Needs/topics we can contribute in?

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
81

Re: Needs/topics we can contribute in?

got some requests ..extending it to end of weekend if anyone wants to get their ideas in.

folks as far as selection goes, should we select from all topics or from topics that have been explained a little?

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Re: Needs/topics we can contribute in?

^I think since we have a long list and every topic seems equally important and worth exploring, we'll inevitably and eventually need some criteria to narrow the selection, so as a first step shortlisting according to what has been discussed and what isnt, sounds reasonable. All topics thus left for now can be studied and focused on at a later time?

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Re: Needs/topics we can contribute in?

I agree dude. would you be able to lead the decison/selection process to decide on our first initiative?

84

Re: Needs/topics we can contribute in?

Suggestion
Balochistan Issue: Save Balochistan from Burning – Before it is too late.
In order to fully understand the history of dispute, we need to read some background which also tell us, how important this issue is.

Background & The Importance:

  1. Agreement between Quaid & Khan of Kalat Baglar Begi: According to the terms of the agreement, the centre was to control only four subjects: defence, foreign affairs, communications and currency. In all other matters, Kalat was to be completely independent. Subsequent govts didn’t follow the agreement. Makran, Kharan and Bela were part of Kalat, but later they were given separate status when during the time of Governor-General Ghulam Mohammad a Balochistan States' Union was created. Balochistan constituted 62% of Pakistan at the time of the agreement. Later, parts of the province were given to the NWFP, Punjab, and Sindh. But even now it constitutes 46 per cent of Pakistan.

2. Governments of Pakistan & Balochistan:
I. In 1958 President of Pakistan Sikandar Mirza encouraged Khan of Kalat to demand restoration of KalatState. When Khan of Kalat did it Sikandar Mirza declared Khan as traitor of Pakistan. On 8th of October 1958 Sikandar Mirza sent Pakistan troops to arrest Khan of Kalat with rest of family & declared martial in law.
On 18th of December 1958 Army operation started in Jhalawan in Balochistan, many political activist and civilians were murdered by army. Nawab Nouroz Khan etc. were sent to the notorious torture camp, Kooli Camp. The operation continued for more than 2 years.

II. In 1962, general elections were held under Ayub Khan’s new constitution. In Balochistan there were only two national assembly seats, which were won by Nawab Khair Baksh Marri and Sardar Attaullah Mengal. Both sardars made some open speeches against the govt. As a result, government started arresting people including Sardar Attaullah Mengal, Mir Ghus Bux Bizanjo and Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti.
After strong Baloch reaction, govt. sent the army to attack including ariel bombardment.

III. Zulfiqar Bhutto had to give power to the Balochistan winning party, National Awami Party. Govt. never actually recognized their power. Soon the army was relieved from the borders, 79,000 of them were sent to Balochistan to fight against 50,000 tribes people. About 3,300 soldiers, 5,300 tribes people and thousands of civilians were died. The NAP was banned. A large number of people migrated to Afghanistan. When they came back, they were penniless but were never helped by any govt.
An act was signed in 1976 by the govt. This act prescribed punishment of three years imprisonment for anyone exercising any right of sardari, or being “in possession of, or derive any benefit from, any land belonging to a tribe”.

IV. General Zia’s then non-party elections encouraged people to vote for ethnic & tribal groups that only made these groups stronger

V. Musharraf Govt:
Between December 2005 and June 2006, more than 900 Baloch have been killed, 140,000 displaced, 450 political activists (mainly from the Baloch National Party) disappeared and 4,000 activists arrested. Dera Bugti & Kohlu were also severely attacked.
There has been widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure, including schools and houses in Dera Bugti & Sui Districts as these were attacked by the Frontier Corps.
A couple of examples of govt. playing double role are, creating the dispute between the Rinds and the Raisanis, the corps commander gave millions of rupees to one side while the governor to the other. Govt. also tried to create disagreements between Marris and Bijaranis which couldn’t happen. In return, they fired eight rockets at targets close to Musharraf forcing him to leave hurriedly.
Killing of Nawab Bugti & House arrests of other leaders

The fighting between govt & Balochis have displaced 84,000 people. 28% children were suffering acute malnutrition (survey conducted by UNICEF in August, 2006)

The insurgents, however, strike back on a daily basis. Targeting military and F.C. personnel, gas and oil pipelines, communications infrastructure and police barracks, the insurgents launch rocket, grenade and mortar attacks. Some areas are heavily mined by the nationalist fighters

*Balochistan Rights on Pak Resources *(some examples)

  1. Balochistan had a coastline of 600 miles, and the fish catch got Pakistan something between $750 million and one billion dollars a year, but Balochistan get nothing.
  2. According to the Pakistan Integrated Household Survey 2001-02, Balochistan has the highest poor population with 48 percent and the worst in rural areas with 51 percent living below the poverty line.
  3. Balochistan has only 3.4 percent of gas consumers as compared to 51 percent from Punjab alone, which contributes only 4.75 percent gas.
  4. Gawadar as the commercial port: The port has a population of 60,000. The schemes that have been announced, will need at least a million people. According to Khan of Kalat, Mir Suleman Dawood Khan, the fear is that the resources will be controlled by other provinces as usual. “In the development of Saindak and Gwadar, the Baloch people were playing no role, even though trained Baloch engineers and other skilled hands were available”. He wondered why they were not being trained by China.

Most of my writing here describes govts’ actions against Baloch tribes and civilians. I didn’t mention much about tribal mistakes because they already are notorious about their control over people’s educational development etc.
I found the following 2001 survey study by the SocialPolicy & DevelopmentCenter quite interesting though:
“those areas under control of nationalist leaders, such as the late Nawab Akbar Bugti, Nawab Khair Mari and Sardar Attaullah Mengal, were often better developed. A number of indicators, such as road networks, primary school enrollments, access to clean water and irrigation are often ranked higher than areas aligned to the federal government. (Green Left Weekly- Aussie newspaper)

Taliban Issue:
Need to keep in mind that regardless of Taliban presence in this area, Baloch leaders and civilians aren’t under their influence. Taliban issue is a few years old issue whereas Balochistan issue started before even Pakistan came into being.

Tribal Unity against the Government:
Khan of Kalat Mir Suleman’s historic jirga in 2006 was attended by 1,500, including 85 sardars and 300 tribal elders. Nawab Raisani said, “set aside our conflicts and disputes so that we can raise a collective voice …………… The Pakistan government wants to finish our national identity’’ Khan Suleman’s next step will be to appeal to the World Court in Hague, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), claiming that Pakistan has violated the 1948 treaty as well as the 1973 Constitution that promised provincial autonomy.

What can we do:
Even though it is a very complex issue but all it requires from us, is the effective usage of print media.
Need to use Print Media to do the following:

  1. Convince govt. to arrange table talks with Baloch tribes rather than using own army to kill own people. The agreement between Quaid-iAzam and Khan of Kalat needs to be followed or atleast needs to be worked on according to the present situation.
    If Muslims could have discussions with British before 1947, if Pakistan could talk to India regarding Kashmir – why can’t govt & tribes can have discussions.

  2. Balochistan rights. Balochs have a widespread fear among them that all their resources would be utilized by other provinces without any return. Look at their history – they have logic behind them.
    Print media will not only make govt and other officials realize the importance but also make Baloch tribes feel that Pakistani public care for their issues

  3. Stop calling them terrorists.

  4. Stop mixing Baloch issues with Taliban issue.

Please add your suggestions here as I can’t think of anything other than using the Print Media.

Journalist Annie Nocenti explains the importance of this issue,
“Drive sixty miles out of Karachi, Pakistan, and into Baluchistan, and you drive 600 years back in time …………... We pass walls scrawled with graffiti, written in delicate Urdu script: Azad Baluchistan, **Baluchistan* Zindebad;* Free Baluchistan, Long Live Baluchistan”.
We Pakistanis won’t be able to afford another Bangladesh kind of situation. We got out of Bangladesh pretty easy actually – its not gonna be easy this time. Ivory Coast just signed a peace plan with rebels – why can’t we?

(This is a very complex issue but it may not be as complex for us to write about it as it seems. **We just have to do the writing part. I am not good in writing but am willing to give it a try with your help).

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Re: Needs/topics we can contribute in?

Very Nicely explained CB :)

I hope our govt. could see what you wrote :)

86

Re: Needs/topics we can contribute in?

Sure pir ji. But with your advice.

87

Re: Needs/topics we can contribute in?

Pir ji do we have any dead line to choose one topic and go for it?

Sing a Song according 2 Ur Mood !!!!!
88

Re: Needs/topics we can contribute in?

Ok. From a list of 34 we have discussed only 6. Not an impressive show. And that makes room for valid skepticism; but guys come on! This is something I know we all find interesting and would enjoy being a part of, for an enlightening experience and for Pakistan!
I'm really missing some of you guys, my seasoned posters and friends who I know have great potential and views. Hope you'd all be available to join the team/s working on the selected topic.

Most Beautiful Man
89

Re: Needs/topics we can contribute in?

I already have explained my higest priority issue i.e Balochistan issue in post # 84 above.
*My other suggestions are pretty much obvious and don't require that much explanation. *

Suggestion: Importance of Cleanliness

Problem: People living in poor areas don’t really care for cleanliness. They don’t care for the trash or dirty water sitting outside their houses - all the flies & mosquitoes bring all those deceases which can be avoided. And the situation is even worst in kachi abaadi.

Solution - What can we do to help:
I think, it would be better & easier to start from one kachi abadi or town – show them how easy it is to keep it clean without spending extra amount of dollars. Lets make one area, "a model area"
Arrange some classes with the help of local NGO or try city municipal govt. to help. These classes would provide the details on:
1. the importance of cleanliness
2. information about all the deceases that can be avoided such as malaria etc.
3. cleanliness doesn’t require money. If they have trash sitting outside, they just need to throw it away and they should atleast wash their kids’ faces every day etc.
4. cover their food rather than its just sitting their for flies to have some feast.
etc.
etc.

What would it do:
If we are successful in implementing this strategy in even one town, we would see the difference. Less people would be sick – at least they would have one less thing to worry about.

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Re: Needs/topics we can contribute in?

Suggestion/Issue: Status Symbol - Egotism among Pakistanis

Details:
1. Pakistan has a severe issue of unemployment. The ratio is getting higher & higher while on the other side, we see more graduates now. So less jobs for more people.
2. Some people just don’t want to do smaller level jobs because they don’t have enough confidence to face their community. As a result, they get in terrible financial issues.
3. People who have smaller or blue collar jobs aren’t considered to be very respectful among their peers or relatives. Which sometimes create issues such as they’re not being accepted by the community.
4. They don’t get respect that they should. e.g. we use less respectable words for our servants. Our kids call them by names which is not acceptable for others in our country.
5. We don’t care for street hawkers etc. etc.
6. We work wherever we want in Western countries but when go to Pakistan, we don’t want to even think about working in those jobs.

What can we do to help:
This needs a lot of help from print media as well as electronic. We need to write plus convince our radio/tv to show such programs.
1. Need to show Pakistani public that Islam is totally against this status quo. I think, Islam is the strongest weapon that we can use here.
2. Some or all of us here have worked in stores, restaurants etc. etc. We can give our examples and write our success stories – its really gonna help.

What would it do:
It would resolve all those issues that i mentioned above under, "Details".

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Re: Needs/topics we can contribute in?

Good work Cool Breeze and all who’ve explained so far.

Meanwhile I found some reports on the govt’s workings in some of the areas we’ve discussed, as well as some relating to topics from the list. Posting the links here for later ref as the ongoing govt works will influence our work too.

National disaster risk management framework;
http://dawn.com/2007/03/05/top13.htm

revise NGOs’ code;
http://dawn.com/2007/03/05/nat1.htm

registration of domestic servants;
http://dawn.com/2007/03/04/local4.htm

education reforms;
http://dawn.com/2007/03/05/fea.htm#1

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Re: Needs/topics we can contribute in?

I just want to say one thing i.e. The main thing is to change people perception in Pakistan. Regardless of the work that we would try to implement, if we won't change their perception - nothing gonna help.

CHEATER
93

Re: Needs/topics we can contribute in?

Ok so we now have 8 out of 34. while we move on to the final selection process shortly, anyone wishing to catch the bus is welcome to jump in :)

A serious question
94

Re: Needs/topics we can contribute in?

Suggestion: Interest free Loans - Micro Finance
I really like this following suggestion of mine. But it is a little more complicated than the other ideas here so am taking it back for now - leaving it for the next time. Thanks.

Most Beautiful Man
Most Beautiful Man
95

Re: Needs/topics we can contribute in?

I'll post mine this weekend.

96

Re: Needs/topics we can contribute in?

This bonus time should be used well.
By Monday we should hopefully start voting for final selection.

97

Re: Needs/topics we can contribute in?

I don't have any particular issue but I can commit myself working as a team member remotely.

~~♥♥♥~~ Sannan’s 10 K ~~♥♥♥~~
98

Re: Needs/topics we can contribute in?

Ok guys. Time for explaining the ideas is over.
There were no more elaborations even with an additional bonus week. So let’s move on to the next stage for selection.

We initially had 34 suggested areas/topics and 9 were explained.
So we make our selection from the ones explained, leaving the rest for later.

The 9 we had were;

** 1 **
Regulation of Domestic workers

** 2**
Human Right Voilations

** 3**
Red Tape Culture

** 4**
Uniformity of education system and standards throughout Pakistan

** 5**
A survey of the impact of NGO think tank policy studies in third world countries: What we can learn from what has been done before

** 6**
Balochistan Issue: Save Balochistan from Burning – Before it is too late

** 7**
Importance of Cleanliness

8
Status Symbol - Egotism among Pakistanis

9
Interest free Loans - Micro Finance

So let’s now vote.

Vote for the one topic you feel we should go ahead with first as starters.
Give reason as well if you want.
We’ll chose and go ahead with the one topic that gets most votes.

Once we have a selection, we can move on to the next stages to further focus, plan, organize and execute.

Vote on :slight_smile:

**Note: **
Everyone (whether or not having taken part in this effort earlier) is encouraged and requested to get involved and vote.

Muhammad and The Violation of The Quran
99

Re: Needs/topics we can contribute in?

Thanks Nomad :k:

100

Re: Needs/topics we can contribute in?

My vote = Topic # 6 Balochistan issue
Its a complex issue but all it requires from us is, some good writing.

by the way, can we use other nicks to vote too :D