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Monsoon rain in Gilgit Baltistan causes landslides, KKH closure casulties Reported

admin — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 07:45:52 +0000

HT : he death toll from flash floods and landslides triggered by torrential monsoon rains rose to 250 on Friday in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said sources.

According to details, Mingora’s communication links with other parts are broken after collapse of Mingora Bridge while flood water entered in the area.

Flash floods and building collapses caused by heavy rains, over flowed canals, thunder lights and stormy drainage Nullahs, killed 48 people in Swat, Shangla, Deer and Dera Ismail Khan.

Two brothers drowned at the bank of Swat River in Khawaza Khela while a father and son died by thunder light strike at Chagum in Shangla district.

So far, 48 people were killed in floods and rain-related incidents in Swat while 15 persons, including a women, have been killed in upper and lower Deer areas.

Separately, two children were died in building collapse while 10 people including women were swept away in different incidents in Charsadda. According to a rough estimate, near about 1 million people are affected by flood in Charsadda and nearby areas.

An old bridge collapsed at University road Kohat and so far the rescue teams have recovered 18 people’s dead bodies from its debris.

At the other side, the local General Secretary of Awami National Party, Asma Nawaz, has been killed in a roof collapse at Dakbetoot area in Noshehra.

BESHAM LANDSLIDE

At least 49 people were killed as the spree of monsoon rains triggered major landslide in Olandar area of the Besham, on Friday.

According to reports the landslide hit a small residential area of Olandar that killed 49 people. Rescue work has been started and 16dead bodies have been recovered so far, 33 are still buried under debris.

Governance in Gilgit-Baltistan

admin — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 03:46:45 +0000

By Aziz Ali Dad
The region of Gilgit-Baltistan has remained always an anomaly in the political system of Pakistan. There are several factors that contributed to its status being kept in constitutional limbo. Foremost among these is the Kashmir dispute, as well as regional geopolitics at large. Although the region is not a direct party to the conflict, it remains relevant to the issue because of its strategic location. Various governments in Pakistan have tried to incorporate Gilgit-Baltistan into the country’s political structure.

The announcement of the Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-governance Order by the government last year was the latest attempt by the state to bring the region into Pakistan’s political mainstream. Under the current dispensation a newly elected assembly has elected a chief minister and a governor has been appointed by the federal government. It is for the first time that the region enjoys its own setup with an empowered legislature. People have high expectations regarding the delivery of results from the elected members Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly (GBLA).

Effective management of the affairs of the assembly and good governance will require that the leaders rise above petty personal interests. The members of the GBLA and the new setup should master the modern mode of governance. Application of worn out strategies for the management of the new system would be doomed to failure.

To ensure good governance it is indispensable for GBLA members and the staff associated with the assembly to be truly empowered. The existing setup and procedures are new to most of the members of the assembly. In the absence of clear understanding of the system the local administration there is a state of confusion resulting from the fact that while the administration has experience of the previous system, the mode of administrative functioning has changed at the upper tiers of the system under the new package. One of the flaws of the empowerment package is that it was hastily put together, without an effort being made to prepare the ground for the new system. Because of this, the bulk of the development last year’s budget went to the meeting of the new system’s expenses.

Empowerment entails great responsibility. It is the responsibility of the members of the GBLA to ensure development in the area by using their powers effectively. Too much dependence on the bureaucracy and the central government will render futile all the exercise involved in setting up the new system: the election and the establishment of new institutions, as well as the legislation the assembly will produce.

Members of the GBLA enjoy perks and privileges and a hefty amount is earmarked for the chief minister and the governor of Gilgit-Baltistan. If this trend continues, the government of Gilgit-Baltistan would end up incurring a large debt on non-development expenditures. Without generation of resources at the local level the Gilgit-Baltistan government cannot meet its expenses. In the long term this will contribute to bad governance.

Gilgit-Baltistan’s failure to manage its own affairs will provide justification to the bureaucracy and some political elements at the centre to take away the powers of the GBLA. Since they are representative of the people it is the duty of the elected members to acquaint themselves well with the new system and ensure development by encouraging effective exploitation of available resources in the region. Gilgit-Baltistan has enormous potential in minerals and mining.

The government of Gilgit-Baltistan has taken some initiatives by inviting investors from other parts of the country and abroad. However, the process of issuing licenses to investors has not been transparent in the last 15 years. The practice of issuing licenses through questionable means for mining and exploration of minerals has hurt the relations between the local administration and communities.

Leasing out local resources without the consent of the local communities will only make them vulnerable to manipulation by commercial giants. A major challenge that will be faced by the government of Gilgit-Baltistan in the future will be striking balance between exploiting mining potential and protecting the local communities’ interests. For that purpose, the GBLA has to pass appropriate legislation.

The first litmus test of the newly elected government in Gilgit-Baltistan came with the aftermath of the Atabad Lake disaster, which became a human disaster because of the sheer incompetence and negligence of the chief minister and his team. This is revealed by lack of coordination between government departments and non-government organisations. The chief minister appears to be confused about his role in the new dispensation in Gilgit-Baltistan.

The government of Gilgit-Baltistan shirks its responsibilities when it engages in non-issues as to the disaster, such as its moving a resolution to declare protesting Atabad victims traitors.

The issue of coordination between different departments is urgent because the absence of it will bring administrative functions to a halt, which will be the ultimate failure of governance in Gilgit-Baltistan.

The writer is associated with a rights-based organisation in Islamabad. Email: azizalidad @hotmail.com

Storms Hit Gilgit

pyaralisagi — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:11:35 +0000

By Piyar Ali Sagi (SE HT)

Due to heavy rainfall since last two days water level increased at different rivers of Gilgit Baltistan. The heavy rain fall in the valleys of GB increased water level in all rivers, it has been noted that Ghizer River has a storm at Gilgit t and water flow is on high velocity. The river view road has been blocked for traffic for precautionary measures. The various suspension bridges are under risk.

Geological Changing in Hunza

pyaralisagi — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:12:44 +0000

By Piyar Ali Sagi (SE HT)

The natural changing is in progress at Hunza, yesterday night a mountain crash by geological happenings at mid night at 12:13 Am at Karim Abad capital of Hunza. The stones rolling downward the karim abad village but the destruction haven’t recorded yet. At early morning on same day the earth quake hit the area, with a magnitude of 6.6 on Richter scale. The natural changing is an ongoing process in the area after natural hit of January at Atta Abad.

Four drowned as bridge collapses in Skardu

admin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 03:44:32 +0000

SKARDU: At least four persons, including two girls and a woman, died having been drowned into a river after their car sank when a mini-bridge collapsed in Josai locality in Skardu district on late Tuesday, Geo news reported.

Commissioner Baltistan Division Dr. Sajid Chauhan said the car was heading to Galtari from Skardu when it met the deadly accident.

The accident took place as the car was going across river through a bridge hanging over a river when it (bridge) collapsed due to breakage of supporting rope, which in turn, leaved four persons drowned including a mother, her two minor girls the poor driver.

Rescue teams have been dispatched to recover bodies from river

Source : GEO

Air blue plane crash near Islamabad,2 residents of Gilgit were also travelling

admin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:11:48 +0000

ISLAMABAD (HT): A commercial airbus of a private airline has crashed into Margalla Hills, a mountainous range behind Shah Faisal Mosque, apparently due to rough weather,
According to preliminary reports, as many as 150 passengers including crew members were onboard. Eyewitnesses said people witnessed airbus flying at very low altitude and it might have crashed due to rough weather.

Ustad Iftikhar son Aesar and his sister Tasleem Kausar were also traveling from Karachi to Islamabad .As Sources have confirmed that all the crew members and passengers are reported dead.However the bodies of the two residents of Gilgit are not yet been recovered.Other sources at Karachi are also saying that there are more residents of Gilgit Baltistan were traveling however the names and their addresses are not yet confirmed officially .May Allah rest their souls in peace.Our deep condolences are with Ustad Iftikhar and family.

Gilgit Baltistan Officials degress to be sent For Verification :CM Gilgit Baltistan

admin — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 10:23:59 +0000

By Naeem Ullah ( Contributor HT)

GILGIT: Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan Mehdi Shah said that the degrees of all government officials serving in various departments in Gilgit-Baltistan would be sent for verification.

He, however, played down the idea of verifying G-B legislative assembly members’ degrees saying that they had not contested elections on the basis of their degrees.

Shah was speaking at the G-B legislative assembly during its 7th session after an independent deputy, Syed Razi uddin, brought up the degree verification issue. Under the orders of the chief minister, the degrees of approximately 28,000 government employees will be sent for verification.

In reply to a demand made by a lawmaker, Mutabiat Shah, for an additional seat for Hunza, the chief minister said that it wasn’t possible because under the 18th amendment, the strength of the G-B cabinet was being curtailed.

Bashir Ahmed Khan, a lawmaker of PML-Q, tabled a resolution against the ongoing wave of terrorism in the country. The resolution was unanimously passed by the house.

Jan Baz Khan, a member of PML-N, speaking on a point of order demanded that the service structure of the judges of the Supreme Appellate Court be modified to bring it in line with that of the rest of the judges in Pakistan and AJK.

He said that at present, the services of the judges of the Supreme Appellate Court are on contractual basis for three years. He said that the judges’

performance is affected because of insecurity about their jobs. Upon this, the speaker Wazir Baig formed a committee to look into the matter and to suggest ways to improve it.

Wazir Shakil, the law minister, told the house that the G-B assembly has no power to make any changes to the governance order 2009, therefore, he asked that the assembly be empowered to make changes to it.

The house also approved a law for the finance committee of the G-B assembly, under which the house will have powers to supervise finances relating to the Gilgit-Baltistan assembly.

AKDN IS STANDING SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IN THE ECONOMICAL DEVELOPMENT OF AFGHANISTAN

admin — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 18:24:44 +0000

By Karim Imamdad (Editor Hunzatimes,Paris )
The International conference was held on 20th July in Kabul,the negotiations were focused about the problem of peace,security and economical development for the future stability of Afghanistan.The conference was widely participated by the 70 delegates from all over theworld including the Secretary General of UNO, Bi Ki Moon and also an important delegation of the AKDN headed by the prince Amyn Aga Khan.

President Hamid Karzai assured to the members of the International Community and important donors that the Afghan Government will be in position to take responsibility of the security of the entire Afghanistan in 2014.The ambitious time table formed was the center piece of Kabul International Conference, which also chart a clearer path toward an eventual exit of 130,000 foreign troops from Afghanistan

President Hamid Karzai also pledged to make more efforts to curb corruption in his administration, as the political stability of Afghanistan is hinged on the good governece with austerity meausres.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi also expressed his deep concerned about the peace and economical development of Afghanistan,which is also in the interest of Pakistan as both countries shares long term common interest on the historical back-ground.President Hamid Karzai paid hommage to the efforts of the members of
Islamic countries, considering it the voice of Islam to spread the message of peace in the world.

The Prince Amyn Aga Khan addressed the conference on the behalf of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan, about the role of AKDN in Afghanistan for the economical development and providing equal opportunities for all the people of Afghanistan through the active participation of the civil soiety.He further elaborated his speech saying that “the Aga Khan Development Network remains committed to the stability and growth of this important country and its people and we strongly support a significant accleration of scio-economic development process, we are ready to do whatever we can with that objective.”

Water level increased 14 inches in Ataabad lake: AC

Rumi Nadeem Aman — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 19:49:59 +0000

HUNZA, (APP): The Assistant Commissioner (AC) Zamir Abbas said due to hot weather inflow to water in Ataabad lake increased. Talking to APP here Wednesday he said water inflow was recorded 21,540 cusecs while outflow of water was 20,845 cusecs. He said the water level has risen by 14 inches in the past 24 hours.

According to the met department, temperature will continue to be high in upper Hunza for next two days.
Answering a question he said the IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) residing in different camps were continuously look after by the government officials.

High level meeting in Presidency decides on lowering water level in Ata Abad Lake

Rumi Nadeem Aman — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 19:44:49 +0000

ISLAMABAD, (APP): A high level emergency meeting in the Presidency on Wednesday night considered options available to rehabilitate the Ata Abad Lake in Gilgit-Baltistan and restore the damaged portion of the Karakoram Highway (KKH). The meeting, presided over by President Asif Ali Zardari, decided to resort to controlled blasting to lower the water level in the lake for undertaking the necessary rehabilitation works and restoration of normal life in the affected areas.

The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, Chief of the Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Chief Minister Gilgit Baltistan (GB), Mehdi Shah, Chief Secretary GB, Babar Yaqub, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Nadeem ul Haq, the Chairman NDMA, Secretary General to the President, Salman Farouqui, Secretary to President, Malik Asif Hayat, Secretary Communication Sharif Ahmad, spokesperson Farhatullah Babar, Director Genral Frontier Works Organization Major General Njibullah Khan and Lt General ® Shahid Niaz Member Planning Commission and heads of technical departments.

Briefing the media about the meeting Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar said that it was also decided to start a large and fast speed ferry service capable of ferrying big machines and merchandise so as to restore the normal life on the one hand and to facilitate the rehabilitation works on the other.

It was also decided to undertake feasibility study for building by-pass as a permanent solution to the problem of landslides in the future. The feasibility study for by-pass will be undertaken by the NHA, he said.

The decisions on Wednesday were a follow up of the President’s visit to China early this month in which the President also raised with the Chinese political leaders at the highest level the issue and sought Chinese assistance in this regard.

The President in his meetings with President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao had emphasized urgent rehabilitation measures commensurate with the seriousness the two countries attached to the connectivity projects between them, he said.

Farhatullah Babar said that following the President’s visit the Chinese government on Tuesday offered that its experts and companies would be prepared to help the government of Pakistan in undertaking the rehabilitation works and asked Islamabad to decide on the options available.

The two options that the Pakistani authorities had been debating were; one to make a bypass and two, to lower the level of the water to 30 meters, he said.

The late night Wednesday meeting decided to exercise the option of lowering the water level and undertake rehabilitation works with the assistance of Chinese immediately and at the same time to undertake feasibility study for a by-pass, he said.

Chief Minister Gilgit Baltistan Syed Mehdi Shah endorsing the decisions taken thanked President Zardari and the government of Pakistan for its efforts in addressing the issue on a permanent basis.

The Prime Minister who was also present in the meeting scheduled a meeting with the chief minister of GB on Thursday to discuss further relief measures and the financial support needed for it.

Lt. Gen. ® Shahid Nadeem former Engineer in Chief Pakistan Army and currently Member Planning Commission will be coordinator of the project that will be overseen by Secretary Communications, he said.

The Chinese government has also offered to provide relief goods to those affected people of the landslide who are not easily accessible from the Pakistan side.

President Zardari also thanked the Chinese offer of assistance and said that the offer demonstrated yet again the deep strategic ties between the two countries, the spokesperson said.