بادشاہت کے تقاضے: کالم بائی محمد اظہار الحق
Billion Tree Tsunami project: Paid only first instalment, labourers threaten to uproot plants
SHANGLA:
Their contract with nurseries for the Billion Tree Tsunami will end in December; yet most of the labourers claim they still have not been paid since it started in January.
“I was excited to work for the project but I now regret it as I have not been given the fruit of my hard work,” Hassan, a labourer who is also a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf worker, told The Express Tribune. “I now don’t look after the plants and flowers and will start a protest if I’m not paid the salary that I deserve.”
Hassan added Minster for Environment Ishtiaq Urmar had announced salaries would be paid after Eidul Azha but that did not happen. “I, along with other labourers, tried to contact Naeemul Haq (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf central information secretary) but he was never available.”
The labourers have also gathered outside the watershed office in Kohistan several times, hoping for results. Each time they get the same answer: the government has not released the money for their payment.
Bowled over
When the Billion Tree Tsunami project was initiated in January by PTI Chairperson Imran Khan, nurseries were set up. Around 30% of the nurseries were handed over to the private sector, including those in Shangla.
There are about 200 private nurseries in Shangla district which are looked after by labourers who work for private contractors. As per the agreement, the first 25% instalment was paid to labourers and contractors; this included the purchase of plastic bags, seeds and equipment.
However, the second 25% and third and final 50% instalments have not been paid even though the agreement will end in December. This leaves labourers in a fix who have no other source of income to feed their families.
Withering plans
A contractor, Ali Taj, the only bread earner in his family, told The Express Tribune he was working one of the nurseries and taking care of the plants for quite some time but was still not paid.
Now he says he is no longer taking responsibility for the nursery as he is planning to leave. “I’m going through a difficult time as the landlord [of the property on which the nursery is established] asks for rent and I do not have anything to pay them.” Taj added the landlord and labourers threaten him, and say they will destroy his plants and saplings if they are not paid on time.
Landlord Umar Saeed said his community buys seeds for wheat and other food items to sow in their farm from the money they get from the initiative, but they have not been paid rent for their lands yet. “We will throw away the plants from the nursery and will take the matter to the court.”
The sense of restiveness among labourers and others who rely on the project for a living comes from the fact that agreement of the project ends in December. The labourers have said the government has forced them to take to the streets. They have said they will protest on Karakoram Highway for their demands.
However, when asked, the region officer of the watershed office in Kohistan, Shujat Ali, said the finance department has not released funds to them as yet and they are expecting the funds will be provided in near future.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 30th, 2015.
Stori da Pakhtunkhwa: Delay in scholarship grants leaves students in the lurch
PESHAWAR:
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Higher Education department has failed to provide Stori Da Pakhtunkhwa Scholarship grants to students who topped educational boards. While students complain of irresponsible governance, and officials of government’s lack of interest, Stori Da Pakhtunkhwa officials say the issue lies in the increase in scholarships.
The Awami National Party (ANP) government had initiated a scholarship programme under the name Stori Da Pakhtunkhwa. Initially under this initiative, grant money would be given to the top-ten Secondary School Certificate and Higher School Certificate students respectively. This would apply to all education board across the province. The number of grants was then increased to 20 each for matric and intermediate. Each student at the intermediate level is eligible for Rs15,000 per month.
A higher education official wishing not to be named said the programme was launched successfully by the ANP government. During their tenure, students had no trouble getting their grants.
The official said the incumbent government was delaying the process, causing officers in the education and finance departments to stop issuing the stipend. This, he said, was despite allocation of funds to Stori Da Pakhtunkhwa in every budget cycle.
Students who won the scholarship visit our offices,” said the official. They call the departments daily, he added, but officials keep postponing the issue, giving students yet another date each time.
From the students
Students from Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Swat told The Express Tribune over the telephone that the main reason for delaying the grants was “an irresponsible attitude and lack of interest on part of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government.”
Talking to The Express Tribune, BISE Swat student Naeemullah Khan, who was in the top 20 intermediate students, said he was being deprived of his rights. “They should bring [Stori Da Pakhtunkhwa] to an end if the government cannot manage the scholarship scheme,” said Naeemullah.
“Poor students eagerly wait for this scholarship (but get nothing from the department).
A BISE Mardan topper, Riaz Ahmad, said they were expecting the PTI-led government would make sure the bureaucracy actually helped the public. But, Ahmad said, the PTI-led government failed to even spend the allocated amount on students who deserved it.
“We were thinking this scholarship will encourage intelligent students but the behaviour of officers in these departments is all the more discouraging.”
Ahmad demanded the provincial government and chief minister take notice of the unpaid grant money. “They need to immediately release the scholarship funds of poor students.”
Not a matric problem
Talking to The Express Tribune, BISE Chairman Muhammad Shafi Afridi said the scholarship money was being provided at the matric level. However, he said it seemed the problem lay at the intermediate level.
Afridi also requested the higher education department to release the due amount without any delay so students can continue with their studies.
The Stori da Pakhtunkhwa programme in charge comes under the higher education department. Erum, who is the programme in charge, told The Express Tribune the disbursement was delayed after they increased the number of students from top 10 to top 20.
Regarding the delay in the release of funds, Erum said all but one board gave details of students who would get the money. Only the DI Khan board did not provide details of their students. This she said delayed the entire process.
“Previous year’s grants will be given collectively in this academic year.” She said soon everyone would get their dues. Erum admitted to red-tape in the release but said problems had not been addressed for the facilitation of students.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 30th, 2015.
Ab no tere aAnay ki khoshi nah tere janay ka gham >>
اب نہ تیرے آنے کی خوشی نہ تیرے جانے کا غم
گزر گیا وہ وقت جب تیرے دیوانے تھے ہم
Aur Kafiri kia hai? - Column of Haroon Rasheed - Dunya 30 Nov 15
اور کافری کیا ہے: ہارون الرشید کا کالم
LG Ray Delivers Large HD Display and Best-In-Class Cameras for 3G Markets >>
LG Electronics (LG) will begin rollout of LG Ray1 to key global 3G markets, starting with the CIS region this week followed by Latin America. LG Ray features a stunning metallic design and comes loaded with best-in-class features such as an expansive 5.5-inch HD display and an 8MP front camera, features unavailable in competing devices.
With its impressively large display powered by a 1.4GHz Octa-Core processor, LG Ray enables users to enjoy multimedia content seamlessly. Thanks to LG’s superior optical technology, this device captures impressive images with its 13MP rear camera and 8MP front camera unmatched by other smartphones in its category. Gesture Shot, LG’s exclusive UX inherited from its G Series, delivers an easier way to take selfies and LG Ray also features a removable battery with a capacity of 3,000mAh for longer usage time between charges.
“Customers in 3G markets continue to be a priority for LG so we will continue to develop new products with these consumers in mind,” said Juno Cho, president and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “No matter the country or the device, every LG customers will receive a unique user experience with a balance of design, performance and value.”
Details such as price and availability will be announced locally at the time of launch.
Key Specifications:
Display: 5.5-inch HD (1280 x 720, 267ppi)
Chipset: 1.4GHz Octa-Core Processor
Camera: Rear 13MP / Front 8MP
Memory: 1GB RAM / 16GB eMMC / MicroSD
Battery: 3,000mAh
Operating System: Android 5.1 Lollipop
Size: 152.5 x 76.4 x 9.3mm
Weight: 158g
Network: HSPA+ 21Mbps (3G)
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 b, g, n / Bluetooth 4.0 / USB 2.0
Colors3: Silver / Gold / Titan Black
Other: Single SIM / Dual SIM
LG Electronics Announces Key Leadership Changes to Enhance Flexibility and Decision-Making for 2016
LG Electronics (LG) today announced key executive appointments designed to further strengthen the company as it enters the new year. Leading the global corporation will be three veteran executives who will oversee every aspect of LG Electronics’ business. The new leadership structure of LG Electronics is designed to give each executive more independence and responsibility to facilitate rapid decision-making in today’s fast-changing business environment and diversified consumer segments.
The three Representative Directors1 of LG Electronics are: Jo Seong-jin, President and CEO of Home Appliances & Air Solutions; Juno Cho, President and CEO of Mobile Communications; David Jung, President and CFO. Current Vice Chairman and CEO Koo Bon-joon will rejoin the leadership team at LG Electronics’ parent company, LG Corp.
The new structure will also give each of LG’s four companies — Home Entertainment, Mobile Communications, Home Appliance & Air Solution and Vehicle Components — more autonomy to respond quickly and decisively to market conditions and business growth opportunities. Complementing LG’s ongoing leadership in televisions, mobile devices and appliances, high-growth areas such as automotive components, energy, IT and B2B are expected to drive more of LG’s growth going forward.
As part of his responsibility, David Jung will also take on the new role of Corporate Business Administration Officer where he will oversee overseas sales and marketing, global production and quality management as well as continuing to lead the office of the CFO.
Executive Vice President Lee Sang-bong, head of the LG Energy Business Center, will be promoted to President and will take on an expanded role as B2B (business-to-business) Officer, overseeing all of LG’s commercial sector business, which includes professional displays, commercial air conditioning systems and energy solutions.
Global Sales and Marketing Officer Wayne Park will assume the new title of Executive Vice President and Head of LG’s European Operations. Executive Vice President Brian Na will be responsible for LG’s Overseas Sales and Marketing, overseeing 47 LG sales subsidiaries worldwide.
All appointments are effective as of Dec. 1, 2015 with promotions taking effect on Jan. 1, 2016. The overall new organizational structure will take effect once confirmed at the general meeting of shareholders in early 2016.
#BestQuote - Insan us Daulat par itna takabur kion karta hai???
قابل غور باتیں
انسان اُ س ’’دولت ‘‘ پر اتنا تکبر کیوں کرتا ہے؟
جو اگر حلال ہو
#IslamicQuote - Do qasum ke logon say hamisha bach ke rahoo>>
دو قسم کے لوگوں سے ہمیشہ بچ کے رہو
ایک ’’مصروف‘‘ اور دوسرا’’مغرور‘‘ سے
#Joke - Teri wali Meri wali >>
لطیفہ ☻تیری والی میری والی
بیٹا بہت رو رہا تھا
باپ نے پوچھا: بیٹا کیوں رورہے ہو؟ مجھے اپنا دوست
سمجھ کربتادو۔
Fun facts about Balochistan
- Balochistan translates to ‘the land of the Baloch’, in many regional languages
- The country is dominated by natural resources, especially its natural gas fields which supply natural gas to the entire country
- Balochistan is Pakistan’s biggest province in terms of its area, covering 44% of Pakistan (134,050 square miles)
- The camel is the provincial animal of Balochistan
- A vast variety of languages are spoken in Balochistan, ranging from Makrani, Rukhshani, Sulemani, Pashto, Brahui, Lasi, Urdu, Punjabi, Hazargi, Sindhi, Saraiki, Dehvari, Dari, Tajik, Hindko, Uzbik, and Hindki
- The climate of Balochistan is very extreme. The highest temperature recorded was 53 degrees in Sibi in 2010
- The Gwadar Port is located in Balochistan and is an operator for the China Overseas Port Holding Company
- The Sulaiman Mountains are the southern extension of the Hindu Khush Range.In Balochistan its highest peak is Zarghun Ghar at 3,578 meters (11,739 ft.)
Delicacies of Balochistan
Sajji
Sajji is a Balochi specialty, where a whole lamb or chicken is roasted on coals after being marinated in salt and green papaya paste. Kaak
Kaak is made from flattened dough, which is heated until the shell hardens and becomes crispy.
Dampkhut
Meat is sealed in containers, left over a low flame to cook slowly in its juices and bone marrow. Dampkhut is a cooking technique that dates back to over 200 years!
Khaddi Kabbab
A whole lamb or goat is stuffed with rice, and cooked over a fire. The rice is cooked by the fats of the lamb, and enjoyed.
Kehwa
A soothing green tea, usually served with breakfast.
Explore Balochistan to know what you are missing in life!
#LG Electronics to develop own mobile payment system
ایل جی الیکٹرونکس جلد اپنا موبائل پیمنٹ سسٹم LG Pay صارفین کے لئے پیش کرے گ
LG Pay will be the mobile payment competitor to Apple Pay and Samsung Pay
LG Electronics Inc said on Thursday it signed an agreement to develop its own mobile payment service called LG Pay. LG, which signed the agreement with South Korea’s largest and second-largest credit card firms Shinhan Card Co Ltd and KB Kookmin Card Co Ltd, did not give a timetable or description of its planned technology.
The mobile payment market is getting crowded as smartphone makers like Apple and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd have launched their own mobile payment services. LG Electronics’ mobile payment system will be able to be used in all LG smartphones, unlike Samsung Pay which is available only in the recent Samsung smartphone models, South Korean wire service Yonhap reported on Thursday, without citing a specific source. An LG spokesman declined to comment on the report. - See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/lg-electronics-to-develop-own-mobile-payment-system/#sthash.7ve14sUs.dpuf
LG Pay will be the mobile payment solution from LG Electronics to take on the likes of Apple Pay and Samsung Pay (Source: Reuters)
10-yr-old girl from Pune becomes youngest Indian to speak at TEDx in New York
10 سالہ بھارتی لڑکی بھی ملالہ بن گئی،یہ اعزاز حاصل کرنے والی کم عمر ترین لڑکی: ….
تفصیل جاننے کے لئے لنک کھولیں
10-yr-old girl from Pune becomes youngest Indian to speak at TEDx in New York
تفصیل جاننے کے لئے لنک کھولیں
10-yr-old girl from Pune becomes youngest Indian to speak at TEDx in New York
Ishita delivered her talk titled ‘What do you want to be now’, challenging the system which thinks children are too small to make any difference.
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” Like every other kid in an average Indian household, Ishita Katyal too was inundated with this age-old question by guests visiting her house. But she didn’t want to wait long to be someone; she wanted to make an instant impact.
And her dream came true on Children’s Day, when she became the youngest Indian to deliver a talk at the TED Youth Conference in New York. A student of Vibgyor High in Balewadi, Ishita delivered her talk titled ‘What do you want to be now’, challenging the system which thinks children are too small to make any difference. Her 4-minute speech received a huge applause from the crowd.
Ishita’s journey with TEDx began earlier this year, when she visited an event organised by TEDx Pune, founded in 2013. “She enjoyed the sessions thoroughly. After the event, she took the initiative and asked the organisers if she could also be a part of their team. The response from the organisers was positive; however the only condition was that she had to pass two rounds of Skype interviews, conducted by Global TEDx volunteers. She cleared both the rounds to become the youngest organiser of TEDx Youth events in Asia-Pacific region,” said Ishita’s mother Nancy Katyal.
As a youth organiser, Ishita successfully organised the first TEDx event in her school on February 7. When the opportunity to go to New York came, she grabbed it. “She is very clear about what she wants. She didn’t hesitate for even a second. The whole trip was sponsored by TEDx. At the main event, when she stood on the stage to speak, I felt nervous because she was the youngest and had to speak without holding any paper in her hand. But she spoke well,” said Nancy.
Ishita admitted that she was a bit nervous when her name was announced, but said that as soon as she went on stage, everything became normal. “When I finished my speech, I was relieved because it was exactly how I imagined it to be. It was midnight in India, but my friends and relatives called me after the talk to convey their best wishes,” said the fifth grader.
Source
Isis 'chemical weapons' warning issued by French PM Manuel Valls
فرانسیسیوں کی نیند حرام ہوگئی ISIS کی جانب سے خ
طرناک کیمیائی ہتھیاروں سے حملے کا خطرہ
طرناک کیمیائی ہتھیاروں سے حملے کا خطرہ
Paris attacks: Isis 'chemical weapons' warning issued by French PM Manuel Valls
The Isis militant group could arm itself with biological and chemical weapons in future terror attacks on Europe, the French prime minister has warned.
Manuel Valls said France faced a serious threat from associates linked to the gunmen and bombers who launched attacks across Paris last Friday, killing 129.
"We must not rule anything out," he said. "I say it with all the precautions needed. But we know and bear in mind that there is also a risk of chemical or bacteriological weapons."
Mr Valls presented a bill to the French parliament that would extend the country's state of emergency for another three months. It will then go to the upper house on Friday.
He said: "Terrorism hit France, not because of what it is doing in Iraq and Syria ... but for what it is."
Meanwhile, the French Interior Ministry and Paris prosecutor's office said it remains unclear whether the suspected mastermind of last week's Paris attacks was killed in a raid on Wednesday or is still at large.
Officials said authorities are working on determining whether 27-year-old Belgian Abdelhamid Abaaoud was among those killed in a chaotic and bloody raid on an apartment in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis, which left two dead and seven in custody.
Read more on Source
After Paris attacks, Islamic State video threatens to target New York; FBI, police deny any specific threat
"While some of the video footage is not new, the video reaffirms the message that New York City remains a top terrorist target," Stephen Davis, a deputy NYPD commissioner, said in a statement. "While there is no current or specific threat to the city at this time, we will remain at a heightened state of vigilance."
The FBI and New York police are aware of a newly released Islamic State video suggesting America's most populous city is a potential target of attacks such as those in Paris last week, but both agencies said on Wednesday there were no specific threats.
"While some of the video footage is not new, the video reaffirms the message that New York City remains a top terrorist target," Stephen Davis, a deputy NYPD commissioner, said in a statement. "While there is no current or specific threat to the city at this time, we will remain at a heightened state of vigilance."
The FBI said through a spokeswoman it was aware of news reports about the video and "ongoing terrorist threats to NYC," and would fully investigate.
Islamic State has claimed credit for Friday's attacks in Paris that killed 129 people in shootings and suicide bombings at a concert hall, restaurants and a soccer stadium in Paris.
The assault on the French capital stirred memories in New York of the Sept. 11, 2001, hijacked plane attacks that felled the World Trade Center's Twin Towers, killing more than 2,600 people.
The Islamic State video, which runs for nearly six minutes, includes a scene that appears to show a suicide bomber making preparations and zipping up a leather jacket, according to a description provided by SITE Intelligence Group, a Bethesda, Maryland, organization that tracks militant groups.
The clip shows a brief glimpse of Times Square, a Midtown Manhattan crossroads popular with tourists, and a suicide bomber holding what appears to be a trigger. Most of the footage is scenes of Paris and French President Francois Hollande.
"Footage of New York shown in the ISIS video was taken from a video released by the group in April of this year. So while NYC is and has been a target for ISIS, today's video does not warrant any kind of panic," SITE director Rita Katz said in an email to Reuters.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, in a statement released Wednesday night, said the city would not be intimidated.
"New Yorkers won't live in fear and people should continue to go to work, live their lives, and enjoy the greatest city in the world," he said.
Read on source
Read on source
#ZulfiqarMirza group clean sweeps almost all wards in Badin - throw out PPP >>>
باغی جیالے نے پیپلزپارٹی سے بدین چھین لیا
بدین..جیو نیوز رپورٹ .. باغی جیالے نے پیپلزپارٹی سے بدین چھین لیا، سندھ میں بلدیاتی انتخابات کا سب سے بڑا اپ سیٹ دیکھنے میں آیا، ذوالفقار مرزا گروپ نے تیرہ وارڈ جیت لیے۔
سندھ کے دوسرے اضلاع کی بیشتر یونین کونسلوں میں پیپلزپارٹی جیت رہی ہے جبکہ پنجاب میں نون لیگ نے میدان مار لیا ہے۔
پنجاب کی 2399 نشستوں میں سے 600 کے غیر حتمی غیر سرکاری نتائج موصول ہوگئے ہیں۔ ن لیگ نے 286 نشستیں حاصل کرلیں، 264آزاد امیدوار کامیاب ہوگئے، تحریک انصاف نے 88نشستوں پر کامیابی حاصل کرلی۔
سندھ کی 1833 نشستوں میں سے 500 کے نتائج موصول ہوگئے، پیپلزپارٹی 352 نشستوں کے ساتھ آگے ہے جبکہ ایم کیوایم نے 60 پر کامیابی حاصل کرلی ہے، 42 آزاد امیدوار کامیاب ہوئے ہیں۔
ووٹوں کی گنتی کے بعد غیر حتمی غیر سرکاری نتائج کا سلسلہ جاری ہے اور جیتنے والوں کے حامیوں کا جشن جاری ہے۔
(The News Reports) Big upset as Zulfiqar Mirza group wins almost all wards in Badin: unofficial results
BADIN: Candidates belonging to the group of Zulfiqar Mirza, the disgruntled former leader of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), won Local Government Elections in 13 out of total 14 wards of his native Badin District’s municipal committees on Thursday.
The win is seen as the biggest upset for the ruling party in Sindh led by Asif Ali Zardari and his son Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who ran a massive election campaign prior to today’s second phase of local bodies elections.
According to unofficial and unverified results, 13 candidates of Mirza group emerged victorious for the municipal committees’ polls defeating PPP contestants.
PPP candidate and district general secretary, Dr Aziz Memon also suffered defeat at the hand of Mirza’s group, according to unofficial results.
The group also emerged as victorious in Nindo and Taluka Tando Bagho.
In the Golarchi Town Committee, the four candidates supported by PML-N remained successful while two candidates supported by Zulfiqar Mirza group also won.
'Are we not Pakistanis?' Quake survivors appeal for aid
CHITRAL: Desperate survivors bracing for a fourth freezing night in the rubble of their earthquake-flattened homes appealed for aid on Thursday as the government said thousands more houses had been damaged than previously thought.
Rugged terrain, severed communication lines and an unstable security situation have impeded relief efforts since Monday's 7.5 magnitude quake killed more than 390 people in Pakistan and Afghanistan and levelled thousands of homes.
With winter fast approaching in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which was hit worst by the quake, survivors said they and their children were running out of time.
“After November 15 there will be three to four feet of snow here and we have nothing to protect us,” said Mir Wali, whose village Charun Ovir is 10,000 feet up in mountainous terrain in Chitral.
Earthquake survivor Mir Wali looks on among the rubble of his damaged house in Charun Ovir village. - AFP
Earthquake survivor Mir Wali looks on among the rubble of his damaged house in Charun Ovir village. - AFP
Dust is still rising from the mountain after the earthquake caused cracks in it, leaving villagers fearing a landslide or collapse.
“Are we not Pakistanis?” he said. “Today we need Pakistan. The government must act before the snow falls,” he said.
“After that the roads will be blocked and we won't be able to save our children.”
Girls who survived the devastating earthquake sit in the midst of the rubble of destroyed homes in Charun Avir village. - AFP
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Thursday announced on its website a spike in the number of houses damaged in the quake, from nearly 14,000 to more than 25,000.
More than 15,000 of those were in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone.
For days authorities had been struggling to reach the most isolated communities in the mountainous region, but the NDMA said that it believes it has reached “most of the affected areas”.
The confirmed death toll in Pakistan so far stands at 272, with more than 2,000 people injured, but a spokesman said the NDMA was still in the process of estimating a final toll.
Taliban hindering access
In Afghanistan, authorities have put the death toll at 121 with some 8,000 houses damaged - but there are fears the number of dead could still spike, with charities warning that the Taliban presence was hindering access to many of the affected areas.
United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) official Mark Bowden said it appeared NGOs had the capacity to help after the quake, but that access to the areas “varies from one insurgent commander after another”.
Desperate survivors were left marooned on mountaintops in Badakhshan, the remote province where the epicentre of the earthquake was located and where much of the territory is controlled by militants.
Survivors salvage wood from the rubble of destroyed houses in the Meadan area of quake-hit Lower Dir district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. - AFP
In Sawkay district in the badly-hit Afghan province of Kunar, residents said Wednesday that no officials had yet appeared.
“The government has not asked what happened to us,” said resident Mohammad Akram. “No government official visited us.”
The quake was centred near Jurm in northeast Afghanistan, 250 kilometres from the capital Kabul and at a depth of 213.5 kilometres, the US Geological Survey said.
Aid agencies have stressed the need for greater disaster preparedness in war-torn Afghanistan, but it has been a low priority for the nation as it struggles to end a 14-year war against the Taliban insurgents.
First floods, then quake
Local officials in Chitral said they had few supplies to hand after the region was devastated by floods just three months ago.
“We usually have our own stock but we already consumed it during the floods,” said Muhammad Bahadur, an official in the village of Darosh.
Earthquake survivors remove wreckage of their destroyed home in Chitral. - AFP
Bahadur's village had just 70 tents at hand when the quake struck, he said.
“Around 2,500 houses have been completely destroyed. Imagine how we can satisfy the need with only 70 tents.”
Mir Wali in Charun Ovir said the village had no electricity, no clean drinking water, and no medical facility.
Officials had handed out 49 tents to share between 150 to 200 households, he said.
Other survivors are already planning to leave if they do not receive help soon.
Shahroon, a Chitral villager, said if the government could help them rebuild before the snow comes, they will stay. If not, he said, “we will go to Rawalpindi or Peshawar or any other city and spend our lives begging on the roads.”
Source: Dawn
Breaking revelation by Shahid Masood – what ChaudhryNisar is going to do with #AyanAli >>
ایان علی کے بارے میں وہ بات جو آپ کو بہت زیادہ حیران کردے: ویڈیو دیکھیں
#Chitral battered but not beaten by earthquake >>
PESHAWAR / CHITRAL: A village in Chitral was razed to the ground in the October 26 earthquake. Yet the government does not count it among the affected areas owing to fewer casualties there.
Veiled by a huge mountain, the Charun Owir village in Mastuj tehsil of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Chitral district is not visible from the Chitral-Booni Road, even though it is located just 5km from the tehsil headquarters Booni.
The massive temblor that was centred in the Hindu Kush – the 800km mountain range that stretches between central Afghanistan and northern Pakistan – caused deaths and destruction in the two countries and sent shockwaves as far as New Delhi. The US Geological Survey put the quake’s magnitude at 7.5.
According to figures released by the National Disaster Management Authority, last month’s earthquake left around 280 people dead. The casualties were recorded at 232 in K-P alone, of which 32 belonged to Chitral district.
Charun Owir that once boasted beautiful meadows has been transformed by the temblor into something that now resembles the ruins of Mohenjo-daro. Of the 135 houses in the village, 120 have been flattened by the quake.
Chitral-based social worker Nasiruddin told The Express Tribune that the locals were feeling helpless. “They think there will be no future for their children.”
He said non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as Focus Humanitarian Assistance, Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation, Islamic Relief and Alkhidmat Foundation were providing food, water and blankets to the affected people. “The government only provided them 50 tents, 3kg rice and 2kg ghee and oil, but the people need shelter and wood for winter.” The NGOs are making efforts for setting up a shelter house that requires 50 feet of wood, he added.
Elsewhere in Chitral, the quake has left a trail of destruction particuarly in the Warijun Bala village, but the government has only been providing relief packages to the victims of Warijun Bala and Warijun Payen villages.
Some 30 of the 170 houses in Warijun Bala have been destroyed and 11 of the 110 houses in Warijun Payen levelled.
Chitral quake survivors help themselves in race against winter
Sifting through the remains of his belongings, 21-year-old Jehanzeb hit upon his college bag, which felt soaked because of heavy rainfall. But when he opened the bag, he found that his precious books were fine.
He has been skipping college for a fortnight, because his house was destroyed in the massive temblor and he has been living in a tent. “I am the eldest son with many responsibilities. I have been rummaging through the wreckage for food and other items, but whenever my family and I are at work, we have to endure an onslaught of downpour.”
Jehanzeb’s family comprises three male and five female members, including a two-year-old girl. His house was located in Chitral Valley’s Warijun village.
Desperation grows as Pakistan quake victims wait for aid
They were given a tent, four blankets, a Tarpal and two mattresses by Islamic Relief, and another tent by the commandant of the Chitral Scouts. The blankets are not enough for the children, because they do not protect them from the cold. Jehanzeb said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had announced relief cheques, but they had yet to materialise.
His friends have also been displaced, but since they are taking refuge in tents near the Government Postgraduate College of Commerce, they can also find some protection inside the educational facility.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 10th, 2015.
World’s first Islamic Branchless Banking Service Launched
Ufone and Meezan Bank have launched World’s First Islamic Branchless Banking - Meezan-Upaisa. Picture shows Governor State Bank, Mr. Ashraf Mahmood Wathra (5th from left) along with President & CEO, Ufone Mr. Abdul Aziz (4th from left) and President & CEO Mr. Irfan Siddiqui, Meezan Bank (2nd from right) with representatives of both organizations.
#Ufone, #Meezan Bank collaboratively launch ‘Meezan-UPaisa’
KARACHI: Ufone, an Etisalat group company, renowned for its innovative; out-of-the-box products and services and Meezan Bank, Pakistan’s first and largest Islamic bank, have formed a strategic partnership to launch Meezan-Upaisa, world’s first Islamic branchless banking solution.
With the launch of Meezan-UPaisa, customers across Pakistan would now, for the first time, be able to send and receive money, pay utility bills and do mobile top ups through Islamic banking. These services would be followed by an even wider array of Islamic financial services in the future.
Regarding this new initiative, Mr. Abdul Aziz, President & CEO, Ufone, said,
“With this new collaboration we aim to capitalize on both parties’ strengths – Meezan Bank’s expertise in Islamic Banking and UPaisa’s geographic foot print to facilitate customers, making it a win-win situation for all.”
He added,
“With UPaisa being at the forefront in providing branchless banking services with its collaborations at various levels andMeezan Bank holding over 50% of the Islamic banking share in Pakistan, this partnership is poised to go a long way in opening new opportunities.”
Mr. Irfan Siddiqui - President and CEO, Meezan Bank, while underlining the need for better financial solutions for the unbanked population of the country said,
“Meezan Bank has played a vital role in expanding access to Islamic financial services in Pakistan. This initiative is poised to accelerate financial inclusion by adding convenience and greater reliability, deepening the role of Ufone through enhancing the value it provides to its customers and that of Meezan Bank in expanding the reach of Islamic financial services to every citizen of the country. We believe that we are now one step closer to our Vision of establishing ‘Islamic banking as banking of first choice’ by serving more than 60 million users - thus taking Islamic banking in the country to the next level.”
It is pertinent to mention here that this partnership would expand the Islamic system footprint to its maximum potential and facilitate customers to avail branchless banking services with utmost ease and convenience under Islamic system. This would be the first milestone in the ambit of Islamic Branchless Banking, in banking industry.
About Meezan Bank
Meezan Bank is the 8th largest bank in Pakistan and the leading Islamic bank of the country. The Bank provides a comprehensive range of Islamic banking products and services through a retail banking network of over 500 branches supported by a countrywide network of over 440 ATMs, Visa & MasterCard Debit cards, a 24/7 Call Center, Internet Banking and Mobile Banking facility.
Meezan Bank has consistently been recognized as the Best Islamic Bank in Pakistan by numerous local and international institutions, which is a testimony of the Bank’s commitment to excellence. These institutions include Islamic Finance News - Malaysia, Global Finance magazine - New York, Asset AAA - Hong Kong, Asiamoney – Hong Kong, The Banker – United Kingdom and CFA Association - Pakistan.
The JCR-VIS Credit Rating Company Limited, an affiliate of Japan Credit Rating Agency, Japan has reaffirmed the Bank’s long-term entity rating of AA (Double A) and short-term rating at A1+ (A One Plus) with stable outlook. The rating indicates sound performance indicators of the Bank. Meezan Bank is the only Islamic bank with AA credit rating in the Islamic banking industry in Pakistan.
About Ufone
Ufone the leader in innovation is an Etisalat Group Company with its presence in all the major cities of Pakistan along with a comprehensive coverage across all major towns, villages and tehsil headquarters of the country. The company employs more than 4,780 people and operates with a network of more than 388 franchises and 23 company-owned customer service centers.
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