newly appointed EDO would use her best abilities in this regard.--Zahiruddin
Posted by MY CHITRAL at 11:56 AM 0 comments
Earth day observed in Chitral
CHITRAL: To create public awareness about importance of earth and conservation of natural resources, the Program for Mountain Area Conservation (PMAC), Ministry of Environment, held an event at Garam Chashma in collaboration with teh Conservation Management Committee (CMC) and village conservation committees (VCC). In this connection, a walk comprising students of different schools was also held. the participants carrying banners inscribed with messages to protect the earth walked through different bazaars and ended at GHS Garam Chashma. A function was also held in Government Higher Secondary School Garam Chashma where Amir Wali Khan, President CMC, was chief guest while the ceremony was presided over by Khuda Panah, Principal of this school. Atta Elahi, education officer of PMAC, briefed the participants. He said we should protect the earth and save it from pollution as it was like our mother.--GH Farooqui
Khowar program - Letter 2
On 21st April, the people of Chitral throughout the country and abroad with great joy and excitement watched Khyber news telecast in Khowar. Before 5pm people switched their digital devices to Khyber News, because in Chitral and Gilgit the channel is no longer available on Asia Sat-3, which is very popular among viewers.The first maiden attempt was well thought and well tailored attempt. I have a piece of suggestion for Khyber News. I propose that the 60-minute slat should be divided into four segments of equal timings i.e. 15 minutes each for news with current affairs corner, personality of the week and topic for the week.It would be convenient of the channel is made available on Asia Sat-3 once again.
Bashir Hussain Azad,
Chitral.
Khowar program - Letter 1
Hats off to the Khyber News initiative on Hindko and Khowar news in its regular telecast. After first Hindko news last week, Chitrali programme of news and views was telecast on Tuesday, 21st April 2009, at 5pm. Television is a powerful media and more than one million viewers of Khowar in Chitral, Gilgit and other parts of the Country and abroad now have access to electronic media through the Khyber news. I do congratulate the management of Khyber news for this initiative. I do hope the channel will include more informative segments like “ hot topic of the day” , or “ interesting conversation of the day” etc. I suggest only 20 minute for each segment. It would be convenient if the channel is linked up to Asia sat-3.
Dr. Inayat Ullah Faizi
Chitral.
50 small powerhouses for Chitral promised
By Our Correspondent
CHITRAL: District Nazim Maghfirat Shah has said that the federal minister for science and technology had assured the district government of construction of over 50 small hydro-power stations in Chitral.
Led by the district nazim, a team of the district government called on Minister Azam Swati in Islamabad on Wednesday to apprise him of the hydro-power potentials in the district and seek help of the ministry in this regard.
Talking to Dawn by telephone, the district nazim said that the minister expressed deep interest in the power potential of the district and accepted the invitation of the team to visit Chitral with a technical team to observe the sites.
He said that the delegation of the district government consisted of district Naib Nazim Sultan Shah, member district council Abdul Qayum Baig and others. He said that the district government had approached all relevant quarters to exploit the hydro-power potentials of the district from the very beginning.
He said that the fifty sites had a generation capacity of more than 500 kilowatts each and would provide cheaper electricity to the locals which would decrease burden on the forests. He said that the forests were depleting fast as the people depend on it to secure firewood in the absence of alternate sources.--Dawn
Monday, February 9, 2009
Hajis irked by poor arrangements
Dawn
By Zar Alam Khan
ISLAMABAD: Despite the inspiring slogan of “A Haji served is one Haj earned”, Pakistani authorities and officials got the ire of the pilgrims during Haj 2008 by failing to ensure required facilities and provide guidance to them despite arbitrarily increasing the Haj charges on fictitious grounds.
Though Pakistan’s flags fluttered high in all vantage points, particularly at Mina, government officials and other functionaries including the Khuddamul Hujjaj were explicit by their absence where they were needed. As a result, the pilgrims, mostly aged above 70 years, suffered the most and many of them remained untraced for days.
The arrangements, including accommodation and transportation, for the Hajis in the holy land are made by Saudi Mualims who receive advance fee from each Haji along with transportation charges. However, neither the Mualims visited the Hajis to listen to their complaints nor provided them sufficient transport vehicles particularly from Makkah to Mina, Arafat and back. After waiting for over 12 hours for the buses, the devotees had to hire taxis on exorbitant rates to reach Mina from Makkah. As the Taxi drivers dropped them at the entry point of the tent city, the Hajis had to spend hours in scorching sun to locate their places of stay in the labyrinth of tents. Many of them spent the first night under the open sky after failing to trace their tents and the next morning had to reach Arafat on foot. Elderly Hajis without company had to suffer the most and many of them remained missing during the five-day rituals. Over 40 to 50 Hajis were crammed into a single tent at Mina making it difficult for them to sleep or even move about and stretch their feet. Instead of providing accommodations to the Hajis close to each others like other countries had done, Pakistani tents at Mina were scattered near Kubra Abdul Aziz and Kubra Faisal etc., while the Haj Mission had reportedly set up its office over four kilometers away, making it difficult for the pilgrims to approach it. Many of the Hajis were also seen screaming in search of their missing relatives particularly outside Jamrats but there was no Pakistani official to help them.
Unlike in the past, the government this time had abolished the white and green category systems for selection of the Hujjaj. The Haj air fares were increased from Rs46,000 last year to Rs85,000 on the plea that petroleum prices were on the rise in the international market. However, when the POL prices started decreasing, the fares were not adjusted, saying an agreement had already been signed with the PIA fixing the Haj fares at Rs85,000 which cannot be reversed.
Besides, the ministry of religious affairs had initially announced that after deduction from the Rs200,000 Haj dues on account of building rents, transport charges and other expenses including the Haj fee to be paid to the Saudi government, each Haji would be given at least 1,300 riyals to meet their day-to-day expenses. However, when the pilgrims reached the Haji camps before their departure they were informed that the amount had been slashed to 750 riyals. Those coming from far-off areas could not arrange extra riyals within the short period and had to face a lot of financial problems. Many of them skipped at least one time’s meal daily during the 40-day stay in the holy land while some were also seen receiving food being distributed among the Indian pilgrims at Mina.
The Pakistani Hajis were angry at the government for its failure to provide basic facilities to them despite increasing the Haj dues from less than Rs130,000 in 2007 to Rs200,000 in 2008. It was learnt that initially the government had decided to fix the Haj charges at Rs150,000 per pilgrim but later an amount of Rs50,000 was added to it without any justification. The Hajis frequently cited the example of India which had charged its Hajis in three categories ranging from Rs85,000 to Rs97,000 and provided them far better facilities. The Pakistani Haj directorate at Makkah even failed to hire accommodations near the Haram though many buildings were reported vacant till the end. The Hajis were housed in distant places like Azizia, etc., due to which they also faced lots of hardship in reaching Kaaba as transport was not available. Even private tour operators with their offices in Pakistan had managed to rent buildings in the nearby localities of the Haram at much lower rates.
Most of the buildings hired for the Pakistanis were in dilapidated conditions. In one such building at Jarwal (Quba), the Pakistanis spent their 30-day stay protesting against shortage of water and other facilities. Four to seven pilgrims were accommodated in one room in the four-storey building and each one of them was charged 100 riyals per day. The building which housed over 700 pilgrims lacked maintenance with broken and missing fixtures. Besides, there was no arrangement for cleanliness and the house keeping staff always refused to clean the rooms. The pilgrims were often seen gathering in the compound and protesting against shortage of water. However, there were no officials either from the Pakistan House or the building management to answer to their complaints. Staff deployed supposedly to serve the Hajis by the building owner remained busy in running their own small business at the reception by selling tea and eatables to the Hajis. Similar complaints were also received from most of the pilgrims in other areas of Makkah.
Though government’s working right from receiving the Haj application forms to preparation of Haj-related documents was appreciated, the pilgrims were of the view that accountability and coordination among government officials deputed on Haj duty should be ensured to facilitate the pilgrims in performing the religious obligation with peace of mind.
The writer performed Haj in the year 2008.
By Zar Alam Khan
ISLAMABAD: Despite the inspiring slogan of “A Haji served is one Haj earned”, Pakistani authorities and officials got the ire of the pilgrims during Haj 2008 by failing to ensure required facilities and provide guidance to them despite arbitrarily increasing the Haj charges on fictitious grounds.
Though Pakistan’s flags fluttered high in all vantage points, particularly at Mina, government officials and other functionaries including the Khuddamul Hujjaj were explicit by their absence where they were needed. As a result, the pilgrims, mostly aged above 70 years, suffered the most and many of them remained untraced for days.
The arrangements, including accommodation and transportation, for the Hajis in the holy land are made by Saudi Mualims who receive advance fee from each Haji along with transportation charges. However, neither the Mualims visited the Hajis to listen to their complaints nor provided them sufficient transport vehicles particularly from Makkah to Mina, Arafat and back. After waiting for over 12 hours for the buses, the devotees had to hire taxis on exorbitant rates to reach Mina from Makkah. As the Taxi drivers dropped them at the entry point of the tent city, the Hajis had to spend hours in scorching sun to locate their places of stay in the labyrinth of tents. Many of them spent the first night under the open sky after failing to trace their tents and the next morning had to reach Arafat on foot. Elderly Hajis without company had to suffer the most and many of them remained missing during the five-day rituals. Over 40 to 50 Hajis were crammed into a single tent at Mina making it difficult for them to sleep or even move about and stretch their feet. Instead of providing accommodations to the Hajis close to each others like other countries had done, Pakistani tents at Mina were scattered near Kubra Abdul Aziz and Kubra Faisal etc., while the Haj Mission had reportedly set up its office over four kilometers away, making it difficult for the pilgrims to approach it. Many of the Hajis were also seen screaming in search of their missing relatives particularly outside Jamrats but there was no Pakistani official to help them.
Unlike in the past, the government this time had abolished the white and green category systems for selection of the Hujjaj. The Haj air fares were increased from Rs46,000 last year to Rs85,000 on the plea that petroleum prices were on the rise in the international market. However, when the POL prices started decreasing, the fares were not adjusted, saying an agreement had already been signed with the PIA fixing the Haj fares at Rs85,000 which cannot be reversed.
Besides, the ministry of religious affairs had initially announced that after deduction from the Rs200,000 Haj dues on account of building rents, transport charges and other expenses including the Haj fee to be paid to the Saudi government, each Haji would be given at least 1,300 riyals to meet their day-to-day expenses. However, when the pilgrims reached the Haji camps before their departure they were informed that the amount had been slashed to 750 riyals. Those coming from far-off areas could not arrange extra riyals within the short period and had to face a lot of financial problems. Many of them skipped at least one time’s meal daily during the 40-day stay in the holy land while some were also seen receiving food being distributed among the Indian pilgrims at Mina.
The Pakistani Hajis were angry at the government for its failure to provide basic facilities to them despite increasing the Haj dues from less than Rs130,000 in 2007 to Rs200,000 in 2008. It was learnt that initially the government had decided to fix the Haj charges at Rs150,000 per pilgrim but later an amount of Rs50,000 was added to it without any justification. The Hajis frequently cited the example of India which had charged its Hajis in three categories ranging from Rs85,000 to Rs97,000 and provided them far better facilities. The Pakistani Haj directorate at Makkah even failed to hire accommodations near the Haram though many buildings were reported vacant till the end. The Hajis were housed in distant places like Azizia, etc., due to which they also faced lots of hardship in reaching Kaaba as transport was not available. Even private tour operators with their offices in Pakistan had managed to rent buildings in the nearby localities of the Haram at much lower rates.
Most of the buildings hired for the Pakistanis were in dilapidated conditions. In one such building at Jarwal (Quba), the Pakistanis spent their 30-day stay protesting against shortage of water and other facilities. Four to seven pilgrims were accommodated in one room in the four-storey building and each one of them was charged 100 riyals per day. The building which housed over 700 pilgrims lacked maintenance with broken and missing fixtures. Besides, there was no arrangement for cleanliness and the house keeping staff always refused to clean the rooms. The pilgrims were often seen gathering in the compound and protesting against shortage of water. However, there were no officials either from the Pakistan House or the building management to answer to their complaints. Staff deployed supposedly to serve the Hajis by the building owner remained busy in running their own small business at the reception by selling tea and eatables to the Hajis. Similar complaints were also received from most of the pilgrims in other areas of Makkah.
Though government’s working right from receiving the Haj application forms to preparation of Haj-related documents was appreciated, the pilgrims were of the view that accountability and coordination among government officials deputed on Haj duty should be ensured to facilitate the pilgrims in performing the religious obligation with peace of mind.
The writer performed Haj in the year 2008.
Chitrali youth found murdered in Taxila
Chitral Online Report, Islamabad
The Taxila police have found the bullet-riddled body of a Chitrali young man from the Margallah Hills. The deceased has been identified as Sharifullah, 25.
The body has been kept at the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Taxila. The police said some passersby informed them about the presence of the bullet-riddled body on the hills. The police reached the spot and shifted the body to the hospital.
The Taxila police have found the bullet-riddled body of a Chitrali young man from the Margallah Hills. The deceased has been identified as Sharifullah, 25.
The body has been kept at the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Taxila. The police said some passersby informed them about the presence of the bullet-riddled body on the hills. The police reached the spot and shifted the body to the hospital.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Malpractices at Malakand University - Letter
I am making a plea to the Governor NWFP, Vice-Chancellor, Controller of the Malakand University and also request the Chairman of Higher Education Commission regarding the blunders committed by the University of Malakand in terms of conducting examination.
Quite oblivious of its sacred duties, the examination block of the university wreak havoc on the future of the students. Chitral, being a far-flung district of NWFP, unfortunately comes under the jurisdiction of the Malakand University and the students of Chitral have become a victim of the highhandedness of the unscrupulous officials of the university. The examination days of the academic years are like a harvesting season for the unconscientious examiners who haunt the examination halls again and again and reap the ignomious harvest in the form of tours, treats and gifts at the cost of the poor and helpless students, who cannot afford the consequences of the displeasure of the examiners. As a
result cheating and unfair means not only affects the academic performance of the laborious and intelligent students but also becomes part and parcel of the future generation. Another problem faced by the unfortunate students is at the time of declaration of the examination results. DMCs and certificates take months to reach the students and most of the students have to make an arduous journey to the University and the worst thing the students encounter is that instead of the marks of the subjects the students have taken examination, some other subjects are mentioned in the detailed marked certificates for example instead of political science computer is written and marked. Another carelessness of the university towards Chitrali students is that after applying for degrees they cannot get them even after three years. In the previous examination some students got roll numbers in which the allocated examination halls of other district had been mentioned.
The helpless students manage to reach the office of the University and unwillingly will have to grease the palms of some of the dishonest personnel of the office to get their problems solved. I hope that the authorities will take notice of these malpractices and will constitute a fair examination system by appointing honest and Godfearing examiners and will rectify the marking and issuing of the certificates and degrees.
Saeedul Abrar
Muglandeh Chitral.
Quite oblivious of its sacred duties, the examination block of the university wreak havoc on the future of the students. Chitral, being a far-flung district of NWFP, unfortunately comes under the jurisdiction of the Malakand University and the students of Chitral have become a victim of the highhandedness of the unscrupulous officials of the university. The examination days of the academic years are like a harvesting season for the unconscientious examiners who haunt the examination halls again and again and reap the ignomious harvest in the form of tours, treats and gifts at the cost of the poor and helpless students, who cannot afford the consequences of the displeasure of the examiners. As a
result cheating and unfair means not only affects the academic performance of the laborious and intelligent students but also becomes part and parcel of the future generation. Another problem faced by the unfortunate students is at the time of declaration of the examination results. DMCs and certificates take months to reach the students and most of the students have to make an arduous journey to the University and the worst thing the students encounter is that instead of the marks of the subjects the students have taken examination, some other subjects are mentioned in the detailed marked certificates for example instead of political science computer is written and marked. Another carelessness of the university towards Chitrali students is that after applying for degrees they cannot get them even after three years. In the previous examination some students got roll numbers in which the allocated examination halls of other district had been mentioned.
The helpless students manage to reach the office of the University and unwillingly will have to grease the palms of some of the dishonest personnel of the office to get their problems solved. I hope that the authorities will take notice of these malpractices and will constitute a fair examination system by appointing honest and Godfearing examiners and will rectify the marking and issuing of the certificates and degrees.
Saeedul Abrar
Muglandeh Chitral.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
All parties moot demands immediate opening of Lowari Tunnel
Report Bashir Hussain Azad, Chitral
An all parties meeting was held at the Govt Commerce College Chitral in which a great number of political activists belonging to different parties, nazims, representatives of trade unions and transport unions participated. The meeting was chaired by District Nazim Haji Maghfirat Shah.
The main point of the meeting was how to solve the transportation problem of edible items; sugar, oil and gas that have fallen short in the market and their prices have skyrocketed. Serious patients referred to Peshawar for specialized treatment have suffered a lot owing to the unavailability of the conveyance facility. The meeting termed the route via Afghanistan risky in these days and unanimously demanded that Lawari tunnel if opened twice a week or for two hours every day will solve the problem. Haji Maghfirat Shah District Nazim Chitral, Muhammad Hakim Khan Advocate General Secretary PPP, Jamaat Islami Ameer Maulana Ghulam Muhammad, Syed Ahmed President Muslim Legue (Q) Balinas of JUI, Sartaj Ahmed Khan Tehsil Nazim, Habib Hussain Mughul President of Trade Union, Muhammad Sardar and President Chitral Press Club Shah Murad Baig during their speech told that the authorities of SAMBO and other consultant have agreed for the limited use of the tunnel and have termed it quite feasible but they asked astonishingly as who was impeding the approval of the opening of Lawari tunnel. District Nazim said that at this critical juncture of Lawari tunnel is not opened, an uncontrollable law and order situation will prop up. Hence all the speakers stressed that Lowari tunnel should be opened immediately for the common people.
An all parties meeting was held at the Govt Commerce College Chitral in which a great number of political activists belonging to different parties, nazims, representatives of trade unions and transport unions participated. The meeting was chaired by District Nazim Haji Maghfirat Shah.
The main point of the meeting was how to solve the transportation problem of edible items; sugar, oil and gas that have fallen short in the market and their prices have skyrocketed. Serious patients referred to Peshawar for specialized treatment have suffered a lot owing to the unavailability of the conveyance facility. The meeting termed the route via Afghanistan risky in these days and unanimously demanded that Lawari tunnel if opened twice a week or for two hours every day will solve the problem. Haji Maghfirat Shah District Nazim Chitral, Muhammad Hakim Khan Advocate General Secretary PPP, Jamaat Islami Ameer Maulana Ghulam Muhammad, Syed Ahmed President Muslim Legue (Q) Balinas of JUI, Sartaj Ahmed Khan Tehsil Nazim, Habib Hussain Mughul President of Trade Union, Muhammad Sardar and President Chitral Press Club Shah Murad Baig during their speech told that the authorities of SAMBO and other consultant have agreed for the limited use of the tunnel and have termed it quite feasible but they asked astonishingly as who was impeding the approval of the opening of Lawari tunnel. District Nazim said that at this critical juncture of Lawari tunnel is not opened, an uncontrollable law and order situation will prop up. Hence all the speakers stressed that Lowari tunnel should be opened immediately for the common people.
Chitral-Ishkashem Highway - Letter
Different letters have been published in online news regarding Chitral-Ishkashem highway. We shall appreciate the individuals who have started thinking about such an important project. There are alternative routes to link Chitral with Central Asian countries. We shall try our best to convey information to the concerned authorities to conduct feasibility survey and decide the best route.
Our main objective should be to link Chitral with Central Asian countries whether it is through air service or land. Flights and vehicles shall leave from Chitral main town; the people of upper and lower Chitral shall be unbiased keeping in view the bright future of Chitral and its inhabitants and there shall be no leg pulling
Few points shall be considered while suggesting the feasible route.
First distance shall be minimum so that there shall be less time spent in travelling
Route shall be all weather to ensure regular movement
Route shall be safe and secure
One time cost does not matters, main problem is maintenance cost after construction, it is practical experience that in mountainous areas high cost will be incurred at the time of construction but maintenance cost very low.
There are different routes to link Chitral with Central Asian Countries few of them are under:
Broghil side is one option, distance is lengthy, it is soft area initial cost of construction could be the same as other areas; there are no main rocks in the way for tunneling. But the main hurdles are; maintenance cost will be high, travelling time as compared to other sides will be more.
Second option is from Karimabad side, a portion of Trichmir Mountain lies at the boundary of Chtiral and Afghanistan, in the foot of Trichmir there is a large cave that was used to travel between Chitral and Afghanistan before creation of Pakistan for trade purposes. Some people living in Karimabad told that it was about 2 km lengthy cave, dacoits from Afghanistan have used this route to attack on Chitral, for defense point of few this cave was blocked from Chitral side. According to the remarks of the people with little efforts this cave can be reopened, such people can identify the side where the cave starts, jeeb able road has been constructed up to Terichmir, so this is another option. From Chital to Karaimabad and Terichmir distance is only 52 km, after crossing the cave, distance to Tajikistan bourder is 35km.
Third Option is Akram Gole Arkari, now a days people of Arkari use to travel to Afghanistan using this route, total distance from Arkari to Afghanistan takes about one and half day on foot. A gentle men from Siwakht who called Pir has migrated to Afghanistan, his children are now living there, people of Arkari are visiting frequently Afghanistan to meet such individuals, it is a safe side, there is no law and order issue. People of Arkari almost purchasing animals cows and goats from Afghanistan. This route is used for transportation of narcotics opium by Afghan people because there is less restrictions by law enforcing agencies as compared to Broghol and Garumchashma. Distance from Chitral to Oveer Arkari is only 50 km, if this route selected low cost will be incurred in construction and maintenance also. After establishment of proper check posts transportation of narcotics will be controlled.
Forth option is Shah Silim Garumchashma, link road has already been constructed from Garumchashma to Zebak Afghanistan in early nineties, due to defense point of view during Taliban attack on Afghanistan this route was closed. Now there is a need of repair and it would be possible with low repairing cost. The main hurdle is the rock exists at the boarder of Garumchasham and Afghanistan, area is feasible but 3 km tunnel has to be excavated to make it all weather route. The initial cost could be the same or little high as compared to other sides but maintenance cost after construction will be very low. This touches the Badakhsan Province of Afghanistan there is no law and order issue in this province, all people were in Garumchashma and Chtiral during afghan war, they have good relation with Chitralis. This side is most feasible for road construction.
It will take 5-10 years to complete the road if any one of the above sides selected for construction of road, but we shall think about the shortest time period to have linkage between Chitral and Central Asian Countries. The only solution of this issue is air service between Chitral and Khorog Tajikistan. According to the remarks of pilots of Aga Khan Foundation who used to flew from Chitral Air Port to Khorog Air Port the maximum time is 30 minute, which is the shortest time in any international travel.
From Karachi to Khorog there is chartered flight service almost on a weekly basis, a large number of passengers are going to Karachi from NWFP and Punjab to Karachi to avail flight for central Asian countries, with efforts and struggle this route can be changed. If higher authorities contacted and motivated to start flights from Chitral to Khorog even twice a week this could be feasible both for passengers and PIA authorities. From Islamabad to Karachi air ticket is more than Rs. 10,000, but passengers will pay only 3,600 for Islamabad to Chitral flight, further cost from Chitral to Khorog will be less as compared to Karachi to Khorog flight. The existing ATR planes can be used from Chitral to Khorog.
Every Chitrali shall try its best to convey the message to higher authorities, in this regard I would especially request to Shahzada Sirajul Mulk and Fardad Ali Shah who have good relations with the higher authorities to discuss the possibilities with PIA and other government officials. MNA Shahzad Muhaidin and Minister for Population Welfare Salim Khan are also requested to please raise the matter in their respective platforms to initiate flight service between Chtiral to Khorog.
Shamsher Khan
Golimar, Karachi
Our main objective should be to link Chitral with Central Asian countries whether it is through air service or land. Flights and vehicles shall leave from Chitral main town; the people of upper and lower Chitral shall be unbiased keeping in view the bright future of Chitral and its inhabitants and there shall be no leg pulling
Few points shall be considered while suggesting the feasible route.
First distance shall be minimum so that there shall be less time spent in travelling
Route shall be all weather to ensure regular movement
Route shall be safe and secure
One time cost does not matters, main problem is maintenance cost after construction, it is practical experience that in mountainous areas high cost will be incurred at the time of construction but maintenance cost very low.
There are different routes to link Chitral with Central Asian Countries few of them are under:
Broghil side is one option, distance is lengthy, it is soft area initial cost of construction could be the same as other areas; there are no main rocks in the way for tunneling. But the main hurdles are; maintenance cost will be high, travelling time as compared to other sides will be more.
Second option is from Karimabad side, a portion of Trichmir Mountain lies at the boundary of Chtiral and Afghanistan, in the foot of Trichmir there is a large cave that was used to travel between Chitral and Afghanistan before creation of Pakistan for trade purposes. Some people living in Karimabad told that it was about 2 km lengthy cave, dacoits from Afghanistan have used this route to attack on Chitral, for defense point of few this cave was blocked from Chitral side. According to the remarks of the people with little efforts this cave can be reopened, such people can identify the side where the cave starts, jeeb able road has been constructed up to Terichmir, so this is another option. From Chital to Karaimabad and Terichmir distance is only 52 km, after crossing the cave, distance to Tajikistan bourder is 35km.
Third Option is Akram Gole Arkari, now a days people of Arkari use to travel to Afghanistan using this route, total distance from Arkari to Afghanistan takes about one and half day on foot. A gentle men from Siwakht who called Pir has migrated to Afghanistan, his children are now living there, people of Arkari are visiting frequently Afghanistan to meet such individuals, it is a safe side, there is no law and order issue. People of Arkari almost purchasing animals cows and goats from Afghanistan. This route is used for transportation of narcotics opium by Afghan people because there is less restrictions by law enforcing agencies as compared to Broghol and Garumchashma. Distance from Chitral to Oveer Arkari is only 50 km, if this route selected low cost will be incurred in construction and maintenance also. After establishment of proper check posts transportation of narcotics will be controlled.
Forth option is Shah Silim Garumchashma, link road has already been constructed from Garumchashma to Zebak Afghanistan in early nineties, due to defense point of view during Taliban attack on Afghanistan this route was closed. Now there is a need of repair and it would be possible with low repairing cost. The main hurdle is the rock exists at the boarder of Garumchasham and Afghanistan, area is feasible but 3 km tunnel has to be excavated to make it all weather route. The initial cost could be the same or little high as compared to other sides but maintenance cost after construction will be very low. This touches the Badakhsan Province of Afghanistan there is no law and order issue in this province, all people were in Garumchashma and Chtiral during afghan war, they have good relation with Chitralis. This side is most feasible for road construction.
It will take 5-10 years to complete the road if any one of the above sides selected for construction of road, but we shall think about the shortest time period to have linkage between Chitral and Central Asian Countries. The only solution of this issue is air service between Chitral and Khorog Tajikistan. According to the remarks of pilots of Aga Khan Foundation who used to flew from Chitral Air Port to Khorog Air Port the maximum time is 30 minute, which is the shortest time in any international travel.
From Karachi to Khorog there is chartered flight service almost on a weekly basis, a large number of passengers are going to Karachi from NWFP and Punjab to Karachi to avail flight for central Asian countries, with efforts and struggle this route can be changed. If higher authorities contacted and motivated to start flights from Chitral to Khorog even twice a week this could be feasible both for passengers and PIA authorities. From Islamabad to Karachi air ticket is more than Rs. 10,000, but passengers will pay only 3,600 for Islamabad to Chitral flight, further cost from Chitral to Khorog will be less as compared to Karachi to Khorog flight. The existing ATR planes can be used from Chitral to Khorog.
Every Chitrali shall try its best to convey the message to higher authorities, in this regard I would especially request to Shahzada Sirajul Mulk and Fardad Ali Shah who have good relations with the higher authorities to discuss the possibilities with PIA and other government officials. MNA Shahzad Muhaidin and Minister for Population Welfare Salim Khan are also requested to please raise the matter in their respective platforms to initiate flight service between Chtiral to Khorog.
Shamsher Khan
Golimar, Karachi
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