AKHBAAR Volume-14 November 2019

Visit of Federal Advisor
on Climate Change to GB
The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) facilitated a
visit of Federal Minister/Advisor to the Prime
Minister , Mr. Amin Aslam, to Gilgit-Baltistan.
He visited various AKDN and Government of
GB projects including Satpara Development
Project, participated in a plantation drive near
Satpara Dam, CIQAM, MHP Ahemd a abab,
Khunjarab National Park.
During his visit certain decisions/actions were
agreed upon including the inclusion of
greenhouses in 10 billion tsunami tree
plantation; MOCC will support AKRSP in
construction of MHPs and PC-1 is under
process; Chief Secretary directed DC Hunza
to put up a case for not charging tariffs on
transmission of electricity for Ahmedabad
MHP; Advisor directed CS and Secretary
Forest to repair uplift pump for Ahmedabad
block plantation; On the request of
Ahmedabad LSO Advisor, cost estimates
through AKF for installation of new turbine
were shared; CS directed Secretary Law to
table Area Water Board Act and Agriculture
/Livestock policies for cabinet approval;
Advisor at every place praised AKDN work,
especially AKRSP’s community model and
assured that they will follow same; approach
during 10 billion tsunami tree plantation
programme. AKRSP will be the key partner
during the plantation process in GB and
Declared Hunza as first district where the use
of plastic bags will be banned and replicated
in other districts of GB in stages.
Ground breaking of FMFB
Regional Headquarter -
Gilgit
Sultan Ali Allana, FMFB’s founding Chairman
and current Chairman of HBL, graced the
occasion as Chief Guest of the ceremony.
The ceremony was also attended by
Muhammad Aurangzeb, President HBL,
Mehmood Madviwalla, Rayomond Kotwal –
Chairman FMFB, Amir Masood Khan –
President FMFB, the Board of Directors of
FMFB, the Senior Management of FMFB,
ARCOP and Aga Khan Agency for Habitat.
Dignitaries of the local community, law
enforcement agencies and local FMFB staff
also attended.
The building will be a state-of-the-art green,
LEED-certified environmentally friendly,
structure in Gilgit Baltistan. Spread over
11,505ft 2 , the building is planned to be
completed in two years and shall house a
bank branch, bank offices, training
development centre and regional and area
offices.
ARCOP (Pvt) Ltd have been designated as
the principal architects of the project while
Aga Khan Agency for Habitat shall act as the
Project Manager for its planning, construction
and the completion.
MoU between AKAH and
KIU Gilgit
The Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH)
partners with Karakoram International
University, Gilgit, for programs of scientific
and technical collaborations to advance the
state of living conditions and reduce the
vulnerability of mountain communities.
This partnership will encourage and facilitate
young researchers and development
practitioners in the field of disaster
management and related disciplines such as:
hazard identification and assessment,
mitigation, preparedness socioeconomic
vulnerability assessment, climate change
induced disasters, glacier and glacier lakes,
radiation hazards in the built environment and
area-focused structural design.
In a high-level meeting held between Aga
Khan Agency for Habitat and Karakoram
International University, at Gilgit on 29 May
2019 an MoU was signed by the Vice
Chancellor of KIU and the CEO of AKAH to
advance the state of living conditions and
reduce the vulnerability of mountain
communities to natural disasters.
In the past AKAH formerly known as AKPBS
jointly with KIU has worked on the
development of skilled craftsmanship in
Gilgit-Baltistan through joint programmes.
Hundreds of craftspeople have benefited
from the joint program and are helping
communities progress with their learned
skills.
Saving lives and
changing mindsets
Fatima Bibi, a CMW working with AKHS,P,
provides essential MCH services in a
remote valley of Chitral
Fatima Bibi, 31, lives in Washich Valley of
Torkhow Tehsil of Upper Chitral District.
Washich Valley is about a four hour drive from
Chitral Town. It is a remote valley and an
underdeveloped area of the district. People
living in the valley are by and large
conservative and education indicators are
low, especially for women. In these
circumstances, health of women – especially
maternal and child health – tends to be
ignored. Additionally, given the remoteness of
the areas, the health care services are limited
in the valley. In fact, women living in Washich
have only one place to turn to for MNCH
services: CMW Fatima’s working station.
Fatima is a Community Midwife (CMW), and
plays a vital role in delivering essential and
sometimes lifesaving services to women in
Washich Valley, but this was not always the
case. According to Fatima, when she was
selected for initial training of CMWs by the
MCH department, the community of the area
opposed the idea of Fatima attending the
training or being a part of the CMW
programme. Luckily, Fatima won her family’s
support, and her father stood by her decision
to join the CMW program.
For the mHealth component, the CMWs were
provided smartphones with an application
called Nighedasht pre-installed. One of the
features of Nighedasht is its ability to connect
a CMW with a doctor for expert advice in real
time. Fatima and other CMWs also attended
a 20-day clinical observership at the Aga
Khan Medical Centre, Booni; this unique
training helped the CMWs to observe the
practical aspects of healthcare.
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