|
Suspending of CIADP Projects letter I
Dear Editor,
Through your esteemed online paper I want to
underline one of the most important issue of Chitral. As everybody
knows that Norwegian Govt wants to spend huge amount for the
betterment of the poor and neglected people of Chitral. I was
shocked to hear the horror news that officials of District
Administration of Chitral misbehaved the consultants
/representatives of Norwegian Govt. It is really a matter of
concern for all the well wishers of the land. The Govt herself
can’t do anything for the betterment of this far flung area and
they are totally dependent on NGOs for their survival and
betterment, what a pity when money comes from other nations the
Govt too disqualified to spend the same. It is extreme, one has no
words to condemn such enmity with the people of Chitral.
It is another matter of concern that our MNA is
opposing this project by rejecting the contractor company which the
Norwegian Govt has appointed as contractor / executor. Our MNA
wants to spend the money his own way which the donor country did
not accept, now what to do? Obviously one who gives money is to be
entertained. Now it is the duty of the Govt and MNA to turn aside
their own interests in the best welfare of people and
cooperate/coordinate with Thrive, the contractor company and
make sure that this money should neither go waste nor go back. If
either of the incident occurred, the people of Chitral will hold
responsible both the Project opposing MNA and District Govt. All
its adverse consequences will have to be borne by the opposing
elements.
Afzal Nadir Khan
Islamabad.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Suspending of CIADP/THRIVE activities
The Norwegian government has approved handful money for a multi-sectoral
developmental project for the backward mountainous district of
Chitral. It is very much clear that under the auspicious guidance
and great care of Shahzada Shujaur Rehman (late) ex-provincial
Chief of IUCN, the organization (IUCN) had produced a handbook
covering and targeting number of areas of development in Chitral.
The district government Chitral took bold steps towards achieving
the targets and for the purpose many donor countries and
organizations were approached using the IUCN production as a Base.
Thank to Norwegians who came with support and a mega funding was
available to finance the multi-sectoral Chitral Integrated Area
Development Program (CIADP).
In year 2009 the project formally initiated its activities. The PMU
is being look after by an organization/firm known as THRIVE which
is Islamabad based. The induction of THRIVE remained a source of
discussion and concern and number of developmental experts hailing
from Chitral have shown their technical/expert opinions whether
THRIVE is able of not to undertake such a project.
Keeping a side all this, it is very discouraging for the social
workers, community developers to hear that in the back drop of so
called All Parties meeting the Norwegian funded project CIADP has
suspended its activities and closed offices. Reportedly it is said
that the some political elites threatened the foreigners as well as
national staff of THRIVE and manifestly told them in DCO office
that THRIVE offices would be torched while DCO was present on his
chair.
I am not favoring THRIVE setup but the way used by our so called
enlighted, educated and moderate political figures is so shameful
that each and every Chitral curse them. Who is unaware of the fact
that each and every political figure of chitral had been
pressurizing donor funded projects and programes to work on their
directions and like and this like. These people have taken extra
benefits from such offices.
THRIVE should also re-visit its strategy and not be a “doll” in the
hand of one ex-Nazim who, sitting in his one room office in
Chitral, uses to give impressions that CIADP is only in his
discretions and directions.
THRIVE is also suggested to recruit a Local (Chitrali) project
manager who could better manage the project and handle such
situations.
The role of DCO Chitral, who is also the Chairperson of Project
Steering Committee pertaining to CIADP, is much important. He must
look into the matter that how a totally community project is being
unduly politicized.
Another frustrating point in this connection is that in the
original project document the head of district administration (that
time District Nazim & now DCO) would chair the Project steering
committee but now it is heard that THRIVE people have covertly
changed this position as well which is also questionable point that
why and under what circumstances the head of district
administration has been replace.
The donor (Norwegian Embassy) should take prompt action to best
utilize their Tax payers money and provincial P&D department should
intervene into the matter and taking the Social, religious and
Political circles on board should form a strategy for it. the
people living in Chitral must have the right to decide the
procedure of working not the outsiders.
Asif Ali Khan Chitrali
Rawalpindi
|
::
Front Page
