Side-effect Island of excellence

Side-effect

Island of excellence Friday, October 10, 2008 by Harris Khalique Khalid Hameed Farooqi drove more than a thousand kilometres from Brussels to Copenhagen, the city of Soren Kierkegaard, the arch philosopher and theologian, and Hans Christian Andersen, the famous fairytale writer and poet. He spent a long evening with me enthusiastically debating the new social democratic party in Pakistan which I had mentioned in my last column. He also made a programme package for Geo Television on the conference for early recovery strategies in post-natural disaster and post-conflict situations organised by the UNDP and the Danish government.  Pakistan's response after the October 2005 earthquake was one of the four cases to be discussed. Besides, there were a number of caucuses and plenary sessions on various aspects of early recovery work for affected populations broadly emphasising the need for efficient strategic planning, appropriate capacity development and provision of sufficient financing. Former Chief Military Coordinator of the Federal Relief Commission and Ex-Deputy Chairman, Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA), Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed, made the presentation on Pakistan's behalf. Something very unusual to be honest, where the international community recognises the effectiveness of Pakistan's response to the October 2005 disaster and finds replicable lessons. Otherwise, the only thing that comes to Pakistan's share these days is embarrassment, humiliation and repentance. The relief and early recovery operations after the earthquake were largely effective because government, military, civil society, private sector and international agencies were coherent, rigorous and inclusive. People from all walks of life came together and the nation for once was galvanised. The long-term reconstruction effort has more problems since but in a country like Pakistan where serious structural and political issues are unresolved, it is hard to create an island of excellence in the sea of corruption and incompetence. You cannot govern eight affected districts in NWFP and AJK differently from the other one hundred in the rest of the country. Nevertheless, it is incumbent upon the civil society and media to raise people's concerns and continue to keep the authorities on their toes. Transferring the committed and hardworking General, a rare commodity in this country, from his position in ERRA to command a strike corps may have proven more rewarding for him but not for ERRA.  My opinion about Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed was shared by the other two fellow travellers on the Copenhagen trip who are associated with the UN, self-effacing Mohammed Zafar Iqbal and dedicated Anwar-ul-Haque. Zafar Iqbal is the lynchpin in coordinating UNDP effort for disaster risk reduction and early recovery initiatives in Pakistan supported by two extraordinary people, Usman Qazi and Zubair Murshed, who did not accompany us on this trip. Other than the conference, they also missed the most delicious food on Eid day at Javed Akhtar Mir's place. Warmth and hospitality oozes out from every pore of Mir who is settled in Copenhagen for 38 years. Khalid Hameed Farooqi before leaving for Brussels lamented, "Still there are people who go beyond the call of duty in Pakistan. Even then we are struggling to survive, let alone progress." Then the two of us greased our sorrow with Danish cheese and washed it down with hot, aromatic coffee. How lavish! After all, we were in Denmark of which Hamlet was a prince. In our case, Hamlet represents us, the citizens of Pakistan. Our father, the founding principles, was killed by King Claudius who is the power elite drawing its strength from coercion, intrigue and exploitation. Our mother Gertrude, who could nourish us, represents our resources, our water and our land. She was hastily taken into marriage by Claudius after our father's death. In the meanwhile, we struggled. But we lost Ophelia, the beloved representing peace and prosperity. Now we resolve that once we are through with eliminating Claudius and his cronies, we would neither die like Hamlet nor go back merely to the founding principles. We will bring the country to new thoughts and a new leadership represented by Fortinbras, symbolising hope and enlightenment. Only his ideals could steer us clear of the storm of poverty, injustice, bigotry and terrorism. The writer is an Islamabad-based poet and rights campaigner. Email: harris@spopk.org

 

Missing doctor case Ministry denies having any information

Dawn: October 10, 2008

ISLAMABAD, Oct 8: The Ministry of Interior here on Wednesday said it still had no information about a missing doctor whose wife had invoked the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for his safe recovery.

The Crisis Management Cell deputy secretary, Mehrullah Khattak, told the court that the ministry had no information regarding the whereabouts of Abdur Razzaq, a doctor at Railway Hospital, and that it came to know about the case only when the august court summoned the interior ministry official.

IHC Chief Justice Sardar Mohammad Aslam put off the hearing till October 10 after Mr Razzaq sought more time to gather information about the missing doctor.

Akram Sheikh, the attorney for petitioner Afzoona Kausar, pleaded before the court for the early recovery of the doctor on humanitarian grounds.

The petitioner informed the court that she received “dubious phones calls” at her home after the disappearance of her husband, saying that the interior ministry through its sophisticated instruments could track the phone calls to trace the culprits.

Meanwhile, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) filed a petition with the IHC asking the court to inquire about the alleged misappropriation of funds received by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to buy fire fighting equipment.

Insaf Welfare Trust chairman Dr Aslam Khaki filed a writ petition with the IHC, lamenting the CDA’s inefficient fire fighting system and inadequate instruments for rescue operations, as witnessed after the September 20 suicide attack on Marriott Hotel.

The petitioner, while making Ministry of Interior, CDA chairman, Disaster Management Cell chairman and Civil Defence respondents, adopted the viewpoint that at the time of the explosion, there were no sufficient arrangements for fire fighting and there were also insufficient instruments to rescue the people that had been trapped at the upper floors of the hotel.

The petitioner further maintained that when fire broke into the multi-storey Shaheed-i-Millat Secretariat few years ago, the CDA also had equipment to fight fires in buildings having only four flours.—Our Reporter

islamabad, oct 8: the ministry of interior here on wednesday said it still had no in- formation about a missing doctor whose wife had invoked the islamabad high court (ihc) for his safe recovery. the crisis management cell deputy secretary, mehrullah khattak, told the court that the ministry had no information re- garding the whereabouts of abdur razzaq, a doctor at railway hospital, and that it came to know about the case on- ly when the august court sum- moned the interior ministry offi- cial. ihc chief justice sardar mohammad aslam put off the hearing till october 10 after mr razzaq sought more time to gath- er information about the missing doctor. akram sheikh, the attorney for petitioner afzoona kausar, pleaded before the court for the early recovery of the doctor on humanitarian grounds. the petitioner informed the court that she received “dubious phones calls” at her home after the disappearance of her hus- band, saying that the interior ministry through its sophistica- ted instruments could track the phone calls to trace the culprits. meanwhile, a non-governmen- tal organisation (ngo) filed a pe- tition with the ihc asking the court to inquire about the al- leged misappropriation of funds received by the capital development authority (cda) to buy fire fighting equipment. insaf welfare trust chairman dr aslam khaki filed a writ peti- tion with the ihc, lamenting the cda’s inefficient fire fighting sys- tem and inadequate instruments for rescue operations, as wit- nessed after the september 20 suicide attack on marriott hotel. the petitioner, while making ministry of interior, cda chair- man, disaster management cell chairman and civil defence re- spondents, adopted the view- point that at the time of the ex- plosion, there were no sufficient arrangements for fire fighting and there were also insufficient instruments to rescue the people that had been trapped at the up- per floors of the hotel. the petitioner further main- tained that when fire broke into the multi-storey shaheed-i-millat secretariat few years ago, the cda also had equipment to fight fires in buildings having only four flours.—our reporter

PRCS provides relief to 2.5m quake victims

Dawn October 08, 2008

 

ISLAMABAD Oct 7: Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has provided relief assistance to around 2.5 million and full medical cover to around 0.8 million to earthquake-affected people in three years. This was stated by Secretary General PRCS Muhammad Ilyas Khan while talking to newsmen here on Tuesday on the eve of October 8 earthquake third anniversary. He said the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ recovery efforts were aimed at building safer communities for the affected families. “Most of the quake affected families are on the road to recovery, but more work is yet to be done to build up infrastructure,” he stressed.

The earthquake left more than 73,000 fatalities and an estimated 3.5 million people homeless.

The PRCS in collaboration with International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, International Committee of Red Cross and Partner National Societies, responded quickly to bring immediate help and relief to affected people in the worst hit areas in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

After the emergency phase, PRCS embarked on recovery projects. A total of 34 public buildings will be rebuilt in the earthquake affected areas, comprising 16 schools, 12 health facilities and six vocational centres. Twenty-four buildings are at various stages of construction, with one middle school for girls has already been completed and handed over to the local education authorities in Mansehra district in NWFP.

islamabad oct 7: pakistan red crescent society (prcs) has provided relief assistance to around 2.5 million and full medi- cal cover to around 0.8 million to earthquake-affected people in three years. this was stated by secretary general prcs muhammad ilyas khan while talking to newsmen here on tuesday on the eve of october 8 earthquake third anni- versary. he said the red cross and red crescent societies’ re- covery efforts were aimed at building safer communities for the affected families. “most of the quake affected families are on the road to recovery, but more work is yet to be done to build up infrastructure,” he stressed. the earthquake left more than 73,000 fatalities and an estima- ted 3.5 million people homeless. the prcs in collaboration with international federation of red cross and red crescent societies, international committee of red cross and partner national societies, responded quickly to bring immediate help and relief to affected people in the worst hit areas in north west frontier province (nwfp) and azad jammu and kashmir. after the emergency phase, prcs embarked on recovery proj- ects. a total of 34 public buildings will be rebuilt in the earthquake affected areas, comprising 16 schools, 12 health facilities and six vocational centres. twenty-four buildings are at various stages of construction, with one middle school for girls has already been completed and handed over to the local education authorities in mansehra district in nwfp.

 

Erra short of achieving targets: report

By Sher Baz Khan Dawn October 08, 2008

 

ISLAMABAD, Oct 7: The Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (Erra) is not only short of achieving its targets but inflationary pressures have also cut by half the purchasing power of its housing subsidy amidst reports of ‘bribes’ and various forms of ‘rent seeking’.

A survey conducted by Omar Asghar Khan Development Foundation has found that cost of access to Erra’s housing subsidy has been quite substantial including expenditures incurred on transport and documentation.

It often also included bribes and other forms of rent-seeking from chai pani to more blatant bribes of up to Rs25, 000 paid to assessment teams at different stages. The survey was carried out in 37 villages of 15 union council of Battagram in the Mansehra district.

The government’s initial promise of across-the-board compensation for houses damaged or destroyed was replaced later by an offer of subsidy after securing $6.2 billion pledge for assistance at the Islamabad donors conference.

In March last year, Erra’s then chairperson Altaf Saleem had claimed that 98 per cent of the earthquake victims had been compensated. Four months later, he announced that the figure had increased to 99 per cent. However, these claims were not supported by Erra’s own August 2008 report.

In the report, Erra confirmed that only 175 schools had been reconstructed out of 5,344 that were to be rebuilt. As many as 998 schools are still at the planning stage, 1,724 at the tendering stage and 1,155 under construction.

Just a month ago, Erra had to reconstruct 237 of the 307 health facilities, but so far it has completed work on only 38 centres.

It had also to rebuild 4,080 water supply and sanitation schemes by the end of June this year. However, only 1,466 were constructed by August. Interestingly, none of the 23 solid waste management schemes has been reconstructed.

SUBSIDY: In 2006-07, Erra carried out assessment of all houses. Completely destroyed houses were declared eligible for a subsidy of Rs175,000 and partially damaged houses for Rs75,000. Those that were categorised as having negligible structural damage were not eligible for any subsidy.

Erra had not considered the ratio of inflation that could soar in the next couple of years. Keeping in view the purchasing power of the Pakistani rupee, construction materials for 400 square feet (one room, a kitchen, bath and verandah) that cost Rs175,000 in 2006 now requires Rs190,160. One needed Rs200,946 to construct such a basic housing unit an year ago.

The arduous process of accessing subsidy becomes more and more problematic if the claimant expired in the process. Transferring the claim to the next of kin added another bureaucratic layer further delaying access to funds. This additional hassle could have been easily avoided if information on next to kin was included in the subsidy form. Transfers also generated conflicts if more than one person claimed to be the next kin.

 

297 women teachers to be hired

Dawn October 7, 2008

 

ISLAMABAD, Oct 6: On the recommendations of the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE), the education ministry has approved recruitment of 297 junior women teachers and lecturers in model colleges of Islamabad to overcome teachers’ shortage in evening shifts.

Earlier 120 junior women teachers and 83 lecturers were recruited in model colleges. — Online

islamabad, oct 6: on the recommendations of the federal directorate of education (fde), the education ministry has ap- proved recruitment of 297 junior women teachers and lecturers in model colleges of islamabad to overcome teachers’ shortage in evening shifts. earlier 120 junior women teachers and 83 lecturers were recruited in model colleges.— online

 

Need to understand the mentally challenged By Our Staff Reporter

Source: October 6, 2008

 

LAHORE, Oct 5: Experts and activists will reiterate their belief on the World Mental Health Day that the world will be a better place if people with psychological disorders are understood and helped out like the ones with physical ailments.

Celebrated on Oct 10, the day is an international educational campaign which aims to extend knowledge on mental health to unaware people. For the first time in 1992, it was observed by the World Federation for Mental Health as an annual activity. The theme of this year is “Making mental health a global priority: scaling up services through citizens advocacy and action”. The primary emphasis would be on social and psychological aspects and awareness about the mental health and its inclusion into the primary healthcare system.

In Lahore, a walk, a public awareness seminar and a play will be arranged at the Punjab Institute of Mental Health in this regard. Mental health experts, physicians, human rights and civil society activists besides a number of rehabilitated patients will participate in the walk.

University of Health Sciences Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mubashar H. Malik will be the keynote speaker at a public awareness seminar while columnist Munnoo Bhai, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan’s I.A. Rahman, National Commission on Status of Women chairperson Dr Arifa Syeda, Punjab Health Secretary Anwar A. Khan, PIMH Executive Director Dr Nusrat Habib Rana and Dr Javed Shah also will spoke.

Punjab Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Rana Sanaullah will be the chief guest and Chief Minster’s Media Adviser Pervaiz Rashid a guest of honour at the seminar.

An exhibition of paintings and other products made by the Female Rehabilitation Project members would follow the seminar.

A play titled “Campaign against stigma” would be staged followed by a musical programme at the PIMH on Oct 12.

lahore, oct 5: experts and activists will reiterate their be- lief on the world mental health day that the world will be a bet- ter place if people with psycho- logical disorders are understood and helped out like the ones with physical ailments. celebrated on oct 10, the day is an international educational campaign which aims to extend knowledge on mental health to unaware people. for the first time in 1992, it was observed by the world federation for mental health as an annual ac- tivity. the theme of this year is “making mental health a glob- al priority: scaling up services through citizens advocacy and action”. the primary emphasis would be on social and psycho- logical aspects and awareness about the mental health and its inclusion into the primary healthcare system. in lahore, a walk, a public awareness seminar and a play will be arranged at the punjab institute of mental health in this regard. mental health experts, physicians, human rights and civ- il society activists besides a num- ber of rehabilitated patients will participate in the walk. university of health sciences vice-chancellor prof dr mubashar h. malik will be the keynote speaker at a public awareness sem- inar while columnist munnoo bhai, human rights commission of pakistan’s i.a. rahman, national commission on status of women chairperson dr arifa syeda, punjab health secretary anwar a. khan, pimh executive director dr nusrat habib rana and dr javed shah also will spoke. punjab minister for law and parliamentary affairs rana sanaullah will be the chief guest and chief minster’s media adviser pervaiz rashid a guest of honour at the seminar. an exhibition of paintings and other products made by the female rehabilitation project members would follow the seminar. a play titled “campaign against stigma” would be stag- ed followed by a musical pro- gramme at the pimh on oct 12.

 

Interest-free loans for doctors, NGOs

Source: Dawn 06 October 2008  

 

LAHORE, Oct 5: Interest-free loans are being provided to doctors and non-government organizations (NGOs) to establish hospitals and clinics for promoting public-private partnership in healthcare.

 

Punjab Population Welfare Minister Neelam Jabbar Chaudhry said this while talking to a delegation of doctors and NGOs here on Sunday.

The minister said private healthcare and educational institutions were playing an active role for the promotion of latest education and healthcare facilities in the country.

She said loans were being given for the establishment of healthcare institutions in small towns and remote areas for ensuring provision of medical services to masses at affordable cost and even free-of-cost.

The government, she said, was also taking effective measures to prevent fire-burn incidents and provide medical treatment facilities to the burnt patients.

NGOs would also be offered all possible assistance for holding seminars/workshops for creating awareness about the treatment of burnt patients and training doctors and paramedics for the purpose.

TRAIN MARCH: Jamaat-iIslami Amir Qazi Husain Ahmad will travel by four trains and address over 60 public meetings during a train march from Oct 7 to 15.

Qazi will start the train march by Awam Express from Peshawar on Oct 7 and reach Lahore the same day. He will travel from Lahore to Multan by Khyber Mail on Oct 8, Multan to Rohrti onboard Shah Rukan-i-Aalam Express on Oct 14 and travel to Karachi on Awam Express on Oct 15.

lahore, oct 5: interest-free loans are being provided to doctors and non-government organizations (ngos) to establish hospitals and clinics for promoting public-pri- vate partnership in healthcare. punjab population welfare minister neelam jabbar chaudhry said this while talking to a delegation of doctors and ngos here on sunday. the minister said private healthcare and educational insti- tutions were playing an active role for the promotion of latest education and healthcare facili- ties in the country. she said loans were being giv- en for the establishment of healthcare institutions in small towns and remote areas for en- suring provision of medical serv- ices to masses at affordable cost and even free-of-cost. the government, she said, was also taking effective measures to prevent fire-burn incidents and provide medical treatment facili- ties to the burnt patients. ngos would also be offered all possible assistance for holding seminars/workshops for creating awareness about the treatment of burnt patients and training doctors and paramedics for the purpose. train march: jamaat-i- islami amir qazi husain ahmad will travel by four trains and ad- dress over 60 public meetings dur- ing a train march from oct 7 to 15. qazi will start the train march by awam express from peshawar on oct 7 and reach lahore the same day. he will travel from lahore to multan by khyber mail on oct 8, multan to rohrti onboard shah rukan-i-aalam express on oct 14 and travel to karachi on awam express on oct 15.