A Humble Appeal to the KP Government for the People of Sarghuz – By:Jawad Majeed
Last month, an article was published in the Associated Press of Pakistan, where it was mentioned that village Sarghuz in Upper Chitral is waiting for a catastrophe due to climate change. Being at the point of convergence of river Yarkhun and River Laspur, the land of Sarghuz is facing an abysmal situation due to influx of water. The Sarghuz valley is now facing an existential threat of eradication due to incoming water volume and pressure which sets soil erosion in motion. Despite the prevailing situation over last two decades, a little to no attention has been given to the land of Sarghuz despite the fact that over a thousand people and over a hundred families inhabit the valley. The article published in Associated Press of Pakistan conjures up the very fact how the real threats to the eco-system and interests of general people are not given enough attention by the local and district administration due to which an effective decision making in curbing the threats are not in place.
The Assistant Commissioner of Mastuj, Mr. Afzal according to the Associated Press of Pakistan have himself admitted that the district administration lacks the adequate capacity and funds to deal with these hazardous situation, where the properties of the people, their agricultural lands and their very lives are jeopardised. One must ask the question then why these administrative bodies exist in the first place then? If these bodies cannot afford to tackle with these perilous situations. Aren’t the people of the valley citizens of the country who have their hopes in the constitution, the provincial government of PTI to whom they gave their vote, and eventually the district administration whose job is to facilitate the people of the district rather whining about the lack of funds?
Already the roads of the valley, agricultural lands of the people have been erased before the eyes of indigenous local inhabitants, inflicting anxiety and fear in the people, all in the presence of district administration.
The compensation should be made in equals to the worth of lost properties belonging to the affected families in the light of Article 23 and Article 24 of the Constitution of Pakistan and the approval of funds with an specialised team to address this matter of profound human significance is the need of the hour. A team with cutting edge applied science and technology to curb the situation is vital, rather than the use of outdated methods which crumbles under the slightest force of flooding. An accountability watchdog will help in the audit of the funds being allocated for the project.
This could stand by over a hundred families and over a thousand people in this precarious and menacing setting in Sarghuz.
