Flood Situation 2015 Update – 1
Issued at:18:00, 24th July, 2015 Glacial lake outburst floods in Chitral and heavy rains in upper parts of the country causingriverine floods in Punjab is playing havoc with the lives and property of the affected communities. Chitral Till date about 300,000 people in Chitral are affected with three reported fatilities. According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), 29 villages are badly affected with damage to 29 drinking water supply schemes, 5 power houses, and 177 houses (145 fully destroyed and 32 partially). Several major roads and bridges have been badly damaged making areas in Upper Chitral, the Kalash Valley and Garam Chashma inaccessible. There are also reports of large losses to livestock, public and private property, and agricultural land and crops.
Cheque handing over ceremony for Installation of Water Filtration Plant
Project: Access to Clean Drinking Water & Health and Hygiene Promotions for Temporarily Dislocated Person (TDPs) of North Waziristan In the context of installation of water filtration plant under the WASH Project, funded by ‘World Vision Pakistan’, a cheque handing over ceremony was organizedunder the servision of the Assistant Commissioner DI Khan on 24th June 2015. In this event, beside Assistant Commissioner DI Khan Mr. Salman Lodhi, who is focal person for NWA TDPs in DI Khan; Mr. WilayatUllah Khan Executive Engineer Public Health; Mr. Sheikh Arsalan SDO PHED; Mr. ShafiUllah Khan Regional Head SPO, DI Khan; Mr. InamUllah Khan Program Specialist SPO; Mr. InayatAdil Senior columnist and Mr. WaqasShahani Program officer SPO were also present at the occasion. Program Specialist shared that water filtration plant is being installed on water supply facility Dewala of PHED; it will cost Rs. 2,200,000 and benefit 1200 households including TDPs and the host community living in this locality. Regional Head shared that SPO is serving in DI Khan for more than last 15 years in development and humanitarian sectors and will continue its role for the betterment of the people of DI Khan.
An initiative of Transparency and Accountability at Local Level
Under the project “Enhancing the Capacities for Transparent and Accountable Local Governance”, a baseline assessment was conducted in all the project target districts, including Badin, Thatta and Karachi of Sindh province and Multan, Khanewal and Muzaffargarh of Punjab province. The objective of the baseline assessment was to know the perception of the CBOs and the local politicians on the Right to Information (RTI) / Freedom of Information (FOI) and District Budget Tracking and Accountability at local levels. In total 188 participants attended all the 18 FGDs wherein the ratio of males and females were 72% and 28% respectively. The baseline assessment was conducted from 28th May, 2015 to 5th June, 2015.
AAWAZ PROVINCIAL DIALOGUE MEETING ON ‘EFFECTIVE REPRESENTATION AND PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN LG ELECTIONS IN PUNJAB’
It was debated and discussed that according to the Article 140-A of the Constitution makes it mandatory for all the provincial governments in the country to establish local government systems and devolve administrative, financial responsibility and authority to the elected representatives of the local bodies, with increased representation of women and excluded groups in local governments by amending Article 32 of the Constitution. It is the responsibility of provincial governments to provide safe environment for women and minorities so that they may play effective and constructive role in development process. These ideas were expressed by different representatives of political parties. AmnaUlfat PML(Q) UzmaBukhari PML(N), Dr. Semi Bukhari Pakistan Vice (PTI), Humaira Tariq and Aafiaserwer from Jamaat e Islami, Mehnaz Rafi human rights activist/Ex-MNA, Sunila Ruth MPA, PTI(minority seat) , Salman Abid Regional head (SPO), Mumtaz Mughal provincial manager Aurat foundation, ZakirShaheen provincial manger SAP PK addressed as guest speakers at the provincial meeting. A brief reflection session was held taking comments and questions from audiences.
National Conference on Demand for Local Governments Election and Constitutional Protection
SPO led National conference on constitutional protection of Local Governments under AAWAZ program with consortium partners at Islamabad Hotel on 17th March.The event was widely attended by AAWAZ program citizens of 45 districts of KP and Punjab province, a large number of women and minorities, civil society activities, academics, legislators and political parties.Prominent amongst the political party representatives were HasilBejanjo (NP), BushraGohar (ANP), Nusrat Sahar Abbassi (PML-F), Maliha Ali (PTI) and Choudry Javed Iqbal (PML-N), Yasmeen Lehri (NP) and Senator Mir Kabir Ahmed (NP). Each political party representative explained their party positions on Local Government elections and political perspective of all the provinces was presented. The role of political parties to hold LG elections was emphasized and representatives of the political parties affirmedto support constitutional protection of LGs. The exampleof successful holding of Local Government elections in Balochistan despite extreme difficulties was presented by NP representative, lauded and referred to as the test case of strongpolitical will by speakers and participants. Senator HasilBejenjo, National Party, underscored key factors of success case of Balochistan LG election. He also pledged that NP being ally of Federal Government would take frontal role in tabling LG constitutional Protection bill as recommended by the National Conference.
Civil Society Organization (CSO) Forum of Pakistan Muslim League-Functional
Under the Political Party Development Program (PPDP), a one day CSO Forum was organized by SPO and NDI in collaboration with Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F), on February 24, 2014 at Hotel One Islamabad. The forum was attended by nine members of PML-F’s policy-makers, including two current MPAs of Sindh Assembly, Dr. Rafique Banbhan and Ms. Nusrat Saher Abbasi. The main objectives of the CSO forum were: 1. To discuss the highlighted issues and to give an expert opinion.2. To discuss the way forward for the party’s policy formulation.
National Consultation Demands and Carves a Human Rights Policy for the Country
Islamabad,Feburary 25, 2015: The National Consultation on Human Rights Policy Framework for the country,held in Islamabad on Feb 24-25 2015,has called uponthe need for finalizing the proposed National Human Rights Policy to be enacted in the country. The Consultation is hosted by the Ministry of Law,Justice & Human Rights (MoLJ& HR)in collaboration with Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO). The event was attended by the senior Govt officials, civil society and other stakeholders from all over the country.During the Consultation, thegroups were assigned specific policy issues to be discussed in groups and to come up with policy recommendations. The participants presented their recommendations under the following five thematic areas: Policy, Legal and Insitutional Interventions Implementing Key Human Rights Priorities Cross Cutting Intervntions for Protection of Human Rights International/UN Treaty Implementation Implementation and Monitoring Mechanisms
Stakeholders meeting on “Human Development Situation in Khushab”
SPO organized a stakeholders meeting on “Human Development Situation in Khushab” on 16th February 2015 at Pak Continental Hotel Jauharabad, Khushab. The meeting was attended by district stakeholders and civil society organizations, and was chaired by Mr. Naseer Memon, Chief Executive-SPO. The meeting’s key agenda was to share indicators of human developments with key stakeholders of Khushab. Participants from civil society and district government in this discussion included Dr. Asif Qazi, District Health Officer, Mr. Naseer Ahmad Karbali, District Population Officer M. Husain Rana, Assistant Commissioner, Malik Ansar Hayat, President District Bar, Professor Khalid Jilani Tiwana, Mr. Imtiaz Ahmad, District Officer Social Welfare, Ms. Umme Ayman, Women Crisis Center, Mr. Malik Azam, Ex-MPA and Mr. Arshad Mehmood, District Chairman Zakat & Ushar Committee and Chairman Aawaz.
Roundtable on Right to Vote for Overseas Pakistanis
SPO Pakistan and SPO UK jointly organized a forum to discuss modalities for exercising the right to vote in Pakistani elections by overseas Pakistanis. The event was organized at Macmillan Room, Port Cullis House, House of Commons, London on 29th January 2015. Members of British Parliament, representatives of leading Pakistani political parties, a representative of Pakistan High Commission in London, civil society members and prominent British citizens with Pakistani origin participated in the discussion. Details of the proceedings are covered in the following press release. At a well-attended gathering held in the Macmillan Committee Room in Port Cullis House, House of Commons, London on Thursday 29th January 2015, speakers and participants took part in an intensive discussion on the pros and cons of voting rights for overseas Pakistanis in Pakistan as well as the preferred system to cast ballots. A diversity of opinions emerged on both the concept of voting rights and on specific mechanisms to ensure the integrity of polling.