Gilgit-Baltistan region not a subsidary to Kashmir dispute;federal ministers must careful in issuing irresponsible statements; additional investment in GB a key to prosperity: Wazir Baig
VoH Report
GILGIT, October 27: Interim governor, Speaker and member Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly (GBLA) Wazir Baig has said that in today's scenario Kashmir dispute has no any concern with that of Gilgit-Baltistan. Talking to media men, after a press conference, the interim governor emphasized federal ministers to be careful while passing statements that intermingle two regions with diffences in its location, and priorities. Answering to a question of our correspondent, regarding fate of newly established districts, Wazir expressed his strong will to develop nascent districts on modern lines and a model for other districts in the Gilgit-Baltistan region.
He acknowledged shortage of devlopmental funds saying existing resources would be utilized to do away with the magnitudes of socio-economic and geo-political problems. He called on people of the region to keep unity and fraternity into their ranks and help each other in times of need.





Anniversary of first ever visit of Aga Khan (4th) observed in GB; illumination glittered aluring valleys in the evening; speical wishes from our team to the followers of Ismaili faith
Readers Time Report
GILGIT, October 23: Shia Imami Ismaili Muslim community of Gilgit-Baltistan observed 50th anniversary of Aga Khan (4th) first ever visit to Gilgit-Baltistan especially that to Hunza. His Highness Price Karim Aga Khan (fourth) Shah Kharim Al-Hussaini, the living legend and 49th spritural leader of the Ismaili community visited Gilgit and outskirts in 1960, witin three years of succession on throne of Imamah (leadership).


A file photo of Shah Karim al-Hussaini Aga Khan 4th, the 49th imam of Shia Imami Ismaili Muslim community. GB had undergone with this first ever visit to the isolated places especially that to Hunza, rising standard of living and awarness among the masses. Image source: FW Magazine

Open music programmes to celebrate the event were held at different clusters coupled with mini processions to express fraternity and unity across the valleys. Read full on: Readers' Time






CM, acting Governor convay Ssalgirah wishes to Ismaili community; vow to reslove issues of nascent Hunza-Nagar soon
SpecialReport
VoH
ISLAMABAD, October 23: (Ejaz Ali Taj) Wazir Baig, interim governor and speaker Gilgit Baltistan Legislative Assembly,and Chief Minister Gilgit-Balistan Syed Mehdi Shah has expressed their determination to resolve the outstanding and subsequent issues of nescent Hunza-Nagar district. Talking to our correspondent via telephone, the interim governor expressed his emotional attachment with the new district saying he was waiting for the approval of the head quarter site to initiate the developmental programs approved by the current regime. He said that Hunza and Nagar are two valleys with innumerable natural resources especially water resource having larger potential to generate thousands of kilowatt electricity from the area.
Later Mr. Wazir and Mehdi shah conveyed their best wishes to the followers of Shia Imami Ismaili faith on the occasion of Golden Jubilee celebrations to Mark Aga Khan 4th first ever visit of any live Imam(leader) in 1960 to Gilgit-Baltistan region.

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According to a survey conducted by Voice of Hunza in Gilgit region, the income bracket of the majority of the inhabitants of the Gilgit-Baltistan region has been recorded declined by 40 percent against drastic rise in prices of commodities and other essentials by 85 percent, leaving majority of the inhabitants in adverse financial conditions during last three years. The prices of the goods especially that of essentials sky rocketed coupled with rise in inflation , public transport fares and transportation charges leaving lower and middle class families to think only of their bread and butter. With diminishing tendency in purchasing power, the demand for goods have also declined reducing demand of both essentials and comforts. Rise in expenditure against incomes ultimately resulted into further decrease in standard of living of sacttered population in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Two main sources of regional economy namely tourism and trade has experienced during this period almost an inertia which has directly affected the income sources of those adherent to this specific sector. Frequent natural disasters and lack of any proper regularity authority to check the prices and quality of goods has allowed hoarders and black marketers to play their niferous games sometimes implicitly and in some explicitly.



Disparities and lack of opportunities on one side and increase in the income level of a small portion of the population has caused to widen he gap between poor and emerging upper class. Smuggling, black marketing and high profiting by some of the elements who goes without any check has proved a catalys to such tendencies. Businesses are in shambles, sales declining, economic acvities geting innertia and consequently causing to generated less money being utilized among factors of production. Wordking class, despite of their hue and cry still has no say in any policy formation that led to defend the interest s of wealthy in this fragile society.

Our governments should embark on long term millinium goals ensuring continuation in the subsequent regime to get the poor class out of financial odds in this law less land governed directly under Islamabad.



Editor

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Disaster response agencies overlook our sacrifices; pledges proved mere pledges,not a single office bearer ever visit home says Malika-e-Merry
Bureau Report
HUNZA, Aliabad, October 30: Malika-e-Merry, mother of Shaheed (late) Shehzad Sher, a local boyscout who lost his life at blockade site in a rock sliding incident while shifting relief goods to the affected communities in Upstream in March this year has criticized both private and public disaster mandatory agencies including AKDN for negligence to their miseries including adverse financial circumstances that the family faces currently.

A file photo of Shahzad Sher Shaheed(late), a local boy scout who lost his life during humanitarian assistance operations at Attaabad lake. Image by: Shehbaz Hunzai

Talking to Voice of Hunza, Mrs. Malika claimed that multitude of pledges were made at the time of her son's funeral process which later proved mere slogans. "Since the death of part of my heart, not a single official of either disaster and relief mandatory organization in private and public sector visited her family," she maintained. She further said that local authorities had registered her family as affected one saying nothing still was provided that were and are being given to disaster hit families. PML (N) Chief Mr. Nawaz Sharif during his last visit had declared PKR 500,000 per decease has still not paid to the family, VoH learnt.
After the death of her son, mrs. Malika in order to continue legacy of humanitarian work by the family, she has devoted her life for service of humanity and offering her services at district Head Quarter Hospital, Aliabad, Hunza. Courtesy: GB Echo





Travel along KKH becoming extremely hazardous- bride along three die as a van plunged into a gorge near Rahimabad
VoH Report
NAGAR, Rahimabad, October 22: At least four people including a bride lost their lives in a road accident in the Rahimabad police limits on Karakorum High Way (KKH) on Saturday evening. According to police , sources a wedding party was on the way back after a formal marriage ceremony reached Rahimabad in the evening. In darkness, driver could not identify the actual track and the vehicle carrying bride and his kins plunged into a gorge. Public managed to take the injured critically including bride to the nearby dispensary for first aid but all of them breathed last before any first aid facility.
As earlier mentioned to our readers, open ditches and stony dillapidating road along KKH is becoming higly risky right from Thakot to blockade area that claimed dozens of precious lives during this disasterous year. At some places the dual traffic tracks at u-turn rounds continuously endangering commuters' lives, VoH learnt. Interestingly, despite of dozen of road accidentsniether National High Way Authotiry of Pakistan nor that of Chinese Bridge and Road Construction (CBRC) firm taken any affect and persist slow pace of contruction project which the locals in the wake of floods and land sliding fear to be completed hardly in next four or five years, compartively 3 years lately as was declared at the time of begning.





Warmest wishes from VoH team to the followers of Shia Imami Ismili Muslim faith
Voice of Hunza
On this beautiful day, when His Highness Price Karim Aga Khan (4th) put glance on the rowdy, backward and isolated Gilgit-Baltistan region on his first ever visit in 1960 the unworthy stone turned ruby, gave hope to oppressed and put a mob on a tack heading towards prosperity and sustainance.


HUNZA: Top-From left to right: traditionally decorated community halls ; bottom- left to right: Ismaili Band Hyderabad paying visit to Chumerkhand locality to express unity along notables, Right Bottom: a beautiful scene of illumination work on a community hall on October 23 evening. Photo by: Shams

Voice of Hunza team conveys its heartiest warm wishes to readers anywhere read this blog and have faith on all of us.






IDPs of Sarat hamlet protest over assault at blockade; local administration slamed for ambivalence
VoH Report
ATTAABAD, October 22: According to the information retained for a reliable source, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) have called on local administration to take action against labours involved in an assault at blockade a day earlier.
Skrimishes between the IDPs and some of the labours from another area throughout the day leading to protest of former at spill way. On nul response from the local authorities against those involved in an incident in which at least three persons recieved injuries during the shifting of relief aid right fron Gojal district in Up stream. Later, IDPs managed to burn tires and protest to in front of Aliabad police station in the evening take legal actions against labourers involved.

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Bottled water causing deadly diseases Monitoring Report
ISLAMABAD, October 23: Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) had said that nineteen of the 66 brands of bottled or mineral water being sold in the country is unsafe for human consumption which may cause deadly diseases like cancer, cholera, diarrhoea and heart diseases.

All samples were scientifically analysed at ISO-17025 accredited National Water Quality Laboratory in Islamabad for microbiological and physcio-chemical parameters according to international standards and permissible limits of Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA).

Official sources said its findings were based on scientific analysis of samples of bottled water collected in 11 major cities across the country from April to June this year.

Sources said that the unsafe brands of bottled water were not only contained bacteriological contamination, but also arsenic, potassium, fluoride and sodium contents much beyond safe and permissible limits. Report said that the bacteriologically contaminated bottled water had the potential of causing cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, hepatitis and typhoid, while arsenic contamination could result in cancers to lungs, bladder, skin, prostrate, kidney, nose and liver, besides diabetes, kidney diseases, hypertension, heart diseases and birth defects.

According to official sources overall 19 brands were found unsafe for human consumption, including 18 chemically and 1 microbiologically, while 47 brands were found safe. During previous quarter (January-March), 33 brands were found unsafe.

He said that presence of potassium, fluoride and sodium beyond a certain limit could cause lung cancer, hyperkalemia, abnormal breakdown of protein, skeletal and dental flourosis and hypertension.

The brands with bacteriological and chemical contamination included Coozy, So Safe and Alfa (in Hyderabad and Karachi), Golden (in Quetta and Lahore), Pak Crystal, Light Water, Nation, Pan Pura, Clear, Fine Soul, Unique Water and Taiba (in Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, Multan and Lahore), Fairmont and Omni (in Karachi), Niamat, Aqua National, Pacific and Lock (in Lahore) and Hunza (in Sialkot and Jhelum). The survey revealed that although 47 brands were found safe in April-June period, only 30 were consistent with their presence in the market - 33 brands disappeared from the market after March this year, but 36 new brands made their way into the market, indicating that some of them might have re-emerged with a new label after having been banned by the government. The samples were collected in April from Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Bahawalpur, Multan, Peshawar, Quetta, Karachi, Hyderabad, Sahiwal and Sialkot. Laboratory findings were compared with permissible limits of the Pakistan Standard Quality Control Authority. Courtesy: The Post





‘Secret operation’ launched in Karachi:Malik
Monitoring Report
KARACHI,Octber 23: Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Friday that a secret operation has been launched in order to counter the target killings in Karachi.
Addressing a joint press conference along with Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Ali Mirza, Malik said, “We shall restore peace in Karachi and other parts of the country, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other northern areas. He said strict action will be taken against those challenging the writ of the state, and the government would not talk with them, adding that the government had broken the back of terrorists by launching a successful operation against them in the northwest.

Malik said, the government had chalked out its strategy during the meeting with all political parties in Karachi, adding that terrorists had no ideology or affiliation with any political party, but used and took shelter of different political parties to disturb the law and order situation in the country. Daily Times




President for early finalisation of climate change strategy
VoH Watch Dog
ISLAMABAD, Oct 23 (APP): President Asif Ali Zardari Friday directed ministry of environment for early finalization of the “Climate Change Strategy and Action Framework” to combat the adverse impacts of climate change.Addressing the concluding session of the “International Conference on Climate Change and Development” at Aiwan-e- Sadr the President said “the issue of climate change is not the concern of any single country, it is a global issue and concerns the whole of mankind.”


Briefing journalists, Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar quoted the President as saying that the international conference was an important milestone showing joint efforts of the government and people of Pakistan to face the challenges of climate change.
The President said that climate change has emerged not only as a major environmental issue, but also a multi-dimensional development issue and has posed challenge to all thinkers, planners, policy-makers and professionals from all countries and all nations.
According to the speech text the President said that though Pakistan contributes minimally to world’s total greenhouse gases emissions, yet it was faced with severe climate change.
He said these were impacting sea level rise, extreme weather, melting of glaciers, fluctuation in monsoon and droughts and floods besides stress on Pakistan’s agriculture and livestock.
The President said the impact of monsoon has come as a hard reality for Pakistan this year, as massive floods, that might have been caused by climate change, brought widespread devastations across the country.
President Zardari said Pakistan being one of the early signatory of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has undertaken a number of steps to address the issue of climate change.
These includes setting up of Task Force on Climate Change, establishment of Prime Minister’s committee on climate change and development of national policies on environment, conservation of forests, energy and drinking water.
A comprehensive “Climate Change Strategy and Action Framework” was being developed by the government with consensus of all the stake holders, the President said.
The President said it was not for the first time that the government was formulating environmental strategies but actually it was the PPP government under the leadership of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto that gave the country environmental laws to safeguard the future generation from harmful effects of environment.
“We will take it forward to the coming generations,” he added.
The President said that discussion on climate change sometimes becomes too technical with focus on what goes on in the atmosphere and very little attention is paid to its impact on the poor people.
The spokesperson quoted the President as saying “We are here to recognize the human face of climate change. It is the face of dying animals and ecosystems and members of our own species “It is our face.”
The President while commenting on the damages brought by the massive floods in the country said that the recent floods have devastated infrastructure, agriculture and economy. More than 1,700 people died and over a million lost their homes, he said.
The President while referring to the measures undertaken for rehabilitation of flood victims said that the task of rehabilitation and reconstruction was too big for the government to tackle on its own. While the government, international humanitarian agencies and local charities continue are doing all they can but we need greater international assistance to meet the challenge confronting us, he said.
The spokesperson quoted the President as saying “I have often said that our well to do people have to come forward and help in the task of rehabilitation and reconstruction. That is why I have proposed to the federal and provincial governments to impose a one time flood surcharge on well to do people. The International community will help us but we must first help ourselves,” he said.
The President said that the vulnerability to flood damage was largely the consequence of human actions and choices instead of acts of nature. He said that there was a need to focus on decisions that will contribute to climate preservation and added that we need to take decisions on issues of urban planning, on conservation of forests and on development of marginal lands.
The President while referring to the severe impact of climate change on national economy said “climate change was adversely affecting social well being of our people, our economic development, our water availability, our food security and human health.”
He said that agriculture is the mainstay of the economy as Pakistan was basically an agricultural country. The President said, “agricultural productivity in Pakistan is being affected due to changes in land and water regimes.”
He said dry land areas are highly vulnerable, as these regions are already facing significant water shortages and temperatures are rising.

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SC smells a rat in RPPs contracts;
CJP says things not going right
as arbitration being done in London while sellers and buyers are Pakistanis
News Watch desk
Voice of Hunza
ISLAMABAD, October 30: Prima facie things are not going in the right direction as arbitration is being done in London when both he sellers and buyers are Pakistanis, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said on Thursday. He observed this while heading a three-member Supreme Court bench, which was hearing pleas regarding allegations of corruption in the rental power projects (RPPs) contract and the government’s decision to increase electricity tariff, especially when the supply was irregular. The other members of the bench were Justice Ghulam Rabbani and Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday. The CJP observed that general consumers were suffering a lot due to the government’s decision to purchase electricity on high rates. He said the Asian Development Bank (ADB) report levelling serious allegations of corruption in awarding the contract of RPPs would not be ignored while deciding the matter. The court directed Khawaja Tariq Rahim, counsel for the Water and Power Ministry and PEPCO, to prepare a complete synopsis of the RPPs and present it before the court on the next date of hearing. He was also directed to provide complete infrastructure of the RPPs in the next hearing. He was further directed to inform the court how much money had been spent on the RPPs. It asked him why the government had purchased electricity on high rates, as its burden would ultimately shift to the general consumers. Justice Ramday asked, “Had the government intimated the general public that they will have to pay heavy costs due to the RPPs?” Rahim said the power rates would not be compared to the rates of independent power producers. The CJP asked him about the place of arbitration on the dispute, to which he replied that it could be held in the courts of London. The court inquired the counsel why 14 percent had been paid in advance to the RPPs instead of the agreed seven percent. The counsel said since Pakistan had a low economic rating, the banks were not ready to openly confirm the standby letter of credits, thus they had to pay 14 percent in advance. Daily Times





Asma Jahangir Wins Cutthroat Contest
Monitoring Report
LAHORE, October 29: Senior lawyer and noted human rights activist Asma Jahangir was elected the first female president of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) following a neck-to-neck competition on Wednesday. Official results would be announced on October 31. According to unofficial results, Asma received 957 of the total 2,026 SCBA votes from countrywide balloting, with the runner up, Ahmed Awais, bagging 929 votes. The candidate in the race, Akram Chaudhry received 127 votes. Lahore, which is a traditional stronghold of the Professional Group, gave a lead of 10 votes to Asma over Awais. Asma’s panel almost completely outshone Awais’ side, as the second most important seat of the SCBA secretary also went to her group. Talking to reporters Asma said it was not her victoralone, but that of enlightenment and moderation that was taking roots in the country. “It is a success of all the forces of enlightenment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Peshawar where I won the elections with a huge margin. Peshawar’s lawyers have cast their votes in favour of moderation and rejected orthodox thinking and narrow mindedness,” she said. She said her group would intensify the prevailing tension between the judiciary and the executive, and do what was permitted by the law and the constitution. Courtesy:Breaking News Week






Three F-16 jets reach Pakistan
Monitoring Report
LAHORE, Oct. 28:(Muhammad Ejaz) Second consignment of 3 United States F-16 fighter jets reached in Pakistan on Saturday, and two are expected to arrive in next week.


Out of 18 jets, that US promised to deliver by the end of this year, 3 fighter planes have been already given to Pakistan while 3 came today and the remaining will be handed over by the end of December. F-16 landed at Shahbaz Airbase in Jacobabad, Aaj tv reported.






Polling starts in SCBA presidential election

News Watch
LAHORE, October 27: Elections for the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) were being held on Wednesday. Strong competition was likely between Asma Jahangir, the legendary human- ights activist, and Ahmad Awais, a candidate of the Hamid Khan-led ‘Professional Group’ which, according to legal circles, often courts right-wing support among the bar.


Tough competition was likely between Asma Jahangir and Ahmad Awais in the election. — Photo by AFP
Polling began around 8:30 am and is expected to
end at 5:00 pm.A third candidate contesting in the SCBA presidential election is Ikram Chaudhry. Chaudhry is a veteran of bar politics with significant support in Rawalpindi and also some in Lahore. His presence in the field could funnel away some support from Jahangir.-Dawn Tv




UN bodies urge Pakistan to prevent ‘victimization’

Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD, October 26: Three UN human rights bodies on Wednesday called on Pakistan to ensure that women, minorities and the disabled were spared “further victimization” during the recovery from devastating floods. “The floods have disproportionately affected them,” they said in a joint statement. “Members of minority communities, Afghan refugees, women, children and persons with disabilities, particularly those living in rural areas, were already among the most vulnerable in Pakistani society.” The statement called on Pakistanis authorities “to strengthen the human rights-based approach of their efforts, in order to prevent further victimization of the most vulnerable population.” In the flood hit north-western Khyber Pakhtunkwa province, scene of fighting between militants and government forces, women and especially girls have been denied access to basic health and education, according to the UN.-The Nation







Bottled water causing deadly diseases
Monitoring Report

ISLAMABAD, October 23: Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) had said that nineteen of the 66 brands of bottled or mineral water being sold in the country is unsafe for human consumption which may cause deadly diseases like cancer, cholera, diarrhoea and heart diseases. All samples were scientifically analysed at ISO-17025 accredited National Water Quality Laboratory in Islamabad for microbiological and physcio-chemical parameters according to international standards and permissible limits of Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA). Official sources said its findings were based on scientific analysis of samples of bottled water collected in 11 major cities across the country from April to June this year. Sources said that the unsafe brands of bottled water were not only contained bacteriological contamination, but also arsenic, potassium, fluoride and sodium contents much beyond safe and permissible limits. Report said that the bacteriologically contaminated bottled water had the potential of causing cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, hepatitis and typhoid, while arsenic contamination could result in cancers to lungs, bladder, skin, prostrate, kidney, nose and liver, besides diabetes, kidney diseases, hypertension, heart diseases and birth defects.
According to official sources overall 19 brands were found unsafe for human consumption, including 18 chemically and 1 microbiologically, while 47 brands were found safe. During previous quarter (January-March), 33 brands were found unsafe. He said that presence of potassium, fluoride and sodium beyond a certain limit could cause lung cancer, hyperkalemia, abnormal breakdown of protein, skeletal and dental flourosis and hypertension.
The brands with bacteriological and chemical contamination included Coozy, So Safe and Alfa (in Hyderabad and Karachi), Golden (in Quetta and Lahore), Pak Crystal, Light Water, Nation, Pan Pura, Clear, Fine Soul, Unique Water and Taiba (in Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, Multan and Lahore), Fairmont and Omni (in Karachi), Niamat, Aqua National, Pacific and Lock (in Lahore) and Hunza (in Sialkot and Jhelum). The survey revealed that although 47 brands were found safe in April-June period, only 30 were consistent with their presence in the market - 33 brands disappeared from the market after March this year, but 36 new brands made their way into the market, indicating that some of them might have re-emerged with a new label after having been banned by the government. The samples were collected in April from Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Bahawalpur, Multan, Peshawar, Quetta, Karachi, Hyderabad, Sahiwal and Sialkot. Laboratory findings were compared with permissible limits of the Pakistan Standard Quality Control Authority.- Courtesy: The Post






‘Secret operation’ launched in Karachi:Malik
Monitoring Report
KARACHI,Octber 23: Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Friday that a secret operation has been launched in order to counter the target killings in Karachi. Addressing a joint press conference along with Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Ali Mirza, Malik said, “We shall restore peace in Karachi and other parts of the country, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other northern areas. He said strict action will be taken against those challenging the writ of the state, and the government would not talk with them, adding that the government had broken the back of terrorists by launching a successful operation against them in the northwest.
Malik said, the government had chalked out its strategy during the meeting with all political parties in Karachi, adding that terrorists had no ideology or affiliation with any political party, but used and took shelter of different political parties to disturb the law and order situation in the country. Daily Times







President for early finalisation of climate change strategy
VoH Watch Dog
ISLAMABAD, Oct 23 (APP): President Asif Ali Zardari Friday directed ministry of environment for early finalization of the “Climate Change Strategy and Action Framework” to combat the adverse impacts of climate change.Addressing the concluding session of the “International Conference on Climate Change and Development” at Aiwan-e- Sadr the President said “the issue of climate change is not the concern of any single country, it is a global issue and concerns the whole of mankind.”
Briefing journalists, Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar quoted the President as saying that the international conference was an important milestone showing joint efforts of the government and people of Pakistan to face the challenges of climate change. The President said that climate change has emerged not only as a major environmental issue, but also a multi-dimensional development issue and has posed challenge to all thinkers, planners, policy-makers and professionals from all countries and all nations. According to the speech text the President said that though Pakistan contributes minimally to world’s total greenhouse gases emissions, yet it was faced with severe climate change. He said these were impacting sea level rise, extreme weather, melting of glaciers, fluctuation in monsoon and droughts and floods besides stress on Pakistan’s agriculture and livestock. The President said the impact of monsoon has come as a hard reality for Pakistan this year, as massive floods, that might have been caused by climate change, brought widespread devastations across the country. President Zardari said Pakistan being one of the early signatory of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has undertaken a number of steps to address the issue of climate change.
These includes setting up of Task Force on Climate Change, establishment of Prime Minister’s committee on climate change and development of national policies on environment, conservation of forests, energy and drinking water. A comprehensive “Climate Change Strategy and Action Framework” was being developed by the government with consensus of all the stake holders, the President said. The President said it was not for the first time that the government was formulating environmental strategies but actually it was the PPP government under the leadership of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto that gave the country environmental laws to safeguard the future generation from harmful effects of environment.“We will take it forward to the coming generations,” he added.
The President said that discussion on climate change sometimes becomes too technical with focus on what goes on in the atmosphere and very little attention is paid to its impact on the poor people. The spokesperson quoted the President as saying “We are here to recognize the human face of climate change. It is the face of dying animals and ecosystems and members of our own species “It is our face.”
The President while commenting on the damages brought by the massive floods in the country said that the recent floods have devastated infrastructure, agriculture and economy. More than 1,700 people died and over a million lost their homes, he said. The President while referring to the measures undertaken for rehabilitation of flood victims said that the task of rehabilitation and reconstruction was too big for the government to tackle on its own. While the government, international humanitarian agencies and local charities continue are doing all they can but we need greater international assistance to meet the challenge confronting us, he said. The spokesperson quoted the President as saying “I have often said that our well to do people have to come forward and help in the task of rehabilitation and reconstruction. That is why I have proposed to the federal and provincial governments to impose a one time flood surcharge on well to do people. The International community will help us but we must first help ourselves,” he said. The President said that the vulnerability to flood damage was largely the consequence of human actions and choices instead of acts of nature. He said that there was a need to focus on decisions that will contribute to climate preservation and added that we need to take decisions on issues of urban planning, on conservation of forests and on development of marginal lands.
The President while referring to the severe impact of climate change on national economy said “climate change was adversely affecting social well being of our people, our economic development, our water availability, our food security and human health.”
He said that agriculture is the mainstay of the economy as Pakistan was basically an agricultural country. The President said, “agricultural productivity in Pakistan is being affected due to changes in land and water regimes.” He said dry land areas are highly vulnerable, as these regions are already facing significant water shortages and temperatures are rising.

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Bottled water causing deadly diseases
Monitoring Report
ISLAMABAD, October 23: Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) had said that nineteen of the 66 brands of bottled or mineral water being sold in the country is unsafe for human consumption which may cause deadly diseases like cancer, cholera, diarrhoea and heart diseases.

All samples were scientifically analysed at ISO-17025 accredited National Water Quality Laboratory in Islamabad for microbiological and physcio-chemical parameters according to international standards and permissible limits of Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA).

Official sources said its findings were based on scientific analysis of samples of bottled water collected in 11 major cities across the country from April to June this year.

Sources said that the unsafe brands of bottled water were not only contained bacteriological contamination, but also arsenic, potassium, fluoride and sodium contents much beyond safe and permissible limits. Report said that the bacteriologically contaminated bottled water had the potential of causing cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, hepatitis and typhoid, while arsenic contamination could result in cancers to lungs, bladder, skin, prostrate, kidney, nose and liver, besides diabetes, kidney diseases, hypertension, heart diseases and birth defects.

According to official sources overall 19 brands were found unsafe for human consumption, including 18 chemically and 1 microbiologically, while 47 brands were found safe. During previous quarter (January-March), 33 brands were found unsafe.

He said that presence of potassium, fluoride and sodium beyond a certain limit could cause lung cancer, hyperkalemia, abnormal breakdown of protein, skeletal and dental flourosis and hypertension.

The brands with bacteriological and chemical contamination included Coozy, So Safe and Alfa (in Hyderabad and Karachi), Golden (in Quetta and Lahore), Pak Crystal, Light Water, Nation, Pan Pura, Clear, Fine Soul, Unique Water and Taiba (in Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, Multan and Lahore), Fairmont and Omni (in Karachi), Niamat, Aqua National, Pacific and Lock (in Lahore) and Hunza (in Sialkot and Jhelum). The survey revealed that although 47 brands were found safe in April-June period, only 30 were consistent with their presence in the market - 33 brands disappeared from the market after March this year, but 36 new brands made their way into the market, indicating that some of them might have re-emerged with a new label after having been banned by the government. The samples were collected in April from Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Bahawalpur, Multan, Peshawar, Quetta, Karachi, Hyderabad, Sahiwal and Sialkot. Laboratory findings were compared with permissible limits of the Pakistan Standard Quality Control Authority. Courtesy: The Post





‘Secret operation’ launched in Karachi:Malik
Monitoring Report
KARACHI,Octber 23: Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Friday that a secret operation has been launched in order to counter the target killings in Karachi.
Addressing a joint press conference along with Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Ali Mirza, Malik said, “We shall restore peace in Karachi and other parts of the country, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other northern areas. He said strict action will be taken against those challenging the writ of the state, and the government would not talk with them, adding that the government had broken the back of terrorists by launching a successful operation against them in the northwest.

Malik said, the government had chalked out its strategy during the meeting with all political parties in Karachi, adding that terrorists had no ideology or affiliation with any political party, but used and took shelter of different political parties to disturb the law and order situation in the country. Daily Times




President for early finalisation of climate change strategy
VoH Watch Dog
ISLAMABAD, Oct 23 (APP): President Asif Ali Zardari Friday directed ministry of environment for early finalization of the “Climate Change Strategy and Action Framework” to combat the adverse impacts of climate change.Addressing the concluding session of the “International Conference on Climate Change and Development” at Aiwan-e- Sadr the President said “the issue of climate change is not the concern of any single country, it is a global issue and concerns the whole of mankind.”


Briefing journalists, Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar quoted the President as saying that the international conference was an important milestone showing joint efforts of the government and people of Pakistan to face the challenges of climate change.
The President said that climate change has emerged not only as a major environmental issue, but also a multi-dimensional development issue and has posed challenge to all thinkers, planners, policy-makers and professionals from all countries and all nations.
According to the speech text the President said that though Pakistan contributes minimally to world’s total greenhouse gases emissions, yet it was faced with severe climate change.
He said these were impacting sea level rise, extreme weather, melting of glaciers, fluctuation in monsoon and droughts and floods besides stress on Pakistan’s agriculture and livestock.
The President said the impact of monsoon has come as a hard reality for Pakistan this year, as massive floods, that might have been caused by climate change, brought widespread devastations across the country.
President Zardari said Pakistan being one of the early signatory of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has undertaken a number of steps to address the issue of climate change.
These includes setting up of Task Force on Climate Change, establishment of Prime Minister’s committee on climate change and development of national policies on environment, conservation of forests, energy and drinking water.
A comprehensive “Climate Change Strategy and Action Framework” was being developed by the government with consensus of all the stake holders, the President said.
The President said it was not for the first time that the government was formulating environmental strategies but actually it was the PPP government under the leadership of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto that gave the country environmental laws to safeguard the future generation from harmful effects of environment.
“We will take it forward to the coming generations,” he added.
The President said that discussion on climate change sometimes becomes too technical with focus on what goes on in the atmosphere and very little attention is paid to its impact on the poor people.
The spokesperson quoted the President as saying “We are here to recognize the human face of climate change. It is the face of dying animals and ecosystems and members of our own species “It is our face.”
The President while commenting on the damages brought by the massive floods in the country said that the recent floods have devastated infrastructure, agriculture and economy. More than 1,700 people died and over a million lost their homes, he said.
The President while referring to the measures undertaken for rehabilitation of flood victims said that the task of rehabilitation and reconstruction was too big for the government to tackle on its own. While the government, international humanitarian agencies and local charities continue are doing all they can but we need greater international assistance to meet the challenge confronting us, he said.
The spokesperson quoted the President as saying “I have often said that our well to do people have to come forward and help in the task of rehabilitation and reconstruction. That is why I have proposed to the federal and provincial governments to impose a one time flood surcharge on well to do people. The International community will help us but we must first help ourselves,” he said.
The President said that the vulnerability to flood damage was largely the consequence of human actions and choices instead of acts of nature. He said that there was a need to focus on decisions that will contribute to climate preservation and added that we need to take decisions on issues of urban planning, on conservation of forests and on development of marginal lands.
The President while referring to the severe impact of climate change on national economy said “climate change was adversely affecting social well being of our people, our economic development, our water availability, our food security and human health.”
He said that agriculture is the mainstay of the economy as Pakistan was basically an agricultural country. The President said, “agricultural productivity in Pakistan is being affected due to changes in land and water regimes.”
He said dry land areas are highly vulnerable, as these regions are already facing significant water shortages and temperatures are rising.

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Compensation to be paid within a week: Finance minister
VoH Monitoring Desk
GILGIT, October 21: Compensation for people affected by the Attabad Lake will be released within a week, said Gilgit-Baltistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Ali Akhtar on Sunday. “We have received the money. Every family will get Rs800,000 within a week,” Akhtar told a national daily. About 150 families lost their houses, cattle, cultivable land and standing crops when a landslide in early January created a lake by blocking the Hunza River. At least 20 people died and many others were injured. The lake has submerged five villages upstream and the government had to shift nearly 2,000 people from the area.
Despite carving out a drainage spillway in June, the lake is threatening to submerge 36 more villages downstream. It now stretches over 23 kilometres. “We have planned to increase the depth of the spillway by 30 metres sometime in the next month,” Akhtar said. Frustrated by uncomfortable life in camps, the displaced people have time and again taken to the streets calling for compensation and have even clashed with the police. “We hope things will settle down now,” said the minister, adding that the people of Gojal and Hunza should realise constraints faced by the government. The minister said that Hunza people must pay children’s school fees. People, he said, should not depend on the government for everything. “I must also insist that people must not protest against things like the withdrawal of free boat service,” he said, referring to the protest in this regard in Hunza and Gilgit.
When asked if the government would pay the outstanding amount to Karakorum International University as it had waived the tuition of students belonging to Attaabad, he said that the university will be paid the due amount. First published in The Express Tribune





Naujawanan-Ahl Sunnat demands for compensation against arison
Breaking News
By: Sajid Mir
GILGIT, October 19: Naujawanan-Ahl Sunnat has called upon regional government to pay them the pledged compensation for the violence that result in loss of properties in the Yadgar vicinity in the heart of the city. Speaking to a large gathering, leaders of the organization slamed regional government for its negligence and delay in payment of compensation. They demanded of the government to bring the culprits to the justice so that no one would dare to embark on violence in the city. some of the speakers also put the demand before higher authorities to shift the secteraite offices including Chinef Minister house and office to Jutial, a relatively peaceful locality in the city. Participants chanted slogans against violence and in the favor of peace.








Chinese language classes to sarat in KIU soon; finacials obstacles about to end: VC
Readers Time Report
GILGIT, October 18: (Ejaz Karim) According to Karakorum International University (KIU) officials, sydincate committee was considering on proposals from different academic circles to initiate Chinese language classes in order to reduce communication gap between the population on both sides of the two countries.
A managment offificial told that one of major reason behind this initiative was to cater the needs of business class and students willing to get abroad for further studies especially that in Chinese universities. Indian top universities under its new education ministery, is said to have also about to embark on establishment of special departments to study Chinese History, socio-economic development and Chinese language classes to panetrate in one of the expending economies of the world. In Pakistan, the initiative to start Chinese language is being expected to benefit a large section of society.
On the other hand, Dr. Najma Najam, Vice Chancelor Karakorum International University with the release of around 0.35 million rupee as University grant, the financial burden is about to end saying in time realse would enable us to work on pending research and development work besides general needs of the institution.






Hidden talent sparkles-a GB student secures first position in International essay competition
Bureau Report

ISLAMABAD, October 17: (Salim Javed) Sadia Mir, hailing from a Brusho family of Sultanabad (formerly known as Gujardas), Gilgit has been declared the winner of International Essay Competition conducted by an educational institution of United Sates.

Sadia Mir who won first prize in the international essay competion conducted by US acadmic council. Image source: Pamir Times

Sadia Mir is said to be a brilliant student of BSc, Part-1 at Margalla Hills Girls College, Islamabad won the price among 1900 internationals competitors.United States has offered her life time scholarship, opening her options of high career prospects.
Chief Minister, Speaker cum acting governor, Finance minister, education minister and other members Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly (GBLA) has congratulated her and her family for remarkable accomplishment saying an honor for the Gilgit-Baltistan region.






Crackdown for arrest on Amhari exlosive continue, six arrested
VoH Report
GILGIT, October 15: Gilgit city police have arrested six people as suspects and link with the plot to hit Chief minister yesterday evening. According to the police sources, police arrested suspects from locality having possible link with the culprits who left an explosive fitted into a pressure cooker along the way of Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan on Thuesday mourning. The explosive matter, as local bomb disposal unit says, was a C4 structured with ten kilogram explosives, a new kind ever used in such incidents.
Media sources confirmed that Chief Minister Syed Mehdi Shah was supposed to pay a visit to affectees of recent flood in Basin and outskirts. Following the plot, security and law enforcement agencies were kept red alert. Police and Norther Areas Force officials met Chief minister on Wednesday to chalk out strategic security plan for future.

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Public circles demand reduction in public transport fares; black marketing of petroleum products continue
Special Report
HUNZA-NAGAR, October 20: Public circles have expressed their severe resentment over the negligance of local government authorities towards the public transport fares being charged by transporters on different routes withing and to outside of district. According to the information filtered from some of the sources, transporters had raised the inter and out side district travel charges by 50 percent in the end of September on pretext of shortage of petroleum products. Meanwhile, a notification was issued from Central Hunza tehsil office, bounding transporters on the prevous rates proved a house of straws. Still the same fares were charged and authorities were dubm towards the miseries of common man.
On the other hand, according to some reliable sources, an artificial shortage of petroleum products has been created by the pump owners in Hunza-Nagar district, harnessed the black marketing in the district. Social circles were also showing their dissatisfaction over the local government's performance to curb anti social moves on part of pump owners as the same products are easily available in Gilgit city.





Hunzo-Qaumi Maraka endorses resolution for withdrawal of treason charges
VoH Report
By: Engineer Amanullah Khan
HUNZA, October 15: Hunza Qaumi Maraka, a local progressicve forum has endorsed their resolution condeming treason charges in the wake of protest against government's ineffective role. According to the media cell of HQM, the resolution has been formaly endored to the district authorities. Hunza Qaumi Maraka(HQM) reportedly had staged varoius protest demostrations across Hunza to mount pressure on current regime to ensure proper rehibilitaion process to Attaabad and Gojal affectees, immediate payment of compensation for expansion of Karakorum High Way and work on energy crisis in central Hunza. Sources in HQM told Voice of Hunza that Deputy Commission Hunza-Nagar Zafar Waqar taj has promised to review the charges saying ambiguities exists in the case and assured them to get the charges withdraw if the law of the state permits.
An emergency meeting of Hunzo-e-Qaumi Maraka (HQM), a Brusho term means "forum for poeple of Hunza" held on October 15 presided by Ikramullah Baig resulted into a resolution demanding withdrawal of treason charges on protestors during the prime minister's visit to Hunza region.
The resolution slams regional government for misusing power and demands of withdrawal of the treason charges. " People of Hunza has had rendered inumerable secrifices for country, at different fronts in hard times who are being neglected in every sphere without any reason", the resolution highlighted.The resolution further maintains that protest against odds was a constitutional right of every citizen of the country, demanding Speeaker Cum interim Governor Gilgit Baltistan Wazir Baig to respect the will of the inhibitants and avoid taking dictation of Islamabad only.


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Globalization coupled with frequent natural distasters in either forms is giving rise to many new challenges, ranging from competitive advantage among the world's leading manufacturing and service oriented firms to the general factories producing common goods to get sustainable sales volume under uncertain trade policies of majority of developed and few of developing states struggling for their existence as recognized performers in global trade arena, gradually. In most of the developing state, Pakistan for instance, growth rate statistics provided by state bank of Pakistan carries little significance as it overlooked the various factors having a due share in the country's GDP : contribution from Gilgit-Baltistan in terms of agricultural production and revenue generated from tourims and hotle industry, though currently in shambles. Cash crops like sugar cane, cotton, rice, wheat, pulses, ground nets as well as potato have been destroyed by recent torrential rains, compelled country to rely on imported goods, on higher prices to cater its indigenous population needs.


HUNZA: Despite of expectations among former community following floods in down cities, demand for cash crops are reducing each day. While, the essential household comodities being hatched from down to local markets including vegitable items: onins, jinger, and pulses geting higher every day, a sharp contrast in coming and outgoing essentials. Photo by:Shams
What in Gilgit-Baltistan especially in Hunza-Nagar district, though, holds a vital importance in country's agricultural market via its quality cash crops, fresh and dry fruits on one hand and handicrafts on the other. Nevertheless, the expectations of former community that sales prices should be stablized according to the current market demand across the country has undergone bewilderment as merchants dealing in fresh fruits including cash crops like potatoes with the help of few of opportunist commission agents have drastically reduced selling prices in the region. There are reports that local agents coupled with their anti-social sentiments were the main instrumental to buy these crops at a very low prices and selling them down at around 45% higher rates. This has created a mixed feeling among the residents. Lack of any price regularity authority on commodities has allowed such elements to play their games-depriving the poor farmers of their due reward for their exhaustive work in extreme climatic conditions for mere a single production, annually. Moreover, influx of cash crops from the lowwer parts of Khyber Pakhtoonkhawa province to down cities' markets, and import of potato and pulses from India by contemporary regime to fill the rising demand aslo served to disturb the equilibirium for last two months.
We through this media, would like to draw attention of regional government authroties to place a check on such tendencies by taking remedial steps to ensure stable crop prices to facilitate poor former classes.






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US offers $2bn military aid to Pakistan; Qureshi urges US to open its markets to Pakistani goods
Monitoring Desk
Voice of Hunza
WASHINGTON, October 21: The United States will offer two billion dollars in fresh military assistance to Pakistan, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Friday, Islamabad's efforts against extremist groups. The United States has "no stronger partner when it comes to counter-terrorism" than Pakistan, Clinton said at high-level talks between the two nations in Washington.Clinton said that the military package, which is subject to congressional approval, would come over several years and be in addition to 7.5 billion dollars in civilian aid the United States has committed over five years.
Similarly, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Wednesday urged the United States to open its markets to Pakistani goods for supporting Pakistan's economic recovery and sustained development. "We need trade, not just aid," he told a distinguished gathering at Brookings Institute, a Washington-based think-tank, as the US-Pakistan strategic dialogue enters its second day. "We do not seek dependency, we seek economic viability," the foreign minister said in a wide-ranging speech in which he also reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to fight extremism and terrorism. Stating that economic growth was its priority, the foreign minister said, "We need the Untied States to open up its markets to our products, like the European Union has resolved to do, so that our factories can create jobs for our people, and give young Pakistanis hope for their futures." He also urged the United States to pass legislation for Reconstruction Opportunity Zones for Fata as also an exclussive Free Trade Agreement with Pakistan.-Business Recorder, agencies






Karachi: Case of Shershah Incident Filed Against 17 people
VoH News Watch

KARACHI, October 21: A case has been registered against 17 people belonging to Liyari gang war including its leader Baba Ladla for Shershah incident in Karachi.
According to police, a case has been registered in Pak Colony police station for killing of 12 persons in Shershah. The case number 578/2010 in Pakistan penal court for acts 302, 386, 324 and anti terrorism act have been registered. The wanted criminals listed in the case belong to Liyari gang war among which is the gang leader Noor Mohammad alias Baba Ladla along with Hameed alias Mulla Rao, Ejaz, Lal Mohammad, Nawaz, Iqbal and 11 other criminals. While on the other side, despite of meetings of policitcal leaders, struggling for coalition and claims of eliminating terrorism, still the killings in Karachi have not been stopped. In various areas of city, 7 more people have been killed due to firing. -A Pakistan News paper reports.







Third of Pak-US strategic dialogue from today
Monitoring Desk
WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD, October 20: The eagerly awaiting third round of Pak-America strategic dialogue would start from today (Wednesday) in Washington. Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani left Tuesday for United States of America to attend the dialogue.
According to diplomatic sources the third round of Pak-US strategic dialogues is going to be started from October 20 and continue till Oct 22 in which issues related to power, agriculture, education and security would be discussed. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi would lead the Pakistani delegation while US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would lead US delegation.Strategic Dialogue working group leaders from both governments will report out on the tangible outcomes of their work. Besides Army Chief and FM Qureshi, Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh and other senior officials will be among the delegation. During the Ministerial-level bilateral Strategic Dialogue that was launched in Washington on March 24-25, 2010 has thirteen separate working groups that have met in Islamabad over the past three months: agriculture; communications and public diplomacy; defense; economics and finance; education; energy; health; law enforcement and counter-terrorism; market access; science and technology; security, strategic stability and nonproliferation; water; and women’s empowerment Pakistan would try to convince US to make progress in investment in the power and water sector.
Sources also told media that Pakistan would adopt a decisive stance on India’s violation of Indus River Water treaty and would demand US to play its role in this regard.Foreign Office Sources told media that Pakistan will demand from US for establishment of Reconstruction Zones (RoZs) in the Tribal Areas while urge various Members of the Congress for methodical legislation and immediate removal of hurdles in this regard, drone technology and stalled dues under the Coalition Support fund, The News International reports.






No let-up in Karachi killings; toll 33
Monitoring Desk
Voice of Hunza
KARACHI: As many as 33 people lost their lives and 50 were injured in incidents of violence in different parts of the city in 30 hours till Sunday midnight. Five vehicles, including a car belonging to the DawnNews, were set ablaze at Safoora Chowk on late Saturday night. City Police Chief Fayyaz Ahmed Leghari said around 30 people had fallen victims to targeted killings. In reply to a question about ethnic profiles of the victims, the CCPO said they belonged to different groups.
The fresh spate of killings coincided with by-elections for the PS-94, Orangi Town, which fell vacant after the assassination of MQM MPA Raza Haider. According to unofficial results, MQM’s candidate Saifuddin Khalid won the seat comfortably. The Awami National Party announced on Saturday that it was boycotting the election because its demand to deploy troops had not been met. The polling was held with no major incident of violence or terror attack despite fears expressed by Commander of the Sachal Rangers. However, three people were killed in targeted attacks in Orangi Town, police said.
Till a little after midnight, 13 people had been killed in the city. A man sitting with friends by the roadside was killed by unknown gunmen in Kharadar area. Later, bodies of two people were found dumped near Timber Market. The bodies were trussed up and blind-folded and had 19 and 16 gunshot wounds, Saddar Town SSP Javed Akbar Riaz said. Shortly afterwards, a rickshaw driver was shot dead in the Husainabad area under the Azizabad police station. Orangi Town SP Haseeb Baig said that three bodies with gunshot wounds were found in parts of Orangi Town.Police said that two of the bodies were found in Babae-Khaybar Gate area and the third at
the Frontier Mor. In Lyari, three bodies with gunshot wounds were found. SP Lyari Rana Pervez said that unidentified bodies of two young men were found in the jurisdiction of Kalakot police station.

Karachi: Death toll in target killings is said to increased to 33. Online Photo

Four people were shot dead in Malir area on Sunday. Two people were killed and one was injured when gunmen opened fire on a group of youths sitting in ‘Chatai Compound’ near Malir 15. Sources at the JPMC said that two victims had been brought dead. In an earlier incident, a boy was killed in Shadman Town near Malir Kalaboard. Earlier the body of a 17-year-old youth was found in Ghazi town graveyard. He had been shot in the head, Edhi sources said. The body was taken to the JPMC for post-mortem. Armed men came to Babar Market in Landhi and sprayed people sitting in a carpet shop with bullets and escaped.
Landhi SP Nasir Aftab said that three people died in the incident. Later, in Sharafi Goth police station area, four men on two motorcycles offered a lift to Saeed Badshah, a 40-year-old man with a disabled leg. “They took him on the motorcycle and shot him dead at a deserted place, dumped his body and fled,” SP Landhi said. A boy was going home when two gunmen shot him dead near the Rufi Shopping Centre near Met Office.-Dawn Tv, The News







Sword comes down on development funds again
Special report
VoH News Watch
ISLAMABAD – Since the Government’s options for resource mobilisation are squeezing down with lending countries insisting upon taxing the rich Pakistanis for gigantic need of over $25 billion post-floods reconstruction, it is bound to cut development allocations drastically. Dimmed hopes for foreign assistance were brightened up a bit at the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP) meeting on October 15 at Brussels where Pakistan convinced the US, the top donor, to route at least 50 percent of its assistance through the government systems. So far 80 percent, according to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s recent statement, and almost 100 percent, according to the officials of the Finance Minister, of the US flood-related relief and rehabilitation assistance was pouring in directly in the non-governmental sector outside the government systems.
“That is why we have asked them (the US and other donors) that ‘how you give’ matters more than ‘how much aid you give us’,” said Hina Rabbani Khar, Minister of State for Finance and Economic Affairs, who was part of the FODP delegation to Brussels. She told this scribe that it was not just an event for pledges but it was an important step in the FODP process that would lead to Pakistan Development Forum (PDF) meeting here in the next month. The PDF meet here that would be a donors’ conference on November 14-15 was aimed at presenting the need for reconstruction of areas devastated by floods and rehabilitation of the affected people.
Earlier sources told a Pakistani daily that having no pledges or commitment at hand so far, the Government was bound to cut development allocations to meet the needs for additional resources required for reconstruction. Last year the Government cut development allocations by 50 percent for extra expenditures on war against terror. This time it is going to cut development budget by more than even half of it under the garb of reprioritising projects and diverting funds to the reconstruction, the sources added. Its functionaries like Deputy Chairman Planning Commission had already told some journalists that the Government diverted at least 30 percent of Public Sector Development Programme and was asking the province to do the same.-The Nation





Govt can’t revoke executive order: Supreme Court
  • CJP takes suo moto notice of rumours that govt was going to withdraw notification
Monitoring Report
ISLAMABAD, October 15:(Online) Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, taking a suo moto notice of rumors that the government was going to withdraw the notification by which the judges had been restored in March 2009, summoned all the 16 members of the superior judiciary to the Supreme Court building on Thursday night.
The chief justice also issued a notice to the attorney general of Pakistan to appear before a full bench of the Supreme Court today (Friday). Rumours flared up due to a late night meeting of the People’s Party at the Presidency. It was conjectured that the Presidency has proposed to the prime minister to withdraw the executive order of March 16, 2009 through which the chief justice of Pakistan and other deposed judges were restored.
The Supreme Court sources confirmed that the chief justice of Pakistan had left the building after at 8pm, but rushed back to hold a meeting at around 11pm following the rumours aired by the private media channels. According to a press release issued with the signature of Additional Registrar Sajid Mehmood Qazi, as per reports telecast on several TV channels, alleged that the government was considering withdrawing the executive order of the restoration of the chief justice of Pakistan and other judges. Some newspapers had already reported this issue.The press release added that the issue of restoration of judges had already been settled by the Supreme Court on July 31, 2009.
The Supreme Court has held time and again that a judge of the superior judiciary may not be removed except on the grounds and as per procedure laid down in Article 209 of the constitution.“In view of the facts stated above, the honourable chief justice of Pakistan, on a note moved by the registrar, has ordered registration of the matter as Civil Miscellaneous Application and its fixation before a 17-member bench on October 15, 2010,” the press release concluded.

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Monitoring every regional historical development

Monitoring every regional historical  development
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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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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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