Interesting Journey of a complaint on Citizen’s Portal

The Complaint: “Free high speed internet in Hunza, part of Cross Border Optical Fiber Cable Project:

The infrastructure has been provided by the Chinese and also tested. Will be available to populations only when GOP (SCO) issues NOC. We request GOP to facilitate establishment of KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY in the region by issuing the NOC.”

I lodge this complaint on 24th February 2019 the portal assigned a code GB240219-1635451 and assigned it to chief secretary Gilgi-Baltistan who forwarded it to Chairman Pakistan telecommunication authority. The chairman was reminded by the Portal Management on April 29 2019. Reply on May 6: “closed - relief cannot be granted.”
Reminder: Your Complaint Reference No : PTA-WEB-70125-2019

I had to give a feedback to citizen portal I said: “a disappointing reply to a genuine complaint dealing with provision of relief to a large section of populations in GB. I appeal to the prime minister to review the complaint and see for himself as to how important it is to issue the NOC and provide the facility of high speed internet established by the Chinese under CPEC.”It is now in process - may be one of few million complaints waiting for its turn.

I can imagine the frustration that the manager of the portal would feel looking at this attitude of a senior public servant to the public complaints.
Prime Minister’s Performance Delivery Unit

Sustainable Development Goals - Partnerships for the goals

RELATED PRESENTATION; CIVIL SOCIETY, AKDN
Dear all,

Request you to read these points patiently – and also the contents on the hyper links

1982:  The Imam set three goals while launching AKRSP.

2002: The Imam asked the leadership to REORIENTATE in November 2002 with detailed written directions.

2007;  The Imam introduced a major policy change in 2007 and got the Civil Society Learning Materials compiled so that Institutions get strengthened towards better delivery.

1982 – 2017: The Imam sets a number of goals during the three jubilees (viz. Silver, Golden and Diamond) the last fourgoals for the Diamond Jubilee and how they are to be achieved.
2015:   Three of the agencies, viz. AKESP, HSP & PBSP dissociated from NC and shifted from Karachi to Islamabad.

2019:  The Imam repeated the strategy through 3-points in his speech on 15 January 2019 in Germany.

2013 to date: Individual effort seeking Institutional adoption; in order to make achievement of the goals contextual to our region, showing that these are within reach of institutions and populations to make them comprehensible, I have invested about five lacs of my limited resources in the “idea demonstration projects” which I have covered through various posts on my blog titled “HunzaDevelopment Forum”.
Watch Mawlana Hazar Imamdiscusses the power of strong civil society organizations , also click and watch CIVIL SOCIETY, LIVING DOCUMENT, ROAD_MAP
LATEST FROM OFFICIAL SITE
What I have shared through the links to the documents is: The Imam has set four goals and how to achieve these.I have developed the "idea demonstration projects" and my ideas on how to implement for wider impact. Now all those interested on this topic can visit the site of these projects see them clarify any question, share better ideas and implement the way they deem more appropriate.
I hope the idea demonstration projects convey gist of following important messages to the populations in our region:
a. SELF HELP IS THE BEST HELP - teaching conveyed fourteen centuries back in time and continuing through the guidance system instituted in Ghadir-e-Khum - read webcast of 11th July 2017 and the speech on 15th January 2019.
b. I am not looking for the best technologies in the world to solve issues around our homes rather for solutions evolved by innovative human resources and sustainable options within reach.
c. Promote KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY towards attaining BETTER TOMORROW goals.
I expect our institutions collecting better tomorrow donations as well VO/WO saving scheme investments in proposed Hunza Power Supply Company will result in poverty alleviation through pumping water from rivers to irrigate barren lands and Life-long learning centers towards world class education and skills to result in innovative HR. For details read my blog. Also go through the DJ goals set by MHI and guidance on how these are to be achieved - in short REORIENTATION desired since introduction of 1998 constitution.

What is CIVIL SOCIETY:

https://www.facebook.com/theismaili/photos/a.10153198856996078/10156073523136078/?type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=878769052465947

https://www.facebook.com/theismaili/videos/314602786099676/

https://www.facebook.com/theismaili/videos/1252216171610764/?v=1252216171610764

https://twitter.com/i/status/1134489919815131137

https://twitter.com/i/status/1134489919815131137

“Quality of Life”: What is not understood is that this work is for us a part of our institutional responsibility -- it flows from the mandate of the office of Imam to improve the quality of worldly life for the concerned communities. “cosmopolitan ethic”, 'listen to the voices of the poor”,  “A Clash of Ignorance”, “Who is my Neighbor?” “O mankind! Be careful of your duty to your Lord, Who created you from a single soul and from it created its mate and from the twain hath spread abroad a multitude of men and women.” (4:1),  “single soul created by a single Creator”, Of course my experience includes the religious faith in which I have been nurtured. I was born into a Muslim family, educated as a Muslim and spent many years studying the history of the faith and its civilisations. My commitment to the principle of tolerance also grows out of that commitment. faith and world. The two are so deeply intertwined that one cannot imagine their separation. They constitute a “Way of Life.” The role and responsibility of an Imam, therefore, is both to interpret the faith to the community, and also to do all within his means to improve the quality, and security, of their daily lives

What is your goal? To reduce poverty?

It is to improve the quality of life and that indeed involves reducing poverty, but it also provides people with the means to improve their quality of life. That is the goal.

Do foreign heads of state often ask for your advice?

Yes, that is true. Especially in countries where there is a large Ismaili community or strong institutions. And it also works the other way. I talk to them because I need to know what their thoughts are on the future, what is the best academic or economic institution.

Training and Implementation of ‘Civil Society Learning Material’:

WEB-CAST: DIAMOND JUBILEE GOALS:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mxaq095PBc&

https://youtu.be/1mxaq095PBc

1. Poverty alleviation.

Ko2. Stabilization and strengthening of institutions. 

3. Improvement in education from early childhood to tertiary education.

4. Improvement in infra-structure particularly water and energy.

“This endeavor was based on the ever increasing appreciation that the social change and the improvement in the quality of life of the various communities around the world is driven by capacities of civil society. Increasingly the role of the governments is expected to be an enabler for the civil society to grow positively. Fortunately in many of the countries where the Jamat is living public and private sectors recognize the need and benefit to integrate the civil society and it is within that context since the last ten years the AKDN has expanded its activities.”

“An important facet of modern development thinking is that societies can best strengthen themselves by mobilizing their own dynamic forces rather than relying on external support and direction.”

"The AKDN because of multiplicity of its activities in economics, health, education, cultural activities and others is exceptionally well placed to enhance the development of civil society in many countries of the world. It is led by generous men and women who offer their competencies and their time, many without any compensation so as to contribute to the improvement of quality of life in their societies. These initiatives draw support from our as well as other communities and institutions and their outcomes are measured against best practices. Both measuring device and optimization of performance are key contributors to positive outcomes, thus I wish to thank them today all those who have contributed and are contributing to our actions in various parts of the world through various entities and to say how much I admire and grateful for their work.

RELATED LINKS
READ & WATCH THIS DROPBOX PAPER AS WELL

ROAD-MAP
SUSTAINABLE QUALITY EDUCATION & SKILLS
AFFORDABLE & CLEAN ENERGY

The Global Goals for SustainableDevelopment

Aga Khan Agency for Habitat

Aga Khan Foundation

Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development

Aga Khan Health Services

Aga Khan Trust for Culture

Aga Khan University

Sustainable Development Goals - Nopoverty

Sustainable Development Goals - Zerohunger

Sustainable Development Goals - Goodhealth and well-being

Sustainable Development Goals - Qualityeducation

Sustainable Development Goals - Genderequality

Sustainable Development Goals - Cleanwater and sanitation

Sustainable Development Goals -Affordable and clean energy

Sustainable Development Goals - Decentwork and economic growth

Sustainable Development Goals -Sustainable cities and communities

Sustainable Development Goals - Climateaction

Sustainable Development Goals - Peace,justice and strong institutions

Ramzan Relief Package in Hunza

Visual scene of “Ramzan Relief Package” to the poor in Hunza:

A poignant indicator for performance – in fact lack of it – of our system in Pakistan and particularly the JI in Hunza and AKRSP.

The need for working thoughtfully towards attainment of DJ goals according to the principles advocated by MHI needs no further proofs.

Also see these remarks of a Chilasi friend as well my observations:

a.       Part of attempts in making Hunza a target for SALAFI influence - Read my analyses on strategy for opposition to CPEC through the STRATEGIC WEAPON used by the three partners
Link also to small loans without interest. Awareness essential.

b.     Ghulam Nabi Raikoti Sir what abt all the western funds routed through AKDN..has that not been a dependency syndrome

c.     Hisamullah Beg Ghulam Nabi Raikoti  yes poor implementation has created a begging-bowl mentality to a self- respecting society against AKDN policy of HELP PEOPLE HELP THEMSELVES, which needs to be restored. Please also recollect the "western funds" you mention have been invested by AKDN equitably throughout GB & CHITRAL. Example: out of fourteen state of art learning centers only one in Hunza, other thirteen spread in all districts of GB.
I have long started my campaign about SELF HELP and will continue with it. My hopes strengthened recently as my idea demonstration project has been included for international competition. This I hope will improve credibility with populations in our region towards attainment of DJ goals and the desired impact on populations.

Ramzan Relef Package to the poor in Hunza - TARGETS FOR AKRSP/LSOs:         

a.     TARGET ONE: In twenty five years’ time span, improve the economic conditions so that populations in Northern areas and Chitral can meet the ever increasing costs of health and education and also become SELF SUSTAINING.

b.    TARGET TWO. Groom indigenous leadership capable of establishing democracy, (pre-requisite for meritocracy and pluralism) and also capable of planning for a better quality of life for their future without external inputs.

c.     TARGET THREE: Facilitate establishment of Knowledge Society in the Program Area (included in 2003).

My campaign for SELF HELP - advocated through IDEA DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS - so far has not been accepted by populations as the begging bowl mentality dominates. A collective effort by all concerned may start believing in this message delivered fourteen centuries back in history and advocated by AKDN as a policy in the present time - go through the CIVIL SOCIETY LEARNING MATERIAL.

When will ITREB get convinced and start teaching CIVIL SOCIETY LEARNING MATERIAL?

Crowd the Tap: Empowering Communities to Examine Their Lead Exposure - Citizen Science Salon

Crowd the Tap: Empowering Communities to Examine Their Lead Exposure - Citizen Science Salon: Lead water pipes have been a fixture of modern civilization for more than two thousand years.  Ancient Romans channeled water into homes and bathhouses through lead piping. In fact, the Latin word for lead, plumbum, is where we get the English word “plumbing.” Yet we have also long recognized that lead can have a serious …

Can MOOCs replace continuing education?

RELATED: RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS; FREE ON-LINE LEARNING, LIVING DOCUMENT
“The fourth industrial revolution” is underway, says Coursera CEO Jeff Maggioncalda, whose company recently announced a $103 million Series E with a valuation of over $1 billion.

This “fourth industrial revolution, marked by advancements in automation and artificial intelligence,” Maggioncalda says, is going to cause a global workforce challenge. “The future of work and learning are converging, and companies are realizing that there are a lot of jobs that are getting automated,” he said, “so finding an inexpensive but high-quality way to retrain is turning out to be a historic challenge.”

Retraining employees at scale is a global challenge, in Maggioncalda's view, and investors don't disagree. The global market for MOOCs is projected to grow from $3.9 billion in 2018 to $20.8 billion in 2023. The unique value MOOCs provide over something like a bootcamp is their scale. In theory, a MOOC could reach anyone with an internet connection and retrain those individuals at a fraction of the cost of traditional degrees or bootcamps. The problem MOOCs have to solve first, though, is credentialing.

In a bootcamp, with an instructor evaluating your work every step of the way, there is a level of confidence in the credential a student earns. In a MOOC setting, it's a little trickier. How do you verify how well a student has learned the material? Testing is the obvious answer, but ensuring the integrity of digital exams at the volume MOOCs handle is tricky as well.

There are a number of companies working on this problem now. Examity, which offers proctoring software for online courses, announced a $90 million round in April. It already has partnerships with online education players Coursera and Duolingo.

At the same time, other models of continuing education—like bootcamps and digital degrees from traditional universities—are continuing to pick up steam. Lambda School, the popular coding bootcamp, recently raised a $30 million Series B, while Trilogy Education—another bootcamp provider—was acquired by 2U, a company that builds online degree programs for universities, for $750 million.

The pressure is on, but if MOOCs can solve this fundamental problem, they will be positioned to take advantage of, what some investors believe will be, a historic disruption of the global workforce.

EXAMPLE: A lesson about every single element on the periodic table

Making Our Faith Complete

Making Our Faith Complete

By IMAM MUSTANSIR BI’LLAH 

Pandiyat-i- Jawanmardi or Counsels of Chivalry is a compilation of the guidance of the 32nd Ismaili Imam, Mustansir bi’llah, who lived in the 15th century. The book contains exhortations to the faithful on the necessity of recognising and obeying the Imam of the Time and on how to live a truly ethical life. The circumstances that led to the compilation of the work are intriguing, and are alluded to in many of the manuscripts copies as follows:

When Pir Taj al-Din passed away, a number of people from the Sindhi Ismaili Community went to the Imam. Upon arrival they pleaded: “Our Pir Taj al-Din has passed away. Now we are in need of a Pir.” The Imam then had the Counsels of Chivalry compiled and gave it to them saying: “This is your Pir.  Act according to its dictates.”

In the following piece from one of the chapters, the Imam enumerates on how murids (those who have pledged their allegiance to the Imam) can make their faith complete. Says the Imam:

“O, believers, O, pious ones!

“Now is the time when you should strengthen religion (din), by helping each other, by trying to gain knowledge, by advancing the religious cause, and striving to make your faith complete.

“Gain safety by obeying the Imam of the time, and become completely obedient to his orders.

“Do unhesitatingly what you are told by the blessed word of the Imam, –- then you will attain (real) salvation.

“Follow the Imam of your time strictly, so that he may take you under his protection, helping you, granting you victory and relief.

“And obedience to the Imam, attention to his word, will bring about the healing of spiritual ailments and lead to soundness and clarity of the heart.”

Reading adapted from The Ismailis in the Middle Ages: A History of Survival, a Search for Salvation by Shafique N. Virani, Hardcover – May 3, 2007
HAZIR IMAM
KHUTBA-E-GHADIR

GOP Order 2018 and Inherent Exploitation of Mineral Resources of GB Harmonization of Customary Laws on NATURAL RESOURCES – A Vital step towards Preservation of Economic Interests of GB

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; also the GOP Order 2018 inherently clears possibility of depriving the indigenous populations by awarding the leases to non-residents. 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.
3. Withdraw the GOP Order 2018 and allow the legislative assembly to formulate laws in the true spirit of democracy, federalism and the UN Universal Declaration Agenda 21: Chapter 26 titled "RECOGNIZING AND STRENGTHENING THE ROLE OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND THEIR COMMUNITIES", of which GOP is a signatory.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO THE POLICY and DECISION MAKERS: GB is not a captured territory to be treated as a colony. We acceded to Pakistan and as such we have the legal option to REVOKE if we are not integrated constitutionally through democratic dispensation.

LATEST: The federal government on Monday sought time to implement Proposed Order pertaining to the status, authority and powers of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and the rights available to its people. “Time frame prescribed in the January 17, 2019 judgement may kindly be extended,” said the application filed by Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit and Baltistan. A seven-member larger bench, headed by Justice Gulzar Ahmed heard the case related to implementation of the judgement. The bench issued notices to the Supreme Appellate Court GB and others.

The apex court in its judgement on January 17, 2019 had directed the federal government to promulgate the Proposed Order forthwith or within fortnight. “The Proposed Order (modified in the manner as noted in the judgement), shall be forthwith promulgated by the President on the advice of the federal government, and in any case within a fortnight.”

“No amendment shall be made to the order as so promulgated except in terms of the procedure provided in Article 124 of the same, nor shall it be repealed or substituted without the instrument amending, repealing or substituting the same being placed before this Court by the federal through an application that will be treated as a petition under Article 184(3) of Constitution. Nothing in this judgement shall be construed to limit the jurisdiction conferred on this court by the Proposed Order itself.”

“If the Order so promulgated is repealed or substituted by an Act of Parliament the validity thereof, it challenged, shall be examined on the touchstone of Constitution.” Attorney General for Pakistan, representing the ministry, submitted that the federation informed that in compliance with the apex court’s directions the Proposed Order was placed for approval before the federal cabinet. Some discontentment expressed by people and the government of GB were reported.

The people of GB demanded that instead of governing Gilgit-Baltistan through presidential orders, the areas should be governed through an Act of Parliament of Pakistan. The government of GB also raised certain observations that their viewpoints were not addressed. A meeting of the stakeholders was held on 06-02-2019, and consensus was reached that the Gilgit-Baltistan Governance Reforms, 2019 may be enacted through the Parliament as per aspiration of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Accordingly, some amendments in the Proposed Order of the Gilgit-Baltistan Governance Reforms, 2019 were made in consultation with all the stakeholders including the government of Gilgit-Baltistan, Ministry of Law and Justice and the office of the Attorney General for Pakistan. It said that as per the outcome of the said meetings, it is proposed that a bill be tabled before the Parliament with the proposed amendments. The substantial compliance with the directions of the Supreme Court has been done and it would also fulfil the demands of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan.

For full and complete compliance with the directions of the apex court, time is granted for the enactment of the Gilgit-Baltistan Governance Reforms 2019 such that the federal government may table the bill before the Parliament with the amendments. In June 2018, the President of Pakistan approved the promulgation of “The Government of Gilgit-Baltistan Order, 2018,” which was challenged in Supreme Appellate Court GB. The GB Court set aside the Order 2018 on 13th July 2018 being not approved by the federal cabinet and restored the Gilgit-Baltistan (Empowerment & Self Governance) Order, 2009.

The judgement of the Supreme Appellate Court was challenged before the Supreme Court through a constitutional petition. On 8th August, 2018 the Supreme Court of Pakistan suspended the decision of the Supreme Appellate Court Gilgit-Baltistan. The apex court on 3rd December, 2018, ordered the federation to prepare a fresh draft for the governance of Gilgit-Baltistan of the amendments on the basis of the recommendations of the Sartaj Aziz Committee and a high-level committee constituted by the federal cabinet.

RELATED: Vital step towards Preservation of Economical Interests of GB
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