Car giant helps earthquake victims
Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, Korea's largest automobile manufacturing group, announced yesterday that a donation of $100,000 to support relief efforts for victims of the catastrophic earthquake that hit Indonesia on May 27.
Kia Motors Corp. and Hyundai Motor Co. donated $40,000 and $60,000 respectively to the relief effort at a ceremony held on Tuesday at the Indonesia Ministry of Social Affairs.
Kia Motors senior executive vice president and COO Park Jung-moon said, "Our sincere thoughts and prayers go out to all of those affected by the recent tragedy in Indonesia. We hope that our assistance will help speed up the ongoing relief efforts and make a difference in the lives of as many Indonesians as possible."
In the past, Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group has been an active participant in providing emergency assistance to various disaster relief efforts around the world in the form of funds, ambulances, relief goods and other aid. The group donated $200,000 to the Philippines government following the devastating landslide in February of this year.
The group donated $534,000 to India and $150,000 each to the authorities in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Sri Lanka following the tsunami that hit southeast Asia in December 2004. It also provided $370,000 worth of free vehicle repairs and parts supply to the affected nations, while 5,000 local Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group employees and dealers joined in the relief effort.
The company also provided support for victims of the Iran and Algeria earthquakes in 2003 as well as the Pakistan earthquake of 2005.
(sophie@heraldm.com)
http://www.theirc.org/where/the_irc_in_pakistan.html
Photo Essay: In Pakistan, IRC Helps Quake Survivors in Remote Villages Start Anew June 5, 2006
Water for Life in Pakistan May 26, 2006
A Sturdy Shelter, a Water Tap and a New Start for Quake Families in Pakistan May 17, 2006
Critical Care for Mothers and Children in Remote Communities May 16, 2006
New Skills and Sewing Machines Help Earthquake Survivors Support their Families May 4, 2006
Pakistan Quake: Health and Homes for Survivors
Building a Future for Afghan Refugee Children 03 Jun 2002
Medium term outlook for economy in Pakistan seems Good: ADB
Pakistan Times Business & Commerce Desk
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Economic Update prepared by the Pakistan Resident Mission of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) provides an analysis of economic trends in Pakistan during the first three quarters of fiscal year 2005/06, and presents an outlook of the economy for the whole year.
ADB Country Director, Mr. Peter Fedon, said âthe medium term outlook for the economy looks good and although economic growth decelerated in the first half of 2005/6, the economy is expected to still post robust growth for the full year.â
The Update notes the significant recent decline in poverty as estimated by the Government based on a sound methodology.
The Report also discusses recent poverty trends in the country and reviews poverty reducing public expenditure during the first half of 2005/6.
The Government continued to pursue an expansionary fiscal policy and the fiscal deficit increased. The increase in Government spending was mainly due to a sharp increase in development expenditure and payments for relief operations for victims of the October 2005 earthquake.
In agriculture, the cotton and sugarcane crops are estimated to be smaller than last year. The growth in most manufacturing items in the first seven months of the year was also lower.
Construction, however, continued to expand at a rapid pace. In the services sector, telecom services, financial sector, and wholesale and retail trade continued to show a robust growth.
A significant deceleration in food inflation was largely offset by a sharp increase in oil prices. Annualized overall inflation declined by one percentage point to 8.3 percent in the first ten months of 2005/06.
External trade continued to expand rapidly in the first three quarters of 2005/06, with imports increasing by 43.2 percent and exports by 18.6 percent. The growth of imports was led by petroleum and petroleum products, which together increased by 64.5 percent to $4.6 billion. Textile and clothing was the largest contributor to export growth.
There was an almost three-fold increase in foreign direct investment, partly because of higher privatization proceeds. The foreign exchange reserves held by SBP increased by $477 million to $10.3 billion, which are sufficient to finance 4.2 months of projected imports in the current year.
The deficit in the current account of the balance of payments almost quadrupled to $4.7 billion in the first three quarters of 2005/06, as imports grew rapidly. The increase in the current account deficit was largely offset by a sharp turnaround in the financial account. Pakistanâs external debt declined by $589 million to $35.2 billion in the first half of 2005/6.
In March 2006, the Government issued sovereign bonds for $500 million with tenures of 10 and 30 years. The bonds were heavily oversubscribed.
The ADB report highlights that the outlook for the economy is encouraging. Economic growth, although less than last year, will remain at a healthy rate of 6.0-6.5% in 2005/6. The growth in agriculture sector is expected to be sluggish, due to the smaller cotton and sugarcane crops as is the growth of the livestock sub-sector.
However, the large-scale manufacturing sector is projected to grow at a robust rate of 10.0 percent, as indicated by the sharp increase in imports of raw materials and rapid growth in private sector credit. In the services sector, telecom services, banking and trade are expected to sustain high growth in 2005/6.
With robust economic growth and a sharp increase in imports, the target for revenues is likely to be surpassed.
Expenditures are also projected to exceed the budget estimate. As a result, the budget deficit in 2005/6 could rise to 4.2 percent of GDP compared with the target of 3.8 percent. Imports are projected to increase by 30.0 percent, because of high oil prices and continued strong domestic demand.
The end of the quota regime since January 2005 and the robust growth in world trade will boost exports, which are expected to increase by 14.0 percent. The trade deficit is projected to increase to over $8.0 billion, and the current account deficit to $6.0-6.5 billion.â
Pakistan to relocate 55,000 Quake Survivors
'Pakistan Times' Special correspondent
MUZAFFARABAD (AJK): Almost 55,000 earthquake survivors will be relocated due to the danger posed by monsoon landslides in Azad Kashmir, officials said on Saturday.
âA strategy is being evolved to relocate some 50 to 55 thousand people from areas prone to landslides before the start of monsoon season,â the regionâs top administrator Kashif Murtaza said.
Murtaza said that 18 villages were likely to be affected.
The government would work with the United Nations and other aid agencies get the people out of harmâs way, he said.
âIt is a big challenge to relocate the most vulnerable to safer places before the monsoon starts,â Murtaza said.
Depending on how many people need to be resettled the government may have to buy land near Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Kashmir, he added.
The government already pays 25,000 jobless survivors a monthly benefit of 3,000 rupees (50 dollars) under a six-month grant programme.
It has also paid 4.27 billion rupees (71 million dollars) to 58,000 survivors whose houses were damaged by the earthquake.
The 7.6 magnitude quake on October 8, 2005 claimed more than 77,000 lives, seriously injured nearly 70,000 people and left 3.3 million homeless in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir.
Landslide in Monsoon
Chief Secretary of Azad Kashmir Murtaza has warned of massive landslides threatening to 50,000-55,000 of lives of quake victims in the area in the upcoming monsoon seasons.
âAround 50,000-55,000 people are living in such areas were heavy landsliding can take place as the monsoon season begins.
However, as the monsoon seasons is getting closers settling the threatened people in the area at a safe places is a serious challenge for the governmentâ, he stated.
The Government of Azad Kahmir is working hand in hand with the Unitd Nations and other aid agencies to offset such possible situation before it erupts into a volcanoci problem, informed the chief secrtary.
He said, efforts had also been taken in shape of considering over purchasing land at a place near Muzzaffarabad to shift the people who are in apparent threat of the landslides.â
PPP says AWACS deal struck a week after Oct 26 earthquake
Islamabad, June 04: Opposition Pakistan Peoples Party today claimed the government had finalised the one billion dollar deal for Swedish airborne AWACS radar just a week after the deadly quake last year even as it was seeking largescale international assistance for relief works.
Contradicting official claims that the deal was approved by the Cabinet only on May 24, PPP spokesman Farhtullah Babar said a "down-payment" for the deal was made a week after the devastating earthquake in Pakistan occupied Kashmir and NWFP in which over 85,000 people were killed.
"There are several questions and inconsistencies. The deal was signed and the down payment made in October last. A month later General Pervez Musharraf claimed that he had yet to give a final go ahead to the deal," Babar who was also the member of Senate Defence Committee till recently, said in an article in a newspaper today.
"Neither Pakistan nor Sweden announced it (even though) the deal was signed and a down-payment made on October 15, a week after the earthquake that sent the government in a tailspin begging financial assistance for relief and reconstruction.
"It is therefore strange that the Cabinet met to accord `approval` to a deal that had already been done and sealed," Babar who was also the spokesman for PPP chairperson and former Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto said.
Babar said even though the deal was clinched Musharraf, who put off the purchase of 75 f-16s from the US in view of the quake maintained no decision was not take on AWACS which involved Swedish Erie-eye radars fitted on to SAAB planes.
Pakistan Air Force wanted the AWACS to mach the falcon airborne radars being acquired by the Indian Air Force.
"The opposition members demanded cancellation of the deal citing reasons for it. We pointed out that in the meeting Musharraf had himself told foreign journalists on November 17, we haven`t decided it (the SAAB deal) as yet," Babar said.
At that point the nation was desperately seeking donations for earthquake reconstruction. International donors asked us to reprioritise our spending, he said adding "we are also witnessing a strident drive for peace in the region that should serve as some breather in the reckless arms race.
Babar`s criticism of AWACS came as Pakistan reportedly plans to hike its defence expenditure by Rs 50 billion in the budget for 2006-7 scheduled to be presented in the National Assembly tomorrow for new acquisitions.
"Is national security to be measured in terms of bullet for bullet, gun for gun and radar for radar (with India) or is it to be measured in terms of social cohesion, national integration and economic development in addition to military muscle," he said.
Babar also questioned the decision to opt for SAAB deal stating that the technology was considered obsolete.
"The evaluation of the surveillance technology reportedly started several years ago raising questions whether the technology has not become obsolete and also the price at which it was available then and now," he said.
"The MiG-29s and Sukhoi 30s in the Indian Air Force are equipped with BVR (beyond-visual-range) capability. Its acquisition of a strategic radar systems from Israel has raised concerns whether surveillance technology being acquired now by Pakistan is capable of effectively addressing the threat perception arising out of India`s capability," he said.
Bureau Report
US liberates policy on news dissemination
By M. A. Qudoos
2 June 2006
DUBAI â The US is now adopting the policy of an âupfrontâ approach to dissemination of information instead of the previous practice of not talking about subjects that the country did not want to discuss.
This was stated by Captain Frank Pascual, director of the media engagement team of the US Central Command, based at the Dubai Media City, while speaking on âBridging the Gapâ at a meeting of the Pakistan Business Council on Tuesday.
âWe have realised that we cannot run from bad news. We have to be upfront. We have to talk about incidents and events even if they are not in our favour. If we do not do that, we encourage the spread of incorrect information,â Pascual said.
As an example of changing US attitude, he cited the US military's explanation of this week's incident in Kabul. âWe have learned. We have achievements to our credit and we have made mistakes as well.â
Pascual said that Dubai was selected to be the venue of his office because the city is the hub of media. âThis is where the media is. There has been a tremendous increase, to the present 1,500, in the number of media in Dubai since the war in Iraq. Dubai is also a great place for cultural exchange,â he said.
âWe are more than US military and coalition forces spokesmen. We are building a relationship. We want to open communication with the Middle East. Our job is also to bridge the gap between cultures. We want to make an impact, we are committed to continuityâ Pascual said, adding that since his posting here, he was able to see the world from the eyes of the people in this region.
Pascual agreed that there were impediments and misunderstanding. âAmericans are not familiar with the Middle East. They see the region through the Palestine issue and through the cameras of the media,â he said.
âWe are very disappointed by the response of our nation to the DP World case and the things that were said publicly in this regard,â he said.
Pascual said that the US considers Pakistan as a valuable ally and a great friend. âPakistan has detained or eliminated more Al Qaeda members than any other country, even the US. Pakistan has made valuable contribution to the war on terror. President Bush as deep appreciation for Pakistan,â he said.
He said that Pakistan and US personnel worked side by side during the Pakistan earthquake operations. âThe differences had boiled down because both were working for one goal of rescue and relief. The need for rapid response was the challenge.â
Pascual said that a small group of people had damaged the reputation of the military at the Abu Gharaib prison in Iraq. He said that the US was âlooking to get awayâ from the Guantanamo Bay.
Pascual's speech was followed by an active Q&A session, including questions on difficulties faced by Pakistanis at US immigration and on the US intervention in other countries. Present with him was Captain Eric E. Clark, media officer and spokesman.
Tanvir ul Islam Khawaja, President of the Pakistan Business Council, while introducing the speaker said: âThe Council organises different kinds of programmes of interest to members, including programmes to keep them posted on the developments in the region. Today's meeting is part of this series.â
In his closing remarks, Khawaja stressed that civilian nuclear technology should also be made available to Pakistan.
Source: Ockenden International (OI)
Date: 29 May 2006
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Pakistan: Life after the earthquake - Two stories of young women
Pakistan sustained the heaviest death toll and destruction in its 58-year history after a powerful earthquake registering 7.6 on the Richter scale ripped through the north of the country and Pakistani-administered Kashmir on 8 October last year. More than 80,000 people were killed and over 100,000 were injured while nearly 4 million people were rendered homeless just weeks before the start of the bitter Himalayan winter.
Six months on, the emergency relief phase is almost over and focus is shifting towards rebuilding the shattered region. Almost all the official camps have been closed, but some people are still waiting to return to their homes, as many roads to the more remote villages are impassable. The Government has planned grants to help people reconstruct their houses. The money is being paid in 3 installments; the first one has already been paid and the assessment for the second payment is ongoing.
Ockenden's contribution to the relief phase
Using the expertise of its Pakistan based teams, Ockenden decided to help children return to seven schools in Garhi Habibullah, in the district of Mansehra. In the initial campaign, this project set up temporary schools in tents at seven different locations to be managed by the local communities. Thirty-eight teachers (31 women and seven men) have been employed and are now educating 853 primary age children, including 450 girls.
In addition, Ockenden also helped about 6,000 children to return to 50 remote government primary schools in four tehsils (equivalent to an English Borough) of Mansehra. Ockenden provided tents, stationery, mats, blackboards and school bags to all 50 government-supported schools. Now the teams are busy working to get as many children as possible to school whilst establishing and strengthening the school management committees and teachers training in all the schools.
Future plans
Support to private schools will be expanded by up to 20 semi-permanent earthquake resistant schools, and the community will be further involved in their day-to-day management. Support to 50 government schools will be extended up to 100 schools in the coming months.
Education is the only asset that helped my family to survive
Somia is working as a social organizer with Ockenden International in Garhi Habibullah. She comes every day from Balakot, which is one of the most severely affected areas in the district of Mansehra. According to the media this city has to be shifted as it is in the red zone and the government has already got plans to provide land to people affected by the earthquake so that they can build houses. This land is in Bisian in the same district as Balakot.
Somia comes from a family that was rich, before the earthquake, with lots of property, shops and a printing press. They were living in a big house with two of her uncles as neighbours. Each of the uncles--families were killed when their houses collapsed. The children who survived were divided between the relatives living in different parts of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP). The remaining members of Somia's immediate family have fixed a tent on the rubble of her house. Her house collapsed and then burnt, as they had the fire on for cooking in the kitchen when the jolt was felt.
Somia said that she had just started working as a teacher in a private school near her house a few months ago and was busy teaching the class when the earthquake shook Balakot. The school collapsed, killing a number of students and injuring others. She stayed under the collapsed roof of the classroom with many other students until evening and was flown by helicopter to Abbotobad where she received treatment for her injuries. It took weeks before the survivors of her family finally met up with her in an official camp in Mansehra. Somia described that time as being difficult for everyone.
Somia tells with tears in her eyes that as a child she remembered her parents having arguments about educating girls. Her father was always of the opinion not to educate girls, despite her mother having been educated in Peshawar and working as a teacher before she married her father and moved to Balakot. Her mother, however, was very aware of the importance of education and succeeded at providing Somia with the opportunity to get an education. Today, Somia believes that it is only because of the education her mother argued for that she could get the job with Ockenden that pays enough to feed her family, there is no other source of income for my family except my salary. Both of my parents have still not recovered physically and psychologically. It is tough, I understand, but my job keeps me busy and I forget about my troubles during the day - but when I go home, it feels as if it was just today that we lost two of our brothers and two of our uncles and their families. After coming back from the official camp in Mansehra in March, Somia and her family fixed their tent on the rubble of her collapsed and burnt house. She is not sure when her family will be able to reconstruct their house as her father, the only male left in the family, has barely recovered from his leg injury leaving him very weak and suffering from trauma, winter in the tents was harsh and summer will be even harder, but there is no other option.
We were told that we would not be forced to leave the camp but that facilities would no longer be provided
Zubaida, 17 years old, is very happy to see the team from Ockenden in their area. She hopes Ockenden will establish a school in her village so that she can send her younger sister and three brothers to the school for as long as they remain in that area. This family comes from Kaghan Valley and the road to their village is still closed. Her father had been a schoolteacher in his village, which has not been reachable since 8 October. The children lost their mother, a brother and a grandmother when their house collapsed during October's earthquake. The rest, injured and survivors, were flown from the valley by an army helicopter to the hospital in Abbotobad and later shifted to Bisian camp in the district of Mansehra. çn the camp we received cooked food and had access to basic facilities, including health and education,--says Zubaida. The first few weeks were spent taking care of the sick and injured and mourning dead family members, however, they soon found that they had a lot of friends around them in the same camp - all had similar stories to share. Despite the very cold winter they managed to adjust to life in the camp.
At the beginning of March they received news that the camps were being closed down and that they would have to go back to their villages. People had mixed feelings about starting a new life in their own village and others thought that little or no support would be available at their original homes, started packing. we were sad, as it was not clear what to do because the road to our village was still closed. The whole range of mountains had fallen down. We were told that we would not be forced to leave the camp but that facilities would no longer be provided. Father also questioned how he could leave the children in a tent without having neighbours around,--explained Zubaida. It was then that one of the families from Garhi Habibullah offered Zubaida and her family a place to fix their tent in their village, until the road back to their village was cleared up.
They moved to Garhi Habibullah with a tent, 20 KG of wheat flour and 20 KG of rice. Their food supply was running low and their father was left worrying about how they would survive from one day to the next. He could not go to find work and leave them alone. Zubaida's youngest brother is 15 years old, he is big enough to help his father but he has not been himself since the earthquake struck. Even though he was not physically severely injured he is clearly suffering great trauma. Zubaida now just prays that her family can go back to their village where they know a lot of people and do not have to fear being alone.
Security chiefs call for joint efforts to fight threats
Singapore, June 4 (AP): Asian security chiefs on Sunday called for greater joint efforts to combat common threats, be it ``a terrorist or a virus,'' but festering rivalries were evident as Pakistan accused India of starting a nuclear arms race.
An annual gathering of Defence ministers and high-level officials on regional security ended with a warning by Australian Defence Minister Brendan Nelson that East Timor could become a haven for terrorists if the countries in the region do not come together to help stop its slide into full civil war.
Earlier Sunday, Malaysian Defence Minister Najib Razak proposed a regional humanitarian relief center as part of an Asian ``security village.''
``If we could set up many anti-terrorist centers all over, then I am sure we can create this regional-based humanitarian relief coordinating center,'' Razak told the conference, which was also attended by U.S. Defence Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld.
Najib said the proposed center could provide an organized and coordinated response to disasters such as the Dec. 26, 2004, Indian Ocean tsunami and last month's earthquake in Indonesia. While medical and rescue teams from the region were deployed swiftly in both cases, he said they could have been more organized and better coordinated.
``I am confident that we have the political will to realize this,'' he said.
He said the center should not be exclusive to the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and could possibly include Australia, United States and Japan.
``The security that we seek in this community is common security - security for all. It is not just the security of states or sea lines but the safety of its people,'' he said.
Simmering tensions of South Asia rose to the surface at the forum when Pakistan's Gen. Ehsan ul-Haq, the Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, said resolving the dispute over Kashmir was key to permanent peace with archrival India. In the same speech, he accused India of starting the nuclear arms race in South Asia.
``We did not introduce nuclear weapons into South Asia. Somebody else did that,'' Haq said. He was challenged by an Indian general in the audience who questioned Pakistan's democratic credentials but Haq sidestepped the issue.
Haq also defended his country's struggle against terrorism, saying Pakistan had committed more forces and garnered more success in the global war on terror than any other country.
Nelson, the Australian minister, stressed that a broad coalition of countries should support East Timor's security.
``It's in all of our interests to see that we do not have failed states in our region,'' said Nelson, whose country leads the peacekeeping force in East Timor.
``We cannot afford to have Timor-Leste become one of those, and in doing so become a haven, perhaps, for transnational crime, for terrorism, and indeed humanitarian disasters and injustice.''
More than 2,000 peacekeepers from Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Portugal are in East Timor. Their arrival followed weeks of chaos sparked by the sacking of hundreds of soldiers who were protesting discrimination in the military.
Singapore's Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean noted that globalization had created the ``pressing need'' for countries to pool knowledge and ideas to enhance their collective security.
``This is true whether the adversary is a terrorist or a virus, or whether we're just trying to face the forces of nature,'' Teo said.
Also Sunday, the Philippines' defence chief, Avelino Cruz, said his nation could defeat a 30-year-old communist rebellion within a decade by spending more on national security and social infrastructure.
UAE's Vice President arrives Pakistan on day-long Visit
'Pakistan Times' Special Correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum was accorded a warm welcome when here arrived Tuesday on a day-long visit to Pakistan.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz received the distinguished guest at the PAF base Chaklala who is visiting Pakistan for the first time since assuming his office in January this year.
The UAE Vice President was presented 19-gun salute. Two children attired in traditional dresses presented bouquet to him.
A smartly turned-out contingent of the Pakistan Air Force, presented him the guard of honour.
The airport was tastefully decorated with flags of the two countries and welcoming banners.
A group of dancers moved to the tune of traditional folk songs as the distinguished guest passed by them.
The UAE Vice President will call on President General Pervez Musharraf and will hold formal talks with Prime Minister Aziz in the evening
Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum is visiting Pakistan at the invitation of Prime Minister Aziz.
He last visited Pakistan in 2002 for a private hunting trip.
Pakistan and UAE have enjoyed close and cordial relations since the early 70s following it emergence as an independent federal state and high-level contacts have remained a hallmark of their special relations.
The last such visit from the UAE was that of the President of UAE, Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan in December 2005.
President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz have visited the UAE on several occasions.
The UAE has become the largest investor in Pakistan after making a successful bid for the Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd (PTCL).
Other UAE investments in Pakistan are in the fields of airlines, financial business, real estate and tractors.
Trade between the two countries totalled $ 2.78 billion last year, with the balance in favour of the UAE due to Pakistan's import of oil and oil products.
For the strengthening of bilateral economic relations, the Pakistan-UAE Joint Ministerial Commission was set up in 1974, which has so far held eight consultative meetings. The 9th JMC session is expected to be held in Islamabad during 2006.
Over the years, the UAE has extended generous donations for various welfare projects in Pakistan.
Following the October 2005 earthquake, the UAE contributed $ 100 million towards the President's Earthquake Relief Fund.
In addition, nearly 3,000 tons of relief supplies were air-lifted to Pakistan for the earthquake victims and a mobile field hospital was set up in Muzaffarabad.
About 400,000 Pakistanis are working in the UAE who are a source of strength for the Pakistan-UAE relations. Last year, the Pakistani expatriates had remitted well over half a billion dollars to Pakistan.
The visit of the Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and the Ruler of Dubai to Pakistan would further consolidate the bonds of friendship between the two countries, which Pakistan greatly values.â
India News
Another India-Pakistan road set to open
Jun 2, 2006, 6:46 GMT
Poonch, June 2 (IANS) Excitement is palpable in this border district of Jammu and Kashmir as the nearly six-decade wait for meeting their family members and friends in Pakistan will end June 19.
That is when the road connecting Poonch in the Jammu region to Rawalakote in Pakistani Kashmir will be thrown open after 57 long years.
Almost each family living in Poonch has relatives across the Line of Control (LoC) that divides Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan. The people on both sides of the border share a common language and culture.
The security establishment is working overtime to secure the town for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is expected to flag off the inaugural Poonch-Rawalakote bus service.
The reopening of the Poonch-Rawalakote road follows the opening of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road in April last year and is another confidence building measure (CBM) between New Delhi and Islamabad to take forward the peace process.
In preparation for the prime minister's visit, checkpoints have been erected at sensitive points in the insurgency-infested district.
District police officer S.D. Jamwal, who is supervising the security measures, said the troopers were being extra cautious after three improvised explosive device (IED) blasts in the district in May.
Unmindful of the high security scenario, residents here are counting the days till they finally meet their relatives across the LoC in Rawalakote, barely 40 km from here.
Ram Nayak, a resident of Poonch town, said he and his family were eager to travel across to Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
'This is the best thing to happen to us since the country's independence. We have always been neglected. For covering a distance of a few kilometres, it took years,' Nayak said.
Nayak's cousins, whom he has never seen after the route was closed in 1948, live in Rawalakote.
'I used to play with them when we were kids. Today when I am an old man I am getting an opportunity to see them again,' he said, visibly happy.
After the deadly earthquake of October in the Kashmir region claimed around 72,000 lives and left some three million homeless, a few checkpoints were opened on the LoC for distribution of relief to the victims.
At the time, relatives of former prime minister of Pakistani Kashmir Sardar Sikander Hayat Khan had crossed the LoC through the Chakan Da Bagh checkpoint in Poonch to meet Khan and his family.
Initially, Poonch-Rawalakote was scheduled to be the first point to be opened on the LoC but after the quake Chakan Da Bagh was chosen instead.
The Poonch-Rawalakote road would be the first to open south of the Pir Pinjal mountain ranges.
© 2006 Indo-Asian News Service
PAKISTAN: Life returns to Allai villages eight months after quake
31 May 2006 09:49:02 GMT
Source: IRIN
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Background
South Asia earthquake
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BANA, 31 May (IRIN) - The towering mountains of Allai, in northern Pakistan's Battagram district, no longer look as threatening as they did seven months ago.
In some places, fresh new growth has sprung up to cover cracks in the hillsides, caused by last October's devastating regional earthquake. In others, cherry blossoms bloom brightly and the terraces carved into the steep hillsides are furrowed and ploughed.
A short distance outside Bana, the largest town in Allai district, Nazira, six, keeps a watchful eye on her flock of frisky goats. She points to a tiny settlement up the hillside when asked where she lives. "We came home about a month ago."
Nazira and her family spent the winter at Meira camp in Battagram â the largest tent settlement to spring up after the quake in North West Frontier Province (NWFP). The family had not initially wanted to leave their village, but did so under heavy pressure from the Pakistani military, and due to fears of what they might have faced over the winter without shelter.
"They told us we would starve if we stayed up here," Nazira's father, Abdul Khan, said. "I did not want to leave, but I could not risk the death of my family," he explained.
Allai is among the most remote and inaccessible of quake-affected areas in the region. Soon after the devastating quake that killed at least 80,000 people, the Pakistani army expressed fears that the 150,000 people in Allai would be at risk if they spent the winter in the mountains. But people were reluctant to leave, anxious to safeguard land, livestock, homes and items of property left behind after the quake.
In the end, around 21,000 people went to Meira camp, located along the Indus River. Most have now returned with the advent of summer, glad to be in the crisp, cool air of the hills.
"It was getting unbearable at Meira as the heat came. In fact we had felt claustrophobic all along, in a tiny, closed tent, because we are used to open spaces. Now we are glad to be back, although we still live in a tent near our fallen home," said Abdul Khan, as he turned to help his daughter round up a kid that had ventured some distance away.
Those who chose to stay and brave the harsh Himalayan winter are glad to see their neighbours return. Rehmat Azam, 26, from the village of Ner further up the Allai valley, has come to Bana with his friend, Zareef Khan, 24, to help him buy material to rebuild Zareef's home. Rehmat and his family chose to stay in the mountains over the cold months, even though they had only a small, hastily built shack to shelter them.
"God was merciful. It was not a very hard winter, but we would have survived anyway," Rehmat told IRIN, adding: "We are strong people. We know how to look after ourselves."
This toughness, stemming from an isolated life in often treacherous mountains, and a fierce independence, characterise the people of Allai. Today many seem almost glad that the relief workers, NGOs and the military presence on their land has fallen drastically, leaving them to get on with their lives. "These people really helped us when things were bad. But now we need to get back to business and rebuild what we had before," said Rehmat.
He and Zareef, friends since childhood, plan to help each other construct new homes, the skeletons of which, they say, are already standing. Zareef has taken a course on 'quake-safe construction' at Meira camp, organised by the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC), a Christian charity.
In the bazaars of Bana too, life seems to be getting back to normal, as people buy the essentials of daily life. Talk focuses on what the coming harvest of wheat and maize will yield, with the loss of land, seed, draught animals, terracing and retaining walls all taking a toll.
Many things remain the same, the hardships that Allai lived with before the quake are also still in place. Women walk long distances to fetch water from springs, less than six percent of the female population is literate, many girls remain out of school and landslides or rock falls frequently block roads.
News
UAE Maktom wishes to cement ties with Pakistan in all fields
ISLAMABAD: Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates Tuesday voiced his interest in further cementing bilateral ties with Pakistan and expanding bilateral cooperating in all fields of activities.
Arrived here Tuesday for talks with Pakistani leaders on boosting bilateral ties, Al-Maktoum, who is also ruler of the Gulf sheikhdom of Dubai, met with President Pervez Musharraf, foreign office spokesman Sohail Mahmood said.
During his meeting with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz here this evening, he exchanged his views with him regarding regional situation, role of OIC and other key global issues.
Mr. Aziz during the meeting said that Pakistan and UAE are tied into strong friendly relationship and believed the ties would further strengthen with the passage of time.
The pace UAE has developed at, it is a paradigm for Pakistan and other Islamic counties, he stated.
This is his first official visit to Pakistan since assuming responsibilities in January this year. He last visited Pakistan in 2002 for a private hunting trip, the foreign office said.
The UAE has become a key investor in Pakistan after a successful bid for the Pakistan Telecommunications Company Ltd. The UAE's Etisalat bought the Pakistani telecoms firm in June last year for 2.6 billion dollars.
Trade between the two countries totalled 2.78 billion dollars last year, with the balance in favour of the UAE due to Pakistanâs oil imports.
The UAE last year contributed 100 million dollars for relief work after a massive earthquake in Pakistan in October and also dispatched a mobile field hospital for the quake victims.
Courtesy Geo
News
Friday, June 02, 2006
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Pakistan determined to secure its national integrity: PM</span>
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Thursday said that Pakistan was determined to secure its national integrity and solidarity and was successfully facing the challenges of sustaining economic sovereignty and geo-political stability. Addressing the 30th Convocation at the National Defence College, he said: âOur vision of Pakistan is to have a developed, industrialised, just and prosperous Pakistan through knowledge inputs.â He said Pakistan was pursuing economic competitiveness, minimum credible deterrence capability, innovation, efficiency and global skills.
He said despite the oil shock and the devastating earthquake, the growth rate this year was estimated to be 6.6 percent. He said that foreign sector investment was expected to exceed $3.5 billion, the highest since the countryâs independence. app
Courtesy http://www.DailyTimes.com.pk
06-11-2006, 06:23 AM
(This post was last modified: 06-11-2006, 06:24 AM by acharya.)
UAE to rebuild Quake-hit hospital in Pakistan
Pakistan Times Kashmir Desk
http://www.pakistantimes.net/2006/05/27/kashmir4.htm
MUZAFFARABAD (AJK): The United Arab Emirates is to rebuild the main hospital in earthquake-ravaged Pakistani Kashmir at a cost of up to 20 million dollars, officials said Friday.
"A 400-bed hospital equipped with the latest facilities would be constructed to support and help our affected brethren," Juma Mubarak Aljunaibi, a representative of the UAE president said in Muzaffarabad, the AJK capital.
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A memorandum of understanding would be later signed in Islamabad between Pakistan and the UAE government and the <span style='font-size:21pt;line-height:100%'>reconstruction of the Combined Military Hospital [CMH] would cost about 16 to 20 million dollars, Aljunaibi said.</span>
The UAE would also help rebuild other health and education facilities in the region, he said.
</span>
The massive 7.6 magnitude quake on October 8, 2005 claimed more than 77,000 lives, seriously injured nearly 70,000 people and left 3.3 million homeless in Pakistan. More than 1,000 also died in India held-Kashmir.â
PAKISTAN: EMIRATES TO BUILD HOSPITAL IN QUAKE ZONE
http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level_English....303012916&par=0
Muzzafarabad, 26 May (APP/AKI) -<b> The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has committed itself to rebuilding the destroyed 400-bed hospital in Muzzaffarabad, destroyed by last year's quake, at the cost of 16 million dollars. UAE government representative Juma Mubarak Aljunaibi broke the news in an interview with APP during his visit to Muzaffarabad on Thursday.</b> Juma Mubarak said their government under the instructions of the UAE President planned various construction projects including education and health sectors in the quake hit areas Kashmir and the North Western Frontier Province.
During the visit to ruined hospital, the delegation was briefed by the Commanding Officer Col. Iqbal Hanif about the activities and services rendered by the doctors and para-medical staff immediately after the 8 October earthquake.
Religious Organization TNSM Re-Emerges in Pakistan
By Sohail Abdul Nasir
Western parts of North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) are gradually coming under the grip of religious radicalism. People in Malakand and Swat districts, populated mainly by the Yousafzai Pashtun tribe, have been gathering in public places to burn personal electronics equipment such as television sets, tape recorders, VCRs, computers, CDs and other musical equipment. The significance of this development is that it has been motivated by the religious sect Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi (TNSM), the Movement for the Enforcement of Islamic Laws.
TNSM was formed by Maulana Sufi Mohammad, one of the active leaders of Jamat-e-Islami (JI) in the 1980s. He left JI in 1992 and formed TNSM. One of the main objectives of TNSM was to enforce Islamic laws, by force if necessary. Sufi Mohammad encouraged and organized thousands of people to fight against the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan at the time of the downfall of the Taliban in 2001. Most of his mujahideen were killed or arrested by the Northern Alliance and only a few were able to return to Pakistan, including Sufi Mohammad. The Pakistani government immediately arrested him and for the past five years he has languished in jail. Locals argue that thousands of mujahideen were killed as a result of Sufi Mohammad's incompetence and lack of combat skills. As a result, Sufi Mohammad lost much of his support. Additionally, TNSM members have been killed and regularly arrested by Pakistani authorities, reducing the organization's effectiveness. TNSM has been almost completely dormant in its stronghold of Swat and the adjoining areas. Recently, however, this situation has changed.
After the devastating earthquake that hit the region on October 8, 2005, Sufi Mohammad's followers capitalized on the incident and are using it to revive TNSM. There is a strong and growing belief among the people of Swat and Malakand districts that the earthquake was punishment for their misdeeds. Remnants of the TNSM have been encouraging them to burn their valuable electronic equipment in order to avoid the sinful life and prevent further retribution.
The magnitude of this movement can be gauged from a news item reported by the newspaper Mashraq on April 15 that after a short period, once again people have begun to burn their electronic music appliances. According to the report, on April 14 hundreds of people gathered after Friday prayers at two different villages. Maulana Abdullah was leading the procession at the Bilogram village in Malakand when he and his followers gathered in a nearby area and set fire to thousands of audio and videocassettes, televisions, computers and CDs. The same episode took place simultaneously at Brikot village in Malakand. Furthermore, the aftershocks from the October 8 earthquake are still occurring and continue to frighten the region's inhabitants. On April 11, for instance, another powerful aftershock jolted the whole area. These aftershocks result in more determination by the local populations in these districts to set their music-related appliances on fire (Mashraq, April 19).
As a result of Sufi Mohammad's imprisonment, his son-in-law Maulana Fazalullah is now leading the TNSM movement. Although it is not operating at a high level and does not enjoy the influence of the past, the earthquake has revived the organization to the extent that thousands of people tune into its FM radio transmission. This radio station was recently banned by the government and, as a result, thousands of people staged demonstrations against this decision. Fazalullah established this FM radio station at Imamdairi, a small town in Swat district. The station is used to deliver teachings of the Quran and persuade people to destroy their musical appliances by arguing that listening to music and performing other sinful acts caused the recent earthquake. According to the broadcast, if believers do not give up their musical and electronics equipment, it may invite the anger of God. As a result of these teachings, thousands of inhabitants voluntarily destroyed their electronic goods in just a few days and this chain of events has continued with short intervals. Additionally, as a result of TNSM's religious urgings, 50 families announced the end of their years-old rivalries, hundreds gave up the use of drugs and unaccountable numbers disconnected their cable television connections.
Religious parties termed the government's decision to ban the radio station as a conspiracy to prevent religious teachings, and accuse the Musharraf government of acting on the orders of the United States (Mashraq, April 13). On April 20, the English-language daily The Post reported that so far 10,000 people have set their electronic goods on fire as a result of motivation given by the FM radio station of Fazalullah, who declared that watching television is un-Islamic.
The October 8 earthquake hit a vast area of northern NWFP and Azad Kashmir (the part of Kashmir controlled by Pakistan). Devastation in the rest of the areas, which were just as damaged as Malakand and Swat, did not lead to the same developments. The reason is that outside of Malakand and Swat, no leader is persuading people to destroy their electronic appliances on a powerful tool of communication like FM radio run by a cleric pushing extreme religious views does not exist.
The provincial government that banned this FM radio station must be concerned about the increasing influence of TNSM, an organization that once caused a major threat to the writ of the government in these areas during the mid-1990s when the government had to use force to control the volunteers of this movement who were demanding the enforcement of Sharia. The provincial government, due to political reasons, cannot afford the revival of TNSM. The ruling religious alliance, the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, and particularly JI consider Malakand and Swat their strongholds and will not allow TNSM to damage their positions in the region. It is worth mentioning that Sufi Muhammad is a JI dissident.<b>
TNSM is now increasing its activities. Nawa-i-Waqt reported on May 1 that TNSM has decided to launch a movementâconsisting of protests after Friday prayers and additional ralliesâagainst the government. Five leaders of TNSM held a press conference on April 30 at Chakdara in Dir district and alleged that their workers are being harassed. They said that the government has failed to enforce Sharia in Malakand district against which TNSM will launch a movement;</b> however, they did not specify when the movement would begin. While the leaders attempted to make clear that they are against terrorism and do not have any link with al-Qaeda terrorists, the revitalization of the TNSM movement could create further instability in Pakistan's NWFP, adding to Islamabad's existing difficulties of maintaining stability over the entire country.
Tuesday, May 23, 2006 E-Mail this article to a friend Printer Friendly Version
US official in Pakistan to discuss UN reform
By Khalid Hasan
WASHINGTON: US Under Secretary of State Josette Sheeran Shiner was due to arrive in Islamabad on Monday for a three-day trip ending on 25 May.
The Pakistan visit is part of her five-nation tour to âbuild international consensus for the agenda of the United Nations High-level Panel on Reform. While there, she will meet with Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and other government leaders, the State Department announced on Monday.
Shinerâs visit is part of a trip that has included stops in Oslo, Paris, Rome, and London for meetings with leaders including Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg. Prime Minister Stoltenberg and Prime Minister Aziz are co-chairs of the UN Panel, of which Under Secretary Shiner is a member. Prime Minister Luisa Diago of Mozambique is the third co-chair.
Prime Minister Aziz is hosting the 15 Panel members in Islamabad to discuss how the UN can foster greater development and help countries transition from disaster relief to recovery, self-reliance, and sustainable economic growth. Shiner was due to view an earthquake relief site on Monday afternoon before panel deliberations.
âPrime Minister Aziz has demonstrated strong, innovative leadership as co-chair of this critical panel,â she said. âI look forward to listening and learning about the United Nationsâ humanitarian and development efforts in Pakistan, and the many ways to improve the system. We will also explore lessons learned in the critical aftermath of the earthquake in October 2005.â
Shiner, the announcement said, will also advance the US-Pakistan Economic Dialogue on promoting growth and development globally, regionally, and bilaterally through regional integration, job creation, and investment. She will hold a roundtable with local business students on the global economy and how Pakistanis can compete on the world stage. âIâm really impressed with the good work that Pakistan has already done in becoming a serious economic player in todayâs increasingly competitive global marketplace. Every time I return here I see new buildings and more people working,â she said. âIn fact, the World Bank in their Doing Business 2006 Report ranked Pakistan as one of the top ten reforming economies in the world, where a business can be started in just 24 days â the same amount of time it takes in Germany,â she pointed out.
Tuesday, May 23, 2006 E-Mail this article to a friend Printer Friendly Version
American university likely in Pakistan
Staff Report
LAHORE: Siddique Sheikh, chairman of the Pakistan-American University Programme, has announced that he is interested in establishing a private sector university in Pakistan in collaboration with the world-renowned George Mason University.
The chairman made the announcement at a meeting with Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Senior Vice President Abdul Basit on Monday. Yehuda Lukacs from the George Mason University and LCCI Executive Committee member Majid Abdullah attended the meeting. Siddique and Lukacs visited the LCCI to find out about businessmenâs requirement for business education. Siddique said the aim of the project was to equip Pakistanis with latest business promotion tools and techniques. He said that the university would work in special areas that had not been explored by other business schools yet.
Abdul Basit said that Pakistanâs economy had shown remarkable progress over the last couple of years, but when it came to high-tech production, the country was still far behind competitors. He said that Pakistan was exporting traditional products like sports goods, surgical instruments, leather products, carpets and rice, all of which were made using low technology. The real challenge was to change the mindset of people, and develop institutes that recognised the value of investing in education and skills, he added.
Era of sanctions against Pakistan is Over: US
'Pakistan Times' Diplomatic Desk
ISLAMABAD: The era of sanctions against Pakistan is over and Washington is now engaged with Islamabad in long-term strategic relationship.
The Director of Foreign Assistance and USAID Administrator Randall L. Tobias and the Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker stated this here Saturday at the American Embassy during a briefing to the media persons.
They thanked Pakistan for its role in the war against terrorism and said sacrifices being offered in this regard by the people and government of Pakistan are really commendable.
Peace, development and democracy are the common goal of the free world and US monetary and technical assistance is actually aimed at giving impetus to the economic engine, they said.
The American officials were asked to comment about the status of embargo imposed against Pakistan after its nuclear explosion in May 1998 and also after the military takeover of the government in October 1999.
Ambassador Crocker made it clear that the entire American assistance to Pakistan now is in the form of grant. There is no loan component. He said for all practical purposes the liabilities of loans etc. against Pakistan had been written off.
However formal announcement in this connection is yet to be made by Washington.
The US Director of Foreign Assistance was accompanied at the briefing by Mark Ward, Deputy Assistance Administrator and the Mission Director, USAID Pakistan, Jonathan Addleton.
Referring to his meeting with President General Pervez Musharraf here on Friday, Randall Tobias said cooperation between the two countries in many areas was discussed.
It includes economic, health and education. The scope of cooperation in the field of education was later sorted out in detail during their meeting with the Federal Minister for Education, Lt. Gen. (Retd) Javed Ashraf Qazi.
Randall Tobias said, Pakistan is the leading country in the world availing American scholarships for higher education. The media was told that as part of the long-term cooperation, both in the public and private sectors, the US plans to provide 3.5 billion dollars to Pakistan during the next 5 years. It includes $1.5 billion as economic assistance and as many in the form of security assistance.
This is in addition to $ 510 million for earthquake reconstruction programme in the country.
It was also informed that US was keen to ensure democracy and good governance in Pakistan. The programme began in 2003 and it includes programming to strengthen governmental institutions, improve electoral process and advance countryâs devolution process.
Randall gave the assurance that US shall continue to help Pakistan in the post-earthquake programme in the NWFP and Azad Kashmir, the way it helped during the relief and rehabilitation phase.
They said that US attaches top priority to expanding relations with Pakistan and thatâs why it had been institutionalized.
To a question about undertaking development works in the tribal areas adjoining Afghanistan, they said emphasis is being laid to health, education, clean drinking water and sanitation.â
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->the US plans to provide 3.5 billion dollars to Pakistan during the next 5 years. It includes $1.5 billion as economic assistance and as many in the form of security assistance.
This is in addition to $ 510 million for earthquake reconstruction programme in the country<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Wow!! why our tax money is going into drain? <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad.gif' /><!--endemo-->
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