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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Friday, February 6, 2009

Train through Lowari Tunnel opposed

DAWN

By Zar Alam Khan
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chitral chapter leader Fardad Ali Shah has asked the federal government to reconsider laying railway track in the recently-dug Lowari Tunnel.
“The tunnel having the total length of 8.5 kilometres has become a reality for the Chitralis and a milestone in the history of Chitral. The important point now is to rethink as to whether we really need a railway track through the tunnel when all kinds of vehicles are already capable of driving through it,” he said while talking to Dawn.
The NHA and the Korean Sambu Construction Company vehicles are plying comfortably through the tunnel from one end to the other which proves the tunnel is now fit to take in vehicles, he added.
In the first phase of the project, excavation work was completed on January 14, while in the second phase, railway track will be laid through the tunnel at an estimated cost of Rs5 billion.
Mr Shah said even if we overlooked its whooping initial cost, railway service through the tunnel is an avoidable external factor and additional liability with all its associated problems like operating cost, maintenance, mismanagement, breakdowns, etc., besides it will be causing an unnecessary wastage of time in loading/unloading of vehicles on the train at both the ends. Involving a railway system should best be avoided when the tunnel without it is capable of doing the needful, he said.
There are much longer, equally narrow, tunnels in Europe including the 1980-constructed Gothard Tunnel in the Swiss Alps which is 16.3 kilometres long and is a single-lane road tunnel.
In case of the Lowari Tunnel, at most a couple of additional ventilation ducts may be needed to be installed to be used as a regular road tunnel. Giving block timings for up/down traffic can regulate traffic through the tunnel. (The proposed railways system also is a one-way system).
What is more important is to judiciously use Rs5 billion saved by scrapping the railways system.
Mr Shah, a retired wing commander of PAF, said the saved amount could be used to construct a series of hydropower stations in Chitral and provide cheap electricity to the people to uplift their living conditions, protect forests and encourage small cottage industries requiring electricity.
Provision of affordable electricity is a need of the people, second only to the need for an all-weather road. By the grace of Allah, we achieved the all-weather road target, Shah said, adding that now, priority should be given to fulfilling our energy requirement.

Woman commits suicide in Chuinj

MASTUJ: A young woman committed suicide due to domestic problem in Chuinj village on Friday.

The 22-year-old, daughter of Sharif Khan, was reprimanded in the house over some domestic issue after which she went into a room and hanged herself. The girl had passed intermediate exam and was unmarried.