Monday, October 4, 2010

"South Asian Security Complex and Pakistan-US Relations Post 9/11' (ABSTRACT)

Following is the abstract and Introduction of a Research Paper entitled 'South Asian Security Complex and Pakistan-US Relations Post 9/11' as appeared in Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) Journal Summer 2010, Volume X, Number 2.


South Asian Security Complex and Pakistan-United States Relations Post 9/11

Amer Rizwan*

Abstract

Post 9/11 Pakistan-United States relations are in many ways a new round of the same game. Although this phase is believed to be a fresh beginning that may usher in a new strategic and sustainable camaraderie between the two counties yet looking at this complex relationship through the prism of the interaction between the regional and global level security complexes points at the continuity of the old patterns. There may have been different paraphernalia to the macro-securitization of Terrorism and that of the Soviet Communism yet in both these cases Pakistan has been motivated to forge close relations with the US, less by the global concerns espoused by the latter, then by its regional security imperatives. The continual intersections between the two security complexes provide an interesting framework for the understanding of the otherwise complex interplay of factors. The current partnership has far reaching implications for all levels of Pakistan’s security i.e. global, regional and domestic. The paper investigates the invariable pros and cons of this quid pro quo partnership for Pakistan.

P

akistan-United States’ relationship in the post 9/11 era has been determined by yet another intersection between the global level trends and the South Asian regional currents. The paper attempts to explain this complex relationship with the help of Barry Buzan’s theoretical framework for security analysis at global, regional and domestic levels,[1] as modified in Regional Security Complex Theory (RSCT) and the concept of securitization.[2] The study underscores that Pakistan-US relations in the post 9/11 era have had a number of implications for Pakistan’s security at all the three levels i.e., domestic, regional, and global. The first part of the paper explores the issues related to Pakistan’s global and regional security whereas the second part attempts to analyze the impact of Pakistan-US relations in the post 9/11 era on Pakistan’s domestic security.




* Doctoral Candidate, Department of International Relations, Quaid-i-Azam University , Islamabad.

[1] Barry Buzan, People, States and Fear: An Agenda for International Security Studies in the post Cold War Era, (Colorado: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 1991), p.193.

[2] Barry Buzan and Ole Waever, Regions and Power: The Structure of International Security. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003). See also Barry Buzan and Ole Waever, “Macrosecuritisation and security Constellations: reconsidering scale in securitisaion theory”, Review of International Studies (2009), 35, 253–276 Copyright _ British International Studies Association doi:10.1017/S0260210509008511

TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW:

http://ipripak.org/journal/summer2010.shtml

http://ipripak.org/journal/summer2010/Article3.pdf

"Not Like This Before" By Rumi

I wasn't like this before. I wasn't out of my mind and senses.
Once I used to be wise like you, not crazy, insane and broken down like I am now.

I wasn't the admirer of life which has no trace, no being.
I used to ask : "Who is this?
What is that?,"
and search all the time.

Since you have wisdom,
sit and think
that probably I was like this before.
I haven't changed much.

I used to try
to make myself better than everybody.
I hadn't been hunted
with the ever-growing Love before.

I tried to rise above the sky
with my ambition
yet I didn't know.
I was just wandering in the desert.
At the end,
I have raised a treasure from the ground.


Divani Shamsi Tarbrizi,
from "Magnificent One",
by Nevit Orguz Ergin.

Sunday, October 3, 2010

"Only Breath" by Rumi - "My place is placeless, a trace of the traceless"

Not Christian or Jew or Muslim,not Hindu, Buddhist, sufi, or zen. Not any religion or cultural system.

I am not from the East or the West,
not out of the ocean or up from the ground,
not natural or etheral,
not composed of elements at all.

I do not exist,
am not an entity in this world
or the next,
did not decend from Adam or Eve
or any origin story.

My place is placeless,
a trace of the traceless.

Neither body or soul.

I belong to the beloved,
have seen the two worlds as oneand that one
call to and know,
first, last, outer, inner,
only that breath breathing human being.

from The Essential Rumi translations by Coleman Barks

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Education, Development & Enlightenment: With Special Reference to Pakistan

Education helps an individual to improve his own individual and social life, and ultimately the overall social values and living standards of a society. Education, however, is not merely a social necessity; it is a religious obligation as well. Our Holy Prophet enjoined us to seek knowledge from cradle to grave. No nation can tread the way of progress until and unless its citizens are truly educated. It is a well-known fact that literacy and education are the essential prerequisites for acquisition and spread of knowledge. This helps a nation to improve its human resource development that is a vital factor in attaining growth and stability. Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights declares that seeking education is one of the basic rights of every man and woman. Education, being enlightenment, is the to development. "No education, no development" is, therefore, the correct formula to describe the importance of education.
There is no denying the fact that western hemisphere of our universe has reached the near climax of human civilization just because its inhabitants have equipped themselves with the true wealth of quality education. They continued "to strive, to seek and never to yield," with the result that they excelled in almost every walk of life. However, their quest for knowing more and more, and their urge for moving forward have yet to see a pause.
As a matter of fact, there are many facets of our national and social life here in Pakistan that needs to be looked at with greater degree of skepticism in this modern era of "Brave New World." Needless to say that illiteracy has taken a toll not only on the physical development of Pakistan but has also overshadowed every nook and corner of our socio-economic nay political life. The result is that Pakistan, today, has more illiterates than its total population at the time of independence. Despite this entire gloomy scenario, we used to spend lower even than the target recommended by UNESCO for education in developing countries. New education policy envisages spending about 4% of our GNP on education, which somehow conforms to that target.
Poverty, illiteracy, mismanagement of our scarce resources, and the male-dominated social structure that is hell bent upon maintaining the status quo have been mainly responsible for depriving most of the children of school going age, particularly girls, of this blessing that tends to turn one's eyes to light. Again, most of those who are enrolled leave the school before even going through this elementary phase, mainly, owing to negligence of parents, stereo-typed teaching, lack of funds and incentives on the part of the government etc. Now, the situation, as it stands, is, no doubt, disappointing, but is it depressing and intractable as well? Is there no light at the end of the tunnel?
Of course, nothing is intractable in this world. We are already moving in the positive direction, and as long as this onward movement continues, we have every reason to believe that the target of Universal Primary Education will see the dawn of life sooner than later. As a matter fact, literacy and education prove incremental in alleviating poverty, and in attaining development goals. Nay, it can help shatter our so-called taboos. For instance, the society can be made enlightened, healthier and progressive if it has an awareness regarding diseases such as Aids.
Establishment of Adult schools and Non-formal Basic Education Centres, giving incentives like providing free text books and implementing school nutrition TAWANA programmes, and extending stipends to girl students are but some of the steps that would go a long way in attracting people to schools. One may disagree with government spending tens of thousands of rupees on advertisements, yet the practice is not indefensible. After all this advertisement campaign in itself can be considered to be the inseparable part of this motivation drive.
However, we cannot afford to be content with just being philomaths. Not at all; we are to be proactive in our approach; we are to come forward and play an expeditious role in this regard. After all, we are part and parcel of this system, so getting education on our part, and, in fact, by our scions is not enough. We are to shoulder the responsibility of disseminating education. We must be committed to help coordinate the endeavours of the Government, N.G.Os, philanthropic organizations and media. We might be embers, but can we not kindle a fire? Let we follow the paradigm of "each one, teach one." We are to apprise the children that getting education is one of their basic right under UN Convention on the Rights of Child 1989; we are to motivate them and their elders to contribute and make "National Plan of Action" for "Education for All" a resounding success; we are to contribute in attaining "Universal Primary Education" goals.
For all this, we are to reach the disadvantaged population groups in rural and urban areas with emphasis on girl children. The people belonging to urban slums behind the façade of magnificence find themselves with one of the bitterest realities of the modern life. Although they are socially marginalized and, even ostracized, yet this yawning gap, both in material, as well as in psychological terms, can be minimized by providing them access to the centers of knowledge. It is so, because the urban life is a poly-tone that promises a myriad of opportunities to an individual for his material and intellectual growth. No doubt, it is by no means an easy problem to cope with, yet the more daunting challenge is to make inroads into the centuries-old mindset, in the mostly feudalistic rural set-ups, where male is more powerful and socially resourceful, where the absurd paganic traditions have been clothed with the attire of religion, and where the fair-sex is subjected to the ugliest of rigours.
Nothing, save education and awareness, can bring about change in this mode of life. Circumspection is the key word to describe the process of effecting a change here; it should be both tangible, as well as intangible, and should target both the genders, particularly men who hold the rein of the destinies of their respective families. No doubt, the worm of change has already started galling the forces of conservativism, yet the pace of all this is far from being satisfactory. It is to be realized that we are to work doubly hard on war footing to accelerate the process of change, nay to effect a virtual volte-face.
Imparting true religious education to both the genders can be one of the ways of doing that. For instance, it can be instilled in the minds, particularly, of the rural folk that getting education is a religious obligation, and that Prophet (PBUH) had called upon both his male and female followers to get education. Awareness has to be created among parents that a daughter has an equal right to the love and affection of her elders, and that sending her to centers of learning is our foremost moral, social and religious duty, because after all,
"My son is my son till he gets a wife, my daughter is my daughter all her life." — Robert Burns (1759- 796), Scottish poet
Only after creating, a sense of gender parity among the drivers of our social vehicle i.e. men, that women can be educated and thereby empowered. And unless that is done, the very concept of development would be lopsided.
The only panacea for inspiring the vision of "enlightened moderation" as has been enunciated by President Parvez Musharraf, is to educate the nation as a whole irrespective of the gender, origin and material status of the citizens of Pakistan. It is commendable that the present Government is spending unprecdentally more on education. While there can be no two opinions on this ground, yet I would condescend to expostulate that the bulk of the resources should be spent upon spreading education at the grassroots level, because it is there that the shoe pinches. Nonetheless, I would reiterate that major chunk of the responsibility rests on the members of the civil society; they have to "to shake shoulders of their lulled lot." They can no longer afford to be somnolent; they are to rise right now.
"Defer not till tomorrow to be wise, tomorrow's sun to thee may never rise" — William Congreve (1670-1729), English dramatist

Friday, October 1, 2010

Youth, Women, TV with Reference to Pakistan



Youth, Women, TV with Reference to Pakistan
by Amer Rizwan Copyrights@amerrizwan
TV Drama in Pakistan has been used to target and impact Pakistan¡¯s youth. Idealized beauty standards, irrelevant cross gender relationship, and domestication are only some of the ways that young women in the media are portrayed today. This trends besides the inescapable negative fall outs on the youth in general and the young woman in particular has contributed in effecting a greater understanding among the different strata of the society as well. Although in most of the cases like in classical TV Dramas such as ¡®Deewarain¡¯, ¡®Jangle¡¯ etc. woman has been shown as an abject thing; a property of the dominant gender of the society yet some of the plays such as ¡®Unkahi¡¯, ¡®Tanhanian¡¯ have given her a new vision of confidence and a proper place in the traditional society. Let¡¯s be honest, the average woman/girl in this country does not look like Vaneeza Ahmad, Nadia Khan. Veena Malik, Mahnoor Baloch or Amna Haq. So why is it that average women are not represented in mass media formats? It¡¯s actually a simple answer. Idealized beauty standards are seen everywhere from commercials, to TV shows and movies. We are constantly being bombarded with advertising, opinions, images and stories which appear to be forcing us to conform to a specific image of how we are supposed to be, whether it be thinner, more intelligent or prettier, and no matter how much we try to persuade ourselves that we are...
The media industry in general and TV in particular is one that has a major effect on how young women are viewed in society. Young women often have roles as passive and vulnerable characters that tend to leave the tough, strong and assertive roles to men. Women¡¯s roles are written with irrelevant relationships – their characters¡¯ primary function is to please men. It is clear that images of young women in the media have a tremendous impact on young people everywhere. Whether it is through film, music, or any other mass media format the public is constantly pressured to fit into today¡¯s ideal of what beauty is. Young people are influenced to act like the characters they watch on TV. It seems that now more than ever in an industry obsessed with youth, there is no better way to describe what really matters than presenting feminine charms as the sellable commodity.
Fehmida Ki Kahani Ustani Rahat Ki Zabani is an unforgettable play and a yardstick to measure any future endeavours in drama writing, production and histrionics. The different strands of the story would centre round life¡¯s vicissitudes, characters from all walks of life, and lines that would be impregnated with philosophy and meaning that would permeate the heart, mind and soul of any viewer. The leanings of modern society depicted through strong characterization and brilliant histrionics would be handled deftly, and the end would portray a transfer of ideas and thoughts from the elderly to the younger, confused set. A complex of generation-gap issues and woman related dilemmas were handled in a most thought-provoking manner, something especially characteristic of Ashfaq Ahmed¡¯s plays.
The performance by Khurshid Shahid in this classical PTV plays continue to spellbind viewers even today, after several decades. One remembers her magnificence as an actor in the mother¡¯s role whose young daughter dies of depression. The play, Fehmida Ki Kahani Ustani Rahat Ki Zabani, is so compelling that despite being aired 20 years ago; it is still very popular with viewers.
Almost all of the scenes, including the last intense scene, were so moving that long after the scene was over, that viewers couldn¡¯t help crying. The story hovers round a middle class girl, Fahmida, the sensitive and pulsating daughter of a hard-working but school teacher called as Ustani Rahat. Fahmeeda tries to emulate the daughter of the affluent parents – their landlords and develops a sort of depression that ultimately takes her life.
Similarly, ¡°Baityian¡± is a typical drama highlighting woman issues. All the three daughters of a poor father are still to be wedded in a society where far from providing any social security, the social vultures are bent upon pouncing upon the poor souls. The hapless father is compelled to announce in the Masjid that he intends to marry off his daughters with any pious Muslim. The starkest social dilemma, the youngest one is married off to a person of the age of her father. More tragically, the so-called bridegroom has already a wife. One of them while looking for jobs, has to face many problems including getting permission to that effect from his father. When she gets one, she develops an understanding with a colleague, but the latter¡¯s parents do not allow him to marry her. The sister younger than the older one is of dark complexion and is unable to hunt any suitors for her.
Aahat (An Approaching Sound) is the story of a young couple, their dreams, social pressures and the consequences of having too many children too soon. The television drama of six one-hour episodes is an outstanding example of the success of the Enter-Educate concept in diffusing family planning messages. It marked the first highly visible collaboration between Pakistan TV and the National Population Program, signaling a positive change in high-level government commitment to family planning communication in Pakistan. As in many Muslim societies, family planning has long been considered too sensitive a topic for mass media. However, the overwhelmingly positive response that the drama received has quieted such misconceptions and given high visibility to family planning. Originally scripted in Urdu, followed by an English subtitled version, the drama was broadcast on Pakistan Television (PTV) beginning October 1, 1991. Aahat, a drama woven out of the human issues at the heart of family welfare, was shaped by key research findings on the process of family planning decision-making. The drama aimed at increasing husband-wife communication on issues of birth spacing and increasing demand for contraceptive services.

Thursday, September 30, 2010

"If you think you are beaten, you are" by Anonymous

If you think you are beaten, you are.
If you think you dare not, you don't.
If you'd like to win, but think you can't,
It's almost certain you won't.
If you think you'll lose, you've lost.
For out of the world we find
Success begins with a fellows will.
It's all in the state of mind.
If you think you're outclassed, you are.
You've got to think high to rise.
You've got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize.
Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger or faster person.
But sooner or later the person who wins
Is the one who thinks they can.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Pashto Poetry on the Gates of Munich University by Abdu Rahim Roghanay of Matta, Swat, Pakistan.

Pashto Poetry on the Gates of Munich University

"Sumra che kegi domra rasha tre khwanduna wakhla,
Mudam ba nawi da kharuna, bazaruna goray,
Da Sekanday staney tak tak warokay seez ma ganra,
Da jawand pa wana dee da Tabar guzaroona goray"

VERBATIM TRANSLATION
"Relish the beauties of life as much as you can,
These cities and their bazaars will not last for ever.
Never trivialize the second ticks of the clock
They are in fact axe blows against the trunk of life"

(Lines written on the gates of Munich University in four languages and composed by one Abdu Rahim Roghanay of Matta Swat. Pakistan)

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

SWAT – THE ELYSIAN VALLEY (DOCUMENTARY) by Amer Rizwan

SWAT – THE ELYSIAN VALLEY (DOCUMENTARY) by Amer Rizwan Copyrights @ Amer Rizwan

Lofty green mountains, splashing waterfalls, meandering streams and towering pine trees are going to welcome you once you step into the idyllic valley of Swat. This Charming, peaceful and fascinating tract in the lap of vegetative sky-high mountains, with eternal snow on their lofty crests, is an everlasting source of attraction. Its beauty attracts tourists to enjoy the soothing and serene panorama, and the friendly behaviour of its inhabitants.
Above all the valley boasts of preserving the enviable imprints of yore that is a source of attraction for both the local and the foreign tourists alike. A visitor entering into Pakistan would never be contented without roaming about Swat.

Swat is known to be one of the most enchanting valleys of Pakistan. The total population of this idyllic land is some Eighteen Lac. Its height is not similar but varies from 2500 ft. to 7500 ft. above sea level. Gandhara art is one of the continuous traditions of its ancient civilization. This paradise on earth attracts visitors and tourists from far and wide. Of late, an attempt was made to terrorize the civilized, kind, hospitable and enlightened people of Swat in the name of religion. However, thanks to the commendable resilience of the people of Swat, they overcame the challenges; the most tumultuous phase of their history is the story of the past now.

Mingora, the Headquarters and the most populous town of the valley, is the hub of commercial, social and economic activity. It is situated 975 feet above the sea level and 300 Kilometers away from the federal capital Islamabad. The valley has witnessed the down and fall of quite a number of ancient civilizations. In 326 BC, Alexander the Great traversed the valley with his army. In 256 BC, Gandhara Civilization and Buddhism had their heyday in the region. Besides the written accounts of some Chinese writers suggest that even Chinese explorers had been to the region as early as fifth century BC.

One of the finest spots of Mingora is the city itself and Marghazar. Doubtlessly the area is one of the unique marvels of nature. In its natural charm and verdure it is second to none. Meandering Swat River flows through the centre of Mingora city; the spectacular scene exalts the beauty of the city. The total length of the river is about 140 miles. The land of Swat is bedecked with natural sceneries, worth-seeing mountains, flowing rivers and splashing waterfalls – all these rare pieces of nature invite the visitors to behold them.
Marghazar the beautiful – Owing to the towering lush green mountains that surrounds it and its captivating beauty, Marghazar can rightly be called a Valley within the Valley. Here, the natural beauty is supplemented with a man-made masterpiece. Just behold the architectural plan of this sprawling well proportioned building. ‘Mian Gul Abdul Wadood’, the then Wali of Swat, ordered its construction in the year 1941 as his summer seat. The peculiar feature of this building is that it has been adorned with red marble, ordered specially form Jaypur, India. This type of marble has been used in the construction of the Taj Mahal Agra as well. Of late, this white palace has been converted into the Hotel White Palace. The Hotel is equipped with latest facilities and it caters for the needs of the tourists who come from far and wide not only to visit the place but also to stay here. In summer in particular, Marghazar and the White palace hotel are swarmed by visitors, both local as well as foreign who are mesmerized by the soul-lifting beauty of the surroundings and the towering peaks. The Building has the honour of hosting Queen Elizabeth II in 1954 as well. The room in which her Majesty stayed has been preserved in its original form as a mark of homage to the Queen. The clay, vegetation and water of the valley has nourished many civilizations in its cradle; nay the valley is the burial place for them as well when by the inevitable law of nature these great civilization had to lick the dust after touching their zenith.
Gandhara is one such civilization that reached its pinnacle in the year 256 BC. The relics of this old civilization are scattered throughout the length and breadth of the valley. Later on, Mangols, Arabs, Africans and Rajputs tried their luck in the area as well, but they could not obliterate the permanent imprints of the Buddhism. Butkara near Saidu Sharif is one such place which provides the best link between the ancient and the modern age. The Venue has one central stupa and many other statues that are still in their original shape though there are a number of them that have not been able to withstand the tide of time and are not in a very good shape. Butkara has many relics of yore but by and by the vicissitudes of time have obliterated them. Many of the utensils, ornaments and other items of the day-today use have been discovered at Butkara during excavations in different times. They have been put in the Saidu Sharif museum. This beautiful Museum contains some rare masterpieces of the Gandhara Civilization, a civilization that can rightly be called as one of the most ancient and cherished civilizations of the world. These rare specimens speak volumes of the cultural richness of the people and the land of Uddiyana or Suvastu– the ancient names of Swat.
The richness of civilization is reflected in the art and craft of the area. In the artisanship and handicraft, Swat is simply matchless. This versatility and richness attract the tourists as well. These hardworking artisans working on the handlooms to produce carpets are the continuation of the centuries-old tradition. Traditional Swati garments would catch one’s eye throughout the market. Jewelry shops offer mostly the rich and beautiful local variety. These beautiful ornaments adorned with precious stones are dear all over the world for their beauty. Swat’s woolen industry is second to none; embroidery is the traditional art of swat valley. The artisans of Swat have contributed a lot in the growth of art and culture. These works with multi-coloured threads and delicate beams make these pieces to be simply priceless.
Fiza Ghat is the most beautiful tourist park, situated at the bank of river Swat. It is a very good place of outing and entertainment for the locals and the tourists alike. Both the elders and the children can have good excursions here.
Malam Jabba is a favorite summer resort, yet it doesn’t disappoint in the winter either. Malam Jabba ski resort has become international arena of skiing fanatics already. The whole area here becomes white in winter, while during the summer it's all green. At 8’700 feet above sea level, Malam Jabba Ski Resort stands on top of a mountain of the Hindukush range. Surrounded by mighty Karakorams and stunning Black mountains, Malam Jabba is more than just a Ski Resort. It is not only a holiday resort that attracts tourists throughout the year but also the home to the remains of ancient civilizations.
Let us have a glimpse of Saidu Sharif a historical town near Malam Jabba. This attractive town is named after Saidu Baba whose tomb and the adjacent mosque are the source of spiritual bliss for the visitors and the locals. Southern Swat has the ideal sites for paragliding. According to experts, its mountains are the most ideal for the sport. If more attention is paid and more investors are encouraged investing in the sport then definitely it would go a long way in promoting tourism in the area. Undoubtedly overseeing the Swat Valley from the height thanks to parachute is much more entertaining.
Even the music in this area cannot escape from the dreamy beauties of the nature and the strong impact of the rich civilization.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

OLIVE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME IN PAKISTAN (Documentary Script) by Amer Rizwan

OLIVE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME IN PAKISTAN

Copyrights reserved @amerrizwan

By. Amer Rizwan
The importance of pure, hygienic and nutritious edible oil for a healthy human life cannot be overestimated. In Pakistan despite ever-increasing demand for the edible or cooking oil and the yawning gap between the capacity of localized production and its demand, we have not been able to seriously focus on evolving an oil-producing strategy in the past. In the recent years, however, the Government has started encouraging and supporting the national production of edible oils such as canola, sunflower and soybean as well as exploring the possibility of sustainable production of other kinds of edible oils such as coconut, palm and Olive.

Olive is universally considered to be one of the most nutritious and wholesome sources of edible oil. Pakistan is one of those countries which are naturally endowed with vast forests of wild genre of olive, popularly known as Kau. Lack of awareness among the local populace and lesser government attention are primarily responsible for the increasing depletion in these olive forests mainly for fuel and other consumptive uses. Now courtesy the Government of Italy, an Italian variety of olive budding is being grafted in these remaining wild olive plants in NWFP, Baluchistan and Punjab provinces where the climate for the self-growth of olive is very congenial. Besides, siblings of the variety have also been cultivated in a great number in these areas. The actual national policy is to target the marginal land in remote hilly areas of the country, where no or few other crops may be cultivated, and generally considered as unproductive land. Soils are basically stony, infertile and are often placed on steep slopes. These are considered to be the most suitable conditions for the growth of Olive plants.
The project Promotion of Production and Commercialization of Olive Oil in Pakistan was launched in July 2007 courtesy the Italian Institute of Agronomy and its project counterpart Pakistan Oilseed Development Board. The latter is working under the administrative control of the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock.

Some of the initial targets of the project were the location of suitable areas for olive growing. One of the primary objectives of the programme is to create awareness among the local people to produce olive on their own as a cash crop.

In Tarnab farm near Peshawar, the plants are being given to the farmers hailing from the adjoining areas of Charsadda, Mardan, Takhtbhai, Swabi and Noshehra. Just view these grafted plants at the farm. They comprise all types of varieties. However, grafting, nourishing and looking after the plants need painstaking vigilance and technical expertise. At the farm, the farmers from other areas of the province get technical guidance as to how to go about the procedure of grafting.

Two significant projects in this regard are at Nikka Darra and Garam Thoon in Khanpur where at about 4 square kilometers area, four to five thousand such plants have been grown and developed. Grafting a plant is not a simple process; it needs deftness and not all the time it is braced with success. Some of the grafted plants have already started yielding fruit here. A single Olive tree yields about 20 to 40 kg of Olive fruit. Besides, using the Italian variety, Egyptian and Saudi Arabian varieties are also being grafted to get the positive results.

A continuous oil extraction unit is being used at Tarnab Farm Peshawar for demonstration and training purposes. The unit has been imported from Italy and it is meant to extract oil from the fruit. Fruit is put into the machine from an opening and after thoroughly cleaning it, the fruit is sent to the grinder where the edible oil is extracted. The liquid is passed through a final cleansing process and then the purified oil is seen oozing through a pipe to different containers. The farmers from other districts process their Olives and extract from them oil free of cost. This is mainly to encourage the farmers to grow and graft Olive plants. The machine has the capacity to process 500 kg of Olive per hour
Interview of Engineer

A recent study has revealed that almost as many as 800,000 hectares of land is suitable for this crop. It also recommends the cultivation of olive in better growing environments than those considered so far. This would also allow for high scheme plantations provided with irrigation systems and higher degree of mechanization.

Haripur Fruit Nursery Farm is yet another facility where Australian Olive plants are used for budding and grafting. The process has turned the local variant into an olive producing Olive plants.

One of the pressing imperative in this regard is to train the technicians at different levels and for the creation and improvement of the necessary infrastructures and facilities in support of this sector. Although the production of olive oil will mainly be marketed in Pakistan to satisfy the growing local demand for the product yet in the longer run its export to the other countries of the region can also be explored.

The locally produced olive oil would significantly help to improve the diet of the local people by providing them better quality nutritious oil especially compared with other kinds of fats being used currently. Moreover the introduction and commercialization of this crop in Pakistan would create more jobs for the local population, especially in areas in which farmers are facing difficulties in generating a reasonable income through traditional crops.
Posted by AMER RIZWAN at 3:01 AM

Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Agency (ERRA) Documentary Script Amer Rizwan

Copyrights reserved @ amerrizwan
Lofty green mountains, splashing waterfalls, meandering streams and towering trees in an idyllic landscape – Nature is at its best here; fully in tandem with the bloom of life. Life is in full action; excitement and optimism is reflected everywhere with a renewed sense of being and zest of life. The healthy environment, lovely fields along with smooth roads and exalted bridges add to joy, thrill and colours of life. The hustle and bustle of life in these areas, and the remarkable willingness and determination of the people of the areas to go to markets, their workplaces, educational institutions is worth seeing. No one could imagine this is the same area once devastated by the wrath of nature.

In sharp contrast to this, the situation prevailing just four years ago was simply horrendous; the areas could then best be described as a collective human sepulcher. Never before such a horrifying situation was witnessed by the hardworking people of the land. The slayer shiver, recorded 7.6 on the Richter Scale, did not spare anything in the affected areas ranging from houses and communication to health, education and agriculture. The mighty tremor wrought huge damage; 5808 education facilities, 750 governance buildings and over 400 water and sanitation schemes were destroyed. Over all nine districts of Azad Kashmir and NWFP with an inhospitable terrain, covering a 30,000 km area was destroyed. Most of these areas gave a deserted look with debris and ruins all around. The earthquake devoured 73,338 persons and severely injured 128,304 persons. The situation was aptly described by the then Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir, “I am Prime Minister of a graveyard”

Beneath the wreckage and rubble, however, life was sprouting with a new zeal; the denouement bespoke of a new beginning of life; the dirge was fast converting into a song of life. Thanks to the diligence, persistence and dedication of Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Agency, the four major cities of Azad Kashmir and NWFP, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Bagh and Balakot are being transformed into modern cities with beautiful and safe residential buildings, hospitals, educational institutions and road networks, and bridges.

Look at the District Development Complex with a beautiful Turkish style Mosque in its right and housing all government offices. Its establishment has improved public access to the government offices, enhanced inter-agency coordination and reduced communication costs creating an enabling environment for the communities as well as for the staff. These women development centres have already brought a considerable proportion of the women population of these areas to the mainstream of life. Happy faces, thrill and ecstasy reflect an overall change in every facet of life. Turning disaster into opportunity, ERRA has made this enormous transformation possible in a very short span of only four years.

There had been no institutional setup available for the response to the disasters like the October 8th 2005. ERRA was established under a notification dated 24th of October 2005 issued by the Prime Minister’s Secretariat as an autonomous organization in view of the expediency of the situation, to provide for the post-disaster damage assessment, reconstruction and rehabilitation of the earthquake-affected areas. ERRA immediately put in place a well-articulated relief, recovery, and reconstruction framework and divided the response into four well-defined phases; immediate, short-term, midterm and long term.

The turnaround is remarkable indeed. ERRA undertook to work in twelve different sectors unparallel in the area of post-disaster reconstruction and rehabilitation world over, including housing, urban development, education, health, livelihood, water and sanitation, environment, water and power, tourism etc.

Houses provide security to the inmates not only from the inclement weather but also from the more physical threats all around. House is the basic unit of an integrated social structure, a sine qua non for a peaceful, prosperous and forward-looking society. But October 2005 earthquake robbed the people of the affected areas from this facility.

Just behold these luminous houses with shiny roof tops and happy occupants in harmony with the beautiful nature presenting an almost dream-like situation. The owner-driven Rural Housing Program with assisted and inspected construction is ERRA’s Flagship program showing success rate of more than 90%. It has helped construction of more than 400,000 seismically safe houses for the earthquake-affected people. While the project is almost complete, it will leave about 700,000 trained human resource for seismically safe reconstruction.

ERRA is cognizant of the fact that the provision of clean water is one of the basic requirements of a self-sufficient house. Easy availability of clean water has been instrumental in better family health as well as reduction in women’s workload, besides preventing water-related diseases. Moreover, ERRA has also used the novel experience of Rain Water Harvesting as one of the best alternative and supplementary solution to mitigate water scarcity.

Scarcity usually hit hard the vulnerable segments of the society including women. Besides, introducing gender mainstreaming, ERRA has also coordinated the establishment of social safety networks that provide institutionalized protection facilitating their access to legal aid, medical services and livelihood opportunities. Such centres are being established in all the nine earthquake-affected districts. Community livelihood program that supports community level micro projects identified by the communities themselves, such as kitchen gardening, irrigation channels, provision of better quality of seeds etc. is yet another bold initiative taken by ERRA. The success of the initiative would go a long way in enabling the people of the earthquake areas to lead a self-sufficient life.


This provides an ideal environment for education and equally important is the body language. There is a greater desire for enlightenment on faces with lofty dreams in their eyes. The seismically safe educational buildings with trained teaching staff and modern day facilities are attracting high enrollment. ERRA implemented new techniques to fast track the pace of reconstruction and to bring back normalcy in the affected areas. Disability is no longer a disability for earthquake affected people who suffered injuries owing to this colossal tragedy. ERRA’s Medical rehabilitation program for disabled persons not only provides 8% quota for disabled persons to work and earn a respectable living, but the related centers provide best medical facilities to persons with disability, along with training community rehabilitation workers.


Bringing elected representatives on board, introducing the latest technologies, adopting a community-driven approach for reconstruction of schools, outsourcing designing of projects to meet timelines, third party material checking regime, smooth flow of funds to SERRA and PERRA, contactors facilitation centres coupled with a greater degree of transparency and media access are but some of the hallmarks of the new policy initiatives introduced by ERRA to further enhance reconstruction efforts. But mind it, ERRA is not just about brick and mortar, rather it aims at changing lives through interventions, partnerships and sharing knowledge. No doubt, ERRA has done wonders and set precedents for the world to follow.

No doubt, since its realization, ERRA has met unparalleled success but the progress made in its fourth year has outperformed the previous three years. Courtesy its hard-work, dedication and commitment, ERRA has won an enviable prestige with the latest steps like improvement in procurement and contract management, establishment of project implementation and coordination unit, transparency and flexibility in financial matters and granting greater autonomy to PERRA and SERRA. Not only are the efforts visible on ground but have attracted international appreciation also thus becoming one of the prides of the nation. And with integrity, accountability and transparency its guiding principles, ERRA is likely to be an example to be quoted in the field of post disaster management.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Documentary Script for PPAF Milk Project by Amer Rizwan copyrigts @ Amer Rizwan

Documentary Script for PPAF Milk Project by Amer Rizwan copyrigts @ Amer Rizwan

Poverty is a condition characterized by deprivation of basic human needs including food, drinking water, health, shelter and education. It compels the less gifted members of a society to lead substandard, and in some cases subhuman life and has thereby debilitating effects on people's lives. Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) is the lead institution for poverty-focused interventions in Pakistan. It strives to bring about a more harmonious and cohesive social order based on the time-honored principles of human dignity and equality of opportunity. PPAF endeavours to achieve its target goals through wholesaling funds and civil society organizations for provision of financial and non-financial services at the grassroots throughout the country.

All PPAF developmental initiatives are conceived and conceptualized within a community-led, demand-driven framework. Set up as a fully autonomous private sector institution under section 42 of the Companies Act of 1982, PPAF enjoys facilitation and support from the Government of Pakistan, the World Bank and international donors.

PPAF is cognizant of the fact that children are the future of any nation and working for their health, welfare and well-being is one of the cornerstones of any national strategy. Milk being the most nutritious food staple must be accessible to children at affordable price. In children, in particular, the quantum of milk in-take is directly proportional to their proper mental and physical growth, and strong muscles. However most of the people living in the developing South, including Pakistan, are unable to take the sufficient in-take of this very essential ingredient of human food. The resulting malnutrition takes a toll on the performance and output of the children in Pakistan and elsewhere.

Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF), being mindful of the situation, envisioned a novel idea of linking the school dropouts among the children to the phenomenon of malnutrition in Pakistan. It has already launched, in collaboration with Tetra Pak, National Rural Support Programme (NRSP) and other Partner Organizations, a project to develop and implement a school milk program. The primary focus of the program is to make available milk to school children in rural and peri-urban areas of the country either free-of-cost or at subsidized rates.

As a precursor to the full-scale program, PPAF launched a Rs. 22 million pilot project of School Milk Program under which schoolchildren were provided milk on daily basis in 50 schools in District Rahim Yar Khan. The basic objective is to feed milk to primary schoolchildren in Union Council Rasoolpur, Sadiqabad, District Rahim Yar Khan having a total enrolment of over 5,000 students. The six-month pilot project was launched in the first week of 2010 by PPAF in collaboration with National Rural Support Programme (NRSP). School Milk Program aims at encouraging the school going children and helps in raising their health and education standards.

Sheikh Zayed Medical College Rahim Yar Khan has been mobilized to manage a baseline study from the community health unit. With proper parental consent, the subject students were subjected to a medical examination courtesy Agha Khan hospital that included blood test, weight, height, BMI and physical and eye examination. The sample schools were one of the least equipped in terms of buildings, furniture, teachers and teaching aides. They were the ones which had little or none facilities at all. Ranging from the very structure of the school buildings to the worn furniture and inadequacy of the school staff, almost everything spoke volumes as to the low attendance and high dropouts in these schools. On the top of it, the students were rather physically weak suffering from skin and other diseases owing to the lack of calcium in their diet, and malnutrition which had an invariable bearing on their mental output. All these factors came together to paint a very grim picture of the situation. To begin with, PPAF joined hands with its other partner organizations, including NRSP to provide younger, more ambitious and energetic teachers to these schools. The new teachers worked very assiduously along with the regular teaching staff. All these organizations also made concerted efforts to repair and renovate the school buildings in order to make them an attractive place for the students to visit. Their collective effort did wonders.

Funds for the school milk program have been provided by PPAF from its own resources. Partner Organizations are required to ensure greater participation and motivation on the part of the targeted communities. This also includes the correct handling of milk cartons and the registration of all necessary data and information associated with the program. Besides, PPAF encourages its partner organizations to incorporate a community monitoring component into this methodology.

As part of this methodology, a pre-testing of the various flavours of milk to be distributed was carried out as part of community sensitization. 220 ml of flavoured milk in Tetra Brik Ascetic packaging was being distributed every school day in the targeted area. The particular flavour of the milk to be taken was left to the individual student.

Jamaldin Wali Sugar Mills is one of the local partners in the noble venture, not only by donating its warehouse space for the programme, but also by providing its vehicles for the carriage of milk to the target schools. The dairy supplier i.e. Tetra Pack managed the supply on a two-monthly basis to the warehouse, and school distribution was managed by the National Rural Support Programme (NRSP) courtesy the transportation facilities made available by Jamaldin Wali Sugar Mills.

To ensure transparency and efficacy of the project, a proper record of the whole exercise both at the warehouse as well as at the school level was properly maintained by the monitoring staff.

Schools and partner organizations were responsible for the care and handling, oversight, registration and distribution of cartons, consumption of the milk and the collection & recycling of empty milk packs. PPAF ensured that each targeted school appoints a ‘School Focal Person’ who was to oversee the effective implementation of the Milk programme at the respective school’s end. Besides, Joint Monitoring Committees comprising of representatives of PPAF, partner organizations, Corporate Sector and beneficiary schools, were established to oversee the effective implementation of the project.

The activity was repeated at the end of the pilot project with the sample of the same students to determine the impact of the activity and the results show a stunning success. The successful implementation of the project ensued various health and nutrition-related benefits for the school children, nay for the entire society. Not only the students performed well thanks to their improved health, but also the attendance rates increased tremendously; dropouts were brought to zero. Owing to the commitment of the PPAF and the partner organizations and the motivation inspired in them by the new teachers, even students from the neighbouring schools started migrating to the sample schools situated in the Union Council Rasoolpur. IQ level of students witnessed an observable improvement.

Establishment of Counseling Committees comprising of the members from the community and those from the partner organizations was yet another great leap forward. Whereas PPAF and Partner Organizations provided the necessary supply and funding necessary for carrying out the project, the Local Counseling Committee made demands to that effect. On the whole both community and the service providers had to go hand in hand to make the project a great success. During the sessions of the community, the local people would apprise the partner organizations about their requirements and inputs about the effects of the project. Setting up of these counseling committees would go a long way, not only in effecting a sense of ownership among the community members, but also enabling PPAF and its partner organizations to implement the project more scientifically and effectively.

A noble drive indeed – but to ensure the sustainability of the program and effect a greater responsibility and accountability among the parents, they are to be convinced to make a token contribution for the purchase of milk for their children down the road.

The planned full scale milk programme is a gigantic task ahead for PPAF. However, it is determined to be equal to the task. It had planned to work restlessly for generating financial support from world charities, corporate sector and the government. Tetra Pak would continue providing special assistance in the implementation of this project. The execution of this program will go a long way in making Pakistani nation, healthier, wealthier and stronger, giving it resilience to face the challenges unleashed by the modern age with a new resolve and greater strength.

copyrigts @ Amer Rizwan