Shandur festival: Polo on the peaks

Special Report

CHITRAL, GILGIT-BALTISTAN,Shandur, July 09: Every year, polo matches used to play on Shandur pass, world's highest polo ground that stretched at around 3700 meter high above sea level at the junction of Himalayas, Karakorum and Hindukush have been center of attention across the world.

SHANDuR: Players dance on the pitch to the beat of drums after the first match of the annual Shandur polo festival from a nearby hillside, about 200 km (124 miles) northwest of Chitral July 7, 2010. The polo festival, played at an estimated altitude of 3700 meters, has been running annually since 1936. Photo by: Routers

According to the historians, the festival that dates back to around mid ninteen thirtees when polo matches between different areas of the region were held from first week of July on annual basis. ccording to the statistics available, more than ten thousand polo amatuars attended the festival last year. Yet, due to claim of Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa province of having Shandur its integral part and opposition of Gilgit-Baktistan against the claim has soured the thrilling environment of the event. Chief Minister, Syed Mehdi Shah and other public representitives have slamed Khyber Pakhtoonkhawa's baseless claims and boycotted the festival as a protest over the silence of Islamabad over the issue. Consequently, the row between Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa has deepened creating trust deficiet and lack of cooperation between both the arms.

A woman found dead beneath Nasirabad bridge;

corpse around five days old kept for identification at civil hospital

Monitoring Report

HUNZA,July 07:A body of around 40 years old woman was found dead beneath Nasirabad (Hindee) bridge here at 10.00 AM on Wednesday. According to police sources, laborers working on Karakorum High Way (KKH) expansion project informed nearby police personnel deputed at bridge about the presence of a body of any woman along the shores.

HUNZA-NAGAR: Around five days older dead body found underneath Nasirabad bridge still a mystery. Image by: Wally, Shams

Police took the body and rushed to the civil hospital for necessary medical examination.According to Station House Officer (SHO), Aliabad the corpse is around five days old as her cloths were in safe condition. " We are still not came to conclusion to term it a murder, yet possibility of such an attempt can not be denied, " he added. Public were informed who kept on visiting for identification throughout the day at civil hospital premises.
The deceased, around four and half feet high, wearing a colorful string round her neck seems Chinese like in her appearance.No one has identified her as their kith and kin so far. The Medical Officer, civil hospital Aliabad, Hunza, in the view of postpartum report,said that the deceased has died of drowning saying still it was unclear whether she attempted a suicide, fell into river or was forced to jump into." There is not a single sign of external torture or injury on her body to assume it murder case," said the police sources.
People residing near the shores of Hunza-Nagar river including those whose kith and kins still not recovered from in Attaabad catastrophe also continued visited hospital on across the day. Finally, the deceased was buried in Aliabad graveyard on Monday's late evening due to failure in identification and cooling facility to await kiths for a long time.
Courtesy: voiceofhunza.blogspot.com

Speaker asks more boats for Gojal

SKARDU, Jul 06 (APP): Speaker Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly (GBLA) Wazir Baig asked Hunza administration to increase the number of boats to carry people between Hunza and Gojal. Talking to APP here Tuesday Deputy Commissioner (DC) Zafar Waqar Taj said Wazir Baig issued these directives after hearing complaints of those affected by the Ataabad lake. The speaker visited the area to inspect relief efforts being extended to displaced persons.
About 20,000 people had been rendered homeless as a result of the formation of artificial lake. The speaker visited various wheat and grain depots in Aliabad and Altit to check the quality and quantity of stock at hand. The speaker was informed that food stock worth at least two months was available in warehouses for victims of Ataabad lake disaster.
Meanwhile, DC said water level in the lake was decreasing gradually. He said outflow of water was recorded at 15,427 cusecs while inflow stood at 14,900 cusecs. “The water level in the lake has decreased by three inches in 24 hours,” he added.

Aga Khan Health Services unit shifted to Al-Sabah medical complex, Family health care hospital,Jutial

GBE Report

GILGIT,July 08:Aga Khan Health Services unit(AKUH), a subsidary of Aga Khan Health Services working under the auspecies of Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN),has shifted from River view building to Al-Sabah medical complex, Family health care hospital,Jutial Gilgit.


According to the details, keeping in view of possible outburst of Attaabad lake, the hospital management has shifted its Pediatrics and OPD to Al-Sabah Health care centre, Soni coart while arthropedic, general surgery, minor operations and gynological services have been shifted Family Health Care hospital, Zulfiqarabad,Jutial Gilgit where doctors of AKHU were present eight hours day.

Dasu Tourmic- gradual slop failure poses potential threat to settlement

GBE Report

SKARDU, Rundo, July 07: The process of gradual slop failure in Dasu after an interval of five months have created panic among the dwellers of the settlement. According to the details, the land link between Tourmic and Skardu suspended for more than a week hostage hundreds of acres of cultivated land and orchards in the region. The seismic movement had started a year back after which was continue with intervals, media sources said. Elders of Expected Internally Displaced Persons (EIDPs) of the area has demanded of regional government to relocate them as soon as possible to ensure safety before any catastrophe.

Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa should fight for royality of Kala Bagh dam; claims over Basha Dam illegitimate;

Govt should approve charter of demanded before innuaguration Says Najeeb ullah
GBE Report

GBE Report

CHILAS, July 06: Diamar Dam Action Committee (DDAC), has criticized Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa government for intermingling Diamer Basha Dam royalty issue ahead of its construction. Talking to media persons Haji Najeebullah, spokesman for Diamer Dam Action Committee he blamed concerned authorities for unnecessary delay with no reason. He said despite of detailed negotiations of DDAC with ministers committee and WAPDA unnecessary delay has been made in approval of the charter of demands of beneficiaries. He said that Khyber Pakhtoonkha government instead of claiming for royalty of Basha Dam should bother about the royalty from construction of Kalabagh dam, left in doll drums by federal government.