For several others like Ajab, a Class-IV employee less than 60 years of age, the jungle life is quite peaceful. However, with the beginning of winter season, it becomes a bit stressful due to extremely cold weather at the Baragali summer campus.

Ajab has spent almost 20 years serving in the area; that is why, whenever there is mention of snowfall, he laughs it away.

“When the snow falls, the campus presents a deserted look. Even the monkeys abandon it and move to other forests,” he says while pointing to the trees of the forests that surround the campus.

Ajab said his duty lasts all the day long, but he is there all the time being a resident of the place. “Please excuse me for a moment, as I have to switch on the electricity motor for water supply,” Ajab says as he leaves.

Located at an altitude of 7,700 ft on the Abbottabad-Nathia Gali-Murree Road, Baragali is approximately 30 kilometres from Abbottabad, and spread over an area of 60 acres of land.

Established in 1890, it is the Campus-II of the University of Peshawar since 1965 when the then president, Ayub Khan, handed it over to the University of Peshawar headed by the then vice chancellor, Chaudhry Muhammad Ali.

Monkeys inhabiting the mountainous forests have always been a thing of amusement for visitors. Many nature lovers continue thinking of monkeys while on way to the Baragali campus, but their absence in September saddened them.

“It is strange that there is not a single monkey here this time,” said a visitor, adding that their presence would have added to their joy.

“All the monkeys have moved to Kalabagh nowadays,” explains a Chowkidar, Muhammad Nazeer. Nazeer said he had been serving in the campus for the last 14 years. I try my utmost to manage things in Rs12,200 salary a month, he said, The problem is that pay raise is seldom as compared to prices that hike frequently.

Camp in-charge-cum-supervisor Waheed told The News that there are seven employees, including him. “One is carpenter, two masons and three Chowkidars [watchmen],” he said.

About the absence of monkeys, he said: “As the crops and vegetables are ready in the nearby villages of Bandi Mera, Namli Mera and Nagri Bala, all the monkeys have moved to these villages to attack the agricultural produce.”

The oldest employee at the campus, Muhammad Ajab, can count the details about the nook and corner of the Baragali campus at fingertips. “The Old VC House and New VC House are on the upper side, there is a Khachar Kot built under the then British rule for horses, an officers mess, a kitchen, servant quarters…. “he says.

“It is a very nice place, but the problem is that there is almost four feet snow in winters. Excuse me, I am going to switch off the electricity motor to stop water supply,” he says while leaving the spot. Your correspondent follows him.

In the middle, the old Peepal tree was so big in size that its branches had covered several square metres of area, letting many people sit in its cool shade for hours.

Children going to attend a school nearby and students on way to the Superior Science College — a few metres away — would traverse my lawns, running after butterflies and playing with ladybirds.

What to speak of the birds, they had their own kingdom in the forested park. Upon entry into the premises, visitors would be greeted by the ‘oop, oop, oop’ of the hoopoes, ‘caw caw’ of crows, chirping of sparrows and much more.

Thanks to Sardar Fateh Mohammad Khan Barakzai alias Wazir, who laid the foundation of Wazir Bagh in 1810 after accomplishing his mission — Wazir had been sent by Prince Shah Mahmood Durrani to topple the rule of Shuja (Durrani’s brother) in Peshawar valley.

Don’t be upset now when you see me having turned into a deserted place, surrounded by buildings, presenting a very gloomy picture because of the dying greenery, which was once the reason for my recognition around the Subcontinent. Once the sole entertainment spot for both Peshawarites and those living in far-off places, now a major portion is a clay ground, with rare patches of green grass or sign of freshness.

There are some things that have remained intact till this day: a pavilion, a mosque, a football ground and two spacious lawns. You can also witness a pond that has been dry since decades and the only source of water for it is rains. There is a sense of nostalgia about all those things of the past, isn’t it? But all disappeared due to callous approach of the people and relevant authorities — alas and alack!

The festival attracted thousands of tourists who enjoyed the cool breeze of Naran valley alongside the gushing waters of river Kunhar.

The tourists praised the TCKP for organising a festival full of entertainment. However, they said the government needed to provide the area with electricity, which is a necessity of the modern age. Naran valley has the necessary infrastructure for receiving electricity supply and one is amazed to see electricity poles even on hilltops. However, the tourists can avail electricity if the hotel where they are staying possesses a power generator.

The management of hotels in Naran valley switch on the electricity generators in the evening and one can have power supply till 1 am. Afterwards, the area plunges into darkness.

“We have to charge our mobile phones before 1 am. Afterwards, we cannot do so as the power generator at our hotel is switched off,” stated a visitor, Diyar Khan while pointing to the electricity problem. He also mentioned the lack of internet facility as a shortcoming.

The festival had various stalls offering traditional and local items such as shoes, ornaments, embroidery and basketry, dresses, etc. The event also included various games and competitions wherein the winners were awarded cash prizes and souvenirs.

A female singer entertained the audience with her songs. Some locals demanded that the next festival should have local singers as the event should depict the culture of the province, particularly that of Kaghan valley.

At the concluding ceremony, Provincial Sports Minister Syed Aqil Shah announced Rs2 billion for setting up a chairlift up to the Lake Saiful Malook. He said all other problems of the area would also be solved with an aim to attract tourists.

The winners in the various games played during the festival were awarded prizes at the end. They included Mohammad Rashad from Naran who won the marathon race, Mohammad Munir of Sohach village who was second and Mohammad Jamil of Damdamal who stood third.

In the tug-of-war, the match was a tie between the teams of Khyber Union of Journalists and KP Olympic Association and both teams were awarded Rs4000 each. Also, the Government High School (GHS), Naran beat the Government High School, Dadar in another contest of the tug-of-war.

In the stone-throwing contest, one Barkatullah recorded a distance of 58 feet and 7 inches to stand first while Said Khan got the runner-up trophy and cash prize by throwing it 50 feet. The GHS Dadar won the trophy while the GHS Showal remained the runner-up in volleyball event.

Liaqat won the title in cycling, Mir Wali remained second and Habib Khan third. In the rock-climbing contest for boys, Adnan Aslam, Shayan Korani and Aamir Jadoon clinched the first, second and third positions, while in the rock climbing among girls, Tehrim Khan Panni, Saira and Sana Ahmad won the prizes. Two children under 10 years of age, Abdullah and Mirza, were also awarded cash prizes in the rock-climbing event.

Shamsuddin was awarded Rs20,000 for his skills in motorcycle display and Akhtar Munir of Chalas, Raja Zulfiqar of Mansehra and Shehzad of Naran won prizes in the archery contest.

A view of Neelum Valley from a hilltop.

By Muhammad Shahid

 The air gets chillier and the environment more beautiful and serene as you move away from Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and approach Neelam valley. One can enjoy the beauty of nature in the shape of forested mountains and riverside views, besides the model houses that were reconstructed in the wake of the 2005 earthquake, along the road leading to Naeelam Valley, which is about 84 kilometres to the North & North East of Muzaffarabad.

Scenic beauty, panoramic views, towering hills on both sides of the noisy River Neelum and fountains make the valley an attractive tourist destination. The valley, comprising Athmaqam and Sharda tehsils, has a population of almost 0.126 million. By road, Athmaqam is about 84 kilometres and Sharda 136 kilometres from Muzaffarabad.

During a tour of the AJK, a team of Peshawar-based journalists found that it takes patience and a will to travel the rugged terrain. A Chinese firm, China Xinjing Beixin Ltd, has started construction work on the Muzaffarabad-Neelam valley road. Owing to the construction work, the 3-hour travel takes almost six to seven hours.

Teetwal Sector:

In Teetwal sector – between Muzaffarabad and Neelum valley – the River Neelum separates the Azad and Indian-held Kashmir. Every Thursday people from both sides cross the border via a bridge in Titwal. Area residents said they could not attend their relatives’ marriage parties or funerals though they were just a few metres away from each other.

“I participated in my cousin’s wedding by sitting on the banks of Neelum River and seeing my relatives, who were celebrating on the other side,” stated Hashmat, an area resident. He said the Indian side of Kashmir was underdeveloped, as there were frequent power breakdowns and the road in that area was also in a shambles.

 Neelum valley is home to several tourist destinations.

Kundle Shahi: It is about 80 kilometres from Muzaffarabad. Here, silvery stream Jagran nullah joins river Neelum, where trout fish is found abundantly.

Athmaqam: Athmaqam is 10 Kms from Kundal Shahi. It is the sub-divisional headquarter of the area and serves as a take-off point for tourists interested in hiking and exploring the inner valley. It is an attractive place known for its variety of fruit. All necessary facilities viz bazaar, post office, banks, hospital, telephone and PWD rest house are available here.

Kutton (Jagran Valley): The bewitching beauty of Kutton permeated in the radius of 10 kilometres, makes Jagran Valley. The area is 16 kilometres from Kundal Shahi and is accessible by road. For the convenience of tourists, the AJK Tourism Department has constructed a rest house here. Whereas, accommodation is also available in adjacent residential complex managed by the Hydroelectric Board. From here 16 kilometers onward, Thunian, Ghansi and Jagran – spots for nature lovers and adventurists – are located.

Salkhala: Salkhala is another secluded spot of tourist interest located across river Neelum. Here, a trout hatchery has been established. A Tourist Rest House and several huts are available here for accommodation. Neelum (Karen): At a distance of about 9 Kms from Athmaqam, Neelum (Karen) is situated on the Right Bank of Neelum River at about 1,524 meters above sea level. It has a fascinating scenery. A small bazaar and a tourist rest house situated on the bank of meandering river Neelum across from where one can have a glance at the Indian-held Kashmir.

Dowarrian: Dowarrian is situated about 13 Kms from Neelum at an altitude of about 1,615 metres. It is surrounded by mountains full of Conifer trees. There is a Forest Rest House on the top of the hill and a tourist rest house is available for accommodation near main road.

Sharda: Located at a distance of 30 Kms from Dowarrian, it is a breathtaking green spot at an altitude of 1,981 meters. Shardi & Nardi are the two mountain peaks overlooking the valley, named after legendary princesses Shaeda & Narda. It has a captivating landscape with numerous springs and hillsides covered with thick forest. Over the right bank, opposite to Sharda, the river Neelum is joined by the Surgan nullah along which a track leads to the Noori Nar Pass and through it to Kaghan Valley. In Sharda, one also finds ruins of an old Buddhist Monastery and a fort which are of historical background. Facilities of a small bazaar, post office, health centre and public call office are available in Sharda. The AJK Tourism Department has established here a “Tourist Village” consisting of Tourist Rest Houses, Youth Hostels, Cafeteria and Games room to facilitate tourists.

Kel: About 19 kilometres journey from Sharda, upstream takes one to Kel. It is a small valley at the height of 2097 meters. This is another picturesque place in the Neelum Valley. The Shounter Nullah joins river Neelum at this place and leads to Gilgit Agency over the Shounter Pass (4,420 metres).

Halmet: The border village about 38 km ahead of Kel, is a fascination yet unexplored. Janawai, and Sardari are the most beautiful places around here. A tourist rest house has been constructed at Halmat to provide accommodation facilities to the visitors.

MOUNTAINEERING:

There are several identified routes for hiking/ trekking/ mountaineering. They are: Jagran–Ghansi–Ratigali–Dawarian route; Neelum–Jagran–Kaghan route; Lawat–Ratti Gali–Dawarian route; Sharda–Ghumote–Kaghan route; Sharda–Ghumote–Chilas route; Kel–Shounther–Astour route; Kel–Serwali route; Kel–Shounther route; Tao Butt Kamri Pass–Astour route. Another historical building, now called Thunian Rest House, is hundreds of years old. It used to be the abode of Maharaja Hari Singh, the ruler of Kashmir state before 1947. The entire building is made up of wood and it is at an altitude of almost 6,900 feet. It is pertinent to mention here that some of the tourist places of Neelum valley are situated in the range of Line of Control (LoC); therefore, sometimes it becomes difficult to visit these areas. So before visiting the valley, the visitors must get information from the AJK Tourism Department.

A group of journalists who visited Azad Jammu & Kashmir on behalf of Peshawar Press Club recently.

Muhammad Shahid

MUZAFFARABAD, AJK: Jagran hydropower station, around 85 kilometres from the Azad Jammu and Kashmir capital Muzaffarabad, is an underground set-up in the serene Neelam valley and contributing to the development of the state.
On October 23, 2008, then Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf inaugurated the hydropower station – a ‘mini dam’. The station, which was established in almost five years, cost approximately Rs4.54 billion, while its annual earning is approximately Rs325.4 million (32 crores and 54 lacs).
The station houses five generators, each with a capacity of 6.08 mega watts electricity; the station’s total production capacity is 30.4 MW or 132 KV.
A team of Peshawar-based journalists visited the station during their tour of the AJK. On the occasion, Mechanical Maintenance Engineer Saqib Hussain Awan gave a detailed briefing about the project.
A 264-metre tunnel leads to the mechanical section of the hydropower station, which has been set up underground.
Saqib Awan told the mediapersons that the total length of the underground mechanical section is 74 metres, while its width and height are about 12 and 13.7 metres, respectively.
Discussing the mechanism of power generation, Saqib said water enters the station via ‘spillway’, which pushes the required amount of water into the system while diverting the extra water back to the River Neelam. The water, after passing through the spillway, reaches turbines in the mechanical section, which converts pressure energy into mechanical energy. Similarly, the generators convert the mechanical energy into electrical energy, which is transmitted to the Muzaffarabad gird station via a transmission line.
Citing the network of rivers in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Saqib said the state had a huge potential in hydropower production, but it required funds, and the government needs to pay attention to this sector

PESHAWAR: The crowd of villagers are all eyes as a ‘mukhwal’ takes aim by pulling his slingshot amid a pindrop silence. Soon afterwards, young men plunge into dancing to the beat of drums – a signal that the arrow has hit the target.  

Scores of ‘mukhwals’ (Mukha players) dream of participation in Olympic games while sitting or working in their fields in Mardan, Swabi and other districts. However, their dreams seem to be far from coming true owing to the government’s disinterest in promoting Mukha although best players of the game are available in the country.

The rumour has it that ‘Mukha’ or ‘Makha’ – a traditional sport very much like archery – is hundreds of years old. It is popular in Mardan, Swabi, Buner, Charsadda and Lakki Marwat districts in the North-west Frontier Province of Pakistan.

In the past, archery was used as a tool in wars. However, with the passage of time, modern weapons and arms were invented and the archery has now turned into ‘Mukha’ game, which is played in Pashtuns-inhabited areas of Pakistan.

The slingshot, called ‘Leenda’ in local dialect and used in Mukha, sells for Rs8000 to Rs10000 and is made in Bajaur Agency. The slingshot is made from the horns of ‘Markhor’ – a wild goat found in plain forests and forested mountains. The horn of a single ‘Markhor’ is enough to make just one slingshot, while the arrows are brought from Lahore city (Punjab province).

Every player has a colleague who prepares target for the shot and the player would not be able to hit the target if his designated colleague is not available to set the target.

A view of Mukha trournament held in Swabi district.

There are 10 players in every team, in addition to two spare players who play the game in case anyone from the regular players is unable to play or if their slingshot develop fault.

Mohabbat Shah often thinks of international games while watering his fields in Chapalabad area of Mardan district. “We [players of Mardan] spent Rs25,000 on the recent Mukha tournament held in the year 2008,” he complains, “the government should financially support this game like those of cricket and hockey.”

He says he at times watches archery in international tournaments via television. “At international level, they use various types of bows. However, we have the same type of slingshot in use here for years,” he added.

He informed that there are around nine Mukha teams in Mardan, including two teams of Shamozai, one Chapalabad, two Babozai and one team of Mian Khan Sangau.

Darul Hussain of Mardan is known as a top mukhwal as he hit the target 100 times consecutively during the last tournament held in 2008, said: “I learnt playing Mukha in my tender age while watching the games played at hujras in our village. Our elders consider it to be a honour that their youths are skilled in Mukha,” he said.

Ahmad Kaka, an octogenarian of Swabi district claiming to be an old mukhwal, recounts the sine qua non for Makha sport: “It requires stamina. When you pull the slingshot, you must stop breathing for a moment for the shot or you will miss the target.”

He said hard work and practice held the key to participation in the Mukha. “Every player and team tries their level best to win the tournament and some people even approach spiritual healers for amulets to ensure their teams’ win,” he said.

The hotel industry in Swat has suffered a loss of about Rs 5 billion while around 20,000 people associated with tourism have lost their jobs. Hoteliers share their woes…

By Muhammad Shahid

Militancy in certain parts of Swat, also known as Switzerland of the East, and the subsequent military operation have dealt a severe blow to tourism, depriving thousands of their source of bread and butter.

The local businessmen and hoteliers blame exaggerated media reports for their current economic depression. They say that militancy is confined to a small belt of Swat district, but people conceive of the entire district as a boiling cauldron.

Taliban have established their strongholds in the remote Peuchar area of the troubled Matta and Kabal tehsils. However, tourists from within the country and abroad have abandoned visiting the entire Swat district in view of the news about violence in certain areas.

A 20-member delegation of journalists recently visited Kalam valley on a three-day tour arranged by Kalam Hotels Association. It was a pleasant experience travelling to the valley by road passing through orchards of pears and apples.

“Tourists believe Taliban are present in Kalam and are slaughtering people but you have seen there is not a single militant here,” a local Malik, Ghazan Khan, told journalists. Malik Ghazan, who has grown a handlebar moustache, said the people of Kalam were peaceful, loving and hospitable and that the tourists were as safe there as before.

Kalam is located at an altitude of 8,600 feet and around 99 kilometres from Mingora, the Swat headquarters. The area houses around 250 hotels, some of which have been rented by people as houses.

Kalam Hotels Association President and owner of Kalam Continental Hotel Dr Abdul Wadud said the hotel industry had suffered almost Rs5 billion loss during the last two years. “Earlier, we were unable to accommodate the huge number of tourists thronging the Kalam valley, but this year only a few tourists came.” He said around 20,000 people had lost their jobs. “There were 15 people working at my hotel, but now the number has dropped to just one,” he said.

On behalf of the Kalam Hotel Association, Dr Wadud demanded the government to announce a special package for local hoteliers to make up for the losses they have suffered.

Those associated with tourism also complain that the area lacks facilities compared to Murree, Nathia Gali and other tourist resorts. For instance, they cite the facility of chairlifts which are not available in Kalam though the area is most suitable to accommodate them.

Zahir Khan, President Swat Hotels Association who owns Al-Haramain Hotel in Mingora, said the hotel industry throughout Swat had suffered almost Rs2.5 billion loss in 2007. “Around 15,000 people associated with tourism have lost their jobs.”

Rehmat Sidique, General Secretary Kalam Hotels Association and owner of Pameer Hotel, alleged the Pakistan and Sarhad Tourism Development Corporations had directed tour operators not to accompany tourists to Kalam. He added that the local hotels had cut their staff. “There were around 15 people working at my hotel, but now there are three, while more than 700 shops in the bazaar have been closed. Nowadays we are charging Rs500 for a room that was rented out for Rs3000 to 4000 in the past.”

A hotelier, requesting anonymity, said ‘hidden hands’ had been trying to damage the tourism industry of Frontier province even before the emergence of Talibanisation. “It has been a long cherished desire of the hoteliers in Murree and Nathia Gali to divert the attention of tourists from tourist hotspots in Frontier province and the emergence of Taliban seems to be part of that strategy.”

Several local people complained about their problems. The Kalam valley houses a ‘civil hospital’ but it lacks facilities. Kalam Union Council Nazim Habibullah Saqib told this scribe that the hospital received an X-ray plant from a Swiss non-government organisation under the Kalam Integrated Development Project about ten years ago. However, the X-ray plant is awaiting installation. “We took up the issue with authorities several times, but to no avail.”

Further, two boy schools — one high and the other higher secondary — had been functioning without principals for the last two years. There is only one girls’ middle school in Kalam, with only two teachers, only one of whom is a graduate.

Mushtaq, General Manager Sarhad Tourism Development Corporation (STDC), told TNS that the STDC had set up three rest houses and one information centre (Landakai area) in Swat. He said the government was mulling the setting up of mobile medical units in tourist hotspots.

“Revival of tourism in Swat depends on talks between the government and militants, and the media can also play an important role,” he said.

The checkposts set up by the army have also drawn local people’s ire, as they believe the thorough checking by the troops has also damaged tourism. The army has set up around 14 checkposts in various areas of the district, right from Taliban stronghold Imamdheri to Kalam, while on Mingora-Kalam road there are nine checkposts, one each at Fizzagat, Gulibagh, Khwazakhela, Shamad (Khwazakhela), Baghdheri, Fatehpur, Tirat, Madyan and Bahrain.

The checkposts and countless sandbagged bunkers on the Mingora-Kalam road give an impression as if the area is a war zone, provoking fears among the visiting tourists.

Though Madyan, Bahrain and Kalam have remained undisturbed, troops in large numbers are present on the checkposts and motorists are made to wait for checking.

The people of Madyan, Bahrain and Kalam said they were fed up with grilling and wait for long hours at the checkposts. Some even accused the personnel manning the checkposts of discouraging the tourists from visiting Bahrain and Kalam, and ‘advising’ them to visit a peaceful area, as people of this area were ‘extremists’.

The hotel, trade and transport associations of Kalam have demanded that the government must order a removal of these checkposts till August 14. “Otherwise they would observe the Independence Day as ‘black day’.”

By Muhammad Shahid 

PESHAWAR: The HIV/AIDS has spread throughout the world and the developing countries like Pakistan lack resources to contain the disease.

NWFP Aids Control Programme (PACP) Project N Manager Hashmat Babi told this scribe that there were 191 registered cases of AIDS in the province. In November 2006, he added, the reported number of HIV/AIDS infected people was 37.2 million the world over, in addition to 2.3 million HIV infected children.

About treatment of AIDS victims, Hashmat Babi said the PACP had set up special clinics for the patients’ treatment.

There are many reasons for the spread of the deadly disease and some of them are given in the following lines:

High risk behaviour among Injecting Drug Users (IDUs): IDUs are at a high risk of acquiring HIV and other blood borne infections because they often resort to unsafe practices such as needle and syringe sharing. Pakistan is a major transit and consumer country for opiates from neighbouring Afghanistan, the world’s largest producer of opium.

As far back in 1999 the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime had conducted studies in Lahore that revealed that addicts were switching methods of drug ingestion – moving from smoking or “sniffing” or inhaling to injecting polydrug cocktails. This, the UNODC had warned could lead to increase in HIV as needle sharing and use of non-sterile equipment was common.

The number of drug dependents in Pakistan is currently estimated to be about 500,000, of whom an estimated 60,000 inject drugs. It is also unlikely that outbreaks which have been witnessed in 2004 are likely to be contained or limited to one area. Many of these injectors move from city to city (21% of the Karachi users had also injected in other cities) and a very high proportion of them use non-sterile injecting equipment (48% in Karachi had done so in the week before the survey was conducted). Risk behaviour in Lahore city is even higher: 82% of injectors had used non-sterile syringes in the previous week, 35% did so all the time, and 51% had injected in another city in the previous year, according to Pakistan’s Ministry of Health. An HIV epidemic among injecting drug users was reported in 2004 in Pakistan’s Sindh province, in the town of Larkana where almost 10% of drug injectors tested HIV-positive. Knowledge of HIV among injectors (and sex workers) is extremely low. In Karachi, Pakistan’s main trading city, more than one quarter had never heard of AIDS and many did not know that using non-sterile injecting equipment could result in infecting them with HIV, according to Ministry of Health’s findings.

Unsafe Practices among Sex Workers: Female sex workers (FSWs) and female migrant workers are often exploited and abused, and have little recourse due to their low social status and limitations in legal protection. Commercial sex is prevalent in major cities and on truck routes. Behavioral and mapping studies in three large cities found a sex workers population of 100,000 with limited understanding of safe sexual practices. Further, sex workers often lack the power to negotiate safe sex or seek treatment for STIs.

Recent findings indicate that although HIV prevalence remains below 1 percent, FSWs and their clients report low condom use. Meanwhile, in Karachi, one in five sex workers cannot recognise a condom, and three-quarters do not know that condoms prevent HIV (in fact, one third have never heard of AIDS), reports UNIADS Update 2005. It is therefore little wonder that only 2 percent of female sex workers said they used condoms with all their clients in the previous week.

In addition to the lack of knowledge and low use of condoms, there is a high degree of sexual interaction between drug injectors and sex workers. Ministry of Health findings reveal that over 20% of female sex workers in Karachi and Lahore had sold sex to injecting drug users and condom use was very low during those encounters. Among injecting drug users in Lahore, almost half had had sex with a regular partner in the previous year, one third had paid for sex with a woman (11% used a condom consistently) and almost one quarter had paid for sex with a man (5% used a condom consistently). Male sex workers also trade sex with injectors, 20% of whom reported buying anal sex in the previous year (and only 3% of them used a condom consistently).

Men who have Sex with Men (MSM): While there is little documentation about the extent to which men engage in sexual activity with other men in Pakistan, the limited evidence available suggests that such activity does occur throughout the country. Anecdotal evidence indicates that sexual activity between men occurs relatively frequently in boys’ hostels and jails; additionally, research suggests that sex between men is often practiced among long distance truck drivers. Finally, there is a small but highly mobile population of transvestites, transsexuals and eunuchs known as the hijra, who are known to engage in unsafe sexual practices. Lahore had an estimated 38,000 MSM in 2002. The MSM community is heterogeneous and includes Hijras (biological males who are usually fully castrated), Zenanas (transvestities who usually dress as women) and masseurs. Many sell sex and have multiple sexual partners.

Inadequate Blood Transfusion Screening and High Level of Professional Donors: The collection and transfusion of blood and blood products, the use and re-use of unsterilised medical instruments (especially needles and syringes) and the generally low level of attention to standard infection control procedures are important potential avenues for the spread of HIV in Pakistan’s general population. In 1998, the AIDS Surveillance Center in Karachi conducted a study of professional blood donors: people who are typically very poor, often drug users, who give blood for money. The study found that 20 percent were infected with Hepatitis C, 10 percent with Hepatitis B, and 1 percent with HIV. About 20 percent of the blood transfused comes from professional donors.

Large Numbers of Migrants and Refugees: Migration can create conditions in which people become vulnerable to infection. It is commonplace in Pakistan for men to travel away from their homes to find work, either within the country or abroad. This separation from their spouses, families and communities can result in loneliness and isolation, and can lead migrants to engage in social and sexual practices that put them at risk of exposure to HIV.

Unsafe Medical Injection Practices: Pakistan has a high rate of medical injections – around 4.5 per capita per year. Studies indicate that 94 percent of injections are administered with used injection equipment. Use of unsterilized needles at medical facilities is also widespread. According to WHO estimates, unsafe injections account for 62 percent of Hepatitis B, 84 percent of Hepatitis C, and 3 percent of new HIV cases.

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs): Personal awareness and knowledge of reproductive health issues is limited, and often erroneous, among the men and women of Pakistan due in part to the generally low levels of education, and also due to their limited access to effective reproductive health services.

The 2004 STI survey found that 4% of MSMs in Karachi were infected with HIV, as were 2 % of the Hijras in the city. Syphillis rates were also high with 38% of MSMs and 60 % of Hijras in Karachi infected with the disease. As a consequence, sexually transmitted infections rates are high: in Karachi, 18% of injectors were found to be infected with syphilis, as were 36% of male sex workers and 60% of Hijras or transgendered persons.

Gender Inequalities: This may also play a facilitating role in the further spread of HIV/AIDS in Pakistan. Pakistani women in general have lower socio-economic status, less mobility and less decision-making power than do men, all of which contributes to their HIV vulnerability. For example, because of gender disparities in educational enrolment, the female literacy rate in Pakistan is much lower than that of males (35% for women as compared to 59% for men according to the Government of Pakistan’s Economic Survey 1999-2000).

Ongoing strife in Bara has left numerous dead and scores injured: Bara tehsildar says jirgas being held to restore peace

By Muhammad Shahid

KHYBER AGENCY: Faisal, a 14-year old student of class nine, is up and about early in the morning to offer Fajr prayers, unaware of what will happen to him in a flash – a stray mortar shell hits him at his home in Bara tehsil and he later dies at a hospital.

Faisal’s father Haji Muhammad Ibrahim cannot stop crying while narrating the saga of his son’s death. “My son’s death is an irreparable loss to my family. His (Faisal’s) mother has been hospitalised because she could not withstand the shock,” sobbed the 43-year-old Ibrahim who also complained that not a single government functionary came to his home to condole with him.

Ibrahim also critricised the role of political authorities and the NWFP governor in restoring peace to the agency. “The NWFP governor and the political administration know what have been going on in the agency for the last several years, but why are they not taking action to protect innocent tribesmen who are not siding with any of the groups,” he told Daily Times.

On April 2, 2007 two religious groups – Lashkar-e-Islam (LI) and Ansarul Islam (AI) both belonging to the Deobandi school of thought – began fighting each other in Arjali Naddi near Bara. The groups used heavy weapons and several mortar shells fell in residential areas … one of which hit Faisal who later succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital.

Now a days, Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency is hitting the headlines due to continuing violence between two rival religious groups. Earlier, two groups – the one led by Mufti Munir Shakir and the other by Pir Saifur Rehman – were engaged in a bloody battle. However, tribal elders, in collaboration with the political administration, held jirgas to bring about reconciliation between the two warring groups. A series of jirgas were organised by the Afridi tribes, which forced Mufti Munir and Pir Saifur Rehman to leave Bara. As the two leaders left, two other groups, Lashkar-e-Islam and Ansarul Islam, emerged in Bara and began fighting each other. So far, the clashes between LI and AI men have left numerous people dead and many injured in various areas including Gugrina, Tirah and Bara.

Khyber is one of the seven tribal agencies in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and is the most important area in the sense that the main artery connecting Peshawar to Kabul goes via the Khyber Pass. Bara and Landikotal are two subdivisions within the Agency; the former is closer to Peshawar and hosts the famous market for foreign and smuggled goods. (Even those markets elsewhere in Pakistan that sell goods from here are known as Bara markets). Khyber Agency tribesmen feel insecure due to the ongoing bloodshed in the area, because they think they are paying for something they have not done. The family members of the deceased Faisal have demanded that President General Pervez Musharraf take notice of the increasing unrest and lawlessness in Bara and provide tribesmen with protection.

Khyber Agency Political Agent Amirud Din was not available for comment, and Bara political tehsildar told Daily Times that jirgas were being held to restore peace to the area and that the Bara political administration would take action against those taking law into their own hands.

 “We will also decide on the compensation, which should be paid to the families of those killed innocent during the crossfire. “