Vital step towards Preservation of Economical Interests of GB

Harmonization of Customary Laws on NATURAL RESOURCES

It is a well-known historical fact that residents of Gilgit-Baltistan were not much concerned about the prospects for natural resource development in achieving better quality of life for themselves. In recent decades the government and many NGO's working in the area has helped change that situation. The indigenous populations are aware of their natural resources and desire to use these for economical uplift. The Social organizations such as LSOs facilitated by AKRSP are suited to undertake their own development agenda. In the past there has been a common practice of awarding leases for mineral development to non-resident entrepreneurs and thus a number of leases are being held in detriment to development of local economy. I am appealing through these lines to: 

1.        Review the Northern Area Policy on awarding these leases to non-residents in Future.

2.       Review the existing leases, cancel them and re-award these to local collective entities.

(Extract from my letter send to the Chief executive in 2008.)

RELATED RECOMMENDATIONS (by Sabahuddin)

Summary of individual attempts in this direction are:

A.      2003 to 2006: As civil society member of KIU syndicate started advocacy to establish a MINERAL DEVELOPMENT department. Same was ultimately established with inputs/training/infrastructure from Italy during tenure of Dr. Najam as VC.

B.      2007: Advocacy with UCA in Khorog Tajikistan for collaboration with KIU. Subsequently a team from KIU visited UCA (Recent agreement covering collaboration in many matters is a matter of satisfaction).

C.      Rupani Foundation: Chairman AKRSP sent Mr. Nasruddin Rupani with Mr. Muzaffar RPO (now GM) to ask me to join and help the foundation in establishing training facilities for Gemstone cutting and polishing throughout the region. Six facilities established in GB (including one in Hunza under KADO, and another in Aliabad through USAID), three in Chitral, six in Afghanistan and one in Khorog Tajikistan.

D.      2008 – 2019: Advocacy with all speakers, many members of the legislative assembly (including the present CM GB), interim PM Pakistan (who asked through a letter to GB government for comments on my proposal) and the CIVIL SOCIETY at large through my blog and meetings.

E.      Written communication to all concerned on the specific implications of GOP order 2018 as well as the provisions of agreements in the context of CPEC.

F.       Repeat of communication to the VC KIU in 2018 on revival of activity in this direction.
My worry - Plundering of natural resources by external entrepreneurs through facilitation by self centered indigenous cohorts. If we can not benefit at this stage, these resources must be preserved for future generations while attempting to facilitate grooming of productive human resources through state of Art technology available to every home. The investment policy of GB must take into account that exploitation of natural resources should not happen. Inherent dangers in the 2018 Order by GOP point to this danger being sponsored at governing levels.

I hope CIVIL SOCIETY (which includes political leaders) realize the importance of this topic and mobilize the populations. Just India alone purchases the ROUGH (mostly through questionable procedures) from these countries and earns 28 billion dollars annually by processing and value addition.
A message to the decision makers. See this history, GB is not a captured territory to be treated as a colony. We acceded to Pakistan.

First priority for GB assembly and PTI government: Attempt legislation on DISTRICT and VILLAGE governments and CUSTOMARY LAWS to protect NATURAL RESOURCES from exploitation of sharks from outside the region. Repeal of GOP order 2018 which has paved the way for this exploitation.

Acknowledgment/پیغام موصول

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Complaint Code: GB281120-87634216

Respected Citizen, We received your complaint (GB281120-87634216), Which is assigned to (Chief Secretary Gilgit Baltistan). Please Note: Complaint resolution time is 20 to 41 days.

قابل احترام شہری ، ہمیں آپ کی شکایت موصول ہوئی (GB281120-87634216) جو (Chief Secretary Gilgit Baltistan) کو تفویض کی گئی ہے۔ براہ کرم نوٹ کریں: شکایت کے حل کا وقت 20 سے 41 دن کا ہے۔

3Ameeyn Muhammad, Manzoor Hussain and 1 other

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