Head of the European Commission delegation in pakistan jan de kok with officials of AKES, P, and students of the AKES schools.

ISLAMABAD, May 7: The head of delegation of the European Commission in Pakistan Jan De Kok here on Wednesday said the Northern Pakistan Education Programme (NPEP) of the Aga Khan Development Network was successful in increasing enrolments for both boys and girls besides improving the quality of teaching and learning in schools, non-formal centres and other educational institutions.

He was speaking at a seminar held to celebrate a decade-long partnership in the field of education between the AKDN and the European Commission organised by the Aga Khan Foundation.

He applauded the AKDN for its work in advancing effective and sustainable education in the Northern Areas and Chitral.

He said the programme also played an instrumental role in promoting gender awareness that significantly increased the enrolment rate of girls and women in the educational institutions. Referring to the global partnership agreement between the AKDN and the EC, the ambassador said collaboration between the two institutions was creating development opportunities for the people in many parts of the world.

NPEP was implemented by Aga Khan Education Service in two phases (1997-2003 and 2003 up to this year) in the Northern Areas and Chitral with financial support from the European Commission.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Executive Officer Aga Khan Foundation, Al Nashir Jamal, said AKDN and its predecessor institutions had been active in Pakistan for over a hundred years. The first Aga Khan school was established in Gwader in 1905.The network is bringing together a number of development agencies, institutions and programmes that work primarily in the poorest parts of Asia and Africa. The AKDN agencies make a long- term commitment to the areas in which they work, guided by the philosophy that the work must reflect the choices made by people themselves on how they live and wish to improve their prospects.

Head of the European Commission delegation in pakistan jan de kok gives a gift to a girl from kirmin chipursan[Gojal Hunza] at a function in islamabad

He said that the support provided by the European Commission, the two levels of the government, local communities, civil society organisations and the private sector had enabled the AKDN to increase access, quality and effective governance for the education system in the Northern Areas and Chitral. He said because of this support, the AKES schools now account for approximately oneeighth of total primary enrolments and they include nearly half of the girls’ enrolments in the area. Girls in AKES schools outnumber boys by more than three to one. [Courtsy: Daily DAWN]

Hunza, May 11: The first ever Special People Sports Festival in Gilgit-Baltistan has been concluded in Altit Hunza with the commitment to regularize such events to streamline the disadvantaged segment of community as productive citizens. The 4-days event was organized by Aga Khan Social Welfare Board for Pakistan (AKSWB,P) to make the special people as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan. About 250 special people from Hunza and Gilgit Regions actively participated in different sports and other events. The main events included 50 meter race, 100 meter race, relay race, sack race, music chair dance, tug of war and football. Besides sports, special people also performed different other items like traditional dances, speeches and music. Pakistan Special Olympics technically supervised the sports and athletics events. The Special Olympics Pakistan has also selected athletes for upcoming special people sports festival expected to be held during July or August of this year. According to surveys, about 1200 people have different types of disabilities only in Hunza valley.

In his speech Husain Tejani, Chairman AKSWB for Pakistan stressed the need to integrate special people in mainstream society for a more balance development in communities.

Hafiz Hafeez ur Rehman , member, Northern Areas Legislative Assembly was Chief Guest for the final days event. In his Speech, he appreciated the efforts of AKSWB for organizing a mega sports festival for the highly neglected segment of the society. He said special people are innocent and harmless for the society and serving them is an important part of the Islammic teachings. He saluted the contribution of His Highness Karim Aga Khan in the development of the isolated communities of Northern Areas. Mr. Abdul Sattar, secretary, planning and Development Northern Areas also attended the event. A large number of community members, local, regional and national level leadership were present at the occasion. Dignitaries distributed medals among the winners in each category.

 “All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother” Abraham Lincoln.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY

Islamabd, May 10: A large number of youth from Hunza, living in the twin cities Islamababd-Rawalpindi, held a protest demonstration in front of Islamabad press club. They were demanding basic human rights for the people of Gilgit – Baltistan. The protest was led by Rehmat Aliand Aziz Jan of the Peoples Youth Organisationa and Naik Alam and Ajaz Karim of the Peoples Student Federation. The participants were holding banners with slogans about corruptions and mismanagements in Sost Dry Port during last years. 

The protestors demanded that the new Government must give basic human and constitutional rights to Gilgit-Baltistan and declare the region as fifth province of Pakistan. They also demanded for an independent judiciary and additional seats for Hunza, Nagar Ghizer and Ghanche in Northern Areas Legislative Assembly (NALA). Terming the present cabinet of NALA as illegitimate they demanded holding of fresh elections for the Northern Areas Legislative Assembly.

They urged the national and international media to not mix and use the name of Northern Areas for the problem hit areas of NWFP and Tribal areas. They demanded that the region be renamed to avoid such ‘hurting’ confusions. 

They demanded for an international level compensation for the affectees of Diamer-Basha Dam and KKH expanstion and stressed that the people of Gilgit-Baltistan shall  be taken into confidence before initiating such mega projects.

The protesters ‘condemned the involvement of Chief Executive Northern Areas in mismanagement and corruption in Sost Dry Port and demanded for an independent investigation’. They also demanded for a fresh election of NALA. The participants further demanded to establish technical and professional institute in Gilgit-Baltistan.

They demanded governement facilitation in creation and expansion of  opportunities in border trade, customs and related areas and called for development of a proper mechanism to deal with the menace of smuggling across the border. They also demanded from the governement to develop a comprehensive strategy to harness local handicraft and natural resources and provide proper facilities for tourism sector.