Flood Updates in Khairpur

On 21 July 2010, Pakistan was hit by heavier than usual monsoon flash foods. The monsoon floods have left above 2.5 million people affected and death toll has reached 1600 people (source: Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO) assessment report, 3 August 2010).

The Indus River was flowing in low flood at Sukkur Barrage. It will be in high flood during the next 24 hours,” it said adding that the Indus River was flowing normal at Kotri Barrage and it will remain normal there during the next 24 hours. The Irrigation and Power Department said that discharge at upstream Guddu Barrage may remain between 8,50,000 cusecs to 9,50,000 cusecs on August 8 and August 9. Officials say 19 of Sindh’s 23 districts have been put on high alert.
Kashmore, Ghotki, Shikarpur, Sukkur, Larkana and Khairpur districts are considered high priority, and operations to evacuate vulnerable populations in low-lying areas are under way, according to Khair Muhammad Kalwar, Director of operations at Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).
In responding to this situation, on August 6, 2010, all (Indus Resource Centre) IRC Staff including Regional Manager Khairpur were present at the DCO House Khairpur, to help support the Govt. line agencies in packing up the food items and to take measures for their onward delivery to the flood victims. 1, 333 small food bags were prepared. The truck was loaded with 200 food bags which transported this aid to the flood affected areas of Sobhodero taluka district Khairpur. Three volunteers from IRC; Shafique Abbas Mangi, Akeel Ahmed and Ali Madad went to Sobhodero to distribute the food items in due course of time.
On August 7, 2010, IRC team including Naveed Khayal, Turab Ali, Ali Madad, Attique and Ghulam Muhhamd Junejo visited Jamsher Bund area existing in Kingri taluka where it was observed that, there were many small scattered villages found completely inundated consisted of 20-25 houses in each village. It was also observed that the agriculture was adversely affected in which some valuable crops like cotton, sugarcane and bananas were worth noted.
IRC volunteers along with Pakistan Army distributed 300 dry food bags among flood affected families of villages; Azizullah Kalhoro, Allah Dino Junejo, Karam Khan Junejo, Dost Muhammad Junejo, Khaliq Dino Junejo, Moar Kalhoro, Abdul Rehman Unar and Rasool Bux Junejo. All these villages are next to Jamsher Bund. According to Pakistan Army, they have shifted families to some safe places but still there were two villages i.e Azizullah Kalhoro and Allah Dino Junejo whose inhabitants showed reluctance to move to flood relief camps and wanted to take their livestock and grains with them, in case they are forced to be shifted. It was impossible to carry all these things by boat as the boat couldn’t bear the weight of buffaloes and cows.
August 8, 2010, IRC volunteers planned to distribute 500 food bags among 500 flood victims, team departed from DCO house Khairpur for Fareedabad Bund. Volunteers reached at Fareedabad Bund where Pakistan Army personnel were already available, Pak Army arranged the helicopter to take the Arial view of the inundated areas and to monitor all sorts of loss such as houses, crops, pet animals and grain stock etc.


Beside Fareedabad Bund, there was a village Sajan Mehaser where 45 food bags were distributed. Having done a systematic distribution relief team moved towards Point 06 and Point 0 of Ulra Jageer Bund where 100 and 110 food bags were delivered to Pak Army soldiers for their onward distribution to flood affected people. 150 food bags were also delivered to Pak Army for village, Abdul Rehman Unar. I am thankful to all the stakeholder and the Civil Society Organizations in taking such a great part for a noble cause of helping the helpless.

Validation and sightseeing in Delhi

Today was the day of validation for all the training participants, each one of us was really excited to receive participation certificates were to be given by prof. Neelamghan NLLM-CMS at Meadows an international business school at Fareedabad India.
The very beginning session was led by Mr. Najmul Hoda (Assistant Professor) NIILM centre for management Studies. Later the session was proceeded by Prof. Neelmaghan who asked the participants to reflect back on their overall learning expectations from India and how far all of them managed to grasp over the things that they taught and facilitated for the last one week. Quite mix responses were aired by the participants that ensured all the participants have learnt many new concepts regarding microfinance and micro credit.
These responses of participants were:
• Women are quite proactive in India as compare to remote rural areas of Pakistan.
• Women of Pakistan have tremendous potential to join hand in hand with them to start a program that should shape their life.
• Linking microfinance with enterprise can be a feasible thing for Pakistan
• Loan insurance at small scale can be a workable model for Pakistan
• Concept of mobile banking is quite new and can be tested in Pakistan with working class families.
• In addition to learning aspects of team, it was greatly felt by the participants that a field visit to women self help groups was a need of time which couldn’t be made as part of training.
• Making cloth bags, paper plates, advancing in agriculture, embroidery with creativity, hand looms etc are the products that are already in the market of Pakistan but all is needed to have a channel of good marketing in Pakistan and aboard, while in India it has improved and transformed at grater level.

Having had diverse reflections of participants, Prof. Neelmaghan presented couple of videos on the outcomes of microfinance in India.
After this session, a certificate ceremony was held but before this session to happen a request to Madam, Musarat Qadeem was made to come on stage and say few words being the team leader of Pakistani group. She highly appreciated the hospitality and the learning settings for all Pakistani delegates by NIILM in India. She invited NIILM to come to Pakistan and experience the best practices of Micro finance and see some impressing case studies of a few women of our times.
Later a certification ceremony was held with vote of thanks by Prof. Neelmaghan (President NIILM).





In second half team planned to visit one of the holy places in Delhi known as Lotus Temple which is situated 12 km to the southeast of Connaught Place. Architecturally one of the most splendid temples of India, Delhi Lotus Temple is called so because it is built in the shape of a Lotus flower. The temple got completed in the year 1986 and rises to a height of more than 40 m. Located on Bahapur Hills, it is the seventh and the latest Baha'i houses of worship in the world. Bahai Temple of New Delhi is a white marble monument designed like a half-opened lotus.


Twenty-seven giant lotus petals of white marble spring out from nine pools and walkways of the temple. These walkways represent the nine unifying spiritual paths of the Baha'i faith. Exquisitely manicured lawns surround the building of the Lotus Temple. Silence is a prerequisite inside the New Delhi Lotus Temple. Also, one needs to take off the shoes while entering inside. Made up of marble, cement, sand and dolomite, this temple is often equated with the Sydney Opera House. Baha'i Temple in Delhi is often compared to the Sydney Opera House.

There is a simple, but outstanding high central hall in the temple where people sit and meditate. Petal alcoves of the temple are inscribed with stimulating quotes of the Baha'i sacred scriptures. Though the temple belongs to the Baha'i sect, it is open to people of each and every faith. The Baha'i religion, an independent one, places great importance on prayer and meditation as instruments for the progress of the human soul. Committed to the oneness of all religions and mankind, it traces its origins to its prophet Baha'u'llah, born in Persia in the 20th century.

Having visited the temple team came back to Medows to prepare for next day conference at an Indian Chamber of Commerce at Kolkata.

Historical sites in Agra India

Peace process can be fostered and augmented through people to people contact (Stated by Ms Musarat Qadeem) Executive Director Paiman Trust.

In respect of our Pakistani delegation an overwhelming reception by an Indian Media and the management of Heritage Institute of Hotel & Tourism at Agra happened. The second day of an August-2010 was planned to attend press conference at Agra to do a meaningful and positive advocacy through media so that a process of bringing peace and solidarity between India and Pakistan.
The plenary was organized, in which some senior journalists attended the session and reflected over the positive relationship of Pakistani and Indian media over the current status of information sharing at mass level. Positive media is the only solution to bring awareness regarding a variety of activities of both the countries in a very productive manner. It was agreed that, many things are similar and common between these two neighbors and the new generation of both the countries respects each other and values an Asian culture and civilization.
Mr. Siraj Qureshi, Chief Correspondent (The Indian Express) seconded Ms. Qadeem about her move of having interaction of both the countries at people to people level so that differences, if there are any persistent at countries’ level could be addressed for confidence building and positive reinforcement. He reiterated about the role of media must be respected and in other hand media should understand and promote the atmosphere of information sharing and to be able to bring and depict the real picture of fact findings before the mass.







Later, team decided to visit Taj Mahal which was quite near to Heritage Institute of Hotel and Tourism. One of the wonders in the world is located in Agra city in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is quite close to the national capital, New Delhi. It was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in the loving memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Shahjahan was the fifth of the Mogul rulers and Mumtaz Mahal was his second wife. She was the daughter of the Prime Minister in Shah Jahan's father, Jahangir's court. Shah Jahan was deeply in love with his lady and took her along wherever he went. She died at a tender age of 39 during one such expedition of the emperor in 1630. It is believed that in her dying moments, Mumtaz Mahal had expressed a wish of a monument to be built in her memory. Devastated with grief at the loss of his dear wife, the emperor decided to commemorate his love for her in the most wonderful structure the world has ever seen.

A manuscript called, the 'Diwan-i-Muhandis' dating back to to the 17th century brings forth the name of its architect. It was a Persian engineer cum astrologer named Ustad Ahmad, a resident of Lahore, who designed the Taj Mahal. It is said that the king grieved for two years, spent most of his time secluded and alone in agony. His son, Aurangzeb, who assumed the Mogul throne, imprisoned him in the Agra Fort from where he could see the splendid structure. He passed away during this sojourn, with the Taj Mahal in front of him. It houses the tombs of Mumtaz Mahal and the Emperor Shah Jahan, who wished to be laid to rest besides his beloved wife.







Having visited Taj Mahal, we managed to visit Agra Forte which was also on the way back to Delhi.

The brief history of is associated with Akbar, king at 14, began consolidating his empire and, as an assertion of his power built the fort in Agra between 1565 and 1571, coeval with the construction of Humayun's tomb in Delhi. The Agra fort retains the irregular outline of the demolished mud-wall fort of the Lodis. The lofty battlements o the new fort cast its protective shadow over the far stretching mansions of court that nobles and princes built along the riverfront. The magnificent towers, bastions and ramparts and majestic gateways symbolized the confidence and power of the third Mughal emperor, Akbar.

The fort contains splendid palaces both in red sandstone and white marble built by two generations of prolific builders Akbar and later Jehangir and Shahjahan.
The fort is encircled by a fetid moat. The lofty battlements of the Agra fort cast its protective shadow over the far stretching mansions of nobles and princes built along the riverfront. The magnificent towers, bastions and ramparts and majestic gateways symbolized the confidence and power of the third Mughal emperor.

The fort contains splendid palaces both in red sandstone and white marble built by two generations of prolific builders, Akbar and later on by Jahangir and Shahjahan. Of the nearly Akbari buildings built in the Bengal and Gujarati traditions, only a few have survived, arrayed in a band on the riverfront.

The evening time was full of home work assignments for another day to begun with tremendous expectations by team to learn from the speakers.

Historical places in Delhi

Once again Sunday was really a welcoming day for all of us by a morning rain, we in a team of three people Mr. Shafqat Ali Chaudhary, Mr. Asfandyar Khan and I headed towards Hamyoon tomb in Delhi which is hardly 30 kms away from our Meadow residence in Fareedabad.
We took an auto Rikshah that, one can easily hire with an actual charge in rupees according to a meter fixed inside.



We dropped in by auto nearby to Humuyan’s tomb, the tickets were purchased from archeological and tourism department that enabled us to get inside the area of tomb, the area is quite huge and capacious, in which lawns and parks are developed by Agha Khan Trust in-collaboration with Indian tourism department.
A brief history of Humyan’s tomb is quite fascinating as the building of the Humayun's Tomb was encouraged from the tomb of the Persian Mongol ruler, Oljeytu, at Sultaniyya. It is complex structure but has its own charm and grandeur. Thousands of travellers from all over the world visit the Humayun's Tomb every year and every day.



You can site Humayun's Tomb in Nizamuddin East in Delhi. Located conveniently at the banks of Yamuna, this tomb is major attraction among the tourists. Counted among one of the must visit monuments Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi was built by his beloved wife Hamida Banu Begam. Its construction work started in the year of 1569, which is fourteen years after the death of Humayun. It took about eight long years for the tomb to be completed.



This tomb is one of the most beautiful monuments in Delhi. Humayun's Tomb, Delhi depicts the true Mughal style of architecture, which was inspired from the Persian style of architecture. It was also recognized as the World Heritage Site by UNESCO because of the brilliant architectural beauty. It involved about 15 lakh rupees for the construction of the Humayun's Tomb in Delhi.
The tomb is surrounded by beautiful lush Mughal garden. The garden is divided into four parts by pathways. This is typical of all Mughal gardens. The various water channels for the fountains make this tomb a true architectural delight.

Inside the Humayun's Tomb, you can find various architectural features, which makes this tomb a truly grand structure. You can find baradari (pavilion) and a hammam (bath chamber) inside the tomb. Built of red sandstone, the dome of the tomb is made up of sparkling white marble. The octagonal chamber within comprise the tomb of Humayun.


After visiting Humyun tomb we moved towards Al Karim Hotel located at Khawaja Nizamudin’s shrine vicinity, this is of one those hotels series which is known by its quality and taste in India.

Following the time constraint in mind we moved towards one of the other historical sites of India by hiring an auto as usual.






A Qutub Minar: The Tallest Monument
The tall and ever attractive monument of Delhi which can be seen from most parts of the city is called the Qutab Minar. Every body has the same question when one sees the structure for the first time. The question that is often being put up is "Why the monument is that big?" or "Was there any specific reason to build such a tall building or it was just a wish of the person who built it?" Well, the exact reason is assumed to have something related to commemorating the victory. Mughals used to build victory towers to proclaim and celebrate victories. Some say the minaret was used to offer prayer but it is so tall that you can hear the person standing on the top. Also, the minaret is not joined on to Qutuddin's mosque and the Iltutmish's mosque.
Qutab Minar is among the tallest and famous towers in the world. When Alauddin returned from the wars in the Deccan, he had this thought in mind that he would build a victory tower. The ruins of this very initiative can be seen adjacent to the Qutbuddin's mosque because Alauddin died at the very start of the construction work and no one carried on to finish the initiative taken by Alauddin.
Qutab Minar is another great masterpiece of Mughal architecture. It has a number of floors or storeys which has beautiful carvings like the one on the tomb of Iltutmish. There are inscriptions all round the tower and these inscriptions reveal that Iltutmish finished the tower. The structure of the wall is made as such that it widens from top to bottom, just to make the minar stronger.
The top of the tower gives an insight to Delhi because you get to see the bird's eye view of the city. To point a few sight seeing from the top, you will find views of the Hauz Khaz on the left and the walls of the Jahanpanah and Siri on the right. It was this very top of Qutab Minar that was used by Khilji and Tughlaq kings to watch the wild Mongol hordes when they threatened Delhi.
The Minar did receive some damage because of earthquakes on more than a couple of occasions but was reinstated and renovated by the respective rulers. During the rule of Firoz Shah, the minar's two top floors got damaged due to earthquake but were repaired by Firoz Shah. In the year 1505, earthquake again struck and it was repaired by Sikandar Lodi. Later on in the year 1794, the minar faced another earthquake and it was Major Smith, an engineer who repaired the affected parts of the minar. Great number of foreigners are coming to visit this site as it is literally amazing and extraordinary work of engineers of that time.



Our visit came to end as the sun was going down to complement visitors to come to visit Minar at evening time. On the way back home we had stop over at some where near to bus stop in Badarpur, a small boy Arjun was selling maze. We bought cooked maze from him and tried to know why he is doing this job in a very small age. On this question, he said that his whole family relies on him to earn bread for them. Again, I tried to know how much he earns daily; he said some times 100 and some time less than this amount. He goes to school in morning and then sales maze at bus stop. In India there, a quite great number of children associated with child labour and struggling very hard to sustain their families for years to come.