By Sarfraz Ali
The Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC) has urged Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to pursue the Child Protection Bill on urgent matter National Child Protection Policy and enactment of the Protection of Children (Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill 2009 and the National Commission on the Rights of Children Bill 2009 to protect and promote the rights of children across Pakistan.
Through a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, the SPARC said that the Policy and Bills have been placed before the Federal Cabinet for approval in October 2009 however; the Cabinet directed the Ministry of Social Welfare and Special Education to refer the drafts to the Council of Islamic Ideology and government is coalition partners.
This is causing unnecessary delay in the adoption and approval of this long awaited policy and legislation about children.
Pakistan is a party to the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), and to the core ILO Conventions No. 100, 138, 182 and 111.
Pakistan is also a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Convention against Torture (CAT), Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and to the two optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on Child Pornography, Sale and Trafficking of Children.
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) was adopted by UN General Assembly in 1989 and the same was ratified by Pakistan in 1990. Pakistan also signed two of its Optional Protocols in 2008. It has been 19 years since Pakistan signed and ratified many of these international instruments and yet it has not brought its national laws in conformity with them. Even after the lapse of almost 19 years, the Government has failed to bring Pakistani laws in conformity with it.
In the letter SPARC demanded to take proactive action by taking personal interest in banning child domestic labour and expediting the process for the approval and enactment of the National Child Protection Policy and Bills to ensure protection of children from all forms of exploitation, violence and abuse in the society.
Moreover, SPARC is concerned over the growing incidence of violence against children in the country. Latest being the brutal murder of a domestic child servant Shazia Masih, in Lahore, by her employers.
This and an increasing number of such incidents appearing in the local newspapers and electronic media compel us to think even more seriously about the child protection issues.
SPARC expresses strong concern over the lack of accountability in this regard.
In letter SPARC also demanded to direct the Ministry of Labour and Industries to enforce a ban on child domestic labour by adding it to the schedule of banned occupations under the Employment of Children Act 1991 through a notification in official Gazette and immediately call a meeting of the National Committee on the Rights of the Child established in 2000 under section 5 of the said law to look into the emerging issues in child labour and effective implementation of the law.
(The writer is staff member of Daily 'The Nation')
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Environmental degradation : Karachi sinking in its own waste
The environmental degradation and humiliation in ghetto areas and other parts of the metropolis was contemplated as the great concern for the artists who exhibited their self-made illustrations and short documentaries of devastating ecological conditions in 'Mai Kolachi' site at the exhibition of seminal art on ecology held on Saturday evening at Karachi Arts Council hosted by NuktaArt Magazine, visiting Arts UK and AICA Pakistan.
It was the first exhibition of its kind in Pakistan that extensively focused on the ecology of Karachi attended by several students, art lovers, environmental experts and other progressive figures of the society.
Nukta Art for its project 'One Mile Square' invited the four visual artists from Karachi including Arif Mahmood, Adeel-uz-Zafar, Faraz Abdul Mateen and Nameera Ahmed in an attempt to engage them with issues that pertain to human and environmental context within the coastal belt. Participant artists displayed their artistic work and documentaries pertaining to different ecological issues resulting its rapid devastation.
The devastated conditions of mangroves, discharging of solid water resulting contaminated water, loss of biodiversity, severe health hazards for the nearby residing people and the entire dilapidated condition of the Mai Kolachi site was radiantly depicted at the event in form of art pictures, while the destruction of natural habitats and other loss of biodiversity in various outskirts areas of the metropolis were screened on small projectors that bagged the attention of visitors.
Exhibition was aimed to create cognizance among the viewers to make them realize their ethical responsibility towards environment and become a focal figure in reshaping and betterment of ecological conditions in the city as well as the entire country.
Mai Kolachi is today a barren wasteland exposed to devastating ecological and urban degrdation, linking the localities of Sultanabad and Hijrat colonyon one side, and chinna creek on the other, to karachi's financial center and the port, its strategic location has made it victim to callous and devastating and reclamation projects.
Over a period of six weeks, the artists team studied the effects of the ecological disasters that can be created by the disappearance of the mangroves, such as exposing the city to tsunamis and raising the water table of the coastal residential areas due to sea and land pollution. A major source contamination is the untreated sewage, which empties into my kolachi through three main drains (nullahs).
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Shehri, Urban Resource Center and the Shirkat Gah assisted the artists in providing the necessary resource material to grapple with the immensity of Karachi's environmental crisis.
The body of art-work created in this short time reflects diverse artistic voices, both in terms of the material and conceptual content. Focusing on the intersections of ethics and aesthetics it pushes the artist to think outside the box, as it also hopes to challenge the viewer to rethink their collective responsibility of the city. (PPI)
(This news article is also published in Daily The Nation)
It was the first exhibition of its kind in Pakistan that extensively focused on the ecology of Karachi attended by several students, art lovers, environmental experts and other progressive figures of the society.
Nukta Art for its project 'One Mile Square' invited the four visual artists from Karachi including Arif Mahmood, Adeel-uz-Zafar, Faraz Abdul Mateen and Nameera Ahmed in an attempt to engage them with issues that pertain to human and environmental context within the coastal belt. Participant artists displayed their artistic work and documentaries pertaining to different ecological issues resulting its rapid devastation.
The devastated conditions of mangroves, discharging of solid water resulting contaminated water, loss of biodiversity, severe health hazards for the nearby residing people and the entire dilapidated condition of the Mai Kolachi site was radiantly depicted at the event in form of art pictures, while the destruction of natural habitats and other loss of biodiversity in various outskirts areas of the metropolis were screened on small projectors that bagged the attention of visitors.
Exhibition was aimed to create cognizance among the viewers to make them realize their ethical responsibility towards environment and become a focal figure in reshaping and betterment of ecological conditions in the city as well as the entire country.
Mai Kolachi is today a barren wasteland exposed to devastating ecological and urban degrdation, linking the localities of Sultanabad and Hijrat colonyon one side, and chinna creek on the other, to karachi's financial center and the port, its strategic location has made it victim to callous and devastating and reclamation projects.
Over a period of six weeks, the artists team studied the effects of the ecological disasters that can be created by the disappearance of the mangroves, such as exposing the city to tsunamis and raising the water table of the coastal residential areas due to sea and land pollution. A major source contamination is the untreated sewage, which empties into my kolachi through three main drains (nullahs).
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Shehri, Urban Resource Center and the Shirkat Gah assisted the artists in providing the necessary resource material to grapple with the immensity of Karachi's environmental crisis.
The body of art-work created in this short time reflects diverse artistic voices, both in terms of the material and conceptual content. Focusing on the intersections of ethics and aesthetics it pushes the artist to think outside the box, as it also hopes to challenge the viewer to rethink their collective responsibility of the city. (PPI)
(This news article is also published in Daily The Nation)
Friday, January 22, 2010
Pak govt may allow fuel oil blending
By Sarfraz Ali
The government is likely to allow fuel oil blending in the country soon. Chairman of Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) Tauqir Sadiq while speaking at the second meeting of FPCCI Standing Committee on Petroleum Products at Federation House asked all the stakeholders to give their proposals on the subjects seeking government permission in this regard.
He said that the government would support every proposal, which is in the favour of the country and beneficial for the consumers. He invited proposals from all the stakeholders and said that the government would grant permission for fuel oil blending in the country within days.
The chairman OGRA said that being the regulator of oil and gas sector, he would welcome every proposal and suggestion from the industry. He said OGRA is committed to provide level playing field to all the market participants. He said that there is shortage of gas in the country, as the existing reserves of gas are continuously decreasing while gas exploration activities remained low due to law and order situation mainly in Balochistan. On the other hand, he added, the dependence on gas for power generation has massively increased. The high demand against less supply led to a surge in gas prices in the country, he noted.
Speaking on the occasion, former president FPCCI, S.M. Munir said that the gas and power tariffs are being increased on the directives of IMF. "The baggers have no choice except to follow the directives of donors," he added.
He said industry in Pakistan is facing difficulties to run their business. He pointed out that only textile industry is facing losses of one billion rupees per month due to power shortage and tariff increase. He said that the country's export target is unlikely to be achieved, so the government should take measure to solve the issues being faced by the industry.
Vice President, FPCCI, Zakria Usman, said that the country's exports are continuously declining. The recent hike in gas and power tariff has further deepened the concerns of the industry, as cost of doing business would further increase. Mian Zahid Hussain Chairman All Pakistan Lubricant Manufacturers Association said the local lubricant industry is producing around 200,000 tons of lubricant oil against the total demand of 400,000 tons in the country.
He pointed out that illegally imported and fake lubricant oil is being sold in the country. He suggested that the government should remove excise duty on lubricant oil so that the industry could be able to compete in the market. Chairman OGRA asked to point out the locations of illegal manufacturers of lubricant, assuring that the regulator will take action against the miscreants.
Various issues including oil and gas pricing and energy crisis were discussed in the meeting. The meeting was told that the energy demand has almost doubled in the last ten years. However, any single power generation plant was not set up in this period. The gas supply to industry has increased by 13 percent.
The energy cost has increased by 100 percent. On the other hand, a circular debt of Rs 82 billion remained another issue in this regard. The participants of the meeting were of the view that the energy crisis will continue in days to come. They said that the government should take necessary measures and efficient management to address the issue.
The chairman FPCCI Standing Committee on Petroleum Products, Malik Khuda Baksh, Abbas Bilgrami MD Progass, Abdul Hadi Khan, Chairman LPG Distributors Association, Abdul Sami Khan, Chairman Petroleum Dealers Association, Kaleem Siddiqui, President Byco Petroleum (Bosicor Pakistan), Mumtaz Hassan Khan Chairman Hascol Pakistan and Ejaz Ali Khan from Overseas Oil Trading Limited attended the meeting.
Sarfraz Ali is staff member of Daily 'The Nation'. (This news item also published in Daily 'The Nation')
The government is likely to allow fuel oil blending in the country soon. Chairman of Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) Tauqir Sadiq while speaking at the second meeting of FPCCI Standing Committee on Petroleum Products at Federation House asked all the stakeholders to give their proposals on the subjects seeking government permission in this regard.
He said that the government would support every proposal, which is in the favour of the country and beneficial for the consumers. He invited proposals from all the stakeholders and said that the government would grant permission for fuel oil blending in the country within days.
The chairman OGRA said that being the regulator of oil and gas sector, he would welcome every proposal and suggestion from the industry. He said OGRA is committed to provide level playing field to all the market participants. He said that there is shortage of gas in the country, as the existing reserves of gas are continuously decreasing while gas exploration activities remained low due to law and order situation mainly in Balochistan. On the other hand, he added, the dependence on gas for power generation has massively increased. The high demand against less supply led to a surge in gas prices in the country, he noted.
Speaking on the occasion, former president FPCCI, S.M. Munir said that the gas and power tariffs are being increased on the directives of IMF. "The baggers have no choice except to follow the directives of donors," he added.
He said industry in Pakistan is facing difficulties to run their business. He pointed out that only textile industry is facing losses of one billion rupees per month due to power shortage and tariff increase. He said that the country's export target is unlikely to be achieved, so the government should take measure to solve the issues being faced by the industry.
Vice President, FPCCI, Zakria Usman, said that the country's exports are continuously declining. The recent hike in gas and power tariff has further deepened the concerns of the industry, as cost of doing business would further increase. Mian Zahid Hussain Chairman All Pakistan Lubricant Manufacturers Association said the local lubricant industry is producing around 200,000 tons of lubricant oil against the total demand of 400,000 tons in the country.
He pointed out that illegally imported and fake lubricant oil is being sold in the country. He suggested that the government should remove excise duty on lubricant oil so that the industry could be able to compete in the market. Chairman OGRA asked to point out the locations of illegal manufacturers of lubricant, assuring that the regulator will take action against the miscreants.
Various issues including oil and gas pricing and energy crisis were discussed in the meeting. The meeting was told that the energy demand has almost doubled in the last ten years. However, any single power generation plant was not set up in this period. The gas supply to industry has increased by 13 percent.
The energy cost has increased by 100 percent. On the other hand, a circular debt of Rs 82 billion remained another issue in this regard. The participants of the meeting were of the view that the energy crisis will continue in days to come. They said that the government should take necessary measures and efficient management to address the issue.
The chairman FPCCI Standing Committee on Petroleum Products, Malik Khuda Baksh, Abbas Bilgrami MD Progass, Abdul Hadi Khan, Chairman LPG Distributors Association, Abdul Sami Khan, Chairman Petroleum Dealers Association, Kaleem Siddiqui, President Byco Petroleum (Bosicor Pakistan), Mumtaz Hassan Khan Chairman Hascol Pakistan and Ejaz Ali Khan from Overseas Oil Trading Limited attended the meeting.
Sarfraz Ali is staff member of Daily 'The Nation'. (This news item also published in Daily 'The Nation')
Taliban threat for Kashmir
By Zafar Iqbal
Recent surge of violence in both parts of contentious state of Jammu and Kashmir has fuelled the concerns about the expansion of Taliban network in the Himalayan region. Despite significant increase of terrorist operations in India and Pakistan during the last few years, Jammu and Kashmir remained relatively a peaceful zone. The momentum of two decade long insurgency in Indian Administrated Kashmir is greatly reduced with a considerable transition from turmoil to normalcy.
However, in neighboring Pakistan terrorism and bloodshed is rife where Islamic Taliban and Pakistan forces are engaged in a violent war in NWFP and lawless Waziristan regions since 2004 when Pakistan army started operations border Waziristan region against local groups involved in attacking NATO forces in Afghanistan. Now this war has extended to almost all major Pakistani cities through suicide attacks committed by young Taliban. In this six years war between Pakistani troops and Taliban, Pakistani administrated Kashmir region remained far from any major terrorist activity till June 26, 2009 when Taliban took the responsibly of first suicide attack on a military vehicle. Till now over 20 people, majority of them security personnel, have been killed and more than 125 have wounded in five terrorist attacks in Pakistani Kashmir within six months. Officials have also foiled more terrorist attempts of Taliban.
The militancy in Kashmir has a long history of linkages with Afghanistan and Pakistani northern areas now under the influence of Taliban. The defeat of Soviet Union by Afghan warriors contributed to encourage young Kashmiris to take gun against India. Since the inception of uprising in the Valley, almost all Kashmiri militant groups were trained in Afghanistan and Pakistan’s tribal regions. This Afghan- Kashmir relationship also changed the configurations of Kashmiri resistance movement which turned a national liberation movement into a part of global Jihad when young Kashmiri recruits were trained ideologically and militarily by devout Pashtun and Arab instructors in Afghanistan and NWFP areas.
However, the emergence of Taliban in Afghanistan in 1994 changed the character of Kabul -Kashmir nexus when Taliban banned the largest Kashmiri rebellious group Hizb –ul- Mujahedeen (HM) to use Afghan territory, which has to shift its training camps to Pakistani tribal ares, nonetheless, Taliban continued to support their like minded Kashmiri groups, e.g. Harkut- ul- Mujahedeen (HuM) and Harut ul Ansar (HuA). A handful number of Kashmiris remained on Afghan soil till 20 August 1998 when US missile killed Islamic militants, including some Kashmiris. General Mushraff government’s crackdown on six Pakistani radical groups in 2002-03 also ceased all Kashmiri connections with Afghan soil.
In spite of historical cooperation between Kashmiri insurgents and militants in Pakistani tribal belt and NWFP region, now both have conflicting agendas in terms of their objectives and operations. Kashmiri militants claim their struggle as a holy war to liberate their homeland from Indian occupation but Taliban consider their resistance as a Jihad against the US who attacked Afghanistan, toppled Taliban regime and then started a war through Drones attacks in Pakistani border areas to defeat Taliban. Likewise, Taliban equate Pakistan military forces as ‘Traitors’ who collaborated with the NATO forces in a war against Taliban. Conversely, for Pakistani Taliban ongoing struggle in Kashmir is not a Jihad as they describe it as a national movement being fought only for land, not for Islamic Sharia.
Similarly, Kashmiri militants’ circles have some reservations about Taliban’s resistance. Popular Kashmiri leader Ali Geelani, who is an ardent supporter and advocate of armed struggle in Kashmir, has categorically condemned the Taliban activities in Pakistan and asked them ‘to stop bloodshed against civilians’.
All Pakistani Taliban groups are followers of radical Deobandi sect, who firmly reject visiting the shrines and other related rituals. The Taliban attacks on shrines, beheading of none-Deobandi Ulemas and occupations on holly places and Mosques of other sects, reflect Taliban’s religious ideology. Contrary to Taliban, most of Kashmiri militants practice less radical brands of Sunni Islam like Sufism and following saints. Interestingly, the Head of Kashmir’s militants, Syed Salahuddin is known as “Peer Sahab” among all Jihadi outfits because of his religious inclination for Sufism, which according to Taliban is un- Islamic.
Notwithstanding large participation of militants from Pakistan’s Pashtun region in insurgency in Kashmir, their mutual bonds have also been eroded in last few years. Harkatul Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI), known also as ‘313 Brigade’ is only Kashmiri group which stills sustains its connections with Taliban and could work as a base for future Taliban operations in Kashmir. Headed by Iliyas Kashmiri, who was arrested for alleged attack on General Mushraff and now has been accused for recent killing of the SIA staff in Kabul and a plot against Danish newspaper, the HuJI has also shifted its base from southern Kotli district of Pakistani Kashmir to Razmuk, Waziristan in Pakistan. Similar group has been reported for his involvement in all major attacks in Pakistani part of Kashmir under the cover of Lasher- e- Zil, which is a sub unit of Tehreek e Taliban, Pakistan (TTP).
Moreover, the bombers of all major suicide attacks in Pakistan part of Kashmir have been identified as members of Taliban movement or residents of Pakistani NWFP and tribal region, nevertheless, the association of local sympathizers in these attacks could not be dismissed because the perpetrators of some major suicide attacks on Pakistani forces, including the attack on former Pakistan General Mushraff, have been described as the citizens of Pakistani Kashmir.
With the availability of already trained local force and large number of sympathizers of Jihad, Pakistani Kashmir is a soft and easy zone for terrorist operations for Taliban; however, it seems hard that Taliban can trigger the surge of suicide bombings in Indian part of Kashmir.
(The Write is a freelance columnist. He can be reaced at: zafarjournalist@gmail.com )
Recent surge of violence in both parts of contentious state of Jammu and Kashmir has fuelled the concerns about the expansion of Taliban network in the Himalayan region. Despite significant increase of terrorist operations in India and Pakistan during the last few years, Jammu and Kashmir remained relatively a peaceful zone. The momentum of two decade long insurgency in Indian Administrated Kashmir is greatly reduced with a considerable transition from turmoil to normalcy.
However, in neighboring Pakistan terrorism and bloodshed is rife where Islamic Taliban and Pakistan forces are engaged in a violent war in NWFP and lawless Waziristan regions since 2004 when Pakistan army started operations border Waziristan region against local groups involved in attacking NATO forces in Afghanistan. Now this war has extended to almost all major Pakistani cities through suicide attacks committed by young Taliban. In this six years war between Pakistani troops and Taliban, Pakistani administrated Kashmir region remained far from any major terrorist activity till June 26, 2009 when Taliban took the responsibly of first suicide attack on a military vehicle. Till now over 20 people, majority of them security personnel, have been killed and more than 125 have wounded in five terrorist attacks in Pakistani Kashmir within six months. Officials have also foiled more terrorist attempts of Taliban.
The militancy in Kashmir has a long history of linkages with Afghanistan and Pakistani northern areas now under the influence of Taliban. The defeat of Soviet Union by Afghan warriors contributed to encourage young Kashmiris to take gun against India. Since the inception of uprising in the Valley, almost all Kashmiri militant groups were trained in Afghanistan and Pakistan’s tribal regions. This Afghan- Kashmir relationship also changed the configurations of Kashmiri resistance movement which turned a national liberation movement into a part of global Jihad when young Kashmiri recruits were trained ideologically and militarily by devout Pashtun and Arab instructors in Afghanistan and NWFP areas.
However, the emergence of Taliban in Afghanistan in 1994 changed the character of Kabul -Kashmir nexus when Taliban banned the largest Kashmiri rebellious group Hizb –ul- Mujahedeen (HM) to use Afghan territory, which has to shift its training camps to Pakistani tribal ares, nonetheless, Taliban continued to support their like minded Kashmiri groups, e.g. Harkut- ul- Mujahedeen (HuM) and Harut ul Ansar (HuA). A handful number of Kashmiris remained on Afghan soil till 20 August 1998 when US missile killed Islamic militants, including some Kashmiris. General Mushraff government’s crackdown on six Pakistani radical groups in 2002-03 also ceased all Kashmiri connections with Afghan soil.
In spite of historical cooperation between Kashmiri insurgents and militants in Pakistani tribal belt and NWFP region, now both have conflicting agendas in terms of their objectives and operations. Kashmiri militants claim their struggle as a holy war to liberate their homeland from Indian occupation but Taliban consider their resistance as a Jihad against the US who attacked Afghanistan, toppled Taliban regime and then started a war through Drones attacks in Pakistani border areas to defeat Taliban. Likewise, Taliban equate Pakistan military forces as ‘Traitors’ who collaborated with the NATO forces in a war against Taliban. Conversely, for Pakistani Taliban ongoing struggle in Kashmir is not a Jihad as they describe it as a national movement being fought only for land, not for Islamic Sharia.
Similarly, Kashmiri militants’ circles have some reservations about Taliban’s resistance. Popular Kashmiri leader Ali Geelani, who is an ardent supporter and advocate of armed struggle in Kashmir, has categorically condemned the Taliban activities in Pakistan and asked them ‘to stop bloodshed against civilians’.
All Pakistani Taliban groups are followers of radical Deobandi sect, who firmly reject visiting the shrines and other related rituals. The Taliban attacks on shrines, beheading of none-Deobandi Ulemas and occupations on holly places and Mosques of other sects, reflect Taliban’s religious ideology. Contrary to Taliban, most of Kashmiri militants practice less radical brands of Sunni Islam like Sufism and following saints. Interestingly, the Head of Kashmir’s militants, Syed Salahuddin is known as “Peer Sahab” among all Jihadi outfits because of his religious inclination for Sufism, which according to Taliban is un- Islamic.
Notwithstanding large participation of militants from Pakistan’s Pashtun region in insurgency in Kashmir, their mutual bonds have also been eroded in last few years. Harkatul Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI), known also as ‘313 Brigade’ is only Kashmiri group which stills sustains its connections with Taliban and could work as a base for future Taliban operations in Kashmir. Headed by Iliyas Kashmiri, who was arrested for alleged attack on General Mushraff and now has been accused for recent killing of the SIA staff in Kabul and a plot against Danish newspaper, the HuJI has also shifted its base from southern Kotli district of Pakistani Kashmir to Razmuk, Waziristan in Pakistan. Similar group has been reported for his involvement in all major attacks in Pakistani part of Kashmir under the cover of Lasher- e- Zil, which is a sub unit of Tehreek e Taliban, Pakistan (TTP).
Moreover, the bombers of all major suicide attacks in Pakistan part of Kashmir have been identified as members of Taliban movement or residents of Pakistani NWFP and tribal region, nevertheless, the association of local sympathizers in these attacks could not be dismissed because the perpetrators of some major suicide attacks on Pakistani forces, including the attack on former Pakistan General Mushraff, have been described as the citizens of Pakistani Kashmir.
With the availability of already trained local force and large number of sympathizers of Jihad, Pakistani Kashmir is a soft and easy zone for terrorist operations for Taliban; however, it seems hard that Taliban can trigger the surge of suicide bombings in Indian part of Kashmir.
(The Write is a freelance columnist. He can be reaced at: zafarjournalist@gmail.com )
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Climate change hits natural paradise of Kashmir
By Zafar Iqbal
The tangible impacts of climate change are now witnessed even in those areas of South Asian region, which are considered as habitat of ecosystem due to the abundance of natural resources. Like other areas of world, the weather pattern in Kashmir has changed so much so that people are experiencing in chilly and dry winter without rains and snowfall.
People paid special prayers for rain after a spell of dry and harsh weather conditions prevailing in the region since many months. People in Pakistan part of Kashmir on Wednesday offered Namaz e Istaska in small and big towns and remote areas. Prime Minster of Pakistani Azad Jammu and Kashmir Farooq Haider has appealed people to offer particular prayers for the end of harshly dry weather. Hundreds of residents, including the Prime Minister and his cabinet members of government of Pakistani controlled Kashmir, offered Namaz e Istakska in an open ground in the capital city, Muzaffarabad.
In Islam Namaz e Istaska (Pray for rain) is a special kind of prayer, which is performed in the time of drought, in order to seek relief from God, so that God may send rain. Similar rituals were paid in other cities where parched citizens pray for rain and snowfall.
In various towns and cities in Pakistan and its administrated Kashmir arid weather has affected badly local population because of water scarcity in the region as most of the water sources have dried up and people are struggling to access for drinking water. Women have to walk for miles to bring water as all springs, streams, wells and other natural water sources have dried up where as water level in rivers, and mini rivers and lakes are also shrinking.
In Azad Jammu and Kashmir most of the population rely for natural water sources, including rivers, springs and wells. According to World Bank More than 60 percent of the population still has no direct access to water supply. A 1998 census shows that only 34.58 percent of the rural population has access to piped water supply (house connection) while more than 65 percent fetch water from communal sources.
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Azad Kashmir Government under a project worth Rs. 493 million are jointly working to restore rural water supply system and improve the sanitation in the region.
The majority of water supply and sanitation systems in AJK (both rural and urban) were badly damaged by October 8, 2005 earthquakes. According to the Governments of AJK, a total of 1641 water supply schemes and sanitation system, were damaged and need to be rehabilitated or reconstructed.
The dry weather has also affected areas, which are famous for torrentional rains and snowfall in winter, howevever, and this year wave of dry weather is not finished even after beginning of one month of winter. The intensity of the dryness has even been witnessed on high mountainous areas, which used to be covered with many feet high snow in the beginning of autumn in the past.
Most of the cities and towns and remote hilly areas are experiencing dry spell of weather. Rawalakot is tourist resort and have a beautiful lake in Banjosa, which during the recent years have attracted a large number of visitors form Pakistani cities like Lahore, Islamabad, and Karachi etc. Especially a large influx of visitors has been observed in the Rwalakot in summer and winter seasons after the military operation in Swat and other areas in Northern Pakistan which used to be tourist resorts in the past. The peaks of Lass Danna, Toli Peer, and Ganga Choti in Bagh District which are located at more than 7000-8000 feet over the altitude are still waiting for snowfall.
(The writer is freelance journalist and can be accessed at: zafarjournalist@gmail.com )
The tangible impacts of climate change are now witnessed even in those areas of South Asian region, which are considered as habitat of ecosystem due to the abundance of natural resources. Like other areas of world, the weather pattern in Kashmir has changed so much so that people are experiencing in chilly and dry winter without rains and snowfall.
People paid special prayers for rain after a spell of dry and harsh weather conditions prevailing in the region since many months. People in Pakistan part of Kashmir on Wednesday offered Namaz e Istaska in small and big towns and remote areas. Prime Minster of Pakistani Azad Jammu and Kashmir Farooq Haider has appealed people to offer particular prayers for the end of harshly dry weather. Hundreds of residents, including the Prime Minister and his cabinet members of government of Pakistani controlled Kashmir, offered Namaz e Istakska in an open ground in the capital city, Muzaffarabad.
In Islam Namaz e Istaska (Pray for rain) is a special kind of prayer, which is performed in the time of drought, in order to seek relief from God, so that God may send rain. Similar rituals were paid in other cities where parched citizens pray for rain and snowfall.
In various towns and cities in Pakistan and its administrated Kashmir arid weather has affected badly local population because of water scarcity in the region as most of the water sources have dried up and people are struggling to access for drinking water. Women have to walk for miles to bring water as all springs, streams, wells and other natural water sources have dried up where as water level in rivers, and mini rivers and lakes are also shrinking.
In Azad Jammu and Kashmir most of the population rely for natural water sources, including rivers, springs and wells. According to World Bank More than 60 percent of the population still has no direct access to water supply. A 1998 census shows that only 34.58 percent of the rural population has access to piped water supply (house connection) while more than 65 percent fetch water from communal sources.
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Azad Kashmir Government under a project worth Rs. 493 million are jointly working to restore rural water supply system and improve the sanitation in the region.
The majority of water supply and sanitation systems in AJK (both rural and urban) were badly damaged by October 8, 2005 earthquakes. According to the Governments of AJK, a total of 1641 water supply schemes and sanitation system, were damaged and need to be rehabilitated or reconstructed.
The dry weather has also affected areas, which are famous for torrentional rains and snowfall in winter, howevever, and this year wave of dry weather is not finished even after beginning of one month of winter. The intensity of the dryness has even been witnessed on high mountainous areas, which used to be covered with many feet high snow in the beginning of autumn in the past.
Most of the cities and towns and remote hilly areas are experiencing dry spell of weather. Rawalakot is tourist resort and have a beautiful lake in Banjosa, which during the recent years have attracted a large number of visitors form Pakistani cities like Lahore, Islamabad, and Karachi etc. Especially a large influx of visitors has been observed in the Rwalakot in summer and winter seasons after the military operation in Swat and other areas in Northern Pakistan which used to be tourist resorts in the past. The peaks of Lass Danna, Toli Peer, and Ganga Choti in Bagh District which are located at more than 7000-8000 feet over the altitude are still waiting for snowfall.
(The writer is freelance journalist and can be accessed at: zafarjournalist@gmail.com )
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Pak govt decides to take action against polluting industries
By Sarfraz Ali
Sindh Minister for Environment and Alternate Energy Shaikh Mohammad Afzal has said that the campaign to convince industries to properly dispose off their affluent will restart in next ten days to protect environment.
"This is not tolerable and we will start action against those industries which are polluting environment, he said while responding to questions of media at a reception.
National Forum for Environment and Health (NFEH) Chairman CNG Station Owners Association Malik Khuda Baksh, Director General SEPA Naeem Mughal, president NFEH Naeem Qureshi, Afia Salam of IUCN, Gulzar Firoz chairman standing committee on Environment FPCCI also addressed on the occasion.
"This campaign has not been withdrawn due to pressure. A time period was given to 100 industrial units in SITE and Korangi industrial areas by the former minister to improve situation through internal arrangements for waste disposal special wastewater, he added.
He said that industrial units mostly textile and chemicals do not have treatment plants and they discharge their effluent into main drain thus polluting Lyari and Malir rivers.
The minister said that industrial units do not allow our inspectors to enter their factories and use various pressure tactics to get away from routine inspections.
"I have issued instructions to Sindh Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to take action against polluting industrial units and do not afraid of pressure. I will take the pressure you do you work without fear", he maintained.
Referring to heavy smoke emitting public transport, he said that efforts are on to have a law for arresting the polluters as a deterrent. He said smoke emitting vehicles will be issued red stickers and will be asked to repair the cause. After repair they will be issued green stickers for playing on road, he noted.
He pointed out that a new law was in offing to increase the thickness of polythene bags and use of degradable material in plastic bags.
Shaikh Azfal said that his department has sought a separate budget to launch the publicity campaign to create awareness about environment among the people. We are also considering to include environment as subject in the syllabus of class three, he added.
Chairman FPCCI sub committee on Environment Gulzar Firoz said that the Federation would not protect the polluters. He said that textile mills were the biggest polluters.
Chairman CNG Station Owners Association Malik Khuda Baksh said that vehicular pollution has been reduced by 20 percent in the country after the conversion of 2.5 million vehicles from fossil fuel to compressed natural gas (CNG). CNG sector should be protected for the sake of environment.
Director General SEPA Naeem Mughal, Professor Ejaz Farooqui, Afia Salam of IUCN and representatives of Engro Chemicals Pakistan Refinery and Pakistan Steel others also spoke on the occasion.
Sindh Minister for Environment and Alternate Energy Shaikh Mohammad Afzal has said that the campaign to convince industries to properly dispose off their affluent will restart in next ten days to protect environment.
"This is not tolerable and we will start action against those industries which are polluting environment, he said while responding to questions of media at a reception.
National Forum for Environment and Health (NFEH) Chairman CNG Station Owners Association Malik Khuda Baksh, Director General SEPA Naeem Mughal, president NFEH Naeem Qureshi, Afia Salam of IUCN, Gulzar Firoz chairman standing committee on Environment FPCCI also addressed on the occasion.
"This campaign has not been withdrawn due to pressure. A time period was given to 100 industrial units in SITE and Korangi industrial areas by the former minister to improve situation through internal arrangements for waste disposal special wastewater, he added.
He said that industrial units mostly textile and chemicals do not have treatment plants and they discharge their effluent into main drain thus polluting Lyari and Malir rivers.
The minister said that industrial units do not allow our inspectors to enter their factories and use various pressure tactics to get away from routine inspections.
"I have issued instructions to Sindh Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to take action against polluting industrial units and do not afraid of pressure. I will take the pressure you do you work without fear", he maintained.
Referring to heavy smoke emitting public transport, he said that efforts are on to have a law for arresting the polluters as a deterrent. He said smoke emitting vehicles will be issued red stickers and will be asked to repair the cause. After repair they will be issued green stickers for playing on road, he noted.
He pointed out that a new law was in offing to increase the thickness of polythene bags and use of degradable material in plastic bags.
Shaikh Azfal said that his department has sought a separate budget to launch the publicity campaign to create awareness about environment among the people. We are also considering to include environment as subject in the syllabus of class three, he added.
Chairman FPCCI sub committee on Environment Gulzar Firoz said that the Federation would not protect the polluters. He said that textile mills were the biggest polluters.
Chairman CNG Station Owners Association Malik Khuda Baksh said that vehicular pollution has been reduced by 20 percent in the country after the conversion of 2.5 million vehicles from fossil fuel to compressed natural gas (CNG). CNG sector should be protected for the sake of environment.
Director General SEPA Naeem Mughal, Professor Ejaz Farooqui, Afia Salam of IUCN and representatives of Engro Chemicals Pakistan Refinery and Pakistan Steel others also spoke on the occasion.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Indo-China Diplomatic War Over Kashmir
By Zafar Iqbal
Recent statement of Indian, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna about the development activities of China in Pakistan administered Kashmir has triggered growing antagonism between China and India. Indian Minister Krishna described Chinese activities in Pakistani side of Kashmir as "illegal" and said that ‘India has conveyed its concern over this as well as supply of Chinese weapons to Pakistan’. Reiterating India’s longstanding stance, he elucidated that “neither Pakistan nor China have a ‘locus standi’ in Kashmir”.
China and India have a long history of border disputes, however, the tension escalated over conflicts of Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh during the last few months. China alleges that India occupies 90,000 square kilometres of its territory. It also considers Sikkim as disputed state. On the other hand, India asserts its right to 33,000 square kilometres area of Aksai Chin near Kashmir,which was given to China by Pakistan through a 1963 agreement.
Because of their global and regional ambitions both emerging Asian giants have been trying to resolve their divergences and started a relatively peaceful phase of bilateral relationship since last two decades, however, tensions between Beijing and New Delhi flared last year when China objected on visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Arunachal Pradesh, claiming it as a ‘disputed area.’ In the same month, India expressed its discontent over the Beijing’s engagement in some major development projects in both parts of Kashmir. Yet, China stopped the construction of a road near a border village in Indian part of Kashmir, which was being built by locals under Indian government project for rural development.
Similarly, the issuance for special visas for Kashmiri citizens by China was rejected by India angrily and vigorously. Interestingly, China also issued similar visas for citizens of Arunachal Pradesh. These special visas for Kashmiri citizens have been viewed by New Delhi as an attempt by China to question status of Jammu and Kashmir as part of India, which claims over Kashmir as “as its integral part”, while her rival and another participant of the dispute –Pakistan, questions India’s description and advocates for plebiscite in Kashmir.
Considering the recent altercation on the border issues in Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh regions between two neighbours, observers perceive Chinese move as a deliberate ‘tit for tat’ action to counteract Delhi’s friendly behaviour with Buddhist spiritual leader Dalai Lama who on Tuesday, starting five day visit to religious city of Gaya in Indian Eastern Bihar state once again infuriated China by considering India “like his home” and described himself as “son of India”.
It is worth mentioning that India’s apprehensions about the Chinese’s development advancements in Pakistani Kashmir came recently, nevertheless, since many years China is engaged there in some massive economic activities. It has been working on upraising of Mangla Dam in southern Mirpur district of Pakistani Kashmir which aims to raise the level of Mangla reservoir up to 60 feet. As part of resettlement for dam affectees, Chinese firm China International Water and Electric Corporation (CIW&EC) is also working on the construction of a bridge over Jhelum River in same area.
India has also raised its umbrage with China about $US12.6 billion Neelum-Jhelum Hydroelectric Power Project in Pakistani Kashmir, which aims the diversion of the water of Neelum (Kishan Ganga) river through a tunnel into Jhelum River. CGGC-CMEC Consortium China is working on the project.
Currently, Chinese firms are working on more than 15 mega projects in Pakistani administrated Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan in power sector, which seems sound raison d'être for Indian worry over Chinese influence in the region.
Pakistan and China are so ‘determined’ in their joint ventures that Islamabad has neglected the routine official procedures in one of its mega projects to gratify their Chinese allies by issuing initial construction work on Kohala Power to a Chinese firm-The China International Water & Electric Corporation (CWE). Located on the border of Pakistan’s Punjab and NWFP areas and Muzaffarabad District of Pakistani Azad Jammu and Kashmir, $2.155 billion, the project has the capacity to produce 1,050 MW of electricity.
Furthermore, 12.6-billion-dollar Diamir-Bhasha dam is also being built by China’s Three Gorges Project Corporation on the Indus River in Pakistan controlled Gilgit-Baltistan area. Chinese firms are working on six other mega power projects in Pakistani Controlled northern areas of Kashmir. These significant projects consist of: 7.8 Billion US $ Dasu hydropower project, 70 million US $ Phandar hydropower project, 40.01 million US$ Bashu hydropower project, 44.608 million US$ Harpo hydropower project and 6 billion US$ Yulbo hydropower project.
China is also investing an enormous amount of 300 million US $ for the rehabilitation of various areas of Pakistani Kashmir where China International Water and Electric Corporation and China BEIXIN Construction and Engineering are working in housing, communication and rehabilitation sectors.
Historically, since the partition of British India, Kashmir has been a bone of contention between India and Pakistan, who have fought four wars, in which China mostly remained on Pakistani side, nevertheless, recent Sino-India confrontation over Kashmir demonstrates that this lingering Kashmir conflict could also trigger the animosity between two emerging superpowers, which also poses alarming repercussions for the stability and peace of the region.
It is pretty interesting that amid this hostile milieu, both competitors supported each other during recent Copenhagen conference because of their economic and environmental needs and compulsions. It demonstrates that in spite of all confrontations and hostilities between Beijing and Delhi, the window of hope and good will is still exists. The people of the region hope that leadership of both neighbours would prefer to expand this opportunity to resolve long standing issues through peaceful modes, which is the only way for sustainable peace and prosperity of the region.
(The Write is a freelance columnist. He can be reached at: zafarjournalist@gmail.com
Recent statement of Indian, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna about the development activities of China in Pakistan administered Kashmir has triggered growing antagonism between China and India. Indian Minister Krishna described Chinese activities in Pakistani side of Kashmir as "illegal" and said that ‘India has conveyed its concern over this as well as supply of Chinese weapons to Pakistan’. Reiterating India’s longstanding stance, he elucidated that “neither Pakistan nor China have a ‘locus standi’ in Kashmir”.
China and India have a long history of border disputes, however, the tension escalated over conflicts of Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh during the last few months. China alleges that India occupies 90,000 square kilometres of its territory. It also considers Sikkim as disputed state. On the other hand, India asserts its right to 33,000 square kilometres area of Aksai Chin near Kashmir,which was given to China by Pakistan through a 1963 agreement.
Because of their global and regional ambitions both emerging Asian giants have been trying to resolve their divergences and started a relatively peaceful phase of bilateral relationship since last two decades, however, tensions between Beijing and New Delhi flared last year when China objected on visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Arunachal Pradesh, claiming it as a ‘disputed area.’ In the same month, India expressed its discontent over the Beijing’s engagement in some major development projects in both parts of Kashmir. Yet, China stopped the construction of a road near a border village in Indian part of Kashmir, which was being built by locals under Indian government project for rural development.
Similarly, the issuance for special visas for Kashmiri citizens by China was rejected by India angrily and vigorously. Interestingly, China also issued similar visas for citizens of Arunachal Pradesh. These special visas for Kashmiri citizens have been viewed by New Delhi as an attempt by China to question status of Jammu and Kashmir as part of India, which claims over Kashmir as “as its integral part”, while her rival and another participant of the dispute –Pakistan, questions India’s description and advocates for plebiscite in Kashmir.
Considering the recent altercation on the border issues in Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh regions between two neighbours, observers perceive Chinese move as a deliberate ‘tit for tat’ action to counteract Delhi’s friendly behaviour with Buddhist spiritual leader Dalai Lama who on Tuesday, starting five day visit to religious city of Gaya in Indian Eastern Bihar state once again infuriated China by considering India “like his home” and described himself as “son of India”.
It is worth mentioning that India’s apprehensions about the Chinese’s development advancements in Pakistani Kashmir came recently, nevertheless, since many years China is engaged there in some massive economic activities. It has been working on upraising of Mangla Dam in southern Mirpur district of Pakistani Kashmir which aims to raise the level of Mangla reservoir up to 60 feet. As part of resettlement for dam affectees, Chinese firm China International Water and Electric Corporation (CIW&EC) is also working on the construction of a bridge over Jhelum River in same area.
India has also raised its umbrage with China about $US12.6 billion Neelum-Jhelum Hydroelectric Power Project in Pakistani Kashmir, which aims the diversion of the water of Neelum (Kishan Ganga) river through a tunnel into Jhelum River. CGGC-CMEC Consortium China is working on the project.
Currently, Chinese firms are working on more than 15 mega projects in Pakistani administrated Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan in power sector, which seems sound raison d'être for Indian worry over Chinese influence in the region.
Pakistan and China are so ‘determined’ in their joint ventures that Islamabad has neglected the routine official procedures in one of its mega projects to gratify their Chinese allies by issuing initial construction work on Kohala Power to a Chinese firm-The China International Water & Electric Corporation (CWE). Located on the border of Pakistan’s Punjab and NWFP areas and Muzaffarabad District of Pakistani Azad Jammu and Kashmir, $2.155 billion, the project has the capacity to produce 1,050 MW of electricity.
Furthermore, 12.6-billion-dollar Diamir-Bhasha dam is also being built by China’s Three Gorges Project Corporation on the Indus River in Pakistan controlled Gilgit-Baltistan area. Chinese firms are working on six other mega power projects in Pakistani Controlled northern areas of Kashmir. These significant projects consist of: 7.8 Billion US $ Dasu hydropower project, 70 million US $ Phandar hydropower project, 40.01 million US$ Bashu hydropower project, 44.608 million US$ Harpo hydropower project and 6 billion US$ Yulbo hydropower project.
China is also investing an enormous amount of 300 million US $ for the rehabilitation of various areas of Pakistani Kashmir where China International Water and Electric Corporation and China BEIXIN Construction and Engineering are working in housing, communication and rehabilitation sectors.
Historically, since the partition of British India, Kashmir has been a bone of contention between India and Pakistan, who have fought four wars, in which China mostly remained on Pakistani side, nevertheless, recent Sino-India confrontation over Kashmir demonstrates that this lingering Kashmir conflict could also trigger the animosity between two emerging superpowers, which also poses alarming repercussions for the stability and peace of the region.
It is pretty interesting that amid this hostile milieu, both competitors supported each other during recent Copenhagen conference because of their economic and environmental needs and compulsions. It demonstrates that in spite of all confrontations and hostilities between Beijing and Delhi, the window of hope and good will is still exists. The people of the region hope that leadership of both neighbours would prefer to expand this opportunity to resolve long standing issues through peaceful modes, which is the only way for sustainable peace and prosperity of the region.
(The Write is a freelance columnist. He can be reached at: zafarjournalist@gmail.com
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