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.
_________________________________________________________________
Saturday, April 25, 2009
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.
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