Students our future, they must follow philosophy of poet of East;

prove your self as assets of Islamic society, Teachers more respected than any other relation, their priority must be character building of their students says Wazir Baig

Readers Time Report

By:Shams

HUNZA, December: Young generation especially youth are our future strength, they must devote themselves for curricular and co-curricular activities, teachers are more respected and relation with their student was much honorable than any other; learners ought to work hard to keep the pace with dynamic world. These views were stated by Interim governor and speaker Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly in a speech and kalam-e-Iqbal recitation competition among colleges to commemorate doctor Allama Iqbal's literary serivices organized by Literary cirles e government girls inter college,Karimabad,Hunza. The theme of programme was 'Hayat Zoque safar k siva kutch oar Nahi'comprised of first session with speech competition on the theme followed by Kalam-e-Iqbal recitation. Speakers shed light on literary work of poet of Eeast doctor Allama Iqbal, qouted his ideas and kept emphasis on young sould to adopt the in their practical life to avail a satisfied life.
Speaking to the occasion, chief guest Mr.Wazir Baig said that it was human intellect that enabled him to get out of stone age and enter into modern era.He said that it was time of competition and adoption of ideas of Iqbal lead us a sucessful life saying continuous effort and self accountability and conscience was pre-requisite to be successful in all wakes of life. He said that biggest differece between human being and other creatures was learnign and reasoning power, adviced them to work hard to discover miracles of nature. He said mere a little portion of God's creation discover and much more was still unknown yet.
He said that running of half a dozen private and government colleges was a tangible proof that our youth was following the message of Iqbal.

Hunza: Students listening to the interim governor Wazir Baig, carefully. VoH Photo

He emphasized teachers to make efforts to build character of youngsters. He further said that Gilgit-Baltistan government is doing according its capacity to ensure quality education and health facilities. He said that an ing (MoU) for a mega projet has been signed between Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) and an Australian donner agency to upgrade quality of education and other facilities saying the project would bring academic revolution. He said he has discussed with a educational NGO named Mountain Institute for Educational Development, working in different districts of Gilgit-Baltistan. " An official of this revolutionary institute has expressed willingness to work in Hunza-Nagar too," he added.

View- A looming disaster

By: Shamsuddin Muhammad

Inhabitants of Gilgit-Baltistan are living currently in a volatile times straddling with the natural catastrophes and dilemmas making them more alert to nurtured potential to survive in this comparatively backward region bordering China on the extreme North of the country. How do well these communities affected by such natural disasters either directly or indirectly do transform challenges into opportunities depends on better mutual understanding, unity, fraternity, patience, tolerance, forgiveness for mistakes,respecting cultural, ethnic and religious diversity, ensuring equity, eradicating communication gaps, bridging the gap not only among the indigenous communities but also with those affected across the country and any where on the planet of earth. In this connection, such a situation demands largely for petential capacity to take right decisions on right time and ensure their implementation on time in Public sector and to bolster development initiatives to increase standard of living of poor mountain communities of Gilgit-Baltistan. HUSANI, Gojal: A file photo taken in end of September, 2010. Blockade water under the soft terraces a offers a huge threat to settlement above.

Given the current deplomatic war, a new form of cold war, between rapidly growing Chinese economy and India under the aeges of USA to check the former's possible overtaking as the only super power has also affected the inteligentsia of the Gilgit-Baltistan region. US and Indian media circles and prominent writers have focused their attention on an expected new great game to be played in this region that borders Pakistan not only three strategic states: India, China and Afghanistan but also a corridor to the Central Asian states namely Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and so on. Keeping in view, future possible commercial hub at the junction of three great mountain ranges, the tug of war among these powers did little good for the interest of local population. The regional diaspora through regional media and especially bloggers continue to inform masses about the developments on global front has shifted their focus largely from the local issues rose gradually.
Husani Astana: Internal picture of Husani Astana (Shrine) built centuries ago is situated above the stalled Hunza river. Photo by Shams

Such a case is with Husani, a town around three kilometers away from tehsil headquarter with everlasting beauty, spiritual reverence and its strategic location. The town that is home to one of the popular shrine with a population more than one thousand is at the foot hills of Husani Glacier and Boreth lake in Gojal, Upper Hunza. The population of this area like other vicinities of Gojal are known for their hospitality; land is fertile for potato crops and fresh fruits and summer season remains pleasant almost for five months.
Husani, Gojal: The community in Husani village lives in hard times as it has been remained cut- off from Gulmit, the tehsil headquarter and Central Hunza. Yet where the community faces difficulties due to blockade, the small settlement embraces the benefit of land port to facilitate China-Pakistan trade via boats. Shaheen Scouts of Shia Imami Ismaili Boys scouts of the locality poses for Readers Time after their training titled Parvaz three camping.

This areas is facing currently threat of land failure due to blockade of water that stretches more than 23 kilometers turned Husani village into another peninsula. Moisture land base at the lower parts especially along the river side reveals impending peril if the concerned authorities of Pakistan with the help of China does not manage to avert the land failure by using advance technology to ensure more out flow from the barrier. According to locals, the crop production this year is around 30 percent lower than the last month while the quality of fresh fruit too affected due to change in climatic conditions in the area.
Where the inhabitants faces challenges in terms of troubles in traveling due to suspension of land link with the rest of the area towards Gulmit and Central Hunza, the small settlement has been turned into a major port to facilitate Sino-Pakistan trade via small boats to Attaabad spill way. Such a development is expected to create economic opportunities to local population to earn from. Government can work in this sector to develop warehouses and forwarding companies and help create a trade friendly conducive environment for traders from Pakistan and China.
This area that once greeting to tourists and the visitors to Shrine portrays a mix feelings of beauty and harrow-an agent to enable indigenous population to retain sustainability even in critical times.



The writer is a freelance researcher, writer and editor of Weekly VoH, GB Echo, Al-Shams bimonthly and Readers Time blogs. He can be contacted at:jaashams@gmail.com

CBRC's unsatisfactory performance in construction of KKH

Reduces transport moment across the region

Readers Time Report
HUNZA-NAGAR, November: Chinese Bridge and Road construction firm's slow pace of devlopmental work has served to decrease moment of transport across Gilgit-Baltistan region.

According to a reliable source, width of the road is even less than the previous one with frequent cross sections. Traveling on KKH especially between Hunza and Nagar has become bit advanturous. On the other hand, experts say that inadequate number of workers and equiptments was one of major reason for delay in construction and repairing work for half an year.

Comment-Reducing the risk of landslides,flash floods and soil erosion in mountainous Gilgit – Baltistan

By Syed Tajdar Hussain

The unprotected hilly barren slopes of dry temperate eco region in Gilgit – Baltistan (GB) are major sites and source of soil erosion, landslides, flash flood and rock fall which causes flow of sediment, mud flow, clay, sand and gravel to lower catchments. The poor communities of the area are directly affected when it merges with water and contaminates the rivers, streams springs and lakes, which are starting place of disaster and posing serious threats to the natural resources on one hand and on the other damage
infrastructure and also cause loss of life. These processes are emerging as issues in the entire mountainous regions of GB.Attaabad disaster on January 04, 2010 is the most recent, unbelievable and unforgettable, example in history of Gilgit-Baltistan. Similar issues may also emerge in the times ahead if proper risk reduction and management plan are not put in place for the vulnerable slopes of areas like Miachar in Nagar valley.
The hazards including hydro and metrological due to climate changes increases heavy rains, untimed heavy snow fall, flash floods, droughts, clouds bursts and avalanches, ultimately increase the geological hazards which are means for land slide, increase turbidity in water sources, cause loss of agriculture land, destruction of shelters, water channels, water and sanitation systems. It also effects soil fertility, water quality in both surface and subsurface runoff and diminishes the social and economical benefits by increasing hardships for the communities living on the mountainous slopes . Landslides mostly on susceptible slopes can occur due to gravity, moisture, earth failures can triggered by heavy rain, flood, earthquakes and other natural hazards and human induced hazards such as deforestation, overgrazing and ill managed mining etc. Most of the remotest villages of the region are not easily accessible and people usually use to go through pony tracks and small jeep able roads along the hilly terrains needed for disaster resilience. The barren slopes along these tracks are highly vulnerable to natural hazard risks. So far, no serious attempts have been undertaken to harness the livelihoods and precious resources for the economic well being of the local communities. Due to limited knowledge, the local people have been also benefits by haphazard using of existing limited natural resources on risky slope meadow to meet their needs of routine life.
Eventually slopes will get barren and cause more dangerous situation to hazards. These barren slopes can be again stabilized to prevent hazards risk, particularly landslides, surface runoff and gully formation through planting and sowing fast growing multipurpose native plants species like sea buckthorn, willow, popular, alfalfa, curl sock, wormseed and wormwood. This would control land slide and soil erosion on the vulnerable slopes and make to establish sod and stabilize slopes and will be productive indeed to lower scrub and examine vulnerability of the local people. To minimize the high hazards risk, an integrated approach and true partnership among local community and concerned departments required. In this way life of local people’s can be enhanced by putting small work at the present for the future well being. Planting of indigenous plants specie in the land sliding areas which can possibly reduced the flood hazards and perhaps establishes communities to live in a safe and healthy environment. Awareness about surrounding landscape is required to learn when and whether landslides and soil erosion occurred to take in time necessary action.
Construction of protective walls and developed enforce lands and community motivation to build their infrastructure away form the mouth of mountainous slopes can also safeguard from misfortune. The custodian departments can take lead role through support of the local community in mitigation measure and planting indigenous tree species to control hazards on vulnerable slopes.
Source: pamirtimes.net

Special Report:Prices of cash crops getting stable; poor formers take sign of relief

Readers Time
Giglit, November: Prices of indeginous cash crops have been gaining since last two weeks following intervention of local administration in artificially imposed prices by local and non-local agents across Gilgit-Baltistan. Local media sources raised the issue to urge local administration to ensure stability of prices of indegenous crops especially vegitables like Potato, Tomoto, carrots and fresh fruits namely Pear and apples to facilitate the only earning source of majority of disaster hit mountain communities in the region. Constant rise in essentials from down against lowering prices of indegnous products had annoyed local population that seem to transform since the begging of current month. According to regional analysts, extrapolation of data availble from statistics department idicates that local market forces must attain an equilibrium to a certain selling price that must ensure a reward of twelve months in hard climatic conditions.
HUNZA, Ganish: Beautiful terraces are known for good potatoes and vegetables in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). Image by:Shams

Prices of Potato have been fluctuated by 100 percent from PKR 1000 to 2000 and Potatoes from 30 to 55 -pushing the transactions to the peak thereof. On the other hand, hike in petroleum products and LPG has intensify essential being brought from down cities to cater indigenous needs served to sky rocket prices locally. Constant rise in expenditures against decline in already meager income sources of majority of local population is making life for poor a hard job to cater their daily needs.

G-B has potential to power Pakistan

Monitoring Desk

GILGIT: Over 40,000 megawatts of electricity can be produced in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) if the available water resources are used properly, officials said on Thursday.
“The region is full of water reservoirs and is best suited for the production of power. If these resources are used in a suitable manner, more than 40,000 megawatts of power can be generated in these areas,” a senior official in the Water and Power department said. With the financial support of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and other donors, a number of projects are in progress in this region. Shagar-thang Power project is one of them, 80 per cent of the total expenditure is being paid for by the ADB.The dam is the largest project that is being funded by foreign donors. The Diamer-Bhasha Dam will be the highest dam in the world with a 272 metres high spillway and with 14 gates, each 11.5 m x 16.24 m. Critics of the project have raised objections to the project as it will cause the inundation of over 50,000 ancient rock carvings and will destroy archaeological evidence in the region.- The Express Tribune