Chitral (70)
Chitarl being robbed of minerals
CHITRAL: On the occasion of International Mountain Day, people of mountainous Chitral district said they were being deprived of their mountains and the related resources on different pretexts.
Talking to this correspondent here, local environmentalists and academicians said that almost all the mountains of Chitral had been leased out to the non-local people for exploration of mineral deposits while timber mafia had been destroying the precious deodar forests.
Dr Inayatullah Faizi, a former project manager of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), said that the alpine forest of Chital had been facing the axe of the timber mafia and the mountains and pastures were at the verge of being denuded of its trees.
He said that millions of cubic feet of deodar timber had been taken away from the district on the pretext of lifting trees fallen by wind.
Sultan Wali, an environment activist, said that the timber mafia had strong support from some officials in the government.
"The local people in the neighbourhood of forests are paid only Rs200 per cubic feet of timber while the mafia sells it in the national market at Rs4,000 per cubic feet," he said.
About the lease of mineral deposits in the district, Col (retired) Sardar Mohammad Khan said that people of Chitral could only take a photograph of the mighty mountains while non-local people were reaping their benefits.
"Some of the leaseholders have further sold their mountain lease to the Chinese and American companies for extraction of minerals," he claimed.
Zahid Ali, a biodiversity specialist, said that the unbridled mining in the mountains and pastures were a potential threat to the biodiversity and the mining companies showed no regard to the flora and fauna of the area.
The people of Chitral say that they are being deprived of their livelihoods from the mountains.
Prof Ali Yar Baig proposed that projects should be launched in the area for environmental rehabilitation and strengthening the local people. He said that over 60 per cent of the total area of the district consists of pastures and rangeland, which can be used to mitigate poverty in the area.
The Terich Mir and other peaks of the Hindukush range have been a great source of attracting tourists and mountaineers, but the worsening security situation as a result of the so-called war on terror has also closed this avenue.
Prof Baig said that the government should take steps for promoting eco-tourism in Chitral.
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Varsity campus opened in Chitral
By Our Coresspondent
CHITRAL: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ameer Haider Khan Hoti inaugurated the sub-campus of Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, in Chitral. Speaking on the occasion, he said Chitral development budget was Rs420 million in 2009 which was increased to Rs800 million in 2010.
He announced Rs200 million for construction and repair of 38 km Chitral Garam Chashma Road, Rs 80 million for reconstruction of flood devastated bridge in Boni, and Rs 5 million from personal fund for linking Bakalek water supply scheme to city.
He also announced establishment of Technical Institute, Installation of Heating System for Gynae Ward in District and Tehsil Headquarter Hospital and construction of protection wall around food godown costing Rs 25 million.
The Chief Minister approved buses for Government Degree College and Commerce College and directed for estimation of Darvesh Caso Water Supply Scheme. He said that construction and repair of roads in inner city will cost Rs 57 million. He issued directives to SMBR for immediate solution to problems of 204 employees of Revenue Department.
The Chief Minister said that Rs 100 million were being spent on the upgradation of RHC in Ayun and Rs 190 million on the improvement of District Headquarter Hospital. He said that preparation of Marble through modern technology was an important project that would cost Rs 150 million.
Daily wagers' plea
By Our Coresspondent
CHITRAL: The daily wage employees of PTDC hotel Booni demanded of the prime minister and the federal minister of tourism to regularise their services.
In a statement, they said the managing director of PTDC had ordered to regularize their services but the directives were not implemented.
They said due to non-regularization of their services, they had been immense hardship for the last many years.
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Govt employees without salaries on Eid
CHITRAL: Hundreds of government employees could not receive their salaries and pensions before Eidul Azha as the banks here were short of money.
A large number of people standing in long queues in front of National Bank of Pakistan main branch and Bank of Khyber to get their monthly salaries and pensions were shocked when they were told that the banks had no cash left.
The customers complained that they had been waiting for the last four hours in front of the banks but the staff inside failed to make them payment saying they had not received any cash.
Due to no-payment, a large number of people also failed to purchase sacrificial animals. They said only National Bank Drosh branch was paying to its clients on Friday. A contractor told this scribe that he had submitted a cheque to a bank and was waiting since long but it was returned to him due to unavailability of cash in the bank. In this connection, when the manager of a private bank was contacted, he said that only national bank distributed cash to other banks when there was no cash in state running bank (National Bank) how we can get cash?
Friday was the last working day and banks will be closed on Saturday and Friday due to weekly holidays and on also on Monday and Tuesday due to Eid holidays.
An employee of National Bank told this scribe on the condition of anonymity that they collected cash from down cities through PIA flights but due to cancellation of
PIA flights they could not get the cash.—GH Farooqui
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Parents' role vital in quality education
By Our Correspondent
CHITRAL: Speakers at a workshop emphasized the role of parents in quality education of their children here on Monday. The workshop was organized by Association for Academic Quality (AFAQ).
Those who presented their papers included provincial general manger of AFAQ Amir Zeb Khan, assistant regional manager Zulfiqar Ali Khan, Professor Shamsun Nizar Hashmi, Hussain Ahmed and Professor Ubaidur Rahman.
They stated that in achieving the target of the goal of quality education, 82 percent of the responsibility goes to parents, 15 percent to the institution and only three percent to society.
They stressed raising awareness among the parents about their role in achieving the goal of standardization of education as no effort however concerted it may be, can meet success without the active support of the parents.
They observed that the quality always follows the quantity and in Chitral the stage has arrived to pursue the quality and AFAQ is rising to the occasion to sensitize the parents in different interaction with them on different tiers.
They made it clear that no change will take place without an urge from within the society and in this regards the parents are the first target who must be focused.
They expressed their satisfaction over the general role of the parents in this remote part of the country which is devoid of all the basic necessities of life but the people are fully aware about their defined role in the promotion of education.
Rs30m fraud in education dept
By Our Coresspondent
QUETTA: In a province with a significantly lower literacy rate of 35 per cent as compared to other provinces, an audit report has revealed embezzlement worth Rs 30 million in the Balochistan Education Department.
According to the 2010-2011 Audit Report, the Directorate of Education (Schools), incurred an expenditure of over Rs17.8 million in order to purchase scientific equipment and furniture for educational institutions from various firms at the end of the financial year 2009-10.
While 100 per cent payment was made to all contractors/firms on fully vouched bills, the purchases, including scientific equipment and furniture, were never received. "Payments without receipt of stores/equipment etc were tantamount to be embezzlement," stated the audit report. The education department's storekeeper provided a written testimony to the audit department in 2010 stating that the equipment had never been received. Besides, a total of over Rs11 million of this amount was paid in advance and provided undue financial favour to contractors, also in violation of the finance department's regulations.
The auditor also observed that weak internal administrative control was what resulted in the fraudulent withdrawal.
The matter was reported to the education department on November 10, 2010 and once again on November 15 but no reply was received. Despite repeated written requests in December 2010, the authorities concerned did not convene the Departmental Accounts Committee meeting until the finalisation of the auditor's report. "A thorough investigation into the matter needs to be conducted and recovery of the amounts from the concerned must take place immediately," the auditor wrote.
Fake stamps
Meanwhile, the audit report also unearthed, separately, embezzlement worth almost Rs13 million in the Directorate of Primary Education. Continued on Page-4
The amount in question was supposed to be transferred to either the provincial government or the administrative department, but was in fact transferred to people through cheques by using fake stamps.
The report said that the Directorate of Primary Education was abolished in 2001. A current account at the National Bank of Pakistan in Quetta should have, accordingly, been closed with the abolishment of the directorate. The balance was supposed to be transferred to a provincial account of the Government of Balochistan or to the administrative department. The balance, worth Rs 13 million as mentioned above, had been lying in the bank since 2001, however. After seven years, the amount in question was drawn through numerous cheques on different dates by using fake stamps.
No description of expenditure details were made available to the audit despite repeated requests, so it was necessary to use bank statements instead.
Again, the matter, when reported, was ignored by the education department in November 2010 and through December, with officials failing to convene an audit committee meeting till the finalisation of the audit report. The auditor stated that all dormant accounts must be "intimated to the Finance Department for making the same lapse to the Provincial Consolidated Fund".
Former provincial minister education Shafiq Ahmed Khan, killed earlier this year, had admitted during a news conference that massive planning was needed to eradicate corruption and embezzlement in the education sector.
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Rs18 billion approved for Lowari Tunnel
By Our Coresspondent
ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) here approved 79 projects, including Rs18 billion for the Lowari Tunnel.
Dr Nadeemul Haque, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission of Pakistan, chaired the meeting of the CDWP which was also attended by the sponsoring agencies and the representatives from Provincial Governments and Special Areas.
The CDWP after due deliberation approved/recommended 79 projects costing Rs 343.470 billion including Foreign Aid component of Rs 134.986 billion.
The meeting also approved "Lowari Tunnel and Access Roads Project modified as a road tunnel" costing Rs18.1 billion.
Of the 79 projects, 60 related to infrastructure sector costing Rs317.863 billion, 17 projects of social sector costing Rs 22.509 billion and two projects in other sectors costing Rs 3.098 billion.
Chitral's last ruler is dead
By Our Coresspondent
ISLAMABAD: The last Mehtar of Chitral, His Highness Saiful Mulk Nasir passed away early Tuesday morning in Islamabad, He was 61.
He leaves behind two daughters and two sons, an announcement issued from the Chitral Fort said.
The ex-Mehtar lived a secluded life in Islamabad and used to visit Chitral on a regular basis.
Born in 1950, Saiful Mulk became the head of Chitral state in 1954 after the death of his father Saifur Rehman.
He remained Chitral's Mehtar till the abolishment of the state. Later, he was employed in the Foreign Office of Pakistan and posted in various missions abroad.
Saiful Mulk was married to the daughter of Nawab Mohammad Saeed Khan of Amb.
His body was taken to Chitral and buried at the royal cemetery near Shahi Mosque and Fort. Later, the family coronated his elder son Fatehul Mulk as the Mehtar of Chitral.
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Conversion threatening Kalash tribe
By Our Correspondent
BUMBURET VALLEY: Nestled among the valleys of Pakistan's mountainous northwest, a tiny religious community that claims descent from Alexander the Great's army is under increasing pressure from radicals bent on converting them to Islam.
The Kalash, who number just about 3,500, are spread over three valleys along the border with Afghanistan. For centuries they practiced polytheism and animal sacrifice without interference from the Muslim majority.
But now they are under increasing danger from proselytising Muslim militants just across the border, and a hard line interpretation of Islam creeping through mainstream society - as it was discovered.
After falling unconscious during a car accident, a mid-20s member of the paramilitary Chitral Scouts woke to find that people with him had converted him to Islam.
"Some of the Muslim people here try to influence the Kalash or encourage them by reading certain verses to them from the Quran," said his mother, Shingerai Bibi.
"The men that were with him read verses of the Quran and then when he woke up they said to him, 'You are a convert now'. So he converted."
The conversion was a shock for his family. But they were lucky compared with other religious minorities under threat from growing religious conservatism that is destabilising the country. In May 2010, more than 80 Ahmadis were killed in attacks on two mosques in Lahore. Then in March this year, Shahbaz Bhatti, the Christian minorities' minister whose job it was to protect groups like the Kalash, was assassinated outside his home in the capital city in an attack claimed by the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.
Smooth coexistence
The lush green Kalash valleys have been a magnet for tourists, both for the scenery and for the people, who are indigenous to the area.
Most are fair and with light eyes, which they say proves their descent from the army of Alexander of Macedonia that passed through the area in the 4th century BC to invade India. The community brews its own wine and women are not veiled.
But the smooth co-existence between the Kalash and Muslims has been fading in recent months and the area is suffering from many of the religious tensions marring the rest of Pakistan. The conversions are causing splits among the Kalash - converts become outcasts overnight, described by many as 'dead to their families'.
"When a Kalash converts we don't live with them in our houses anymore," said farmer Asil Khan, sitting on a neighbour's balcony.
"Our festivals and our culture are different. They can't take part in the festivals or the way we live." Some in the area are so concerned that they believe segregation is the only way to protect the Kalash.
"We should move the Muslims out of the valley to make more room for the Kalash," said Shohor Gul, a Kalash member who lives in Rumbur valley.
The subject of Kalash festivals is raised often in these narrow valleys, where carefully cultivated corn crops cover what flat land exists, and the Kalash community's distinctive wooden houses terrace the valley walls. Held to usher in seasonal change or to pray for a good harvest, Kalash festivals include hypnotic dancing and animal sacrifice, fuelled by the grape wine with which the Kalash lace their gatherings.
Converts to Islam say, though, that these rituals quicken the decision to leave the Kalash. "The main thing wrong in the Kalash culture are these festivals," said 29-year-old convert Rehmat Zar. "When someone dies the body is kept in that house for three days. Muslims usually bury people the day they die." Zar added of the Kalash: "They slaughter up to a hundred goats and the family are mourning - but those around them are celebrating, beating drums, drinking wine and dancing. Why are they celebrating this? That's wrong."
Not all Muslims
Not all of the area's Muslims feel this way. Qari Barhatullah is the Imam at the Jami Mosque in Bumburey Valley's Shikanandeh village.
He stresses that many of the valley's Muslims value the Kalash's contributions to the area's tourism industry and contends that Kalash festivals run parallel to their own.
He admits though that there is tension between the two communities. Unveiled Kalash girls in colourful homemade skirts and head-dresses grow up alongside Muslim women covered by the all-enveloping burqas. The Kalash girls are also free to marry who they chose, in a country where arranged marriages are common. "We do support the Kalash - Islam teaches us respect for other religions - but there are people here, maybe they are not as educated - who don't like the Kalash because of their religion," Barhatullah said.
Akram Hussain oversees the Kalasha Dur, a cultural centre devoted to promoting and protecting the Kalash culture, a stunning structure of elegantly crafted carved wooden beams and stone where Kalash children are educated. It also houses a library, clinic and museum, which are open to both the Kalash and Muslim communities. "Some of the Muslims here don't want to educate the Kalash people. They don't want us to have an education," he said.
Without more schools that cater exclusively to the Kalash, though, Hussain worries his community and culture will disappear.
"There are few Kalash teachers and there aren't schools for older children, so they go to the secondary schools and learn about Islam. The Muslim teachers are brainwashing them. They tell the children that Islam is the only right way and that we are going to hell," he said. A provincial spokesman said the regional government is funding development projects for the Kalash and that Pakistan was committed to protecting their unique heritage.
"We have set aside Rs15 million over three years for projects such as improving roads, water supply systems and community centres," said Ahmad Hassan. "Whatever the Kalash say they need."
Others in the Kalash valleys say development should cease and insist, the adoption of Islam should continue, despite the impact on the Kalash culture. Zar, the Kalash convert, says his eventual aim is to convert his entire community to Islam.
"I'm trying my best to convert many of the Kalash myself. I'm trying to convert as many as I can," he said.
"The people who are trying to preserve the Kalash culture are doing wrong. They are committing a mistake. The Kalash should convert to Islam because this is the real, and last, religion".
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Youth convention concludes
By Our Correspondent
CHARUN: The Ispru Youth Forum's three-day second convention concluded in Booni on Sunday.
Students from Govt Degree College for Boys and Girls, Pamir Public School and College, Orien School of Learning, PCCM, Oriental College Booni, Space Era, AKHSS Chitral and Kuragh, New Oxford College, Stars Land School and College and Glorious Institute of Mastuj participated in the convention.
The first day of the forum covered topics of career guidance and counselling, gender equality and empowerment of women.
Dialogue and discussion on gender-based violence was also held and experts talked on the concept of gender. Video clips were shown and opportunity was given to the participants for role playing with a purpose of educating the youth about the gender-related challenges in Chitral.
The second day session covered the topics of mental and physical health and hygiene, environmental challenges and youth's role in countering climate change. IYFC members made presentation on the topic and health experts also talked in detail while specifying the health and hygiene related issues in Chitral. After showing documentaries, a package was made on challenges.
After showing videos and documentaries on creativity and innovation, a group discussion was also facilitated by IYFC focal persons on entrepreneurship, thinking out of the box aimed at enhancing creativity for grasping self-employment opportunities while organizing group works and presentation, for exploring creative works in the context of Chitral.
The third-day of the forum was primarily reserved for participants to discuss all the five convention themes in group. The very purpose of this discussion was to develop an insight in youth into the challenges and opportunities in Chitral. IYFC members facilitated participants to replicate parliamentary debate of youth assembly by giving the concept of brain storming for demonstration of this concept and practical demonstration of parliamentary debate.
Ispru Forum managed to render the services of experts and professionals from diverse fields and eminent personnel's from the community. The facilitators and focal persons of this forum hailed from ICAP, SZABIST, LUMS, AKU, UoP, AKU-IED,IMS, P, NUCES-FAST NU, FJWU,NUML, Karachi and Punjab University.
Speakers on the concluding day of the convention appreciated the services of this forum for the youth of Chitral. They reiterated the services of this forum and the awareness program particularly with regard to the career counselling and opportunities, Gender issues, climate change and environmental challenges, happening in the valley of Chitral. Credit of providing an opportunity for the coming generation to share their experiences and knowledge with each other to plan better for the future certainly goes to this forum, they also said.
Poor Chitralis deprived of BISP cards
By Our Coresspondent
CHITRAL: People here have criticized the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) for fudging the income details of families during a survey for the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) due to which deserving people were deprived of their rights.
They regretted that BISP cards were allotted to non-deserving persons at the cost of the poor.
A number of people requesting not to be named complained that last year the BISP had conducted an extensive household survey in Chitral through the AKRSP to determine the needy and poor people to allot them the BISP cards afresh.
However, they alleged, the surveying team of AKRSP posted fictitious values in the database to benefit people of their choice. In some areas, there have also been complaints that more than four or five members of a single well-off family were getting the BISP funds while the deserving especially women were left out.
The people had expected a fair distribution of the cards for financial assistance but all their hopes dashed to the ground when they saw the list of the new beneficiaries who did not deserve the assistance by any definition.
They said in many instances, the name of a woman was included in the list whose husband had recently retired from a nationalized bank where he served as its officer.
They said that the unjust distribution of BISP cards had caused heart-burning among the people of Chitral and they lost their lost their confidence on the credibility of the program.
They lamented that the people suffering from abject poverty are eking out for their sustenance but the BISP cards have been bestowed upon the influential allegedly having political affiliations.
They warned that if the injustice meted out to the poor is not redressed, then it will lead to anarchy in the society as the poor people will rise in revolt.
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Struggle against poverty lauded
By Our Correspondent
CHITRAL: Former district nazim Maghfirat Shah has said no progress and prosperity is possible without collective and concerted efforts of the communities and mutual respect among the community members is the first and foremost required attribute.
Addressing a grand public meeting on the occasion of the prize distribution of football tournament in Shongosh, Oveer village, he said that the backward areas of the district like Oveer are still without basic amenities of daily life but it was heartening to note that the people have developed a sense of inspiration. He admired the people of Oveer union council for their struggle against poverty and despondency and a determined urge to change their status. Mr. Shah expressed his dismay over the working procedure of some NGOs whose hard and tough conditions are not acceptable to the people of many areas like Oveer and it is due to this fact that such areas lagged behind in the race of development.
The former district nazim claimed that he approached the government of Norway to launch a project in Chitral which may be established on the principles accepted by the all shades of opinion of people in Chitral and which may bring about development work on uniform rate. He said that it was in this context that Chitral Integrated Area Development Program was launched in Chitral and the union council of Oveer was selected for its working and activities. He said that the project has so far started work on different sectors of development amounting to the tune of 35 million rupees.
He said that CIADP is working on the projects as per standard as pinpointed by the local communities. On this occasion, the former nazim of Oveer union council Islam Akbaruddin also spoke and eulogized the efforts of Maghfirat Shah as district nazim. The former district nazim gave away prizes to the players on this occasion.
Use resources to end poverty
By Our Coresspondent
CHITRAL: The general manager of Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (SMEDA) Anwar Iqbal Qidwai has said poverty can be effectively weeded out if the local natural resources are fully exploited by promoting the business on modern lines.
Addressing the members of the proposed chamber of commerce and industry in Chitral, he said SMEDA will extend full support to the business community in Chitral and for that purpose regional business centre is being set up here as a first measure.
He said that there is a tremendous potential of development in marble industry, precious and semi-precious stones and gems in Chitral but all that needed scientific approach to its exploitation.
On this occasion, the exponents of the Chitral Chamber of commerce Sartaj Ahmed Khan and Haji Mohammad Khan spoke about the prospects of business development in Chitral.
The provincial chief of SMEDA Javed Khattak told the gathering that a plan is being envisaged by his organization to provide grant to the small enterprises in Chitral with special focus on encouraging the women folk.
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International forces behind Chitral attack
By Our Correspondent
ISLAMABAD: While the foreign office remains firm in its stance that Pakistan has been forced to retaliate against Afghan militant attacks, a senior official of the defence ministry has claimed that foreign forces in Afghanistan are behind recent cross border attacks in Pakistan.
According to the official, international forces raised a Coalition Special Operation Force (CSOF) to 'directly and indirectly attack security forces and civilians in the bordering towns of Pakistan'.
He said that Islamabad had filed formal complaints with the US and Nato against armed attacks on its security forces in Dir and Chitral. "We are waiting for their reply," he added while requesting anonymity.
American news website the Long War Journal in a report last week confirmed that the CSOF was fighting against the Taliban in Afganistan's Nuristan province - an area mostly under the control of the Taliban and other allied fighting groups.
Furthermore, noted strategy expert Brig Shaukat Qadir said that the CSOF, which, he said, was established by the US to sponsor violence in Pakistan, was used by foreign forces to attack Pakistani bordering towns.
Meanwhile, a senior official in the foreign affairs ministry has confirmed that several rockets were recently fired as 'retaliatory action' on militants by Pakistani security forces in the Afghan province of Kunar.
The official made it clear that the attacks were part of retaliatory action against the militants who in the last two months have been constantly attacking Pakistani security forces and defence installations in Dir and Chitral from Kunar. While the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has repeatedly blamed US and Nato forces in Afghanistan for sponsoring militant attacks on civilian and security forces in Dir and Chitral, the foreign affairs ministry refrains from accusing foreign troops.
"We are aware that a third party is directly involved in anti-Pakistan violence in our tribal regions," the source said while requesting anonymity.
Govt disappointed Chitralis: ex-PPP MPA
By Our Correspondent
PESHAWAR: PPP Chitral leader and former MPA Zainul Abideen has expressed concern over the delay in construction of the Lowari Tunnel and demanded of the government to complete the project without any further delay.
Speaking at a press conference at Peshawar Press Club, he said the people of Chitral had great expectations from the PPP government.
However, now the people are feeling a sense of disappointment due to the increasing problems and the government's failure to complete the Lowari Tunnel project, he added. He said it was not a new project and needed prompt attention on part of the government so that the peoples' grievances could be redressed.
He said Federal Minister for Communication Dr Arbab Alamgir Khan had promised to resolve the matter but so far no steps have been taken in this regard. He said Chitralis did not know what to do and whom to request for this purpose.
The Chitrali people, he claimed, had always loved PPP and supported its candidates in the elections but the delay in the under-construction project had caused unrest among them as it was like a lifeline for them.
Use resources to end poverty
By Our Coresspondent
CHITRAL: The general manager of Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (SMEDA) Anwar Iqbal Qidwai has said poverty can be effectively weeded out if the local natural resources are fully exploited by promoting the business on modern lines.
Addressing the members of the proposed chamber of commerce and industry in Chitral, he said SMEDA will extend full support to the business community in Chitral and for that purpose regional business centre is being set up here as a first measure.
He said that there is a tremendous potential of development in marble industry, precious and semi-precious stones and gems in Chitral but all that needed scientific approach to its exploitation.
On this occasion, the exponents of the Chitral Chamber of commerce Sartaj Ahmed Khan and Haji Mohammad Khan spoke about the prospects of business development in Chitral.
The provincial chief of SMEDA Javed Khattak told the gathering that a plan is being envisaged by his organization to provide grant to the small enterprisers in Chitral with special focus on encouraging the women folk.
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Injustices with Chitral highlighted
By Our Correspondent
CHITRAL: The provincial president of Pakistan Tahrik-i-Insaf, Asad Qaiser, has asked the rulers to quit the government for creating disappointment, unemployment, rising prices of commodities and insecurity during the last three years.
Flanked by Shaukat Yousufzai and Shah Farman, he was addressing a press conference here. He said the people of Chitral are suffering worst due to the indifference of the government towards their plight.
Criticizing the rolling back of Lowari Tunnel project, he said it was a condemnable act on part of the government as it was a matter of life and death for the people of Chitral.
"It is very shamful that the work on the Lowari project was abandoned by the government of the party which always boasts of starting work on the project," he said. He also advised the elected representatives of Chitral to submit their resignations to their electorates after failing to defend the vital project.
Mr. Qaiser said leases for the exploration of minerals in the district had been given to Shon Company owned by Faryal Talpur, the sister of President Zardari.
He said if the leases were granted to the local people, it will open new avenues of employment in the area thereby mitigate poverty. He said Chitral has a fabulous deposit of minerals, precious and semi-precious stones and gems but its benefits are denied to the locals.
He said that if voted to power, his party will solve the issues of Chitral on preferential basis which has always been given a cold shoulder by the successive governments in the past.
Corruption complaints lodged with NAB
By Our Coresspondent
CHITRAL: A team from the Peshawar chapter of National Accountability Bureau (NAB), headed by its director, received public complaints of corruption in different government departments to carry out a detailed investigation.
Sources said most of the complaints were lodged against the departments of food, communication and works, irrigation and forest.
The NAB team heard the complaints about the illegal and ruthless cutting of unmarked trees in the Acholga forest of Chitral, which was allegedly being carried out with the connivance of the provincial government and the forest department high-ups.
It was complained that some influential members of timber mafia were denuding the forest and were transporting the timber to the down districts which led to rapid degradation of environment.
The complaint about the bungling in the carriage contract of wheat in the food department was lodged by the district organizer of Pakistan Tahrik-i-Insaf Abdul Latif Khan. He complained that the high-ups of food department were intending to inflict more than Rs60 million losses to the national exchequer.
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