Pakistan Forum

The   Azad Jammu Kashmir government and sustainable development.

Written: Fazil Raja (London)

The Azad Jammu Kashmir is estimated 13297KM square area and its population is almost 4 million and it has its own government, was elected very soon after the massive catastrophe the earth quake in 2005.Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan became the Prime Minister of this territory. The people of  Azad Jammu Kashmir was right to keep the hope of a big revolutionary change  in their  lives after the earth quake,  because there was a lot of donation from all over the world  for the  rehabilitation and reconstruction of the widely  destructed area. The vulnerable of this catastrophe are still having question in their eyes that when our government help us, support us to build our own houses and to change our lives and escape us from vulnerability. Every day PM claims that we have lay down the foundation of sustainable development and very soon we will be their in list of developed countries, this is not only a dream with open eyes but a big misguide and awful joke for all of us and the whole world as well. What does the Prime Minister means the sustainable development?The sustainable Development is maintaining a delicate balance between the human need to improve the life style and feeling of well being one hand and preserving the natural resources and eco system on which we and future generation depend.Basically it is a term and most of the people of developing countries do not realize and cant differentiates between national development and sustainable development. They only think that the construction is only development even a lay man does not know what are the harmful impact of the human activities on the eco system and the natural resources. Even the developed countries do not claim achieving the sustainability, how the foundation can be lay down in AJK which is most remote area and still disputed and its people still deprive the basic right the right of self determination.The developed countries are also facing the problems but they have the strong foundation and development base, their people have the opportunity to enjoy the safe drinking water  free health facilities social security free education and freedom of expression for their citizen and much more . Although these developed countries are addressing the issues like energy, global warming and water pollution in general. Mean while they are also educating their citizen the role and responsibilities.The water pollution is not only a problem in AJK, many of the areas of all other world are also facing the swear problems four fifth of all illness are caused by water borne disease. Diarrhea being the leading cause of childhood death. Today we have strong evidence that water sanitation and hygiene related disease account for some 2213000 deaths annually.   In Azad Jammu Kashmir most of the people are living at sub standard level there are more other concerns than sustainability, the people do not have enough water to meet their basic needs, the pure and safe drinking water is another big question and it is a very important to address to save the lives, the hepatitis, diarrhea, and cholera are most common disease in not only in AJK but also in Pakistan. The people are suffering now days in hepatitis dehydration due to drinking unclean and unsafe water. Most of the areas of Azad Jammu Kashmir including the native town of the Prime Minister where the people are still waiting for the  rainfall and snow melting on which they depend.After the earth quake due to the government policy every one has to build a new house whether he has the capacity to build or not to get the compensation is creating an another big problem the sanitation. There is neither proper awareness nor the govt. has a plan to deal with this crucial issue which is leading cause the water contamination and of course the diseases.  The income of the people of AJK per captia is very low and the prices gone up especially after the earth quake this is another draw back, poverty is itself a big disease and the government is not addressing this crucial issue. Poverty links to unemployment and the PM knows better if NGOs go out from this area and private schools shut down how big will be the ratio of unemployment and what will be the condition of the society after that.   The government is unable to create 50 vacancies per annum where as every year more than 100 individuals getting their master degree only from AJK University. They are all expecting jobs and there is not a single industry or productive unit in AJK.The corruption and mismanagement are the key element leads a country and a nation to the poverty. Poverty is certainly a challenge not only in AJK but also in Pakistan as a whole morally, intellectually, socially, but most of all politically. According to survey almost151 million people are living survive beneath the poverty levelThe AJK govt. is entirely depend upon the govt. of Pakistan for the finance of its development outlays.The AJK govt. is not generating a single penny as well as not allowed to use the state income generating resources like royalty of Mongla dam etc.All the state population is looking to Pakistan for their daily uses how the Can PM of this territory say a word about sustainability of the state and the nation as well? We are not on the track of the national development, and the sustainable development is very far from the national development.Only the green Kashmir vision does not make it sustainable we are cutting more trees than we are growing. Education and training are two most powerful weapons in the fight against poverty and unsustainability. The capital city of the state the Muzaffarabad is a very big blow on the face of AJK government where all the sewerage system follows in to the River and Municipals Corporation collects all the rubbish, garbage from all over the city and throws it in to the river which is contaminating the valuable asset as well as harming not only the aqua life, the govt. lift the same water from the river and supply to the citizens and that water is treated with chlorine as excessive that any one can feel its taste and even one can see its colour.   This is very shameful and awful act. If the govt. does manage this waste without throwing in to the river which is deadly need to protect, will be a great contribution in the national development. The PM should seek an attention towards this crucial issue and should take notice of this mismanagement. As the water is life we must not careless to protect it.            The life threatening problems the lack of proper technical, social education, poor health facilities, unemployment, poor infrastructure unavailability of basic needs are all around us. These sustain for us since last 60 years and foundation lay down by ours corrupt gate keepers who remain with each and every establishment and government.