Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
Re: PTI's KPK Government Achievements
JAN 22, 2015
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Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
Re: PTI's KPK Government Achievements
Restoring glory: Archaeology directorate given complete control of Gor Gathri
PESHAWAR: The provincial government handed over the historic Gor Gathri archaeological complex to the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums on Thursday.
The complex was previously under the jurisdiction of several other departments, including the municipal administration, Auqaf and fire brigade. The directorate had earlier asked the provincial government to hand over all historical sites in Peshawar. However, for now only the complex has been handed over to the directorate.
State of negligence
Although Gor Gathri is home to buildings that speak of the rich history of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, hardly any measures have been
taken to restore the crumbling structures.
The complex comprises historical buildings such as the 17th century Guru Gorakhnath Temple, Mughal-era Sera-e-Jahandad and the 1912 fire brigade office outside of which two restored fire engines used during the colonial era are parked.
The Municipal Corporation Peshawar and fire brigade department have been asked to vacate the offices they have been occupying in the complex. The departments had been parking their trucks and other vehicles inside, damaging the ancient complex and tarnishing the ambience for visitors.
The fire brigade office building is on the verge of collapse, posing a hazard to people strolling around it, while Sera-e-Jahandad—rest rooms for travellers in the Mughal era—was destroyed by the tourism department after they installed aluminium gates which caused cracks in the walls.
Similarly, the fire engines that were restored last year at the cost of Rs2 million are parked out in the open with no special arrangements to protect them.
Renovation
Archaeology and Museums Director Dr Abdul Samad told The Express Tribune restoration work on Gor Gathri buildings will be accelerated now that funds have been approved and control has been given to the directorate. “We will make it one of the first ever archaeological parks of the country.”
Samad added work on the fire brigade building has started but it would take time to complete reconstruction. Aside from restoring the existing structure, Samad said, an artisan village is in the process of being set up to bring life to the dying arts and crafts of K-P.
A wall has been constructed on one side of the complex and renovation of Gor Gathri Museum has started, while a gallery to house ancient relics and the fire engines is near completion, he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 27[SUP]th[/SUP], 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/844896/...ctorate-given-complete-control-of-gor-gathri/
Restoring glory: Archaeology directorate given complete control of Gor Gathri
PESHAWAR: The provincial government handed over the historic Gor Gathri archaeological complex to the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums on Thursday.
The complex was previously under the jurisdiction of several other departments, including the municipal administration, Auqaf and fire brigade. The directorate had earlier asked the provincial government to hand over all historical sites in Peshawar. However, for now only the complex has been handed over to the directorate.
State of negligence
Although Gor Gathri is home to buildings that speak of the rich history of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, hardly any measures have been
taken to restore the crumbling structures.
The complex comprises historical buildings such as the 17th century Guru Gorakhnath Temple, Mughal-era Sera-e-Jahandad and the 1912 fire brigade office outside of which two restored fire engines used during the colonial era are parked.
The Municipal Corporation Peshawar and fire brigade department have been asked to vacate the offices they have been occupying in the complex. The departments had been parking their trucks and other vehicles inside, damaging the ancient complex and tarnishing the ambience for visitors.
The fire brigade office building is on the verge of collapse, posing a hazard to people strolling around it, while Sera-e-Jahandad—rest rooms for travellers in the Mughal era—was destroyed by the tourism department after they installed aluminium gates which caused cracks in the walls.
Similarly, the fire engines that were restored last year at the cost of Rs2 million are parked out in the open with no special arrangements to protect them.
Renovation
Archaeology and Museums Director Dr Abdul Samad told The Express Tribune restoration work on Gor Gathri buildings will be accelerated now that funds have been approved and control has been given to the directorate. “We will make it one of the first ever archaeological parks of the country.”
Samad added work on the fire brigade building has started but it would take time to complete reconstruction. Aside from restoring the existing structure, Samad said, an artisan village is in the process of being set up to bring life to the dying arts and crafts of K-P.
A wall has been constructed on one side of the complex and renovation of Gor Gathri Museum has started, while a gallery to house ancient relics and the fire engines is near completion, he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 27[SUP]th[/SUP], 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/844896/...ctorate-given-complete-control-of-gor-gathri/
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
Re: PTI's KPK Government Achievements
Diplomatic vulnerability: Four Afghan Consulate officials among 28 arrested
PESHAWAR: As the crackdown against Afghan nationals continues in the wake of the Army Public School attack, four diplomats were also picked up in dragnet arrests in University Town and surrounding areas.
University Town police said the drive against “Afghan nationals illegally residing in the country” took place in the early hours of Thursday. The force raided mostly residential plazas.
Swept up
At least 28 residents were taken into custody and locked up at the University Town police station. Beside others, the detainees included four diplomats who were on assignments at the Consulate General of Afghanistan in Peshawar. They were identified as Third Secretary Abdul Hameed Wahidi, Transport Officer Ghulam Sakhi Azeemi, Refugees Affairs Officer Dr Alozai and Noor Ahmad Haqjo.
After learning of the arrests, Afghan Consul General Syed Muhammad Ibrahimkhel rushed to the police station around 7am. From there, he established contact with high-ranking police officers. He reportedly told officials over the phone that such actions were against the Geneva Convention.
“I have informed Afghan Ambassador Janan Mosazai in Islamabad and he is going to bring the matter to the notice of the Foreign Office,” Ibrahimkhel said when contacted by The Express Tribune. He said this was not the first time diplomats were harassed.
“Two days ago, I was stopped from proceeding to my office by Military Police.” He added hundreds of Afghans nationals were being arrested and put behind bars.
University Town police confirmed the raids. “Around 28 people were detained and only one of them is in custody whereas the others were set free,” said an official. He added 27 of them produced documents to validate their stay in Pakistan. “Only one of them is being interrogated.”
The detention, arrests and deportation of Afghan nationals gained momentum after the Peshawar school massacre.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 27[SUP]th[/SUP], 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/844844/...fghan-consulate-off-icials-among-28-arrested/
Diplomatic vulnerability: Four Afghan Consulate officials among 28 arrested
PESHAWAR: As the crackdown against Afghan nationals continues in the wake of the Army Public School attack, four diplomats were also picked up in dragnet arrests in University Town and surrounding areas.
University Town police said the drive against “Afghan nationals illegally residing in the country” took place in the early hours of Thursday. The force raided mostly residential plazas.
Swept up
At least 28 residents were taken into custody and locked up at the University Town police station. Beside others, the detainees included four diplomats who were on assignments at the Consulate General of Afghanistan in Peshawar. They were identified as Third Secretary Abdul Hameed Wahidi, Transport Officer Ghulam Sakhi Azeemi, Refugees Affairs Officer Dr Alozai and Noor Ahmad Haqjo.
After learning of the arrests, Afghan Consul General Syed Muhammad Ibrahimkhel rushed to the police station around 7am. From there, he established contact with high-ranking police officers. He reportedly told officials over the phone that such actions were against the Geneva Convention.
“I have informed Afghan Ambassador Janan Mosazai in Islamabad and he is going to bring the matter to the notice of the Foreign Office,” Ibrahimkhel said when contacted by The Express Tribune. He said this was not the first time diplomats were harassed.
“Two days ago, I was stopped from proceeding to my office by Military Police.” He added hundreds of Afghans nationals were being arrested and put behind bars.
University Town police confirmed the raids. “Around 28 people were detained and only one of them is in custody whereas the others were set free,” said an official. He added 27 of them produced documents to validate their stay in Pakistan. “Only one of them is being interrogated.”
The detention, arrests and deportation of Afghan nationals gained momentum after the Peshawar school massacre.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 27[SUP]th[/SUP], 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/844844/...fghan-consulate-off-icials-among-28-arrested/
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
Re: PTI's KPK Government Achievements
Industrial revolution: K-P govt lures entrepreneurs to invest a promised $1.2b
PESHAWAR: After a successful investment roadshow in Dubai, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has attracted pledges worth over a billion dollars for the province.
International investors from across the globe have inked $1.2 billion letters of intent (LOI) in energy, housing, oil & gas, solar and tourism sectors. This was stated by Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and Board of Investment Vice Chairman Mohsin Aziz during a press conference at CM House on Friday. Plans are also afoot to generate electricity through surplus gas.
Khattak said, “In light of recent talks with the federal government, the K-P government has made plans to generate electricity from surplus gas,” Khattak said. If the province is given this opportunity, it could produce about 700 megawatts of cheap electricity which would be used to boost industry. According to the CM, he went with a 29-point agenda into the talks which were received positively.
However, he conceded entrepreneurs were reluctant to invest in the province due to geographical disadvantages. “Unless facilities and relief are granted to investors, the dreams of industrialising K-P cannot materialise.”
Khattak recalled granting incentives to industrialists in Gadoon when he was the industries minister. “It led to the establishment of scores of units,” he said. Khattak added now K-P authorities would give concessions on electricity to industrialists.
A roadmap
Satisfied with the recently held K-P Investment Road Show in Dubai, Khattak said the initiative would prove to be an important milestone. He said a number of entrepreneurs had pledged their investment in different sectors.
Khattak said industrialisation could help the PTI government combat economic problems, especially unemployment and poverty. Due to his engagement in the Senate polls, Khattak could not attend the Dubai road show which was inaugurated by PTI Chairman Imran Khan.
The provincial government’s team was led by Aziz. Other members of the team included Industries Minister Ziaullah Khan Afridi and Minister for Education Muhammad Atif Khan. “Foreign investors have signed 12 letters of intent to invest in the tourism sector whereas around $200 million was pledged for the energy sector,” said Aziz
“FMG, a leading mineral company from Australia, showed interest in investing in Chitral, while four letters of intent, amounting to some $800 million, were signed for investment in the housing sector,” added the investment board chief.
Aziz said the presentation made during the show in Dubai was prepared after eight months of hectic efforts. He said the presentation proved there were attractive investment opportunities in K-P.
“I am a man of crisis and I love crises,” Aziz quoted an investor from Ukraine as saying when the latter was told of the law and order situation.
In response to a question, Aziz pointed out crime in Congo was worse than K-P, but entrepreneurs from all over the world do business there.
Investor friendly K-P
The chief minister touched upon the subject of a proposed oil refinery. “An investor has visited the site and now land is being requisitioned according to his will and planning.” He added the K-P government was determined to provide necessary assistance to the investor as he is plans to pump in a massive $200 million. Khattak dispelled the impression that corrupt practices were rampant in K-P. “My government is different from the previous ones,” he said. “Neither the CM nor any of the ministers are demanding kickbacks.” He expressed his satisfaction over the Board of Investment and Trade’s performances. He thanked Aziz for holding a successful show in Dubai. Khattak claimed there would be widespread foreign investment and industrialisation if Imran Khan becomes prime minister of the country.
Khattak said the Centre has assured all liabilities and arrears owed to K-P would be cleared in the coming months. He claimed some of these dues would be cleared in the first week of March.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 28[SUP]th[/SUP], 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/845284/...ures-entrepreneurs-to-invest-a-promised-1-2b/
Industrial revolution: K-P govt lures entrepreneurs to invest a promised $1.2b
PESHAWAR: After a successful investment roadshow in Dubai, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has attracted pledges worth over a billion dollars for the province.
International investors from across the globe have inked $1.2 billion letters of intent (LOI) in energy, housing, oil & gas, solar and tourism sectors. This was stated by Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and Board of Investment Vice Chairman Mohsin Aziz during a press conference at CM House on Friday. Plans are also afoot to generate electricity through surplus gas.
Khattak said, “In light of recent talks with the federal government, the K-P government has made plans to generate electricity from surplus gas,” Khattak said. If the province is given this opportunity, it could produce about 700 megawatts of cheap electricity which would be used to boost industry. According to the CM, he went with a 29-point agenda into the talks which were received positively.
However, he conceded entrepreneurs were reluctant to invest in the province due to geographical disadvantages. “Unless facilities and relief are granted to investors, the dreams of industrialising K-P cannot materialise.”
Khattak recalled granting incentives to industrialists in Gadoon when he was the industries minister. “It led to the establishment of scores of units,” he said. Khattak added now K-P authorities would give concessions on electricity to industrialists.
A roadmap
Satisfied with the recently held K-P Investment Road Show in Dubai, Khattak said the initiative would prove to be an important milestone. He said a number of entrepreneurs had pledged their investment in different sectors.
Khattak said industrialisation could help the PTI government combat economic problems, especially unemployment and poverty. Due to his engagement in the Senate polls, Khattak could not attend the Dubai road show which was inaugurated by PTI Chairman Imran Khan.
The provincial government’s team was led by Aziz. Other members of the team included Industries Minister Ziaullah Khan Afridi and Minister for Education Muhammad Atif Khan. “Foreign investors have signed 12 letters of intent to invest in the tourism sector whereas around $200 million was pledged for the energy sector,” said Aziz
“FMG, a leading mineral company from Australia, showed interest in investing in Chitral, while four letters of intent, amounting to some $800 million, were signed for investment in the housing sector,” added the investment board chief.
Aziz said the presentation made during the show in Dubai was prepared after eight months of hectic efforts. He said the presentation proved there were attractive investment opportunities in K-P.
“I am a man of crisis and I love crises,” Aziz quoted an investor from Ukraine as saying when the latter was told of the law and order situation.
In response to a question, Aziz pointed out crime in Congo was worse than K-P, but entrepreneurs from all over the world do business there.
Investor friendly K-P
The chief minister touched upon the subject of a proposed oil refinery. “An investor has visited the site and now land is being requisitioned according to his will and planning.” He added the K-P government was determined to provide necessary assistance to the investor as he is plans to pump in a massive $200 million. Khattak dispelled the impression that corrupt practices were rampant in K-P. “My government is different from the previous ones,” he said. “Neither the CM nor any of the ministers are demanding kickbacks.” He expressed his satisfaction over the Board of Investment and Trade’s performances. He thanked Aziz for holding a successful show in Dubai. Khattak claimed there would be widespread foreign investment and industrialisation if Imran Khan becomes prime minister of the country.
Khattak said the Centre has assured all liabilities and arrears owed to K-P would be cleared in the coming months. He claimed some of these dues would be cleared in the first week of March.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 28[SUP]th[/SUP], 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/845284/...ures-entrepreneurs-to-invest-a-promised-1-2b/
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
Re: PTI's KPK Government Achievements
All in agreement: Resolution passed to curb horse trading in Senate polls
PESHAWAR: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly passed a unanimous resolution on Friday asking the government to take necessary measures to curb horse-trading in the upcoming Senate polls.
The resolution was moved jointly by the treasury and opposition benches and signed by ANP’s Jaffer Shah, Minister for Local Government and JI leader Inayatullah Khan, Minister for Education Atif Khan, PPP leader Syed Mohammad Ali Shah, QWP’s Sikandar Sherpao, PML-N’s Sardar Aurangzeb Nalotha and JUI-F’s Mufti Fazl Ghafoor.
The resolution stated political parties were unanimous in their opinion that the present system of electing candidates to the Upper House of Parliament was bringing a bad name to lawmakers. “This house asks the provincial government to ask the federal government to take proper steps to ensure free and transparent Senate elections,” it read. The house adopted the resolution unanimously.
The issue was raised after Inayatullah Khan pointed out that some media reports had claimed his party had asked the PTI to ensure a panel of its senior leaders vote for JI chief Sirajul Haq. Inayat dismissed the allegations, saying there was mutual trust between his party and its coalition partner.
DHA Peshawar
Three PTI lawmakers told the house that large swathes of agricultural land in Peshawar and Nowshera was allocated for the construction of DHA Peshawar and Nowshera Mega City.
MPA Mehmood Jan said Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act was imposed on agricultural land in his constituency and that has panicked impoverished locals. Section 4 bars the sale and purchase of land set aside by the government for public sector projects. Jan demanded the section be revoked. MPA Arbab Jehanded also agreed with Jan and asked for legislation about land use.
Similarly, MPA from Nowshera Qurban Ali Khan informed the house that around 100,000 kanals of agricultural land was acquired in his native Nowshera district for the construction of Mega City. He said the world was constructing upwards, but Pakistan’s planners are using up precious agriculture land by building new cities. In response, Inayatullah Khan said the government will address the concerns of the affected population, however, mega projects cannot be obstructed. Speaker Asad Qaiser backed Inayat and said that planned development was a positive step.
The house also passed the K-P Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority Bill 2015. The session was adjourned till March 10.
Briefcases of money
Speaking to reporters after the session, JI chief Sirajul Haq said Senate elections were a true test of MPAs. He alleged some individuals are confident their “briefcases full of money” would ensure their victory. Siraj called for a change in the present system of elections, saying it was not a “divine decree which cannot be altered”.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 28[SUP]th[/SUP], 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/845268/...passed-to-curb-horse-trading-in-senate-polls/
All in agreement: Resolution passed to curb horse trading in Senate polls
The resolution was moved jointly by the treasury and opposition benches and signed by ANP’s Jaffer Shah, Minister for Local Government and JI leader Inayatullah Khan, Minister for Education Atif Khan, PPP leader Syed Mohammad Ali Shah, QWP’s Sikandar Sherpao, PML-N’s Sardar Aurangzeb Nalotha and JUI-F’s Mufti Fazl Ghafoor. PHOTO: AFPPESHAWAR: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly passed a unanimous resolution on Friday asking the government to take necessary measures to curb horse-trading in the upcoming Senate polls.
The resolution was moved jointly by the treasury and opposition benches and signed by ANP’s Jaffer Shah, Minister for Local Government and JI leader Inayatullah Khan, Minister for Education Atif Khan, PPP leader Syed Mohammad Ali Shah, QWP’s Sikandar Sherpao, PML-N’s Sardar Aurangzeb Nalotha and JUI-F’s Mufti Fazl Ghafoor.
The resolution stated political parties were unanimous in their opinion that the present system of electing candidates to the Upper House of Parliament was bringing a bad name to lawmakers. “This house asks the provincial government to ask the federal government to take proper steps to ensure free and transparent Senate elections,” it read. The house adopted the resolution unanimously.
The issue was raised after Inayatullah Khan pointed out that some media reports had claimed his party had asked the PTI to ensure a panel of its senior leaders vote for JI chief Sirajul Haq. Inayat dismissed the allegations, saying there was mutual trust between his party and its coalition partner.
DHA Peshawar
Three PTI lawmakers told the house that large swathes of agricultural land in Peshawar and Nowshera was allocated for the construction of DHA Peshawar and Nowshera Mega City.
MPA Mehmood Jan said Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act was imposed on agricultural land in his constituency and that has panicked impoverished locals. Section 4 bars the sale and purchase of land set aside by the government for public sector projects. Jan demanded the section be revoked. MPA Arbab Jehanded also agreed with Jan and asked for legislation about land use.
Similarly, MPA from Nowshera Qurban Ali Khan informed the house that around 100,000 kanals of agricultural land was acquired in his native Nowshera district for the construction of Mega City. He said the world was constructing upwards, but Pakistan’s planners are using up precious agriculture land by building new cities. In response, Inayatullah Khan said the government will address the concerns of the affected population, however, mega projects cannot be obstructed. Speaker Asad Qaiser backed Inayat and said that planned development was a positive step.
The house also passed the K-P Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority Bill 2015. The session was adjourned till March 10.
Briefcases of money
Speaking to reporters after the session, JI chief Sirajul Haq said Senate elections were a true test of MPAs. He alleged some individuals are confident their “briefcases full of money” would ensure their victory. Siraj called for a change in the present system of elections, saying it was not a “divine decree which cannot be altered”.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 28[SUP]th[/SUP], 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/845268/...passed-to-curb-horse-trading-in-senate-polls/
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
Re: PTI's KPK Government Achievements
The ‘Billion Tree Tsunami’
“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.” —Robert Swan
Unimplemented manifestos and hollow sloganeering have been the unfortunate hallmarks of Pakistan politics. Being a party advocating reform and change, the PTI is now endeavouring to shift this perception. The Green Growth Initiative, launched and currently underway, in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) has been a step in that direction. The most obvious litmus test for any such initiative, however, lies in translating it into projects on the ground and allocating them a share out of the budgetary pie. This important step was diligently followed last year and culminated in a stream of projects one of which is the Billion Tree Tsunami.
After going through a detailed consultation and development process, this flagship project is now clearly defining new frontiers for growth and protection of K-P’s forests. These forests can truly be termed the lungs of Pakistan — as they constitute 40 per cent of the country’s forest cover. Overall, Pakistan’s forest cover is a paltry four per cent of land area, which is one of the lowest in the world and much lower than the average of 35 per cent present in environmentally healthier countries. In addition, even this meagre forest cover is under threatwith one of the highest deforestation rates in the world.
These trends are not only shockingly unacceptable but are now a direct threat to the country’s sustainable future. Owing mainly to its geography and topography, Pakistan is now considered one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change impacts. The melting glaciers in the north, erratic monsoon patterns and repeated devastating floods in the past few years have been a stark reminder of the devastation and infrastructure loss this vulnerability can cause. The ever-thinning forest reserve not only multiplies the loss due to climate change but also weakens one of the most effective tools that Pakistan has for not only sequestering carbon but also building local resilience to the impacts of climate change.
The K-P government has now committed to not only reversing the high rate of deforestation but also shifting the current philosophy from treating forests as ‘revenue’ machines towards preserving them as valued ‘natural capital’. For the first time in the history of Pakistan, the forest area in K-P is targeted for a major enhancement from 20 per cent to 22 per cent by 2018, which would entail bringing new area under forests as well as protecting and enriching the existing area. Thus, under the project, at least 30,000 hectares of additional forests will be planted through a massive afforestation drive. In addition, through enrichment measures, the tree cover in existing forests would be targeted for increase from 20 per cent to 30 per cent by 2018. This would entail protection and gap plantations in, at least, 27,000 hectares each year. The above ambitious targets would be achieved through the massive four-year Billion Tree Tsunami project, which is now underway.
The project has been designed with various innovative features, which are breaking new ground in K-P and aim to ensure the long-term sustainability of this drive. Under this project, small-scale ‘eco-preneurs’ are being created in the province by privatising various facets of forest growth and protection. In this regard, firstly an innovative programme for establishing ‘youth nurseries’ has been initiated. The government is encouraging local villagers to set up small nurseries (20,000-25,000 plants), which will have secure buy-back agreements with the Forest Department generating an income of between Rs12,000 to Rs18,000 per month for the local youth — thus providing green jobs with dignity for the youth of K-P. This programme is already underway and is backed by a detailed village-level GIS mapping done for the whole province.
Secondly, the project innovatively focuses on outsourcing new forest growth to the private sector — in addition to creating more eco-preneurs, this will also ensure survival of planted forests through performance-based payments spread over a three-year period as the saplings turn into trees.
Thirdly, for forest protection, the local communities being traditional custodians have been extended responsibility for ‘forest closure’ to ensure protection and enrichment of the forests. Under a partnership agreement with the government, they will be allowed to train and hire local ‘Forest Nigahbans’. This initiative will be financed by the government and provide more jobs for the youth and ensure responsible protection of forests.
The government is also in the process of establishing rules for REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation-plus) to capitalise on latent carbon benefits and transfer these benefits to the communities. In addition, a complete ban on cutting and felling of trees in the reserved forests of K-P and ensuring complete transparency through independent third-party monitoring utilising tools such as GIS monitoring and Google Forest Watch are other features of the programme. All these steps have been complemented with a crackdown against the powerful timber mafia, which has brutally shaved off more than Rs100 billion worth of natural forests in the past 10 years. The K-P government has publicly vowed to curb their activities, cut off their sources in the government, raise and strictly enforce penalties, enhance satellite real time monitoring and have a zero-tolerance policy towards their nefarious activities and reclaim nature from these mafias.
The Billion Tree Tsunami is a unique project extending a win-win opportunity for K-P, Pakistan and the world. For K-P, it is enhancing forest cover while generating green jobs for the youth. For Pakistan, this project will enhance water availability, reduce soil erosion and increase resilience against climate-induced floods. For the world, this project will sequester carbon and contribute towards global climate mitigation.
Overall, the Green Growth Initiative of K-P, embodied by projects such as the Billion Tree Tsunami, aims to create a paradigm shift in K-P’s growth trajectory — leading to prosperity, poverty reduction and a better quality of life for the people while fulfilling the imperatives for a cleaner environment.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 1[SUP]st[/SUP], 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/845800/the-billion-tree-tsunami/
The ‘Billion Tree Tsunami’
The writer is a former minister of state for environment and the Global Vice-President of the IUCN. He is also the chairman of the PTI Green Growth Initiative in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and can be reached @aminattock“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.” —Robert Swan
Unimplemented manifestos and hollow sloganeering have been the unfortunate hallmarks of Pakistan politics. Being a party advocating reform and change, the PTI is now endeavouring to shift this perception. The Green Growth Initiative, launched and currently underway, in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) has been a step in that direction. The most obvious litmus test for any such initiative, however, lies in translating it into projects on the ground and allocating them a share out of the budgetary pie. This important step was diligently followed last year and culminated in a stream of projects one of which is the Billion Tree Tsunami.
After going through a detailed consultation and development process, this flagship project is now clearly defining new frontiers for growth and protection of K-P’s forests. These forests can truly be termed the lungs of Pakistan — as they constitute 40 per cent of the country’s forest cover. Overall, Pakistan’s forest cover is a paltry four per cent of land area, which is one of the lowest in the world and much lower than the average of 35 per cent present in environmentally healthier countries. In addition, even this meagre forest cover is under threatwith one of the highest deforestation rates in the world.
These trends are not only shockingly unacceptable but are now a direct threat to the country’s sustainable future. Owing mainly to its geography and topography, Pakistan is now considered one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change impacts. The melting glaciers in the north, erratic monsoon patterns and repeated devastating floods in the past few years have been a stark reminder of the devastation and infrastructure loss this vulnerability can cause. The ever-thinning forest reserve not only multiplies the loss due to climate change but also weakens one of the most effective tools that Pakistan has for not only sequestering carbon but also building local resilience to the impacts of climate change.
The K-P government has now committed to not only reversing the high rate of deforestation but also shifting the current philosophy from treating forests as ‘revenue’ machines towards preserving them as valued ‘natural capital’. For the first time in the history of Pakistan, the forest area in K-P is targeted for a major enhancement from 20 per cent to 22 per cent by 2018, which would entail bringing new area under forests as well as protecting and enriching the existing area. Thus, under the project, at least 30,000 hectares of additional forests will be planted through a massive afforestation drive. In addition, through enrichment measures, the tree cover in existing forests would be targeted for increase from 20 per cent to 30 per cent by 2018. This would entail protection and gap plantations in, at least, 27,000 hectares each year. The above ambitious targets would be achieved through the massive four-year Billion Tree Tsunami project, which is now underway.
The project has been designed with various innovative features, which are breaking new ground in K-P and aim to ensure the long-term sustainability of this drive. Under this project, small-scale ‘eco-preneurs’ are being created in the province by privatising various facets of forest growth and protection. In this regard, firstly an innovative programme for establishing ‘youth nurseries’ has been initiated. The government is encouraging local villagers to set up small nurseries (20,000-25,000 plants), which will have secure buy-back agreements with the Forest Department generating an income of between Rs12,000 to Rs18,000 per month for the local youth — thus providing green jobs with dignity for the youth of K-P. This programme is already underway and is backed by a detailed village-level GIS mapping done for the whole province.
Secondly, the project innovatively focuses on outsourcing new forest growth to the private sector — in addition to creating more eco-preneurs, this will also ensure survival of planted forests through performance-based payments spread over a three-year period as the saplings turn into trees.
Thirdly, for forest protection, the local communities being traditional custodians have been extended responsibility for ‘forest closure’ to ensure protection and enrichment of the forests. Under a partnership agreement with the government, they will be allowed to train and hire local ‘Forest Nigahbans’. This initiative will be financed by the government and provide more jobs for the youth and ensure responsible protection of forests.
The government is also in the process of establishing rules for REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation-plus) to capitalise on latent carbon benefits and transfer these benefits to the communities. In addition, a complete ban on cutting and felling of trees in the reserved forests of K-P and ensuring complete transparency through independent third-party monitoring utilising tools such as GIS monitoring and Google Forest Watch are other features of the programme. All these steps have been complemented with a crackdown against the powerful timber mafia, which has brutally shaved off more than Rs100 billion worth of natural forests in the past 10 years. The K-P government has publicly vowed to curb their activities, cut off their sources in the government, raise and strictly enforce penalties, enhance satellite real time monitoring and have a zero-tolerance policy towards their nefarious activities and reclaim nature from these mafias.
The Billion Tree Tsunami is a unique project extending a win-win opportunity for K-P, Pakistan and the world. For K-P, it is enhancing forest cover while generating green jobs for the youth. For Pakistan, this project will enhance water availability, reduce soil erosion and increase resilience against climate-induced floods. For the world, this project will sequester carbon and contribute towards global climate mitigation.
Overall, the Green Growth Initiative of K-P, embodied by projects such as the Billion Tree Tsunami, aims to create a paradigm shift in K-P’s growth trajectory — leading to prosperity, poverty reduction and a better quality of life for the people while fulfilling the imperatives for a cleaner environment.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 1[SUP]st[/SUP], 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/845800/the-billion-tree-tsunami/
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
Re: PTI's KPK Government Achievements
[h=1]Official neglect: Govt fails to prioritise civil defence in K-P[/h]
PESHAWAR: As countries across the globe commemorate World Civil Defence Day on March 1 (today), the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government continues to turn a blind eye to one of the most significant state mechanism in the province.
Civil defence is a frontline response and rescue service that deals with combat scenarios or natural disasters. Modern times have redefined the role of the government department and K-P is a region in need of a well-trained, quick reaction force that helps in emergency evacuation, contingency planning and crisis management. However, the government has left much to be desired in providing the crucial service.
While talking to The Express Tribune, Civil Defence Peshawar Chief Warden and former district nazim Azam Afridi said the department has remained out of action for a long time in K-P, with the government least interested in reinvigorating the force.
“Civil defence services are crucial to a province like K-P,” he said, adding the department does not serve as an immediate response force, rather coordinates with different government organisations to deal with an emergency.
Afridi said the government has restricted its attention towards the Provincial Disaster Management Authority and Rescue 1122—whose volunteers have themselves been trained by civil defence officials.
The chief warden said the force needs funding and support from all sections of the society and the K-P government should establish a wage structure for its volunteers.
Deemed unimportant
A civil defence department official requesting anonymity told The Express Tribune, civil defence is the most important response mechanism devised by the state to deal with an untoward situation.
He blamed the provincial government for putting the department on the backburner and refused to elaborate further, citing the home department’s directives of keeping mum.
Civil defence offices were established in 16 districts across the province and seven Frontier Regions. According to information provided by the official, more than 3,000 volunteers are enlisted with the department.
“The government has not paid a single penny, let alone certificates of appreciation to the volunteers,” he lamented, adding affluent sections of the society are least bothered about this collective responsibility.
Deputy Chief Warden Shabbir Muhammad said a conference on World Civil Defence Day will be held at a local hotel, aiming to bring to light the role of the department in times of war and natural disasters. Deputy Chief Warden Women’s Wing Farah Aqil Shah, Civil Defence Director Sharifullah and the Municipal Corporation Peshawar administrator will also participate in the programme, he added.
Shabbir Muhammad said the international day marks the enactment of the Constitution of the International Civil Defence Organisation in 1972.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 1[SUP]st[/SUP], 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/845936/official-neglect-govt-fails-to-prioritise-civil-defence-in-k-p/
[h=1]Official neglect: Govt fails to prioritise civil defence in K-P[/h]
PESHAWAR: As countries across the globe commemorate World Civil Defence Day on March 1 (today), the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government continues to turn a blind eye to one of the most significant state mechanism in the province.
Civil defence is a frontline response and rescue service that deals with combat scenarios or natural disasters. Modern times have redefined the role of the government department and K-P is a region in need of a well-trained, quick reaction force that helps in emergency evacuation, contingency planning and crisis management. However, the government has left much to be desired in providing the crucial service.
While talking to The Express Tribune, Civil Defence Peshawar Chief Warden and former district nazim Azam Afridi said the department has remained out of action for a long time in K-P, with the government least interested in reinvigorating the force.
“Civil defence services are crucial to a province like K-P,” he said, adding the department does not serve as an immediate response force, rather coordinates with different government organisations to deal with an emergency.
Afridi said the government has restricted its attention towards the Provincial Disaster Management Authority and Rescue 1122—whose volunteers have themselves been trained by civil defence officials.
The chief warden said the force needs funding and support from all sections of the society and the K-P government should establish a wage structure for its volunteers.
Deemed unimportant
A civil defence department official requesting anonymity told The Express Tribune, civil defence is the most important response mechanism devised by the state to deal with an untoward situation.
He blamed the provincial government for putting the department on the backburner and refused to elaborate further, citing the home department’s directives of keeping mum.
Civil defence offices were established in 16 districts across the province and seven Frontier Regions. According to information provided by the official, more than 3,000 volunteers are enlisted with the department.
“The government has not paid a single penny, let alone certificates of appreciation to the volunteers,” he lamented, adding affluent sections of the society are least bothered about this collective responsibility.
Deputy Chief Warden Shabbir Muhammad said a conference on World Civil Defence Day will be held at a local hotel, aiming to bring to light the role of the department in times of war and natural disasters. Deputy Chief Warden Women’s Wing Farah Aqil Shah, Civil Defence Director Sharifullah and the Municipal Corporation Peshawar administrator will also participate in the programme, he added.
Shabbir Muhammad said the international day marks the enactment of the Constitution of the International Civil Defence Organisation in 1972.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 1[SUP]st[/SUP], 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/845936/official-neglect-govt-fails-to-prioritise-civil-defence-in-k-p/
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
Re: PTI's KPK Government Achievements
Reclaiming the clock tower: At least 13 shops razed to the ground
PESHAWAR: The district administration demolished 13 shops during an anti-encroachment drive in the provincial capital Saturday night.
District Municipal Administrator Syed Zafar Ali Shah told The Express Tribune action is being undertaken on the directives of Chief Minister Pervez Khattak. Shah said shops surrounding Ghanta Ghar were demolished as part of efforts to restore the historic clock tower.
Cheaper by the dozen
The municipal administrator said the clock tower will be refurbished and restored to its original state.
He added the shops at Ghanta Ghar were allocated against a rent of Rs2 per month in 1955 and currently the shopkeepers pay Rs740 a month to the district administration. “The traders will be relocated in Peepal Mandi and Ganna Mandi,” Shah added.
Notices were served to over 400 shopkeepers across the city, asking them to voluntarily vacate illegally-occupied land before February 20. Once the deadline passed, the bulldozer was officially given the green signal.
As the campaign is in full swing, Peshawar Deputy Commissioner Riaz Mehsud has cancelled weekly holidays of Assistant Commissioner Mumtaz Ahmad, relevant additional assistant commissioners and other officials.
According to a notification issued on Friday, the decision has been taken so the drive meets its intended targets soon. The grand operation will continue under the supervision of the DC until the entire provincial capital is cleared of all encroachments, stated the notification.
Mehsud had stated all those affected by the encroachment drive will be provided with alternative space in other areas and their losses will be reimbursed. A group of traders met the DC and lauded his initiative.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Sohail Ahmed Warraich earlier conducted an operation against encroachment in Qissa Khwani Bazaar, Misgaran Bazaar and Ibrishamgaran Bazaar on Thursday night.
In January, three people were killed at the foot of the clock tower as a bulldozer reversed and ran them over during a clean-up drive.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 2[SUP]nd[/SUP], 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/846262/reclaiming-the-clock-tower-at-least-13-shops-razed-to-the-ground/
Reclaiming the clock tower: At least 13 shops razed to the ground
PESHAWAR: The district administration demolished 13 shops during an anti-encroachment drive in the provincial capital Saturday night.
District Municipal Administrator Syed Zafar Ali Shah told The Express Tribune action is being undertaken on the directives of Chief Minister Pervez Khattak. Shah said shops surrounding Ghanta Ghar were demolished as part of efforts to restore the historic clock tower.
Cheaper by the dozen
The municipal administrator said the clock tower will be refurbished and restored to its original state.
He added the shops at Ghanta Ghar were allocated against a rent of Rs2 per month in 1955 and currently the shopkeepers pay Rs740 a month to the district administration. “The traders will be relocated in Peepal Mandi and Ganna Mandi,” Shah added.
Notices were served to over 400 shopkeepers across the city, asking them to voluntarily vacate illegally-occupied land before February 20. Once the deadline passed, the bulldozer was officially given the green signal.
As the campaign is in full swing, Peshawar Deputy Commissioner Riaz Mehsud has cancelled weekly holidays of Assistant Commissioner Mumtaz Ahmad, relevant additional assistant commissioners and other officials.
According to a notification issued on Friday, the decision has been taken so the drive meets its intended targets soon. The grand operation will continue under the supervision of the DC until the entire provincial capital is cleared of all encroachments, stated the notification.
Debris of enchroached shops. PHOTOS: BASEER QALANDAR/EXPRESS
Additional Deputy Commissioner Sohail Ahmed Warraich earlier conducted an operation against encroachment in Qissa Khwani Bazaar, Misgaran Bazaar and Ibrishamgaran Bazaar on Thursday night.
In January, three people were killed at the foot of the clock tower as a bulldozer reversed and ran them over during a clean-up drive.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 2[SUP]nd[/SUP], 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/846262/reclaiming-the-clock-tower-at-least-13-shops-razed-to-the-ground/
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
Re: PTI's KPK Government Achievements
Shortage of teachers: Shutters stay down on government girls school in Nowshera
PESHAWAR: Government Girls Primary School (GGPS) Charpani in Nizampur, Nowshera has remained closed for over four months due to the absence of teachers, insiders told The Express Tribune on Sunday.
Although the provincial government has declared an education emergency, a majority of primary schools for girls in Nowshera, which is Chief Minister Pervez Khattak’s hometown, have only one teacher and two rooms to accommodate 150 to 200 students.
Ihteshamul Haq, founder of a social welfare organisation in the district, told The Express Tribune government-owned primary schools lack teachers and basic facilities, even though several complaints have been registered in this regard.
“GGPS Charpani was set up in 1984,” he said. “Initially, there were two teachers for 200 students. However, over the last four months, not a single teacher has attended school. Students come to school every morning and return home when they see the lock on the door.”
According to Haq, there is dearth of teachers at a number of girls primary schools in the district.
“GGPS in Gharib Pura has only two teachers for 250 students,” he said. “The school has only two rooms and lacks electricity and washroom facilities.”
Haq said a majority of teachers hired in these schools are from faraway areas and therefore do not regularly attend school.
An official of the district education office informed The Express Tribune teachers are running their own businesses instead of coming in to work. He has held the former district education officer, Rubina Quraishi, responsible for the absence of teachers. Quraishi was suspended three months ago and another DEO stepped in to fill her shoes.
When contacted, Nowshera DEO Muhammad Inamullah Toro admitted GGPS Charpani has been closed for the last four months.
“I recently visited various schools in the district with the chief minister. Khattak has asked us to appoint more teachers at all schools and provide them with basic facilities.”
According to Toro, efforts have been made to reopen GGPS Charpani on an urgent basis.
“New teachers have been posted at the school while all teachers who have remained absent for a long time have been suspended,” he said. “We will take action against them once we have investigated the matter.”
He announced 500 teachers will be appointed in government schools in Nowshera this month. “We have shortlisted candidates for the post and will announce our final decision soon,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 2[SUP]nd[/SUP], 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/846318/...-down-on-government-girls-school-in-nowshera/
Shortage of teachers: Shutters stay down on government girls school in Nowshera
PESHAWAR: Government Girls Primary School (GGPS) Charpani in Nizampur, Nowshera has remained closed for over four months due to the absence of teachers, insiders told The Express Tribune on Sunday.
Although the provincial government has declared an education emergency, a majority of primary schools for girls in Nowshera, which is Chief Minister Pervez Khattak’s hometown, have only one teacher and two rooms to accommodate 150 to 200 students.
Ihteshamul Haq, founder of a social welfare organisation in the district, told The Express Tribune government-owned primary schools lack teachers and basic facilities, even though several complaints have been registered in this regard.
“GGPS Charpani was set up in 1984,” he said. “Initially, there were two teachers for 200 students. However, over the last four months, not a single teacher has attended school. Students come to school every morning and return home when they see the lock on the door.”
According to Haq, there is dearth of teachers at a number of girls primary schools in the district.
“GGPS in Gharib Pura has only two teachers for 250 students,” he said. “The school has only two rooms and lacks electricity and washroom facilities.”
Haq said a majority of teachers hired in these schools are from faraway areas and therefore do not regularly attend school.
An official of the district education office informed The Express Tribune teachers are running their own businesses instead of coming in to work. He has held the former district education officer, Rubina Quraishi, responsible for the absence of teachers. Quraishi was suspended three months ago and another DEO stepped in to fill her shoes.
When contacted, Nowshera DEO Muhammad Inamullah Toro admitted GGPS Charpani has been closed for the last four months.
“I recently visited various schools in the district with the chief minister. Khattak has asked us to appoint more teachers at all schools and provide them with basic facilities.”
According to Toro, efforts have been made to reopen GGPS Charpani on an urgent basis.
“New teachers have been posted at the school while all teachers who have remained absent for a long time have been suspended,” he said. “We will take action against them once we have investigated the matter.”
He announced 500 teachers will be appointed in government schools in Nowshera this month. “We have shortlisted candidates for the post and will announce our final decision soon,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 2[SUP]nd[/SUP], 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/846318/...-down-on-government-girls-school-in-nowshera/
GujjarPakistani
Banned
Re: PTI's KPK Government Achievements
Jhoot ke zehar ko meethi zuban aur alfaaz istmaal kar ke khoob pesh kiya gaya (clap),koi hud hoti hai charab zubani ki :lol: ,Well Done Mr Syed Evil Genius
Jhoot ke zehar ko meethi zuban aur alfaaz istmaal kar ke khoob pesh kiya gaya (clap),koi hud hoti hai charab zubani ki :lol: ,Well Done Mr Syed Evil Genius
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
Re: PTI's KPK Government Achievements
Never forget: Govt renames 107 schools after slain APS students
PESHAWAR: The provincial government has renamed 107 existing government schools across the province after students slain in the gruesome terrorist attack on Army Public School (APS) last year.
According to a handout issued on Thursday from the information department, the government has renamed two schools each in Abbottabad, Hangu, Lakki Marwat and Swabi; 10 in Charsadda; five in Malakand and Nowshera each; four each in Kohat and Mardan; three in Karak and one each in Chitral, Lower Dir, Haripur, Mansehra and Tank. The remaining 63 schools renamed are in Peshawar.
As per the statement, Government High School (GHS) Charsadda has been renamed Government Shaheed Hayatullah High School No1 Rajjar; GHS Barenis Chitral has been renamed Government Shaheed Yasirullah High School; GHS Ibrahimzai, Hangu has been renamed Government Shaheed Baqir Ali High School; GHS Usterzai Kohat will be known as Government Shaheed Rafiq Raza Bangash High School, while Government Middle School (GMS) Swati Gate, Peshawar will be known as Government Shaheed Hamza Ali Kakar Middle School.
Similarly, GHS No2 Gulbahar, Peshawar has been renamed Government Shaheed Ahmad Mujtaba High School, GMS Wazir Bagh Peshawar has been renamed Government Shaheed Hamayun Middle School Wazir Bagh and Government Higher Secondary School Sarai Naurang Lakki Marwat has been renamed Government Shaheed Bahram Ahmad Khan School.
A welcome move
Parents of the slain children have appreciated the government’s decision, terming it a “great honour” for them.
While speaking to The Express Tribune, Tufail Khattak, father of fallen APS student Sher Shah, lauded the government for etching their children’s names in history. “With schools named after them, the martyred children will be remembered forever,” he said. “The coming generations will know of the sacrifices our children made for the country.”
Khattak added he was pleased with the government’s decision and was grateful to it for honouring the students and their parents.
Ajun Khan, father of Asfand Khan, also expressed similar sentiments. However, he questioned why the government had renamed only 107 schools when over 140 students died that day.
He demanded the remaining names be added to the government’s list. Khan also urged the government to refrain from dragging its feet on the matter.
According to Khan, a meeting of the Shuhada Forum was held in Peshawar in which they have rejected the federal government’s decision to award posthumous Tamgha-e-Shujaat and Sitara-e-Shujaat–the highest civilian awards–to the victims. The forum has instead demanded Nishan-e-Haider, the highest military award for gallantry, for the slain students.
As many as 151 people, most of them schoolchildren, died in the worst terrorist attack in the country on December 16 when terrorists armed to the teeth laid siege to the military-run school for several hours and killed students and teachers indiscriminately. The attack was later claimed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.
In the aftermath of the bloodbath, a national consensus was forged among all political parties to root out terrorism and extremism from the country. The prime minister lifted a moratorium on the death penalty, the National Action Plan was devised and military courts were formed to try terrorists.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 6[SUP]th[/SUP], 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/848440/never-forget-govt-renames-107-schools-after-slain-aps-students/
Never forget: Govt renames 107 schools after slain APS students
PESHAWAR: The provincial government has renamed 107 existing government schools across the province after students slain in the gruesome terrorist attack on Army Public School (APS) last year.
According to a handout issued on Thursday from the information department, the government has renamed two schools each in Abbottabad, Hangu, Lakki Marwat and Swabi; 10 in Charsadda; five in Malakand and Nowshera each; four each in Kohat and Mardan; three in Karak and one each in Chitral, Lower Dir, Haripur, Mansehra and Tank. The remaining 63 schools renamed are in Peshawar.
As per the statement, Government High School (GHS) Charsadda has been renamed Government Shaheed Hayatullah High School No1 Rajjar; GHS Barenis Chitral has been renamed Government Shaheed Yasirullah High School; GHS Ibrahimzai, Hangu has been renamed Government Shaheed Baqir Ali High School; GHS Usterzai Kohat will be known as Government Shaheed Rafiq Raza Bangash High School, while Government Middle School (GMS) Swati Gate, Peshawar will be known as Government Shaheed Hamza Ali Kakar Middle School.
Similarly, GHS No2 Gulbahar, Peshawar has been renamed Government Shaheed Ahmad Mujtaba High School, GMS Wazir Bagh Peshawar has been renamed Government Shaheed Hamayun Middle School Wazir Bagh and Government Higher Secondary School Sarai Naurang Lakki Marwat has been renamed Government Shaheed Bahram Ahmad Khan School.
A welcome move
Parents of the slain children have appreciated the government’s decision, terming it a “great honour” for them.
While speaking to The Express Tribune, Tufail Khattak, father of fallen APS student Sher Shah, lauded the government for etching their children’s names in history. “With schools named after them, the martyred children will be remembered forever,” he said. “The coming generations will know of the sacrifices our children made for the country.”
Khattak added he was pleased with the government’s decision and was grateful to it for honouring the students and their parents.
Ajun Khan, father of Asfand Khan, also expressed similar sentiments. However, he questioned why the government had renamed only 107 schools when over 140 students died that day.
He demanded the remaining names be added to the government’s list. Khan also urged the government to refrain from dragging its feet on the matter.
According to Khan, a meeting of the Shuhada Forum was held in Peshawar in which they have rejected the federal government’s decision to award posthumous Tamgha-e-Shujaat and Sitara-e-Shujaat–the highest civilian awards–to the victims. The forum has instead demanded Nishan-e-Haider, the highest military award for gallantry, for the slain students.
As many as 151 people, most of them schoolchildren, died in the worst terrorist attack in the country on December 16 when terrorists armed to the teeth laid siege to the military-run school for several hours and killed students and teachers indiscriminately. The attack was later claimed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.
In the aftermath of the bloodbath, a national consensus was forged among all political parties to root out terrorism and extremism from the country. The prime minister lifted a moratorium on the death penalty, the National Action Plan was devised and military courts were formed to try terrorists.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 6[SUP]th[/SUP], 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/848440/never-forget-govt-renames-107-schools-after-slain-aps-students/
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
Re: PTI's KPK Government Achievements
Follow-up drive: Refusals drop from 33,000 to 24,037
PESHAWAR: As the latest drive of Sehat ka Ittehad came to an end on Wednesday, more than 33,000 people in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa had refused to administer polio drops to their children. However, by Thursday refusals had dropped to 24,037, aided by supplementary visits by vaccination teams and the fear of arrest.
According to data available with The Express Tribune, during the three-day short interval additional dose drive, the highest number of refusals was recorded from Peshawar district; 13,436 parents did not allow vaccinators to give the drops to their children.
The aim of the drive was to vaccinate 2.7 million children in 21 districts of K-P and the teams succeeded in reaching 97% of them, 2.6 million.
However, refusals and unavailability led to 85,545 children missing the crucial drops. Peshawar led the count of children who missed vaccination with 13,436 refusals and 34,083 unavailable children. In Abbottabad, 30,154 children were immunised, with five refusals and 670 unavailable children. A total of 6,534 children missed the drops in Bannu, including 4,482 refusals. No refusals were reported from Buner and only 310 were missed due to not being available.
Moreover, in Charsadda 5,097 children missed out on the vaccine as 1,319 were refusal cases while the remaining were children not at home. Chitral’s residents did not refuse the drops and 959 children were vaccinated while only nine missed out. A total of 5,581 children missed the vaccine in DI Khan, including 407 refusals.
Lower Dir residents also cooperated with vaccination teams and no refusals were reported from the district, however, 67 children did miss out because of not being home. Although, Karak boasts of the highest literacy rate in the province, teams were unable to convince 38 families to let their children be vaccinated.
No refusals were reported from Kohistan and 9,055 children were vaccinated without a hurdle, while only nine children were unavailable. In Lakki Marwat, 4,181 children missed the drops, including 1,732 whose parents refused. No refusals were reported from Malakand. The K-P government, however, claimed to have achieved its targets in a handout issued on Friday. It read, “100% targets have been achieved” in Abbottabad, Buner, Charsadda, Chitral, DI Khan, Lower Dir, Haripur, Kohistan, Lakki Marwat, Hangu and Nowshera, while special catch-up activities are in progress to achieve the rest of the targets. Data for Torghar district had been delayed due to a fault, stated the handout.
“We will carry on the follow-up campaign until we inoculate every single child,” a K-P health department official told The Express Tribune. He added by the follow-up drive on Thursday, the number of children missed had dropped from 170,000 to 85,545 with 24,037 refusals.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 7[SUP]th[/SUP], 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/849128/follow-up-drive-refusals-drop-from-33000-to-24037/
Follow-up drive: Refusals drop from 33,000 to 24,037
PESHAWAR: As the latest drive of Sehat ka Ittehad came to an end on Wednesday, more than 33,000 people in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa had refused to administer polio drops to their children. However, by Thursday refusals had dropped to 24,037, aided by supplementary visits by vaccination teams and the fear of arrest.
According to data available with The Express Tribune, during the three-day short interval additional dose drive, the highest number of refusals was recorded from Peshawar district; 13,436 parents did not allow vaccinators to give the drops to their children.
The aim of the drive was to vaccinate 2.7 million children in 21 districts of K-P and the teams succeeded in reaching 97% of them, 2.6 million.
However, refusals and unavailability led to 85,545 children missing the crucial drops. Peshawar led the count of children who missed vaccination with 13,436 refusals and 34,083 unavailable children. In Abbottabad, 30,154 children were immunised, with five refusals and 670 unavailable children. A total of 6,534 children missed the drops in Bannu, including 4,482 refusals. No refusals were reported from Buner and only 310 were missed due to not being available.
Moreover, in Charsadda 5,097 children missed out on the vaccine as 1,319 were refusal cases while the remaining were children not at home. Chitral’s residents did not refuse the drops and 959 children were vaccinated while only nine missed out. A total of 5,581 children missed the vaccine in DI Khan, including 407 refusals.
Lower Dir residents also cooperated with vaccination teams and no refusals were reported from the district, however, 67 children did miss out because of not being home. Although, Karak boasts of the highest literacy rate in the province, teams were unable to convince 38 families to let their children be vaccinated.
No refusals were reported from Kohistan and 9,055 children were vaccinated without a hurdle, while only nine children were unavailable. In Lakki Marwat, 4,181 children missed the drops, including 1,732 whose parents refused. No refusals were reported from Malakand. The K-P government, however, claimed to have achieved its targets in a handout issued on Friday. It read, “100% targets have been achieved” in Abbottabad, Buner, Charsadda, Chitral, DI Khan, Lower Dir, Haripur, Kohistan, Lakki Marwat, Hangu and Nowshera, while special catch-up activities are in progress to achieve the rest of the targets. Data for Torghar district had been delayed due to a fault, stated the handout.
“We will carry on the follow-up campaign until we inoculate every single child,” a K-P health department official told The Express Tribune. He added by the follow-up drive on Thursday, the number of children missed had dropped from 170,000 to 85,545 with 24,037 refusals.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 7[SUP]th[/SUP], 2015.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/849128/follow-up-drive-refusals-drop-from-33000-to-24037/
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
Re: PTI's KPK Government Achievements
Fund shortage not a problem: ADP use stands at 24% in first half
PESHAWAR: As the 2014-15 fiscal year’s third quarter almost comes to a close, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government reported spending only 24% of its Annual Development Programme (ADP) fund – its primary kitty – in the first half of the fiscal year 2014-15.
The complete analysis of the figures was presented to Chief Minister Pervez Khattak after being reviewed at a committee meeting on February 4.
A majority of the government departments are forced to drag their feet over a lack of funds as only Rs33.47 billion out of Rs139.8 billion was doled out as of December 31, 2014. The total consists of Rs39.755 billion of foreign aid and Rs100.05 billion shared by the federal government.
The likelihood of a lapse of unutilised funds looms large as the waste of resources translates into a lack of planning and foresight.
Core departments like law-enforcement and health require an injection of capital urgently, said a government official while talking to The Express Tribune. He added most of the development projects under way are either based on public-private partnerships or are externally funded.
A weak first-half performance of the departments in question will obstruct most of the government’s macro objectives and a 100% utilisation of the K-P government’s war chest is highly unlikely.
Another official seeking anonymity said departments like mines and minerals or science and technology are experiencing dormancy despite having the capacity to initiate revenue-generating projects. “If productive departments work at a snail’s pace, how will the government even be able to meet its expenses like salaries?” he questioned.
In control?
However, secretary planning and development Syed Zafar Ali Shah responded to the criticism by saying the ADP utilisation rate this year is better than previous figures and most of the targets will be achieved by the end of the fiscal year.
“The current figure is misleading. It is only (about) the midyear and we still have two quarters left,” he told The Express Tribune. Shah added the annual trend will be quite different from how it stands at the moment. The secretary said the first-half usually comprises approvals, clarifications and consultations and fund utilisation picks up henceforth.
[TABLE="width: 625"]
[TR]
[TD]Department[/TD]
[TD="width: 151"]% age utilisation of allocation[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 150"]Health[/TD]
[TD="width: 151"]18[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 150"]Transport[/TD]
[TD="width: 151"]10[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 150"]Local government and rural development[/TD]
[TD="width: 151"]10[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 150"]Industries[/TD]
[TD="width: 151"]10[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 150"]Mines and minerals[/TD]
[TD="width: 151"]7[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 150"]Social welfare[/TD]
[TD="width: 151"]21[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 150"]Science and technology[/TD]
[TD="width: 151"]10[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 150"]Energy and power[/TD]
[TD="width: 151"]43[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 150"]Agriculture[/TD]
[TD="width: 151"]37[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 150"]Irrigation[/TD]
[TD="width: 151"]33[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 150"]Forest[/TD]
[TD="width: 151"]32[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 150"]Elementary and secondary education[/TD]
[TD="width: 151"]33[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 150"]Higher education[/TD]
[TD="width: 151"]30[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
http://tribune.com.pk/story/849049/fund-shortage-not-a-problem-adp-use-stands-at-24-in-first-half/
Fund shortage not a problem: ADP use stands at 24% in first half
PESHAWAR: As the 2014-15 fiscal year’s third quarter almost comes to a close, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government reported spending only 24% of its Annual Development Programme (ADP) fund – its primary kitty – in the first half of the fiscal year 2014-15.
The complete analysis of the figures was presented to Chief Minister Pervez Khattak after being reviewed at a committee meeting on February 4.
A majority of the government departments are forced to drag their feet over a lack of funds as only Rs33.47 billion out of Rs139.8 billion was doled out as of December 31, 2014. The total consists of Rs39.755 billion of foreign aid and Rs100.05 billion shared by the federal government.
The likelihood of a lapse of unutilised funds looms large as the waste of resources translates into a lack of planning and foresight.
Core departments like law-enforcement and health require an injection of capital urgently, said a government official while talking to The Express Tribune. He added most of the development projects under way are either based on public-private partnerships or are externally funded.
A weak first-half performance of the departments in question will obstruct most of the government’s macro objectives and a 100% utilisation of the K-P government’s war chest is highly unlikely.
Another official seeking anonymity said departments like mines and minerals or science and technology are experiencing dormancy despite having the capacity to initiate revenue-generating projects. “If productive departments work at a snail’s pace, how will the government even be able to meet its expenses like salaries?” he questioned.
In control?
However, secretary planning and development Syed Zafar Ali Shah responded to the criticism by saying the ADP utilisation rate this year is better than previous figures and most of the targets will be achieved by the end of the fiscal year.
“The current figure is misleading. It is only (about) the midyear and we still have two quarters left,” he told The Express Tribune. Shah added the annual trend will be quite different from how it stands at the moment. The secretary said the first-half usually comprises approvals, clarifications and consultations and fund utilisation picks up henceforth.
[TABLE="width: 625"]
[TR]
[TD]Department[/TD]
[TD="width: 151"]% age utilisation of allocation[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 150"]Health[/TD]
[TD="width: 151"]18[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 150"]Transport[/TD]
[TD="width: 151"]10[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 150"]Local government and rural development[/TD]
[TD="width: 151"]10[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 150"]Industries[/TD]
[TD="width: 151"]10[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 150"]Mines and minerals[/TD]
[TD="width: 151"]7[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 150"]Social welfare[/TD]
[TD="width: 151"]21[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 150"]Science and technology[/TD]
[TD="width: 151"]10[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 150"]Energy and power[/TD]
[TD="width: 151"]43[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 150"]Agriculture[/TD]
[TD="width: 151"]37[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 150"]Irrigation[/TD]
[TD="width: 151"]33[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 150"]Forest[/TD]
[TD="width: 151"]32[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 150"]Elementary and secondary education[/TD]
[TD="width: 151"]33[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 150"]Higher education[/TD]
[TD="width: 151"]30[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
Source: Data obtained from the review committee
Published in The Express Tribune, March 7[SUP]th[/SUP], 2015.http://tribune.com.pk/story/849049/fund-shortage-not-a-problem-adp-use-stands-at-24-in-first-half/
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
Re: PTI's KPK Government Achievements
JAN 28 2015
JAN 28 2015
Syed Haider Imam
Chief Minister (5k+ posts)
Re: PTI's KPK Government Achievements
MARCH 01 2015
MARCH 01 2015
