PESHAWAR: Much different from the famous American and Indian Idol TV talent hunt shows, the auditions for the rabab competition in Peshawar turned out to be quite entertaining for the artists as well as the spectators at Nishtar Hall.

Rabab, a traditional music instrument used in almost all the famous Pashto tunes, was so well played by the young competitors in their own unique style that musicians judging them seemed to enjoy it more than the audience. The fact that most of the 10 out of 40 competitors selected for the audition were amateur artists, mostly students, was much appreciated by all at the jam-packed hall.

The competition was jointly organised on Thursday night by the Culture Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Lok Virsa, Islamabad. The finale would be held among three best rabab players on Sept 18 at Lok Virsa to choose the best ‘Rabab Player of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’.

Final round of contest to be held among three top players in Islamabad on Sept 18

Gulab Afridi, a known rabab player who himself was affected by militancy and was one of the judges, said that the talent hunt show would promote traditional music. The event was also a symbol that Pakhtuns love peace and music, he said.

The dances and cheering of the spectators also defied the general impression that Pakhtuns love music, but hate musicians. The young rabab players were appreciated with clapping as they played instrumental Pashto tunes, like “O Malanga Yara” and “Lar Sha Pekhawar ta” and many more traditional folk songs. The audience applauded equally the young students playing traditional tunes and those who had experimented with the traditional instrument by fusing tunes with other musical instruments.

Mohammad Ali, a rickshaw driver, however dared to play instrumental “ De Loyo Loyo Qudratoona Raba” , Ajmal Khattak’s moaning poem about social injustice and agony in this world.

“My family objected to my playing rabab first, but now they know it is my only recreation and solace after day’s hard work,” he said.

Saad Haider, a university student, said that rabab was his passion and his religious-minded family had to give up and let him follow his passion.

Umer Gul, another student, said that his father also played rabab. He said that rabab was a symbolic musical instrument of Pakhtuns so he loved to play it since his childhood.

“The rabab competition is arranged with the objective of reviving the diminishing arts and culture of our region,” said Amjad Afridi, adviser to chief minister on culture and youth affairs, who was chief guest at the competition held at the sole government-run Nishtar Hall.

An amount of Rs80 million has been released for renovation of Nishtar Hall to hold such healthy activities, said Mr Afridi.

Executive Director Lok Virsa Dr Fauzia, present on the occasion, said that KP culture department and the Lok Virsa had planned a four-day festival in Islamabad from Sept 17 to celebrate the identity and heritage of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The festival, titled ‘Qissa Khwani Bazaar Festival’ is named after the province’s famed market which would feature music gala, crafts, exhibition, food court and other cultural expressions from the province.

A book titled ‘The bazaar of storytellers’ penned by Wilma Heston and Mumtaz Nasir would be launched and an English subtitled version of ‘Yousaf Khan Sherbano’ would also be screened during Qissa Khwani festival on Sept 19, she added.

Published in Dawn September 12th, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will soon announce a package to boost the country’s exports, Commerce Minister Khurram Dastagir Khan told Dawn on Friday.

However, Dastagir did not disclose an exact date for the announcement as the prime minister doesn’t make key decisions without consulting Finance Minister Ishaq Dar who is on a visit to the United States.

Chairing a meeting at the Prime Minister Office with the heads of chambers of commerce and industries and exporters, Sharif said a strategy would be chalked out in light of the recommendations of the businessmen and exporters.

Dastagir said the two-day meetings of exporters associations with economy ministers and later with the prime minister signalled a “paradigm shift in government’s approach towards exports”.

He said the five-hour-long meeting with the premier on Friday would form the basis of a “whole-of-government” exports promotion package as well as the Strategic Trade Policy Framework (STPF) 2015-18 due to be announced shortly by the Ministry of Commerce.

Exporters have asked the government to clear their refunds, devise a mechanism to avoid their delayed payments and allow the rupee to come to a realistic market value. Other countries in the region have considerably devalued currencies, they argued.

The textile sector, among other things, is seeking removal of extra taxes, competitive energy prices as compared to the region, electricity at nine US cents per unit and imposition of duties on semi-finished textile products, especially from India and China.

The light engineering segment and the agricultural sector asked the government to support them in seeking international certifications and subsidy for entering into new markets.

“A rise in exports will help the government boost its revenues and invest in the development of the country,” the prime minister said. Pakistan’s exports are stagnant whereas other regional countries have moved far ahead, he added.

The premier elaborated that the government was aware of a global economic slowdown and falling commodity prices. But even in this challenging environment, the government and business houses must adopt innovative strategies to increase exports, he added.

“Providing subsidy to different sectors of the economy needs resources, and resources are generated by robust economic activity,” he said, adding that subsidy or relief packages, if opted as a policy measure, must produce economic returns to boost investment and business activity.

He advised the business community to conceive forward planning in view of the prospects arising out of the mega regional development initiatives like China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and Turk­men­istan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India Pipeline.

These mega projects, coupled with development of infrastructure in the form of motorways and upgradation of Gwadar port, would open new avenues of economic activities which can be capitalised by Pakistan’s business community, he added.

Speaking on behalf of the business community, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry President Mian Adrees assured the prime minister of full cooperation from the industrial and trade houses.

The business representatives gave suggestions and identified various factors which are hindering business ventures and proposed measures for raising investors’ confidence, he added.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2015

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QUETTA: Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Kamran Michael has said the government has acquired 2,281 acres of land in Gwadar to be handed over to China for establishing there an export processing zone (EPZ) and other facilities to make the port fully functional.

Talking to newsmen here on Friday, he said the land, 650 acres of which had been acquired from the Pakistan Navy, would be handed over to China at a ceremony to be held in Oct in Gwadar.

The minister said that Chinese companies would set up the export processing zone, warehouses and other facilities at the port to enable it to become fully functional.

Also read: Gwadar port has bright future, says Chinese envoy

He said that private and public sector were beginning to use the Gwadar port for exporting Pakistani products to different countries.

A few months’ back a large quantity of fish was exported from the Gwadar port to China and other countries, he recalled.

Kamran Michael says Chinese companies to set up export processing zone, warehouses and other facilities at the Gwadar port

“This export has restored the fishermen’s trust in the government,” the minister said, adding they were now confident that their catch would be exported through the Gwadar port.

He said that as a result of the government’s efforts, the European Union had lifted ban on the fish import from Pakistan and now Pakistani exporters were exporting seafood to European countries. “Growing exports through the Gwadar port would serve to increase earning of foreign exchange.”

Mr Michael said departmental action would be taken against any ghost employee found in any section under the control of his ministry. A large number of such employees had already been sacked, he added.

“Biometric system has now been introduced in the department and nobody can receive salary by sitting in his/her home and doing nothing,” he declared.

The minister also attended a function of the Christian community held in the Ayub Stadium.

Thousands of people, including women and children and youths, attended the function. Special prayers were offered for the stability and solidity of the country at the event.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2015

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LAHORE: A joint venture of the China Railways (CR) and Norinko has informed the Lahore Development Authority that it will monitor the construction work (structure) to ensure international quality standards while executing the Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project.

The CR-Norinko will soon send its own consultant firm to Lahore, Dawn learnt.

A major chunk (Rs150 billion, US $1.5 billion) of the Rs165 billion (US $1.65 billion) project will be provided by the Chinese government to Punjab under a soft-loan agreement. The Exim Bank of China is expected to start releasing loan money in a phased plan to the Punjab government in the next few days.

According to officials, the LDA will execute the project’s component related to civil work/structure work worth Rs50 billion (construction of over 25km elevated and 1.7km long underground portion of the metro track) whereas the remaining components such as laying rail track, mechanical, electric, bringing the state-of-the-art metro trains etc would be carried out by the Chinese joint venture.

Officials say the LDA had already hired services of Nespak as consultant of the structure but the CR-Norinko and others concerned (Chinese government) have asked the Pakistani authorities that they would have their own consultant to supervise the construction/civil works. “We have told the Chinese officials that we have already hired Nespak as consultant and started the construction work from Sept 10. But they have desired to appoint and send their own Chinese consultants to supervise the work,” LDA’s Chief Engineer Israr Saeed told Dawn on Friday.

Asked whether the Chinese officials expressed any doubts about quality of Pakistan’s pattern of construction, he said: “I don’t think so. Actually, they have their own construction standards. Though the construction standards being adopted in Pakistan are same as being followed in the Western, North American and Asian countries, they (the Chinese) want to have their own consultants. So, we have welcomed their decision, urging them to send consultants as soon as possible,” he said.

The official said the Punjab government had also sought time from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for inaugurating the construction work of the project.

While discussing various plans of the project’s structure works, Mr Khalid Alvi (Project Director of the Package-1 -- Salamatpura to Chauburji portion) said the contractor had started piling work on GT Road (Salamatpura) for the construction of elevated track. “The elevated portion of Package-1 will start from Salamatpura and will end just after an intersection situated around 300 meters away from the GPO Chowk. From this spot the underground portion of the project will start. And it will end near Chauburji (the PIA planetarium park). From this point there will be again an elevated track till Ali Town via Multan Road and Thokar,” he explained.

He said the underground portion would be constructed under cut and cover method and not through tunnel boring machines/technology. And the same would be 13 to 15 meter (45 to 50 feet) down the ground level, he said.

Mr Alvi said anyone could imagine that the underground portion would be like an underpass measuring 1.7km long. And the portion would have two train stations -- Anarkali (near Jain Mandir) and Central (Mall Road) stations.

He said before construction of the underground portion, the entire infrastructure (Wasa main sewerage and water supply pipelines, telephone, gas cables and pipes) would be removed and realigned so that no problem could occur during civil work. He said the land acquisition plan had already been finalised and the officials (land acquisition collectors etc) were working on it these days.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2015

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PESHAWAR: Unidentified assailants gunned down an ice cream vendor in Jangi Mohallah area of the city on Friday, while another person sustained injuries in the attack.

A police official at the Khan Raziq police station told Dawn that Qaiser Raza, a resident of Wazirabad, Gujranwala, was living in the city for the past several years and used to work as ice cream vendor in Mohallah Jangi area. He said that four persons opened pistol fire on Mr Raza when he was busy in his work.

He said that Mr Raza and another teenager, identified as Ghayasuddin, sustained injuries in the attack. Later, Mr Raza succumbed to his injuries at the Lady Reading Hospital.

Khan Raziq police station SHO Hameed Khan told Dawn that apparently it was an incident of targeted killing, as Qaisar was from Shia sect. However, he said that they were looking into this incident from various angles. The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) registered an FIR and has started investigation.

The death of Mr Raza sparked a protest from the area residents who blocked the GT Road near Firdous Chowk for over an hour. A traffic police official told Dawn that the residents were protesting against the LRH doctors, saying that Raza died due to their negligence. He said that the road was opened after the administration officials held talks with protesters.

LRH spokesperson Jamil Shah told Dawn that a large number of people followed the injured to the hospital, creating problems for the medics and that was why police forced them out of the hospital and later these people staged a protest against the police and hospital administration. Mr Shah said that there was no negligence on the part of hospital staff.

Published in Dawn September 12th, 2015

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LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif appears to be overly touchy about the cost and production capacity of the Quaid-i-Azam Solar Park (QASP) project in Bahawalpur.

In a second press conference in two days, the chief minister said on Friday it was the most viable venture in the country that helped lighten up some 54,000 houses in six months.

He addressed the press conference to address media reports about the project viability and cost.

He said the Punjab government was generating 18.5 megawatts per day (from the project) at a cost of Rs13.5 billion, including tax.

“It is more cost-effective than a wind power project,” he asserted.

Saying that any hydro power project would have been completed in five years with 35 megawatts per day, the chief minister said that he did not want the masses to suffer in darkness for the years to come. He also criticised former president General Pervez Musharraf for failing to construct the Bhasha Dam even though he ruled the country for nine years. “Now, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has released funds for Bhasha and Dasu dams and the land acquisition process has begun,” he said.

About the QASP cost and power generation viability, Mr Sharif said the Central Power Purchase Authority had recorded 18.5 megawatts generation from the project. He dispelled the impression that the project cost stood at Rs18 billion, saying the cost had been calculated at Rs13.35 billion, including taxes.

Comparing the first solar power project with wind power plants currently operational in Jhimpir, Sindh, Mr Sharif said the 250 megawatts’ four wind power plants were producing 28 to 30 megawatts per day at the cost of $2.1 million per megawatt, while the QASP was producing 18.5 megawatts at the cost of $1.33 million.

He admitted that a hydro power project worth Rs13.5 billion would produce 90 megawatts per day with a far less tariff. However, he said, the hydro power project would require years and years to be functional. Taking time period in account, he said, the solar power production started immediately and its total generation over the years would match the hydro power production.

He said the New Bong Escape Hydro Power Project in Azad Jammu and Kashmir was being constructed at $152 million to produce electricity at the cost of $1.9 million per megawatt. He said this 84 megawatt project would be producing 63 per cent power on an average. He said the electricity unit cost for the first year stood at 10.2 cents per unit followed by 10 cents and 9.46 cents in the preceding years.

The chief minister said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had also inaugurated the run-of-the-river 100-megawatt Gulpur Hydro Power Plant on Poonch River in AJK, in 2013.

The chief minister said Punjab had very limited hydro projects locations.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2015

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KARACHI: The already tense relations between the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and security establishment strained further on Friday when the party accused Rangers of killing its workers in what it described as a fake encounter the other night, inviting a strong reaction from the paramilitary force which claimed that all the four killed were terrorists hiding in ‘safe houses’ on the directives of the party.

Rangers claimed to have killed the four suspects on Thursday night in an ‘encounter’ on Northern Bypass, near Sohrab Goth.

The situation turned tense after the MQM identified three of them as its workers who, it claimed, had been arrested by Rangers a month ago.

At a press conference, MQM leaders termed it extrajudicial killing in a “staged encounter” and announced a ‘day of mourning’ across the country on Saturday.

Both sides trade allegations over killings in ‘encounter’

Senior party leader Dr Farooq Sattar appealed to traders, transporters and industrialists to keep their businesses closed to express solidarity with the victims of “extrajudicial killing”. He said the MQM would hold a rally on Sunday in Liaquatabad which would proceed to the Quaid’s mausoleum in protest against the killings.

He said Rangers had killed the four people while claiming that they were involved in the murder of a lawyer. He identified three of them as Zohaibullah, Muhammad Adeel and Shahid Ghulam and claimed that they had been in Rangers’ custody for months and petitions for their recovery were filed in the Sindh High Court.

The identity of the fourth could not be ascertained.

Dr Sattar accused Rangers of lying before the high court that they had not arrested the three MQM workers. “If this was a [genuine] encounter then why the bodies of our three workers bore marks of torture,” he asked.

He said the names of the three workers were in a list of 150 party activists who had been the victims of ‘enforced disappearance’. “They (Rangers) have started killing the ‘missing workers’ and they gave us three bodies,” he added.

Dr Sattar said the extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, ban on speeches of MQM chief Altaf Hussain and continuing media trial were part of a ‘poll rigging’ before the local government elections.

He appealed to the army chief, the prime minister, the Karachi corps commander and the interior minister to save the lives of 147 missing MQM workers who, he claimed, were in the custody of Rangers and police, and produce them before court.

On the other hand, Rangers dismissed the MQM allegations as propaganda, misleading and against the truth.

“These terrorists were involved in the killing of MQM legal aid committee’s member Advocate Hasnain Bukhari and reports suggest that they were hiding in safe houses under party directives. Same like the killer of Waqas Shah, who died during a raid on the MQM Nine Nero headquarters, Asif Ali was at large after the incident and he was arrested by Rangers from Shahdadpur,” the paramilitary force said in a statement.

In a separate statement, Rangers came up with details of charges against the deceased MQM workers killed in the ‘encounter’.

“All four terrorists were also involved in extortion in Korangi Industrial Area and part of Raees Mama’s hit-men team,” it said.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: The drive against food outlets reached its third day on Friday, with teams of assistant commissioners (AC) and magistrates inspecting prestigious eateries that did not meet their standards. However, the teams have continued to overlook most food outlets.

The Islamabad deputy commissioner (DC) informed the media that Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration officials raided almost 10 outlets, including the Marriott Hotel whose bakery and store were sealed, as well as Des Pardes and Papasalis.

In addition to high-end outlets, two cafés at the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) were also sealed, IIUI spokesperson Harran Khattak revealed.

Drive against food outlets continues with a heavy focus on high end eateries

He said both cafés were already under observation, and that the university had received complaints about them. Khattak said the university supported the ICT administration’s action.

He added that there was one café still open for students, and that once the other two were unsealed, they would be handed over to another firm.

However, food outlets in commercial areas have gone mostly untouched, even though they see heavy traffic from many of the city’s workers.

The majority of these outlets operate in visibly unhygienic conditions, using damaged crockery and dirty tables. Some restaurants even have tables near open drains.

“It is strange that nobody can see the conditions at these restaurants in the city’s commercial areas,” Mohammad Zaheer, an IT expert who works in Blue Area said.

“The rates at these restaurants are quite high too.”

“These things need permanent intervention and can’t be rectified in one go,” an AC who raided a prestigious outlet said.

There are around 293 restaurants registered with the Capital Development Authority (CDA), but the authority only registers outlets operating in commercial areas.

The CDA only has the power to impose fines on restaurants that are registered with it, and CDA officials blame the ICT administration for not doing enough to streamline the food sector.

“We do not have the power to seal any outlet or check restaurants operating illegally in residential areas, but ICT has also been ignoring them,” a CDA official said.

The current anti-adulteration drive launched by the ICT came after the interior minister commended the efforts of officials in the Punjab government, who had been monitoring food outlets in Lahore.

The ICT took action against more than 60 outlets in three days, all of which were successful, as officials found shortcomings ranging from very to significantly serious.

“This is because we have some strong sense, and there have been complaints against various food outlets,” another AC said.

However, Islamabad DC retired Capt Mushtaq Ahmed said the raids were conducted by ACs and magistrates randomly in their respective sub-divisions.

Meanwhile, a majority of the sealed outlets, including Savour Foods and Chaaye Khaana, have been reopened by executive magistrates at the ICT within 24 hours.

Ahmed said that the raids and sealing of outlets are part of corrective action and are not aimed at putting anyone out of business.

“If they fail to meet the standards again, these outlets will be sealed for five to seven days,” he said, adding that “but at the same time we have also taken action against mid-level restaurants”.

Ahmed denied that action had only been taken against high-end outlets.

“We are not following the food inspector or anybody – the ICT issues challans worth Rs2.3 million last month alone, which is a significant figure in a city of Islamabad’s size,” he said, adding, “The only difference is that this time we are involving the media in our raids.”

Published in Dawn September 12th, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: The anti-terrorism court issued non-bailable warrants for the arrest of former president retired General Pervez Musharraf in the judges’ detention case on Friday.

During the last a couple of years, courts have issued over a dozen arrest warrants of Gen Musharraf in different cases, including the murder of Akbar Bugti, Lal Masjid cleric and the treason case.

This is the first time the ATC issued non-bailable arrest warrants of Musharraf since the proceedings in the judges’ detention case started in May 2013.

In April 2013, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) ordered the arrest of the former military ruler during the hearing of a plea seeking his pre-arrest bail in the judges’ detention case. The IHC also directed the police to book him under the relevant sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 for detaining the judges.

Musharraf was detained in his Chak Shahzad farmhouse which had been declared as a sub-jail till October 2013 when the ATC granted him post-arrest bail.

Since his release on bail, the ATC exempted Gen Musharraf from personal appearance 36 times on security and medical grounds. On Friday, the counsel for Gen Musharraf filed an application for exempting the former military ruler from personal attendance on account of his ailment.

ATC Judge Sohail Ikram noted that the applicant did not attach any medical certificate. After rejecting the plea, the judge issued the non-bailable arrest warrants.

The proceedings in the case were adjourned till October 1.

Published in Dawn September 12th, 2015

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View of a river in Bagrot Valley. - Photo courtesy: Syed Zahid Hussain

High temperature and heavy rain created havoc in the remote Chitral Valley in the Hindu Kush-Karakoram-Himalayas mountain ranges this July. At least three lakes that had formed at the end of glaciers either overflowed or burst their banks. With streams and rivers already swollen with heavier snowmelt and rain, it all came down in a series of flash floods.

The neighbouring Bagrot Valley was just as vulnerable, sitting in the path of numerous mountain streams and five glaciers, three of them hanging right over the valley. But the flash floods caused relatively little damage here and no one was killed.

The reason: Residents have formed ‘hazard watch groups’ to monitor the state of the surrounding glaciers and to send out a warning at any sign of a glacier lake overflowing or bursting its banks. On being warned, everyone moves to shelters that have been built on higher ground – usually a mosque or a hilltop home of a rich resident.

A flooded river in Bagrot Valley. - Photo courtesy: Syed Zahid Hussain

Global warming has multiplied the chances of these flash floods – technically called glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) – in the entire Himalayan range. Most glaciers end at fields of rubble, known as moraine. The water melting at the end, or snout, trickles through this moraine as streams above and below the ground. The streams keep joining up and eventually form the beginnings of a river at the bottom of the valley.

But as glaciers melt faster due to global warming, the trickles are not enough to drain the snout. So a lake forms, right there in the unstable moraine, and it keeps getting bigger every year. In a particularly hot summer, or after heavy rain or snowfall, the lake overflows or bursts through its banks, causing a flash flood right down the valley.

Risks reduced

Bagrot Valley farmer Mazhar Hussain was working in his fields when he heard the warning from the hazard watch group trained by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD). Without the warnings, the flash floods may well have killed people, says Hussain, who is associated with a local NGO, the Dobani Development Organisation.

A flooded river in Bagrot Valley. - Photo courtesy: Syed Zahid Hussain

Material damage was also minimised, thanks to a joint project started by the government of Pakistan, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Adaptation Fund.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Climate Change is implementing the project while UNDP is providing technical assistance and oversight.

The project has been particularly successful in the Bagrot Valley because it found a community already observing and dealing with the effect of climate change on their farms and homes. With money from the project, they built gabion walls and check dams that at least tempered the fury of the flood.

In Bagrot, a valley of 452 square kilometres, residents of 14 villages know that they are directly threatened by Hinarche, Burche, Gutumi, Rakaposhi and Yune glaciers. Since they herd sheep and yak and use the high pastures during summers, they also know the extent the lakes are expanding at the snouts of the glaciers.

A flooded river in Bagrot Valley. - Photo courtesy: Syed Zahid Hussain

The GLOF project manager Zahid Hussain said these five glaciers are not the only ones threatening Bagrot Valley. There are at least 11 glaciers in the upper reaches of which nine are facing the valley, which is also threatened by avalanches and hill torrents, he said.

Ghulam Rasool, PMD's director general, said as part of the project, automatic weather stations with rain, snow and river-level gauges had been installed, and volunteers of the hazard watch groups trained to read the instruments and provide a warning if necessary. The shepherds who take their livestock to the high altitude summer pastures have also been trained to look out for cracks developing on the hillsides and monitor them for any widening.

The volunteers also ensure the designated safe havens are equipped with emergency supplies, have obstruction-free pathways, food, blankets and so on.

Raging flood in a river of Bagrot Valley. - Photo courtesy: Syed Zahid Hussain

The GLOF project management has signed agreements with NGOs such as Dobani Development Organisation to set up a comprehensive community based disaster management system that can be used as a model in other places as well, said project manager Hussain. Disaster preparedness drills and the setting up of an emergency cash fund is part of the system. The NGOs are now going around distributing emergency kits and making sure everyone’s mobile phone has the number from which warnings will be sent.

A disaster management plan for the entire valley is also being prepared.

The limits of adaptation

But there is a point beyond which such adaptation measures do not work. The flood was just too strong – it swept away a 25-year-old bridge, damaged irrigation channels and most important, cut off the road between the valley and the world outside.

Damage caused by flash floods. - Photo courtesy: Syed Zahid Hussain

Now Bagrot farmers have harvested their fruits and potatoes but cannot get it to market.

It is ironic, because the farmers shifted from wheat to potatoes as the variety of wheat they had been planting was unable to cope with the changing climate. So now everyone in Bagrot grows potatoes, which fetches a higher price than wheat. In recent years, they have become richer. But now they do not know what to do, while their potatoes turn mouldy.

View of the river near Bagrot. - Photo courtesy: Syed Zahid Hussain

This article was originally published on The Third Pole and has been reproduced with permission.

KARACHI: The Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) paid over Rs1.88 billion to registered persons and their spouses towards pension and grant during July 2015.

It collected over Rs930 million on account of contribution from registered employers and companies during the month.

The EOBI registered 129 new employers and companies which resulted in listing and registration of 25,277 more workers for insurance and pension during the period.

Similarly, the institution approved 2,574 cases of pension claims which included 1500 cases of old-age, 765 spouses, 52 disabled persons and 257 cases of old-age grant.

EOBI spokesman Asrar Ayoobi said the total number of registered and insured employees stood at 3,167,478.

The number of pensioners stood at 362,522. Of them, 225,667 are old-age beneficiaries, 131,714 spouse and 5,141 are disabled persons.

The EOBI is presently disbursing minimum pension amount of Rs5,250 per month to registered employees.

He appealed to all employers to register their workers with EOBI and regularly pay their contribution so that employees or their spouses could benefit from the pension scheme.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Friday that the ongoing operation against criminals in Karachi would be taken to its logical conclusion.

“The miscreants now are carrying out cowardly attacks as a last resort but are destined to be defeated ultimately,” he said during a meeting with representatives of the business community.

The meeting was convened to let exporters present their grievances and proposals for arresting declines exports and promoting business activities.

According to an official announcement, the prime minister expressed the government’s resolve to continue the operation in Karachi.

He said the situation in the city had improved to a great extent and there were signs of revival of business activities. “The government has taken all major decisions with consensus and made amendments to the Constitution and law,” he said, adding that it had courageously punished perpetrators of heinous crimes.

Mr Sharif said the government was combating the menace of terrorism and had launched a decisive war through the Zarb-i-Azb operation. The terrorists were on the run, he said.

He said the total cost of the operation was $1.9 billion, of which the cost of rehabilitation was $800 million, security enhancement $530m and the operational expenses were $270m. The government has disbursed half of the amount and will continue to support it till its completion.

He said successes achieved in the battle against terrorism were the result of unprecedented valour and commitment of the armed forces for peace and stability. “The officers and jawans of our valiant armed forces have rendered tremendous sacrifices and even children laid down their lives in this national effort,” he said. These sacrifices will keep alive the resolve of the nation against terrorism.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2015

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KARACHI: Four suspects allegedly associated with the Indian spy agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) were given in police custody for further interrogation and investigation for another week by an antiterrorism court on Friday.

The investigation officer of the case also submitted an initial investigation report in court stating that the suspects carried out a series of bomb blasts in the city in 2008 on the direction of their ‘party leadership’.

The suspects — Abdul Jabbar alias Zafar Tension, Mohsin Khan alias Kashif, Shafiq alias Pappu and Khalid Aman alias Anna — were presented by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of the Sindh police before the ATC that extended their remand for a week.

Earlier on Aug 28, they were remanded in police custody for two weeks after the investigation officer told the ATC judge that the suspects were involved in anti-state activities, such as targeted killings, bomb blasts and other terrorism acts to instigate unrest in the city.

Their arrest was disclosed by the CTD at a press conference by SSP Naveed Khawaja who told media that the suspects had obtained militant training in various cities of India between 1995 and 2002.

The initial investigation report submitted in the ATC said that they allegedly carried out a series of bombings in July 2008.

Fifty people, including law-enforcers, were wounded in the low-intensity bomb blasts.

It said that the bombing was carried out on the direction of Mahmood Siddiqui, brother of Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Qamar Mansoor, to create panic in the city.

According to the report, the Indian spy agency kept on financing the suspects and an amount of Rs150,000 was last time transferred in the bank account of suspect Mohsin Khan.

The police said that a laptop and some important documents were also seized from the suspects, all employees of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board, and their custody was required to track down other associates of their network.

The ATC judge, after going through the initial investigation report and listening to the IO, further extended the police custody of the suspects for another week and directed the investigator to bring a progress report on the next date.

Published in Dawn September 12th, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: Lauding the principled stand taken by Pakistan on national security advisers’ talks with India, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani has said that a strong Pakistan is “pre-requisite” for resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the aspirations of Kashmiri people.

In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, he said the way Pakistan had advocated the rights of the oppressed people of Kashmir had given a renewed strength to the Kashmiris’ passion and spirit of freedom.

He said that the stand had resulted in highlighting the issue of Kashmir across the world and reinforcing the fact that Kashmir was not a territorial dispute between Pakistan and India but an issue of over 13 million people who were genuinely struggling for their birth and basic right and were the most important party in the Kashmir dispute.

Take a look: Hurriyat’s Geelani writes ‘secret’ letter to Sharif

“For this Mr prime minister, we are thankful to you, the Pakistan Army and the whole Pakistani nation,” he said and expressed hope that Pakistan would continue boldly pursuing its strong policy on Kashmir.

Mr Geelani said the case of Kashmiri people was strong and Pakistan’s principled position could lead India to be made accountable before the comity of nations and give up its obstinate policy.

He said the Kashmiris were not oblivious of the internal and external challenges faced by Pakistan, but it was also a fact that besides their own rights they were also fighting for a strong Pakistan.

He recalled that the Quaid-i-Azam had termed Kashmir the “jugular vein” of Pakistan because of its geographic and political importance.

The APHC leader said it would be very dangerous if Kashmir went into the hands of India permanently or Pakistan retreated from its stance.

In this context, the freedom movement was linked to the struggle for defence of Pakistan, he said, adding that the Kashmir movement was equally important for the people of Pakistan and the oppressed Kashmiris.

He prayed for “our struggle for freedom of occupied Kashmir as well as completion and defence of Pakistan”.

Terming a strong Pakistan “pre-requisite” for resolution of Kashmir dispute while keeping in view the aspirations and sacrifices of Kashmiris, said the dream of the region’s freedom could not be fulfilled without achieving this objective.

The Kashmiri leader said it could not be ignored that cordial and durable ties with Afghanistan and Iran were the first step toward making Pakistan strong.—APP

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2015

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KARACHI: Doctors at the Liaquat National Hospital on Friday discharged the Muttahida Qaumi Movement lawmaker Rashid Godil 25 days after he was seriously wounded in an armed attack that left him on a ventilator.

Officials said Mr Godil’s condition was stable early this week before his party recorded his 30-second video message in which he thanked the countrymen for praying for him that finally resulted in his ‘miraculous’ recovery.

“Mr Godil has recovered and [is] in good health. Today, doctors have discharged him,” said LNH spokesman Anjum Rizvi. “He left the hospital this afternoon.”

Sources said Mr Godil was accompanied by his family and two of his party members when he was shifted to his house. He was also escorted by Rangers personnel.

The doctors said Mr Godil had sustained five bullet wounds — two in the neck and three in the chest and abdomen. One bullet which affected his right lung was still in the body and would stay there until he is fit to be operated upon. His driver died in the August 18 armed attack.

Published in Dawn September 12th, 2015

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It's that time of the week, folks: Coke Studio is releasing the fifth batch of its singles today, and the return of Ali Azmat to the platform gives us enough reason to celebrate.

Rockers have united for his track titled 'Rangeela': while the lyrics were written back in the day by songwriting legend Sabir Zafar, 'Rangeela' was originally composed by Bilal Maqsood, and will feature Omran Shafique on the guitars for this performance. This is Ali's third song for Coke Studio; 'Babu Bhai' from Season 6 was a hit in 2013, and we hope 'Rangeela' is just as delightfully irreverent.

Mekaal Hasan — Photograph by Kohi Marri

Another rockstar in the episode is Mekaal Hassan, whose relatively new Pak-India band line-up with Sharmista Chatterjee behind the mic and Ahsan Papu on the flutes, will grace the Coke Studio stage for the first time. Their track is titled 'Kinarey'.

Asim Azhar — Photograph by Kohi Marri

As for reinterpretations of the classics this week, Bakshi Brothers's rendition of 'Khalis Makhan' will segue into Saieen Zahoor's 'Peera Ho', while debutantes Samra Khan and Asim Azhar will take on Noor Jehan's 'Hina Ki Khushbu', in which Asim has interspersed some of his own lyrics.

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has retrieved official vehicles from all its law officers except the attorney general (AG) and the additional attorneys general (AAGs).

The government had offered Rs60,000 per month to the deputy attorneys general (DAGs) and Rs30,000 per month to the standing counsel (SCs) under the monetisation policy.

A letter issued on August 27 by the attorney general office had directed the law officers to surrender their vehicles to the focal person, Mohammad Khalilur Rehman, by September 9.

Under monetisation policy, govt has offered Rs60,000 per month to deputy attorneys general and Rs30,000 per month to standing counsel

According to an official document, there are 130 law officers, including the AG, six AAGs, 38 DAGs and standing counsel.

The AG is allowed to keep an 1800cc vehicle, the AAG and DAG 1,600cc and the SCs 1,000cc vehicles.

“Secretary law, justice and human rights division has directed the office of the attorney general to complete the task regarding surrendering of official vehicles to the cabinet division on top priority basis,” the letter stated.

“All law officers are requested to comply with aforesaid directions of the competent authority so that transport monetisation facility is allowed at the earliest.”

In compliance with the August 27 letter, all the DAGs and SCs returned their official vehicles to the cabinet division, a deputy attorney general told Dawn.

In 2011, the then government of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) introduced the policy allowing the monetisation of official transport. Under the policy, civil servants working in BPS-20 to BPS-22 and eligible for official vehicles were offered certain amount in lieu of the vehicles.

They could also buy the cars in their use at the depreciated value of 15 per cent per year from the original purchase price. However, for the law officers, there was no option to purchase the vehicles.

An earlier letter of July 16, 2015, addressed to all AAGs, DAGs and SCs working in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Bahawalpur, Multan, Karachi, Sukkur, Hyderabad, Peshawar, D.I. Khan, Abbottabad, Mingora, Bannu, Quetta and Gilgit-Baltistan had stated that “the prime minister has approved the facility of monetisation of transport of law officers on the following rates with the condition to surrender the budget allocated for POL, driver and repair of vehicles etc.”

The government offered Rs70,000 per month to the AAGs in lieu of official vehicles, the letter stated.

A law officer claimed that though the AAGs were also asked to surrender their vehicles, they did not return and were allowed to retain the cars against a nominal payment.

He said the monthly salary of a DAG was around Rs150,000 which was less than even the judicial allowance an AAG received per month.

A standing counsel told Dawn that the government had offered them Rs30,000 per month for surrendering a 1000cc car, POL, driver and the maintenance allowance.

He said the salary of a standing counsel was Rs100,000 per month which was not enough to keep the chauffeur-driven car and pay for its fuel, repair and maintenance. The law officer said the retrieval of the official vehicles would adversely affect their performance.

Additional attorney general Rana Mohammad Waqar, on the other hand, said the government had extended monetary benefit to the law officers through the monetisation facility. He explained that the monetisation allowance had been offered to the law officers in accordance with their pay scales.

With regard to purchasing the official vehicle on the book value, AAG Rana said as compared to a large number of DAGs and SCs, there were only six AAGs in the country. He said the AAG post was equivalent to BPS-21 in which the officers had been allowed to retain the official cars after paying a certain amount.

He, however, said a proposal for disposing of the official vehicles to the rest of the law officers on the book value was also under consideration and they may get back their official cars.

Published in Dawn September 12th, 2015

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KARACHI: Situation in most parts of Karachi remained normal and business and educational institutions opened as per schedule Saturday morning despite an announcement by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) that called for a ‘day of mourning’ along with an appeal to traders and transporters to keep their businesses shut in response to its allegations that Rangers had killed three of its workers.

Know more: Four men killed in Rangers encounter were MQM workers: Farooq Sattar

Regular public transport could be seen on the roads of the metropolis while petrol pumps and schools were also operating as per routine. No significant decrease could be observed in traffic on the roads in a majority of the city's areas.

Personnel from the Rangers paramilitary force were present in sensitive areas of Karachi as well as in spots of the metropolis that are routinely crowded.

Most traders opened their shops and businesses. However, markets in some areas, including Korangi, Federal B. Area, Landhi and Karimabad remained shut.

Earlier, Dawn reported that the party's call came when the already tense relations between MQM and the security establishment strained further on Friday with the MQM accusing Rangers of killing its workers in what it described as a fake encounter. The MQM's accusation was followed by a strong reaction from the paramilitary force which claimed that all the four killed were terrorists hiding in ‘safe houses’ on the party's directives.

Rangers claimed to have killed the four suspects on Thursday night in an ‘encounter’ on the Northern Bypass, near Sohrab Goth.

Also read: Four suspected terrorists killed in encounter with Rangers

The situation turned tense after the MQM identified three of them as its workers who, it claimed, had been arrested by Rangers a month ago.

On the other hand, Rangers dismissed MQM allegations as propaganda that was misleading and contrary to the truth.

In a statement, the Rangers came up with details of charges against the deceased MQM workers killed in the ‘encounter’. The force said: “All four terrorists were also involved in extortion in Korangi Industrial Area and part of Raees Mama’s hit-men team."

Following its allegations last night, the MQM appealed to traders, transporters and industrialists to keep their businesses closed to express solidarity with the victims of what it called extrajudicial killings.

The MQM would also hold a rally on Sunday in Karachi's Liaquatabad area which would proceed to the Quaid’s mausoleum in protest against the killings.

Rangers arrest 8 'miscreants' for forcing market shutdown

Pakistan Rangers Sindh on Saturday claimed arresting eight 'miscreants' for forcing market closure in various areas of Karachi.

According to a Rangers press release, the paramilitary force conducted operations in Liaquatabad No. 4, Karimabad, Orangi Sector 5 and Jubilee areas of the city and arrested 8 'miscreants', who they claimed belong to the MQM.

The 'miscreants' were arrested for "threatening traders' community and peaceful citizens into halting everyday activities," the handout said.

The press release said the arrested suspects will be presented before anti-terrorism courts (ATC) soon.

Later in the day, the paramilitary force in a press release paid tribute to the “peace-loving citizens” of Karachi and other cities in Sindh for ignoring calls for strike by those “against peace.” The release lauded citizens for “rejecting the strike despite threats.”

KARACHI: The top brass of the Pakistan Peoples Party, including the Sindh chief minister, visited the Karachi central prison on Friday to meet their colleague Syed Ali Nawaz Shah who was recently convicted of corruption by an accountability court.

The purpose of the rare visit to the prison by the CM and other important Pakistan Peoples Party leaders was to express solidarity with the jailed member of the provincial assembly, whose conviction in a 2001 accountability reference was termed “misuse of judicial process for political victimisation” by PPP co-chairman Asif Zardari.

Besides CM Qaim Ali Shah, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah, provincial ministers Nasir Shah, Mumtaz Jakhrani and others met the septuagenarian politician, who along with his nephew, Syed Imtiaz Ali Shah, and cousin, Syed Khadim Ali Shah, both ex-MPAs, has been sentenced to five years in prison.

While an official statement issued by CM House was silent about the provincial chief executive’s meeting with Ali Nawaz Shah, a spokesman for CM House told Dawn that the CM also met Mr Shah, a sitting MPA from PS-65 (Mirpurkhas), during his visit to the central prison because of his long association with him.

Sources said that the CM ordered the authorities concerned to provide improved facilities (A-Class) to the jailed politician. They said that the PPP leaders also held consultations regarding filing an appeal against his conviction before the Sindh High Court.

Mr Shah is an old guard of the PPP. He was first elected a member of the Sindh Assembly in 1970. He was the federal minister for industries in Benazir Bhutto’s first cabinet in 1988. He became a senator and returned to the Sindh Assembly thrice.

Meanwhile, according to the official statement, the CM during his visit to the central prison directed the authorities concerned to ensure foolproof security of all prisons in Sindh.

He said slackness in this regard would not be tolerated as security of prisons was an important component of the National Action Plan.

Accompanied by Sindh Home Secretary Mukhtiar Ahmed Soomro and others, Mr Shah went straight to the prison’s kitchen where he inspected and tasted the food being provided to inmates.

He also took a round of other facilities of jail — prisoner’s wards, society for advancement of health, education and environment for rehabilitation of prisoners, computer training and language centre and school of arts and music — where prisoners were being trained for different skills and their social and economic reformation.

The CM also directed the authorities that no leniency be given to the hardened criminals involved in terrorism, targeted killing, kidnapping, extortion and other heinous crimes.

He also stressed the need for strictly implementing the jail manual.

The chief minister announced remission of two months for the prisoners involved in minor offences.

He also asked the jail authorities to prepare and submit to him a list of those prisoners who had completed their sentences but were still in prison because of non-payment of fines against them. He said that the fines against such prisoners may be paid by the government to get them released.

Published in Dawn September 12th, 2015

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QUETTA: Iranian authorities handed over the bodies of five alleged drug smugglers of Pakistan-origin to Pakistani authorities on Friday.

The five along with their three Iranian accomplices were killed in a gunbattle with Iran’s security forces near the Pak-Iran border on Sept 6.

Iranian authorities had claimed that the men were involved in drug smuggling.

Also read: Six Pakistanis among nine ‘drug smugglers’ killed by Iranian forces

Official sources said Iranian border authorities brought five coffins at the Taftan border and handed them over to a senior official of Levies Force.

A senior official of the Taftan administration said the bodies were handed over to relatives of the deceased after legal formalities.

The men identified as Bismillah Khan, Sirajuddin, Zahoor Ahmed, Mir Khan and Farimroz hailed from Taftan town in the Chagai district.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2015

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