Speaker's mass contact campaign gets overwhelming accord; PPP enjoys support of masses; Zardari to visit GB soon: Wazir Baig
VoH Report
HUNZA, Hyderabad, May 10: Wazir Baig, speaker Gilgit Baltistan Legislative Assembly has said that PPP led government enjoys support of masses both at center and region. Talking to a public gathering, on invitation of residents here in Hyderabad, Hunza, ahead of mass contact campaign of Pakistan Peoples Party, he said that PPP led government was facing multifaceted challenges which are being tackled according to the nature saying every possible measure would be taken to come to the expectations of the people of the region. He said that disasters like that of Attaabd are used to happen with mountain people saying they have capacity to cope such challenges with mounting hearts. He said that president Zarari will soon address GBLA on invitation of regional PPP led government. He said that he belong to a poor family and what he was today was due to support of masses adding he will strive to do whatever come under his authority for the well being of people of the region without any discrimination for he acts as Speaker of house and member of Hunza, simultaneously. Speaker criticized media for creating unnecessary hype and havoc among masses of down stream areas. He said that in case of rise in water level beyond the limits marked by FOCUS and other NGOs , maximum 4000 IDPs would require accommodation on emergency basis saying regional government with the help of center ready to tackle such a challenge in time. He pledged to upgrade boys and girls schools to High schools, First Aid Center to Basic Health Unit with required staff and a three kilometer long road from Barbar settlement to upper areas.


He said that a surgeon and other medical staff will be appointed with completion of PC-4, Aliabad so that common man can get medical facilities at his door step." Newly established Hunza-Nagar district will serve to create about 612 new posts; vacancies below grade 5 will be filled with indigenous people," he added. He accepted critic on both regional and central government but not against the country saying any activity against state would not be tolerated.
Deputy Commissioner Hunza, Waqar Taj speaking on the occasion urged intelligentsia to share their ideas to bring further improvement in local administration saying his doors was always open to those all who want to share their ideas on any problem relating ot public affairs. Mr. Taj said that he was public servant not a ruler and always value positive public proposals for resolution of issues. Speaking to the occasion, Dr.Iqbal, District Health Officer (DHO), said that despite government initiatives need long time to get start, he was trying to start work immediately to provide better health facilities with professional spirit. He said that health department has chalked out a special plan to cope any challenge in case of outburst of lake on Hunza river in both Upper, down stream river bed areas. Nevertheless, Mutabiat Shah, technocrat who was also invited was unable to attend the gathering as he was busy in relief operations in Upper Hunza.





Ramazan Ali passes away
VoH Report
HUNZA, Hyderabad, May 10: Ramazan Ali, a renown icon and social worker was passed away at the age of seventy two.

He was famous for heavy weight and frankness will others and spent most of his time in Skardu Baltistan while making his lively hood for many years. He was injured in stove explosion and later got fractured in left leg in an incident later. He was under treatment and breathed last on Sunday at 9:00 AM. He was buried in community grave yard before hundreds of mourners.





Work on under construction bridge halted; mutual agreement between contractor and works department yield slower work

VoH Report
GILGIT, May 03:The work on under construction bridge worth 91.448 million, that was inaugurated by Faisal Saleh Hayat, the then Minister Kashmir Affairs in February 2004 to link Gilgit city with that of Karakorum International University via Konodas West and Gari Bagh has been halted for many weeks due to lack of payment of installment from Works department, sources said. Due to delays in payments forced contractor to flee to Karachi who was later brought to Gilgit to complete rest on time by government officials.The Konodas-Gari Bagh linking bridge which was subjected to complete in November 2007 is partially completed. According to sources,hindrances in payment of installments was the main cause of delay of completion that forced contractor to yield little work than expected. Public circles expect with completion of 170 meters long and fifteen meter wide bridge will bring ease for commuters who use old narrow wooden bridge regularly.






PC-1 worth 3.5 million for Gulmit Operation theatre in last phase of approval;
responsiblities were taken on directives of CM and secretary health to work for a progressive nation: DHO Muhammad Iqbal
Voice of Hunza
HUNZA, May 04: Muhammad Iqbal,District Health Officer (DHO), Hunza-Nagar has said that a PC-1 plan worth 3.5 million for Gulmit Operation theater to provide health facilities on peoples' door step was in the final phase of approval. Talking to media men, he said that he has taken responsibilities with a perception on the directives of Chief Minister Syed Mehdi Shah and health secretary to work with a progressive nation of this newly established district with limited resources. He pledged that he would not give a single chance to people of Hunza-Nagar district to complain for negligence and apathy.DHO Hunza-Nagar vowed to provide better health facilities to masses on their door steps. He further said that training programmes would be arranged to polish skills of medical staff. " A lady doctor and a dental surgeon is already rendering their services in the respective hospital," he added. Dr.Iqbal said that at times stock of life saving medicines was reserved to tackle any emergency in Hunza subdivision.





CAI sponsors education of children of affectees; 35 female students leaves for studies in respective fields VoH Report
HUNZA, Aliabad, May 03:A bus comprising thirty five female students left for Rawalpindi accompanied by six guardians here on Friday to avail the opportunity offered by Central Asian Institute. According to the details, thirty five students, twenty two from Attaabad and Sarat and thirteen from Ayeenabad and Nazimabad (Shishkat) were offered CAI scholarship left Hunza in the morning. According to Sarfraz Khan, director Central Asian Institute, students will be provided accommodation, health, travel and quality educational facility on all levels.
Answering to a question of VoH, Mr.Khan said that these children will be kept in CAI's hostle and will enjoy all facilities from the fund donated by Dr. Greak Martson." This is a unique step we have taken through mutual accord between parents and Central Asian Institute and there was no third party," he added. He said that parents of these children can visit any time whenever they want. He further said that all these students have weak financial background and in case of any student found later affluent will be sent back to home saying the scholarship program aims to support families with poor income.






Revenue, treasory and cooperative soocities wthout
VoH Report
GILGIT, May 02: Revenue, treasury and cooperative societies working without secretaries; delay in appointment of secretaries worrisome: Muhammad Ali Akhtar GILGIT, May 2: Muhammad Ali Akhtar, mininster Gilgit-Baltistan council has said that the revenue, treasury and cooperative societies working without secretaries and proper office building. He said that in absence of proper office and required staff, the development works could also not started on time.



Ministery not destination; exclusion from list gave harm to political accolade: Nasir Khan
VoH
Gilgit, May 02:Nasir Khan, special coordinator and member GBLA has said that the exclusion of his name from the nomination list annoyed him a lot. Talking with a regional daily, he said that ministry was not his destination. He asserted that ministry was not a destination rather, it was loss of political good will that forced him to express dissent on the move. He claimed that decision of deleting his name from the list not only annoyed him but also die-hard workers in the party. he vowed to coordinate with ministers to eliminate backwardness, poverty and prosperity in the Astore region." Astore would get adjusted in the new or expended cabinet to reduce feelings of deprivation," he added.





Cabinet to be expended soon, Razi-ud-din will be adjusted ; not pledged for ministeries; Gilgit-Baltistan will be develped:
Kaira

VoH
Gilgit, May 02: Former governor Gilgit-Baltistan and federal minister for broadcasting and communications Qamar Zaman Kaira has denied the claims of independant condidates that he pledged for ministeries. Talking to media persons he said that there was huge difference between a dialogue and promise. He claimed that cabinet would be soon expended to adjust the independant members that led to strife in the house.He advised public to avoid fight against each other." There is huge difference between a promise and general dialogue saying claims of independant canidates shall be soon consider to address issue immediately by including them in the cabinet," he added.According to party sources, Mr. Kaira would be invited to Gilgit to pay him tribute for his vital role in service of the masses.




Speaker urges MLAs to express their views
VoH
GILGIT, May 02: Wazir Baig, speaker Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly has urged members of Legislative Assembly to express their views and participate in debates on different bills. Speaking on 3rd session, he called on all members to identify problems of their respective areas accordingly. He said that people have great expectations and it was onus of GBLA members to leave no stone to serve the people of the region.

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Discerning social Change in Gilgit-Baltistan

Discerning social Change in Gilgit-Baltistan
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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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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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