Pakistan Development Update 21-05-2010

One year has passed since Pakistan had its worst internal displacement crisis but the country is still struggling to meet the needs of more than 3 million internally displaced people due to the current military operation against Taliban. Development experts don’t anticipate IDP reductions this year as any decreases will be offset by new displacements. Relief operations are also underfunded, with donors having met 20 percent of the total aid appeal. Despite the difficulty in providing humanitarian relief, the International Red Cross Society has confirmed that it will continue its operation in Balochistan, denying media reports to the contrary.

Violence between government forces and rebels continues, and floods displaced thousands of residents in the northern part of the country. Relief operations are ongoing. Meanwhile, a new tourism policy draft has been submitted by the government for review; it emphasized the need for “closer international cooperation, consumer protection and joint marketing.”

Pakistan court bans Facebook

Pakistan court bans Facebook

Pakistan court bans Facebook

Lahore High Court has imposed the ban on the famous social networking site, facebook, SAMAA reported Wednesday. The court has directed that the site would be banned temporarily till May 31. The court has directed Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to ban the site till May 31. The PTA has to reply the court in writing. The Foreign Secretary has also been directed to protest on international forums. Islamic Lawyers Forum filed the petition imposing the ban on the site in the country. The Director PTA Muddasir Hasan briefed the court that the internet facility could be disconnected due to imposing the ban on facebook. AGENCIES ADD: A Pakistani court ordered the government on Wednesday to block Facebook after press reports of a competition being held to draw the Prophet Mohammad, a lawyer said. Pakistani media recently reported that a caricature competition is being held on May 20 about Mohammad on Facebook. "The court has ordered the government to immediately block Facebook until May 31 because of this blasphemous competition," Azhar Siddique, a representative of the Islamic Lawyers Forum who filed a petition in the Lahore High Court, told Reuters. "The court has also ordered the foreign ministry to investigate why such a competition is being held." A spokesman for the official telecommunications watchdog, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, said the government on Tuesday ordered Internet service providers to block websites showing these caricatures, but that they had not received the court orders as yet. Any representation of the Prophet Mohammad is deemed un-Islamic and blasphemous by Muslims. But some warned the court's response could backfire. "Blocking the entire website would anger users, especially young and adults, because the social networking website is so popular among them and they spend most of their time on it," said the CEO of Nayatel, Wahaj-us-Siraj. "Basically, our judges aren't technically sound. They have just ordered it, but it should have been done in a better way by just blocking a particular URL or link." "The PTA's decision (to block the URL) was rational and good, but let's see how they will implement the court decision." On the information page on Facebook for the contest -- which was still visible on Wednesday -- the organizers described it as a "snarky" response to Muslim bloggers who "warned" the creators of the Comedy Central television show "South Park" over a recent depiction of the Prophet in a bear suit. "We are not trying to slander the average Muslim," the Facebook page creators wrote. "We simply want to show the extremists that threaten to harm people because of their Mohammad depictions that we're not afraid of them. That they can't take away our right to freedom of speech by trying to scare us into silence." Publications of similar cartoons in Danish newspapers in 2005 sparked deadly protests in Muslim countries. Around 50 people were killed during violent protests in Muslim countries in 2006 over the cartoons, five of them in Pakistan. Al Qaeda claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on Denmark's embassy in Islamabad in 2008, killing six people, saying it was in revenge for publication of caricatures.

Pakistan at the Cross-roads

The Middle East has not spared itself of global scrutiny amid a flurry of challenges and milestones, and as foreign assistance continues to flow in and out of this development hotspot.


The Afghan economy continues to suffer from the shackles of organized drug trade and deeply-ingrained corruption, and this week, President Hamid Karzai shut down 172 international and national NGOs. In Pakistan, the looming threat of a vicious comeback of Taliban forces is stirring worldwide alarm.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai is visiting Washington to discuss U.S. funding for and military presence in the Mideast country, as well as its track record on good governance, agriculture, poverty reduction and and women’s welfare. Japan, meanwhile, reportedly increased its Afghanistan aid budget four-fold, focusing on infrastructure and social issues.

Amid the looming Taliban threat, Republican Sen. Dick Lugar asserted in an op-ed piece that the U.S.-Pakistan cooperation is "more important than ever". The U.S. announced it was willing to provide additional funding and purchase more combat facilities to support Pakistan’s counter-insurgency strategy. But the debate continues about how to best manage USD7.5 billion worth in U.S. assistance for Pakistan.
While some places in the Middle East continue to attract foreign assistance, emerging donors such as Kuwait and the Islamic Development Bank are funding development projects within and outside the Middle East, including Pakistan.
 
The U.S. is putting more pressure on Pakistan to fight insurgents; it is willing to provide additional aid if necessary, according to two Obama administration officials. The U.S. also revealed the possible connection of the recent failed car bombing in New York to the Pakistani Taliban and Kashmiri Islamist group. The U.S. considers the country’s battle against militants as crucial to its fight against the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Author Ahmed Rashid warns that the Taliban forces are back in the seven tribal agencies that make up the federal administered tribal areas, and in Swat. The issue has again caught the attention of the international community following the attempted car bomb attack in New York. According to Rashid, there is a need to design a coherent counter-insurgency strategy or doctrine to prevent the current security situation from worsening.
Despite being a conflict-affected area, USAID has taken the initiative to promote the district of Swat as a major tourist attraction. As such, USAID has partnered with Sarhad Tourism Corporation, Gandhara Art & Culture Association, and Aik Hunar Aik Nagar to participate in the Dawn News International “Travel & Tourism Show” on May 10 to raise public awareness of the valley. Swat valley is famous for its handicrafts and has been an ideal destination for adventure seekers.

The U.S. is strengthening its military relationship with Pakistan as the U.S.-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue’s bilateral security assistance working group met in Rawalpindi on May 5. The meeting addressed the status of military facilities delivered in Pakistan to upgrade its counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operational capacity.

Source: Global Development Briefing

U.S. and Pakistani Journalists Capture Essence of Innovation

U.S. and Pakistani Journalists Capture Essence of Innovation

World Wide Fund (WWF) awards SAMAA TV for supporting research in the field of conservation and environment

World 

World Wide Fund (WWF) awards SAMAA TV for supporting research in the field of conservation and environment

Speaking at the award ceremony, Amir Jahangir, Chief Executive Officer, SAMAA TV said, “Environmental conservation is an issue that directly affects our generation and the next. It is therefore important that we do everything possible to not only create awareness about what we can do but also contribute with what needs to be done now. We are all responsible for what we will be handing over to our next generation; they should not say that we did not care about them.”

WWF – Pakistan held its annual Syed Asad Ali Conservation Award (SAAC) and the Living Planet Award ceremony on 29th March 2010 to honor and recognize organizations and individuals, who have carried out notable contributions to conserve wildlife and the natural resources of the country. SAMAA TV, one of Pakistan’s leading news channels was awarded the Conservation recognition award

in appreciation of being the only media channel in the region to show leadership in advancing environmental and conservation program through communication and public outreach.

The award distribution ceremony was held at the Ali Institute under the presence of leading representatives from the Government, civic society, environmental agencies, academia and the media.

Mr. Jahangir appreciated WWF Pakistan’s initiatives to recognize the contributions within conservation of environment stating that environmental awards were an important mechanism to encourage business and society to meet the Pakistan’s sustainable development and environmental programs. “Award schemes can provide a very useful way of stimulating improved environmental performance by organizations and showcasing good examples of innovation and best practice – the media industry has to play a significant role to ensure Pakistan reaches the desired targets”, said Jahangir.

The special recognition award acknowledges SAMAA TV’s contribution to student’s research in field of conservation and environment and its role in engaging and shaping public response to environmental conversation program.

SAMAA TV is the first media channel in the Asian region to be offering scholarships for public university students pursuing master level degrees in environmental sciences. SAMAA is also launching structured thematic green media campaigns every month for people to participate in various initiatives such as ‘Say No to Plastic Bags’, ‘Earth Hour’, ‘Beach Cleaning’, ‘Plantation,’ and ‘Make Your Carbon and Water Foot Prints Small and Green’, all of which are designed to be visually appealing and environmentally informative.

While addressing the participants and audience of the ceremony, Mr. Ali Hassan Habib, Director General, WWF – Pakistan and Dr. Kauser Abdulla Malik, Chairman Scientific Committee expressed their compliments to the award recipients.

“This special environment recognition award has been awarded to SAMAA for its innovate initiatives on the subject of environment and more importantly for its commitment which is transparent when we look at the positive results, which have emerged from these initiatives – This has made SAMAA a deserving “Environment Champion” said Mr. Ali Hassan Habib,

The Syed Asad Ali Conservation (SAAC) Award is a tribute to Syed Asad Ali for his inspiring role in bringing forth the importance of conserving the environment for a better tomorrow.

In his concluding remarks, Amir Jahangir encouraged more organizations to seek recognition for their environmental performance. Mr. Jahangir said that media need to go beyond simple reporting and take up issues towards educating communities and create awareness for the well being of the society. He said that it was important to take a lead and get involved in this process.

This year, the SAAC Award was presented to Mr. Ayub Dablo, Asgher Ali Detho and Ashfaq Ahmed Ashufta for their efforts as conservationists in their respective areas. Ayub Dablo received this award for his contributions towards the plantation and conservation of mangroves over an area of more than 495 hectares in Keti bunder. Mr. Ashafaq Ahmad Ashufta was selected for SAAC Award for the continued efforts that he made to conserve the Kalij Pheasant with the involvement of local community in Jafferabad village of Abbottabad.

Society for Social Development and Conservation of Nature, Lasbella received the Living Planet Award for a Project to ensure the sustainable utilisation of fisheries resources with the involvement of local communities in Lasbella.

Certificate of appreciation were also presented to Mr. Samad Dawood, CEO of Dawood Corporation for donating an amount of Rupees 2.5 million to WWF – Pakistan and to Ms. Raina Saeed Khan upon receiving an Award at UN Summit on the article that she has written on Keti Bunder.

SAMAA TV’s commitment to being a socially responsible broadcaster has been widely appreciated on both national and international forums. It has been recognized as an innovator and leader for many initiatives and is the first media channel in Pakistan to have been honored with the Asian Corporate Social Responsibility Excellence Award 2009 for the Polio Control Cell stewardship. It is also the first media channel in Pakistan to have received the National CSR Excellence Award and also Pakistan’s first Innovation Journalism Health award from UNICEF and Ministry of Health, Government of Pakistan.

SAMAA TV is one of Pakistan’s leading private satellite television channels, which takes pride in its fair, factual and independent news coverage through its on-the-hour bulletins, breaking stories, incisive political analysis and current affairs programs. The channel is the first media channel is Pakistan to have established a well-integrated Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Program as part of it business activities. SAMAA TV’s CSR program carries various initiatives within health, education, environment and outreach programs focusing on improving the socio-economic situation of Pakistan.

The channel has also made a niche for itself through its programs on women and youth issues besides infotainment and sports. SAMAA TV, launched in December 2007 has network of district correspondents and five bureaus across Pakistan along with international stringers in the Middle East, Europe and North America.

World Economic Forum Honours Amir Jahangir as Young Global Leader for 2010

World Economic Forum Honours Amir Jahangir as Young Global Leader for 2010

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World Economic Forum Honours Amir Jahangir as Young Global Leader for 2010

World Economic Forum Honours Amir Jahangir as Young Global Leader for 2010

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