Illegal Harvesting of Medicinal Plants and Recommended Management Policy in Musk Deer National Park Gurez Valley, AJ&K
1 MUHAMMAD ARSHAD, 2 KHURRAM JAMAL SHAHID
1Himalayan Wildlife Foundation, 2Sustainable Development Organization, AJK
Abstract.- A study was conducted in July 2019 to determine the illegal harvesting and trade of medicinal plants in Musk Deer National Park, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The area is declared as National Park by the Government of AJK in 2007. Gagai and Dudgai areas in the Musk Deer National Park (MDNP) Gurez are included in the core zone and are the habitat to several endangered species of precious and semi-precious medicinal plants. These herbs include Saussures costus, Aconitum heterophyllum, Trillium govaniana, Fritillaria pallidiflora and Viola fedtschenkoana. These plants grown at the elevation of 7500 feet to 10,000 feet from sea level. Increase in population has increased their daily uses which have accelerated natural resource depletion and create species imbalance. The forest cover which is natural protective cover of the medicinal plants is shrinking day by day. Much increase in human population along with their increasing number of livestock has posed a serious threat to the related biomass of the area.
Majority of people living in MDNP is depending on the harvesting of these herbal plants. They start excavation early in summer, without government approval and even without proper scientific methodology defined for the harvesting of these endangered species. These malpractices are now threatening the existence of the said species.
Key words: Medicinal Plants, Caring Capacity, Habitat Suitability, Over Extraction, Musk Deer National Park, AJK.
INTRODUCTION
Medicinal Plant are bestowed with materials for survival, which is economic, medicinal, forage values (Morgan, 1981). Medicinal plants have a rich resource, which spread over a wide range of eco-zones of AJK. About 2000 medicinal plants species are known in Pakistan among which 62 species are found in Neelum districts of AJK. From a quite a long time medicinal plants are being utilized unsustainably by locals. In these districts forest department auctions the collection of some plants, under this auction many medicinal plants are collected indiscriminately leaving little chance for their regeneration.
Due to rich valuable resources of flora and fauna, Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K) has declared Gurez valley as national park in 24-9-2007. It was declared from Co. 1 to 33 Saonar block and 16 to 42 Janwai block, as the Musk Deer National Park (MDNP).Total area of national park is 130510 acres {Govt act no ESJFV 4238-47(14)7}. While the area of whole Gurez valley is covering an area of 13,532 hectares (33,437 acres). Out of total 157,284 acres land, about 96% land is not under any agricultural use. Only 3.5% land is under cultivation, while the rest of the area covered either by forests or by pastures, due to the slope of the land, the plot size is very small and terraced cultivation is common. Due to single cropping system, agricultural production is very limited.
The communities of MDNP comprises of 19 villages that are economically fully dependent of natural resources of the park.
Brief case studies illustrate that most of the economy in the project area depends on land-based livelihoods, like, forests, agriculture, livestock, employment and labour. In general, terms MDNP area counted as one of AJK least developed and backward regions. The economy of the project area is inherent due to the following features:
Outflow of local resources causing problems for communities of the area
Insufficient off-farm employment
Community reliance on local livestock and forest resources
Very less practices of subsistence agriculture
Majority of people living in MDNP is depending on the harvesting of these herbal plants. They start excavation early in summer, without government approval and even without proper scientific methodology defined for the harvesting of these endangered species. These malpractices are now threatening the existence of the said species.
Current situation
People from different villages in MDNP, especially from Followi, Halmat, Saonar, Hanthi, and Taobat move to seasonal habitats in core zone of the MDNP and start excavation of above mentioned medicinal plants early in summer. Recommended season of excavation for these plants starts in September while excavation is already started in June when neither roots nor seeds of the plants are ready. Even though Government of Azad Kashmir havent called the tenders of excavation of medicinal plants so far but local communities are already done with their job. Excavation is mostly carried out in Gagai, Shakar Garh, Dudgai and Losar. The majority of medicinal plants are naturally found in moist temperate coniferous forest, sub alpine and high alpine pastures.
These habitats are either occupied by permanent human settlements or seasonal grazers (local seasonal migrants, nomads Bakarwals) In these remote areas about 60% of the local population (children, women) other then nomads are engage in Collection and processing of different medicinal herb. It is estimated that these 60% household are annually earn 350,000 to 400,000 from collection and then sailing of these medicinal plants in the area. These collectors are much ignorant about the proper time of collection, processing, storing and marketing. Their mishandling with plants causes much loss to these natural resource and as well as to whole biodiversity.
Lack of scientific knowledge about the parts used and proper time of collection there is misuse of these plants. The proper timing of collection of desired part of plant often determine the yield percentage and quality of ingredients In the remote and hilly areas of Gurez Valley, in the absence of modern facilities of health, Medicinal plants provide a comparatively vital role for the remedies of diseases and economic resource for local people. Medicinal plants are under heavy biotic pressure in the form of humanitarian activities like deforestation, overgrazing, overexploitation, smuggling and unscientific ways of collections for daily uses. Naturally having low regeneration power and constant high rate of extraction, medicinal plants are becoming sparse from their potential habitats. This condition coupled with the loss of soil moisture, rapid erosion and loss of overall biodiversity of the area.
Excavation is done every year without following scientific methodology and recommendation. As a result, the production of these medicinal plants is decreasing day by day. In most of the areas, carpet excavation has resulted disappearance of several fauna species as well as caused massive land sliding in the park areas.
Role of the State Departments
It seems that department of wildlife especially local staff neither has an interest nor proper training of conservation and park management. They claim the shortage of manpower and workforce to cover all areas of the park. Current staff never had visited the park area to stop illegal excavation. They also complain that majority of the people digging out the herbs are women and children. According to local culture if male staff will try to stop or cease the excavated herbs from a woman, it will be considered against the local culture and will result a conflict among communities and park management.
Nagative Impacts
During the digging, top soil is disturbed and after rainfall, rill erosion starts that causes land sliding.
Excavation of immature and unripe herbs effects the further production and growth of the plants.
Continues and unscientific excavation would left the negative effects on biodiversity in the region, especially in park areas.
It has created a situation of food scarcity for native wildlife.
Habitat degradation is also an impact of the unscientific excavation.
It is the open violation of the park rules which has threatens the existence of several endangered species.
Management Policy
In Musk Deer National Park the plant communities have been largely disturbed due to deforestation for fuel, over consumption of medicinal resources for the treatment of diseases, population explosion, increased tourism and other environmental hazards. Due to indiscriminate cutting, not only the forest area is declining but valuable indigenous species are in danger and if this inclination continues, the ultimate result would be the extinction of these species from the area. Hence, direct conservation measures as proposed below are urgently required in order to protect the taxon from extinction. Conservation of medicinal plants is the need of time. To achieve this goal it is the time to identify their relative economic, local and international medicinal values and then disseminating this information amongst local communities as detailed awareness campaign. These include,
Proper documentation and conservation of indigenous knowledge need to be done,
Appropriate training of the local communities about the conservation and sustainable utilization of medicinally important flora needs to be given,
Overgrazing and deforestation should be abridged.
Permanent monitoring programs should be developed.
Natural gas should be introduced in the area as an alternate fuel source.
Promote forest management practices that benefit biodiversity conservation,
Proper health facilities should be provided to local people, and awareness programs at grass root level should be introduced.
Excavation of endangered species should be banned at once and for all.
Park staff should be trained properly and more staff should be hired for protection of park areas.
Effective patrolling mechanism should be established to stop illegal, unscientific and off season excavation.
Community should give a right of collective ownership and community bases harvesting should be introduced in park areas.
Excavation should only allow once in five year.
Tuesday, 16 November 2021
Tuesday, 9 November 2021
Effective Local Government system is inevitable for the national development
Effective Local Government system is inevitable for the national development
Writer: Khurram Jamal Shahid
✍️
The basic definition of democracy is “the government of the people, for the people and by the people”. In the current situation, it is possible only through empowerment of common man to include them in the government. Unfortunately, 75 years have been passed since the independence, but so far democracy has been limited to the politics of some influential families. So far, instead of empowering the common man, obstacles have been put in the way of common men to be part of democratic system. The only solution is to include the people as part of the democratic system by restoration of the local government system. The local government system is the foundation of every country's administrative structure and an important pillar of democracy. An active and efficient local government system is the guarantor of national development. Due to the efficient functioning of the local government system in most of the countries of the world, local bodies have played a very important role in the development of those countries. While in those countries where this system does not exist or is not functioning, the local people are suffering from various problems and those countries are declining.
In the local government system, there is a transfer of power and administrative matters to the lower level, which, according to the definition of democratic supremacy, makes the local people part of the administrative affairs and communal development approach. The people can be empowered through devolution, administrative matters and the transfer of development funds to the lower (local) level. In this case, local administrations can find better solutions to solve local problems within their limited resources. However, with limited resources (funds) based on a participatory development approach, better regional development is possible. At present, the Annual Development Plan and MLA Funds are allocated on political grounds, while these funds are used for political purposes only. Often these funds are used to buy votes or reward political workers instead of investing in development. There is need to allocate these funds on a non-political basis in the basis of local people's problems and available resources. There should be a comprehensive approach. Each year, members of the regional local body or committee should consult with the public and identify problems. The proposal for the solution of the most important and basic need or problem should be addressed, and the members of the Assembly should allocate the annual development plan / MLA fund. In addition, when this process is implemented at the grassroots level, the common people get better political training from here and they can play their role in the development of the country by becoming a part of further politics. When a member of a Union Council or District Council is well trained, he or she can become a member of the Assembly / Parliament in the future and can utilize his or her potential for national development.
In the current situation, due to the absence or inactivity of the local body system, the members of the Assembly are engaged in the street politics, politics for water taps, petty schemes, transfers, job appointments, police station and court matters of their political workers. This is causing the failure to fulfill their main responsibility “constitutional amendments, development budget management, policy making and its effective implementation”. Because of the existence of the poorly educated members in the Assembly, they haven’t understanding with the usefulness of the local government system. While they have continued the old traditional exploitative politics due to lack of higher education and legislation capacity / skills. Members of the Assembly should have set up local government to solve local problems so that the burden of street politics would be removed from their heads and they can get enough time for the legislation.
The local government system provides the people with a system of accountability to the rulers. It makes the rulers accountable to the people. An important function in the local government system is the proper and transparent utilization of funds and its public accountability. Local governments / bodies can be held accountable through transparent spending and audit of funds. While in the current situation these funds are being misappropriated to reward political workers and unfortunately the state local government department has also been a part of this corruption. This misappropriation cannot be stopped until the local government system is implemented and functionalize.
What is the system of local government? When did it start? Why is this system not allowed to flourish? There are often come to the mind of an ordinary political worker but he prefers to remain silent for fear of his personal interest or the resentment of political leaders. (Because in the eyes of political leaders, the local government system is an unforgivable crime.) This system has been in use in the world for many centuries. Incumbent Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan is well-known in Islamic countries. He was elected Mayor of Istanbul through local elections in the 1990s. While in the subcontinent, local bodies functioned in various forms to some extent from the British rule of 1846. After the separation of Pakistan and India in 1947, all powers would be abolished in the areas of Punjab where this system existed. The members and Chairman of the committees were elected by the people and 37 social welfare works were entrusted to these committees which included social welfare, health, water, sanitation and other infrastructure. Along with them, the committees also had the power to levy taxes on 29 items. This system continued as long as General Ayub Khan remained, but the first democratic government abolished this system for its own benefit. When General Zia-ul-Haq took over the government by imposing martial law, he implemented this system with some changes which was an important and positive step in this direction. After the martyrdom of General Zia-ul-Haq, the democratic governments that were formed again in Pakistan abolished this system. During that decades a number of democratic governments passed but no government was serious about restoring or continuing this system. When General (R) Pervez Musharraf took over the government by imposing Emergence in the country, he introduced this system with further changes. In 2001, local body elections were held under the new Local Government Ordinance and all districts were handed over to the District Coordinator and District Nazim. The district administration was handed over to the District Nazim.
Like Pakistan, Azad Kashmir has had a local government system for a very short period of time, but lack of formal powers. In the rule of General Ayub Khan in 1960 and then in 1982 under President General Zia-ul-Haq, Brigadier Hayat Khan introduced the local government system in AJ&K. Local elections were held here again in 1986 and 1991 on non-partisan basis; although these bodies were not functional due to less powers and roles. During the PPP government in 1996 Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry terminated these institutions under a notification and since then the system has not been restored. For decades the parties Muslim Conference, PPP and PML-N that came to power, did not restore the local government system by making false promises and consolations to the people.
There are many benefits of the functional and effective local government system; some are mentioned above and we will discuss it further. Every year our development budget is wasted due to non-spending, or development work is only to the extent of office files that will be visible on the ground. Under this system, the people of each area will be aware of the budget allocated for that area and will also be able to keep track of the expenditure of that budget. The job of the members of the Assembly is legislation; and develop national level policies; but due to lack of this system these members are engaged in street politics. In the presence of the functional system, they will be able to focus on their real work and thus formulate good policies at the national level and the region will be on the path of development. Since local government system is in fact the nursery of mature politics, and this system will provide professional and capable local leadership. Since first any member will give his policies at the local level and with the passage of time, they will get exposure the legislation and policy making. If such members are available, can participate in the general assembly elections, while public can vote for them keeping in view their previous development progress. If there is a local government system, the people will realize the importance and power of their vote and the people will gladly exercise this right.
Twenty-five years have passed since the end of the local government system in the State of Azad Jammu & Kashmir. The so-called democratic rulers are engaged in a power struggle by making false promises to the public. In our country, the military rulers have restored the local government system and held local body elections; but sadly our so called democratic governments always created hurdle to establish this system. In the current government of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Prime Minister Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi and President Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry have given 6-12 months schedule to hold local body elections and have formed a committee headed by Local Government Minister Khawaja Farooq. We hope that Barrister Sultan Mehmood will not commit atrocities against the people this time as he done in the past during 1996. He can improve his reputation and credibility among the public by restoring this system. In this regard, civil society, social, political workers, journalists and lawyers should play their role in reviving the local government system.
About Writer “Khurram Jamal Shahid”
Khurram Jamal Shahid is a writer and researcher; and has written research papers on social issues, provision of social services to the people and development. He has written mostly articles on development, social issues and tourism. He writes contents for the social media, blogs and other websites while he is the editor of tourism blog (website) “www.taubat.com”.
Khurram Jamal Shahid is a well-known social worker from Neelum Valley, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. He is a post graduate in Business Management (MBA-Finance). He founded the Social Institution “Sustainable Development Organization (SDO)” in 2009 to empower vulnerable people and improve their lives. As the Chief Executive Officer of the organization since 2009, he has been active in improving the lives of thousands of people. He has been a human rights activist, and has been part of various human rights movements in Pakistan. He founded the Child Rights Movement in Azad Jammu and Kashmir in 2013 for children's rights. Services have been provided in various sectors (education, health, livelihood, energy, water, environment and rights) to empower people. Khurram Jamal Shahid is a young politician and has been raising his voice for public rights on every platform and has always played a positive role in resolving public issues. He has contested in the 2021 Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections as an Independent Candidate. As a social and political activist, he has always played a role in organizing the youth and fighting for people's rights. In this regard, he established the founding members of "Kashmir Youth Council" and "Neelum Youth Forum" and today these forums are engaged in the struggle for civil rights.
He can be reached at
khurram@sdo.org.pk
https://twitter.com/KhurramAJK
https://facebook.com/KhurramAJK
Writer: Khurram Jamal Shahid
✍️
The basic definition of democracy is “the government of the people, for the people and by the people”. In the current situation, it is possible only through empowerment of common man to include them in the government. Unfortunately, 75 years have been passed since the independence, but so far democracy has been limited to the politics of some influential families. So far, instead of empowering the common man, obstacles have been put in the way of common men to be part of democratic system. The only solution is to include the people as part of the democratic system by restoration of the local government system. The local government system is the foundation of every country's administrative structure and an important pillar of democracy. An active and efficient local government system is the guarantor of national development. Due to the efficient functioning of the local government system in most of the countries of the world, local bodies have played a very important role in the development of those countries. While in those countries where this system does not exist or is not functioning, the local people are suffering from various problems and those countries are declining.
In the local government system, there is a transfer of power and administrative matters to the lower level, which, according to the definition of democratic supremacy, makes the local people part of the administrative affairs and communal development approach. The people can be empowered through devolution, administrative matters and the transfer of development funds to the lower (local) level. In this case, local administrations can find better solutions to solve local problems within their limited resources. However, with limited resources (funds) based on a participatory development approach, better regional development is possible. At present, the Annual Development Plan and MLA Funds are allocated on political grounds, while these funds are used for political purposes only. Often these funds are used to buy votes or reward political workers instead of investing in development. There is need to allocate these funds on a non-political basis in the basis of local people's problems and available resources. There should be a comprehensive approach. Each year, members of the regional local body or committee should consult with the public and identify problems. The proposal for the solution of the most important and basic need or problem should be addressed, and the members of the Assembly should allocate the annual development plan / MLA fund. In addition, when this process is implemented at the grassroots level, the common people get better political training from here and they can play their role in the development of the country by becoming a part of further politics. When a member of a Union Council or District Council is well trained, he or she can become a member of the Assembly / Parliament in the future and can utilize his or her potential for national development.
In the current situation, due to the absence or inactivity of the local body system, the members of the Assembly are engaged in the street politics, politics for water taps, petty schemes, transfers, job appointments, police station and court matters of their political workers. This is causing the failure to fulfill their main responsibility “constitutional amendments, development budget management, policy making and its effective implementation”. Because of the existence of the poorly educated members in the Assembly, they haven’t understanding with the usefulness of the local government system. While they have continued the old traditional exploitative politics due to lack of higher education and legislation capacity / skills. Members of the Assembly should have set up local government to solve local problems so that the burden of street politics would be removed from their heads and they can get enough time for the legislation.
The local government system provides the people with a system of accountability to the rulers. It makes the rulers accountable to the people. An important function in the local government system is the proper and transparent utilization of funds and its public accountability. Local governments / bodies can be held accountable through transparent spending and audit of funds. While in the current situation these funds are being misappropriated to reward political workers and unfortunately the state local government department has also been a part of this corruption. This misappropriation cannot be stopped until the local government system is implemented and functionalize.
What is the system of local government? When did it start? Why is this system not allowed to flourish? There are often come to the mind of an ordinary political worker but he prefers to remain silent for fear of his personal interest or the resentment of political leaders. (Because in the eyes of political leaders, the local government system is an unforgivable crime.) This system has been in use in the world for many centuries. Incumbent Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan is well-known in Islamic countries. He was elected Mayor of Istanbul through local elections in the 1990s. While in the subcontinent, local bodies functioned in various forms to some extent from the British rule of 1846. After the separation of Pakistan and India in 1947, all powers would be abolished in the areas of Punjab where this system existed. The members and Chairman of the committees were elected by the people and 37 social welfare works were entrusted to these committees which included social welfare, health, water, sanitation and other infrastructure. Along with them, the committees also had the power to levy taxes on 29 items. This system continued as long as General Ayub Khan remained, but the first democratic government abolished this system for its own benefit. When General Zia-ul-Haq took over the government by imposing martial law, he implemented this system with some changes which was an important and positive step in this direction. After the martyrdom of General Zia-ul-Haq, the democratic governments that were formed again in Pakistan abolished this system. During that decades a number of democratic governments passed but no government was serious about restoring or continuing this system. When General (R) Pervez Musharraf took over the government by imposing Emergence in the country, he introduced this system with further changes. In 2001, local body elections were held under the new Local Government Ordinance and all districts were handed over to the District Coordinator and District Nazim. The district administration was handed over to the District Nazim.
Like Pakistan, Azad Kashmir has had a local government system for a very short period of time, but lack of formal powers. In the rule of General Ayub Khan in 1960 and then in 1982 under President General Zia-ul-Haq, Brigadier Hayat Khan introduced the local government system in AJ&K. Local elections were held here again in 1986 and 1991 on non-partisan basis; although these bodies were not functional due to less powers and roles. During the PPP government in 1996 Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry terminated these institutions under a notification and since then the system has not been restored. For decades the parties Muslim Conference, PPP and PML-N that came to power, did not restore the local government system by making false promises and consolations to the people.
There are many benefits of the functional and effective local government system; some are mentioned above and we will discuss it further. Every year our development budget is wasted due to non-spending, or development work is only to the extent of office files that will be visible on the ground. Under this system, the people of each area will be aware of the budget allocated for that area and will also be able to keep track of the expenditure of that budget. The job of the members of the Assembly is legislation; and develop national level policies; but due to lack of this system these members are engaged in street politics. In the presence of the functional system, they will be able to focus on their real work and thus formulate good policies at the national level and the region will be on the path of development. Since local government system is in fact the nursery of mature politics, and this system will provide professional and capable local leadership. Since first any member will give his policies at the local level and with the passage of time, they will get exposure the legislation and policy making. If such members are available, can participate in the general assembly elections, while public can vote for them keeping in view their previous development progress. If there is a local government system, the people will realize the importance and power of their vote and the people will gladly exercise this right.
Twenty-five years have passed since the end of the local government system in the State of Azad Jammu & Kashmir. The so-called democratic rulers are engaged in a power struggle by making false promises to the public. In our country, the military rulers have restored the local government system and held local body elections; but sadly our so called democratic governments always created hurdle to establish this system. In the current government of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Prime Minister Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi and President Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry have given 6-12 months schedule to hold local body elections and have formed a committee headed by Local Government Minister Khawaja Farooq. We hope that Barrister Sultan Mehmood will not commit atrocities against the people this time as he done in the past during 1996. He can improve his reputation and credibility among the public by restoring this system. In this regard, civil society, social, political workers, journalists and lawyers should play their role in reviving the local government system.
About Writer “Khurram Jamal Shahid”
Khurram Jamal Shahid is a writer and researcher; and has written research papers on social issues, provision of social services to the people and development. He has written mostly articles on development, social issues and tourism. He writes contents for the social media, blogs and other websites while he is the editor of tourism blog (website) “www.taubat.com”.
Khurram Jamal Shahid is a well-known social worker from Neelum Valley, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. He is a post graduate in Business Management (MBA-Finance). He founded the Social Institution “Sustainable Development Organization (SDO)” in 2009 to empower vulnerable people and improve their lives. As the Chief Executive Officer of the organization since 2009, he has been active in improving the lives of thousands of people. He has been a human rights activist, and has been part of various human rights movements in Pakistan. He founded the Child Rights Movement in Azad Jammu and Kashmir in 2013 for children's rights. Services have been provided in various sectors (education, health, livelihood, energy, water, environment and rights) to empower people. Khurram Jamal Shahid is a young politician and has been raising his voice for public rights on every platform and has always played a positive role in resolving public issues. He has contested in the 2021 Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections as an Independent Candidate. As a social and political activist, he has always played a role in organizing the youth and fighting for people's rights. In this regard, he established the founding members of "Kashmir Youth Council" and "Neelum Youth Forum" and today these forums are engaged in the struggle for civil rights.
He can be reached at
khurram@sdo.org.pk
https://twitter.com/KhurramAJK
https://facebook.com/KhurramAJK
Monday, 1 November 2021
Valuable input of Sustainable Development Organization in Health, Education and Pure drinking sector in Azad Jammu and Kashmir
Valuable input of Sustainable Development Organization in Health, Education and Pure drinking sector in Azad Jammu and Kashmir
✍️ @KhurramAJK
Sustainable Development Organization is constructing school building across the country to teach, inspire, and empower children by providing them save environment for study. With financial assistance and support of different donors, SDO have given the children of AJK an opportunity to achieve their dreams and ambitions in a safe, supportive, and inspiring environment. As the education is a human right and a force for sustainable development and peace. Its primary goal of SDO to empower vulnerable people with the knowledge, skills and values to live in dignity, build their lives and contribute to their societies.
Keeping the view of worldwide Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), this Organization aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all throughout the country. According the statistics its showed that after the earthquake 2005, 43% Government primary schools are without buildings, 87% schools are deprived with electricity and drinking water while 82% school don’t have facility of electricity. In order support the government of AJK, SDO has constructed 5 School in AJK including washroom and furniture with 710 direct and 6006 indirect beneficiaries.
Every citizen can work with us to help continue to set up schools, provide modern equipment and facilities, including computer rooms and science laboratories, employ teachers and staff and create playful spaces to fortify life-long friendships. More than 1350 schools are still awaited for your kind support.
Moreover, According to the statistic, Globally 529,000 women die annually due to pregnancy related problems and in Pakistan alone this toll is about 35,000 deaths per annum. Moreover, Pakistan Ranks 3rd in the world with highest estimated number of maternal deaths, behind India & Nigeria. Similarly, 65% of births take place in homes and 52% of 65% are home births being attended by Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs).
The state of Azad Jammu & Kashmir has manifold health issues including lack of infrastructure, modern health equipment and qualified and trained medical human resource. The status of maternal and child health is very poor in the remote and mountainous areas of AJK. The maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of AJK ranges from 201 /100,000 live births. This situation is even more critical in the rural remote areas of Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK).
To overcome the issue related to mother and child health, Sustainable Development Organization has been established the 24 maternity and child health center to 39,720 vulnerable and remote communities of AJK under its Maternal Child Health Program.
Likewise , AJK with a hilly terrain is engaged with broad service delivery challenges for water and sanitation. As a result thousands of women and children spend several hours a day collecting water from distant, often contaminated sources. Especially women in poor communities have to walk miles to fetch water from rivers and wells which put their security at risk and expose them to vulnerabilities. In AJK 40% population is still deprived from drinking water facility at their door step. Understanding local behavioral and cultural practices relating water, sanitation and hygiene by gender, SDO has been working to help ensure more people in AJK have access to clean and safe water by constructing gravity water supply scheme and providing hand pumps in rural areas.
Moreover, SDO support in improving sanitation and raising awareness on hygiene practices has changed behaviors of communities for healthy lifestyles and value added benefits for persons with disabilities. Keeping the view of water scarcity and aiming to provide pure healthy water to the local community of AJK , SDO has completed 45 Deep wells and two drinking water supply scheme by facilitating of 2,233 household and 17,865 population.
SDO is transforming the lives of thousands of people by providing access to clean, safe water and has identified many communities who are in dire need of your support. We are building wells, and educating communities on the importance of water, sanitation and hygiene.
So far, we have dramatically reduced water-borne disease in thousands of communities, but we still have a long way to go. With your support, we can continue to transform the lives of families, widows and orphans across the AJK.
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Writer Profile
“Khurram Jamal Shahid”
Khurram Jamal Shahid is a writer and researcher; and has written research papers on social issues, provision of social services to the people and development. He has written mostly articles on development, social issues and tourism. He writes contents for the social media, blogs and other websites while he is the editor of tourism blog (website) “www.taubat.com”.
Khurram Jamal Shahid is a well-known social worker from Neelum Valley, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. He is a post graduate in Business Management (MBA-Finance). He founded the Social Institution “Sustainable Development Organization (SDO)” in 2009 to empower vulnerable people and improve their lives. As the Chief Executive Officer of the organization since 2009, he has been active in improving the lives of thousands of people. He has been a human rights activist, and has been part of various human rights movements in Pakistan. He founded the Child Rights Movement in Azad Jammu and Kashmir in 2013 for children's rights. Services have been provided in various sectors (education, health, livelihood, energy, water, environment and rights) to empower people.
He can be reached at
https://www.facebook.com/KhurramAJK
https://www.instagram.com/KhurramAJK
https://twitter.com/KhurramAJK
✍️ @KhurramAJK
Sustainable Development Organization is constructing school building across the country to teach, inspire, and empower children by providing them save environment for study. With financial assistance and support of different donors, SDO have given the children of AJK an opportunity to achieve their dreams and ambitions in a safe, supportive, and inspiring environment. As the education is a human right and a force for sustainable development and peace. Its primary goal of SDO to empower vulnerable people with the knowledge, skills and values to live in dignity, build their lives and contribute to their societies.
Keeping the view of worldwide Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), this Organization aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all throughout the country. According the statistics its showed that after the earthquake 2005, 43% Government primary schools are without buildings, 87% schools are deprived with electricity and drinking water while 82% school don’t have facility of electricity. In order support the government of AJK, SDO has constructed 5 School in AJK including washroom and furniture with 710 direct and 6006 indirect beneficiaries.
Every citizen can work with us to help continue to set up schools, provide modern equipment and facilities, including computer rooms and science laboratories, employ teachers and staff and create playful spaces to fortify life-long friendships. More than 1350 schools are still awaited for your kind support.
Moreover, According to the statistic, Globally 529,000 women die annually due to pregnancy related problems and in Pakistan alone this toll is about 35,000 deaths per annum. Moreover, Pakistan Ranks 3rd in the world with highest estimated number of maternal deaths, behind India & Nigeria. Similarly, 65% of births take place in homes and 52% of 65% are home births being attended by Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs).
The state of Azad Jammu & Kashmir has manifold health issues including lack of infrastructure, modern health equipment and qualified and trained medical human resource. The status of maternal and child health is very poor in the remote and mountainous areas of AJK. The maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of AJK ranges from 201 /100,000 live births. This situation is even more critical in the rural remote areas of Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK).
To overcome the issue related to mother and child health, Sustainable Development Organization has been established the 24 maternity and child health center to 39,720 vulnerable and remote communities of AJK under its Maternal Child Health Program.
Likewise , AJK with a hilly terrain is engaged with broad service delivery challenges for water and sanitation. As a result thousands of women and children spend several hours a day collecting water from distant, often contaminated sources. Especially women in poor communities have to walk miles to fetch water from rivers and wells which put their security at risk and expose them to vulnerabilities. In AJK 40% population is still deprived from drinking water facility at their door step. Understanding local behavioral and cultural practices relating water, sanitation and hygiene by gender, SDO has been working to help ensure more people in AJK have access to clean and safe water by constructing gravity water supply scheme and providing hand pumps in rural areas.
Moreover, SDO support in improving sanitation and raising awareness on hygiene practices has changed behaviors of communities for healthy lifestyles and value added benefits for persons with disabilities. Keeping the view of water scarcity and aiming to provide pure healthy water to the local community of AJK , SDO has completed 45 Deep wells and two drinking water supply scheme by facilitating of 2,233 household and 17,865 population.
SDO is transforming the lives of thousands of people by providing access to clean, safe water and has identified many communities who are in dire need of your support. We are building wells, and educating communities on the importance of water, sanitation and hygiene.
So far, we have dramatically reduced water-borne disease in thousands of communities, but we still have a long way to go. With your support, we can continue to transform the lives of families, widows and orphans across the AJK.
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Writer Profile
“Khurram Jamal Shahid”
Khurram Jamal Shahid is a writer and researcher; and has written research papers on social issues, provision of social services to the people and development. He has written mostly articles on development, social issues and tourism. He writes contents for the social media, blogs and other websites while he is the editor of tourism blog (website) “www.taubat.com”.
Khurram Jamal Shahid is a well-known social worker from Neelum Valley, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. He is a post graduate in Business Management (MBA-Finance). He founded the Social Institution “Sustainable Development Organization (SDO)” in 2009 to empower vulnerable people and improve their lives. As the Chief Executive Officer of the organization since 2009, he has been active in improving the lives of thousands of people. He has been a human rights activist, and has been part of various human rights movements in Pakistan. He founded the Child Rights Movement in Azad Jammu and Kashmir in 2013 for children's rights. Services have been provided in various sectors (education, health, livelihood, energy, water, environment and rights) to empower people.
He can be reached at
https://www.facebook.com/KhurramAJK
https://www.instagram.com/KhurramAJK
https://twitter.com/KhurramAJK
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