I would like to draw the attention of the Interior Ministry authorities towards the closure of computerised passport office in Kanju, Swat, due to military action since October, 2007. The then Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao had ordered to open a computerised passport office in Chitral and Gilgit to issue machine-readable passports. Both the offices were opened in November 2007. Despite spending huge money on the office and its staff the passport office in Chitral has not started functioning as yet. Sources privy to the Assistant Director NADRA passport office Chitral disclosed that the office will not start functioning until formal inauguration by the "boss" and we don't know who is the boss? And it is due to this negligence that hundreds of thousands of applicants for computerised passport are facing severe hardships. Therefore, it is requested that passport office Chitral may be made operational without formal inauguration because the "formal inauguration" was not the purpose of setting up this office 10 months ago.
Bashir Hussain Azad,
Chitral.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
MPA seeks more uplift funds for Mastuj area
MPA seeks more funds for Mastuj area
PESHAWAR: Member of the NWFP Assembly from Chitral Ghulam Mohammad on Tuesday urged the provincial government to initiate uplift schemes in his underdeveloped constituency to bring it at a par with developed areas of the country.
“The people of Chitral expect the provincial government will launch massive uplift schemes in the area which is far behind in communication, health and education sectors,” the MPA elected on Pakistan Muslim League- Q ticket from PF-90 Chitral-11 said.
The MPA said the constituency from where he was elected to the NWFP Assembly spread over 8,500 square kilometers and the people were facing tremendous problems due to dilapidated conditions of roads.
“Only 52-kilometer road is metalled in the areas spreading over 8,500 square kilometers,” the MPA said. Likewise, lack of teaching staff in the existing government schools and medical staff in the health centers was also a big issue of the area, where the students and patients have to cover a long distance to reach their schools and hospital. He said there were school buildings but no teachers while the existing basic health units (BHUs), rural health centers (RHCs) and other hospitals in the district sans required staff. “There are only two doctors working in the 34-bedded Booni Hospital against the 11 sanctioned post of medical officers,” the legislator said.
NWFP Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti has pledged to allocate extra fund for his constituency to improve communication system, he said despite in opposition I had supported the provincial government in passing the annual budget.
Ghulam Mohammad, who had been in active politics since 1986, said Chitral, is the most peaceful district of the province that had great potential of tourism and hydel power generation.
“If small dams and power generation houses are built in Yarkhun, Terich and Laspur valleys, Pakistan will be in a position to export electricity to the neighbouring countries,” the MPA claimed.
Ghulam Muhammad said the construction of Lowari Tunnel would not only permanently link Chitral with rest of the country but also help boost the economy of the district and province as well.
The MPA demanded of the government to metal the road from Mastuj to Lasht to further promote tourism in the area. “The development of roads in the area is crucial due to security reason in the fast changing geo-strategic situation,” the MPA added.
PESHAWAR: Member of the NWFP Assembly from Chitral Ghulam Mohammad on Tuesday urged the provincial government to initiate uplift schemes in his underdeveloped constituency to bring it at a par with developed areas of the country.
“The people of Chitral expect the provincial government will launch massive uplift schemes in the area which is far behind in communication, health and education sectors,” the MPA elected on Pakistan Muslim League- Q ticket from PF-90 Chitral-11 said.
The MPA said the constituency from where he was elected to the NWFP Assembly spread over 8,500 square kilometers and the people were facing tremendous problems due to dilapidated conditions of roads.
“Only 52-kilometer road is metalled in the areas spreading over 8,500 square kilometers,” the MPA said. Likewise, lack of teaching staff in the existing government schools and medical staff in the health centers was also a big issue of the area, where the students and patients have to cover a long distance to reach their schools and hospital. He said there were school buildings but no teachers while the existing basic health units (BHUs), rural health centers (RHCs) and other hospitals in the district sans required staff. “There are only two doctors working in the 34-bedded Booni Hospital against the 11 sanctioned post of medical officers,” the legislator said.
NWFP Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti has pledged to allocate extra fund for his constituency to improve communication system, he said despite in opposition I had supported the provincial government in passing the annual budget.
Ghulam Mohammad, who had been in active politics since 1986, said Chitral, is the most peaceful district of the province that had great potential of tourism and hydel power generation.
“If small dams and power generation houses are built in Yarkhun, Terich and Laspur valleys, Pakistan will be in a position to export electricity to the neighbouring countries,” the MPA claimed.
Ghulam Muhammad said the construction of Lowari Tunnel would not only permanently link Chitral with rest of the country but also help boost the economy of the district and province as well.
The MPA demanded of the government to metal the road from Mastuj to Lasht to further promote tourism in the area. “The development of roads in the area is crucial due to security reason in the fast changing geo-strategic situation,” the MPA added.
Public library still a far cry in Chitral
Report Zahiruddin, Chitral
Due to unavailability of land, the scheme of construction of a public library in the city was shifted to some other area, sources claimed here on Wednesday.
The provincial Department of Archives And Library had included it in the development plan during the last days of the former MMA government in the NWFP. The district government had to provide a piece of land, free of cost, as no provision was there for purchasing land.
According to the sources, the library department had approached the district nazim Chitral who requested to the revenue department to provide a piece of land near the DCO offices but it was reportedly turned down by the authorities without any reason.
“The district government failed to provide land to the department and the project was shelved or shifted to some other district where land was made available,” a source said.
The proposed library was designed on modern lines providing maximum facilities to students, children, women and general public having separate sections. The proposed multi-storied and magnificent proposed building of the library had also the facilities of computers and internet, the sources said.
Meanwhile, residents of Chitral have expressed anguish over the reported shelving of the project and said that the city had no public library which was a great dilemma for knowledge seekers.
They said that the facility was the longstanding demand of locals particularly students and the previous government had fulfilled the dream. They said that the state-owned land in front of the newly constructed Women Hospital should be provided for the purpose while the adjacent residential quarters of the British era, which were in ramshackle condition, must also be used for the proposed library.
Due to unavailability of land, the scheme of construction of a public library in the city was shifted to some other area, sources claimed here on Wednesday.
The provincial Department of Archives And Library had included it in the development plan during the last days of the former MMA government in the NWFP. The district government had to provide a piece of land, free of cost, as no provision was there for purchasing land.
According to the sources, the library department had approached the district nazim Chitral who requested to the revenue department to provide a piece of land near the DCO offices but it was reportedly turned down by the authorities without any reason.
“The district government failed to provide land to the department and the project was shelved or shifted to some other district where land was made available,” a source said.
The proposed library was designed on modern lines providing maximum facilities to students, children, women and general public having separate sections. The proposed multi-storied and magnificent proposed building of the library had also the facilities of computers and internet, the sources said.
Meanwhile, residents of Chitral have expressed anguish over the reported shelving of the project and said that the city had no public library which was a great dilemma for knowledge seekers.
They said that the facility was the longstanding demand of locals particularly students and the previous government had fulfilled the dream. They said that the state-owned land in front of the newly constructed Women Hospital should be provided for the purpose while the adjacent residential quarters of the British era, which were in ramshackle condition, must also be used for the proposed library.
Chitral farmers provided incentives
CHITRAL: The Strengthening of Livestock Project (SLSP) has provided tremendous incentives to local farmers to improve their livelihood by introducing scientific methods in the livestock sector.
Talking to this correspondent here on Tuesday, Director SLSP Dr Fazli Ghaffar said the European Union-funded project was launched few years ago which was meant to strengthen the livestock department to extend and improve its services.
He said that people keep sheep in many areas of the district including Garam Chashma, Kalash valley and upper Chitral, and the processing of wool was a problem for them while the project had solved it by setting up a wool processing unit in Garam Chashma. The superb quality of wool was purchased by mill owners from down districts on ‘exploitative’ rate of about Rs80 per kilogram in its raw form, he said.
“Now the processed and carded wool will be sold at price as high as Rs700 per kilogram and this will change the very destiny of the farmers,” he said and added that this would also encourage the farmers to raise more sheep and this would further promote cottage industry in the area.
Dr Ghaffar said that seeds of improved Australian sheep were also provided to farmers by the organisation to multiply the race. He said that 2,600 chicken of Irish breed were distributed among women farmers who would distribute the eggs to other farmers to proliferate the race.
He said that 31 veterinary assistants of the department were provided with motorcycles in the district to ensure their availability to the farmers at their doorstops when needed. He said that it was not possible for the field staff to reach the farmers due to the fact that the district was sparsely populated.
Instruments of different nature were also provided to the department to help it to cure the ailing livestock which the department was short of, he said. The community participatory approach was also being used by the project as the farmers had been organised under shepherd organisations at village level.
The farmers of these organisations were sent to the agricultural institutes outside the district to impart them extensive training on livestock keeping while many persons would also be sent to an institute in Sargodha to receive training on operating the machinery of wool processing unit, he added.--Zahiruddin
Talking to this correspondent here on Tuesday, Director SLSP Dr Fazli Ghaffar said the European Union-funded project was launched few years ago which was meant to strengthen the livestock department to extend and improve its services.
He said that people keep sheep in many areas of the district including Garam Chashma, Kalash valley and upper Chitral, and the processing of wool was a problem for them while the project had solved it by setting up a wool processing unit in Garam Chashma. The superb quality of wool was purchased by mill owners from down districts on ‘exploitative’ rate of about Rs80 per kilogram in its raw form, he said.
“Now the processed and carded wool will be sold at price as high as Rs700 per kilogram and this will change the very destiny of the farmers,” he said and added that this would also encourage the farmers to raise more sheep and this would further promote cottage industry in the area.
Dr Ghaffar said that seeds of improved Australian sheep were also provided to farmers by the organisation to multiply the race. He said that 2,600 chicken of Irish breed were distributed among women farmers who would distribute the eggs to other farmers to proliferate the race.
He said that 31 veterinary assistants of the department were provided with motorcycles in the district to ensure their availability to the farmers at their doorstops when needed. He said that it was not possible for the field staff to reach the farmers due to the fact that the district was sparsely populated.
Instruments of different nature were also provided to the department to help it to cure the ailing livestock which the department was short of, he said. The community participatory approach was also being used by the project as the farmers had been organised under shepherd organisations at village level.
The farmers of these organisations were sent to the agricultural institutes outside the district to impart them extensive training on livestock keeping while many persons would also be sent to an institute in Sargodha to receive training on operating the machinery of wool processing unit, he added.--Zahiruddin
PPP Chitral congratulates Zardari
Report Zahiruddin, Chitral
The activists of the PPP held a meeting on the occasion of swearing in of President Asif Ali Zardari here on Tuesday.
Divisional information secretary of the party Iqbal Hayat, district general-secretary Mohammad Hakim and others said on the occasion that with the election of Mr Zardari, real democracy had returned to the country.
They said that the poor people across the country had pinned their hopes on the president “who had the capability of fulfilling their dreams into reality by fighting poverty which is the mission of Z. A. Bhutto”.
Meanwhile, the convener of Chitral Dost Muttahida Movement, Haji Sardar Mohammad Khan, has congratulated Mr Zardari on his election as president of the country.
In a press statement issued here on Tuesday, he expressed the hope that the newly-elected president would ensure reinstatement of the constitution in its original form and would restore the deposed judges. He said the president should face the challenge of terrorism without hurting national interests.
The activists of the PPP held a meeting on the occasion of swearing in of President Asif Ali Zardari here on Tuesday.
Divisional information secretary of the party Iqbal Hayat, district general-secretary Mohammad Hakim and others said on the occasion that with the election of Mr Zardari, real democracy had returned to the country.
They said that the poor people across the country had pinned their hopes on the president “who had the capability of fulfilling their dreams into reality by fighting poverty which is the mission of Z. A. Bhutto”.
Meanwhile, the convener of Chitral Dost Muttahida Movement, Haji Sardar Mohammad Khan, has congratulated Mr Zardari on his election as president of the country.
In a press statement issued here on Tuesday, he expressed the hope that the newly-elected president would ensure reinstatement of the constitution in its original form and would restore the deposed judges. He said the president should face the challenge of terrorism without hurting national interests.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Five-day Jashn-i-Chitral from Oct 11
PESHAWAR, Sept 8: NWFP Minister for Sports, Culture and Tourism Syed Aqil Shah has said Jashn-i-Chitral will be held with traditional zeal and enthusiasm from October 11 to October 15 wherein besides arranging programmes of tourists' interest like tug of war, folk music, poetry, traditional Chitrali dance and adventure tourism events, Chitral Youth Football Mela will also be held.
He expressed these views while presiding over a review meeting regarding arrangements for Jashn-i-Chitral 2008 at Peshawar on Monday.
Besides others, Secretary Sports NWFP Sahibzada Fazle Amin, Director General Sports Iltaf Umerzai, GM STC Mushtaq Khan and Chairman CAMAT Sirajul Mulk attended the meeting.
Syed Aqil Shah said for successful holding of the festival, arrangements should be started immediately.
He said on the last day of Jashn-i-Chitral, NWFP Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti would witness the final of Chitral Youth Football Mela as chief guest and distribute prizes among the players.
General Manager STC Mushtaq Khan informed the meeting that STC would introduce new track at Kalash valley as well as trout fishing competition for tourists on the occasion while through proper projection it could become the second biggest touristi event of NWFP after Shandur Mela.
An organizing committee under the chairmanship of Secretary Tourism was formed with Muhammad Ali Shah as its secretary , while GM STC, Director General Sports, a representative of NWFP Sports Department, two representatives of STC have been included in the sub-committee.
Syed Aqil Shah directed the Secretary Tourism and organizing secretary of the committee to present a detailed progamme about the festival within a week. The minister said the age of players wishing to participate in the Mela should not exceed 25 years.
He said NWFP Football Association would provide technical backup on the occasion of football mela. He said in future the property of STC would be given on lease for a longer period as in past the lease time of three years had proved harmful for the property.--APP
He expressed these views while presiding over a review meeting regarding arrangements for Jashn-i-Chitral 2008 at Peshawar on Monday.
Besides others, Secretary Sports NWFP Sahibzada Fazle Amin, Director General Sports Iltaf Umerzai, GM STC Mushtaq Khan and Chairman CAMAT Sirajul Mulk attended the meeting.
Syed Aqil Shah said for successful holding of the festival, arrangements should be started immediately.
He said on the last day of Jashn-i-Chitral, NWFP Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti would witness the final of Chitral Youth Football Mela as chief guest and distribute prizes among the players.
General Manager STC Mushtaq Khan informed the meeting that STC would introduce new track at Kalash valley as well as trout fishing competition for tourists on the occasion while through proper projection it could become the second biggest touristi event of NWFP after Shandur Mela.
An organizing committee under the chairmanship of Secretary Tourism was formed with Muhammad Ali Shah as its secretary , while GM STC, Director General Sports, a representative of NWFP Sports Department, two representatives of STC have been included in the sub-committee.
Syed Aqil Shah directed the Secretary Tourism and organizing secretary of the committee to present a detailed progamme about the festival within a week. The minister said the age of players wishing to participate in the Mela should not exceed 25 years.
He said NWFP Football Association would provide technical backup on the occasion of football mela. He said in future the property of STC would be given on lease for a longer period as in past the lease time of three years had proved harmful for the property.--APP
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Awesome and rugged
Beauty of Chitral
Kishmanja, a beautiful village in Yarkhun valley
Lush green
DIZG: threatened by floods
The legendary village of Ayun in Chitral
On way to Bumburet
Dizg, Yarkhun
About Me
- Zar Alam Khan Razakhel
- 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.