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خیبر پختونخوا میں مون سون بارشوں نیا سلسلہ آج شروع ہونےکا امکان

خیبر پختونخوا میں مون سون کی بارشوں نیا سلسلہ آج سے شروع ہونےکا امکان ہے۔  محکمہءموسمیات کے مطابق بارشوں کا سلسلہ 28 جولائی تک جاری رہنے کا امکان ہے۔محکمہءموسمیات نے صوبے کی تمام ضلعی انتظامیہ اور متعلقہ اداروں کو الرٹ رہنے کے لیے مراسلہ جاری کردیا۔

تیز ہواؤں اور بارشوں کے پیش نظر صوبے کے حساس علاقوں میں لینڈ سلائیڈنگ اور ندی نالوں میں طغیانی کا خدشہ ہے، نیز تیز بارشوں کے باعث فلش فلڈنگ کے باعث ندی نالوں میں طغیانی کا خدشہ ہے۔

محکمہءموسمیات کی جانب سے تمام اضلاع کی انتظامیہ کو بارشوں کے باعث کسی بھی ناخوش گوار صورت حال میں چھوٹی بڑی مشینری کی دستیابی یقینی بنانے کی ہدایت، جاری کی گئی ہیں، اور سیاحوں کو دوران سفر خصوصی احتیاطی تدابیر اختیار کرنے اور موسمی صورت حال سے پل پل باخبر رہنے کی تلقین کی گئی ہے۔

Ghulam Khan border crsossing

Ghulam Khan border crossing

SHAHZAD MASOOD ROOMI

Afghanistan is strategically an important geography for Pakistan’s geo-economics policy which takes center stage in Pakistan’s National Security Policy 2022-2026. Landlocked Afghanistan provides Pakistan with a land bridge to connect it to Central Asia and Russia. Till 2018, Pak-Afghan border had two official border crossings – Torkham (KP) and Chaman (Baluchistan). For centuries, these routes have provided traders with access to and from Central Asia to Arabian Sea shores.

On March 9, 2018 Pakistan opened another trade border crossing between the two countries; known is Ghulam Khan Border Crossing.

Ghulam Khan is a town in North Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. It is located on the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. A border crossing at this point have provided local and international traders another route to and from Afghanistan.

Opening of Ghulam Khan Border crossing was outcome of fulfillment of one of the conditions set in “Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement 2010 (APTTA)” which was signed in 2010 by Pakistan and letter by Afghan government. In the new treaty, three border crossing points from Pakistan side were notified: Torkham, Chaman, and Ghulam Khan.

According to Pakistan’s ambassador to Afghanistan, Muhammad Sadiq, first transit route is the shortest between Pakistan’s coast & Afghanistan & beyond. Earlier trade activities via this border crossing were limited to bilateral levels between Pak and Afg.

Most importantly, Ghulam Khan Border crossing provides Pakistan with the shortest route connecting China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)’s western route with Afghanistan, Central Asian States and beyond. This explains strategic importance of this border crossing point.

Ghulam Khan crossing is located between North Waziristan and Afghanistan’s Khost province. Hakla-Dera Ismail Khan Motorway (M-14) under CPEC is not far away from Bannu district of KP that serves as a gateway to North Waziristan. The proposed DI Khan-Zhob Motorway creates a chain among Ghulam Khan, DI Khan, Quetta, and Gwadar.

This western route of CPEC passes through most backward areas of Pakistan and promises uplifting the socio-economic profile of these  areas. Provincial govt. of KP has planned to set up multiple Special Economic Zones along with this route to provide job opportunities to locals and to boost industrial base of the KP. One such special economic zone has been proposed at Daraban, Dear Ismail Khan that will be known as Daraban Economic Zone (DEZ).  Industries in this special economic zone will benefit thousands of local and will provide access to Afghanistan, Central Asian and Russian markets through Ghulam Khan Border Crossing.

This is why Pakistan believed that poverty in both countries can be defeated by increasing economic cooperation and activities across the border to provide youth opportunities to restrain them from becoming a militant or foot soldier of some foreign hostile entity.

Around 3125 acres of land has planned to be acquired to establish DEZ where approximately 400 industrial units will be established making it largest special economic zone in the country. As per government’s plan, the DEZ will be established at only two-kilometer distance from CPEC’s western route, making it ideal for international investors.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have already reached an understanding to utilize existing bilateral and transit trade opportunities for mutual benefit.

After US withdrawal from Afghanistan, Pakistan has stepped up its efforts to establish stable trade ties with Afghanistan as these relations are critical for Pakistan’s newly adopted National Security Policy with a major focus on geo-economic. Opening Ghulam Khan Border Crossing for transit trade to Central Asia in April 2021 was a step in this direction.

Peace and stability are the most critical prerequisites for trade and economic activities. Ghulam Khan Border Crossing has witnessed multiple closures over security related incidents and prevailing distrust between the two countries.

These closures have negatively impacted the bilateral trade and transit trade via Pakistani border crossings. Afghan businessmen moved to use the port of Bandar Abbas in Iran for import of goods to Afghanistan. Consequently, mutual trade volume between Pakistan & Afghanistan witnessed a decline from US$2.5-3 billion in 2014 to US $800 million in 2020.

To facilitate local traders, KP govt. has planned to build market on Pakistani side of the border crossing on demands of local elders.

Ghulam Khan Terminal is operated by Pakistan Customs and the National Logistic Cell (NLC). Apart from that a rest house at Ghulam Khan has been constructed recently. KP govt. along with Pakistan Army is working on multiple socio-economic initiatives in Ghulam Khan town like rehabilitation of health and educational institutes. This border crossing is also providing opportunity to divided families on both sides of borders to connect.

Tribal Youth

Role of Tribal Youth in actualization of FATA merger

JUMA KHAN SUFI

Old habits die hard. The area under discussion had been outside the state parameters for centuries. Only the advent of British imperialism imparted some formal status to these tribes in the view of their history, tradition of independent status free from external interference and their attachment to their tribal values. The British did introduce some sort of indirect state control over the area, bringing minor changes to their administration from time to time. However, they never tried to take active control of tribal lives.

Pakistan, to some extent, continued this British policy for almost seven decades. This Alsatian status of the region on its western border was never in strategic and political interest of Pakistan and its merger was overdue long ago. This negligence was also against the social cohesion of Pakistani society, especially of Pukhtoons. Merger created ill-ease among the stake holders of senior generation used to the age-old privileges they traditionally enjoyed under the so-called independent status. External forces in the shape of religious right, some Pukhtoon nationalists and traditional Kabul old guards also prop up these anti-merger sentiments on account of their separate interests. They are also stake holders of the past. Conditions have changed. Despite all these ill-feelings, the verdict of history is on the side of merger.

Needless to recount different events in the course of history when this area was considered bulwark of invasion or attack in the recent history, first against the British rule at Delhi and then against Islamabad after the inception of Pakistan. During and on the eve of two world wars especially and under normal conditions, generally, too, Italians, Germans, Turks, Russians, Soviets, Indian revolutionaries, US and Nato used this area for the different motives against the Central authority. Memories are still afresh whereby different powers used their pawns and proxies for money. Now it depends upon the tribal youth to come  out  openly  in  support   of   this  new development. Because only youth can safeguard the present and future of their landscape, who are the ones to take benefit of this new law-governed position and bringing up tribal belt to level it with settled districts. Old generation have played their wicket. It is now new generation to become locomotives of history. Youth have no memory of the past existence. They are the generation of internet and social media. Though literacy rate in former FATA is far behind other parts of Pakistan, yet with due attention the uneducated can also be part of the change.

Every effort of media and development should first and foremost target the youth. In order to actualize the merger process, the confidence of youth is of utmost importance. So priority should be given to education and training. The formal education must be supplemented with informal education and adult courses should be introduced in the area. The purpose of education should be result oriented and not creation of vocal unemployed youth drawn towards unhealthy activities. In this connection job creation and the induction of youth in various fields must be state priority. Special allocation of money and the proper utilization of budget be ensured so that tribal youth feel the feelings of partnership in developmental activities.

Tribal belt has land which grow various crops, vegetables and crops. Government must pay attention to research and development in farming. Special agricultural authority catering for farming needs should be formed. Then there are possibilities of industrialization on small scale basis which can engage younger population on this score. Wide vistas of opportunities should come into being so that educated tribal youth instead of migrating to other districts find ample opportunity at their doorstep. Development needs of the area is necessary to employ younger generation in gainful professions and wean them away from extremist and unhealthy endeavors. Everything boils down to money and money spent in right manner can alleviate people from poverty. The economic activities in the merged districts must take a boost so that youth find their rightful place in these efforts. If money is available, I am sure tribal youth would wholeheartedly lead the track.

Tribalism is a curse as far as modern age is concerned. Youth could see themselves in another light as tax payers  than  their  ancestors  waiting  for  doles  from the governments. Bill and tax payment culture may find congenial atmosphere among youth. Tribal region or merged districts are awash with tapped and untapped resources. Provincial government is needed to create special authority concerning the mineral resources of the area. Efforts should be made to work towards public/private partnership and even ownership of the minefields so that genuine locals, instead of outside moneyed classes, benefit from it then traditional wheeler-dealers of tribal headsmen. One cannot belittle the role of youth in the ongoing process of merger of the former FATA. Though conditions vary from one district to another, yet right methodology can be evolved to attract youth towards their perennial interests. Conditions in norther districts are softer than both Waziristans, North and South. Historically, Waziristan is the hardest nut to crack. Double efforts are needed there. It is geographically biggest area, comprised of hardy population and mostly inaccessible.

Most of the troubles emanate from there. Enemies concentrate on that area, as far as the lessons of history go. Wazir, Masud and Dawar youth, alongside Bhettanis, are resourceful and hardworking people and the youth there can become harbingers of change. Proper education, proper training, proper spending of money, proper strategy and proper tactics be adopted to engage youth in the process and onward march of development in the merged districts. There is light at the end of the tunnel and tribal youth can perform miracles, if guided in right direction.

Pakistan army helping people amid floods

Illustrious role of armed forces during monsoon

Pakistan armed forces are symbols of national pride and honor that depicts the full confidence that nation has on them. This confidence is outcome of a rich history of armed forces’ enduring commitment and dedication towards the nation during every disaster, natural or otherwise.

Like every year, this year monsoon ushered many challenges along with it. Flooding in rivers and nearby areas is normal occurrence in Pakistan during this season but, this year’s monsoon was different as it caused unprecedented urban flooding in many parts of the country. KPK and Sindh provinces were most affected. Karachi in Sindh and Swabi in KPK were adversely affected by these rains. Many remote areas in Baluchistan were also devastated by these rains.

Pakistan Army established General HQ Flood Relief Center in 1977 and since then it is functioning under General Staff Branch (Engineering Directorate). It is national level relief center to coordinate all relief operations of Pakistan Army during the floods. In the same year, Corps Flood Control were established as operational centers to carryout relief plan devised by GHQFRC. These centers work under respective Corps HQ.  To synergize the efforts with civilian governments, Commanders Corps Engineers at Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta also act as Army liaison /coordinating officers with respective governments in each province.

All these flood relief centers work in a synergized manner. Mainly they carried out 3 types of operations.

  1. Collecting flood related data.
  2. Coordination with Metrological department for future forecasts.
  3. Generating river discharge reports.

In KPK, Swabi, Malakand, Dera Ismail Khan, Tank and Nowshera received heavy rains and flash floods began wreaking havoc on traffic as it demolished many roads and bridges. According to reports, 3 people died of flash floods while many left homeless. People lost their vehicles many people were stranded during the flash floods. Pakistan Army Aviation launched daring rescue operations and save many precious lives. These actions of valor are reason why Pakistani nation has unflinching confidence on their brave armed forces who have always fulfilled their promise to the nation beyond the call of duty.

Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Army, along with Sindh Rangers, were the first responders as the scale of urban flood in the street of Karachi was beyond the limited resources of city’s municipal corporation. Karachi received unusually heavy rains and thunderstorms during current monsoon season.

Unprecedented and unexpected rain spell hit Karachi especially southern part. In 6-8 hours only 106 mm of rain was recorded in few areas of Karachi. All Nullahs including Gujjar, Orangi and Mehmoodabad are working at their optimum capacity. Water will recede in due course of time. In this critical moment, Besides CBC and DHA, Pak Army and Rangers are busy in relief efforts. Apart from Pakistan Army  and rangers, Pakistan Navy Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief (HADR) Operations in collaboration to provincial disaster management authority of Sindh continued in various areas of Karachi.

At one point, there were more than 370 dewatering teams comprising civil/army/rangers/navy were deployed to tackle the aftermath of urban flooding in Karachi.

The role of Pakistan armed forces in these rains are not limited to relief operations only. After intense urban flooding, Pakistan Army has been tasked to carry out hydrological survey of Islamabad and Karachi to assess the possible similar disasters in future so that their losses can be minimized after taking preemptive measures in city planning to mitigate these pending calamities.

Pakistan Armed forces’ role in recent floods and rains has once again illustrated the glorious traditions of armed forces of putting nation first. There is no doubt that Pakistan armed forces will continue to play their illustrated role in natural calamities like floods, earthquakes and land sliding etc. Nation is proud of its armed forces who continue to fulfill their duties with honor, courage and utmost professionalism.