Khowar as a compulsory subject introduced in Chitral schools

PESHAWAR, April 17: The students of government primary schools in Chitral will learn primers of Khowar, their mother tongue, in the ongoing academic year which started this month. The provincial Elementary and Secondary Education (E&SE) Department has introduced four regional languages – Hindko, Seraiki, Khowar and Kohistani – as compulsory subject in educational institutions from academic year 2013-14. Pashto was introduced as compulsory subject in the Pashtu-speaking areas of the province the previous year. It is for the first time that students of nursery classes would formally learn their respective mother languages in schools. “Under the government’s decision, we have started teaching the mother languages as compulsory subject from nursery classes and these will gradually be introduced in other classes,” E&SE Director Rafiq Khattak said. The decision of introducing mother languages as compulsory subject was taken by the previous Awami National Party-led provincial government in its cabinet meeting on Oct 5, 2011. According to the action plan, Pashto was being introduced as compulsory subject in grade-6 in Pashto speaking districts where it had already been medium of instructions at primary level, while in the remaining Pashto-speaking areas it was introduced from grade-1 to 6th from academic year 2012-13. The teaching of Hindko, Seraiki, Khowar and Kohistani are being started as compulsory subject from class-1 to 7th in areas where these languages are spoken from academic session 2013-14, according to the action plan. When contacted, Textbook Board, Peshawar, chairman Prof Himayatullah Khan told this correspondent that primers of the mother tongues for nursery classes had already been sent to the relevant district education offices as per their demand. He said that primers of Khowar language being spoken as first language in Chitral had been provided to the relevant district education office. Similarly, primers of Hindko have been provided to different districts, including Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar and Mansehra, where Hindko is spoken by a section of the population. The primers of Seraiki language spoken in Dera Ismail Khan and Tank have also been provided to the district education offices concerned, while primers of Kohistani language spoken in Kohistan district would be sent to the relevant education office on their demand, he said. Directorate of Curriculum and Teacher Education director Bashir Hussain Shah said that primers of mother tongues had been printed and curriculum of these languages for grade-1 already developed. He said that curricula for rest of the classes would be approved by end of June. “The primers of regional languages are developed with consensus among writers, poets and experts on the relevant languages,” Mr Shah said. Attaullah Khan, an educationist, said that introduction of mother tongue as compulsory subject in schools would make the students understand their regional culture, values, traditions, etc. He said that with the introduction of teaching regional language in schools it would be easy for students to read and write besides improving their listening and speaking capabilities.–Dawn

A woman who wants to do something for Chitral

chitraltoday.net report CHITRAL, April 4, 2013: Despite all difficulties, a young Chitrali woman has challenged experienced politicians and a former dictator of the country by filing nomination papers for the National Assembly seat of Chitral. Asma Mehmood, a lawyer by profession, is also the contender for the provincial assembly seat of lower Chitral (PK-89). She hails from a small village called Suoch of the Terich valley in upper Chitral and has two elder brothers and one younger sister. She lives in her joint family, including parents, in Haripur. She belongs to the Majay family of Chitral. Ms Asma was born and brought up in Haripur as her father Laghal Khan worked in the National Rural Telecommunication Company (NRTC) in that city. She did her Matric from the Telecom Girls School and graduation from the Government Degree College Haripur. She obtained the bachelor of law degree from the Ayub Law College in 2006 and since then has been practicing law in Hariour, Abbottabad and Peshawar. Talking to chitraltoday.net, Ms Asma said though she was born and brought up outside Chitral she had an urge to do something for the backward area of Chitral where her relatives still lived. She said every year she also visited her home village in the upper Chitral. When asked if language would be a problem for her in communicating with the people, especially women of upper Chitral, during the electioneering, she said it would not, as she understood the language well and was able to convey her message through. She said that politicians born and bred in Chitral had done nothing for the area and those who lived outside Chitral had more love for their area and could do something for the development of the area. She said she wanted to make her political career in Chitral and would also be practicing law in the district. It may be noted that Begum Sher Wali Khan of Yarkhun valley was the first Chitrali woman who contested the election for the National Assembly seat of Chitral in 1988. However, she obtained only 1,423 votes. In that year, Nusrat Bhutto from Larkana won the election by bagging 32,812 votes. In the 1993, Begum Suleman Khan of the PPP also took part in the election for the National assembly seat and polled 15,765 votes but could not win the seat. Ms Asma is the fourth woman to take part in the national election in Chitral. Her decision to join politics has been welcomed by many people of Chitral as it would be a catalyst for other educated women to play their role in the national development.

Musharraf is welcomed, but can he win from Chitral?

Report Zar Alam Khan ISLAMABAD, March 24: Dispelling all impressions, former president Pervez Musharraf finally landed in Karachi on Sunday despite mounting threats to his life. As the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has already announced the schedule for the elections, his homecoming has special significance for the future politics of Chitral. ChitralToday (chitraltoday.net) talked to a number of prominent Chitralis belonging to different walks of life to know their impressions about Musharraf’s arrival in the country after about four years and his prospects of winning the elections, if he contests, from Chitral. Prof Dr Inayatullah Faizi: Dr Faizi is an intellectual and well-know writer and author. For the last many decades, he has been writing regularly about Chitral’s culture, traditions and history. He also has a strong grip on national issues and writes daily and weekly columns, called Dad Bedaad, for Peshawar-abased Urdu newspapers. About Musharraf’s contesting elections from Chitral, Dr Faizi said in 2010 former MNA Shahzada Mohiuddin (PML-Q) along with some ex-nazims of Chitral had invited Musharraf to contest elections from Chitral. He said there were three factors in support of Musharraf at that time: Shahzada Mohiuddin, the former nazims and suspension of work on the Lowari Tunnel. Now all the three factors are gone, he added. He said Shahzada Mohiuddin has retired from active politics due to falling health, the ex-nazims have been wooed back by the PPP and their leader Sartaj Ahmed is being given ticket for a provincial assembly seat of Chitral. The third factor due to which the people of Chitral were angry with the PPP-led government has also gone and work on the tunnel is going on in full swing for the last six months. He said if the former president contests the elections from Chitral, he would not be able to get more than 3,000 (three thousand) votes. To win the elections for the National Assembly seat of Chitral (NA-32), one has to bag over 30,000 votes. Nusrat Bhutto won the seat with over 38,000 votes and Mohiuddin reached the assembly in 2008 with 33,000 votes, he added. “If Salim Khan contests for the NA seat, will the people of Garam Chashma vote for Musharraf; if Abdul Akbar contests for the seat, will Jamaat-i-Islami vote for Musharraf; if Saeed Ahmed stands, will the people of his area (Tor Khow) vote for Musharraf,” Dr Faizi asked. Sam Saam Ali Khan Advocate: Sam Saam Ali Khan is a senior lawyer from upper Chitral and is based in Karachi, Back home, he was also active in local government elections. Mr Ali said the people of Chitral respected Musharraf for constructing the Lowari Tunnel. The construction of the Lowari Tunnel has changed the fate of Chitral and the people of the area are indebted to Musharraf. Secondly, he added, Musharraf has been talking very high of the people of Chitral all over the world. Mohamamd Ali Mujahid: Mujahid is the chief editor of Shandur Magazine and has been publishing the weekly for the last over 15 years first from Karachi and now from Peshawar. He said if Musharraf or even his wife contested elections from Chitral, over 70 per cent of the people would vote for him. He said he had been visiting all areas of Chitral and had got the impression that Musharraf was very popular among the Chitralis. People of Chitral never forgot the services of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and have been voting for his family for the last so many decades. Musharraf has also done great favours for the people of this backward valley, so there is no question that the people of Chitral would forget his services. They would vote for him in complete disregard to their party affiliations. In reply to a question, he said as a former president and ex-chief of the army staff Musharraf would still be in a better position to serve the area. He said that political parties had failed to deliver and this can be judged from the performance of the elected representatives during the last five years. Maulana Mohammad Ashraf said it did not auger well for a former president of Pakistan to contest election for a single NA seat in Chitral. He said Musharraf has no political future as he has no political party to play an active and sustainable role in politics. Rehmat Ali Jaffar Dost: Dost is an active social worker from Booni and has been working for environment protection for the last many years. He is also a very popular and non-controversial figure of Chitral. He said he keeps on visiting and meeting the people in the whole valley of Chitral and outside as well round the year. He said Musharraf is the biggest benefactor of Chitral and people, especially women of the valley, have welcomed Musharraf’s return to the country. He said if Musharraf contested the elections from NA 32, the securities of his rivals would be forfeited. Retired Subedar Sarfaraz Shah said it would be premature to talk about Musharraf’s winning the elections. He said the KPK government would never give security clearance for the former president’s entry into the Malakand division, so his contesting the polls was out of question. M. Ghaffar Khan, a Chitrali working in Islamabad, said I have never voted in the past but if Musharraf comes, I will go and vote for him. He said local politicians had done nothing for the working class. We suffered a lot while coming to Islamabad and going back. Now the construction of the tunnel has resolved our big issue, he added. Didarul Mulk, Ahmed, Mir Dullah Khan and Meraj Wali said they would also vote for Musharraf along with their families.

chitraltoday.net: Court orders arrest of markhor poachers in Chitral

PESHAWAR, March 12: District administration and police officials from Chitral on Tuesday appeared before Peshawar High Court in the suo motu hearing of the poaching of a markhor and said they were unable to arrest the poachers. On Feb 27, a two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Dost Mohammad Khan and Justice Mrs Irshad Qaiser had directed the district administration and the police to arrest the poachers. The court had also summoned the chief conservator of the province. On Tuesday, the same bench of the court gave the deadline of April 10 to the officials to arrest the poachers otherwise it said the officers would be held responsible and proceeded against under the law. Additional Advocate General Obaid Razak and the chief conservator wildlife informed the court that the registration of the double cabin Datsun (GLT-5512) in which the poachers had escaped was actually allotted to a truck in Gilgit-Baltistan. The judges asked the officials that if they were unable to arrest the culprits because of their influence they should tell their names to the bench. It may be recalled that in a report published in chitraltoday.net on Feb 18, it was reported that five unknown persons driving a red double-cabin Datsun (GLT-5512) were caught red-handed by the forest staff after they hunted the markhor in Birmoghlast near Chitral. But the poachers escaped with the booty, threatening the forest officials of dire consequences. However, during the brawl the forest officials snatched a piece of leg, head of the animal and hide from the poachers. Despite registration of a case with the local police, the culprits, however, remain un-traced. People of the area are surprised why someone could so openly hunt the animal and remained untraced. So far it is also not known whose property this mysterious Datsun bearing GLT 5512 registration plate was. Is it difficult to trace the owner of the vehicle in an area like Chitral? It shows the incompetency of the police and the wildlife department officials. Many people say they are hand in glove with the poachers. The suo motu action by the PHC chief Justice is a welcomed news to discourage such elements and bring all those to justice who have been plundering with the resources of Chitral with impunity.

Chitral Today relaunched as chitraltoday.net

Chitral Today has been redesigned and launched as chitraltoday.net. Comments, letters, messages and write-ups can now be sent directly and are published within minutes.

Community schoolteachers without salaries for one year

CHITRAL: A large number of basic education community schools (BECS) have been opened in Chitral under the National Education Foundation (NEF). They are imparting basic education to both male and female students from nursery to class 5. These BEC schools were established in 1999 with the purpose to educate adults as well as children to increase literacy ratio. Students of six classes were accommodated in a single rented room which was often without fan, drinking water, toilet, desk, furniture and other basic facilities. Only one female teacher has been posted in each school to teach students from nursery to class 5e. The teachers were first paid rupees 2,000 salary and then it was increased to Rs5,000. However, since 2005 the teachers salaries were not increased. And since October 2010, this monthly honorarium of the teachers has also been stopped and the teachers are working without any pay since then. A teacher, Gul Amina, of Aryan village in southern Chitral, told this scribe that she was teaching more than 40 students in one rented room but her salary had been stopped for the last one year. A student of class 5th, Ayisha said she was very much fond of education and wanted to become a doctor but she along with other students was facing numerous problems. There is no desk, no toilet, no drinking water, no fan, no light and no other facilities. The teachers have appealed to the president, prime minister as well as donor agencies to release the pending salaries of these teachers and provide all basic facilities to the schools.—GH Farooqui

Across the border incursions and atrocity

By Aliya Harir

ALBAMA (USA): Chitral has remained an area of peace, love and affection for Afghan refugees for over 30 years. Half million people of this part of the country opened their houses for over two million Afghan refugees and accommodated them just like their own brothers and sisters.

Many of the present Afghan leadership have born, grown and educated in Chitral. Our ancestors used to tell us that Afghan people have special respect for Chitrali people for the hospitality we extended to them during their stay in Pakistan.

The recent attack on the innocent Chitral Scouts, Chitral Police, Border Police posts and the civilian population of Chitral is a matter of serious concern for the humanity lovers, especially for the youth of Chitral. Over 60 people have been killed and many dead bodies of the slain security personnel have been thrown into the roaring river of Chitral which is a clear sign of shameful barbarism and naked aggression from the guests to their host families of Chitral.

The youth of Chitral is asking from their ancestors, is this the reward of our hospitality to Afghan brothers and sisters? Is this the message of Islam during the holy month of Ramadan?

I am sure this is not the act of Afghan brothers and sisters as they might have been exploited with the name of Jihad and if this is Jihad, it should be against aggression and not peaceful people of Chitral. I am sure Afghan people will hand over those elements to Pakistan and maintain our mutual trust and confidence without playing in the hands of outside forces.

May I wish to draw the attention of the Chitral Scouts, District Administration, Chitral Police as how they were prepared to cope with the raising security threats in the area? Why the forces are not trained to meet with such a situation? Why they were not equipped? Considering the past performance of Pakistani forces in many cases including GHQ Attack, Abbottabad operation, Karachi Naval Base attack, we have failed to find a solution to the persistent problems.

May I also ask NATO and Afghan National Army how they were not aware about the mounting foreign Taliban activities from their territory?

According to the ISPR, intelligence information was shared by Pakistan with the Afghan government and NATO about presence of terrorists in Kunar and Nuristan provinces and their local Afghan support network. Why action was not taken and why the information was ignored? If there were intelligence information available with Pakistani authorities, why Chitral Scouts and district administration failed to adapt preventive security measures?

Who will be held responsible for the loss of 60 precious lives of Chitralis? The reports of an unusual movement of NATO helicopters across the border in Kunar province during the attacks in the area, as reported by media, need to be answered.

I wish to appeal to United State of America to look into this continue aggression of Taliban from a cross the border into Chitral, which is historically a peaceful land in Pakistan.

Being a Chitrali daughter, I wish to appeal to our local leadership to learn lesson from our recent history and prepare our security personnel well trained and well equipped to cope with emerging security threats in our area to maintain the peaceful environment of Chitral. This part of the country is strategically of high importance for the security of Pakistan. We expect from the high-ups of the Armed Forces for establishment of permanent security posts of Pakistan Army, supported Pakistan Air Force in the southern and the western borders of Chitral, especially Nuristan and Kunar valley to counter any aggression into Chitral.

I wish to appeal to the Chief of International Human Rights Commission to take up the matter at appropriate level so the precious blood of Chitrali should not be wasted.

At last but not the least, we the students community in United States condemns in strongest possible term indiscriminate act of terror in Chitral. Our deepest sympathy is expressed at the death and suffering caused to the families and loved ones who have been the victims of this terrible atrocity. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. The evil people who planned and executed this attack on our beautiful and peaceful land to demoralize and divide Pakistan and Afghan brothers and sisters across the border will not be successful. It is vital that we stand together shoulder to shoulder and remain united in face of this evil terror and in this moment of crises.

The good race relations and bridges we have built over many years can only grow in strength and these evil deeds make victims of us all. Our humanity and our diverse community will grow stronger to oppose and overcome those who spread fear, hatred, divisions and death.

Furthermore, on the basis of humanity we also strongly condemn all other forms of terrorism in any form or shape throughout the world, as those could well be the direct result of such criminal attacks in our country.

Our unity and determination to overcome these crises as many others will show those who committed this heinous and cowardly act and those who wish to use this type of acts to incite religious and racial hatred that it will not divide us.



The writer is Goodwill Ambassador on US-Pakistan Relations, International Human Rights Commission.

Martyres' names: more bodies recovered from river?

Chitral Today Report

CHITRAL, Aug 27, 2011: More shocking but unconfirmed reports on Saturday night said 16 more bodies of Chitral Scouts personnel martyred and thrown into the Chitral River by the savage Taliban have been recovered near Arandu and there are fears that the number of casualties will further increase.

The whole valley of Chitral and Chitralis living all over the world are shocked over the barbaric killing of the Chitral Scouts and police personnel by the Taliban criminals and thugs. In this hour of tragedy for Chitral, some people instead of openly condemning the blood-thirsty Taliban have started to claim that the attackers were NATO forces deployed in Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, according to chitraltoday.com report, the names of the Chitral Scouts and border police personnel who embraced martyrdom and whose bodies were taken to Drosh are as follows:

Subedar Niat Ghazi of Brep, Subedar Younis of Barenis, Naik Manzoor Elahi, Bakrabad; Sepoy Sheli Khan, Kesu; Hav Jalaluddin, Terich; Sepoy Ziaul Mulk, Shishi; Sepoy Hazrat Omer, Ashret; Sepoy Hashim Panah, Jinalikoch; Mohammad Shoib, Nasirul Mominin, (villages still unknown); Sepoy Rehmat Taib, Mastuj; Bashir Ahmed, Salahuddin, Sarir Ahmed, Qari Azam, M. Aslam, Sep Ameen Zafar, Ayun; Lance Naik Rehmat Nazir, Mulkhow; Sepoy Ali Hyder, Mulkhow; Zafar Khan, Hav Bajgi Khan of Bang, Nazir Ahmed, Sepoy Hazratullah, Koghuzi; Sepoy Tariq Mehmood, Muzgol; and Sher Akbar.

POLICEMEN: Jannat Gul, Sharrafuddin and Sarir Rehmat.

Border Police: M. Azam, Zahmi, Sub Karim, M. Yamin, Sultanuddin, M. Iqbal, Naib Sub Pokhtun Wali and Anwarul Haq.

Missing: Nazir and Tariq Jalal.

Attackers linked to Fazlullah and Maulvi Faqir groups: ISPR

RAWALPINDI, Aug 27, 2011: At least 25 security forces personnel embraced martyrdom when some 300 terrorists from across the border in the Aghan provinces of Kunar and Nooristan attacked seven checkposts of Frontier Constabulary (FC) in Chitral early Saturday morning.

According to ISPR, the martyred personnel included 16 Frontier Scouts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, four policemen and five Levies.

The security personnel defended the posts by engaging the attackers and reportedly 20 terrorists were killed. However, two border posts were overrun by the terrorists. Reinforcements had been sent to beef up the border posts.

Reportedly terrorists from Swat, Dir and Bajur organized by Fazlullah and Maulvi Faqir Mohammad with local Afghans attacked the security forces posts in Chitral.

Since their expulsion from their native areas, the terrorists have organized themselves in Kunar and Nooristan provinces with the support of local Afghan authorities.

Due to scanty presence of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) and ANA (Afghan National Army) forces along Pak-Afghan border, the terrorists are using these areas as safe havens and have mounted repeated attacks against security forces posts and isolated villages of Pakistan.

It is pertinent to mention that since last one year accurate intelligence about large concentration of terrorists from Pakistan and their local Afghan supporters in Kunar and Nooristan provinces has been shared with NATO and Afghan authorities but no worthwhile action has been taken against them and attacks against Pakistani border posts have continued with impunity.--APP

Chitral under attack

CHITRAL, Aug 27, 2011: Around 400 Taliban from Afghanistan’s Nooristan province infiltrated into Chitral and eliminated three checkposts in Arandu and Mirkhani areas, killing about 16 Chitral Scouts and 10 border policemen early Saturday.

Besides, over a dozen security personnel were also kidnapped by the fleeing Taliban militants.

The Chitral Scouts sources said 12 personnel of the force were martyred while the district coordination officer of Chitral put the figure at 15. Officials said nine of the attackers were also killed by the Chitral Scouts.

The militants targeted the checkposts in Kahuti after destroying the Kahuti bridge and targetted the Mirkhani, Parashut, Langorbut and Gudibar posts of the Scouts. In all, four bridges over the Chitral river were destroyed by the Taliban attackers. Some reports said that the bridges were blown up by the security forces themseves to stop the militants from fleeing back to Afghanistan.

The sources in Chitral Scouts said that they had called reinforcement and planned to launch an operation against the Afghan criminals and thugs who were still present in the hilly areas. As a result, traffic from and to Chitral town remained suspended and people living in the targetted and nearby areas are confined to their houses.

They said the situation in the area was very tense and exact figure about the dead and injured could not be ascertained. According to latest reports, the Scouts were carrying out operation using helicopters to flush out the remaining militants in the areas.

The identities of the martyred Scouts and border police personnel could not be ascertained.

Govt warned against auctioning of Chitral's mineral sites

By Zar Alam Khan

ISLAMABAD, Aug 18, 2011: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s plan to auction sites for mineral exploration in Chitral without guaranteeing the local people’s rights and bypassing the native miners has drawn widespread criticism and opposition in the valley.
Talking to Dawn on telephone from Chitral, Col Sardar Mohammad Khan, a representative of Chitrali miners, said the plan to auction the sites spread over 50 per cent area of the district would deprive the local miners of their rights because they would not be able to compete in the bidding with resourceful companies belonging to other parts of the country.
The sites being put up for auction were earlier vacated after cancellation of mining licences issued to one of the two Pakistani firms registered in Australia and US, as it failed to carry out any exploration even after lapse of eight years.
The local miners’ representative said there was already a sustainable and practical model of mining in Chitral under which leases were awarded to the locals who then teamed up with Chinese and Korean parties to run successful operations. Besides protection of both the stakeholders’ rights, this model also ensured steady revenue and cash streams for the government.
He alleged that it seemed the bureaucracy wanted to adopt short-cuts to achieve their own objectives at the cost of long-term investment stability, unimpeded sustainability of operations and socio-economic development of the locals.
The Chinese and Koreans are approaching Chitral-based parties as they learned bitter lessons in Balochistan where similar misguided policies pursued by successive governments ignored local stakeholders which backfired, forcing he investors to leave the area, he added.
He appealed to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Mines, Minerals and Industries Mehmood Zeb Khan to cancel the auction plan to ensure the rights of the locals and avoid unrest among the people.

Bid to deprive Chitral of its mineral resources

CHITRAL: President Chitral Miners Association Col (rtd) Sardar who has also been designated as Member Mining Committee by All Parties Chitral including PPP, PPP Sherpao, JI, JUI, ANP, PMLQ and PML-N through a press conference on 9th August appealed to the KP Minister of Mines Mehmoodzeb Khan to cancel the plan of auctioning Chitral’s mines a move that is fraught with unforeseen dangers.
It is implausible that 40% of Chitral is being put under the hammer after an earlier cancellation of exploration licenses of two bogus Pakistan origin firms registered in Australia and the US. After lapse of eight inactive years with no exploration and not a single penny invested by companies such as Central Exchange a new game plan is being devised by DG Mines to auction thousands of square kilometers of Chitral to outside parties at the expense of locals. The move is both unprecedented and mind boggling. By nature, Chitral's mineral deposits are fragmented and exist in small pockets and are not the world class types as is the case with Baluchistan or Waziristan. The self styled investment savvy bureaucrats seem to overlook the mess the “highest bidder gets all policy” will create in an otherwise peaceful area. Instead of redressing local grievances another conspiracy is being hatched to push local residents to the wall.
If the true motive behind the DG Mines' auction plan was to attract foreign investment or earning revenues for the government, then, an excellent and most practical and sustainable model already exists in Chitral where local Lease Holders have teamed up with several Chinese and Korean parties who are running successful operations there. Besides protection of both the stakeholders’ rights, this model also ensures steady revenue and cash streams for the government. This indeed is the only sure fire guarantee that the foreign parties are themselves actively encouraging to strengthen local stakes as a safety valve before arriving at an investment decision in Chitral.
It appears a holistic approach involving long term investment stability, unimpeded sustainability of operations and socio economic cohesion are not a priority for those at the helm of affairs at faraway Peshawar as they pay scant attention to the grey areas of investment. Their callous emphasis is on short cuts where an auction leads to the highest bidder collecting the booty but that policy is silent on the need for long term continuity considered a prerequisite for success the world over. Local rights denied will lead to further disillusionment of Chitralis and create a tsunami that will wipe out any traces of the shortsighted day dreamers and would-be outside investors. Long term and inclusive economic stability is being sacrificed for short term exclusive gains and an otherwise peaceful people are being instigated to resort to violence.
Smart Chinese and Koreans are eagerly approaching Chitral based parties as they learned bitter lessons in Baluchistan where misguided policies pursued by successive governments ignored local stakeholders which backfired and forced investors to run for their lives and flee. Accounting for 20% of KP's landmass and guaranteeing unparalled peace, Chitral also remains a crucial test case for the provincial government's policy of attracting investment. After a decade of lost opportunities, the new game plan calls for auctioning the areas to the highest bidders under the pretext of the open competition when local miners have already applied in the same areas. One hopes that the ill advised policy makers stop the cruel joke with the locals by pushing remote Chitral to a point of no return.
If mishandled, this could become a major flash point pitting Chitral's residents against the vested interests eying a share of the its mineral pie while sitting faraway in cozy drawing rooms of Peshawar. Proactive handling by the KP Minister of Mines can amicably resolve this issue that is fast spiraling out of control as politicians from all shades of opinion in Chitral have joined common cause to defend locals’ rights.—Zar Alam Khan

Funds for Lowari Tunnel soon: MNA

Zar Alam Khan

ISLAMABAD, Aug 3: MNA from Chitral Shahzada Mohiuddin on Wednesday said construction work on the Lowari Tunnel in Chitral would restart soon.
Talking to Dawn here, the MNA said he had conveyed the resentment of the people of Chitral over the suspension of work on the mega project to Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani who assured him that the required funds would be released to the executing company soon.
According to the latest estimate of the National Highway Authority (NHA); Rs17 billion would be needed to expand the width of the eight-km-long tunnel from the current 11 feet to 23 feet and construct roads on its both northern and southern portals. These modifications are being made after the project design was changed from rail to road tunnel.
The MNA said the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) in its next meeting would approve the funds for completion of the project without further delay.
It may be noted that work on the tunnel connecting Chitral with other parts of the country was inaugurated by former President Pervez Musharraf in July 2005 and the project was to be completed in four years.
The contractor, Korean Sambu Company, after completing the digging work, however, withdrew its staff and machinery from the site as the PPP government stopped funding for the project about two years back.

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

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)

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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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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

Ayun residents warn govt over forest royalty

CHITRAL, May 26, 2011: The residents of Ayun here warned the government that in case of any further delay in payment of forest royalty to them by the harvesting contractors, they will block the road to stop timber transportation from Chitral to Chakdara depot.

In a meeting held here, the villagers expressed their anguish over the inordinate delay in the clearance of royalty allegedly by the contractors Mohammad Khan and Shahzada Parvez.

They said according to rules, the contractors of Forest Development Corporation should readily pay the royalty to the locals after marking of the forest of Gol, Bumburate, for harvesting.

The villagers said the contractors had transported millions of cubic feet of timber from the area, but they were still hesitant to pay the locals their due right as given in the Gazette Notification of 1975.

They also alleged that the contractors had indulged in excessive cutting of forests beyond the marking limits and said that flash flood in the area last year were mainly due to the denuding forests. They asked the provincial government to stop the merciless cutting of trees.--Zahiruddin



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