Sunday, June 26, 2011

Revival of Mastuj district in Chitral demanded

CHITRAL: The residents of Mastuj tehsil have demanded the restoration of Mastuj district, which had been abolished in 1969 at the time of annexation of Chitral, Dir and Swat states to the country.

At a public meeting convened by the Booni Bar Association at Booni here on Friday, the speakers including bar president Ghulam Mustafa, Ali Nizar, Haji Hussain, Hakim Ali and others said that the district status for Mastuj was the genuine right of the people of upper Chitral.

They recalled there were two districts in Chitral when it was a state but the district status of Mastuj was abolished which resulted in backwardness in the area.

They said that area-wise Mastuj was the largest tehsil of the province having its boundaries with the Wakhan corridor of Afghanistan and the Central Asian republic of Tajikistan.

They said that the local people had pinned their hopes on Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti for the upgradation of Mastuj tehsil, as had been repeatedly pledged by him during his visits to the area.—Zahiruddin

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Experts discuss parents' role in education

Report Al-Haj Muhammad Khan



CHARUN, June 14, 2011: The Association for Academic Development (AFAQ) held a workshop on “Parents’ role in quality education” in Booni on June 13.

The workshop was presided over by Sarfaraz Khan with Lecturer Mohammad Karim Khan.

Chief speaker on the occasion, General Manager AFAQ KPK and Gilgit-Baltistan Amir Zaib in his presentation singled out a story from the book of Ashfaq Ahmad and used to integrate the topic into the current situation, educational demands and role of parents in the holistic development of children.

He also shared a video of a hairdresser, Iqbal, wherein the interviews asks him why he adopted this occupation. Iqbal replies that in the school he had more orientation towards painting and when he made a picture, his teacher was so surprised that he asked him to write the name of Allah for the classroom.

“When my father came to know about my painting, he harshly told me that “I am sending you to school for studying not for painting. You rather should work with me instead of painting because you have no interest in education.” Iqbal says this was the autocratic decision of my father and a turning point in my life.

“I left education and later adopted the profession of hairdressing as a source of livelihood. Iqbal also says that he learned a lesson after this setback and decided that I will leave no stone unturned for the cause of my children’s education and will give the opportunity of learning on the basis of their orientation and I am doing and working day and night now for the education of my children.

He also said that had his father understood his orientation and allowed him to continue his education, his fate would have been different and today he would have been a painter of repute.

Amir Zaib formally announced the topic and used to identify measures for parents and nine characteristics of high performing schools and their interrelationship.

He concisely and interestingly discussed, shared focus, high standard and expectations, effective leadership, collaboration and communication, alignment with state standards, monitoring, learning and teaching, focusing professional development, supportive environment and family and community involvement for achieving shared vision and worth while values of our life which integrate this world and life hereafter.

While discussing high level of family and community development, he said it is the responsibility of everyone to educate learners and the role of the power of habits discovering the field of psychology by making triangle of teacher, school and community for successful learning process and also shared the date of a village and research report that society contributes 3%, school 15% and parents 82% in learning process.

During presentation he also discussed the types, rights, expectations and responsibilities of parents in detail. Parents also contributed in this discussion and shared their expectations and challenges that they are facing.

He said in this journey of learning parents as well as teacher should ignite the spark by joint partnership for nation building. While concluding he provided tips for schools to improve teaching learning process and ensure parent’s participation and owning school as part of community life blood.

Lecturer M. Karim thanked AFAQ and commented on the pathetic educational system of the country and menace of cheating while referring the esoteric and exoteric meaning of the Hadith of Holy Prophet and its philosophical reflection on society contextualizing the biological ingredients of human being said that every person have to nurture the persons in himself (Cells) with utmost care and ultimately a versatile personality can be build with the true qualities of human being. He also emphasized the role of parents, Teachers and community for educational development.

At the end of the workshop Shah Wazir and President Sarfarz Khan also thanked AFAQ and Chief Speaker Amir Zaid and Zulfiqar Ali.

While wrapping up this workshop chief organizer and facilitator Mr. Zulfiqar Ali of AFAQ thanked all parents, teachers for their active participation and assured to follow up this welcome workshop in coming days developing and building more awareness and sensitization measures to ensure parents role in quality education which is the cry of the day and need of the hour.

A peaceful Chitral

By Maqsoodul Mulk (Hindukush Trails)



Militancy and calamity in Pakistan have hampered economic development. It has shaken the confidence of businessmen and travelers to visit and invest in this region. Tourism plays a major role in the livelihood of the Kalash and Chitrali community with a diverse segment of the population directly or indirectly benefiting from it. Stakeholders in tourism are from a vast segment of the population.

They are villagers involved in handicrafts, music and culture, fruit and farm products, shops, hotels, restaurants, transport etc. With robust economic activity, local products find market outlets, each segment of the population gets an opportunity for income generation. A better image does not only attract holiday makers but also investors and businessmen, it brings in opportunities for infrastructure development , better education and health care facilities.

Under present circumstance, this source of income generation and livelihood prospect of the village of Bumboret, Birir, Rumbur and Chitral at large is badly affected. It is very important to send out a message to the world that there is peace and interfaith harmony in the valley of Chitral.

With only negative news going out, it is not easy to promote Pakistan. To highlight our diverse culture, tolerance and hospitality, the Hindukush Trails took on the task to project “A peaceful Chitral.” A plan was initiated to take a delegation from Chitral and the Kalash community to Europe where we managed to get slots in the Baltic States to participate at various concerts in Tallin, Riga and Helenski. With workshops and presentations at various forums and the press and TV covering our activities, the true image of Chitral was introduced to the world. At the home front, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and organizations working in Chitral were approached for help. None was, however, willing to take it on wanting more time to decide. With no organization in Pakistan willing to sponsor the activity, we were left to highlight Chitral on our own. Friends from abroad were approached to extent hospitality and logistics taken on.

Passports, visas (these days no one wants to give a visa to a Pakistani and here was a group venturing out), insurance, air tickets, hotels, food etc., it was quite a task but finally all arranged for a group of eight participants. The concerts where we participated were very well attended. Various countries from the Orient were trying to outdo each other. India had their vocal art and classical singers, the Shaman Rambo of Apatani tribe from Arunachal Pradesh followed by Himalayan folk songs of Ladakh.

Celebrating Sufi music playing multi-instruments was Fakhraddin Gafarov from Azerbaijan, following him were the whirling dervishes of Turkey and Syria, Nepal with its Buddhist rituals and Tibet and Bhutan with its colourful dragon mask dances, each country performed brilliantly. The audience were spellbound and respectfully silent till the Chitrali and Kalash came on the stage with Mirza Ali Jan singing “Mayon i Mo Chulay ki”. On our second song the crowd caught the rhythm.

Then it was a roar of approval on every song, the silent crowd now swayed couldn’t help and finally joined into the delight of government officials and dignitaries. Alongside the performances, there were special workshops and exhibitions exploring many of the rich traditions and cultures of the Orient countries. Live coverage on television and press releases followed simultaneously.The Baltic States get around (four hundred thousand tourists a year) and this was the peak season. A group size of a hundred tourists was considered normal. Hundreds of tourists were at different historical sites being briefed by their guides.

Whenever we passed by the Kalash attired in their lovely dresses and the Chitrali proudly walking in his graceful Pakhol carrying his sitar, heads would turn, conversation stopped and tourist attention diverted from the medieval sites.

The interest of the tourist was genuine and hard to miss. We were asked for photographs and questioned ‘where are you from? We would like to visit your country. “On being told it was Pakistan the remark would be “Ah Osama’s hometown! but we still would want to see it.”

The power of publicity is immense and more so with regard to tourism. What is lacking is projecting the positive in our country and this needs to be understood and taken on by both the government and the development sector. Keeping the potential of tourism in Pakistan merely a PTDC slogan is living in a dream. In reality, we have nothing till we show it to the world… and if we keep it hidden we have lost it. (June 8, 2011)

Send comments to: chitraltoday@gmail.com

Sunday, June 12, 2011

UK newly-wed royal couple invited to Shandur Festival

PESHAWAR, June 12, 2011: Provincial Minister for Sports Syed Aqil Shah on Sunday that Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti had formally invited the newly-wed royal couple Prince William and Princess Kate (Duke & Duchess of Cambridge) to witness the final of Shandur Polo.

The move to invite the royal couple to Shandur this year was initiated by Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (TCKP) to promote the region and to put it in the news internationally for something heart-warming and positive. Teams from Gilgit have confirmed participation in the upcoming Shandur Polo Festival scheduled on July 7-9, which is expected to be a memorable and exciting event. He said the Chief Minister on behalf of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa wrote to Royal Highnesses to grace the final of the Annual Shandur Polo Tournament-2011 on the final to be played on July 9.

In the letter, he said: Your Highnesses, Shandur is the highest polo field on earth. Shandur Pass which is one of the most peaceful and serene areas of Pakistan is situated near the border of Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces at a distance of 147km from Chitral and 212 km from Gilgit. The pass not only connects Gilgit and Chitral but also offers one of the world's most interesting and attractive sports annually with freestyle mountain polo. The exhilarating game is played on the 'Roof of the World', about 12500 feet above sea level approx, where the Hindukush, Pamir and Karakoram ranges meet.

“Chitral is also the original birthplace of the sport of polo and the rugged mountain polo is arguably polo in its purest form. This version of the game played at Shandur has attained legendary status and is of great interest to international and domestic adventure tourists alike. There are no umpires and there are no holds barred. Played in its original devil-may-care manner, the rules are: There are no rules.

“The game is inscribed in tradition that predates history. In ancient times, polo being the 'King of Games' was played between small kingdoms, villages and rival groups of Chitral and Gilgit. The British picked up the game here, introduced some safety rules and subsequently popularised it all over the world. Besides the rules (or no rules) there is quite a difference between the polo played in Chitral and the version introduced by the British. The size of the ground, number of players and the period of play in both versions are different.

“Patronized by a British Political Agent Major Evelyn Hey Cobb in its early days, polo tournaments were held annually on this ground 1936 onwards. Presently organized by the Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (TCKP) the three-day Shandur Polo Festival has developed steadily in recent years into the massive celebration of mountain polo that it is today. It is attended every year by prominent celebrities, public figures and opinion leaders.

“My government extends its warm greetings to Your Highnesses on Your recent wedding.

“The connection of the Royal Family of Britain with Chitral and polo goes back many years. In recent times, in 1997 the HRH Duke of Edinburgh flew into Chitral especially to witness a polo match and give away the Duke of Edinburgh cup which still adorns the reception counter of a local hotel.

“Chitral warmly welcomed HRH Princess Diana in 1991. The people of Chitral have fond memories of that day when all flights to Chitral had been cancelled due to rain, HRH Princess Diana landed in her BA 146 and arrived in the valley much to the pleasant surprise of everyone.

“I hope that Your Highnesses will be able to grace this polo cup final. It will help foster relations between our two countries and we await with anticipation your response.

“May Your days be joyous and healthy in the months and years to come”.--APP

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Thursday, June 9, 2011

Aliza Alam's "creative writing"

DATE:8-6-11 R.A DAY THURSDAY
WEEK 1 TOPIC: CR.WRI



1 MY NAME IS ALIZA ALAM.
2 I AM 8 (EIGHT) YEARS OLD.
3 THE NAME OF MY SCHOOL IS ROOTS SCHOOL SYSTEM.
4 MY FATHER ‘S NAME IS ZAR ALAM KHAN.
5 MY MOTHER ‘S NAME IS HADIA AKBAR.
6 MY MOTHER IS A TEACHER.
7 MY FATHER IS A JOURNALIST.
8 My Brother's NAME IS FAHAM SULTAN. HE IS 6 YEARS OLD.
9 I LIKE TO EAT CHICKEN.
10 MY FAVOURITE PLACE IS DIZG, CHITRAL.
11 MY FAVOURITE STORY IS SNOW WHITE.
12 MY FAVOURITE CARTOON IS MAT KACAU AND DORA.

13 I READ IN CLASS 3.
14 I LIKE TO READ STORIES.
15 MY FAVOURITE DRESS IS PENT SHIRT.
16 MY BEST FRIEND IS ALISHA.
17 I LIKE PINK COLOUR.
18 MY FAVOURITE SUBJECT IS ART.
19 MY FAVOURITE POEM IS TWINKLE TWINKLE

Awesome and rugged

Awesome and rugged

Beauty of Chitral

Beauty of Chitral
Kishmanja, a beautiful village in Yarkhun valley

Lush green

Lush green

DIZG: threatened by floods

DIZG: threatened by floods

The legendary village of Ayun in Chitral

The legendary village of Ayun in Chitral
On way to Bumburet

Dizg, Yarkhun

Dizg, Yarkhun

About Me

My photo
Village Dizg, Yarkhun valley, Chitral, Pakistan
I blog at http://chitraltoday.net (ChitralToday) about Chitral, its people, culture, traditions and issues. I have been writing about Chitral since 2000. Chitral is a scenic valley in the extreme north-west of Pakistan.