Posts Tagged Economy
Strike at Sost Port
By Farhat Ullah Baig
Sost, October 23: Protesting against increase in valuation of imported goods supporters and office bearers of the Gilgit – Baltistan Chamber of Trade and Commerce and members of the Importers & Exporters Association are observing limited strike at the Silk Route Dry Port, Sost. Only the trade of fruits and vegetables, perishable items, has been allowed by the protesters.
Port operations have been badly affected by the strike call. The protestors have termed the increase in valuation as unjust and damaging for Sino – Pak trade. The protestors have vowed to remain on strike for indefinite period, until their demands are accepted by the authorities.
1 comment October 23, 2009
Rupani Foundation for development of Gems sector in Gilgit – Baltistan
By Asghar Khan
Gilgit, October 21: An introductory session on Gems sector was organized by Rupani Foundation at Gemstone Enterprise Development Center, Zulfiqarabad, Gilgit. Senior representatives of Northern Areas Gems and Minerals Association (NAGMA), Local Tour Operators, AKRSP and Serena Hotel participated in this session.
Mr. Masaid Ullah Baig, Project Manager and Mr. Sultan Ahmed, CEO Rupani Foundation, briefed the participants about the objective of this session, as well as the vision or Rupani Foundation 
for Gems Sector Development (Mine to Market Program). The guests later visited the lapidary for Gemstone Cutting and Polishing Training to witness the operations, first hand.
After detailed visit of the facility, the participants of this session assembled for a brainstorming session on how to collaborate for overall development of gems sector in the region. All stakeholders showed their great appreciation and admiration for the progress made thus far and also committed to work in a more collaborative manner for the development of gems sector which will ultimately bring positive impact in poverty reduction and economic development.
Established in 2006, Rupani Foundation aims to reduce poverty, enhance technical skills of women and unemployed youth, as well as promote social entrepreneurship and joint ventures. The Foundation has expanded its scope internationally and currently operates in Pakistan, 
Afghanistan, Tajikistan and the United States. Rupani Foundation’s vision is to become a global leader in the sustainable development of mountain communities which today continue to remain neglected throughout the world.
The Foundation, in collaboration with the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) and Karakoram Area Development Organization (KADO), has established Gemstone Cutting and Polishing Training Centers across Gilgit – Baltistan as well as Chitral district and has trained 400 people in need of support, of which 55 percent were women. Many of these graduates have emerged as Master Trainers and Supervisors, and have now assumed a multitude of responsibilities in the production units. Plans are underway to convert the existing centers into half training and half production.
3 comments October 22, 2009
Editorial: paying for deeds of the ‘royals’!!!!
The decision of National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) to degrade its regional office in Gilgit to ’sub-regional’ level, in the wake of a loan scam allegedly master minded by “Prince” Saleem Khan, elder son of NALA – CE Ghazanfar Ali Khan and Ex-vice chairman of Silk Route Dry Port, Sost, is not in line with reality. It defies logic because the ordinary people of Gilgit Baltistan (GB) have done nothing to deserve being deprived of the facilities provided by NBP’s regional office.
Instead of announcing closure of its regional office, NBP shall press for punitive measures against those involved in the scam, be them the “holy royals” or the bank’s own rats.
3 comments February 12, 2009
20,000 subsidized tractors for small farmers
Interview
(Pakistan Observer)
Ashraf Ansari/ Ziaullah Gondal
Islamabad—Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture Nazar Muhammad Gondal says the Pakistan People’s Party government is committed to developing full potential of agriculture.
He said the present PPP government has started taking steps for improvement in farming practices with a view to increasing output and ensuring quality of produce.
Gondal said, Pakistan’s agriculture sector can achieve high efficiency provided small farmers are provided facilities at subsidized rates. “As a major step the government has prepared a scheme to provide 20,000 tractors to small farmers at subsidized prices”, he said. The scheme proposes government subsidy to the extent of Rs 200,000 on tractor to be provided to farmers.
The tractor scheme will cover the whole country including Federally Administered Areas (FATA) and Gilgit-Baltistan as well as Azad Kashmir. The scheme will target farmers of small holdings.
Add comment January 28, 2009
Potatoes of Northern Areas (Gilgit – Baltistan)
by Arshad Ali Sakhi
Potatoes are one of the most important vegetable crops of Northern Areas of Pakistan. The lack of market access, cold storage facilities and the non – familiarity of the growers with modern farming methods are some of the factors discouraging the cultivation of this valuable and nutritious vegetable on a large scale. The other major factor that I observed, during my visit to Passu Gojal, is that the growers are not satisfied with the return they get from this crop. Although potato is major cash crop, I would say the only source of living for most of the households living in the region. But unfortunately even government is not taking serious measures to discourage the groups/ agents who unite themselves as a cartel to influence the price. So the product is sold at lower prices which in turn reduce the income of the growers.
Potatoes being a rich source of carbohydrate can be substituted with cereal and the use of this vegetable in our diet will considerably solve the present acute problem of food shortage in the country.
Potatoes are an important nutritional source of ascorbic acid, particularly among low income families the amount of ascorbic acid as reported varies from about 10-40 mg per 100 gm of fresh tubers Potatoes may have small amounts of the common organic acids such as malic, oxalic, and critic. Unfortunately potatoes are often excluded from the diets of those who wish to reduce body weight.
During informal discussion with the farmers, agents, and the buyers I tried to understand the market mechanism and forces involved in the marketing of potatoes. The farmers were worried about the marketing and even ready to sell at lower prices, because the collapsed China Bridge in Danyore, it has created problem for transportation of the product to the market.
During informal discussion with the stakeholders especially with the farmers I came up with the following conclusions or findings.
- AKRSP intervention in this field is recommended to solve the major problems of the growers
- A complete study of the value chain of the product is recommended in order to investigate the problem and find solution to the specific problems
- Local Support Organizations can play a vital role in order to restrain the buyers to form a cartel
- Formation of farmer association from the area can also be beneficial in order to monitor the marketing forces and to protect the rights of the farmers
- In order to increase per hectare production of potato, LSOs with the help of other organizations can provide disease free quality seed to the farmers
The contributor works as Agri Business Analyst for the AKRSP, Gilgit.
3 comments September 18, 2008
CBRC team inspects bridges on the KKH
by Asghar Khan
Hunza, September 16: A team of Chinese Engineers, working on expansion of the Karakuram Highway, are surveying various small and large bridges constructed on the Friendship Highway of Pakistan and China. Two reasons have been quoted, by sources for these surveys and inspections. First, recently the second largest bridge on KKH, the China Pul, near Gilgit city, collapsed and this has sent alrm bells across the region regarding safety of rest of the smaller bridges.
Similarly, during expansion of the KKH new bridges will be constructed at various locations to manage the increased level of transport vehicles that are expected to travel on the route, from China and certain Central Asian countries.
1 comment September 17, 2008
Nepotism mars NHA & NA Police recruitments
by: Zulfiqar Ali Khan
Hunza, September 12: High level nepotism and favouritism in recruitments for government jobs is not a novel phenomenon in Gilgit-Baltistan. Majority of the recruitment in public organzations are being made on sectarian and regional basis, by organised pressure groups and mafias, present in administration, bureaucracy and political systems of the region.
According to some reports, there are more than fifteen hundred (1,500) police personnel from a single village of Gilgit as compared to less than one hundred and fifty (150) personnel from all over Hunza. According to some reliable sources, only 6 persons have been appointed from Hunza for NHA police, to be deployed for the security of Chinese engineers and labours engaged in the expansion of KKH. It is pertinent to note that Hunza being the most affected region. from Khunjerab top, to Nasirabad and beyond, due to expansion of KKH is sacrificing valuable land for the sake of collective development. However, jobless youth, qualifying on merit, are left behind as the influential put their kith and kin in, both, key positions and mundane work positions.
Public circles have condemed the violation of merit and demanded for neutral, high level, investigations in recruitment procedures of Northern Area Police.
7 comments September 12, 2008
Workshop on Resource Mobilization for CSO held in Karachi
by Zulfiqar Ali Khan
KARACHI, August 24: The 4-day workshop on resource mobilisation for civil society organisation (CSOs) was concluded at a local hotel in Karachi, with the conclusion that diversification of funding sources is critical for the existence and sustainability of CSOs.
The workshop was organised by Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) for his partner organisations in Pakistan, with the main objective to enhance the knowledge of participants on various ways of resource mobilisation in local context. The participating organisations included Karakoram Area Development Organisation (KADO), Baltistan Culture and Development Foundation (BSF), Veer D I Khan, SPARC, Shirkat Gha, South Asia Partnership and Khwendo Khor.
During the sessions, experts from the Family Education Services Foundation (FESF), Akhuwat, Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy and The Citizen Foundation made presentations regarding their resource mobilisation experiences. JS Investment, Acumen Fun, Shell Pakistan, Indus Motors, Engro Group, Shekha
and Mufti Chartered Accountants also shared detailed presentations about the funds dispersed and available to organisations under corporate social responsibilities (CSR). The SDC partner organisations also shared with each other their resource mobilisation experiences and developed draft resource mobilisation plans for their organisations.
Nicole Ruder, Acting Country Director, SDC stressed the organisation to diversify its funding sources in order to sustain services to their target communities. The participating organisations highlighted the need to organise forums in order to build linkages and understandings among corporate sector and CSOs
to implement different development projects.
8 comments August 26, 2008
Pictory IV – Globalizaton: who benefits, what is lost?
by Noor
Ever since the World War II terms like ‘globalization’, ‘free market’, ‘ global integration’ and the need for accepting ‘pluralism’, in the wake of rising international confrontations, have become common. What these terms imply, essentailly, is construction of a ‘global society’ and, a global government. Global government, or single government that rules the planet earth, is not a new concept. Adventurists like Alexandar the Great, Napolean, Hitler and many Muslim rulers have pursued establishment of such a government through coercive methods. But now a days certain corporate leaders, politicians and religious figures are propagating this ideal and pursuing its materialization through construction of a global economic system, controlled by a few firms or a few business houses.
There are very few people who actually think about these ideological frameworks, the inharent philosophies and their impact on our individual and social lives. Today most of us readily want to be part of the ‘globalization’ bandwagon’, compromising on various values that are unique to our way of living and adopting many that are alien to our value paradigms. There are multiple reasons triggering this tendency, at the top being our ability to move towards new societies, in search of material happiness, personal achievements and the some-what Laissez-faire life style.
People like us, the students and modern ‘professionals’ are at the forefront of this ‘globalization’. Are we sure what we are up? What woud be the fate of human dignity? Liberty? Freedom?
Let’s discuss.
29 comments July 23, 2008
C’neer Festival celebrated in Gulmit, Gojal
C`neer festival, declaring the arrival of harvesting season, was celebrated today, in Gulmit, Gojal. People gathered at the community center and celebrated the day by offering prayers for a good harvest and eating a special dish prepared using grains of Barley crop.
While people in the village greeted each other physically, sharing the beautiful summer day, those lviing outside the region congratulated each other on the occasion through emails, sms and phone calls.
PAMIR TIMES offers a very warm C`neer Muborak to all of its readers. Let’s resolve on this important day to work for progress, prosperity and justice in our region, our country and the entire global human community.
4 comments July 3, 2008
Sost situation worries PPP
PT photo
ISLAMABAD, June 28: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has expressed concern over ‘deliberate attempts’ being made to create law and order problem in upper Hunza by remnants of the past regime and called for an immediate halt to such activities.
PPP spokesman and former senator Farhatullah Babar in a statement here on Saturday said that peace, development and empowerment of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan was a top priority of the government and any attempt to subvert that would not be allowed.
The plan to disrupt peace in the region came to light when several hundred people, including women and children, were forced to stage a protest demonstration leading to the blockade of Karakoram Highway (KKH) at the Sost border town against harassment and intimidation of people by the Chief Executive and local administration.
The demonstrators blocked the highway and chanted slogans against the Chief Executive of Northern Areas Ghazanfar Ali Khan for creating unrest in the peaceful area by bringing his henchmen to intimidate the people and take forcible possession of the Sost Dry Port following a local court decision setting aside a stay order of a lower court against the former management of the Silk Route Dry Port Trust.
Locals were taken aback when the court order came at a time when the chairman and other members of the Board of Trustees were in Kashgar, China, to attend the joint Board meeting of directors with the Chinese counterparts.
Within minutes of the court order, the local administration was geared up for the forceful occupation of the port even though the court order did not envisage it. Quite surprisingly and going out of the way the local administration braced itself to use brute force to take over the port offices while the management was out of the country.
Mr Babar said it was heartening that the Federal Minister of Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas, Qamar Zaman Kaira, had already issued necessary instructions to restrain the elements in the local administration from provoking a clash.
The PPP spokesperson said a thorough probe into the affairs of the Silk Route Dry Port Trust (SRDT) was necessary to redress the grievance of stakeholders who had made huge financial contributions for the setting up of the dry port trust. He said the PPP had been demanding detailed audit of the accounts of the Trust.
Courtesy: Daily DAWN http://dawn.com/2008/06/29/top16.htm
20 comments June 29, 2008
First meeting of Sino Trans and Sost Port Trust, held in Kashgar, China
PT Report
The first meeting of the Sost Port Trust and Sino Trans company took place in Kashgar, China, yesterday. Yang Zimin, head of the Sino – Trans company has assured the new cabinet of his full suppot, according to sources. The two groups have resolved to enhance the fraternal ties between China and Pakistan by increasing trade. The Sost Port Trust delegation comprised of Chairman Ali Afsar, Vice chairman Hoor Shah, directors Sultan Karim, Jan Alam, among others.
Various issues, including the recent ownership disputes, were discussed between the two grous and it has been agreed that the two will work collectively to facilitate trade between Pakistan and China, it is learnt. Gifts were also exchanged during the meeting.
1 comment June 28, 2008
4th Kashgar Central & South Asian Commodity Fair, soon
by Asghar Khan
Gilgit, June 24: The 4th Kashgar Central & South Asia Commodity Fair is being held in the Technology and Culture Center of Kashgar, from June 28 to July 2, 2008. The participants in this fair will get opportunities to negotiate about commodity trade and projects of economic and Technical Cooperation between Pakistan and China. The Northern Areas Administration and Northern Areas Chamber of Commerce Industry are participating in this fair with a view of further enhancing the trade tides.
The fair will see exhibition of commodities including organic oil and food products, electronic equipments, machinary, household appliances, raw materials for variuos products, textile products, handicrafts and minerals, to name a few. It will also open up vistas for business networking, exchange of product ideas, trade ideas and business projects.
Seminars, conferences and workshops will also be held during the trade fair to orient the traders and business community with trade opportunities existing in the region.
Add comment June 24, 2008
Electricity Shortage Irritates Gojal
by G. Nasir
Gulmit, May 17: There, apparently, is no end to the electricity crisis of Gojal valley. Constanly load shedding, un announced, is haunting life across the valley. While the chief executive visited Gojal, 
making a lot of promises, there hasn’t been any improvement in the aggrevating condition of electricity supply in the region.
Public cirlces have blasted the elected representatives for their ignorance of the ground realities of the valley. They have also criticized the NGOs for painting a rossy picture of the valley and, every now and then, calling it a “model of development”. This, they maintain, has been a major factor in decreasing the interest of government in the region.
The frustrated traders, shopkeepers and general public have demanded that the situation be improved immediately or they would come out on the streets and agitate against, what they call, the inept political leadership and their negligence.
5 comments May 17, 2008
Photo Story of SDP related Protests in Islamabad
Press Conference at Rawalpindi – Islamabad Press Club
by Azam Baig Tajik
2 comments May 7, 2008
