In time approval of admissions on increased quota in the Medical colleges implies sincerity of federal government says Amber advocate

Monitoring Report

KARACHI, Feb.01: (Shamsuddin Muhammad) Amber Hussain advocate Vice President, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), women wing Gilgit-Baltistan chapter has said federal government through comprehensive efforts has cleared all hurdles that impinged the processes of admissions emerged following disapproval notification by Pakistan Medical and Dental Council on the pretext of being beyond the authority of Pujab government in the regard and against the rules of institutions. Talking to media persons, she said that it was Prime Minister's personal efforts were resulted into approval of admission on increased quota for students from Gilgit-Baltistan which implies federal government's sincerity with the region. "According to Prime Minister's announcement flights ought to be scheduled even in bad weather, students tourists and patients equally suffers simultaneously; a large portion of total population affiliated with the tourims that affects so it is important to adress this issue on priority basis," she added. She said that about 140 students will be awarded scholarship under internship programme.She claimed that the youth of Gilgit-Baltistan are not behind the youth of other parts of the country in any field adding underestimation of their skills and expertise have served to infuse disappointment among youth of the region. She demanded of Chief Minister Syed Mehdi Shah to initiate struggle for rights of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and opposed the tendency of hiring of personnel from NWFP in local government institutions.
Courtesy: www.voiceofhunza.blogspot.com

OGRA increases price of petrol products

RT Monitoring desk

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 01: ISLAMABAD: The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has said that the price of petrol will be increased by three rupees and diesel by two rupees a litre. A notification was issued by OGRA which said that the new prices will take effect from the 1st of February.Official sources told a private news channel that a weakening rupee against dollar is one of the major factors that have contributed to the rise in fuel prices.After the hike comes into effect the price of petrol will go up to seventy-one rupees and twenty-one paisas per liter, diesel will cost sixty-one rupees and seven paisas per liter, kerosene oil will cost sixty-four rupees and seven paisas and HOBC will be available on eighty-six rupees and eighty-four paisas per liter in the market.

PMDC declines proposed increased quota for G.B students

RDT Monitoring report

ISLAMABAD, Jan. 30: According to available media reports, Pakistan Medical and Dental Association (PMDC) has declined the notification issued by government of Punjab to in compliance with the orders from Chief Minister Mian Shehbaz Sharif to increase quota seats for students of Gilgit – Baltistan in medical and dental colleges throughout Punjab province. According to details, Medical Council, after due consideration has rejected the order saying against rules and regulations of the institutions. Consequently, hundreds of students waiting for admission from Gilgit-Batistan facing troubles. PML(N) chief Mian Nawaz Sharif in his visit ahead of poles had announced doubling of quota for the student of Gilgit-Baltistan may prove just an announcement. Student circles have demanded of Mian Shehbaz Sharif, Chief Minister Punjab to take remedial actions to materialize his pledges with the masses of the region. Daily K2-Urdu

PM directs Gilgit-Baltistan govt to ensure good governance

RDT Monitoring desk

ISLAMABAD, Jan 29 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Friday directed the Gilgit-Baltistan government to ensure good governance, transparency and equal treatment to all regardless of their political affiliation. Talking to the Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan Syed Mehdi Shah at PM House, the Prime Minister said the PPP government has given autonomy to the area and would release the required funds for its development.He asked the Chief Minister to make policies for exploiting the scenic beauty of this picturesque area and make policies for promoting tourism and mountaineering.

The Prime Minister directed Gilgit-Baltistan government to ensure provision of basic necessities of life to the people at the grassroots level and make all out efforts towards fulfilling the promises made to the people of that area. Syed Mehdi Shah briefed the Prime Minister about the losses incurred due to the landslide in Hunza and appreciated the role of the concerned federal government departments in the Rescue and Relief operation in that area.
He also informed the Prime Minister about the development schemes being planned by his government for the welfare of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Magnificent Baltit fort- a legacy of Tibetan architecture shines in winter moonlights

RDTimes

By: Shamsuddin

HUNZA, Jan.30 : Magnificent Baltit Fort, a master piece of Tibetan architecture and Balti craftsmanship is lying on the top of Karimabad settlement, about 8000 feet above sea level in Hunza.

The splendid Baltit fort worried on calamity in Hunza. Photo by APP

The fort was built about 700 years ago. Ghazanfar Ali Khan, Mir of Hunza donated it to Baltit Heritage Trust (BHT). Later, it was renovated by AKCSP and won UNESCO award in 2004. Baltit fort was a symbol of prestige of Hunza in feudal regimes and remained home of royal dynasty for many years. It continues to attract vistors even more in moon nights coming every year around the world.

Source:http://www.voiceofhunza.blogspot.com/

Major general Farooq visits Hunza-Movie clip

RDT Watch


Movie by: Zulfiqar Ali Khan and Ikram Najmi

Maj. General Farooq visits Hunza; over-viewed clearance work

Monitoring Report

HUNZA, Jan. 28: Maj. (Shamsuddin Muhammad) General Farooq Ahmad Khan,chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) along other dignitaries visited the disaster hit area. He reached thes spot to overview both the relief work and efforts on release of water from artificially formed lake. Zafar Waqar Taj, Deputy Commissioner Hunza-Nagar, Nazir Sabir, former member GBLA, Wazir Baig,speaker GBLA, Dr. Khuwaja Khan, Pesident Ismaili regional council were also present on the occasion.
Talking to journalists, Wazir Baig,speaker GBLA said that the government is doing its best to bring the masses of Upper Hunza out of the trouble. Asked a Chinese engineering how long it would take to release water he said that at least one month would be required to release blocked water. Zafar Waqar Taj,Deputy Commissioner Hunza-Nagar briefed Mr. Farooq about the efforts being made by the local civil administration.

Aftermath calamity [Featured Article]

By: Shamsuddin Muhammad

www.rdstimes.blogspot.com

Natural disasters have been an adherent phenomenon of creatures on earth in various forms namely land sliding, earthquake, flooding and break out of infectious diseases. With rapid development in the field of science and technology has made partially capable many developed societies to adopt disaster prevention measures to escape danger while rest of the countries especially developing states like Pakistan are under the mercy of natural disasters. Despite, overwhelming development in European states and US, still, human beings seems still at the mercy of natural forces. American soil, for instance endures disasters almost every next year so is the case for many other; yet, an efficient disaster management authority under effective mechanism help control the emergency situation. Unfortunately, many third world countries like Pakistan, the need for such a programme was first felt on government level when a massive earth quake rock a major portion of Azad Jamu and Kashmir and Northern Areas in October, 2005.The focus of both governmental and nongovernmental organizations to the quake hit areas against influx of foreign aid, many far flung areas remained out of the scene. Such a case was that of Attaabad, an unfortunate village 760 Kilometers away from country's Capital, thirty kilometers from Aliabad, the commercial hub and fifty five kilometers from Karakorum High Way above Sarat village like a hanging garden on a steep slope in Central Hunza.The inhabitants of Ataabad village identified very first cracks in both human residential and cattle houses on top of settlement following a high magnitude earth quack hit the village in 1994, causing to damage some of the cultivated lands. The cracks began to widen due to hydrological factors-water from snow melt and rain entered the cracks leading uneven leveling of land and gradual slope failure. FOCUS and Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP) in their reports had marked area highly risk zone and advised population to leave the area on emergency basis. Many families with sound financial back ground managed to migrate while others opted for the old huts beyond the crack limits. Neither political leadership nor bureaucracy took the issue bit seriously and the announcement ahead of poles for pre-relocation of the population who later fell victim of disaster proved mere a political slogan. The world experienced two tragic incidents at the beginning of New Year. It was tyranny of history that human beings at some places are mourning for their dears trapped under the rubble in an unfortunate valley, Attaabad; many people remained busy to celebrate inauguration ceremony of Burj-e-Khalifa as world's tallest tower or high rise ever built on surface of earth with extensive fireworks crackling above that lit up Dubai's sky and was depicted as people of Arab met a land mark. There was nothing bad if such energies and resources were also applied to alleviation of poverty, prosperity of science and technology through research and development not just on construction of buildings like that of Great Mughals who left a mixed feelings of their specific mentality. Many may argue that why they should mourn on disaster but we say amidst such situation, such activities can be celebrated simply. One thing that inspired us in this project was determination of U.A.E government who completed it before the deadline. With in a week, humanity exposed to another tragic incident when a massive earthquake struck Southern Haiti on January 12, Tuesday, knocking down buildings, power lines and inflicting a catastrophe upon a poorest nation in Western Hemisphere. Media sources reported heavy damage and bodies lying on roads and streets of the country's capital Port-au-Prince. The magnitude, according to the U.S. Geological sources confirmed was 7.0 quakes, one of the most powerful quake hit the area ever was first felt in the early morning. The center of the quake about 15 kilometers southwest of the capital and also felt strongly in eastern Cuba. According to updated reports tens of thousand of people have been buried dead while tens of thousands still buried under the rubble. Every country is making its contribution to the affectees of the unfortunate country but the main problem there is the incidents of looting and theft in many areas of the capital since the first day the aid started to reach. Now let’s revisit the tragic situation in slide hit area when every person held his hands to the mouth hearing the tragic incident on television with in few hours. Apprehension became reality when the whole settlement with in few moments turned into rubble, blocked the water flow on Hunza river and Karakorum High Way, the only land route to connect Upper and central Hunza that led to impinge commercial and civic activities in the whole disconnected part of the region. Some of the NGOs and nearly all communities voluntarily participated like a single family in rescue work while officials have been reported reached on third day. Much more has been written on incident, federal government has made arrangements for displaced families in temporary camp and the high ups of ruling party has ensured their due support to the disaster hit people. The damage was so unimaginable that it out-manure even expert engineers of the country. People who were satisfy with the relief for disaster hit villages are now annoyed with the pace of work undergoing or the release of water from a huge artificial formed lake which has blocked the all means of transportation and supply of basic commodities of life. Where calamity has claimed dozens of lives and property damage, it served to increased difficulties andpanic among the inhabitants of the low lying villages of Upper Hunza like Ayeenabad, Nazimabad, Shishkat, Gulmit, Husani. Hundreds of kanal of land is sinking along Hunza river as the water level is rising by 4 feet every twenty four hours. Similarly, according to recent reports on post disaster situation is even more alarming which apprehends the sudden ebullition of lake due to strong pressure on western shore that blocked the passage can reduce many settlements,bridges and land routes from Ganish to Gilgit city. The reports also places emphasis on line departs to ensure the stock of commodities to cater the needs of population in case of emergency. On the other hand, those working on release of water have a single machine to clear more than two miles long rubble with risk of further slope failure southward. With out any doubt , there are many difficulties that regional government is facing in terms of lack of equipment and technology but many people express reservations on apathetic role and interest in release of water and KKH blockade. Besides this there are reports of nepotism and prejudice in air lift facility shown by some of the officials which is not a good news for many of us. Fortunately, as a result of efforts of local leadership and intelligentsia, the opening of Khunjerab border has served an alternative to provide necessities of life to the far-flung valleys in Gojal, Upper Hunza. Majority of NGOs and governmental organizations, in case of a tragic incident always emphasize on physical response like provision of necessities of life like water, food ,Shelter, health and clothing. Yet the many negative impacts of such disaster emerge later as a human response in terms of socio-economic and psychological issues. The only middle school that once served as an early base for male and female students has been perished and students preparing for secondary and higher secondary examinations are among the sufferers. Chief Minister, on Sunday has pledged to extend his full support in relief processes for disaster hit people of the area, which is a good move to win hearts of the poor masses. We hope that both political leadership and bureaucracy will start thinking out of box and start play a public centered role through using available resources to convert difficulties into opportunities and help reduce the feelings of depression. At the same time, we expect government of Pakistan shall make its contribution according to the capacity in the relief of the poor masses of Haiti as a human responsibility towards others on earth.








The writer is a freelance writer, researcher and editor of VoH, GB.Echo, RDs Times and Alshams. He can be contacted via: jaashams@gmail.com

The uproar on food shortage a tactic of opponents says Wazir Baig

RDT Watch Dog

HUNZA, Jan.28: (Shamsuddin Muahammad): According to an Urdu regional daily, Wazir Baig, newly elected speaker of Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly has said that the government was using its all resources to cope with the challenges following the disaster in Attaabad village. He claimed that re-opening of Khunjerab border aimed at assurance of provision of daily necessities in the besieged are of Upper Hunza due to blockade of KKH, the only land route that link both central and upper Hunza. He said that a delegation of local traders will be allowed to go to China to fetch the goods to the masses on affordable prices under the supervision of government departments. He claimed that there is no such issue of food

shortage adding that was a political tactic from the opponents decry the efforts of ruling government." The essential goods and medicines are sent Gojal via helicopters on daily basis and water from artificial lake would be released with in fourty days," he added. Daily K2.Urdu

Local volunteers, Scouts and NGOs playing an active role with govt in relief operations;

NDMA choppers continue to shift daily life necessities to temporary relief camps and Upper Hunza, P.Cs demands immediate release of water from artificial lake
RDT Monitoring report
By: Fazal Shams Hunzai

HUNZA, Aliabad: Local Ismaili volunteers, boyscouts, NGO representitives and government officials load relief goods into a helicopter Local Ismaili volunteers, Boy scouts, members of Civil Society and Non Governmental Organizations with some of government institutions actively are busy in humanitarian work. Public circles (P.Cs) applaud their contribution and demanded immediate release of water as the next step on priority basis from artificially formed lake following land sliding.

It is pertinent to tell our readers that National Disaster Management Authority has provided helicopters as an air lift facility to shift daily life necessities and facilitate moment of masses and commuters from Central to Upper Hunza, locked for more than twenty three days following the massive land slide tragedy. Government has provided compensation to every family affected in the disaster yet many have concerns on slow pace of work in release of water.

Usman rejects allegations of favouritsm saying arguments are unjust and highly discouraging

RD Monitoring desk

HUNZA, Jan 26: Muhammad Usman, Assistant Commissioner sub division Hunza,has rejected the allegation of favourtism and inhumane attitude towards commuters against the facility by choppers of NDMA. “The news published regarding me in an online regional portal is highly discouraging and unbearable because being a son of the soil I am trying my level best to facilitate the local community”, said the Assistant Commissioner Muhammad Usman talking to the the portal on phone. As a response to a news item published in portal on 25th January, a day earlier, he said, “till today none of my friends or family members visited me in Gulmit as I am myself living in a single room of Chinese Camp”, he further said. “I was flying to Gilgit on the same day and on the request of the pilots four people from Gojal volunteered to give space for an elder women patient with three others with whom I don’t had any relationship”, he explained. “As sympathy I paid the four volunteers
100 rupees each from my pocket so that they would not bear the burden of the ticket from Aliabad to Gilgit”, he added. On the other hand, representatives of the relief committee in Gojal has applauded the role of the Mr.Usman in relief operations. “He extends all possible support to the committee and facilitates the local community”, they said, Pamir Times reported.

Rupani donates for relief fund

RDT Watch
Press release HUNZA, Altit, Aliabad, Jan. 26: A delegation led by Wazir Baig, speakerof GBLA, a member board of trustee of Rupani Rupani Foundation and other officials called on officials of Ismaili Regional Council for Hunza on at Baltit where they offered the invoice of donation for the disaster hit population of Attaabad village. Masaidullah Baig,assistant Cheif Executive Officer and Tika Khan, secretary Ismaili regional council for Hunza, Mutabiat Shah, technocrat member GBLA and others. were also present on the occasion. Dr. Khuwaja Khan, president Ismail Regional council thanked Rupani for their contribution of Rs. 0.2 million to the Attaabad Disaster Relief Fund. Delegation also visited temporary camps at Altit and Aliabad and recited Fatiha for deceased.

[BREAKING NEWS] Local volunteers and NGOs playing an active role with govt in relief operations;

NDMA choppers continue to shift commuters and daily essentials to temporary relief camps and Upper Hunza, P.Cs demands immediate release of water from lake

Voice of Hunza Report
By: Fazal Shams Hunzai

HUNZA, Aliabad: Local Shia Imami Ismaili volunteers, Boy scouts, members of Civil Society and Non Governmental Organizations with some of government institutions are actively busy in humanitarian work in Hunza. Public circles (P.Cs) applaud their contribution and demanded immediate relaease of water as the next step on priority basis from artificially formed lake following land sliding.

It is pertinent to tell our readers that National Disaster Management Authority has provided helicopters to facilitate moment of masses from Central to Upper Hunza, locked for more than twenty three days following the calamity. Government has provided compensation to every family affected in the disaster yet many have concerns on slow pace of work in release of water.

HUNZA: Relief goods being shifted to Gojal, Upper Hunza
Photos by: Fazal Karim Hunzai

Meanwhile, it is known to VoH that Nazir Sabir, former member Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly has left capital for Hunza along some officials of NDMA to observe relief operations and the situation emerged due to blocked of water on Hunza River

Article: Re-emergence of Drama of conventional hatred

By: Shamsuddin Muhammad

India and Pakistan has a peculiar history based on the pattern of dog and cat fight as a response to Kotiliyan Paradigm, an eminent Indian ancient policy expert followed by former against the later right from the first day of independence. Some of the eminent psychologists like E.F.M. Durban and John Bowlby have agreed on hypothesis that human beings are inherently violent. This aggressiveness is incited by displacement and projection where a person translates his grievances into bias and hatred against other races, religions, nations or ideologies. Such is happening in case of both countries if applied on state level. Both countries have fought more than tree limited wars to settle the account of border disputes caused to nourish a sense of animosity, jealousy and mutual hatred with no reason except to degrade each other on every forum directly or indirectly . Most of the problems in the time of separation were caused by the haphazard, fast and unplanned withdrawal of British from the India-subcontinent. The major problems were geographical location of East and West Pakistan separated 1,600 kilometers by Indian territory, rehabilitation of hundreds of thousands of those migrated from other side and to build institutions of all types including a vigilant army. Despite of financial instability due to lack of payment of amount pledged by India , Pakistan managed to get out of trouble in a decade gradually. While the crisis on trade reached climax in 1949 when Britain devalued the pound, to which both the Pakistani rupee and the Indian rupee were pegged. India followed Britain's lead, but Pakistan did not, so India severed trade relations with Pakistan. This was a formal beginning of confrontation between both countries on every level. Besides economic hurdles Pakistan experienced political instability as it was run without a constitution and intervention of administrative organ into legislative in early days of independence that transformed into military with the cope diet of General Ayub Khan vanished any hope of nourishment of democratic values. The country remained for more than four decades under dictator's rule with turmoil on borders as three out of four wars were fought with India in this period that brought nothing but penury, starvation, mutual trust deficit, atrocity and Burden on national economy as a large portion of budget directly went into defense sector-to facilitate unending war on terror and law and order situation. The negligence of other sectors like education, public welfare, health,, strategic human resource management, rising inflation, liberal mindset, gender violation, misuse of blasphemy laws ,scientific research and application, industrial growth, sustainable development, disaster preventions measures and effective Confidence building measures (CBMs) to reduce sense of jealousy and hatred to each other. There has been hardly any period when both countries succeeded to build better relations due to emergence of issues ranging from water to border disputes. The construction of dams on rivers conferred to Pakistan and ineffective role of global arbitrating institutions to place check on India has led further confrontation during last few years.
Many historians explains an interesting feature when talking about the bilateral relations. With the commencement of winter season when statements from the top brass leader ship from either side, mostly from India every year as crate panic aims to justify additional quota on defense and necessity of large number of forces. Despite of a paradigm shift from use of hard to soft power patterns to handle issues globally, both still rely on use of the farmer to response any move against so-called national interest. Amidst such a state of warfare a third party mostly USA or UK or any other country appears the scene to act as an arbitrator having its own axe to grind. Consequently, the situation goes toward normalization and heading towards dialogue sessions without any tangible outcome. Some of the analyst termed it a tactic to keep more emphasis of expenditure in the arm race that has benefited none. No one can deny expenditure on the security of state when faced with numerous challenges but that should be backed by growing national economies. Many times, irresponsible attitude and remarks of both Indian army and national governments served to divert attention on other issues of importance like socio-ecnomic, geo-political issues on one hand and extremism on the other during the first decade of the new millennium. The recent anti Pakistan statement published recently in an Indian news paper as quoted by Geo TV has further intensified the situation. The news Indian paper quotes Indian Chief of staff General Deepak Kapoor saying that his country is preparing for a possible two-front limited war with Pakistan and China, simultaneously; revising its last five years old strategy to effectively meet the challenges of war with both countries; deal with asymmetric and fourth generation warfare, enhance strategy reach and joint operations with Indian Navy and air forces. The strategy he further says, "aims to boost the capability to fight under the veil of recognition of threat perceptions and security challenges through Shimla based military training command headed by General A.S. Lamba. " India apparently may intervene from Afghanistan to create nuances for Pakistan. The paper further quotes Mr. Kapoor, whose tenure is about to end, saying India has identified some areas including professional preparation for conventional wars, create capability to counter both military and non-military facets of asymmetric and sub-conventional threats like terrorism, enhance reach strategy and out of area capabilities to protect their interests; interdependence and operational synergy among air and naval forces and to achieve technological edge over its adversities to gain advantage for integrated network certainty, decision support system, information warfare are under the way to achieve the ends, simultaneously. This can be a military tactic to shift the focus of Pakistan on North-Western borders to get double benefit: to engage on East and intervene from Afghanistan both in FATA and Baluchistan. What really painful is growing gulf between both countries headed on different lines. The main concern in this scenario is on the nature of immature economies of both countries still rely on foreign aids especially that of Pakistan hit by terrorism menace, problems of balance of payments, devaluing currency rate against foreign exchange and rising debt being borrowed from International Monitory Fund (IMF) on higher interest rates than before and hardly able to function without the aid of such profit oriented international giant organizations backed by a specific agenda. In other words India in pride of sustainable growth rate compared to Pakistan, willing to pressurize through propaganda. There are no two opinions as far as Mumbai attacks are concerned-no one can justify it but mudslinging on Pakistan will be unfair. Pakistan is on war with its own nurtured dilemma that can not repeat the policy to support Jihadist elements. Extremism in any form is fatal for humanity. Indian media created a hype that atomic programme of Pakistan is unsafe and can be overtake by militants despite the fact that Pakistani atomic programme is much more safer than that of India-evident from fire incidents, leakages and kidnapping and murder of a top nuclear scientist last year. The brutalities done by India in Jamu are also a kind of extremism as it aims to keep the masses quite against aggression.
One of the important component of emerging global soft power structure is the evolution of relationship between four states namely three Asian and one America has changed the dynamics of foreign policy while addressing issues on give and take basis. The visible pattern of new relationship is between China and US, China and India, Pakistan and China, India and Us and Pakistan and India and Pakistan and the US on certain dynamics. The recent developments: Obama's election as a US president, plan attack plot in Yaman and unrest in Afghanistan will bring a new pattern of the policy paradigm. Similarly, China which has gained a sustainable development may over take Japan in next two years-thus emerging as a main player to challenge US monopoly as super power in uni-polar structure. Both countries whether it is Pakistan or India should avoid such statements that generates tense between both that neither benefit masses of Pakistan nor of India except to the ego of few monarchical minds. There are host of outstanding issues to be tackle to avoid any future conflict. We hope the two countries realizing their real issues would make efforts to diminish tense to use the potentials in the welfare of their masses.







The writer is freelance researcher and HR practitioner and Editor of blog: Voice of Hunza, GB Echo, SR Times and Alshams. He can be reached at: jaashams@gmail.com

MQM will give representation in Sindh assembly: Raja Azam

RDs Monitor

ISLAMABAD, Jan. 26: Member Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and newly elected member Gilgit Baltistan Legislative Council (GBLA) has said that Mutahida will give a representation to Gilgit-Baltistan in Sindh Assembly.Speaking to a large public gathering organized by Shigar community of twin cities in capital on Sunday he said that more than five lakh people of Baltistan are residing in Karachi. He said that there is no scarcity of talent in Shigar; if something is deficient, that is low rate of literacy. He asserted that he is going reserve and utilize seventy percent of available fund on education.He claimed that in the last tenure, he placed more emphasis and once ogain he will give preference to education sector. He said that the sope of election is faded away and its the time to work jointly." We should forget our differences for the better interest of masses of the poor region," he added. He said that those either supported and opposed him are his brothers adding his is representing party of poor and oppressed.