Noimination of late Shehzad for Second highest title hailed

RDs Report

HUNZA, Aliabad, March 27: Civil Society organizations have hailed the dicision of nomination of late Shehzad for 'Sitara-e-Juraat', the third biggest award of the country confered on for valour and remarkable word of individuals. According to the details, the non governmental humanitarian organizations as well as public secotr organizations busy in relief operations have nominated late Mr.Shehzad for the highest civil award for his unprecendented work for humanity. Mr. Shehzad, who died of critical injuries at the land disaster site following a rock sliding on 5th March was an active member of Shia Imami Ismaili Boys scouts, Aliabad chapter who dovoted most of his time for community work.

Dr. Shama Khalid seeks report on disaster relief work

RDa Times

GILGIT,March 27: Doctor Shama Khalid, newly appointed governor of Gilgit Baltistan has sought report from government authorities. Officials briefed her on progress in breach of water blockade due to Attaabad land slide disaster. She ordered authorities to expidate work to release water on emergency basis and make proper arragements for the safety of the settlements on both side of Hunza ruller. She also ordered administrative machinery to ensure every possible relief to the affecties of the disaster. There are two opinions regarding the situation. The first mainatins that there is no chance of outburst of naturally formed lake on Hunza River while the second has warned of the sudden outburst if the pressure of water increase with the rise of water level. Some of the geological experts working with humanitarian non governmental organizations have apprehended the possibility of outburst if the water could not released by end of June.
Source:www.voiceofhunza.blogspot.com

Good governance,elimination of corruption,effective mechanisms for women empowerment and grass root development, the main priorities: Dr. Shama

Monitoring Report

ISLAMABAD, March 25: Doctor Shama Khalid, the newly appointed first ever female governor in history of the country has said that her main priorities including good governance, elimination of corruption, better arrangement for law and order condition, woman development and improvement and effective mechanism for grass root development.

File picture: Islamabad: Dr. Shama Governor Gilgit-Baltistan talking to Prime Minister Gilani: Photo by app

After taking oath at presidency house as the female governor of the Gilgit Baltistan talking to journalists she said that without good governance, the dream for sustainable development will be a wild goose chase. She said that she will serve the people of region with out any bias saying she will keep striving to come to the expectations of federal government in days to come." I shall try my best to bring a real socio-economic change to make the dream of ruling party true which has given by self governance order for Gilgit-Baltistan," she added. She said that it was the PPPs government which has brought reforms by empowering the region on real lines. Latter, she met Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and discussed on various issues of interest.

Source: www.voiceofhunza.blogspot.com

Light shocks were felt in Hunza-Nagar; Buildings continue to jolt for many soconds

HUNZA, Karimabad, March 24: A low scale earth quake shocks were felt on Monday, 8:00 PM in various places of Hunza and Nager. The intensity of the shocks were 4 on rector scale and with origin in Himalayas.The shock continued to jolt buildings for several minutes. Yet, no loss of property and life has been reported.
Courtesy: voiceofhunza.blogspot.com

Novroze being celebrated in Gilgit-Blatistan

VoH Report

HUNZA, March 21:(Shamsuddin Muhammad) Novroze Festival is being celebrated with simplicity this year in most of the valleys of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Image source:www.google.com

In Hunza-Nagar, the festival is observed with great zeal.Nevertheless, due to natural disaster of landsliding and its negative implications faced by Upper Hunza has overshadowed the the celebration. The day will start with special prayers in mosques, Jamat Khanas for world peace, prosperity and good time in future; and will mark the very first day of the natural calender of year lasts as a legacy of ancient Persia and central Asian tradition.
For more, please visit: www.voiceofhunza.blogspot.com

Corruption behind the walls

RDS Times
www.rdstimes.blogspot.com
By: Shamsuddin Muhammad

According to the media reports, corruption has got its way to every nook and corner of the country during its journey for more than six decades. There is hardly any institution or organizational structure which can be taken as an ideal entity. Despite of efforts of every new government to hinder corrupt practices, any tengible outcome could be resulted from; rather the menace of corrupt practices were given formal justification. On political front, politics its self has become the dirty game as it gets inspiration from the political pattern prevailing in the rest of the country. Majority of politicians have had involved in back kicks and their focus revolves around personal gains as they have their own axes to grind for they know that the voters who support them and get them entered into legislative bodies in elections are nothing but irrational breed who can be tricked using different tools like arousing communal and cultural hatred among
them to achieve their end-that is to preserve their seats. Lets first put a glance over the common observation of prevailing norms in public oranizations. According to a police peronnel, recruitment procedures are being ignored on non-gazatted posts like that of constables and head constables in police department which according to him needs at least fourty thousand rupee as a driving force to get the file approached to the authorities; similarly, the department for a common man is known as currency minting area for it has influence in dailylives of the people. The case with revenue, civil supply, building and construction and rest of the service departments is no different. The patwaries, the legacy of British imperial yolk who come under the command of assistant commissioners even bypass their bosses in dispensation of their services to get extra charges, skillfully; so here too, the additional charges or Nazrana is a minor practice.
There are numerous departments indireclty involved corrupt practices, though few legitimized by powerful establishments. A for as bureaucratical nuances and intrasies in the region of Gilgit-Baltistan are concerned, they can be clearly discerned through a close observation. A German sociologist Max Weber was the first social scientist to coin the term bureacracy in the as a response to the then tyranical and despotic rule in Europe. He identified at least five attributes of such a rule including: individual subjugation, cruelty, subjective judgment, favoritism and unwavering loyality to the sovereign. The presented his own modle that emphasized on division of work, rigid heirarchical system, abidance to the rules and regulations; he described buruatical model as most effective organizational structure against monarchical rule.He attributed bureaucracy with some of its qualities: professionalism, rigidity , importance to structuralism and bossism which proved its defects later. The biggest shortcoming in this model that brought the model under fire or severe criticism was was negligence of human factor as he did not elaborate any thing regarding role of human relations and excessive importance to structure and procedure. The phenomenon of bureaucracy emerged rapidly after second world war due to expansion in the activities of states as the bureaucracy was considered as one of the most efficient and well structure organization as compared to the others.Yet, due to lack to constant check and lack of acumen among political representations, most of the bureaucracies suffered from corruption, nepotism and proto typed rather than proactive attitude based on scientific research. The phenomenon of bureaucracy in the whole country is a complex case to elaborate in few lines, instead we should focus on the irregularities prevailing in Gilgit-Baltistan region.According to media reports, the irregularities and back door accesses are on apex in services structure. According to an official on the condition of anonymity claimed that the recruitment and promotion rules are largely being ignored. According to him, promotion on scale 14 to 16 are subjected to approval of authorities and is based on a particular policy; but what is happening is beyond imagination. An official of grade fourteen, who is affiliated with a national media has been given promotion from grade 14 to 16 within one year of his appointment and now proposed to grade seventeen withing few months which is a tangible evidence of corruption on different levels. He according to him, promotions are backed by communal polarization means a member of a specific community though competent enough may loss if he does not enjoy the backing of a powerful community. There are thousands of cases out of record when deserved were pushed back to give way to one who have some influenced recommendation though incompetent enought to despense his duties. The menace of corruption has infused so rapidly into very fabric of every walk of life in the country in general and and Gilgit-Baltistan in general that there seems no way to get out of it.The review of such cases elucidates that rate of irregularities have been increased rapidly.
Since 1990's, the time of the then Chief Executive of Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly, Fida Muhammad Nashad to the contemporary government, despite tall claims the menance continues to dominate
processes from bottom to top in different forms direct or directly. The newly ellected Chief Miniter, Syed Mehdi Shah, like his predecessors has pledged to root out the dillema following his oath. Nevertheless, the cases of irregularities on poromotions and other processes implies the lake of political will. Such cases of irregularities portray where we are heading. In private sector, we can observe numerous examples where Non- Governmental Organizations are hoodwinking doners and donner agencies against fake developmental projects which serves to achieve their end-that is an impressive photography, though not necessarily it relates in order to get economic
incentives in the name of humanitarian work. It seems nothing could work to stop it except a revolution that will change the dynamics of so called development on part of humanity in developing countries in particular. We would like to appeal those on helms of affairs to take immediate notice to the irregularities to ensure appointments and promotions based on merit and competence. We hope the high ups will make efforts to eliminate every source of corruption to create better society and help ensure euality. In the last, it can be expected that federal government will appoint a competent and accommodating local person in either sex having exposure of problem solution abilities in hard times as well as sense of miseries of the poor population of the region.












The writer is editor of Voice of Hunza, Gilgit-Baltistan Echo, Rds Times, Silk Route Times and Bi-Monthly Alshams. He can be reached at: jaashams@gmail.com

Shehzad Ali Shaheed earns lurals of public

Voice of Hunza Report

HUNZA, March 17: ( Shamsuddin Muhammad) Shehzad Ali, who died of a land slide mishap at the calamity hit site Attaabad got public appraise of his great humanitarian work for humanity. Shehzad Ali, who was active member of Shia Imami Islmail Boys scots, Aliabad, Hunza remained busy in the philanthropic work following the land slide calamity.

HUNZA, Aliabad: Shia Imami Ismaili boy scouts standing at the grave of Shehzad Ali Shaheed to pay him tribute for his great service for human welfare
Photo by: Fazal Karim Hunzai

The notables of Aliabad, Hunza in statement paid their due tribute to this brave social worker who lost his life in the service of humanity. He was seriously injured along an army personnel following a sudden rock slides at the water blockade site on Hunza river. It is pertinent to mention here, civil society organizations like Boy Scouts, local volunteers have played a remarkable role to serve the victims of the land slide hit area as well as stranded people on both sides of water blockade.

Grateful for due support of party workers on ticket: Muhammad Ibrahim

Monitoring Report

GILGIT, March 17: Muhammad Ibrahim, vice president Pakistan Peoples Party, Gilgit Baltistan chapter has siad that Gilgit Baltistan Council is a new public forum. Talking to a regional daily, he said that he will play his vital role through using his skills and potential to solve the outstanding problems of the region. He thanked party activists for supporting him against the refusal of ticket for GBLA council. He said that party convention will be held after consultation with the party president in next month where resented workers will be invited to shun the misunderstanding. Daily K2, Urdu.

Hunza Land slide disaster and its implications

Movie on Landslide Disaster
VoH Monitor

Courtesy: You tube

Nepotism and coruption reached climax,Chief Minister should take notice of such tendecny says Ibrahim Sanai

RDs Times Report

GHANCHE, March.02: (Changez Khan) Ibrahim Sanai, former advisor building and construction and district leader of Pakistan Muslim League (N) has said that rate of coruption has increased in Ghanche district after the formation of PPP lead government in the Gilgit-Baltistan. Talking to our correspondent, he said that the double standard policy of ruling party has created disappointment in the region.He alleged that ruling party is involved indirectly in corruption by selling jobs to fvourite persons. He blamed that those sitting at key postions in different institutions are also involved in nepotism adding such treds will weaken public trust on contemporary government. He claimed that his party will continue to indicate loop holes in the policy of ruling government to win their hearts.

Disaster was a test of God; instead of politicizing issue lets come forward to involve in rlief operations: Mehdi Shah

RDS Special

HUNZA, Attaabad:(Shamsuddin Muhammad)Chief Minister Giligit Baltistan Syed Mehdi Shah has said that the disaster was a test of God. Talking to the local volunteers at the time of replacement of helicopter service with boat service from disaster hit area to Shishkat, he said that it was not the time of politics rather to come forward and contribute in relief operations. Wazir Baig, Speaker GBLA, home secretary and Deputy Commissioner Hunza-Nager were also present on the occasion.

Movie by: Shamsuddin Muhammad

Increased number of dog chasing and bite casses in Gilgit city turns to a nightmare for pedestrains

RDT Report

GILGIT, March.01: The dogs chasing and bites during the night have become a routine of the every next day in the Gilgit city. According to last six days reports, more than three children have been affected by bites of dogs in Zulfiqarabad and Soni Kot areas of city limits. The increasing number of dogs roaming in the night have created chaos among pedistrains. Public circles have demanded of Municipal authorities to control the rapid increase in number of dogs before it turns a nightmare.

600 houses posed to danger; authroties should take additional step breach in water blockade says Juthal Notables

Beauru Report

NAGAR, Juthal,March 01: The population of the settlement would forced to come to the street if the authorities do not take additional step to expedite work on breach of blockage water. These views were expressed by the notables from Juthal village.
Talking to our correspondent, notables of Juthal village expressed their concerns over safety measures in case of outburst of blockade water at Hunza river adding about six hundred houses will be affected. They said that authorities have neglected the population saying government will be held responsible in case of any carnage in future." In case of failure of authorities to release water to the end of March, people will come on the roads to record protest," they added.
Source: www.gbecho.blogspot.com

Aavalanche hits Karimabad and Altit, fog and icy winds engulfed area for half an hour

RDs Times Report

HUNZA,Karimabad, Feb.25: A huge avalanche sliding from Ultar peak hit Karimabad and Altit village at 9:00 A.M, engulfed area for half an hour.

According to the details, suddenly fog and icy wind appeared above Baltit Fort soon cover major portion of Karimabad and Altit. Consequently, the area on both side of Ultar Nalah or Harchi indigenously called received light snow fall. Nevertheless, no loss of property or life has been reported.
According to local myth, breaking of ice from high rise glaciers begets good future and hinder evil forces like poverty and diseases.

Post disaster scenario

RDs Times
By: Shamsuddin Muhammad

Natural calamities are not new to the people of Giligit-Baltistan; most of whom have had suffered a lot due to either criminal negligence of those on helms of power, lack of disaster prevention measures or overlooking of the phenomenon where that certain strata of population took with ease.The recent horrible land slide tragedy that slid down a major portion of Attaabad and Sarat villages and turned settlements into rubble with in few moments. The massive land slide calamity claimed many precious lives, most of them of Sarat , a more safer village than Attaabad recommended by FOCUS, leaving trapped under rubble, many critically injured. Besides human loss, property damage was unimaginable that reminded us the havoc of high magnitude earth quack of October, 2005 in Azad Jamu and Kashmir. Keeping the geographical features of the region in general and the slide affected area in particular where seismic or volcanic activity is active,geological experts of Survey of Pakistan and FOCUS in their respective reports warned the population of expected danger declaring the area red zone and suggested to leave at their earliest. Some of the dwellers with sound economic status managed to leave their home town while rest failed to do as it seemed hard to cut off the organic links with a land where they grew up. Unfortunately, neither public representatives nor civil administration and not any NGO voiced over the issue to make in time arragments of rehabilitation and the voice of masses failed to fell on deaf years of the authorities to avaid such a tragedy. Much more has been said and written on the disaster and meaningless to revisit the details of panic observed on site. Government, NGOs, regional civil administrations, intelligentsia, civil society members, electronic and print media and finally last not least bloggers playing remarkable role to highlight issues and kept viewers updated every moment.
Government managed to arrange helicopter service with the support of Disaster Management Authority under the directions of federal government to shift commuters stranded at Aliabad and Gulmit due pto prolong blockade of Hunza river and Karakorum High Way, the only land route access of Gojal, upper Hunza and central. Government officials claimed that process of rehabilitation of affectees was in final stage and expected to be materialized with in a month which is a good sign in the attitude of bureaucracy with feudal mindset. Sufficient relief goods have been contributed by philanthropist individuals, organizations and government and categorically available in case of emergency. The relief package for Inter Displaced People (IDPs) is effectively organized under the supervision of Deputy and Assistant Commissioner and was renewable on Febraury 17 for a specific period that contains daily essentials and edible items. There are some reports of resentment shown by IDPs over delay in rehabilitation process that emerged due to exaggerated claims of slide hit affectees on their possessions especially that of Sarat village. Helicopters continued to supply essentials on Wednesday in compliance with the pledges of Chief Minister to provide all possible support to all affectees of land slide. Besides re-opening of Pak-Chinese border to facilitate population of Shishkat, Ayeenabad, Gulmit and other cut off far flung valleys of Gojal,upper Hunza government officials are planning to extend boat service to Gulmit for the main bridge that link Shishkat and Gulmit on Hunza River is about
to sink in blocked water.
According to available data, majority of Ayeenabad including twelve houses and lowere areas of Shishkat settlement have been submerged completely. Rising water level on naturally formed lake rose to 170 feet and stretched to about fifteen kilometers long leaving 10 houses submerged in Shishkat village and rest at low altitude have been evacuated. On the other hand, both political and civil administration of Gilgit Baltistan is doing according to its capacity. Officials and workers of Frontier Works Organization (FWO) and Northern Areas Power and Works Department (PWD) are delivering their best to make breach in gigantic debris surrounded by sheered mountain rocks with anxiety in red zone as the area has had volcanic activity that created visible cracks in rocks. According to an PWD engineer, there is no chance of sudden outburst of lake water for the stony debris is stretched at fifty degree against the prolong blocked water on river. The engineer further says that it will take at least three months to make a breach to release water systematically. Chief Minister Mehdi Shah accompanied with Wazir Baig Speaker of house and other officials has vowed to extend every possible support to the affectees in the critical times saying such disasters are test of endurance of nations adding the disaster has had direct impact on Gilgit Baltistan region too. The presence of public representatives serves to appease feeling of deprivation among the masses emerged following suspension of chopper services due to bad climatic conditions.
Regional government has managed the issue effectively by ensuring boat service as an alternative. We through this medium would like to urge both the political and civil administration to keep in touch with the affectees to address their genuine needs by eliminating communication gulf that emerge at a sudden unexpectedly. We would also request political parties, members of civil society and intelligentsia to come forward and keep their difference aside to join hands in hand to bring the affectees out of troubles. We hope, the nation will be able to come out of menace with better strategy and planning.





The writer is editor of Voice of Hunza, Readers Times, S.R.Times and GB Echo. He can be contacted at: jaashams@gmail.com

LBP and PYF organizes protest demonstration against killing of protestors; registration of FIR against offenders demanded

Press Release

ISLAMABAD, Feb.21: Labour Party Pakistan and Progressive Youth Front, jointly organized a protest demonstration in front of Islamabad national press club to voice against the incident took place in Chillas of Diamer District. According to details, hundreds of students assembled at Islambabad press club to record protest of killings of unarmed protesters on pretext of attack on PWD office on Thursday.

Holding play cards, and banners, protectors chanted slogans against the state brutality and killing of victim of Diamar Bhasha Dam of Chilas during a peaceful demonstration Feb 18 by local police. Speakers like Baba Jan, Chief Organizer, Progressive Youth Front, Hunza Chapter and General secretary,Labour Party Pakistan Nisar Shah Advocate on the occasion during their speechs paid due tribute to those all lost their lives in the interest of the region.They condemned government for using state machinery and state brutality against the public.The killing incident resulted following peaceful and unarmed demonstration against Diamar Bhasha Dam at Chillas on February 18 by local police. The demonstrators also chanted slogens: zalmo jawab do khoon ka hisab dow and demanding inquiry into incident . They also demanded registration of FIR against the murderers of victims, press release read. It is pertinent to tell our readers that the killing incident of public resulted into turmoil and sever agitation and ultimately blocked of Karakorum High way for many hours in Chilas limits.

Military takes over in Chilas;situation normalizes gradually

RDs Report

CHILAS, Feb. 20: Military has formal taken control of the Chilas city to avoid any mishap. According to media reports, the civil administration has immediately deployed troops in the city following a carnage to control the tense situation. According to home secretary Gilgit-Baltistan, Usman Yunus the situation in the city is becoming normal. Chief Minister Mehdi Shah has suspended Deputy Commissioner Diamer, Assistant Commissioner Chilas, Superabundant Police and Tehsildar for inefficiency and on demand of the protesters. Mr. Shah has appealed people to cooperate to prevail peace. The land link between Chilas and Gilgit was suspended following the protesters blocked Karakorum High Way against the killings of three people on Thursday.

Boat Service may prove vulnerable if boats were not repaired,life jackets substandared;

leakage of freezing water and blowing of downstream icy winds added troubles for travelers, female and children still awaiting for arrangements, FWO, NAPWD, FOCUS, Civil and Political administration and local volunteers doing their most to release blocked water

VoH Report

HUNZA, Attaabad, Feb. 17: The boat service that was inaugurated by Syed Mehdi Shah, Chief Minister Gilgit Baltistan and Wazir Baig, Speaker GBLA along home secretary on Sunday is proving troublesome for travelers. According to details, the boat service started its operations recently has added troubles for the travelers due to leakage of water into substandard boats and life jackets being used as prevention measures. On the other hand, blowing downstream icy winds have added to the difficulties of the travelers. Children and Females stranded on both sides of blocked water are still waiting for arrangements to reach their destinations. Regional government and Civil administrtion of Gilgit Baltistan has sought boats with the help of NDMA to facilitate commuters to replace chopper service that already suspended due to bad climatic conditions. According to a FOCUS official, who on the conditions of anonymity said, the boats may prove vulnerable due to little relevance to the ecological circumstances adding special boats are required that could bear winds and have least possibility of overturning into water while traveling.

Frontier Work Organization (FWO), Northern Areas Power and Works Department (NAPWD), Focus Humanitarian Organization, Civil and political administration and local volunteer organizations are doing their most to release blocked water and to clear Karakorum High Way, with the available machinery, simultaneously. Nevertheless, little arrangements are made for officials and workers working on the side as disaster prevention measures for the sheered rocks on both sides can bring devastation.