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Posted on Thursday, August 19, 2010 by zaib Unisa | 1 comments

Nepal Workshop on “Digital Journalism”
by: Zaib-Un-Nisa Gharshin

The UN Organization for Alliance of Civilizations is keen to promote friendly relations between East and West. One of the strategies to achieve this objective is arranging
Ms. Zaib-Un-Nisa Gharshin receiving her certificatetraining workshops and seminars in different parts of the world. The UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAC) joined hands with International Centre for Journalists (ICFT) and an International Organization named “Search for Common Grounds” (SCG) to arrange a three day workshop for 31 journalists from Pakistan from 4th-8th January, 2010. This workshop was held in Nepal. The rationale behind holding the workshop at Kathmandu, Nepal was the fame of the country as a Centre of Buddhism which is noted for tolerance of its followers. The three resource persons for the workshop were Mr. Danish Mansoor, Media and Partnership Officer UNAC, Ms. Huda Usman, representative of International Centre for Journalists and Mr. Reshad Bukhari, editor ‘Common Ground News’ of Pakistan.
I was among the group of journalists selected for training at the workshop. The workshop focused on the importance of reporting, the influences of reporting on the society, the selection of proper contents in reporting and the application of information technology in reporting.

Ms. Huda Usman, talked at length about use of technology in journalistic reporting, the selection and attachment of appropriate snaps, movie-making, use of e-mail facility, quality control of web-sites and scanning the web for proper material.

The participants were also taken on a tour of historical places in Nepal to reinforce the imprints of heritage and culture of Nepal, they were taken to the Nepalese Cholo, Buddha Stupa, Swambhi Temple, Sunrising Point Nagarkot and the Royal Palace.

The journalism workshop in Nepal was a befitting opportunity for the participants to exchange information and views. The need for including journalists from the western hemisphere was expressed at the workshop and the organizers promised to explore the feasibility of doing so. It is expected that joint efforts of Common Ground Network, International Centre for Journalists and UNAC would yield positive results in bringing about unity and harmony in the world.

Posted on by zaib Unisa | 0 comments

The Growth of Telecom Sector in Balochistan
In the Backdrop of Consumer Protection Measures by PTA

by: Zaib-Un_Nisa Gharshin

http://www.pta.gov.pkToday, the world has become a global village, and this miracle has happened due to the emergence and development of economical, easily accessible and efficient communication tools, networks and services in the last two decades. An exponential growth has taken place in the Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) which has reshaped the world of communication around the globe while effects of this growth can clearly be seen in Pakistan as well. Especially, the telecom sector of Pakistan has emerged as a fastest growing industry during past few years. Now, Pakistan’s telecom market is being recognized as one of the most promising and progressive markets of the region where only the number of mobile phone subscribers has reached to 98 Million and the overall teledensity stands at 63.4%. Once seen as a luxury, mobile phone has now become an integral means of communication in our society. Realizing this much potential of the telecom services in Pakistan, the telecom service providers, have invested heavily in the sector and are still targeting on new revenue streams. Growth indicators of the telecom sector in last few years have put it among the most successful sectors of the economy attracting huge FDI and generating high revenues.
Balochistan is the largest province of Pakistan in terms of area but its population density is lowest as compared to the other provinces. Therefore, trickling down the benefits of telecom revolution to the people of this area was a challenge for the Government, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and the telecom operators. The very basic reason of this challenge, from business point of view, was the involved high costs for infrastructure development. Taking this challenge seriously, Government, through Universal Service Fund (USF) started number of projects in Balochistan and now most of them have been completed successfully. Similarly, PTA being the telecom regulator has been making concerted efforts to increase the telecommunication access in Balochistan and has taken number of initiatives to serve the un-served and under-served areas of the province. Growth statistics of year 2002 show a mere 0.17% cellular teledensity in Balochistan which has grew manifold after the completion of numerous development projects making this figure much healthier in March-2010 which is 34.3%. During the last two years, the overall teledensity of the province has also grown from 29.3% in 2008 to 36.86% in May-2010. Total number of mobile phone subscribers in Balochistan in last 8 years, has increased from 12,539 in 2002 to 2.8 Million in May-2010 showing an immense growth rate which in 2003 had reached the highest level of 600.8%. Apart from the cellular sector, the Wireless Local Loop (WLL) is also showing positive growth patters in this area. Total WLL subscribers in Balochistan as of March-2010 are 109,079 while total number of Local Loop (LL) subscribers is 98,511 (March-2010).
In addition to increase the service access in Balochistan, PTA is putting utmost efforts to enhance the Quality of Service (QoS) of telecom operators in the area and is also focusing on consumer issues. In this regard, PTA has taken several measures and is now going to conduct a telecom consumer forum with a theme “Together for Consumer Rights” in Quetta as it has also conducted two such forums in Lahore and Karachi. The purpose of this forum is to invite all the stakeholders of the telecom industry including the Government, the Regulator, operators, consumer groups, social service activists and academia to gather on one platform to deliberate upon the consumer issues and their solutions. This effort would help in identifying the problems of telecom subscribers particularly those living in this area. PTA would take this opportunity to inform the consumers that what efforts the regulator has done, so far, to safeguard their rights and what is its future roadmap in this regard.
It is pertinent to mention here that PTA being watchful of the telecom consumer issues, has established a Consumer Protection Directorate (CPD) at its Headquarters in Islamabad. PTA has also promulgated “Telecom Consumer Protection Regulations 2009” and “Protection from Spam, Unsolicited, Fraudulent and Obnoxious Communications Regulations, 2009”. These regulations not only address the telecom consumer issues but also provide guidelines for the telecom operators regarding establishment of comprehensive mechanism for the handling of consumer complaints and to devise effective procedures for their in time redressal.
Telecom consumers may access the Complaint Cell of PTA through toll free telephone helpline, postal mail, e-mail, PTA’s website or consumers may also lodge their complaints by personally visiting this office. Moreover, to register their complaints, consumer can also access Zonal Offices of PTA established in all the provincial capitals of the country. PTA has also launched several awareness campaigns in print and electronic media and the emphasis has been given to the consumer issues and the ways to get them registered/resolved through their respective telecom operators and PTA. PTA also plans to launch more such campaigns in future as well.
The recent data of consumer complaints shows that PTA has received 29,870 consumer complaints from January 2009 to May 2010. In Balochistan, there were 48 complaints received by PTA Zonal Office at Quetta from January 2010 to June 2010 while 47 complaints have been resolved so far. The figure of resolved complaints is a clear evidence of PTA’s sincerity towards the protection of telecom consumer rights.
The above mentioned consumer protection measures, translate the vision of PTA which ensures the smooth access of telecom services to the people of Pakistan including far-flung areas. It also reflects the commitment of the telecom watchdog in order to ensure the safety of consumers and their rights. It is hoped that these efforts of PTA would prove to be fruitful and the telecom sector would continue to contribute in the social and economic development of the country.

Posted on Sunday, August 8, 2010 by zaib Unisa | 1 comments




















Posted on Monday, February 1, 2010 by zaib Unisa | 0 comments



100 Members
Youth Delegation Visits China
By: Zaib-Un-Nisa Gharshin

With the object of nurturing fraternal and friendly relations between the Youth of China and Pakistan, a 10 day good-will visit was arranged by the Federal Ministery for Youth Affairs, Pakistan. The delegation comprised 100 young men and women belonging to different walks of life and was headed by Mr. Shahid Bhutto, the Federal Minister for Youth Affairs. The delegation focused on learning about the cultural set up of the Chinese society, cultural traditions and civilization in order to build up already existing close relations between the to nations and two cultivate closer understanding and goodwill among the Chinese and Pakistani Youth.
The delegation visited Urumqi, Lanzhou and Beijing under the hospitality of all the China Youth Federation. In Urumqi, the delegation was taken on a round to Marker International Furniture Co, International Product Corporation Lines of BAOSTEEL Group, Xinjiang Bi Iron and Steel Corporation Ltd, Xinjiang Medical University, Xinjiang Seniors High School and Urumqi International grand bazaar. The members of the delegation had the opportunity of meeting eminent representatives of the society.
The next visit of Pakistan Youth Delegation was to Lanzhou in the Gansu Province. In Lanzhou, the members of the delegation visited Khwanghka (yellow) River, the Paxta Street, Yi Wu Trade Market as well as the North West Normal University, where a special function was held in honor of the visiting delegation. The members exchanged ideas with the students community and had the priviledge of meeting the Vice Chancellor, Ms. Suzi. The delegation were taken on a guided tour to Linxia, also in the Gansu province, and had the opportunity of seeing Linxia Eastern Residences.
On the last leg of the tour, the delegation went to Beijing, where they saw the Be Hang University, the Forbidden City, the Great China Wall, the Pakistani Embassy in China and the Great Hall of the People. The delegation was presented to Vice President of the standing committee of the Peoples’ Congress of China and Member Central Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China, Mr. Wang Zhaoguo and had a group photograph with him.
The visit by the delegation was of immense value because the members had the first hand experience of being acquainted with the Chinese culture and introducing our own culture there. The members of the delegation served to intensify the already existing friendly relations between the two people.

Posted on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 by zaib Unisa | 0 comments


The plight of disappeared in Balochistan

Zaib-Un-Nisa Gharshin

“My brother was picked up by the state intelligence agencies when he was returning home from office,” recalled Hani Baloch, the sister of a missing Baloch person, as she broke into tears while saying this. Baloch Women’s Panel (BWP) has been observing a hunger strike camp in front of Quetta Press Club for the past many years for the recovery of several missing persons. The participants of this camp are predominantly the ones whose loved ones have been whisked away by the state intelligence agencies. But not many people have returned home yet. Unfortunately, many among these families which are observing hunger strike for the recovery of the missing persons comprise of those whose livelihood largely depends on the earnings of the male members of the family who have gone missing. Due to their disappearance, the families have come under intense economic burden and the families are starving.

“We are even uncertain if my brother is dead or alive. The government should at least tell us what the charges against my brother are. Why is he denied justice by being refused a legal trial? When is my brother going to return home?” asked Hani.

The cycle of enforced disappearance in Balochistan started several years ago. No practical measure has been taken by the government except some shallow statements. By virtue of efforts made by Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), 99 missing persons were recovered out of 1000 on 22 May, 2008. These missing persons belonged to different parts of Balochistan. There were 16 such people who were already spending a term inside the jail due to their alleged involvement in various forms of criminal cases.

While talking about the injustices being done to the young Baloch youth, Abdul Hayee, the Karachi-based Coordinator of HRCP, said his organization was playing its role after receiving various lists of missing persons but many of the missing persons’ families were unwilling to come forward to speak publicly. Those missing persons, who were recovered on 22 May, 2008 also included 141 women about whose disappearance no family member ever contacted the HRCP. However, different Baloch groups are raising voice about the immediate recovery of the missing persons.

“Eight of these missing women have been kept at Edhi Foundation,” he said, adding that these women had been forced to flee their homes after being accused of having illicit relations with some other men. Thus, they refrain from going home as they fear being honor-killed by their parents and siblings,” he said.

A written statement of Asian Legal Resource Center was presented at United Nations Human Rights Council which appealed to the United Nations to intervene and play its role for the release of those who were subjected to enforced disappearance. The report said that 100 students, political workers and human rights activists, majority of whom belong to Balochistan, went missing since 2002. Half of them were released after being detained for one year.
Before being released, these missing persons were brutally tortured in military torture cells in Dera Ghazai Khan during custody. Before former military dictator General Pervez Musharraf took over, there were very few cases of enforced disappearance in Pakistan. Now the situation is so grave, the report said, that there are plenty of cases of people who go missing and are subjected to torture.

According to the same report, the cases of missing persons began in Balochistan even before 9/11 because the government wanted to establish some cantonments in resource rich parts of Balochistan which the Baloch nationalists resisted. Under the disguise of war against terror, the government of Pervez Musharraf continued to whisk away people and put them into unknown torture cells. Sadly, these unlawful actions of General Musharraf regime were backed by some powerful countries of the world.

When the country’s judiciary tried to take notice of the widespread violation of human rights in the wake of issue of the missing persons, Musharraf sacked the then Chief Justice of Pakistan’s Supreme Court. There was a severe backlash to the official move as lawyers across the country took to the streets and launched an unprecedented movement intended to restore the judiciary. After extraordinary campaigning, the lawyers’ movement succeeded and the deposed Chief Justice was reinstated on his position. This gave a ray of hope to the families of the missing persons that the judiciary would its due role for the release of all went missing for obscure reasons.

Similarly, when former president Musharraf had to resign after the restoration of democracy in the country and coming of the Pakistan People’s Party in the government, the new government extended an apology to the people of Balochistan and vowed to undo the injustices of the past with the people of the resource-rich province.

Hence, the government issued a verified list of the 992 missing persons and promised that all of them would be released soon. Likewise, the government announced a multi-pronged Balochistan Package after holding exhaustive consultation with various stakeholders. The Package pledged to instantly resolve the issue of missing persons. The government has embarked upon a process of recovering the missing persons in Balochistan as the issue is being discussed in high-level meetings. Political experts are hoping that some progress would be made in the near future about the recovery of all missing persons as the issue is a cause of constant unrest in Balochistan.

Posted on by zaib Unisa | 0 comments


Investigative Reporting Workshop on Poverty Alleviation

 Reported by: Zaib-Un-Nisa Gharshin

A three day workshop was arranged by the Pakistan Press Foundation in Karachi from 9th to 12th November 2009. The speakers at the workshop focused on the need of truthful and objective reporting.
The three day workshop was arranged by the Pakistan Press Foundation in collaboration with Panos South Asia and was attended by reporters from all over Pakistan. A majority of which were lady reporters. The venue was Country Club (Arabian Sea) at Karachi. The agenda of this workshop was to guide and train reporters about the investigative and research based aspects of good reporting. Chief Guest at the occasion was Sind Minister for Information, Ms. Shazia Marri who appreciated the efforts of PPF in arranging the workshop and high lighted the importance of serious reporting in signifying the causes of poverty in society. Ms. Marri said, “This is the first time that the provincial government has allocated funds for the welfare of journalists”. She added, “These funds would be utilized through press clubs”. General Secretary PPF, Mr. Aslam Ali emphasized the importance of arranging such workshops and focused on investigative reporting in this era of freedom of speech. In her address Panos Country Director, Ms. Sehar Ali said, “The journalists in rural areas should also focus on investigative reporting like their urban counterparts”. She further commented that Panos and PPF would take joint efforts to raise the standard of investigative reporting in Pakistan. She also announced fellowships for investigative reporters.
Ms. Sehar Ali announced a fellowship program for the reporters. The focus of this program is to induce a sense of serious reporting so that ills of the society can be laid bare which will eventually lead to emancipation of the female populace.
PPF Secretary General Secretary Mr. Owais Aslam Ali, senior journalist Mr. Muhammad Idrees Bakhtiar and Mr. Absar Aalam also spoke on the occasion. Senior reporter, Mr. Absar Aalam was not only one of the speakers but also carried out the duties of resource person for the participants.
The workshop kicked off with a training session for the participants on investigative reporting. They were also asked to pick out topics of individual interest. A field visit was arranged for the next day and all the members were taken to Karachi Press Club. At the end of this visit, the participants met with the editors of leading newspapers of Karachi.
On the third day, the participants were asked to write investigative reports on their selected topics. After this activity, a lecture on investigative reporting was delivered by renowned reporter Muhammad Idrees Bakhtiyar. Distribution of certificates by Chief Guest, Ms. Shazia Marri signaled the end of this rewarding workshop.
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