Interview of four woman candidates held for governorship; Kulsoom, Sadia Danish, Shreen Fatima and Hadiqa among interviwees, Kulsoom may take edge
VoH Report
ISLAMABAD, Jan.14: (Shamsuddin Muhammad) The interviews of four candidates : Kulsoom, Sadia Danish, Shreen Fatima and Khadijah Khan for the office of governor of Gilgit-Baltistan was held here in capital on Wednesday. According to a media source, Kulsoom Furqan, a well educated lady and niece of Wazir Sadiq, ex-president Pakistan Peoples Part Gilgit-Baltistan chapter may get edge on other candidates. Sadia Danish has an active role in regional politics and Shreen Fatima is a banker by profession and lost a brother in Karsaz incident, few years back. Khadija Khan, the wife of Izhar Ali Hunzai and daughter in law of Alama Nasir-ud-din Nasir is serving as Chief Executive Officer Aga Khan Education Services, Gilgit. Yet, the situation will be clear within couple of days after the formal consent of President of Pakistan.





Kaira visits Altit and Gulmit;pledges for full support to affectees
GBE Monitoring Report
By: Shamsuddin Muhammad
HUNZA, Altit, Gulmit, Jan. 11: Qamar Zaman Kaira, acting governor of Gilgit-Baltistan has pledged to provide full support to affectees of the disaster hit village Attaabad. Talking to a large public gathering and on the occasion of cheque distribution ceremony at Altit, he said the the PPP government is committed to to reduce sufferings of the poor masses of the country. He was accompanied by , Wazir Baig, speaker Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly technocrat Mutabiat Shah, Muhammad Ali Akhtar, Ghulam Muhammad, Force Commander, Chief Secretary Babar Yaqoob Fateh, home secretary and a large number of officials of other departments were also present. Kaira distributed cheques of 500,000 each among the families of the those lost their lives and 100,000 among those received injuries in the horrible landslide of Jan 04, 2010 in Attabad Hunza. He visited the disaster sites in Attabad and met the people in the camps in Altit and ensured for immediate compensation from national exchequer. In his address in Altit and Gulmit, governor assured to make all possible efforts to be made by the federal and Govt of Gilgit-Baltistan to give relief and rehabilitation of the affected population adding the government has already fulfilled its promise by bestowing self governance status to the region and this will indirectly help to address such activities. He announced that all housing and agricultural loans will be written off to facilitate the affectees. Praising efforts of the local community for immediate responses to disaster and rescue operations he siad that the both man and women volunteers of Hunza have played a vital role in all relief operations. He said that It is a matter of great pleasure that people know about the duties to save humanity in critical times. He said that despite economic hurdles, woman volunteers have even more contribution and this was the reason that president of Pakistan is considering to appoint a women Governor for Gilgit-Baltistan. He ensure the people of provision of basic necessities in Gulmit and directed Chief Secretary to appoint a surgeon and approve PC-4 project to ensure better health facilities. The new ration packets contains flour, pulses, sugar, milk powder, tea, salt, rice, ghee, candles and match boxes will be sufficient for an average family of four persons for two weeks. The minister were hand over 2000 tents, 2000 blankets, 10000 plastic mats and 2000 jackets to the affectees provided by Emergency Relief Cell (ERC) of Cabinet Division. The ration packets were supplied by Utility Stores Corporation while medicines were provided by Ministry of Health. Nazir Sabir, former member GBLA and Wazir Baig in their speechs applauded contribution and unprecedented work of volunteers in rescue work and vowed to make maximum efforts to facilitate the affected families of Attaabad village. Notables, members of civil society and leadership of Ismaili council requested acting governor to draw immediate plan to resettle people on emergency basis.Observers have apprehended that blocked of water may cause to sink about 9 houses within next four days if failed to take safety measures. Geologists confirmed that the blockade on Hunza river is approximately 394 feet high from the original river surface and the water level is increasing 4.6 feet per day. According to a representative of Upper Hunza one that about 2040 feet high debris has blocked the flow of river and formation of lake has created panic among the residents of low-level settlements along river.




Marvi emphasis for practical efforts
GBE Monitor
HUNZA, Jan.11: Marvi Memon, incharge Pakistan Mulim League (Q) Gilgit-Baltistan has emphasized federal government for practical efforts for the well being of the people of disaster hit village Attaabad valley. In her letter to prime minister, she has demanded evacuation of population of Aeenabad and other low lying areas for the water level is rising day be day to safer places of the region within a week. She has also demanded immediate supply of basic necessities and negotiation on high level with Chinese authorities to reopen the route to ensure relief to the masses. She has demanded for compensation to Attabad, Salamanabad and low areas of Shishkat village and accommodation if needed. Besides this she has demanded financial assistance to the business men of trade region like Sost for they have stranded of disaster.







Lack of advance techonology hinders rescue activities; dozens of families shifted to temporary camps
VoH Report
HUNZA,Aliabad,Altit, Dec.08: (Shamsuddin Muhammad) According to regional media sources, lack of modern technology has hindered the rescue operations of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and other humanitarian organizations in the disaster hit areas of Attaabad village. About 173 families have reported been shifted to the temporary camps of Altit and Aliabad, arranged few days ago by dwellers and local administration. Similarly, NDMA choppers supplied relief goods including edibles to relief camp Gulmit from Aliabad village.
Gen (r) Farooq Ahmed , managing director, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has been reported visited various areas under the risk due to massive land slide at Attaabad village.





Scacity of commodities in disaster area and Gojal;low-leveled settlements under threat
Reporing Report
HUNZA, Attaabad,Shiskat,Gulmit,Sost, Dec. 08:Attaabad,the recent land slide hit area and most of the areas of Upper Hunza (Gojal), the biggest tehsil of newly notified Hunza-Nagar district came under threat due to scarcity of essential goods for life as grocery shops and utility stores have finished goods due to blockade of Karakorum High Way (KKH),back bone of Pak-China trade and the only mean for supply of goods.While media reports highlighted the emerging risk to low-lying areas of Gojal due to blockade of the Hunza river. Experts have emphasized the local administration to evacuate such settlements, residing on both sides of block area in order to avoid any clamity. Yet, local administration seems ineficient and still unable to make arrangements in this regard.
Public circles of Hunza have demanded of government to take immediate step to ensure food security of the inhibitants to avoid any further crisis.





NDMA continues to shift commuters
GBE Monitor
HUNZA, Attaabad, Dec. 08: Helicopters of National Disaster Management Authority(NDMA) continued to shift commutters, stranded due to balockade of Karakorum High Way (KKH) on both sides to their respected villages. The health department has also made arrangements to send medicines to the remote valleys of Gojal. Aga Khan Health services has sent a team of doctors to control the situation.
NDMA's helicopters continued its rescue and relief operations in the disaster-hit Attaabad village.

Source:voiceofhunza.blogspot.com

Apprehensions become reality-A massive landslide turns the whole settlement into rubble

Scores of trapped under rubble many hours; authtorities did not take notice of VoH report
GBE Watch
www.gbecho.blogspot.com
HUNZA, Attabad , Jan. 03 : A massive landslide destroyed nearly seventy percent of the Attabad village, leaving ten dead and dozens trapped under the rubble for many hours. According to initial reports from the affected area, the incident took place at 2 P.M. causing the Jamat Khana, a middle School and more than twenty five residential and dozens of cattle houses. Rescue work underway and number of volunteers, boy scouts , local representatives and government officials are busy to avoid further casualities.On the other hand sliding has changed course of Hunza river while Karakoram Highway (KKH) has been closed for traffic. Health department has declared emergency in all hospitals of Gilgit-Baltistan. Voice of Hunza had published a comprehensive report a couple of days ago but due to negligence of concerned authorities finally lead to loss of lives of common masses due to massive land slide.





Qouta for G.B students in Professional Institutes, colleges doubled
GBE Monitor
LAHORE, Jan. 03, 2010: (Samar Abbas) According to media sources, Punjab government has announced increase of existing quota for students from Gilgit Baltistan in professional studies like MBBS, BDS, Vaternity and other relevant disciplines in the government colleges and universities. The concerned Punjab Department, on Saturday issued a notification with a review and fifty percent increase of seats: from 30 to 60 in both medical and dental and agricultural colleges and universities in the province. According to details, the existing MBBS seats will be doubled from three to six in the King Edward Medical University, Lahore; existing one to two in the Nishtar Medical College, Multan; from three to six in Quaid-e-Azam Medical College, Bahawalpur; from two to four in the Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad, from four to eight in the Rawalpindi Medical College; from existing three to six in the Allama Iqbal Medical College, Lahore; from four to eight in the Fatima Jinnah Medical College, Lahore; three to six in the Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Lahore and from two to four in the Shaikh Zayed Medical College, Rahimyar Khan. For BDS, the seats will be doubled from existing three to six in de’Montmorency College of Dentistry, Lahore, and from existing two to four in the Nishtar Medical College (Dental Section), Multan. The students of Gilgit Baltistan shall receive free education until the completion of their academic courses as they will not be charged any tuition fee during their studies in medical colleges of Punjab.