Novroz is being celebrated in Gilgit-Blatistan
V
oH Report
HUNZA, March 21:(Shamsuddin Muhammad) Novroz Festival is being celebrated with simplicity this year in most of the valleys of Gilgit-Baltistan. 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 Persian and central Asian tradition. According to the thinkers, the day itself brings a message to contemplate over nature for man is an important part of nature; emphasizes upon tolerance, patience and brotherhood among the human kind in the world. It also elucidates a philosophy that every autumn is followed by a spring; every difficulty is followed by ease; darkness is destined to light later. It is pertinent to mention here that majority of the areas in country in general and rest of the world in particular do not know about this festival for either they are deprived of diversity of seasonal manifestation(have only two seasons like summer and winter) or did not realized the change manifested in every living being on this world. May Lord bring the whole year with happiness, peace, solidarity and mutual love among human beings and eliminate hatred in our hearts for the others.On this occasion, we, the team of Voice of Hunza would like to extend our wishes for all our readers and pray for a good year with happiness and peace.





What ails you- CBR to impose value added Tax in Gilgit Baltistan;
Parliament has powers to accept or reject VAT: CBR Chairman
VoH Monitor
ISLAMABAD, March 18: ( APP/AFP) Sohail Ahmed, chairman Federal Board of Revenue has said that about 40 million rupee will be additional income from value added taxes to be imposed in Gilgit Baltistan.He said that Wheat, flour, pulses, education, live saving medicines and health as well as imports will be exempt from value added tax. He said that Value Added Tax bill sought no role of International Monitory Fund (IMF) and World Bank (WB). Chairman FBR Sohail Ahmed ON Thursday said that the Value Added Tax (VAT) regime was not being implemented in the country on the dictations of International Monitory Fund (IMF) or World Bank (WB) and the parliament had the powers to accept or reject the same. He was addressing a session of Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industries (RCCI) at Pearl Continental here, which was also attended by the presidents of Chambers and Industries from across the country. He said the implementation of the VAT from July 2010 in place of existing General Sales Tax, could only be possible if all the federating units agreed on it. He said the VAT would ensure sovereign Pakistan. The final draft of the Value Added Tax (VAT) regime would be ready by the end of April or the beginning of May. The discussion in parliament committees would be started from this month. The VAT would be in final shape within a period of two months. VAT is currently implemented in 34 countries of the world. He said Pakistan had the potential to collect around Rs 2200 to Rs 2300 billion tax. If the taxes are collected according to the potential there would be no need to beg from International Monitory Fund or World Bank.
The Federal Cabinet on Wednesday discussed the draft of Value Added Tax (VAT) Law in the presence of provincial Chief Ministers and decided that in order to get the country out of its current resource crunch, it is imperative to expand the resource base and consider the VAT Law as an important part of this effort. This was stated by Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira during a joint press briefing alongwith Minister for Interior Rehman Malik on Wednesday. The briefing was held after a special meeting of the Cabinet held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani here to discuss counter-terrorism measures with special focus on inter-provincial efforts in this respect. The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers, Ministers of State, Advisors to the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers of the four provinces and Prime Minister of AJK as well as the Provincial Chief Secretaries, IGs of Police and Chief of General Staff, GHQ. The minister told the briefing that the Cabinet decided that all the provinces will introduce the Provincial VAT Bill 2010 in their respective Provincial Assemblies immediately, so as to enable their respective finance Committees to deliberate the proposed law for its final disposal by June 2010.






Instead of joining PML(N) prefer to remain a minor activist of PML(Q)
says Mirza Hussain

VOH Monitor

GILGIT, March 18: Mirza Hussain, member Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly has said that he would prefer to remain a normal activist of Pakistan Muslim League (Q) instead of joining Pakistan Muslim League (N) in order to get a higer designation. in the council. Talking to media persons, after assembly session, he said that instead of becoming a part of any national mainstreme political party if necessary, he would prefer to join nationalist parties like Balawaristan National Front. Mr.Mirza said that the blockade of water on Hunza river is transformed into a big lake posing threat to the settlements on both sides. He alleged that local administration is uttering every thing is OK despite of increasing danger, Daily K2 reported.








A man shot dead of animosity

VOH Report
HUNZA,Karimabad, March 18: A man was found dead after he received bullets in his upper torso late hours last night. According to details, Deedar Ali, resident of Brongushal was found dead near Girls High school, Karimabad. He was rushed to Civil hospital where doctors confirmed his death. According to police sources, the deceased was convicted by apex court of life imprisonment in a murder case in 2000. He was released from jail few weeks ago and was killed the kith and kin of the former victim . He was burred into Suriyasay Das in front of hundreds of people on Thursday.




Appointment of governor based on consensus: Mehdi Shah
VoH Report

GILGIT, March 17:(Shamsuddin Muhamammad) Syed Mehdi Shah, Chief Minister Gilgit Baltistan has said that the appointment for the office of governor will be approved within a week. He said that all members of the Gilgit Baltistan Legislative Assembly will be taken into confidence before the appointment of the proposed candidate during the confidence to be held in president house, Islamabad . Talking to Voice of Hunza, he said that numerous names are under consideration and among the most favorite including Lady doctor Shehzadi,Shama Khalid, sheerin and miss Rubina; nevertheless the final name will be announced in the conference. " Preservation of democratic norms was the moral duty of party activists and no deviation will be allowed in this regard," he added.






Shehzad Ali Shaheed earns appraise of civil society
Voice of Hunza Report
HUNZA, March 17: ( Shamsuddin Muhammad) Shehzad Ali, who died of a land slide mishap at the calamity hit site Attaabad earned appraise of the public for his great humanitarian work for humanity.

HUNZA, Aliabad: Shia Imami Ismaili boy scouts are stading beside the grave of Shaheed Shehzad Ali to pay a due tribute for his work for humanity Photo by: Fazal Karim

Shehzad Ali, who was an active member of Shia Imami Islmail Boys scouts, Aliabad, Hunza remained busy in the philanthropic work following the land slide calamity. 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.






At last government declares Upper Hunza calamity hit area
VoH Report
HUNZA, Attaabad, March 16: Syed Mehdi Shah, Governor Gilgit Baltistan and federal minster for information and broadcasting has said that the government is aware of the problems of the people who have been suffered due to water blockade following massive land slide at the Attaabad, Hunza. He visited the site and was accompanied with Wazir Biag,Gilgit Baltistan Legislative Assembly, Farooq Ahmed, Chairman Disaster Management Authority and government officials. He declared Upper Hunza, at last calamity hit area saying employment opportunities besides provision of the basic necessities will be ensured. He said that tuition fee of students studying in different government institutions will be waved off." Experts of international repute have also been invited to get more insight into the dynamics to tackle challenge effectively and in time. He himself expressed his dissatisfaction on expertise of Frontier Works Organization saying the way they are working will serve to delay the work." In order to cater the immediate need of the people of Upper Hunza, an operation theater will be soon start its work with specialist doctors," he added.





Global media covers emerging threat of water blockade
VoH Monitoring desk

Aljazeera's recent Report

Courtesy: You Tube






Movie on Landslide Disaster

VoH Monitor

Courtesy: You tube

1 Responses to Regional News : Please click here to read all updates of the week

  1. Fazal Karim Says:
  2. Thanks shams bhai for your warm words about Shehzad Ali Shaheed. We proud of him.

     

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Monitoring every regional historical development

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Discerning social Change in Gilgit-Baltistan

Discerning social Change in Gilgit-Baltistan
Reflecting socio-economic, administrative and cultural impulses in regional periphery

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Mission Statement & Weekly VoH Publishing team


VoH
Voice of Voiceless

The blog aims to disseminate the accurate regional information without consideration of race, color, ethnicity, religion and ideology to the valuable readers across the globe. We promise to abide with the moral and professional ethics of citizen journalism through this medium of communication. The voiceless masses of this one of the most beautiful places on earth, situated in Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan experience hard times due to continuous natural and man made disasters which have left them at surviving stage. Shortly speaking, in a short span of time, Hunza valley has embraces a steady socio-economic and ecological development making it self an authentic book to read about or take a model for rest of far flung valleys bordering Chines Sinkiang province in the extreme north of the country. The haphazard material development in this comparatively small area has also served to create various socio-economic and ethical problems which ultimately served to shake the fabrics of very roots and foundations of culture and civility among dwellers. On geo-political front, analysts find a very little say of a common man in the major decisions related to regional socio-economic development, violation of meritocracy by mafias in political parties, pressure groups which safe guard their own interests, a unbridled bureaucracy, corrupt regimes that patronizing nepotism or favoritism and who wield powers in Gilgit, the main hub and capital of Gilgit-Baltistan. Rapid increase in expenditures ranging from general commodity price hikes to transportation has left no option or time for people to think on other issues.
The so called Economic-Recession, unequal distribution of wealth, concentration of opportunities towards certain beings, lack of social responsiveness and transparency in government sector and no check and balance on private sector has brought its ugly implication in terms of high unemployment, depression among the youngsters, anxiety and hatred towards system of governance.
We vow to bring fore the issues of common man at grass root level, strive to highlight irregularities in government sector and flaws in public policy and finance in a democratic way. We shall continue to give our opinion on issues of importance and determine to prove a viable platform to have a positive role for public welfare, inter-communal harmony, integrity and social justice.
Amid such a situation when even the survival of country is on stake and is defamed due to continual terrorist incidents throughout the our county, we may pray for a peaceful and prosperous future of the nation. May Lord save the peaceful Gilgit-Baltistan region from the evil designs of devils in human form.

The blog has been developed and upgrading by the efforts of the following dedicated volunteers.


Board of Editors
Editor: Shamsuddin Muhammad
Email:jaashams@gmail.com


Co-editor: Inam Karim
Email: inamkarim02@gmail.com


Reporting Team
Karachi: Sartaj Karim
Email: sartaj_compaq@hotmail.com



Hunza: Naeem Hamoon
Email: naeemhmn@hotmail.com


Gilgit: Aslam Shah

Email: hunzaishah@gmail.com


Islamabad: Ikramullah Baig
Email: hunza_havenonearth@yahoo.com

Voice of the voiceless!

The blog is a venture with exclusive news updates, unbiased analysis and opinion on historical, cultural, ecological, socio-economic, geopolitical and administrative issues and events occurring in country in general and the region particular. It would serve as a portfolio of credible information retained first hand from own and secondary reliable electronic and print media sources and aspire to become a powerful voice for a common man. We are committed to adhere with the professional ethics of citizen journalism, a new trend to shackle the chains of excessive curb over dissemination of reality either for any cause in the name of so-called sensor, with maximum possible accuracy and least deviation while delivering information to show the real side of picture of events so that our valuable readers will have an alternative portal to know what developments are going on various levels, particularly backward areas like that of Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan, Azad Jamu and Kahsmir, Tribal areas etc., across the country. One can easily discern a great social change in terms of attitudes, perceptions both in individual and society; values and reaction to the variables in daily life patterns among the dwellers of the comparatively backwards areas like Gilgit-Baltistan, a deprived region of its fundamental rights for more than six decades of its liberation from colonial yolk. In a quest to voice over issues of vital importance, keeping closer to circle of concern, Hunza, a name famous for its beauty and rich cultural heritage has been selected to represent as a case to further the cause and issues of the rest of the region. Virtually, the region especially Hunza-Nagar retained a rapid development with a short span of time after remaining isolated for centuries to out side world. The blog also aims focus largely to identify core areas from on bottom or grass root level to the top. Keeping due consideration of inter-religious harmony, tolerance, respecting pluralism, diversity, mutual respect, democracy, equal opportunity and other aspects of human rights and professional values of journalism, the blog will serve as a binding force and medium of voice of the voiceless people of the area with reference to Gilgit-Baltistan region.

The idea of creation of this blog came into my mind during a visit after spending few years of career at Karachi, capital of Southern province to the region. While traveling from south pole of the country to north, I experienced many new changes nearly in all aspects of life explicit in urban areas and implicit in rural belts: people have opted to modern technology, availed faster means of communication; task centered behavior, selfishness, following short-cuts, chase of wealth and more opportunities in their career and many more that made their lives much more easier but crazier than before. Nevertheless, the scene suddenly turned bit dim when I entered the region of Gilgit-Baltistan. I could not believe my eyes that this was the Gilgit I saw four years ago. Many things, except the faces were utterly unchanged formats primitive outlook. The Chinese bridge that linked Danyore and Gilgit and a main source of transportation was no more. Few people told me that few journalists have lost their lives in lethal road accident due to lack of arrangements on part of concerned authority to avoid the incident. Karakorum High Way (KKH), one of the highest truck able route and so-called eighth wonder in the world is under construction and many places portray nothing but a passage through a rough stony pasture. It took nearly twenty four hours from Rawalpindi to reach after an exhaustive journey to Hunza, my home town, compared to nineteen hours in past. The scenario seemed worse in Hunza, my home town which remained unchanged for last four years except a drastic decline in standard of living of more than fifty percent of the population. One may think that people have replaced muddy homes with cement ones but that are not the real yardstick of measurement of both mental and material development. Infrastructure, fixtures, telecommunication systems were largely depreciated to their estimated life coupled with inappropriate number of personnel required in educational, administrative and health institutions. The so-called economic meltdown that started from American giant Leman soon took the world into its tyrant claws, shaking many stable economies of the world including the rural areas of developing states- a big example of negligence and subjugation by the rulers of respective countries where people live not above the level of animals. Apart from the allegations on policy makers of industrialized nations having economic interest only, the poor, irrational, incompetent, self-centered and corrupt leadership in Pakistan like other third world countries where immature economies spends it larger portion of budget expenditure on defense could not resist the negative consequences of economic crisis in terms of high rate of unemployment, recession, right or down sizing, price hikes, violation of consumer rights and so on. Hunza-Nagar, like other parts of Gilgit-Baltistan was no exception. The smiling faces that greeted us once warmly few years ago turned unhappy for the crisis brought its ugly implication on the daily life pattern of an individual thus sucking down the unique attributes of population: courtesy, generosity and hospitality. Having a so-called high rate of literacy in the country unfortunately, the region is facing many problems ranging from health to drinking water and energy sector. To many, it was because of lack of geo-political awareness and excessive tendency towards NGO culture where people little bother to beg their rights from the states besides emphasis on duties. Historical chronicles vindicate that the region remained in isolation for many centuries due to a specific location and lack of access to out side world. Many dynasties ruled the area that hardly accepted change in a traditionally sophisticated feudal based society. The wheel of transition continued to move and finally the area got librated through a mutiny with the help of indigenous population from the clutches of Dogra subjugation. Later, the area was affiliated with Pakistan vide a secret treaty called Karachi Treatise as defacto part, unconditionally. Gilgit-Baltistan region got on real terms an impetus to grow from zero level with the visit of three icons of development: Aga Khan, President Ayub Khan and Z.A.Bhutto- a historic event of its nature with long standing implications on live of the people of the region.The area could hardly observed any impulse for more than half dozen years of affiliation with Pakistan when Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah, Aga Khan (3rd) first time introduced Diamond Jubilee Schools network during mid fifties in the region. A real phase of development gain impetus when Shah Karim Alhusaini, Aga Khan (fourth) stepped in the region, a population with miserable conditions in 1960. He initiated many new projects in different aspect of life, strengthening the existing educational network under the umbrella of Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) for the betterment and uplift standard of living of masses lived under poverty line. Aga Khan Development Network in collaboration with donor agencies, with a view to bring social change from grass roots level, initiated rural support programme and other services for less-privileged societies in the region. In simple words, initial projects were stretched to new areas under AKDN umbrella ranging from self-entrepreneurship to planning and building services. These development programmes served a catalyst for a common man who, earlier was confine to a certain limit where facilities and perks were confined to a specific creed, definitely a big change in society led to process of decline of so-called nobility. By, 1974, Z.A.Bhutto, chief of Pakistan Peoples Party and his cabinet undertook a disintegrated country following the fall of Dhaka, albeit eliminating princely status of numerous states gave them democratic structures, initiated socio-economic, political and administrative reforms in civil services cadres under 1973 constitution of Pakistan. These reforms opened a path for further reforms in tribal and affiliated princely states, mostly in mountain regions. Elders assert, by 1976, when Bhutto abolished the princely status of the units and replaced the princely flag with that of the country declared region formally its de-fecto part. The new development allowed for the first time a limited right of franchise and representation in a parallel council governed from capital. He in collaboration with international donor agencies like UNICEF and World Food Programme helped ensure provision of basic necessities like food to indigenous population still in poor conditions. He gave word to poor and enables to build his destiny. The facility fell a prey of Zia-ul-Haq who abolished the programme to benefit his favorite breed. He altered such programmes to facilitate Mujahideen busy fighting Afghan war against Soviet invasion on behalf of American assistance. By, 1988, before the withdrawal of USSR, Zia regime played a dirty game: as an integral strategy to get parallel success, he supported a breed of militants to eliminate all those against his faith in Gilgit-Baltistan. Unfortunately, the indigenous people could not understand his nefarious designs under the veil of religion that had to sustain his regime using divide and rule tactic and nothing to do with public welfare fell a prey of communal discord. Thousands of innocent people were brutally killed without a reason from both sides and this in turn sowed the seeds of sectarianism thus introducing a Kalashnikov culture in this region. On country’s political front, frequent interventions of military in politics in the wake of undemocratic moves of leadership, double standard attitude of bureaucracy and excessive influence of establishment forces harmed political evolution during last sixty two years of country's history. A finest dictatorship is considered worse than a worse democracy for it largely overlook the opinion of masses. The undemocratic regimes since 1952 onwards in general and during dictators’ regimes left people with no option but to support immature, corrupt and unable leadership confined to their self interests coupled with narrow vision. On global front, with the withdrawal of USSR from Afghanistan, American administration started to shift its strategy of dependency and support for Pakistan especially that to check movement and expansion of communist philosophy, an anxiety among the then US policy planners. Political front once again passed through a new change in 1999 when military took over in October 1999. Numerous Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), both national and international rapport delivered remarkable work since 1990s to 2004 in many sectors like education, health, cultural preservation, design and building.

History repeated itself, but in a new form under different circumstances after cold war, when terrorists attacked twin towers of World Trade Centre, an icon of prestige and glory of America killing thousands of innocent people as a response to US policies inviting a fresh hostility between US and Islamist groups or in other words initiated an open conflict between two countering forces. To some, hidden forces worked behind the incident: Muslims thought it was a Judaist elements while to Europe and US a strike of Islamist elements; even the then Bush administration alleged Islamist groups behind this nefarious act to initiate an open armed struggle to defy its policies and interests. The September 11 incident served a cause to create sufferings for the Muslim communities residing in America and Europe. Being a sponsoring source of Jihadist elements, Pakistan was in real trouble as it was asked either ally the US or ready to go into stone age. Consequently, Pervez Musharraf took U-turn in state policy against billions of dollars as assistance. Once again, US dependency on Pakistan after Afghan war, in an endless war against an invisible enemy in terms of Osama started, leading farmer to think to gain control over natural resources in Afghanistan and Central Asian states. As a state, Pakistan endured many hardships, mostly from inside elements, Majority of our political leadership, for instance is largely nurtured under the aegis of military establishments and always ready to achieve their own interest lest it comes to compromise on national matters, evident from the successive overthrowing of representative regimes. They could not deliver any remarkable to uplift the standard of living of a common man except false promises. It was the Musharraf regime which can be given credit for many reasons: allowed a national government to complete its five year tenure, introduced local government systems for dicentralization of power though a move to by pass the then political and administrative forces like his predecessors military dictators to bolster one man show. Apart from few of blunders in terms of killing of Akbar Bugti, subjugation of judiciary, appointment of army on service and retired personnel in institutions offering higher education, other key positions in major public organiztions and using force as a decisive force instead of dialogue his regime can be recalled for many things during last eight years. He was the first who put hand on non-state actors, brought changes in status of deprived regions like Gilgit-Baltistan bringing reforms and took initiatives to improve education and health facilities. He gave us an International University, increased woman representation, empowered Northern Light Infantry, established N.A scouts and notified Hunza-Nagar district and many more. Yet, at the same time on mass level, despite many accomplishments, it failed to address the real issues of poor. Giant fishes got most and poor further got depressed as the regime greatly revolved around the interests of Chaurdhries and lords. December 2007, shall be remembered a black day when Benazir Bhutto, a female leader of international repute was assassinated at the same place where one of the most famous Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan as killed. Country fell into chaos and observed an extreme internal and internal threat to her existence second time after 1971. Good heaven, the situation soon normalized. With the dawn of democracy, based on Benazir Bhutto's sacrifice has brought a hope of change of image of the country in global economy. PPP led contemporary government has given a new Self Governance Reforms Package 2009 ahead of poles to empower the assembly to legislate on various subjects not allowed in past and choose their own Chief Minister unanimously with the consent of Prime Minister, the head of set up-a good initiative after Z.A Bhutto's compassions for the region. The package has opened a door for more autonomy resembles to that of Azad Kashmir. Though, there are many flaws in the package yet, it will serve to reduce feeling of deprivation among the masses.

There is another side of the picture that the poor performance in many of the departments in government sector during last two years has raised many questions in our mind regarding its capability to cope the challenges that the country faces internally and externally. Public welfare, security from internal and external aggressions and provision of basic necessities to the citizens is the fundamental responsibilities of modern states. Yet, more focus on external threats under security syndrome has left the country nothing but to expend on defense-thus neglecting other sectors like education, strategic personnel planning, health, trade and industry and exploitation of natural resources to strengthen our economy. As for as the private sector especially the NGOs are concerned, the are now confine to reporting to get funds, roam and measure the length of roads in their luxury vehicles. Now it depends on flow of events that will decide the future course of history.





Shamsuddin Muhammad,

Author and Editor,

VoH



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About Me

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Hyderabad,, IslamicRepublic of Pakistan, Pakistan
I am social person with a tendency towards learning knowledge that will balance the material world and the hereafter, a legacy obtained from the family. I earned my MA (General History with specialization in Modern History) and M.A.S (Master of Administrative siences with speciliazation in HRM) both from University of Karachi in 2005 and 2007 respectively, am fond of social work and public welfare. The blog focuses on social change caused by socio- economic and geo-political impulse in the country in general and the region particular.

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