Text: Pamir Times
Photos: Mueez Shah Gilgit, March 24:

The Nauroz Youth Festival and Pakistan Day Celebrations came to an end yesterday at Aliabad, Hunza. The colorful event saw students performing tableau, gymnastics, skits, songs and dance.

Pipe-bands from across Hunza also participated in the event as part of a
competition. Aga Khan Silver Jubilee Band, Gulmit -Gojal, [...]

Read more and view many photos on Pamir Times Net

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  Construction cost

  Design

• Main Dam:
  • Maximum Height: 272 m
  • Type: roller compacted concrete (RCC)
• Diversion System:
  • Tunnels: 02
  • Canals: 01
  • Cofferdam: Upstream and Downstream
• Main Spillway:
  • Gates: 09
  • Size: 16.5×15.0 m
• Reservoir Level: 1160 m
• Min Operation Level Elevation: 1060 m
• Gross Capacity: 7,300,000 acre feet (9.0 km³)
• Live Capacity: 6,400,000 acre feet (7.9 km³)
• Outlets:
  • Intermediate Level: 08
  • Low Level: 04
• Powerhouses:
  • No. of Powerhouses: 02
  • Total Installed Capacity: 4,500 MW
  • Location of Powerhouses: one each on right and left side
  • No. of Generator Units: 08
  • Capacity/Unit: 560 MW
  • Average Power Generation; 16,500 GWh
• Estimated Cost: US $13 Billion (2011 Estimate)

  Purpose and function

• Production of 4,500 megawatts of electricity through environmentally clean hydropower generation
• Storage of an extra 8,500,000 acre feet (10.5 km³) of water for Pakistan that would be used for irrigation and drinking
• Extend the life of Tarbela Dam located downstream by 35 years
• Control flood damage by the River Indus downstream during high floods
• Availability of about 6,400,000 acre feet (7.9 km³) annual surface face water storage for supplementing irrigation supplies during low flow periods
• Harnessing of renewable source of clean and cheap energy through installed capacity of 4500 MW
• Reduction of dependence on environmentally damaging thermal power, thus saving environment and foreign exchange
• Short and long term employment opportunities, particularly to locals, during the construction (15,000 jobs) and operation phase
• Creation of massive infrastructure leading to overall socio-economic uplift of the area and standard of living of people

 Environmental impact and resettlement

The World Bank and some other donors had asked Islamabad to seek a…http://alternativeenergy.com.pk/national-news/shifting-priorities-diamer-bhasha-project-put-on-the-backburner-as-pakistan-has-instead-accepted-a-2-billion-world-bank-offer/

Only 14 years ago, the markhor population in Gilgit-Baltistan was estimated to be less than 1,000 and this astonishing animal, which has twisting horns measuring up to a spectacular five feet in length, was classified as an endangered species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).

There are an estimated 2,500 mature markhor in the world today, and due to the dedicated work of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the number of markhor in Pakistan is now approximately 1,500, giving Pakistan the largest markhor population on Earth. These high mountain dwelling members of the goat family currently inhabit very remote areas of Afghanistan, Kashmir, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan; in Pakistan, small herds live in Azad Kashmir, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kohistan.

Markhor have been long hunted illegally for their magnificent head of horns and were it not for the unflagging conservation efforts of the WCS, these indigenous alpine animals would have disappeared long since. Now, with numbers on the upsurge and local mountain communities, assisted by rangers conscientiously guarding the animals in their ‘care’, the government is issuing a limited number of hunting licenses allowing, under strict supervision, the culling of old animals past the breeding age as this benefits the herd as a whole.

The name ‘markhor’ is derived from the Pashto words ‘mar’ which means snake and ‘akhur’ meaning horns which aptly describe the snake-like twisting of the animal’s stupendous horns. Some people disagree with this translation and claim that markhor translates to ‘snake eater’ due to the animal’s ability to kill snakes with its very sharp hooves. Whatever the origin of its name, the markhor is an excellent choice of animal to depict the proud spirit of every single Pakistani in the nation.

Happy Pakistan Day!

First published in the Adbuzzzz Section of The DAWN National Weekend Advertiser on March 17, 2013.

“Pakistan doesn’t need any NOC from India regarding construction of dams,” Foreign Office spokesman Moazzam Ahmed Khan told the weekly press briefing.

Under the Indus Water Treaty, India was however under an obligation to inform Pakistan if it wanted to carry out any water-related project on rivers allocated for Pakistan, he said.

Sources in the administration said a three-member delegation comprising Chief Minister Syed Mehdi Shah, Senior Minister Mohammad Jaffar and Chief Secretary Sajad Salim Hottiana met the SBP governor in Karachi to discuss the possibility of opening the branch of the central bank in GB.

They said matters pertaining to finance and other related issues came under discussion.

They added that all provinces were entitled to have an overdraft from the SBP, but GB was lacking this facility.

The officials said the SBP governor assured the GB representatives of ensuring an overdraft of Rs5 billion to the GB government in order to meet financial demands of the area.

Sources said the GB delegation also discussed possibility of setting up region’s own bank like other provinces. The SBP head also assured to extend help in this regard.

FINANCIAL PACKAGE: The federal finance minister has assured to release Rs5 billion package for Gilgit-Baltistan before the interim government is installed in Islamabad to help end financial woes of the region.

This was disclosed by GB Finance Minister Mohammad Ali Akhtar while talking to Dawn.

He said those speaking of rolling back the political reforms package to GB lived in fool’s paradise. He said his meeting with the federal finance minister was fruitful.

He said soon the region will have its own Public Service Commission as well as Services Tribunal which were the result of the political reforms package.

A wave of panic swept across Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) following warnings that militant groups had infiltrated the region. A roadside bomb that ripped though a pushcart earlier this week and injured two people was taken as a precursor.

“This seems to be a preview,” Muhammad Raza, a resident of Kashrote told the media soon after the blast. “God forbid we may see even worse in the days ahead as warnings have already been shared with the public through the media.”

A day before the incident, the regional government had pointed out that incidents like the twin blasts in Karachi could not be ruled out in Gilgit.

“There are chances of such incidents here. We urge people to remain alert and immediately report to the authorities if they find a suspicious bag or a person,” said Home Secretary Faisal Zahoor during a meeting held in Gilgit recently. The information was reproduced in a section of G-B’s Urdu press, which also mentioned that a militant outfit headed by ‘Tariq Gidar’ had infiltrated G-B.

In view of the threat perception, security has been reinforced around mosques, public places and educational institutions in Gilgit, Skardu and Astore valley, said Zahoor.

Besides keeping a strict check on the vehicles entering G-B, residents and visitors without identity documents will be deported from the region. To avert terror incidents on the highways and in towns, the home secretary said an anti-terrorism force would be formed that would be headed by a deputy commissioner and a superintendent of police in Gilgit.

Army commandos would be stationed near Bunji and forces led by a captain would be put on high alert along the Karakoram Highway at Chatial, so passengers travelling by bus can be provided protection. Buses running between G-B and Rawalpindi will have to cross ‘sensitive areas’ before 5pm.

“We are aware of the threats and are on high alert to foil any terrorist activity in the region,” Senior Superintendent of Police Ali Zia told ET.

The session was attended by Pakistan’s envoy, Abdul Basit, MLA Raja Azam Khan and the Chief Secretary of Gilgit-Baltistan, Sajjad Saleem Hottiana.

Traditional items like Chugha  and traditional caps from Gilgit-Baltistan were offered to the organizers of the session by the Pakistani delegation.

The Chief Secretary and MLA Azam are visiting Germany currently along with a delegation of Pakistani tour operators to attract tourists in Pakistan.

Pakistan, in general, and the Gilgit-Baltistan region, in particular, have immense tourism potential in the areas of mountaineering, cutlure, religious heritage, environment, mountain sciences and archaeological sites. However, without improving the law and order situation in Pakistan, including Gilgit-Baltistan, the efforts to attract tourists will remain futile.

The government formed the 90-member unit to face an increase in threats, the Home Department said, adding it had received tips of a possible terrorist attack in Gilgit or Skardu. Terrorists might target an important installation with a bomb-laden vehicle, it said.

The Home Department decided to put security forces on alert and to check suspicious persons, SAMAA reported.

This assurance was given by Ahmad Nawaz Sukhera, chief executive officer of Smeda in a meeting with Sajjad Saleem Hotiana, chief secretary Gilgit-Baltistan at SMEDA head office on Monday.

He said that tourism, minerals, small hydel and horticulture sectors have a great potential to spur economic development process in Gilgit-Baltistan.Sukhera expressed the hope that SMEDA, by developing sectoral strategies for the province, would be able create new SMEs. The SME development plan would also help fill the missing links in value chain of the potential SME sectors of Gilgit-Baltistan, he added.

Earlier, Hotiana identified regional potentials for economic development by identifying tourism, minerals, horticulture and small hydel projects as the priority sectors in the region.He assured that Smeda teams, working on the SME development of his region, would be provided with the best possible collaboration and cooperation between Smeda and the local stakeholders of the SME sector.

India has also asked Pakistan to provide detailed information about all hydropower projects being built in Gilgit-Baltistan with the funding of these international donors.

This has been communicated to Pakistan in the latest correspondence in which India has again declared Gilgit-Baltistan as its integral part.

The World Bank currently believed to be under the influence of the Indians who occupy top slots, has already refused the funding for the most strategic project of the Diamer-Bhasha dam linking it with an NoC from India.

The most revealing and perturbing disclosure is that this is the same bank that has leaked the information to New Delhi that Pakistan is building hydropower projects in Shebratan and Chilas in Gilgit-Baltistan, the correspondence reveals.

In a letter of the Foreign Affairs Director General South Asia of the Foreign Ministry written on November 28, 2012 to the Ministry of Water and Power, of which a copy is available with The News, it has been revealed that India has sought detailed information about the hydropower projects being built in Gilgit-Baltistan as New Delhi is of the view that Pakistan needs its NoCs for building all kinds of hydropower projects in Gilgit-Baltistan and AJK as the said areas are ‘integral parts of India’.

However, the letter’s excerpt shows that the Pakistan high commissioner in New Delhi has rejected the Indian assertions about Gilgit-Baltistan being an integral part of India. The Pakistan high commissioner, however, asked the authorities in Islamabad to provide information about the projects and the donor agencies from which assistance has been sought.

The high commissioner of Pakistan, according to the letter, has recommended to the Ministry of Water and Power to discourage donor agencies from seeking India’s concurrence for projects in AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan.

The letter written by Zehra Akbari, DG South Asia in Foreign Affairs, to Nargis Sethi, the then Secretary of Water and Power, on November 28, 2012 says: “Our high commissioner in New Delhi has conveyed vide his telegram of 23 November 2012 that the Indian Ministry of External Affairs has made a verbal demarche to protest Pakistan’s plans to build hydel power projects at Shebratan and Chilas in Gilgit-Baltistan and also to seek donors’ assistance for these projects. They had learned about these projects from the World Bank. Indians said that the area was an integral part of India. Our high commissioner rejected the Indian assertions about Gilgit-Baltistan being integral part of India. The high commissioner has requested information about the projects and the donor agencies from which assistance has been sought. The India high commission has also recommended that the concerned ministry should discourage donor agencies from seeking India’s NoC for the projects in AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan.”

The plantation drive on the campus was spearheaded by KIU Vice Chancellor, Dr Najma Najam on Thursday.

Addressing the students and faculty members, the vice chancellor said that crown canopy and trees were crucial for clean environment. She asked every member of the university to plant at least one sapling.

 “We have introduced a cohesive system of irrigation and that is why the survival rate of trees on the campus has been more than 90 percent,” she said. She also announced a cash prize for gardeners in recognition of their hard wok.

Convener of Garden Committee Dr Abdur Razzaq said that more than 6,000 trees have been planted so far inside the campus and adjacent hills and this year, 2,000 saplings of fruit and other trees were planted.

Project Director Shabbir Hussain talked of water shortage in the KIU but said that they would utilise all available resources to make the plantation drive a success.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Gilgit-Baltistan Forests Department announced planting of 1,100,000 saplings in the region this year. “We have a target of planting more than 1 million trees this year,” Khadim Hussain, Secretary Forests, said.

He said that last year the forest department planted slightly less than 1 million trees despite financial crunch. Conservator Forests, Mohammad Ismail, termed plantation the most effective tool to counter climate change issues.

Like elsewhere in the country, thousands of trees are planted every year in this mountainous region however their survival rate is very low.

There are reports that the officials of education ministry, with the connivance with the minister, have sold positions of teachers to at least 600 undeserving, unqualified, persons, on payment of RKR 300,000 for each position.

NAB has started investigations after a hue and cry in the regional media about the alleged crime of serial corruption that has deprived hundreds of competent candidates.

Pakistan on Thursday clarified that there was no need to get any No-Objection Certificate (NOC), from India for the construction of any water reservoirs in Azad Kashmir or Gilgit-Baltistan.

Commenting on the reports that India wants Pakistan to seek NOC for construction of water reservoirs in AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan, the Foreign Office Spokesman Moazzam Ahmed Khan said, “Pakistan doesn’t need any NOC from India regarding construction of dams.”

He said this position has also been supported by the latest verdict of the International Court of Arbitration in Kishan Ganga dispute.

The spokesman said that under provisions of Indus Basin Treaty, India is under obligation to inform Pakistan before hand if it wants to build any structure on three Western rivers meant for Pakistan.

Replying to a question, he said there was an understanding with the United States for initiation of case against Raymond Davis for killing two Pakistanis in Lahore but so far no such development was in his knowledge.

Commenting on the five year development of foreign policy of the present Government, the spokesman said the focus has been on improving relations with regional countries including India and Afghanistan.

He said it was also pertinent to note that the Government involved the Parliament in the formulation of the country’s foreign policy.

The spokesman also confirmed that Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf would pay a personal visit to Adjmer Sharif in India on Saturday. He said no talks are yet scheduled on the occasion with Indian leadership.

Commenting on Indian Prime Minister’s allegations that Pakistan was not doing enough against terrorism, the spokesman said, “Pakistan condemns terrorism and extremism in all its forms and manifestations.”

He said it was a common threat and required a common strategy and cooperation amongst all countries in the region.

Commenting on the investigation on Mumbai attacks, he said Pakistan has repeatedly told India to provide proof that could stand scrutiny in the court of law, as mere statements are not enough.

“Pakistan wants resolution of all issues with India through dialogue including the recent incident on the Line of Control.”

He said Pakistan has even gone to the extent of offering investigations under the mechanism available with United Nations system.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2013

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Provincial President of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Gilgit Baltistan and Political Adviser of Imran Khan, Sardar Khan quits Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and announced to join Pakistan Peoples Party.

According to sources, Ex-District Nazim Attique Jehangir, Provincial President Sardar Khan along with 22 other members of PTI joined PPP.

Sardar Khan while speaking to a press conference said that, PTI Intra Party Elections have been hijacked by feudal lords and Tsunami of feudal lords have take over pure party workers.

The announcement was made in the presence of PPP Divisional President, Shujat Salim Khan.

The appeal — directed at the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)-led federal government — was made by chief organiser Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman at a news conference. Siddiqul Farooq, the party’s chief coordinator for G-B, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Islamabad, was also present.

“The elections in G-B have always been manipulated by the ruling parties in the past. And it is key to hold the polls in G-B under a caretaker government so that transparency and fairness can be ensured,” Rehman said.

He claimed that in the past, every ruling party had rigged the elections in G-B by using official machinery and bureaucratic tactics and warned that it would continue in the future if they were not held under an impartial government. “We have not been given a level playing field for contesting elections in the past and every time the ruling party has interfered to manipulate them,” Rehman noted.

He also called for amending the Constitution to establish a circular office of the Supreme Court in G-B to ensure appointments in the superior judiciary are made under the Supreme Court rather than through the ministry of Kashmir Affairs and G-B.

Rehman alleged that the federal minister for Kashmir Affairs and G-B was demanding Rs20 million for appointing a judge in the Chief Court and Supreme Appellate Court of G-B. According to him, this is why there is only one chief judge of the Chief Court and the posts of four fellow judges have been lying vacant for many months as candidates could not arrange for the money.

Criticising the poor state of healthcare in G-B, he said the people were frustrated and disappointed as free treatment is provided in government hospitals all over the country, but the G-B government has introduced Rs250 in the name of doctor’s fee in every government hospital.

At the same time, Farooq pledged that PML-N had incorporated the recommendations received from the party’s G-B chapter in its manifesto and pledged to implement them if PML-N comes into power.

According to a statement shared with the media, the SLCPS made the demand today at a gathering held in connection with the International Mother Language Day,observed throughout the world annually on February 21.

The SLCPS has also demanded establishment of a Shinalogy department at the Karakoram International University. The have also urged the authorities to establish a Shina Language Academy.

They have also demanded to declare Balti and Shina as national languages of Pakistan, in line with a national assembly resolution passed unanimously three years back.

The press statement furthers says that Shina, Balti and the other languages spoken in the Gilgit-Baltistan should be declared national languages and arrangements should be made to impart education in local languages at the primary level of education.

Renowned cultural activists and linguists, Shakil Ahmed Shakil, Abdul Hafeez Shakir, Ghulam Abbas Naseem, Ishtiaq Ahmed Yaad, Salman Ali, Tufail Abbas, Ameer Haider, Muhammad Jameel, Abdul Sabur and Asim Bashir were present at the occasion.

They also urged the UN organizations, civil society activists and relevant NGOs in the Gilgit-Baltistan region to play an active role for fulfilment of the demands.

According to sources, the cause of the crisis is the struggle between various power brokers to get their hands over the lucrative positions.

“Unlike other parts of the country, the judicial commission doesn’t have any role in the appointment of the judges for the superior judiciary in Gilgit-Baltistan,” said Advocate Ahsan Ali, former president and a senior member of Gilgit-Baltistan Bar Council.

“This is the basic reason why every judge in the superior judiciary in G-B has been appointed on political grounds so far by ignoring merit and competence.”

Under the Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self Order Rule 2009, the governor recommends names for the office to the Prime Minister for the final selection via the ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan.

As per the Gilgit-Baltistan Governance Order 2009, a person qualifies for appointment as member of chief court only if he has three years of experience as a sessions judge or ten years of experience as a lawyer in High Court. However, some of the persons recommended for the post don’t meet these criteria, Ahsan added.

“Providing justice is a sensitive issue and judges must be appointed on the basis of merit, integrity and impartiality.”

The advocate said that petitions have kept piling up as the court remained closed for the last two months.

Initially, the court had three judges and now with two judges promoted to the Supreme Appellate Court, only one is left to serve the court.

According to Ahsan, the system of induction in the higher judiciary is not transparent in G-B.

Also, he said, the G-B Bar Council demands appointment of at least seven judges in the chief court to avoid any such crisis in the future in case judges retire or are promoted.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s G-B chief organizer Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman, while addressing a press conference on Friday alleged that some top brass at the ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan demands Rs20 million for elevating a candidate to the post of judge in the chief court. He cited it as the reason for the deadlock in the appointment of judges.

Hafiz also demanded establishment of a circle office of Supreme Court in G-B and appointment of judges through judicial commission to ensure transparency.

G-B Governor Pir Karam Ali Shah was contacted several times for his view on the issue. His personal secretary Syed Akber Hussain replied that the governor had no time for talks. When the secretary was asked to comment, he also refused to respond.

The G-B law minister Wazir Shakeel is one of the front-running candidates for the position of judge in the chief court.

While defending his candidature as judge for the superior judiciary despite being a cabinet member, he said that such examples existed in the past. Also he said that he had submitted his resignation to the chief minister on February 11 which would be approved if he is appointed a judge.

Three power projects will be constructed in Gilgit Baltistan to overcome the energy shortage in the country.

Government of Pakistan issued NOC to WAPDA for initiating work on Phander Hydel power project of 80 megawatt, Ghizer 40 megawatt and Hurpo power project of 35 megawatt in Gilgit Baltistan.

With the assistance of anti-Pakistan powers, India which has already been supporting separatism in Balochistan has also accelerated conspiracy against the province of Gilgit-Baltistan by backing the minority nationalist elements which claim an independent Balawaristan there. These external entities are also behind target killings and sectarian violence in these areas.

RAW which performed a major role in forming BNF in 1992 has been providing it with political and financial support including arms and ammunition. The sole aim is to promote the agenda of an independent Republic of Balawaristan from Kohistan to Chitral and Khunjrab to Skardu which also includes Ladakh.

With the help of foreign entities like parliamentarians, media anchors, scholars and human rights groups, India manipulate the petty matters and local rivalries to damage the national interests of Pakistan. In this regard, with the diplomatic support of Indian officials and RAW agents, on October 18, 2008, BNF leader Abdul Hameed Khan had held meetings with Emma Nicholson, the Vice Chairperson of the Committee of Foreign Affairs of the European Union and member of the European Parliament. In that meeting, Abdul Hameed blamed Pakistan for human rights violations in Gilgit and Baltistan, exaggerating regional disparities which are very common in the less developed countries due to a number of problems like lack of resources, finance, high population growth etc. Surprisingly, India, itself, is facing these problems.

In this respect, Indian conspiracy could be witnessed from the self-contradictory statement of BNF leader Abdul Hameed Khan. In his exclusive interview with Indian Hindu Sitah (india.indymedia.org), he advocated total independence of Gilgit-Baltistan (Balawaristan), but emphasized integration with India. He also requested New Delhi for more political, diplomatic and media help for his movement.

However, India and its foreign collaborators have started propagating against Pakistan, targeting the people of Gilgit-Baltistan to pollute their minds by distorting the historical truth through their wicked write ups, articles and seminars held at foreign soil. The aim is to accord more credibility to their propaganda campaign and also to muster external support for their nefarious designs against Pakistan.

Sering is currently based in New Delhi and is a visiting faculty for Indian Institute of Defence and Strategic Analysis (IDSA). His intent can well be understood, as real perpetrators, particularly, RAW assign him the task. His design is based on wicked efforts to confuse and complicate the status of Gilgit-Baltistan province in the eyes of the world opinion builders, while creating sense of separatism and feelings of dissent among the loyal people of Pakistan’s this province.

Particularly on the direction of RAW, nationalist elements of Pakistan’s Northern Areas have been making efforts for opening of Kargil-Ladakh road. It is part of Indian conspiracy to fulfill its covert agenda. For this purpose, refugees from Indian-held Turtuk, Tiaqshi, Nabar and other towns—now settled in Gilgit-Baltistan are being exploited through various tactics. In this context, a Kargil-Ladakh Refugee Committee of Skardu has already been formed to propagate the issue. RAW agents, diplomats and related organizations have been inviting various delegations intermittently from the Northern Areas to New Delhi for implementation of Indian secret agenda.

While Gilgit-Baltistan is integral part of Pakistan, and its native population is very loyal and patriotic. The people of the area derive inspiration from Pakistan’s national anthem and feel highly privileged in holding the Pakistani flag as high as possible. They are simple and straightforward people blessed with good features, tough physique, good mannerism, psychological warmth, self-respect, and sense of sacrifice. They love their land as much as they adore the entire Pakistani nation.

At the time of partition, they bravely fought against overwhelming Indian forces and got the region freed from Britain-backed Indian Army. Ever since, they have remained loyal to Pakistan. During three wars with India, they offered numerous sacrifices to save Pakistan. Hence, the entire nation is proud of their bravery, vision and devotion.

Nevertheless, besides other hostile elements and RAW’s physical aid, Indian media has also been misleading the masses of Gilgit-Baltistan by promoting anti-Pakistani nationalist voice.

In response, Pakistan’s media must expose real designs of Indian propagandists who use foreign soil in inciting these people for separatism, and in distorting facts about Pakistani province of Gilgit-Baltistan. Our media anchors must also inform the people regarding conspiracy against Gilgit-Baltistan.

However due to the heavy snowfall this season, the people have been finding it hard to send and receive letters. The post offices have been grossly understaffed due to postmen being unable to come to work due to heavy snow.

“The postal service comes under the federal government and despite repeated requests, the Ministry of Postal Service is delaying the approval to recruit more people and make more post offices in far-off areas,” said Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly Parliamentary Secretary Muhammad Ayub Shah.

He added that the locals are finding it extremely difficult to stay in touch with others via email, due to disrupted services. To make things worse, the snowfall has blocked the routes of postal staff, dealing a blow to the postal services.

He lamented the fact that in times when people are constantly connected, people in G-B are lacking even the basic facility of postal service.

An official of the concerned ministry, wishing to remain anonymous, said that there is need of increasing staff and establishing more post offices in different parts of the country. However, the concerned minister does not interest in any area except Balochistan, where he is from, the official added. He said that the sitting minister and his predecessor, both from Balochistan, worked a lot to develop the postal infrastructure in their province.

Federal Minister for Postal Service Sardar Muhammad Omar Gorgage did not respond despite repeated attempts to contact him on his cellphone.