Karakoram Knowledge Highways (KKH) Issue 2

Karakoram Knowledge Highways (KKH)
Whistling with Knowledge

The first Development Journal from Karakoram Volume 1, Issue 2, April - June 2009
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www.kadohunza.org
Rupani Foundation
Rupani Foundation ventures into Production Phase
Rupani Foundation, a global leader in sustainable development of mountain

communities is aimed towards poverty alleviation through skill development.
Capitalizing on the skills imparted to over 300 young men and women in gem-
stone cutting and polishing in Gilgit, Baltistan and Chitral, during the year
2007-8, Rupani Foundation has now entered into the production phase. Highly
skilled individuals with the support of improved technology are engaged in the
production of value added items made from precious and semi-precious stones.
A cadre of skilled people has been trained in carving stones and making unique
products in abstract and stylized shapes.
You are encouraged to get services at our produc-

tion centers in gemstone cutting & polishing,
beads making, jewelry and much more.
For more details, please contact:
Rupani Foundation, JJ Market, Adjacent Alfalah Bank, Jutyal Gilgit, Pakistan.

Phone: +92-5811-459709
Email : ceo@rupanifoundationpk.org , Website : www.rupanifoundation.org
ADVISORY BOARD
GHULAM ALI
Kara kor am Know l e d g e H i g h w a y ( K K H )
GHULAM AMIN BEG

FARMAN ALI
EDITOR IN CHIEF
ZULFIQAR ALI KHAN
GRAPHICS DESIGNER
KARIM KHAN FAYAZI
EDITORIAL SUPPORT
EJAZ ALI
SURRYA DINNAR
MARKETING TEAM
KADO SHAHID KARIM
SULTAN AZAM
Karakoram Knowledge Highways
KADO Central Office,Aliabad Photo Credits
District Hunza-Nagar, Zulfiqar Ali and KADO Staff
Northern Areas of Paksitan

SPECIAL THANKS
Tel : (92-5813)-455816/458135
DR.HERMANN KREUTZMANN
Fax : (92-5813)-455813
Email : kado@kado.net.pk The Journal is a product of the Knowledge Managment
www.kadohunza.org component of Karakoram Area Development Organization
(KADO).
The opinions expressed in the various articles are those

held by the contributors and are not necessarily shared
and reflects the thoughts of KADO. KKH welcomes articles
from contributors. All articles are subject to a review and
approval process by the Editorial Board.
Contents
Editorial 7
Great Game in the Pamirian Knot - Geopolitical Impact and Long-
1 9
Lasting Effects
HERMANN KREUTZMANN
Cross-Border Value-Chains and Competitive Advantages for
2 27
Mountain Areas
MUZAFFAR UD DIN
Ensuring Sustainable Management of Central Karakoram

3 Conservation Complex:Building upon the Experiences of the 31
HKKH Partnership Project
SHIRAZ-ULLAH BAIG
AKRSP will Reduce itself and Create Room for LSOs to Grow,
4 37
Interview With Izhar Hunzai: GM, AKRSP
Decade of Hope and Accelerated Action: A Personal Story and

5 Reminiscence of the Challenges and Dynamics of Fostering Area- 49
based Indigenized Institutional Actions in Hunza Valley
GHULAM AMIN BEG

Development as Transformational Politics: A Case of the Northern
6 57
Areas
MEHPARA HUNZAI
The Process of Societal Transformation: Khyber Village En- Route
7 67
to Development
FAZAL AMIN BEG
8 From Local Village to Global Village: A Media Perspective 75
SULTAN AHMED
Gems and Jeweler y Center
Karimabad Hunza
(An initiative of KADO for Gems and Jewelery Value Chain Management)
Offering Jewels from Hunza
Products and Services

Products
Value added hand-made Jewelery
Gems and handicraft blended products
Cutting and Polishing of Precious and Semi Precious Stones
Recutting and Polishing of old Gems and Jewelery
Skill Development
Gems Cutting and Polishing
Jewelery Making
Carving
Gemology
Gems Project Office , Karimabad Hunza

KADO and its Partners Phone # : +92-5813-457044
Fax # : +92-5813-455813
Web Site : www.kadohunza.org
Editorial
Encouraged by the valuable comments and feedbacks by many of our valued readers and
partners, the editorial team is pleased to present the second issue of KKH. The first issue
was appreciated at many levels and the core feedback was to have the continuity of this
publication periodically.
We are committed to do that, as we expect that this local initiative will grow and improve
gradually in print, layout quality and in content. This issue features some interesting
articles, case studies, personal accounts of practical experiences alongside research work
of scholars and students that we hope will provide a wholesome reading material to the
readers.
Our struggle is to motivate people, especially the youth and intelligentsia, to share their
time, knowledge and experiences so that together we are able to improve the quality of
life of the marginalized people in this fragile mountain region.
One of the feedbacks, we received, was to include Urdu section. We are seriously considering
this possibility and hopeful that you will see some pages devoted to Urdu write-ups in the
coming issues.
As always, the editorial team is curious to know the readers perspectives regarding the
different aspects including layout, content, style, access, outreach, marketing, linkages
and partnerships etc. of KKH. In fact your feedback shakes us to learn from our mistakes
and successes.
Our promise is to keep on being smart and hardworking in order to bring diverse
knowledge perspectives regarding the mountain communities. We feel that the mountain
communities need to break the isolation through extra efforts by using knowledge sharing
mediums. In this effort we would seek the support of development practitioners, literati,
researchers, academia, journalists, entrepreneurs, youth, rights activists, students and
others interested in ilm-u-hunar to make this journal a vibrant knowledge platform.
Karakoram Knowledge Highways (KKH) -7-

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Great Game in the Pamirian Knot - Geopolitical Impact and Long-Lasting
1
Effects
HERMANN KREUTZMANN
1. Introduction
B oundaries and diversity are used as distinguishing classifiers in numerous contexts. Boundary-making
plays a major role in the political sphere when the momentum and range of power are at stake. Long-
lasting effects can be observed in colonial contexts, in the process of nation-building and in the delineation
of spheres of influences. Geopolitics has received a bad reputation when ideologies and dictatorial
regimes aimed at the extension of their dominions. In the Central Asian context, geopolitics have played
a major role for socioeconomic development in the arena between different spheres of influences. The
specific interests of superpowers of their time had long-reaching effects into the spatial and economic
periphery. Exogenously stimulated developments resulted often in transforming local living conditions.
When discussing the significance of colonial intervention and geopolitical interferences, we have to keep
in mind external strategies and their implementation versus regional and local responses. The present-
day perception of Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan as nation states is strongly linked
to their political affiliation in the 20 th century in general and during the Cold War in particular. Kirghiz
,as a Turkic language
Fig 1: Silk Route Network

and Tajik, an Iranian
language, are written
in Cyrillic script,
while the Tajik of
Afghanistan, Dari, is
written in the Arabo-
Persian script, in a
similar manner as
Urdu in Pakistan. Tajik
and Dari symbolize
the difference in
script, lexemes and
loan words which
symbolize the socio-
political backgrounds
in two languages
which originate from
Persian. The same
applies for a number of minority languages spoken in the Pamirs and the Hindukush mountains. The
Turkic idiom of Uigur experienced a shift from a Persian script towards Latin and back. In each instance
a political move was involved. Presently, in some countries, the changes of scripts are discussed again
as a symbol for independence, traditional values and breaking with colonial and geopolitical legacies.
2. Ecological diversity and spatial utilization patterns in Central Asia
On the macro scale, Central Asia has been the sparsely settled periphery between Europe and Asia.
Environmentally, the region is characterized by steppe, desert and mountains with arid conditions in the
lowlands and increasing precipitation and humidity with altitude resulting in snow-covered mountains,
glaciations, high mountain pastures and scanty forests. Given these assets a common utilization patterns
Great Game in the Pamirian Knot -9-

of ecological resources are related to a bi-polar approach: extensive nomadism in the vast desert and
steppe regions covering substantial areas with sparse vegetation cover. Animal husbandry as a prime
strategy is enhanced by certain forms of mountain nomadism in the Hindukush, Pamirs and Tien Shan. 1
In contrast, agriculture is limited to oases in which intensive crop cultivation is linked to the demands
of the bazaar towns and their surroundings along the traditional trade routes of the Silk Road network
(Figure 1). More important than silk has been cotton cultivation in major irrigated oases. Hydraulic
resources for irrigation originate mainly from the glacier-fed rivers such as the Amu and Syr Darya
Fig 2a: Great Game I
issuing from the high mountain ranges within the desert-steppe environment. In the remoter mountain
regions, we find different forms of combined mountain agriculture (Ehlers & Kreutzmann 2000: 15) in
scattered mountain oases mainly supplied by gravity-fed irrigation schemes tapped from the tributary
valleys of the main rivers. Niche production of valuable and marketable crops augmented the general
pattern of grain crop cultivation for basic sustenance.
Economically and politically, there existed competition between nomads and farmers over natural
resources during long periods. While they competed in the production sector, political influence was
mainly felt and contested in the urban centres of the oases towns. They were the prime target of all
kinds of conquerors from Iran, Mongolia and China. 2 These historical events left their marks on the
transforming Central Asian socio-economic landscape and prove the existence of a Eurasian exchange
1
The specific utilization patterns of high mountain pastures - such as observed in the Pamirs (cf. Kreutzmann 2003)
- is characteristic for Central Asia and has repeatedly given scope for speculation about the economic potential of animal
husbandry since Marco Polos travels.
2
Cf. Bregel 2003, Christian 2000, Kreutzmann 1997, 2002, 2004.

system over long periods of time. 3
In the 19 th century, its role changed significantly and the Great Game identified a polarisation that was
stimulated by the prime interests of the two superpowers at that time (Figure 2). Direct influence in the
form of boundary-making and economic exploitation removed the former pattern of indirect control and
tax-taking in a feudal system. For the understanding of the present transformation process in Central
Asia and the performance of independent states the geopolitical dimension of the Great Game and
subsequent territorial demarcations needs to be discussed in greater detail.
3.The Great Game in Central Asia
In 1877, when Queen Victoria became the Empress of India Russian diplomats and military strategists
debated about the importance of Central Asia from a Russian perspective. Colonel M. J. Veniukoff vindicated
the gradual movement of Russia in Central Asia as the re-establishment of extension of the sway of
the Aryan race over countries which for a long period were subject to peoples of Turk and Mongol extraction. 4
Veniukoff advocates
Fig 2b: Great Game II

a diffusion theory in
which he identifies
the mountainous
countries at the
sources of the Indus
and the Oxus to be the
cradle of the Aryan or
Indo-European race.
From this birthplace
our ancestors spread
far and wide 5. After
some deliberations
about the spread
of people Veniukoff
concludes that the
Russian advances in
Central Asia can be
interpreted as this
return of part of the Slavs to the neighbourhood of their prehistoric home We are not Englishmen,
who in India do their utmost to avoid mingling with the natives, and who moreover, sooner or later,
may pay for it by the loss of that country, where they have no ties of race It is desirable that this
historical result should not be forgotten also in the future, especially on our arrival at the sources of the
Oxus, where we must create an entirely Russian border-country as the sole guarantee of stability of our
position in Turkestan. 6 The distinctive interests and justifications for the advance of both dominating
3
This led Andre Gunder Frank and Barry Gills to postulate a 5000 year-old Eurasian exchange network which in their opinion
was instrumental for the development of China and Europe (Gills & Frank 1991). Consequently both authors observed an
early emergence of a world system in Central Asia.
4
Political and Secret Department Memoranda: The Progress of Russia in Central Asia by Colonel M. J. Veniukoff (translated
from the Sbornik Gosudarstvennikh Zuanyi 1877 (= IOL/P&S/18/C 17: 1).
5
Political and Secret Department Memoranda (= IOL/P&S/18/C 17: 1).
6

powers contain strategies for remigration into an ancestral homeland and the exploitative interest
in the wealth of Asia. Consequently, two types of colonies were created: Russian settlement colonies
and British colonies of extraction. Nevertheless, the commonalities of both powers were discussed as
well: Possibly time will produce a radical change in the sentiments of the English, and then both great
European nations will advance to meet the other in Asia, not with bitter suspicions and reproaches, but
with confidence and benevolence as workers in the same historical mission the civilization of the Far
East. But will that time come soon? Russia, in any case, without awaiting it, must complete her mission:
the occupation of the whole of Turkestan. This, unquestionably, will prove not disadvantageous in that
respect as well, that it will force England to be more on her guard in other lines of universal policy, in
which she is ever antagonistic to the views of Russia. 7
That envisaged time was not far away at the turn from the 19 th to the 20 th century. The British Viceroy
in India, Lord Curzon, identified the Central Asian countries and territories in his famous statement as
pawns on a chessboard. British India and Russia were the players who gambled about their influence
in Transcaspia, Transoxania, Persia, and Afghanistan (cf. Figure 2). But this battle was not solely about
regional control, it was a contest about the world domination of imperial powers. Great Britain had
achieved already maritime supremacy, now the last land-locked area - Central Asia - came into focus.
From a British viewpoint Central Asia posed the buffer region to protect more than pawns: the jewel
of the crown, a synonym for their possessions in India. From a Russian perspective expansion towards
the East and the South was a consequential endeavour ever since Peter the Great had mentioned in
his testimony that Russias future was linked to Asia (cf. Hauner 1989). Both superpowers expected
sufficient wealth to be exploited from Central Asia to pay for their exploring adventures and military
expenditure.
During the 19 th century, both superpowers reached a state of confrontation over contested supremacy
in Central Asia. Both had literary celebrities justifying their cause and in both countries contemporary
bourgeois debate highlighted the civilizing mission to be accomplished. Great Britain had Rudyard Kipling
who was one of the foremost advocates of the Great Game and had coined the term of a white mans
burden (cf. Kreutzmann 1997). With missionary zeal and state authorization, civil society measures
were to be promoted in Asia grounded in European standards. His Russian counterpart was Fjodor M.
Dostojevsky who published an essay on the importance of Asia for Russias future in which he justified
the Asian conquest as a mission for the promotion of civilization. Dostojevsky compared the colonial
expansion into Central Asia with the European conquest of North America (cf. Hauner 1989, 1992). The
second half of the 19 th century experienced a heated debate in political and academic circles about the
effects of the Anglo-Russian rivalry in Central Asia.
In Russia the Gorchakov Memorandum of 1865 marks the beginning of the animated phase of the Great
Game (cf. Figure 2a). The British Premier Disraeli responded in his famous speech at Crystal Palace
1872 in which he announced the imperial policies for further expansionism. Immediate results were the
forward policy in the Afghan borderlands and the subsequent crowning of Queen Victoria as Empress
of India (1877). Russia and Great Britain fought this game in the remote mountains of the Hindukush,
Karakoram and Pamirs where their spies-cum-explorers met in unexpected locations. At the same time
there was competition among the diplomatic staff posted in Central Asian centres. Notably, Kashgar
became one of the hotspots of confrontation where a weak Chinese administration personified by a
Taotai fell prey to the powerful representatives of the superpowers: the Russian Consul M. Petrovsky
and his British counterpart George Macartney were the protagonists and reported to their respective
governments in detailed reports which give us historical evidence on the socio-economic conditions in
7

Central Asia besides strategic and military intelligence during their rivalry.
The Great Game in its narrow definition came to an end in 1907 without any military encounter and
no loss of lives. Russia and Great Britain came to terms and consented to the text of the so-called
Anglo-Russian Convention in which respective spheres of influence, buffer states and regions of non-
interference were agreed upon (cf. Figure 2b). Instrumental for the accord was the heartland theory
which drew geopolitical significance towards Central Asia.
The geographer Halford Mackinder formulated his heartland theory in 1904 which became one of the
most influential texts of the geopolitical debate until today. Mackinder drew prime attention towards
Central Asia as he stated that the Tsarist regional dominance was linked to their equestrian tradition
from nomadic Asian backgrounds. From the safe retreat of the Inner Asian steppe regions conquests had
taken off towards Europe, Persia, India and China. He described the European civilization as the result of
a secular battle against Asian invasions (Mackinder 1904: 423). The naval predominance of Great Britain
and imperial control of world trade had been modified through a shift in terrestrial traffic structures.
The Russian railways were perceived as the successors of the equestrian mobile forces. Central Asia
had become the arena of contest, the more as a Russian-German and/or a Sino-Japanese alliance could
contribute to a shift of world affairs to the heartland of the Eurasian continent which he perceived
as a geographical pivot of history (Mackinder 1904: 436). He predicted the transformation of Central
Asia from a steppe region with little economic power into a region of prime geostrategic importance.
Culture and geography would contribute to the key region. Mackinder identified four adjacent regions
encompassing the heartland of pagan Turan in the shape of a crescent and denominated by religious
affiliations: Buddhism, Brahmanism, Islam and Christianity (Mackinder 1904: 431). 8
Similar ideas of a Central Asian heartland or a pivotal role stimulated Owen Lattimores perceptions
in his book Pivot of Asia (1950). Keeping the experiences of World War II in mind Lattimore drew a
circle with a diameter of 1000 miles around Urumchi and identified Central Asia as a whirlpool stirred-
up by political currents flowing from China, Russia, India and the Middle East (Lattimore 1950: 3).
By following the same Central Asian-centred approach Milan Hauner shifted the centre in the 1980s to
Kabul, drew a similar circle and identified a world of even greater contrasts which touches upon the
volatile and oil-rich region of the Middle East (Hauner 1989: 7). The last statement has remained valid
through the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Taliban rule in Afghanistan and in the aftermath of 9/11
and the Iraq crisis. The fact that Ahmed Rashid (2000) subtitled his book on the Taliban as Islam, Oil
and the New Great Game in Central Asia is only one case in point for the reference to the Great Game
connotation of contemporary geopolitical problems in the region. 9 The presence of American and Russian
troops on airports and along borders in Central Asia proves the continuing geopolitical significance of
the region and its linkage to contemporary crises zones.
What are the effects of certain lines of thought and resulting political actions on Central Asia and why
do we still refer to the metaphor of a Great Game when discussing contemporary strategic interference
and socio-economic transformations in geopolitical contexts. Boundary-making and its impact on nation-
building, economic and political participation severely influenced socio-economic developments in the
mountainous areas of Central Asia. Some cases in point need to be introduced for the understanding of
the far-reaching consequences of imperial border delineations. First of all, the practical impact on trade
relations and economic exchange need to be investigated.
8
With the passage of time Mackinder modified his theory under the impression of events during the First and Second World
Wars and influenced the thoughts of Karl Haushofer and other geopoliticians of his time.
9
Cf. Kreutzmann 1997, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007, Roy 2000,

4. Development of Central Asian trade and attenuated exchange relations in the
aftermath of the Great Game
In Central Asia, the Great Game resulted in the demarcation of international boundaries sep arating the
spheres of influence of the super powers of the time. Besides executing direct control and domination in
the core areas of their empires, Great Britain and Russia had created buffer states at the periphery such
as Persia and Afghanistan (Figure 2b). In their negotiat ions they had excluded Kashgaria or Eastern
Turkestan which nominally was under Chin ese administration. Trade between South and Central Asia was
affected by this constellat ion and a rivalry had developed since British commercial interests entered this
sector in 1874 (cf. Bosshard 1929; Davis & Huttenback 1987; Kreutzmann 1998). Both super powers
competed for dominance on the valuable markets in the urban oases of the Silk Road such as Kashgar
and Yarkand. According to the theory of imperialism, the merchants of the industrializing countries tried
to purchase raw materials such as cotton, pashmina wool and hashish while in exchange textiles and
manufactured products were offered in the bazaars (cf. Kreutzmann 1998). Russia had some advantage
as access was easier. From the railhead at Andijan in the Ferghana Valley, which was linked to the Middle
Asian Railway in 1899, the distance to Kashgar (554 km) could be covered in twelve marches via Osh,
Irkeshtam, and Ulugchat by crossing only one major pass, Terek Dawan (3870 m). On the other hand
trade caravans from British India had to follow either of three trans-montane passages - the Leh, Gilgit,
and Chitral routes - which were much longer and more difficult.
The competition for the Central Asian markets have continued after the October Revolution which
caused the closure of the Russian/Soviet Consulate in Kashgar from 1920-1925. This event affected the
Soviet commerce with Kashgaria detrimentally while the British share soar ed. Overall trade significantly
declined due to the disturbances in Chinese Turkestan after 1935 and later due to World War II and
the Chinese Revolution. Central Asian trade became an important factor in cross-boundary relations
affecting the economies in the regions traversed for a period of forty years. The total annual volume of
Indo-Xinjiang commerc ial exchange surpassed the two million rupees level for most of the era between
1895 and 1934.
At the end of the 19th century George Macartney, the British Consul-General in Kashgar had summarized
the situation: The demand for Russian goods is without doubt ever increasing. Cotton prints of Mosc ow
manufacture, as cheap as they are varied and pretty, are very largely imported. The bazaars of every
town are overstocked with them, as well as with a multitude of other art icles, amongst the most important
of which may be mentioned lamps, candles, soap, petroleum, honey, sugar, sweetmeats, porcelain cups,
tumblers, enameled iron plates, matches, knives and silks. These articles, with few exceptions, could,
but for the compet it ion, be supplied from India. But we have gradually had to relinquish our position in
favour of Russia, until at last our trade has to confine itself chiefly to articles of which we are the sole
producers and in which there is no competition. 10
British interests in securing a substantial share in this commercial exchange governed their imperial
designs and had an impact on the mountain societies involved. At the turn of the century Ladakh and
Baltistan were dominated by the Maharaja of Kashmir, Gilgit had bec ome an agency (re-established
in 1889) under the joint administration of a British Political Agent and a Kashmiri Wazir-i-Wazarat.
Principalities such as Hunza and Nager were affiliat ed after their defeat in the 1891 encounters, which
were fought under the pretext of opening the Gilgit route for commercial purposes. At the same time the
Mehtar of Chitral transferred his sovereignty in external affairs to a British Agent and was remunerated
with an annual subsidy and a supply of arms.
10
Report of George Macartney of 1st October 1898, quoted from Captain K. C. Packman, Consul-General at Kashgar 1937:
Trade Report. In: India Office Library & Records: Departmental Papers: Political & Secret Internal Files & Collections
1931-1947: IOL/P&S/12/2354, p. 1.

This part of the region under study was controlled and de facto commercially incorporated in the British
Indian exchange system. Trade with Afghanistan followed its own rules and became part of the special
arrangements with the ruling Amir in Kabul. The major hiatus occurred in the aftermath of the October
Revolution when a process of separation and isolation began. The economic relations of the Soviet-
dominated Central Asian regions were re-directed and amplified towards Russia while at the same time
international borders were sealed and became effective barriers for trade. This process took time and lasted
until the mid-1930s. With growing alienation between the Soviet Empire and the Chinese-dominated part
of Eastern Turkestan a nearly complete interruption of exchange relations between Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan
and Kashgaria came to a halt by 1930 (Kreutzmann 1996: 179). The undercutting of bazaar prices
through the provision of cheaper commodities of the same quality in kolchoz shops led to the termination
of trade in this sector.
Fig 3: Afghanistan - borders of a buffer state

Similar developments took
effect on the Soviet border
with Afghanistan during the
1930s: During the past few
years, the effect of Soviet
policy has been to restrict,
in an increasing degree,
traffic, excepting state-
controlled trade, from Soviet
Central Asia across the
Afghan frontier on the River
Oxus. ... more European
Russian officers have been
appointed to ensure that
the frontier is effectively
closed (IOL/P&S/12/2275,
dated 13.10.1939).
Border delineation and the

establishment of different
socio-political regimes had
resulted in a collapse of
trade and exchange in this
Central Asian region which
lasted for nearly 60 years until the end of the Cold War. With few exceptions traditional trade links and
exchange routes were interrupted for two generations and are only reanimated at a slow pace.
5. Boundary-making and its effects for diverse developments
A few cases in point from the turn of the century may illustrate how mountain regions have been involved
in the demarcation of spheres of influence. The contenders of the Great Game in High Asia agreed to
lay down boundaries in the comparatively sparsely populated regions of the Hindukush and Pamir. Some
times these borders were described as natural frontiers, scientific boundaries and dialect borders. The
Durand Line of 1893 separating Afghanistan from British India/Pakistan epitomizes such an effort and
has continued to function as the symbol of colonial border delineation referred to as the dividing line
(Felmy 1993). In order to safeguard the physical separat ion of two imperial opponents, international
borders were outlined and Afghanistan was created as a buffer state (Figure 3). Local livelihoods and

regional interests were neglected and the Pashtun settlement region was divided into two parts following
an arbitrary line through the Hindukush ranges. The traditional mig ratory paths of seasonal nomads
between the Central Afghanistan highlands and the Indus lowlands were intersected along the Hindukush
Fig 4: Wakhan-a corridor separating the sphere of influence of two super powers
passes. Numerous clashes bet ween tribal groups and imperial troops in the borderlands characterized
the political relations in the frontier that served as a buffer belt on the fringe of the empire (Fraser-Tytler
1953). Now a special legal status has been assigned to these regions as they are administrated as Feder
ally or Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (FATA or PATA). The movement of nomads (powindah) and
their herds now depends on bilateral political relations and has been res tricted, but has not ceased.
For the British administrators the Durand Line served its purpose. Initially it was perceived as a limit
to the respective spheres of influence, but with the Treaty of Rawalpindi and subsequent agreements

upto 1921 the Durand Line, with certain modifications was declared to be the Indo-Afghan Frontier
as accepted by the Afghan Government. 11 At least this was the official British position as recorded
in the British Foreign Office. No division needs to last for eternity. Afghanistan and Pakistan inherited
the Durand Line and the disputes about it. In recent years the Afghan government is challenging again
the character of it. Some authors make a point that it was never accepted at all. 12 Nevertheless,
diversity has increased on both sides of the Durand Line as communities have belonged over long
stretches of time to different nation states, contrasting regimes, economies and societies. Presently it
is unlikely that the dispute will fade away as the Durand Line is a volatile boundary in the efforts by the
Pakistan Government and supporting international forces to wipe out Taliban strongholds there. For both
governments the dispute opens chances to blame the other.
5.1. Wakhan, Shughnan and Darwaz - symbols of division in Badakhshan
Badakhshan came to the fore as a centrepiece of imperial interests. As Colonel Veniukoff put it in 1877:
The latter principality [Badakhshan] is unquestionably the most important of all those in Central Asia
from a political point of view. Without possessing and colonising it we can never guarantee peace in
Turkestan, or even the
solidity of our rule
there. It occupies the
most flourishing district
in the basin of the Oxus
and feeds a numerous
population. Possessed
of it we could command
the northern outliers of
the Hindoo Kush and the
passes over this range to
the valley of the Kunar
Fig 5a: Badakshan in mid-19th Century

Unfortunately, since
1874 Badak[h]shan has
been under the influence
of the Emir of Cabul,
although its inhabitants,
Persians and Tadjiks,
detest the Afghans
without Badak[h]shan
the Russians must
consider themselves in
Central Asia as guests,
without any settled
habitation and unable
to form one. How history will solve the Badak[h]shan question of course cannot foreshadow; but it is
impossible not to express admiration at the farsightedness of British policy. 13 As both contenders would
11
Both quotes are taken from a document titled The Indo-Afghan Frontier by the Research Department Foreign Office
covering the Indo-Afghan relations between 1747 and 1947. In: IOL/P&S/12/1321: A survey of Anglo-Afghan Relations
Part III: 26-27.
12
Cf. e.g. Djan-Zirakyar 1978; Khan 1981; Schetter 2007: 241.
13

not give up their claims for Badakhshan (Figure 5a) the solution was negotiated to be division. 14 The remote
corners of the Hindukush and Pamirs entered the limelight of imperial boundary-making, buffer-state
creation and neutralizing
corridors which separated
respective spheres of
influence.
The Wakhan Corridor of

Fig 5b: Badakshan-present administrative set-up
Northeastern Afghanistan
symbolizes colonial border
delineation. The southern
limit is formed by the
Durand Line (south) while
the northern part came
into existence as a result
of the Pamir Boundary
Commission of 1895 in
which Russian and British
officers negotiated the
alignment, and Afghan
officials assisted in the
demarcation (Figure 4).
This narrow 300 km-long
and only 15-75 km wide strip was created to separate Russian and British spheres of influences and
fulfilled the function to avoid direct military action between the two superpowers of that period and region.
Part of the boundary follows the course of the Pjandsh (Amu Darya River), which was in accordance with
the fashion of the time.
Fig 6: Cross-boundary exchange relations of Kirghiz and Wakhi
The stromstrich boundary

followed a role model
tested in other regions
of the world previously.
The price for this colonial
endeavour was the spatial
partition of regional semi-
autonomous princ ipalities
like Badakhshan, Darwaz,
Wakhan, Shughnan,
and Roshan (Figure 5b).
Subsequently both parts
of each former principality
experienced quite
diverse socio-economic
households
developments as part of
greater political entities.
Today, we find regional
units of the mentioned toponyms in Afghanistan and Tajikistan. The creation of these bound aries resulted
14
For a detailed account of the process of division and the effects cf. Kreutzmann 1996.

in immediate refugee movements by ethnic minorities. Nevertheless, the effect of partition is felt in
all areas, especially when international borders are closed and strictly controlled as it happened since
the Cold War. Afghan Wakhan is suffering substantially from its dead-end location with missing through
trade and exchange with neighbours (Felmy & Kreutzmann 2004). Nevertheless, the people living in
the border areas have found practical solutions to border closures and are engaging in a local trans-
boundary exchange of goods and services in the border triangle (Figure 6).
Similar observations are valid for Shughnan and Roshan. In recent years relatives separated by a
century-old border have re-established their relationship and the bridges across the Pjandsh River in
Langar, Ishkashim and Khorog symbolize those endeavours. Here important symbolic changes have led
to practical solutions to local needs. Bridges across the Amu Darya River have always played a vital role
in cross-border affairs. The Langar and Ishkashim bridges were built to enable the Soviet army to invade
Afghanistan (1979) and to safeguard their supplies from the Soviet Union for the control of Badakhshan.
Meanwhile, the function of the Ishkashim bridge has changed. For years during the war in Afghanistan,
support for the Northern Alliance and humanitarian aid for the suffering civilians were transported
across this bridge. The island in the river near Ishkashim became a storehouse for humanitarian aid
such as wheat flour, milk powder and vegetable oil. The Tem bridge near Khorog was built by AKDN in
order to link the cut-off Shughnan region of Afghanistan with Tajik Shughnan and to establish a market
access. More severe was the dead-end location for Darwaz. The Ruzwai bridge near Kalai Khum (Figure
7) enables peoples from Afghan Darwaz not only to participate in cross-border trade, but has terminated
their exclusion from getting opportunities to augment stocks and supplies. Earlier on the people from
Darwaz had to engage in a two-week journey on foot or by donkey to reach the bazaars of Faizabad. For
the first time, in 75 years people, from Darwaz and Shughnan are now in a position to access markets
all-year-round.
5.2. Chinas boundary with Afghanistan and Tajikistan
The assigned function of the Wakhan border was the separation of the British and Russian spheres of
influences. The concept of buffer states was applied in China as well. Xinjiang and Tibet functioned
somehow as buffer zones. The missing border link is the short Sino-Afghan boundary, which in itself is
part of a disput ed frontier. According to Chinese opinion, their border with Afghanistan and Tajikistan
ext ends much further west. The ambiguity concerning Chines claims to the Pamirs did not escape
the scrutiny of the Pamir Boundary Commission and of the British Consul-General in Kashgar, George
Macartney, who himself went on an inspection mission towards the Little Pamir in 1895 and reported
from Kizil Robat: From enquiries made by myself, it appears that, previous to that period, the Chinese
jurisdiction extended westwards on the Alichur Pamir to Sumatsh and on the Great Pamir to the eastern
end of Victoria Lake. The Khirgiz living in the Upper Oxus Basin within these limits and about Rangkul
and Murghabi, owned a sort of loose allegiance to China not however as Chinese subjects, but rather
as inhabitants of a State tributary to China. The Chinese appear to have never had much to do with
the Small Pamir, that country having in times past been a dependency of Kanjut living in it subjected
to Kanjuti taxation. 15 George Macartneys observation highlights the fact that in remote areas of the
Pamirs territorial control was less important than tributary relationships which could be well kept with
more than one mighty neighbour. To claim territory based on these changing loyalties is as futile as
is the notion of clear-cut boundaries at the time. Over time the boundaries have become visible and
changed the fate of the abutters.
15
India Office Library & Records: Files relating to Indian states extracted from the Political and Secret Letters from India
1881-1911: Pamir Delimitation Commission 9. Oct. 1895 No. 195 (Reg. No. 451): IOL/P&S/7/82.

The factual contemporary boundary is agreed on by Chinas neighbours. Although claims to disputed
territory differ substantially, China and Tajikistan are factually separated by a highly visible structure:
the sistema, a barbed-wire fence which forms a present-day buffer of neutralized territory. The Kirghiz
animal husbanders of this border region suffer from loss of accessible pasture due to the buffer
arrangements (Figure 7).
Afghan-China borderland
Fig 7:Gorno-Badakhshan - a peculiar boundary situation in the
Only by a written permission

(propusk) they were allowed
to cross into the neutral zone.
Recently China and Tajikistan
agreed that an area covering
app. 976 km 2 should be handed
over to the mighty neighbour.
The affected herdsmen of the
Rangkul community (jamuat)
are more than disappointed
about the loss and the
prospect of no compensation
for the expropriation of
valuable pasture land. All
these borders formed an
integral part of the major
global divide after World War
II. The frontlines of the Cold
War followed their historical
predecessors. Western and
Eastern allia nces, as well as neutral states like Afghanistan (up to 1978) and the independent anti-
Soviet path of Chinese communism (since 1958) met in the Pamirian knot. Thus, a remote mountain
region became a meeting-point of competing political systems.
The alleviation of this confrontation did not terminate any military action in the region. The Pamir
Boundary presently separates the newly independent state of Tajikistan (since 1991) from Afghanistan.
The previous global confrontation has been replaced by region al conflicts. Nevertheless these examples
are not sing ular cases. Nearly all borders of the Hindukush-Himalayan arc are under dispute by one or
the other side.
5.3. Border disputes within the Soviet Union and thereafter
The attempt of Soviet nationalities policies was to create new republics, which should represent the
ethnic groups of Central Asia in adequate spatial and administrative settings. Consequently by 1929
ethnonymous republics were created to represent Kazakhs, Kirghiz, Tajiks, Uzbeks and Turkmens. The
new republics did not have any boundaries in common with their predecessors, the Khanate of Khiva,
the Khanate of Bukhara and the Turkestan Governorate-General. If the term artificial boundaries
could be appropriate in any context, it would be here. The newly defined republics consisted of a spatial
nucleus, but very often they had in addition satellite territories of enclaves and exclaves within the
territory of neighbouring republics (Figure 8). While this phenomenon did not pose grave differences
during the period of the Soviet Union - basically all territories were under the central command of the
Kremlin and only international boundaries with neighbouring countries such as China and Afghanistan
were of any importance and hermetically sealed - another cause of germinated dissent erupted after

independence in the early 1990s. Republican boundaries within the Soviet Union became international
borders of sovereign states such as Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. In a survey two years after
independence the Moscow Institute of Political Geography recorded 180 border and territorial disputes
in the aftermath of the dissolution of the Soviet Union (Halbach 1992: 5). Central Asia was no exception
in this regard and these conflicts have increased since. According to a recent report of the International
Crisis Group (ICG 2002) there is no Central Asian country without border disputes with its neighbours.
To illustrate the scope of conditions and demands a few cases are listed: Irredentist movements in
Turkmenistan expect Uzbekistan to return the territory of the Khanates of Khiva and Khorezm. Tajik
nationalists demand the return of Samarkand and Bukhara. Uzbekistan lays claim on the Eastern
part of the Ferghana Valley, i.e. the Osh Oblast, the present-day economic and commercial centre
dissolution of the Soviet Union

Fig 8: Central Asian boundary disputes in the aftermath of the
of Southern Kyrgyzstan. The Uzbekistan government does not permit colleagues from neighbouring
republics to consult the archival material in Tashkent, which documents the boundary decisions from
the 1920s. Rental arrangements and the production of natural resources in exclaves from Soviet times
are under dispute such as the Uzbek exploitation of oil and gas fields in Southern Kyrgyzstan and the
deviation of irrigation water from the Andijan reservoir towards the Ferghana Valley (Figure 8). The
Ferghana Valley alone is containing seven enclaves through which major traffic routes are leading. The
freedom of travel is more restricted than before as new measures of visa regulation of travel have been
introduced. Some of these measures have been justified in the aftermath of attacks from Afghanistan-
trained rebels, which plundered Tajik and Kirghiz villages on their way to the Ferghana Valley in 1999 and
2000. The future of rented lands and exclaves that were created for the protection of ethnic minorities
is at stake and neighbouring governments discuss options for forced evacuation and migration to initiate
population exchange.
5.4. Future prospects and conflict resolution
The hope for friendly relations and mutual understanding has suffered several setbacks in recent years.
All negotiating partners are interested in most favourable results from their national perspective. On
a regional scale, there is some hope since the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) which was

founded in 1996 as the Shanghai-5 (Russia, PR of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan) and
became a fully-fledged organization under the name of SCO in 2001 when Uzbekistan joined. 16 The
mandate is to improve mutual relations and to improve Central Asias economic competitiveness in a
globalized world. Therefore, the SCO has supported the opening of new trade corridors between the
PR of China and Kyrgyzstan (Irkeshtam Road) and Tajikistan (Kulma Road) respectively. The two major
regional players - Russia and PR of China - cooperate with the European Union to link the Central Asian
republics through a road network (TRACEA route) with Europe via the Caucasus. The participation in
regional and international trade may be one of the prime stimulants to overcome the legacies of previous
geopolitical interference and reflect the economic interests of the big economic players of today in the
future of Central Asia.
Nevertheless, the region under study suffered not only directly from Cold War confrontation but as well
from regional problems, which remain to be a colonial legacy, but have developed into a conflict between
neighbours. After more than 50 years of independence, India and Pakistan are still engaged in military
confrontation that is affecting economic exchange tremendously and keeps the mountain regions of the
Karakoram and Western Himalaya in a state of dispute and uncertainty.
6. Effects of boundary-making and two transformations in Central Asia
The starting point for our thoughts on geopolitical diversity was the exogenous interest in the Central
Asian periphery with long-lasting implications for the livelihoods of people. The major impact seen until
today is the delineation of international boundaries and internal borders. Most of the mountain region
became an even greater periphery after border demarcation and lost its prime commercial asset as a
transit region for traders. The deadlock situation has partly changed since the end of the Cold War, but
not in a great style of regional
transformations in Central Asia
Fig 9: Property changes during the two 20th century
cooperation. Regularly open

borders are closed as the
result of bilateral political
disputes or so-called security
issues. Territorial claims are
not unanimously settled until
today. Therefore, the mountain
periphery of Central Asia is not
an acknowledged territory by
international legal standards.
The second exogenous

intervention had even greater
impact especially on Kyrgyzstan
and Tajikistan. About 75 years
ago the major transformation
of socio-economic conditions took place. The Soviet modernization project changed lifestyles and civil
rights. To quote contemporary sources on the contents of Stalins modernization project: The CPC of
the Tajik S.S.R. is drawing up a plan for agriculture in the Pamirs, the idea being thereby to transform
the migrant tribes into stationary inhabitants, and to encourage them to grow their own food instead of
importing it. A biological station on the Pamirs, at a height of 4,000 metres above sea-level, is just being
started (Pravda 7.5.1934, quoted after IOL/P&S/12/2273). The Pravda told the truth: modernization
The SCO became an internationally acknowledged organization in 2004 and operates a secretariat from Beijing. In August
16
2007 the most recent SCO meeting of political leaders was held in Bishkek.

meant the sedentarisation of nomads which was executed with great force and rigour. The effects of
settlement and the introduction of modern animal husbandry can be observed in all areas north of the
Amu Darya while on the southern bank of the river traditional forms of livestock-keeping prevail.
Similar developments could be observed in peoples organization, education and agriculture. To quote
again a source from 1934: Khorog is the capital town of the Soviet Pamir, and there has been held there
the 5 th congress of the Soviets of the mountainous Badakhshan region. On foot on horses, on yaks, on
donkeys, along mountain tracks hanging over precipices, the delegates come from the distant Murghab,
Borgang [Bartang], Bakhan [Wakhan], and other places in the S. and E. edges of the U.S.S.R. that
border with Afghanistan, India and Western China. The 110 delegates elected were 78 Tajiks, 16 Kirghiz,
and 16 Russians. In the conference hall were many women in their white garments of homespun silk.
Khorog is now lit with electricity that was started and first seen by the Pamir people in the spring of this
year. The president of the congress, Faisilbekov, spoke of the wonderful things that have taken place in
the Soviet Pamir. Aeroplanes are flying over inaccessible mountain ranges, a splendid automobile road
has been made from Khorog to Osh, 700 km long, that now links the Pamir with the rest of the U.S.S.R.
formerly there was only 1 school in the whole of the Pamirs - now there are 140, and a training school
for teachers: instead of dark smoky earth huts or skin tents, European houses are now being built:
collective farms are established in the Pamirs, and they are growing and getting good crops of wheat,
millet and beans; and now they know how to manure their fields and be sure of good crops (Izvestia
29. 11.1934, quoted after IOL/P&S/12/2273).
It is the irony of history that now a transformation process has started which attempts to revert
these reforms and to privatize collectivized property (Figure 9) again, in which households return to
the farming practices of their grandfathers, and in which the traditional knowledge of neighbouring
countries is adapted as a measure to overcome food crisis situations and to minimize risks. In that
respect the external interference in Central Asia is a failed attempt to implement modernization theory
while in many other aspects it succeeded. The transition beginning with the independence of sovereign
nation states in Central Asia has failed so far to continue the path of modernization.
7. Conclusions
The lesson to be learnt from geopolitical interventions in peripheral mountain areas could be that
decisions made in the core of empires always affect the livelihoods of people who have not been
involved in the decision-making process. Socio-political interference led to the creation of an arena
of confrontation in the Pamirs, Hindukush and Himalaya during the Cold War which was one of least
permeable frontier regions in the world. Present developments might result in a convergence of living
conditions, income patterns and indicators of human development. Especially mountain farmers and
breeders can learn from the experiences of their counterparts, entrepreneurs might profit from trans-
border exchanges in a way which was impossible for more than two generations.
Geopolitical diversity in mountain regions can be interpreted as the result of political decision-making in
the centres of power. In a more system theoretical perspective it reflects the observation that changes
in singular system elements are affecting the whole system. In the context of mountain development,
it often has detrimentally changed the living conditions. Nevertheless, the Amu Darya river boundary
convincingly shows how life has been altered during two transformations in the 20 th century. The
transformation which is taking place in Afghanistan at the beginning of the 21 st century takes up some
of the threads which were loosened since the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the independence of
Tajikistan. The Afghan National Solidarity Programme aims at establishing peoples representation on the
local and regional level. In Northern Afghanistans history this is a new challenge and endeavour. Donor

agencies support those activities which could lead to a bottom-up approach in communal participation.
The same agencies are present on both banks of the Amu Darya River to mitigate economic and nutrition
crises which are perceived by the local people as system crises. The understanding of which system
has collapsed differs quite substantially. The same holds true for the path of development in a diverse
mountain environment.
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Dr. Hermann Kreutzmann currently holds the Chair of Human Geography at the Center for
Development Studies in the Institue of Geography, Freie Universitt Berlin.
Prof. Dr.Kreutmann has nearly thirty years experience of fieldwork in South Asia and has
carried out fieldwork and research in China, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Nepal.

2
Cross-Border Value-Chains and Competitive Advantages for Mountain Areas
MUZAFFAR UD DIN
This paper aims to apply the concept of value chain development approach both to understand
the existing phenomenon and propose a framework to promote economic development in the
mountain societies. In particular, it attempts to apply the concept to opportunities that exist in
a cross border space.
1. The Context of Globalization and Effect on Cross Border Cooperation
G lobalization has raised many important challenges and is high in policy agenda of many countries. The speed
up of globalization is because of the rapid emergence of Global Value Chain (OECD, 2007). The whole
process of producing goods from raw materials to finished goods/products has increasingly been sliced and each
process could be carried out any where. (Uiboupin, 2007) The necessary skills and services are available at lower
cost. This global value chain phenomenon, though, has positively affected many parts of the world, but some
areas like mountain region have not been part of greater benefits.
Like other parts of the world, the mountain societies including the Northern Areas of Pakistan, a rendezvous of
the giant mountain rangesthe Himalaya, Karakurum, Hindukush and Pamirare also witnessing major changes.
The changes in the Northern Areas are both geographical and demographical. The centuries old and long isolation
and remoteness, that had shaped a peculiar socioeconomic condition, is fading away, and new opportunities are
emerging (Wood, et al,. 2006). The mountain communities are experiencing increased interactions (cultural,
business, political and the like) at inter and intra valley levels as well as beyond the political borders. On the other,
the phenomenon of having access and increased exposure to outside world has also led the region towards the
global exploitations.
These mountain ranges, once considered the barriers for trade and commerce among the countries on watershed,
are now emerging as trade junctions and resource-bases for economic development, i.e. in hydro-energy, minerals,
water etc. Macro development initiatives, like trans-mountain communications networks, construction of dams
and power units and mining explorations have brought greater development opportunities to these mountain
regions and have increased global business interests. Once isolated and limited production and services system,
has now been effected by supply and demand changes at global level. However, exposure to these increased
global value chain has resulted policy challenges related to income and growth disparities in and around the
mountain areas, threat to the fragile mountain eco-system and most importantly effected the livelihood of the
people living in and around this mountain region.
2. Economic Changes in the Mountain Areas
The mountain societies are going through major transformation, from change in livelihood patterns at household
level to macro-level investments in social and development sectors. These changes in the mountain regions are
though phenomenal but these are more in pockets both geographically and also sector-wise. Traditional methods
used for economic development, like increase in production or improving services and competitiveness through
cooperatives, have impact at livelihood level but these initiatives remain isolated and peripheral.
The rapid pace of globalization, mainly fueled by technical advancements in transport and communication, resulted
in lowering the transfer cost of both goods and services to other countries (Rodnur, 2007)). For example, the
opening up of border-trade between China and Pakistan has benefited the isolated mountain communities in
Cross-Border Value-Chains and Competitive Advantages for Mountain Areas -27-

terms of access to affordable goods and opportunities in employment and small businesses. However, these macro
level, cross-border and trans-mountain initiatives need to be looked carefully in prospect that how much of the
gain is retained at the mountain areas.
Table1: zBorder Trade through Khunjerab Pass between Pakistan-China Border
Imports Exports
Years
Volume (tons) Value (Rs Mil) Volume (tons) Value (Rs Mil)
2002-2003 18560 1386 2400 112
2003-2004 29520 1627 3315 128
2004-2005 44730 1398 2280 314
2005-2006 49455 2424 1695 131
2006-2007 46170 2002 2025 201
Total 200,940 10,066 12,465 917
Source: Central Board of Revenue, Sost Office 2007
The statistics given in the above table presents a comparative picture of the volume and value of the exports and
imports of Pakistan with China. Though, the trend has been erratic over the last five years, the table clearly shows
that there are major imbalances between the levels of exports and imports. With Pakistan heavily involved in
importing goods, figures show trade surplus in favor of China. From the local economic development perspective,
the existing export patterns do not bring major gains, as very little, if any, of those goods exported to China,
originate from the Northern Areas.
With all these development and improvements noted, the key question is how to transform these local level
development and economic gains; like increased production, improved infrastructure, access to social services
in conjunction with regional and global initiatives, like border trade, large investment in key infrastructures and
industries for a sustainable economic growth, in a more environmentally responsible manner.
3. Value Chain Approach for Cross Border Cooperation
Value chain as understood in this paper, is a framework as well as an operational model. The basic premise of
this model is that a product is rarely directly consumed at the place of production; it is transformed, combined
with other products, transported, packaged displayed etc. Intermediate products and final products are owned
by various actors who are linked by trade and services and each add value to the product and service (Morgan,
2002).
Hence the globalization does not only patch up market gaps and bring producers and consumers closes together;
it also brings regional and international competition into local market. For instance, any agriculture produce not
consumed by the farmers families is a product in the market (local to international) and competes today with
products coming from nearby or faraway. (Roekel, et al., 2007 ). For Instance, developing value chain of Apricot
sector produced in the Northern Areas of Pakistan linked with international market has demonstrated that this
sector did not only benefit a large number of poor farmers but also add value at different level of the supply chain
(Wood, et al., 2006), like introducing of new technologies and techniques in fruit drying, introducing standards for
dry fruits, certification like Fair-trade and organic certification not only expanded the market but offered premium
price for all the actors in the value chain and source of foreign exchange for the country like Pakistan.
Building on the current potential of border-trades between Pakistan and China and the informal barter system
across the border with Afghanistan, a value chain framework could add benefits to local people in terms of both
providing services, like storage, transportation, information and even outsourcing of some of the production

processes.
The model for Value Chain Development in Mountain Areas (see figure 1); primarily aims to see a sector or
production process more holistically that encompasses all the actors, supporters and influencers involved in the
chain.
End Users End Market - Consumers
Retailers Retailers
Fig 1: Enterprise Development Strategy for Northern Areas, 2004 AKRSP, Gilgit
P
r Wholesalers Wholesalers
o
c
Skill Dev.
e Packing &
s Infrastructure Packaging Transportation
s &
Processing
o Facility/units
Service R&D
r Providers Storage /
s Certification
Producers/ Informal Intermediaries Groups

Products
Interest Groups under Network / Associations
Currently, some of the promising sectors that would offer cross-border cooperation in the mountain areas are:
a) border trade, b) tourism c) Bio-diversity d) exchange of knowledge and information e) water resource and d)
energy.
4. Value Chain a Tool for Greater Local Impact
The benefits of applying this approach are obvious. Gains on the cross-border trades can be retained at local level
by systematically envisioning the value chain of the sector and devising proper intervention.
The framework starts from producers to policy and regulation, this includes: a) at producer or consumer level,
retention of gains can be increased by adding value through certification as organic products, Fair-trade, ethnicity
and local level services like transportation and employment; b) at the provider level specific skills, knowledge
centers and information services on market for the sectors can add value to the sectors as well as benefits can
be channeled to local economy; c) small enterprises acting like franchises of major producers, outsourcing of
Cross-Border Value-Chains and Competitive Advantages for Mountain Areas -29-

certain production processes are the areas where in the cross-border trade the local mountain community can
add value and increase the retention of the benefits from the exchange of trade and services; d) specific market
facilities, like dry ports, export processing zone, trade corridors and trade free zones are few key market facilities
essential for promoting cross-border trade. Besides, a source of economic development in the border areas; and
finally, policy and regulatory framework is the important element in value chain to increase cross-border trade and
cooperation. This includes trade policy, border regimes and access and travel policies.
5. Conclusion
The rapid emergence of Global Value Chain that encompasses all the sectors and actors of economies and
regions has both offered opportunities and also posed challenges. Mountain areas are no more exception because
of moving from the peripheral positions to core market places. Trans-border and mountain trade, business and
exchange are increasing with better communication facilities. Contrary, the challenge is how to retain benefits for
the local communities by providing opportunity for value addition and maintaining the fragile but important eco-
system. The key question is how to transform the borders from a constraint to an economic and development
opportunity?
References
Roduner, Daniel. 2007: Donor Intervention in Value Chain Development. SDC, Berne.Uiboupin, Janek. 2007: Cross Border
Cooperation and Economic Development in Border Regions of Western Ukraine, Electronic Publications of Pan-European
Institute.
OECD, 2007: Policy Brief; Moving up the (Global) Value Chain, www.sourceOECD.org.
Morgan, Mary, (2002): Value Chain and Development and the Poor, SEEP NETWORK, Washington.
Wood, G., Malik, A., Saghir. S. (eds.) 2006: Valley in Transition. Oxford Press, Islamabad.
Roekel, Jan Van; Williams Sabine, et al. ; 2002, To Stimulate Cross Boarder Trade in Developing Countries and Emerging
Economics, World Bank, Washington DC.
Market Development Programme, 2004; Enterprise Development Strategy for Northern Areas and Chitral, AKRSP, Gilgit.
The writer is working as Regional Programme Manager (RPM) / Programme Manager Enterprise
Development, Aga Khan Rural Support Programme, Gilgit, Northern Areas of Pakistan

3
Ensuring Sustainable Management of Central Karakoram Conservation Complex:
Building upon the Experiences of HKKH Partnership Project
SHERAZ ULLAH BAIG
1. The Challenge
Local people are right at the heart of an ambitious planning process to create national park in one
of the most famous mountain ranges in the world. Plans are also afoot to nominate part of the
area as a World Heritage Site. If accepted, it will be the first time one of Pakistans wilderness
areas had been recognized in this way (Fuller 1994, High Hopes in the Karakurum).
T he local people living

around the high moun-
tains of central Karakurum
are as much a part of the
ecosystem as the moun-
tains themselves. Affilia-
tion of these local people
with mountains is simply
linked with the survival,
wellbeing and power. To
ignore communities in any
kind of resource manage-
ment is by no
means pos-
sible, as it
would end up
with opposi-
tion and con-
flict rather
than to
be part
of envi-
ronment. On the other hand, meeting the needs of local people with inadequate resources is the most
crucial challenge for park authorities and the planners. Further, understanding the livelihood needs and
rights of local communities, integration of communities as equal and legitimate partners in protected
area governance is although an established phenomenon but legislation does not recognize the rights
Ensuring Sustainable Management of Central Karakoram Conservation Complex -31-

of communities living around Protected Areas 1 (IUCN Pakistan 2004). In fact, current natural resource
management laws are mostly outdated and elements of collaborative management were designed to
promote resource exploitation benefiting government institutions rather than conservation to benefit
civil society (ibid).
A number of important lessons have emerged which are critical to the process of implementing good
governance in Protected Areas management, including:
the need for real incentives for communities to adopt conservation or sustainable use practices
that would otherwise see a reduction in their income or change in livelihoods;
the critical importance of understanding and adapting to the local social context, and working
with local institutions and processes;
the value of shifting management responsibility to the institutions closest to the resources; and
the need for involvement of international NGOs as facilitators, but with the intention of raising
local capacity in the long term.
Understanding the challenges identified and building on the lessons learned, HKKH Partnership Project 2
has developed a shared understanding that,if a new Protected Areas (PA) is to be established across the
vast Central Karakurum, different types of governance and different categories of PA may be necessary.
At the same time there are many factors at play influencing the social context and peoples needs and
objectives. It is clear that struggles for survival and well-being, identity and power are dominating
conflicts and concerns over natural resource management. There are indeed challenges for implementing
Central Karakurum National Park 3 (CKNP) or any form of natural resource management here, but there
are also great strengths amongst communities that could be harnessed. The critical issue was to
understand how and how long will it take and how to implement good governance in this context. It is
positive step forward that planning and dialogue over management of the Central Karakurum landscape
has re-started, backed with diverse technical expertise of reputed organizations and taking into account
the regional experiences of implementing a range of PA categories.
2. The Opportunity
Although, CKNP was notified in 1993, however, the park has remained without dedicated staff, infrastructure
and any operational management plan until 2007. While the presence of motivated communities, sense
of ownership, trust in NGOs and their interest in co-management are nonetheless strengths that could
support and benefit the CKNP management planning process. Similarly, the presence of technical
experts from IUCN and its partner organizations with regional and international experiences, interest
of international donors and the commitment of Northern Areas administration are complementary to
achieve the desired objectives of CKNP. In particular the history of IUCN in NAs and its experience of
planning, establishing and management of Protected Areas is unique and recognized globally.
1
By definition, Protected Area is an area of land or sea especially dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biological
diversity, and of natural and associated cultural resources and managed through legal or other effective means
2
The HKKH Partnership Project is a multi-scale initiative, active at the regional, national and local levels with a special focus on
three Protected Areas, namely: Sagarmatha National Park (SNP) in Nepal, Central Karakoram National Park (CKNP) in Pakistan and
Qomolangma Nature Preserve (QNP) in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China (TAR-China).The project financed by Government of
Italy is implemented by IUCN in partnership with CESVI, Ev.K2.CNR and ICIMOD.
2
3
CKNP, notified in 1993 is Pakistans largest protected area covering over 10,000 km area. It encompasses some of the worlds
highest mountains including K2, the second highest peak and largest glaciers outside the polar region.

The current planning process adapted by IUCN in collaboration with all CKNP partners is a step further
to introduce innovative approaches of co-management and transformation of traditional focus of a
national parks and buffer zone to a mosaic approach or conservation complex which covers different
management objectives in recognition of community needs and aspirations.
In Pakistan, the HKKH Partnership Project has built partnerships and set the stage for a number of
targeted actions towards sustainable management of natural resources and moving towards broader
canvas of environmental challenges which impact the livelihood of common people in the area. The
HKKH partners have developed an understanding with Northern Areas Administration to contribute to
the development of Management Planning Framework and Management Plan for Central Karakurum
Conservation Complex and the CKNP though a series of coordinated activities, including technical
advice on the management planning, baseline studies, database development, capacity building and
the provision of new tools and instruments to assist in the management of natural resources. These
activities have been implemented consistent with other CKNP Partners.
Following the stakeholder consultations, biophysical research studies and understanding the ground
realities, it has been decided to change the paradigm of existing CKNP into a conservation complex,
allowing sustainable use and accommodating community needs taking into account the applicability of
a range of management regimes. This underlying assumption, on the one hand, has changed the focus
of the efforts by partners towards a broader canvas while on the other hand it necessitates continued
support to the key stakeholders in planning and management of the conservation complex so that the
indigenous mountain communities take optimum advantage of livelihood opportunities presented by
modern conservation regimes, including management of core and buffer zones, promoting ecotourism
opportunities, sustainable use of wild resources including harvesting of medicinal and economic plants,
consumptive and non-consumptive use of charismatic wildlife species, and supporting buffer zone
communities in management of livestock and agriculture.
3. Rationale
The entire northern and western parts of Pakistan are mountainous and all three major mountains
ranges, the Hindu Kush, Karakoram and Himalaya meet in Pakistan. The central Karakoram in Pakistan
contains the largest concentration of high mountain peaks and glaciers in the world. These mountains
also represent Pakistans main percentage of natural forests, pastures, biodiversity, medicinal and
aromatic plants and protected areas.
As per the estimated land use patterns, out of total 2% arable land one percent is used for agriculture.
About 4% is occupied by forests and 23% are rangelands while, 66% of the area is occupied by mountains,
glaciers, lakes and rivers. The mountain slopes, being already unstable; the scarcely growing natural
vegetation is exploited for fuel and grazing. The current natural resource use practices, lack of alternate
sources and growing human population exerts a continuous pressure on the very fragile ecosystems,
causing more risks for the livelihood of local people. In this context of biotic and abiotic circumstances,
specific programmes to invert the inevitable trend of unsustainable land use become a priority.
Although most of the population has poor rural economy, however, by virtue of its climate, terrain and
geopolitical status, the area seems to have a high economic potential in the region. The majority of
the population are subsistence farmers meeting only the barest needs of food, fodder, and fibre for
the household. Considering the potential of Pakistans mountain areas for the development of hydro
power, tourism, mining and agri production, it is apparent that through introduction of enabling policy
interventions, the natural resource base can be enhanced and promote ecosystem products and services

that will directly contribute to poverty alleviation in the region.
The most prevalent environmental problems include deforestation and the depletion of pastures (i.e.,
quality timber from coniferous natural forests on mountain slopes between 900 and 3,300 m above
sea level and the intensive use of pastures in summer at elevations between 1,500 and 3,300 m. Also
prevalent is the decline in biodiversity, increasing soil erosion, retreat of glaciers and unsustainable
agricultural and other development-related practices. The underlying causes include poverty, rapid
increase in human population, lack of data, information and skills needed for appropriate governance,
and lack of awareness and involvement of local communities in decision making and management of
natural resources.
4. The History and Role of IUCN in CKNP
IUCN has a proven track record of facilitating and catalyzing balanced conservation solutions in the
CKNP at all levels international, national, sub-national and local. IUCN has long promoted CKNP to
be an area of outstanding natural beauty with globally significant ecosystem and habitat values. Soon
after the formal notification of CKNP by the Government of Pakistan in 1993, IUCN in collaboration with
Ministry of Environment organised an international workshop in September 1994 to lay the groundwork
for an effective protected area management plan and to formulate a proposal for nomination of CKNP
as World Heritage Site.
In 1995 IUCN assisted the NAs government to develop a project proposal (PC1) to conduct a feasibility
study. Subsequently IUCN hired a Canadian expert, Dave McDonough who developed the first Draft
Management Plan for CKNP in 1999 through various consultative and planning meetings with community
leaders and NAs administration. During the preparation of the draft management plan, the park boundaries
proposed during Central Karakorum Planning Workshop, Sep 1994, were demarcated and a vision and
objectives for the park were established. The said draft plan also provides the basic framework for
the future management of the park with some specific actions proposed for implementation. However,
implementation on this draft management plan remained a low priority for NAs government due to other
pressing priorities of the area.
Furthering the previous work done, IUCN carried out a socio-economic baseline study, resource mapping
and finalizing the boundaries and zoning of the park in August 2004. The studies thus conducted provide
socio-economic and environmental baseline and a broader management framework for management of
the CKNP.
Upholding the efforts made, IUCN influenced the NAs Forest, Wildlife and Parks Department to realize
and making CKNP a functional park. Thus, in December 2006 NAs Forest, Wildlife and Parks Department
agreed to start preparation of PC-1 through the bidding process. The NAs government also requested
IUCN, HKKH partnership project to assist WWF in finalizing the PC-I as well as providing financial support
toward implementation of the PC-1. Technical team of HKKH Project partners provided a significant
technical contribution in finalizing the PC-I. Consequently, the PC-I emerged as a multi-stakeholder
project with IUCN having the major responsibility for preparation of an updated CKNP management plan
in this joint initiative.
As part of the implementation of the PC-1 and through the HKKH Partnership Project, IUCN Pakistan
organised series of consultative workshops and coordination meetings at the field level during the period
2007-9. These consultations helped all key stakeholders to agree on a common vision and roadmap for
CKNP management planning through building consensus and synergies.

In summary, under the HKKH Partnership Project, IUCN Pakistan is developing an updated Management
Plan for Central Karakoram Conservation Complex (CKCC) and CKNP and a Management Framework
elaborating on a range of tools, processes and methodologies and models considered relevant for
future planning processes. These outputs are expected to be delivered to NAs Administration and park
management by the end of June 2009.
The implementation of the current three year phase of the HKKH Partnership Project has resulted in
collection of biophysical scientific data from selected pilot valleys and construction of a GIS database
that would be used a useful tool to design conservation models, establish management zones and
delineation of park and buffer zone boundaries. The data generated will also be used a primary source
to making decision support toolbox functional in the coming years.
As elaborated above, one of the key achievements of HKKH Partnership Project was building consensus
among all partners over the development of CKNP. A roadmap was developed and agreed taking into
account to benefit from the technical contributions of all CKNP partners and realizing the fact that a
comprehensive management plan requires scientific data that would take considerable time in a terrain
like central Karakurum.
Consistent with PC-1, the HKKH approach and the CKCC management planning framework would elaborate
on the processes and tools recommended for long term planning and management of CKCC. Tourism,
communication and education perspectives would be cross-cutting to the proposed interventions, and a
five-year implementation plan (PC-1) would provide priority steps for improving approaches to planning
and management of the conservation complex.
The process followed so far and future steps are elaborated in the following system diagram.
Fig 2: CKNP Planning Process

Following the targets and timelines agreed in the roadmap above, the thematic/ sectoral plans and
valley level management plans for most of the valleys would remain to be continued beyond 2009.
4.1. Geographical and Ecological Focus
Considering the systemic approach and transboundary framework of the project and its aim to continue
support the partnership processes in management of the conservation complex, particular attention will
be placed on the areas in and around the previously notified Central Karakoram National Park (CKNP),
comprising the Shigar Valley (through Askole village) and the Hushe Valley and Nagar Valley. The whole
of the Northern Areas includes at least 12 different ethnic groups with an estimated population of
900,000 is likely to be influenced by project activities. At the same time, it is believed that the project
will have introduced new concepts and approaches of collaborative management of PAs and legislation
enabling co-management is put in place ensuring minimizing threats to vulnerable natural resources.
As the countrys largest protected area, the existing Central Karakorum National Park plays an important
role in implementing Pakistans Biodiversity Action Plan and the other international agreements related
to biodiversity conservation of which government of Pakistan is signatory.
In the time to come, IUCN anticipates to see things moving from planning to doing. The shift in
philosophy toward participatory conservation and natural resource management opens the way for a
more harmonious relationship between the national park and surrounding buffer zone communities.
Sheraz ullah Baig is working as Coordinator for HKKH Partnership

Project based in IUCN Program Office in Gilgit
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Phone : +92-5811-51192
Cell # : +92-346-8488333
4
AKRSP will Reduce itself and Create Room for LSOs to Grow: An Interview with
Izhar Hunzai, General Manager , AKRSP
KKH: Please tell us something about your early involved in the labour movement, attended ideological
life, brought up, education and initial stages of sessions, and debated strategies for revolution.
career?
In two years of college, I had hardly attended six classes,
IAH: My childhood was a happy one, full of different as a result, I failed in my F.Sc. and it took me two more
experiences. For instance, by the time, I was 16, I years to complete that stage of my education.
had done my share of goat tending and farming in
I would say that my real education started at Karachi
the village, acquired the normal years of education,
University in 1978. As I had passed my intermediate
had started and failed in three businesses, travelled
with very poor marks, I could only find a place in the
to Karachi twice; had been in love a number of times,
Philosophy department and that too with the help
and was already in wedlock. Growing up, I had a care-
of a Marxist Professor. For the first time in my life, I
free attitude to life, was not serious about anything,
became a serious student, partly because of the co-ed,
including education and had dropped out of school
liberal environment at KU. There were students from
twice before reaching 10th grade. I resumed school,
all over the world, including Palestine, South Africa,
after an encounter with the great teacher and sage,
and Malaysia. KU in 1970s and early 1980s was a great
late Sultan Ali Khan, also known as Ustad Samarkand,
place. I became involved in student politics, became
whose wisdom and support I will never forget.
aware of international issues, including the apartheid
After passing my Metric exams from the government rule in South Africa and Rhodesia (Zimbabwe, now),
High School, Gilgit, I went to Lahore for college freedom struggles in Palestine and Kashmir, the Cold
education. There I met the great comrade Amanullah War debate and the Sur Revolution in Afghanistan. I
Khan of Aliabad. He was studying engineering at that had made many friends, mostly Palestinians; many of
time and as he happened to be a relative of mine, we them were PLO fighters who went to fight in Lebanon
became close friends. He exposed me to a new world after the Israeli invasion in 1981, and never returned.
of dialectical materialism. In other words, I became I had transferred my studies from the Philosophy
a Marxist, and although I studied other branches of Department to International Relations. I finished my
philosophy in later life and presently do not consider Masters in IR with an overall A, and was lucky to
myself carrying any ideological banner, that period was be accepted at the London School of Economics and
my first serious experience in personal enquiry and Political Science (LSE) in 1983, with an International
reflection. At that time, Pakistan was going through a Scholarship from the Aga Khan Foundation. London was
quite political revolution under Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. In a whole new world for me, both in terms of personal
that frame of mind, education was the last priority for and intellectual freedoms. However, the ideologue in
me and many of my student comrades. We became me was very much alive and active. I became involved
Interview with Izhar Hunzai -GM AKRSP -37-

in an international students movement, participating in also includes religious belief. I think we all know that
every march against imperialism, nuclear armament, belief is a very powerful driver in all human endeavors.
apartheid, and so on. This strong ideological bent again Coming from a deeply religious family background, I
hurt my academic goals. I had chosen to defend the Sur might have had an extra doze of this substance, which
Revolution and the Soviet involvement in Afghanistan in evolved and encompassed other worthy things as I
my Masters thesis, arguing that it would be a disaster grew up and was exposed to more information. Thus
to use Islam and Jihad against the peoples revolution I had a greater choice and opportunity to choose my
which had essentially emanated from a deeper conflict set of beliefs in addition to those that I had inherited
between tribalism and modernism. At that time, from my immediate environment. The second point is
Pakistan was ruled by Zia-Ul Haq, and Americans were another generic characteristic common in people living
creating a monster by arming jihadis to fight their war in harsh physical environments, such as in mountain
against the Soviets. Anyway, I returned to Pakistan areas like ours. Lets call it resilience, and it means the
after submitting my thesis, completely satisfied that I art of adaptability and survival in the most difficult of
would get a distinction, but found out in a few weeks circumstances. The third point I would make is part
time that my thesis was rejected by my supervisor. personal and again part generic. This is an interesting
one and may have lessons for parents, teachers and
As I reached Gilgit, a new world was waiting for me. In
the youth. An emerging theory in education calls for
December 1983, His Highness had created AKRSP and
holistic upbringing. Implicit in this thinking is that
I was very lucky to be recruited as a Programme Officer
standard education is not only inadequate in bringing
in the Monitoring and Evaluation Section. My political
out the best in young people, but may even be harmful,
ideology began to undergo its next metamorphosis.
as it is a bit like cutting diamonds and stones using the
The official Urdu translation of AKRSP was Aga Khan
same tools.
Dehi Ishtiraki Programme, which made a lot of appeal
to a young person clamouring to bring about a peoples In my case, the fact that I did not take my early
revolution. I would say that at long last, I had found education too seriously, may have saved me from the
my revolution! Years later, I won another scholarship, harmful effects of an inadequate educational system,
this time from USAID, and did a Masters degree in thus leaving the room to experiment and learn from
International Development from Cornell University. my own experiences. Therefore, my humble advice to
parents would be not to distress themselves too much,
In 1986, I was forced to leave AKRSP as I became
if their child is not getting good marks at school!
an escape goat after a major restructuring of AKRSP,
in which many people lost their jobs. However, within KKH: Please give us some information about
two weeks, I was fortunate to be recruited as the first AKRSP? When and why it was formed and what
CEO of AKCSP. In 1998, I accepted an international job are its main objectives?
and went to Sri Lanka, where I spent five years, and
IH: AKRSP was a new experiment in the long history
met my wife, Khadija Khan, the only other person from
of His Highnesss attention to this area. Many experts
Hunza working in Sri Lanka at that time, just before I
have commented on AKRSPs innovative design and
was called back to lead AKRSP in 2003.
its approach, but let me give you a personal account,
KKH: What helped you come so far in your because it doesnt stop fascinating me even after 17
career? years of my association with it. Before AKRSP, the
Imamat Institutions working in this area were voluntary
IAH: Very hard to pin point any specific reasons. Boards, delivering basic and useful services. In creating
However, I would say, in a general sense, three accidental
AKRSP, His Highness foresaw a paradigm shift. The
factors have shaped my professional life. Firstly, the
traditional systems which created and managed public
power of belief, and I say this in a broader sense, which
goods were in decline, the government systems were

distant and inadequate, and the isolation of the area Organize (social capital), Save (financial capital) and,
was coming to an end with the construction of the c) acquire new skills (human capital). It was the most
KKH. His Highness combined a number of innovations exciting time of my life as I accompanied him to record
in the newly created AKRSP. First, it was meant to be his dialogues with the communities in the breadth and
a professional set up, led by world class experts as width of Northern Areas and Chitral. We would start
management and Board of Directors selected on merit; early in the morning and make 7-8 landings on a typical
second, it was registered under the Companies Act, not day in the helicopter. In every village that we went, his
under the Social Welfare Law, which was a common message and mannerism were the same; removing the
practice at that time for AK institutions. An amazing chairs that people would bring for him and sitting on the
decision and one that provided room for innovation ground, refusing to touch roasted lamb and chicken,
and ensured highest management and governance and going around to greet and hug everyone around,
standards. Fourth, it was meant to be an inclusive he would began his Dialogue, explaining that he was
organization working with all the communities in the not there to solve their problems but if they are willing
Northern Areas and Chitral. Fifth, to change their conditions, he had the most tested and
valid idea for them. Sometimes, he would just walk
His Highness gave AKRSP a very specific and clear away if there was not enough agreement, promising
mandate: a) double the per capita income, b) develop to return once they had made up their minds. I have
a replicable model and, c) create sustainable local learned many things from my teacher and mentor,
institutional mechanisms. Shoaib Sultan Khan, but the most important realization
that had dawn on me early in my professional life,
His Highness then gave the first General Manager of
which I have already alluded to, was the power of
AKRSP full authority, flexible and generous resources,
belief. SSK was not just doing an outstanding job; he
including a helicopter, and the assurance of his long-
was actually sharing a deeply held belief and conviction
term support.
about human potential and possibility!
So, in my personal view, the success of AKRSP was built
The history and achievements of AKRSP are well known
into its design, or one can say it was predetermined!
to readers. Let me take this opportunity to share my
Part of this visionary thinking was to look around the
thoughts on what should be the next evolution of AKRSP
world for best ideas and practices. His Highness finally
idea. As we complete our 25 years, we are challenging
selected Shoaib Sultan Khan (SSK), a disciple of Dr.
ourselves to come up with a vision for the next 10 or
Akhtar Hamid Khan, the great Pakistani philosopher
more years.
and practitioner of participatory development, who had
given up his prestigious job as an Indian Civil Service In recent guidance, His Highness has articulated a
officer to become a locksmith, and after independence clear vision for AKDN institutions working in this area.
had initiated a people-centred rural development The key elements of this vision are that the population
programme in Comila, the then East Pakistan. of this area should attain a higher quality of life,
as defined and aspired by the people themselves.
SSK was the right person for the right job at the right
Improvements in the quality of life should begin in the
time and for the right place. He set out to do something
early stages of human life; therefore, early childhood
that was never tried before in our area: building peoples
development (ECD) should be a priority in putting the
capacity and confidence for their own development. He
development and advancement of this area in a higher
saw peoples potential, challenged their will and revived
and sustainable trajectory. The security of life must be
their resilience, at a time when traditional values of
another key consideration. This means preparedness
cooperation were threatened by outside influences.
and response capacity for natural disasters, but also
SSK had a simple but a very powerful message: a)
other risk reduction and mitigation strategies, such as

food and energy security, and adaptation to climate professional organizations, area development forums,
change effects. etc. As a practical strategy to strengthen this sector,
we have developed detailed plans to formalize and
Conditions of poverty, marginalization and deprivation
professionalize this sector. One key manifestation of
must be understood in a broader, multifaceted
this strategy is to create and foster a second generation
framework, inclusive of material, spiritual and cognitive
of civil society organizations, or Local Support
development needs. Development support systems
Organizations (LSOs), rooted and accountable to V/
must be holistic and context specific and they should be
WOs. The idea behind LSOs is manifold. Firstly, there is
built on local capacities, opportunities and aspirations.
a need to aggregate demand for development services,
AKDN units must work back from a common purpose
so that the supply functions can be streamlined and
Fig 1: Community Mobilisation at the heart of AKRSP Strategy
and they should work closely with each other and with
made more cost effective. The cost effectiveness
local partners, particularly civil society institutions,
comes from the economies of scale. If the LSOs are
and state and private sector actors. His Highness is
properly trained and equipped to receive the services
particularly interested in AKDN following a holistic
from a multitude of providers, may it be government
Area Development approach in the Northern Areas and
agencies, private companies or NGOs, and mass market
Chitral.
it to households and communities, we would be able to
create a market-place for development services, thus
Responding to this challenge, we have proposed a
removing many inefficiencies in the current system.
number of new initiatives. The first and foremost is to
strengthen the civil society sector in our programme
LSOs are more than service contractors. As they
area, which is the core business of AKRSP. Civil society
represent organized communities, they bring
is a broad theme but for our purpose, it includes the
enormous clout to influence public policy, engage in
Village and Womens Organizations (V/WOs) and
collective bargaining with bulk buyers of agricultural
other off shoots of this grassroots organizational
commodities, undertake partnership projects with
effort, including producers and trade associations,
development support agencies, and can play a key role

in creating public awareness and education about key 400 million, that means that our capacity to deliver has
development choices. not diminished but the nature of our work is changing
in which we may have fewer staff and vehicles but we
For AKRSP, this approach not only represents a are channelling the bulk of our resources through LSOs.
continuation of its previous work to create local In the coming years, this shift will be more visible and
institutional capacities for self development, but an clear in which AKRSP will be engaged in the software
opportunity to consolidate and sustain its legacy of of development while leaving the hardware part to
participatory development. An interesting aspect of LSO LSO.
approach is that they are hybrid organizations, taking
half of their traits and values from the voluntary spirit KKH: What are the two most important personal
of broad-based V/WOs and half from the professional satisfactions and dissatisfactions connected
ethics of AKRSP. They can also be described as neo- with your job as GM, AKRSP?
indigenous organizations as they represent a renewal
IH:The most rewarding part of my work at AKRSP is
of traditional systems of cooperative management and
that we now have a clear strategy going forward. This
collective action.
is important because since late 1990s, AKRSP had been
For the next 5-7 years AKRSPs main focus will remain searching for a new direction, after its past successes.
on building formal systems of management and Another major source of satisfaction is that many of
governance and professional and technical capacities the young people who have been trained at AKRSP are
of LSOs. This will be done through formal trainings and now entering the broader market and taking up key
exposure but most importantly through delegation of positions, locally, nationally and at international levels.
tasks and responsibilities. Already, many of the mature Moreover, the countless men and women who have been
functions of AKRSP have been successfully taken over by associated with V/WOs and LSOs are providing a new
LSOs, including social mobilization, savings, linkages, breed of leadership to formal emocratic institutions,
project identification and implementation of a host of civil society institutions and the business sector.
projects, including small infrastructure, agriculture and

The dissatisfaction part of the question is hard to
awareness creation.
answer, as challenges are part and parcel of everyones
In the coming years, AKRSP will reduce itself and create professional life. One area which keeps my mind
room for LSOs to grow. A smaller AKRSP will then be occupied at lot in recent times is donor fatigue and lack
able to focus on innovations and new ideas. Already of funding for key programmes. Another area where
some of these ideas are being piloted, including carbon we could do more but have not made much progress is
trading, value chain development in promising sectors communicating our new message to our audiences.
of the economy, knowledge management.

KKH: What, in your opinion, are the major
AKRSP will also work closely with the local government achievements of AKRSP?
and the private sector players in improving public
IH: AKRSPs achievements are well documented in
policy, attracting investment capital and in developing
various independent evaluations, including four carried
the strategic resource of the area, such as hydropower,
out by the World Bank, and many more donor reports.
tourism, minerals, etc.
AKRSP is also imprinted on the collective memory of
I thank you for allowing me to express this new people in the Northern Areas and Chitral. They would
perspective of AKRSP as it is very important to be the best judge of AKRSPs achievements. However,
communicate what we are doing. We at AKRSP realize for the record, AKRSP was able to achieve two of the
and value the public expectations from AKRSP. But there three original objectives given to it by His Highness in
is feeling out there that AKRSP is reducing its role. I the first 12 years of its existences: these were helping
would like to say that AKRSPs budget in 2008 was PKR to double the per capita income (though attribution is
difficult given other parallel developments, including

KKH and increased public sector funding, etc.) and economy, thus avoiding the risk of future skewed
developing a replicable model of rural development. development. In some ways, it was the opposite of what
Leaving sustainable institutions behind, the third former Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz did in Pakistan. He
objective, you can say that the jury is still out on that. tried to spur economic growth using urban consumers,
However, in my personal opinion, and this impression and opening up credit markets without a sound base of
is shaped by many spontaneous comments I hear from savings in the country.
experts and ordinary folk alike, the most important
Change is always a messy business, and unmanaged
contribution of AKRSP has been reviving the community
change is fraught with many risks. These risks in
spirit and realizing a heightened sense of awareness
our context were mostly related to non familiarity
and confidence among the communities living in the
with financial management and lack of business and
Northern Areas and Chitral. I think this is an incredible
investment skills.
achievement.
Aware of these shortcomings, AKRSP took a number

KKH: How much has the micro savings and micro
of steps, including mandatory financial audit of V/WO
credit introduced by the V/WOs contributed to
savings, introduction of accounting systems, training
the local economy? Is there any research done
village and valley accountants, and insistence that V/
to see the impact on the household levels?
WO members should be vigilant and demand proper
IH: I would like to give you an esoteric answer on this accounting of their savings and other transactions
question. I mean, I would not get into the quantum of in every V/WO meeting. People still made mistakes,
savings and loaning, including since FMFBs creation, such as verbal transactions, and giving credit to risky
which is substantial and naturally there is an impact ventures outside the village. There were also incidences
when billions worth of capital is circulated in a small of outright fraud but on a very small scale, but the
economy. I think it would be more interesting for main shock came when the financial sector collapsed in
your readers to know that the real contribution goes the country, as banks reduced returns on savings from
far beyond this. Younger people would not know this as high as 18% to little more than 3%.
but in the early 1980s, cash was still a small part of
At the end of all this, what we have in the Northern
the traditional agrarian economy, especially in the
areas and Chitral is a functional rural financial
rural areas, and that a financial market did not exist
market, more careful investment decisions, and more
in any real sense. Very few people had a regular cash
importantly a broad-based micro economy. In 2003,
income. The bulk of the population kept its wealth in
AKRSP decided to create FMFB, marking the end of a
non-liquid assets, such as animals, trees, and some
formative stage, and start of a formal market based
surplus agricultural produce. Whenever people needed
financial sector. I personally think that this transition
some cash, they sold an animal, or a tree or dried fruit
form a predominantly agrarian economy to a workable
or whatever they could easily dispose off. However, this
financial market system was a great success, despite
system was on the verge of change. Left to its own
its cost.
devises, a laissez-faire economic system would have
favoured those who were well disposed, such as those KKH: What is the future of V/WOs? There
living in urban pockets or along the KKH and other is a general feeling that these informal
main roads. organizations have only become receiving
channel for implementation of NGO-funded
Essentially, AKRSPs work in this area amounted to
projects, and in some cases act only as a
creating a financial market in the rural areas, where
refuge for elderly men and women? They have
none existed before. Broadly-owned savings allowed
not become a self-sustaining institution at
participation of rural households in the newly emerging
village level, nor have turned into Raiffeisens

cooperative union? in lending to its members, V/WO should facilitate that
group. Similarly, if a group of young people want to
IH : This is a valid criticism. I do believe that we have
form a youth club, it should be considered as a V/WO
been slow in responding to changing realities on the
activity. As to the question of V/WO sustainability, I
ground. Across the Northern Areas and Chitral, change
admit that the original expectation may have been
is everywhere and there is a great deal of differentiation,
unrealistic. V/WO is too small an entity, in terms of
but our V/WO model has remained unchanged and
scale and scope, to run like a professional civil society
therefore runs the risk of becoming less relevant.
organization like KADO. But the need for an informal
Going forward, the solution lies in specialization and
and voluntary body at the micro village level is certainly
customer segmentation. In a typical village, we now
there.
see increasing trends towards diversification. Different
segments of the population are interested in different KKH: There is a general critique that AKRSP has
things, and many services that a typical V/WO provided formed these LSOs just to bundle the mosaic of
in the past are available from specialized service less performing V/WOs, and is now following
agencies. For instance, individuals and households an escapist strategy in the name of second-
can now open their private bank accounts, meet their tier social mobilization? How would you like to
financial needs from a host of financial institutions, counter this argument?
and send their children to high quality private or
community schools. Government services have also IH: To me all shades of criticism are constructive. But
improved, and the young generation is not that keen sometime, public criticism is misplaced. I accept part
on traditional activities, such as land development of the critique that relates to why this concept has not
and farming. What needs to happen in future is for V/ been fully explained in the context of AKRSPs overall
WOs to respond to these changes in a variety of ways. mission and purpose. Let me try to do just that. AKRSP
For instance, the service delivery functions, such as has always stood for creating and leaving behind
drinking water supply, electricity, and maintenance of sustainable local institutional mechanisms, which
road infrastructure must graduate from what I call the remains one of the three original goals of AKRSP. After
current general management of V/WOs to specialized 25 years of supporting V/WOs the realization has dawn
and formal management as utility companies. In many on AKRSP that informal micro level institutions cannot
cases this is beginning to happen, for instance, in many sustain themselves without a permanent support
V/WOs in peri-urban areas, V/WOs have outsourced system. This realization is not new.
water supply services to private individuals. In this

In order to sustain any form of institutional system,
model V/WO keeps the ownership of the common asset,
there has to be a clear need, professional management
but management is private. Similarly, many V/WOs
capacity and a formal governance system. KADO is a
are creating formal companies to run their hydropower
good example of this.
stations on market principles.
From the very beginning, there was a debate within
With the creation of autonomous LSOs, it is hoped
AKRSP whether or not to professionalize and formalize
that these adaptations will happen more readily and
V/WOs. A major argument was that by taking the V/WOs
rapidly and the real needs and stakeholders will begin
on that path, we would undermine their participatory
to determine the evolving role and functions of V/WO.
character. However, it was also recognized that some
I personally feel that V/WOs should act more like a
form of aggregation is needed to achieve economies
council of stakeholders, debating, reconciling and
of scale. SSK used to say that there is a participatory
prioritizing development needs at the micro level, and
model and there is a representative model, and that
facilitating specialized groups within themselves to
AKRSPs mission requires it to follow the participatory
promote specific group interests. For instance, if a group
model. Robert Shaw, the first Director of Special
of households within a V/WO wants to save and engage

Programmes in AKF, Geneva, used to argue that five In conclusion, I would say that creating an informed,
thousand years of human experience shows that confident and competent civil society sector is
you cannot run large systems, without some form of indispensible for the holistic and sustainable
representation, such as large companies or countries. development of the Northern Areas and Chitral, and
Attempts were made in the past to reconcile these the LSO idea is the right step in this direction. Far
two views by creating Cluster Organizations, but they from being an escapist strategy, it may hold the key
failed, because there was no built-in management to creating a stable and vibrant microeconomic area in
capacity and formal governance. Clusters were simply this part of the world.
an amalgamation of V/WOs, with neither specialization
KKH: AKRSP had a pioneering role in bringing
nor a clear division of responsibility between them and
women in development and creating awareness
V/WOs. Moreover, SSK never gave much credence
about larger gender equality and equity
to Cluster Organizations, because he did not have
concepts and practices. Are you satisfied with
much faith in representative organizations. The LSO
where women of NAs and Chtral are now?
design incorporates all these lessons that have been
learned, both internally and from global best practices.
IH: Since its inception, AKRSPs gender equality (GE)
At one level, they are an improvement on the Cluster
strategy has gone through several iterations, reflecting
Organization idea, but they are much more. The
changing conditions, regional variations, opportunities,
ownership and downward accountability of LSOs to V/
awareness and co-learning with the local communities.
WOs, strikes the right balance between participation
The core of this strategy is closely linked with the overall
and representation. The first test of LSO idea was how
approach followed by AKRSP for the inclusive and
SSK would react to it. He was sceptical after reading the
balanced development of small farming communities.
first concept paper when it was presented to the Board,
The GE strategy and its associated programmes have
of which he is a member. However, after a field visit,
evolved in incremental steps, in response to new
he become convinced and helped the management in
opportunities and entry points available at different
refining the idea further to make sure that LSOs are
stages of AKRSP and its changing context. For AKRSP,
truly rooted in V/WOs. SSK now believes that this is
GE goals have remained both a desirable end, and
indeed the next big idea of AKRSP, and it completes
an essential contribution to the larger purpose of
the conceptual model of RSPs which he had originally
participatory community development and social and
introduced at AKRSP.
economic transformation.
From the wider AKDN perspective also, there is a

Though difficult to measure but clear to observe and
growing feeling that this is the right time to take a more
compare with the past and rest of Pakistan, the level
professional approach to strengthening the civil society
of awareness has increased in the Northern Areas and
sector. It is clear that LSOs will not become viable
Chitral for the need to achieve balanced improvements
mini RSPs without further investment and continued
in the quality of life of both women and men in the
handholding from AKRSP and other support systems.
region.
The good news is that AKRSP is now rated as a

Though never documented in detail, the strong
Category A RSP among AKFs 9 rural development
religious and cultural resistance to womens inclusion
programmes, globally, meaning that it is here to stay
in public initiatives has diminished even in the most
for the foreseeable future. The LSO strategy has the
conservative areas.
fullest support of AKF at the highest level, which also
means that there will be clear benchmarks and the With a growing base of literate women, skilled women,
progress will be monitored rigorously by independent mobile working women, adult-literate women, income
experts. earning women, and politically active women, a critical
mass effect is being produced in this area, with positive

impacts on gender relations within the families and in time when more competent people will opt for elected
the society at large. office and public service. In the meantime, focusing on
education and self development initiatives is the right
Although many gains have been made over the
way to prepare for a better future.
past 25 years, some traditional gender roles have
been reinforced, and new ones added, this time on KKH: What are the major development
generational rather than gender lines. For example, as challenges in Gilgit-Baltistan?
a result of increased off-farm economic opportunities,
working men and women are no longer able or inclined IH: The major development challenges are self-
to share the farm labour with older members of their governance on the political front; private sector
family. This means that older women and men often development on the economic front, and peace and
have to assume even greater on-farm and household communal harmony on the social front.
workloads. At the same time, with more frequent
KKH: What factors are hindering development
school attendance, children can no longer contribute at
in Gilgit-Baltistan?
the same level to household chores and farm activities,
such as livestock herding, thereby increasing the IH: GB has tremendous potential for development.
workload on the farming women. Its strategic location and proximity to China are some
of its key strengths. At the same time, its potential
Gender disparity, despite many recent improvements,
for hydropower generation, tourism and minerals are
persists in our area, but to a much lesser degree than
unmatched. The major hindrances include political
observed in the recent past.
marginalization and lack of investment capital.
KKH: Critics say that greater involvement of
KKH: Your message for the farmers, women
NGOs has depoliticized the people of Gilgit-
and youth of Gilgit-Baltistan?
Baltistan and made them NGO dependent?
How would you respond to this? IH: We need to work on many fronts. The ideal situation
for Gilgit-Baltistan would be to work for a responsible
IH: It is true that growing influence of civil society
local government system, based on participatory
organizations may have blunted the political aspirations
democracy and a people-centred development policy.
of the people. But, lets look at the bright side of
Next, we need to work for a vibrant private sector,
it; a strong civil society and a peaceful and non-
without which growing social and economic needs
confrontational approach to negotiating ones political
cannot be met. Third, we need to keep our focus on
and constitutional rights has its own merits. This is how
developing a robust civil society sector. Most crucially,
Qaid-e-Azam conducted his freedom struggle. Gilgit-
the key to future success in a rapidly globalizing world
Baltistan will one day get its due rights. That will be the
is to build our human and intellectual capital.
KKH: Thank you so much for enlightening us with your thoughts and experiences.

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Decade of Hope and Accelerated Action: A Personal Story and Reminiscence of
5
the Challenges and Dynamics of Fostering Area-based Indigenized Institutional
Actions in Hunza Valley
GHULAM AMIN BEG
It was July 1994, when I first landed in Gilgit and visited Karimabad Hunza as Programme
Manager, Festivals and Crafts Promotion with AKCSP, after spending almost 14 years in Karachi.
In order to relate the relation of events and learning in this account, it is important to narrate my
personal story. It was Karachi, where I completed my school, college and university education, and did
part-time jobs during my studies with a number of private companies, besides extensively stretching
myself in wide array of voluntary works and activism through initially with the scouting movement
and junior cadet corps, and later converted to and associated myself with the progressive movement
through student, cultural and political activism, espousing and promoting rights-based, humanistic and
progressive values of freedom, justice, peace and equity expressing these through journalistic writings
and debates in study circles. I still commit myself to this side of the political divide and selflessly
connect to any agenda of reformation and transformation.
While teaming up with the group of student activists from Northern Areas and Chitral residing in
Karachi, we were engaged, at times, in arm-twisting in the true student politick of the time, and at
other occasions, we had to engage with and co-opt the diverse interests of students from Northern
Areas and Chitral creating an alliance and consensus in promoting a culture of table-talk, dialogue and
decency in dealing with authorities that mattered. Obviously, not everybody was happy what we did and
were up to.
My activism and commitment to do something different continued, every time we met with friends at
teashops, parks, events and forums in Karachi. There were always discussions about our people, our
heritage, our history, our area and what and how we may be able to contribute to the development of
this poor region and freedom of our people from repression and powerlessness? Beside working and
supporting our student community in Karachi, we used to curse ourselves of our inability to unite our
people on a minimum common political agenda, how we are colonized by Islamabad and brutally governed
by bureaucrats imposed by Pakistan, and how ineffective and self-serving our political class has become
and how the hidden hands that rule Pakistan and Gilgit-Baltistan have applied the time-tested policy of
divide-and-rule in creating hatred and in making non-issues a big issue almost disabling and blinding
people to see the big picture.
We used to look at many strategies and instruments on how to translate the good socialist and humanist
values and slogans and notions of freedom, we religiously believed in, into actions at the micro level?
Frustrated by apathy of the people and energized by happenings around the globe and the perestroika
and glasnost of the 1980s in Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, we talked of bloodless revolutions through
popular uprisings, to penetrating the power structures and bringing change from the top through a
gradual process. We talked of demonstrating oases of peace and prosperity through green revolution
of farmers by first focusing on ending economic deprivations to launching constitutional and non-violent
struggles of students and the youth. We looked, nostalgically, at the sudden onslaught of non-state
actors (NGOs, international organizations, foreign funded Madrasa projects in the 1980s and early 90s,
and the suspicious role of state apparatus in creating sectarian tensions. We considered them both a
curse and blessing. Curse because the development projects were funded mainly by the western donors,
and religious groups were funded by interests in other some Muslim countries to further their interests,
Decade of Hope and Accelerated Action -49-

seemingly a response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the Islamic Revolution in Iran and to
contain Chinese influences in this sensitive region., and at the same time largely depoliticizing the youth
and the society through non-political actions. Blessing because we thought the situation and strategic
game was providing opportunities to create modern organizations and entering the vacuum created
by the demolition of the feudal states in Gilgit-Baltistan, addressing the social and economic problems
of the poor, promoting values of self-help, self-reliance, accountability and transparency and was
organizing the farmers and introducing new agricultural inputs and technologies, new skills and access
to micro-credit and that it was ending up isolation and marginalization of the poor people through farm
to market roads.
Our group was so diverse that while discussing these and the constitutional question of Gilgit-Baltistan,
we always remained divided; some terming it a class struggle, others called it a nationality and identity
question, still others believed it was an instrument for economic colonialism and a conspiracy of global
in Hunza
Fig 1: Tajik Artists from China performing during the Silk Route Festival
imperialists to keep us disenfranchised and to maintain the status quo in order to use this strategic area
in the future to challenge rising China, and China , Pakistan and India all using us as a bargaining chip
to settle their own border disputes and interests. We are pawns in this new great game.
The solutions we used to discuss were always diverse; identify and integrate ourselves with the
downtrodden people of Pakistan, create links with the nationalists in the small provinces, create alliance
with the Kashmiri nationalists and work for a united Kashmir, to supporting the pro-independence
groups and carve out an identity of our own based on historical facts.
But at the end of every late night discussions and half a dozen cups of tea and layers of paratha, we
used to return home unable to agree on a single prognosis and failing to find the means to engage in

direct action and mass mobilization. We agreed to continue the study circles and creating awareness
through press releases, demonstrations and continue publishing the political magazine from Karachi.
Back to Hunza, when I started work in 1994, my first activity at AKCSP was to operationalize the concept
of Silk Route festival in Hunza. After a week long attachment at Lok Virsa in Islamabad with Uxi Mufti
and late Dr Adam Nayyar, where I was briefed and oriented on how to organize festivals and exhibitions
and preparations for the upcoming Islamic Artisan-at Work Festival in 1994, where AKCSP was entrusted
to arrange welcome mini-festivals at Sost, Gulmit and Karimabad for the Chinese cultural entourage, I
returned to Hunza. This was a successful event we organized with the support of the regional and local
councils in Karimabad and Wakhi Tajik Culture Association (WTCA) and the local council in Gulmit and
we also fully participated in the Artisan-at-Work Festival in Islamabad introducing Hunza and Gilgit-
Baltistan culture, both built structures, crafts and performing arts, which were well received.
Encouraged by this, and as a preparation for the opening of the Baltit Fort in 1996, AKCSP organized
the Silk Route Festival in 1995 in Gulmit and Karimabad with much fanfare. The term Silk Route Festival
has since then became a known brand.
It must be interesting that, it was probably 1992, when H.H. the Aga Khan visited BRAC in Bangladesh
and he was briefed about the Aorang crafts project. I was told by AKCSP at that time, that H.H. asked the
leadership accompanying him, if AKCSP could initiate similar project in Hunza as part of the community
development project linked to the restoration of the Baltit Fort. AKCSP hired the services of Uxi Mufti
and Hafiz Karamally to conduct a feasibility study for arts and craft promotions in Hunza, which they
submitted. Based on their recommendations, a Design expert (daughter of Agha Abidi) was invited from
Aorang. She made a visit to Gilgit and Hunza and produced a guideline/manual on how to start a craft
development project on the pattern of Aorang in 1993.
I was asked by Dr Stefano Bianca of AKTC and Ramazan Merchant chairman AKCSP to study these two
reports and come up with a concept note on how to initiate a craft development project. Both of them
and Ghulam Mohammad, EO AKCSP provided me guidelines on how to do it. Based on the reports and
after meeting some artisans and visiting handicraft shops I submitted a sketchy note named Karimabad
Handicraft Development Project (KHDP) which was in turn submitted to SDC in Berne by Dr. Bianca for
funding support. The concept mainly focused on starting a one year action research into various craft
components mainly embroidery starting with test production, test marketing and documentation of the
vernacular designs and based on the learning start a full-scale project. It was revealed at this point,
that another craft development proposal named Karakoram Handicraft Development Programme (KHDP)
was submitted to the same donor by Izhar Ali Hunzai of AKRSP on behalf of an organization in Hunza
called Karakoram Handicraft Promotion Society (KHPS), and Didar Ali was its Executive Director. This
proposal mainly focused on commercializing local sharma rugs by constructing a factory in Mominabad
and training young weavers requiring upfront investments in machinery, construction and acquisition of
land.
Advised by SDC, this led to the merger of the two concepts. I was told by AKCSP to organize meetings
with Izhar Hunzai and Didar Ali and work out if we can work together. It was revealed that AKRSP was
not interested in the project as partner, but as facilitator, as the KHPS and KHDP was a local community
initiative. However meetings with Didar Ali concluded that KHPS was initiated by the regional council
Hunza and the President of the Council Dr Muhammad Aslam had formed a committee headed by ustad
Malik Shah and members include Dr Khwaja Khan, Didar Ali, Jan Alam, subedar Faraj, Muhammad Din,
Mirza Hasan to support the project. Three to four rounds of meetings were held with Dr. Aslam, Didar,
Ustad Mailk Shah and Didar, and after initial hesitations, mistrusts and apprehensions, we agreed to

sign a terms of partnership between KHPS and AKCSP to jointly develop and implement the project
called KHDP.
Didar Ali became the contact person and Executive Director of KHPS and I was named as Project
Manager KHDP by AKCSP. Ueli Ramsier the Swiss textile anthropologist, who initiated the sharma rug
proposal with Didar and KHPS became the technical advisor for the project. We traveled to Islamabad,
held meetings with SDC and submitted the revised concept note to Dr. Bianca, who based on the earlier
proposal submitted by KHPS developed a merged proposal, which was approved by SDC in February
1995 and we started a nine months pilot phase. This was the beginning of a new handicraft development
project in Hunza, as well as collaboration between AKCSP and KHPS whereby it was agreed that AKCSP
will build the capacity of KHPS enabling it to take over the KHDP project from AKCSP after its exit.
It was during the formulation of the pilot phase in early 1995, one day, we were sitting with Ramazan
Merchant at the lobby in Serena Hotel Gilgit where Didar and I had a brief chance meeting with H.H.
Prince Amyn Muhammad Aga Khan. He took interest in the handicraft project and the fact that this was a
first project with the Swiss by any AKDN agency in the world. He also enquired about the use of sharma
Fig 2: KHDP Project - women Artisan at work
rugs as under layers of carpet and whether we might be looking into the feasibility of promoting bronze-
based crafts in Hunza.
When Izhar Hunzai left AKRSP, Dr. Bianca asked him to provide consulting support to KHDP as marketing
consultant, which he accepted and guided us through. Later, he became the CEO of AKCSP. Through
leaps and bounds, we were able to implement the action research project by identifying and training
women artisans, producers and creating marketable products which we brought to the market during the
opening of the Baltit Fort in 1996 through staging an exhibition. The pilot phase recorded a sale of Rs.
80,000/=, creation of a secondary production unit, documentation of the vernacular crafts and survey
of the crafts of Hunza and design and development of a long-term project with SDC. At the same time
KHPS was reorganized, a board was formed and the board was involved in all discussions and strategic
and tactical decisions and in designing the new phase.

A day before the opening of the Fort, AKCSP staff was introduced to H.H. the Aga Khan at the entrance
of Karimabad Polo ground. When my turn came, I introduced myself and the project name as handicraft
project. H.H. replied oh handicraft project, I love handicrafts. We took this as an approval of our initial
work and our motivations run high. We vowed to work hard and hard to scale up the project and make
threadnet Hunza as a quality brand.
Once the main phase of KHDP started in 1996 for three years, I was asked to become the Programme
Manager and together with the board, we hired other project staff to do the operational work and the
physical targets of the project start rolling. New responsibilities and challenges emerged, mainly how to
get out of central Hunza alone and reach out to lower and upper Hunza for reasons of equity and larger
buy-in?, how to manage conflict of interest of the board members by setting principles for separating
public and private good as well as the psyche of putting my village first?, and how to develop systems
and processes and create a harmonious relationship between the governance and management functions.
Autonomy and independence from AKCSP and any direct or indirect influence was jealously guarded
by the board and the members.
Seeing new challenges and opportunities, led by Dr. Khawaja Khan, who provided committed and honest
leadership throughout the formative and expansion periods, the KHPS board was anxious to expand
and grow. The motives and drives of the members for expansion were diverse and conflicting. Some of
the members found our neighbors pastures always looked greener. I remember in the board meetings
activists like Subedar Faraj talking about the successes of Naunihal Development Organization (NDO)
in Nagar and how they were fetching donor and government funding, and the inability of the Hunza
people and AKRSP senior staff from Hunza to guide the Village/Women Organizations (V/WOs) in Hunza
to create institutions like NDO.
I also recall the uneasiness among some of the council and community leadership about remarks of the
then General Manager AKRSP that AKDN was seriously thinking of withdrawing from Hunza, because the
primary needs of the community are already met, and for reasons of equity, the AKDN was not in position
to meet the undue demands and secondary needs of the Hunza community alone, as other communities
in Northern Areas are still lagging behind. Therefore prescribing to form an umbrella institution.
Still others believed that there was a need for a non-profit company to incubate private sector and
develop an elite group of entrepreneurs who would provide jobs and trickle down benefits to the
society.
A minority segment of the society, to which I was a convert, were of the view that in order to mobilize
the sleeping people of Hunza and create critical mass of politically and socially conscious activists there
was a need to create forums and institutions which address the basic needs and rights-based issues and
economically empower the poor segments of the society.
There was seemingly convergence on the means and the long-term interests and after deliberations all
came to the same conclusion; there was a need to create our own institution, which was self-sustaining,
autonomous and all decisions are made locally.
For the KHPS board the challenge was however how to transform the KHPS from a handicraft promotion
society to regional level development institutions with the ability to respond to the changing political,
economic and employment landscape in Hunza? How to inculcate broader visions as the board and the
KHDP project gets confidence, capacity and trust of the people? What type of institutional mechanism
is required to create income and employment opportunities for women and the poor, revive the cultural

assets and protect the urban environment in the face of growing urbanization in Hunza and engage in
lobbying and advocacy.
While these debates were on in KHPS, parallel to this, AKRSP Hunza office organized a Hunza forum in
1997 whereby inviting all V/WO activists from all over Hunza and also attended by executives of AKDN
institutions. This forum recommended creating a Hunza-wide institution, with local chapters in upper
and lower Hunza. One recommendation was to transform KHPS to take this role.
When Izhar Ali Hunzai became the CEO of AKCSP, he used to regularly attend KHDP-KHPS meetings.
During the deliberations, he proactively encouraged the KHPS board to agree on forming a new
organization by the name of KADO (initially named as SKAD- Society for Karakoram Area Development).
I was asked to start the documentation and registration process, which was later incorporated under the
Companies Act 1984 in Gilgit in 1998. Earlier, in 1997 AKCSP handed over its solid waste management
project designed for Karimabad to KADO and this way Hunza Environmental Committee (HEC) gave
birth. When the general body was formed, we looked for both institutional and individual members. All
the V/WO clusters of central, lower and upper Hunza, Karimabad Business Association, regional council,
AKCSP and ASWES Hunza were registered as institutional members and founders, where initially 24
notable activists, literati and development practitioners from right, left and center in Hunza subscribed
as members.
In 1998, the board formed a strategic planning committee to develop a vision for KADO. We developed;
Vision 2005 development framework for KADO, which served as an evolving strategy document, which
was revisited in 2001, after 9/11, again in 2004, 2006 and 2008. The document set vision, objectives
and focus-areas and also highlighted a long-term direction in terms of three institutional outcomes of
the projects and programme-based endeavors.
During the period of developing strategic planning, we started discussing the concept of transforming
Hunza into a silicon valley! One day Didar Ali, Ali Ahmed and myself were discussing whether it
was technology or social mobilization that transforms society? After hours of discussion we agreed
that both are important, but technology has a real edge in our context. Hence, the vision document
mentioned ICT and knowledge society as key concepts. The same year KADO and AKEPB Hunza organized
the first ICT seminar in Hunza, and we took the ICT awareness campaign to Councils and Schools in
upper and central Hunza. Though in the private sector there was already a training institute in Aliabad,
this campaign sensitized the educational providers and within one year schools started computer labs.
KADO also established a pilot computer centre, called Rural Computer Literacy Centre at Murtazabad in
partnership with a local library.
Encouraged by Comsats provision of ISP in Gilgit, KADO launched the first development website by
the name of threadnethunza.com.pk. With this Izhar Hunza, while at IWMI Colombo, helped to create
a link with IDRC, PAN Asia Singapore and drafted a concept to sell TNH projects online. We submitted
the proposal and it was approved. Ali and myself went for a fellowship at PAN ASIA Singapore and we
launched the first MOS e-shop of KADO. While in Singapore we met Dr Zbig and Dr. Lafond of IDRC and
discussed the silicon valley concept. He encouraged us to go for a rural silicon valley why not?
This led the birth of the ICT4D project between 1998-2002, the establishment of ISP in Hunza and the
action research projects, which later Javed Iqbal and Ghulam Ali helped concretized and implemented
in partnership with Comsats.
Despite changes in leadership at AKCSP and differences on how to treat KADO and the KHDP project,

we followed all the milestones and commitments and handed over the KHDP project to KADO in the set
timeframe. Even the festivals and arts promotion project was transferred to KADO enabling them to
form Hunza Arts and
Fig 3: KADO Internet Services facilitated Tourism and other

Culture Forum
(HACF).
After AKCSP formally

handed over KHDP,
HEC and HACF to
KADO, I joined
AKRSP in spring
1999. However, in
November 1999,
KADO recalled me as
Manager KADO and
I continued in that
position till July 2001
before I resigned, and
served as Advisor till
March 2002 and later
remained as board
member 2002 and
Sectors
2004, and currently
serve as member of
the general body.
The journey continues. Reflecting back, it seems we are moving in the direction, the founding members
envisioned. Not to glorify our past achievements and current successes, there are enormous challenges
and opportunities ahead.
Hypothetically speaking KADO would fail in the next decade if; i) it lost sight of its primary constituency:
the poorest of the poor, women, youth, special persons, artisans/artists, business community and
the local institutions, ii) its governance is not inclusive, non-transparent, with no-accountability to
base members and lacking vision and strategic thinking, iii) it compromised on quality, merit and
professionalism in hiring and firing staff and in implementing projects and programmes and finally vi)
it neglected to flag, protect and promote and uphold the human rights and universal values of peace,
freedom, pluralism, equity and justice and did not proactively network with institutions and partnership
with similar organizations in Gilgit-Baltistan, in the mountain region and globally.
If we consciously work to address these challenges mentioned above, we will surely be able to indigenize
this local institutional movement for self-reliance, freedom and autonomy in Hunza valley in the next
decade and serve as catalyst to lead change in the whole Gilgit-Baltistan as torch-bearer of the civil
society movement in mountain regions.
The writer is affliated with AKRSP as Programme Manager Knowledge

Management / PDP.

Harnessing Culture for Local Development
Gold Case
Glass Case
Bell Pull
6 Development as Transformational Politics: A Case of the Northern Areas (Gilgit-
Baltistan)*
MEHPARA HUNZAI
1. INTRODUCTION
T he 1.2 million people inhabit the high mountains of the Karakoram-Western Himalayan region, currently under
the control of Pakistan, but also claimed by India as part of the wider disputed area of Jammu and Kashmir
(J&K). The people of the area have been denied their fundamental rights for the last sixty years, despite having
waged a war against the ruler of Kashmir and opting for Pakistan in 1947. The Constitutional status of the area is
unsettled, despite the Supreme Court ordering the federal government to grant constitutional rights to the area
.
On the development side, the area receives more public sector funds on a per capita basis, and strong complementary
development support from Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), mainly from Aga Khan Development Network
(AKDN).This has produced an interesting dynamic, characterized by blunted political activism but improved social
and economic wellbeing related to other comparable remote regions of Pakistan, such as Baluchistan and Federally
Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
This paper considers the utility and relevance of development through civil society activism, as an effective
additional tool for gaining incremental political empowerment in the Northern Areas. This approach is similar
to other non-violent methods of political struggle, such as the political philosophy of non-violence, espoused by
Ghandi in the Indian Sub-continent, but it offers many additional features. Ghandi combined non-violence with
non-cooperation, but the outcome was not so non-violent.1 Northern Areas experience has been distinct as non-
violence and cooperation with government on development issues.
This approach may be called development as transformational politics, or political transformation through other
means, and it offers key promises that may be relevant to other conflict-prone regions around the world, especially
after 9/11 where genuine political struggles can be branded as terrorist activities and suppressed without any
question. Firstly, it offers a non-ideological view of political discourse with a clear focus on development, thus
posing no threat to, and attracting no particular counter-reaction from the dominant authority maintaining the
status quo. Secondly, it co-opts the state in creating a new social contract with its citizens and their civil institutions,
in which the non-state actors share the burden of development and in creating a new division of labour and
responsibility between the state and its citizens. Thirdly, this incremental approach may provide an answer to the
failure of democracy in many countries around the world, including Pakistan, by having the promise to nurture
inclusive and democratic processes of development and governance at the community level.
The paper begins with a theoretically framework that grounds the arguments, assessing the role of civil society
actors with a strong commitment to participatory development and democracy, using the case of politically and
economically marginalized Northern Areas.
* This paper is a summary of a Masters Thesis submitted to the University of London.

1
Raat ki Raani, News. 2007. India-Pakistan Partition: the Human Dimension
Development as Transformational Politics -57-

2. Theoretical Framework perspective of indivisibility of freedoms. Sen rejects
the typical gulf between the civil and political freedoms
Development has many dimensions; from economic
and economic rights, and argues that in its holistic
growth, social change, cultural renewal, political
meaning, development without other freedoms cannot
maturity to a general advancement in quality of life.
be thought as fulfilment of basic needs alone4. For
Development is also equated with modernization and
Sen, it is a continuum. Development is necessary for
transition from tribal and agricultural modes of social
overcoming violations of elementary freedoms, as a
organization to urban and industrial modes of living. All
process of expanding substantive freedoms that people
of these definitions are linked to values of freedom, free
have.5 Thus the stages of economic development bring
political discourse and democratic norms of decision
about variations in freedoms and capabilities.
making. Stemming from the Age of Enlightenment,
the modernisation theory argues that technological
The connection between political freedoms and economic
and economic advances would enable peoples moral
development has been recognized in theory but largely
and cultural values to change. In other words these
neglected in practice within the United Nations system
advances would eventually modernise societies.
and individual countries (P. Alston, 1994). The 1948
The concepts of functionalism first drawn up by the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaimed both
French philosopher Emile Durkheim highlighted the
political and economic rights (UN Doc A/810, 1948),
interdependence of institutions and their interaction,
but the subsequent drafting of two separate protocols
with the maintenance of cultural and social utility2.
divided rights into civil and political rights (CP Rights)
In Emiles book The Division of Labour in Society;
and economic, social and cultural rights (ESC Rights).
social evolution was compared to biological evolution
Most industrialized countries in the world have accepted
arguing that like organisms, societies pass through
ESC rights, except the United States.
stages of progress3. By adapting to their surrounding
environments and interacting with other societies, a
2.1: Current Development-Democracy Debate
society in theory will graduate from a mode of simplicity
There is broad consensus on the strong link between
to one of advancement.
development and democracy. However, this consensus
begins to degenerate into a chicken or egg debate
With respect to democratization in developing
in countries where democratic systems have failed for
countries, a new discussion has evolved around the
one reason or another.
political culture concept, which has been perceived to
be a crucial link between economic development and
Democracy first advocates argue that unless a
democracy (Leys, Colin, 1982). This analysis includes
country or a region does not have a functioning political
a measure of political traditions as a signifier of not
system in place, one that is democratic and has rule
only the democratic quality of the objective dimensions
of law and extends the basic liberties to its citizens,
of political life, i.e., polity, politics and policy, but
true development cannot take place. David Kilgour
indirectly also for the subjective dimensions of politics,
states that stability and security are prerequisites for
i.e., political culture and traditions. For instance,
economic growth and development.6 He further adds
government for the people by the people requires
that any discussion of initiative of development must
popular values, such as moderation, tolerance, civility,
start from promoting peace, democratic development
efficacy, knowledge and participation.
and good governance. Without these three ingredients,
no amount of foreign aid, no matter how carefully
Amartya Sen in Development as Freedom, brings
spent, can ever achieve development, no matter
into the progression of politics and economics the
2
Kenneth Thompson, 2002 edition. Emile Durkheim
3
Kenneth T- Emile
4
Amartya Sen, 2001. Development as Freedoms
5
Sen ( Pg 297)
6
Speech to Board of Directors, North-South Institute By David Kilgour, Secretary of State.

how we define it, development can only be built on a However, in the absence of these rights, should people
foundation of political stability. A democratic system simply wait, take on the state in a confrontational way,
will trigger a virtuous cycle of development, as political or build their capacity to fight for their rights in an
freedoms are granted, citizens are empowered to press incremental way, is the question that has become the
for policies that work to expand economic and social dominant view in many developing countries.
opportunities, the participatory component ensures all
have a say in the decision making. This transition has In the Northern Areas, the case for development
taken place, presumably, in countries like Indonesia, can be made more forcefully, because it offers an
Mexico and Poland, where democratisation has created alternative to the democratic deficit at the national
free press and civil society participation that affects level. The case may have wider appeal to situations
national policy.7 The basic argument is that with political where political interests of the dominant groups, are
freedoms come initiatives for development, for people simply unprepared or unwilling to grant political rights
to take their lives into their own hands. It is crucial to territories under their control, because of their
here to question how grounded the ideal of democracy perceived national interests.
is, especially as development is so closely tied to its
emergence. 2.2: Civil Society and the Process of
Democratization
Others argue that the interplay between the political Civil society is a broad term and it means any
and economic spheres is more true, which creates an associational action on the part of citizens. The notion
interdependence. For instance, Kofi Anan says, peace of civil society was born out of the excesses of the
and development are inextricably linkedone feeding absolutist state in the seventeenth and eighteenth
the other, enabling the other, and securing the other. 8 centuries. Within the theory of European liberal
political philosophy, there began an emphasis for a
On the other side of this debate, it is increasingly being private and public sphere. As Western Europe began
felt that representative democracy is not a panacea for to industrialise, male property holders asserted the
all ills, especially in societies with a feudal and tribal right of individual to operate freely in the market space
make up and low development attainment. The notion without intrusion by the state.9 Thus civil society was a
that democracy can simply be supper imposed rather space created for development of the society that lay
than being nurtured has been questioned by a growing outside the state.
number of sceptics who argue that social movements
steeped in peoples basic concerns create a true appetite Civil society empowerment provides a check on the
for democratic systems. This goes to show the gradual excesses of the state and the business sector, and
process that is required for a country to familiarise assumes a role where the state is not the sole agent of
itself with a democratic system. Therefore, the general development. The common belief lies within the idea
argument is that democracy is indispensable, but its that between the private sector, which is the engine for
success is grounded in public awareness, its political growth, and the state sector, which holds a monopoly
roots and the degree of emancipation of its people, over laws and policy, a mediating and balancing force
which appears to be a function of development. is needed that ensures equity in access to opportunity,
thus politics and polity are incomplete without civil
The liberties of a democracy, such as political society action.10
freedom, citizens rights, participation, and holding the
government accountable are, of course, desired ends. The main question that this research is primarily
7
Human Dev report 2002..
8
Speech David Kilgour
9
Chandhoke, Neera. 1995. State and Civil Society: Explorations in Political Theory
10
Neera Chandhake

concerned with is the role of the civil society as an broader scope of development and democracy is
expression of popular will, a method for expressing evolving continuously. To some degree, the NGO sector
voice, and a precursor to social movements. Social has become both a competitor and an accomplice
movements can play a defining role where traditional of the state. The unenviable task of the civil society
political parties have failed to bring about desirable sector is to support and oppose the state at once, while
change for internal or external reasons. Annis (2003) alternating between the development and political
has argued that in politically circumscribed societies, rights of its constituencies.
people look towards NGOs for short and long-term
support to keep their dreams alive. 2.3: Civil Society as a Catalyst for Social Change
This relationship between the state and the civil
NGOs bargaining power within the political context of society sector is a precarious one. It calls for strategic
a country remains limited. NGOs can play a key role in engagement with the state for enabling policy, services
social movements but they have limitations in realising and resources, but not at the cost of independent
the ultimate political goals11. Social movements are judgement. Again, the development-democracy
spontaneous, motivated by a popular idea or grievance, discussion becomes relevant. In a democratic set
and expressed through a sudden eruption of public up, the role of civil society is readily accepted
protest, rather than result of a sustained organisational and accommodated. Here the supplementary and
effort12. Spontaneous social movements that triggered complementary role of competent NGOs is naturally
transition from authoritarian rule to civilian governance, accepted and even rewarded as a missing service that
such as in Chile, Philippines and currently in Pakistan the state sector cannot provide.
in the form of an active Lawyers movement, have their
limitations. They could not sustain the public support The larger, more democratic, better organized and more
and ultimately have to relent or dilute their objectives. resourceful the public sector, the greater the incentive
The NGO sector, which sided with such dramatic for the civil society to play its full role by interceding on
movements, has also been discredited for its lack of behalf of the poor for a fair share of national resources
a post-transition vision. Thus, it is fair to say that civil and equal opportunity.13 On the other hand, within poor
society can be equally elitist and divorced from more or politically repressed countries, there exists limited
durable paths of effecting change in a real sense. range of options for NGOs to play a meaningful role.
Jenny Pearce in NGOs and social change: agents
On the other hand, there are NGOs and other civil society or facilitators argues that NGOs can be the front
actors that are primarily focused on creating capacities voice of the poor and the helpless, a role that has
and capabilities for change, without an explicit political evolved from facilitators of development processes
programme. They work on development issues, but to agents of change.14 The former role is important
they are able to catalyze change and transformation, for empowerment of the poor; enabling them to
without being seen as party political. This is also true in challenge the large scale power structures which blunts
the case of Northern Areas, where NGOs have largely their development. Therefore it is no surprise that in
treaded a non-confrontational, development oriented areas with previous experience of either repression
path. or interventionist states, people look positively on
the role of NGOs.15 This is due to the changing view
It is not always easy for NGO to promote these that NGOs can help strengthen civil society through
objectives, without upsetting the government channels empowerment and create a sphere which will protect
and donor networks. The role of NGOs within the a society from the return of the intrusive state.16 The
11
Ibid 11Pearce or Annis
12
Ibid 11Pearce of Annis
13
S. Annis, 1987. Can small-scale development be a large-scale policy? The case of Latin America
14
J. Pearce, 2008. Development, NGOs and civil society; the debates and its future
15
Ibid 11
16
Ibid 11

idea is that NGO work can empower the powerless within a period of six months from today to make
to fight their battles. This is specially the goal with necessary amendments in the Constitution...to
the formation of new institutions, such as the World ensure that the people in the Northern Areas
Social Forum; which works to encourage global civil enjoy their fundamental rights, namely, to be
society as the driver for social change. Thus NGO-State governed by their chosen representatives, and
partnerships must be strategically formed, keeping in to have access to justice, inter alia, for the
mind their priority to the voiceless, their support to enforcement of their fundamental rights under
grassroots level organisation, while also forming an the Constitution. (Quoted in an article in the
influencing relationship with the state. Daily News by M. Ismail Khan: 2005)
The court gave the government six months to amend

To understand the workings of the debates above in the constitution; however, it took the Government
practice, this paper will look at the case of the Northern six years to set up a Court of Appeals, and to
Areas of Pakistan and will aim to analyse how the role upgrade the Northern Areas Legislative Council,
of NGOs and state has evolved and interacted. To begin but without any real authority. The Leader of the
the analysis a general overview will be presented with House was given the title of Chief Executive, but
a short introduction of the area, evolution of political through a slight of hand, all the executive powers
setup, and the development impact of public-NGO were given to the Chairman of NALA, who remains
partnership. the Federal Minister of KANA, who is not elected
locally. These amendments and orders fall far
3: Context of Northern Areas short of the clear and specific direction of the
honourable Supreme Court.
Sixty years after the Gilgit Rebellion and voluntary
accession to Pakistan, the NAs are continued to be A municipal committee in Pakistan continues to
ruled from Islamabad through the Ministry of Kashmir have more powers than our legislature, in spite
Affairs and Northern Areas (KANA) , whose minister of the fact that the Supreme Court has given us
acts as the Chairman of the Northern Areas Legislative the right to self-rule. This is nothing less than a
Assembly (NALA). The Minister/Chairman is responsible blatant violation of the 1999 judgement (Crisis
for policy, administration and development in NAs and group: Asia report N 131:2007).
also for signing legislation into laws.
The demand for fundamental rights by the people has 3.1: Current Development Status
so far been ignored by the government. Some residents The NAs are still considered as a poor part of Pakistan
of Northern Areas and Al Jihad Trust, therefore, filed in terms of per capita income. The Socio-Economic
two constitutional petitions in the Supreme Court Survey conducted by AKRSP in 2006 reported that the
seeking relief in the year 1994. A five-member bench annual per capita income is only Pakistan Rupee (PKR)
of the Supreme Court gave its landmark judgement in 8,676 (equal to 62 Pounds) which is about half the
the case in CP 17/1994 on May 28. 1999. national average.17 However, the NAs have undergone
it was not understandable on what basis the a rapid process of socio-economic transformation in
people of the Northern Areas can be denied the past two and half decades. Income levels have
the fundamental rights guaranteed under the risen roughly three times in real terms since 1991;
Constitution. We are of the view that the people poverty levels have declined from an estimated 67% of
of the Northern Areas are citizens of Pakistan the population to about 25% during the same period.
for all intents and purposes. They have the Head count poverty now stands at par with national
rights to invoke any fundamental rights... The figures. Literacy levels for both men and women now
Court went on to say: We allow the petitions surpass national averages (Ibid).
and direct the respondent federation to initiate
appropriate administrative-legislative measures Government is the largest provider of development
17
AKRSP, March 2007. An Assessment of Socio-Economic Trends in the Northern Areas and Chitral, Pakistan (1991-2005), Pakistan.

services and social protection. In recent years, public first General Manager of AKRSP, refers to creation of
sector funding for NAs has increased significantly. The a concept called champions of change within the
rapidly improving standards of living in NAs are the government. This was done on multiple levels: local
result of a number of factors, including consistently level government officers accompanied AKRSP field staff
increasing trends in public sector investment, particularly to project areas to see firsthand results of community
the effect of improving road and telecommunication based programmes. The creation of NRSP and other
systems, and a well conceived development support RSPs led to a nation-wide movement for participatory
system offered by the institutions of the Aga Khan rural development, which has emerged as the largest
Fig 1: Map of Northern Areas of Pakistan
Development Network (AKDN), particularly the Aga NGO sector in Pakistan.

Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP). Despite this close relationship with the government
AKRSP has maintained a good degree of independence
As a key development support organization with a from institutions of the state, so that it wouldnt drift
strong civil society development agenda, AKRSP has from its primary mission to serving the poor.
been working closely with the government. This policy
was based on the realization that the state had the
4. Analysis of the Situation
primary responsibility to meet the development needs
of its citizens and co-opting the state for the bottom up The fundamental question for the people of the Northern
development was seen as the best guarantee for the Areas is why successive governments in Pakistan have
continuation of the development efforts. Secondly, it remained so reluctant to grant them their fundamental
recognized that the primary role of NGOs was to come up political and constitutional rights? The question is
with innovative programmes and projects, which could particularly important because the people of this
only be scaled through government sponsorship. remote region have fought a war in November 1947 to
be full citizens of Pakistan. The next question is given
This public-private partnership (PPP) between the inability of Pakistani Government to accede to the
government and AKRSP flourished as a result of the legitimate rights of people in the Northern Areas, what
demonstration of the efficacy and effectiveness of should be their best course of action?
the participatory model. Shoaib Sultan Khan, the

The failure of democracy has been the greatest tragedy This insecurity may be the main cause of lack of
in Pakistan, which has prevented it from achieving decentralization and devolution of political rights to the
its ideals, including development of its people and Northern Areas.
equality of its citizens, as well as giving due rights to
the minorities and marginalized areas, such as the Successive governments in Pakistan have remained
Northern Areas. The root causes of Pakistans economic hostage to the issue of Kashmir, even when everyone
and political woes lie in its feudal legacy and the winner- realizes that settling this issue at terms favourable
take-all approach to governing that has been practiced to Pakistan are remote. The last Military President
by successive civilian and military leaders.18 Like many tried to be innovative in this area but failed, because
other things in the country, democracy has also become India would not make a deal with an undemocratic
a valued commodity monopolized by the ruling elite. government in Pakistan. Only a well established
In its current form, representative democracy imposed democratic government in Pakistan can take the nation
from the top will continue to remain a contest of power, into confidence and settle the issue of Kashmir. Until
prestige and political patronage within the ruling elites, then the Northern Areas have no chance to attain self-
dominated by the feudal lords. The military fits neatly rule. Because of its strategic location, linking China
into this well developed pattern of regime recycling, once and Central Asia with South Asia, Northern Areas will
the excesses of the previous civilian government reach remain an important bargaining chip for both India and
a breaking point. The military has become a necessary Pakistan.
part in this political drama; so are the sectarian lords,
whose political capital has also enhanced with growing In the meantime, in light of the Supreme Courts
apathy and alienation of the population that remains verdict, the Federal Government is engaged in offering
largely poor and illiterate. cosmetic changes, backed by political bribes in the
form of significant development funds to the area. This
But then what is new? Political culture all over the world being the current reality, what is it that the people,
remains elitist, and for all practical purposes, the will political leaders and civil society in the Northern Areas
of the people is just a notion in political theory. This can do to promote their own ideals, i.e., democracy
cynicism apart, elections and other political processes and development?
are important steps for evolving democratic norms
and institutions in the long-term. Moreover, there Fortunately, in the absence of a real role for political
are no real alternatives to democratic discourse, and forces, civil society has flourished and it has also had
elections provide a unique and peaceful opportunity for a positive impact on the political development of the
leadership development and transition. The basic issue population. Many of the civil society activists, who
is how to improve and upgrade the political culture were trained in development issues through AKRSP-
and increase meaningful participation by the majority supported Village and Womens Organizations, are now
of citizens, who are poor and illiterate and, therefore, elected members in District Councils and NALA. Unlike
prone to intrigue, manipulation and the blackmail under their counterparts in the rest of the country, they do
the prevailing political culture. not belong to political families dominated by feudal
lords, but are educated, middle class individuals, well
The Northern Areas are the only part of the country grounded in social and economic issue and development
without formal constitutional rights. But Pakistan has practice. A measure of this political maturity is that
a dismal record in the rights of others also, including the local Legislative Assembly (NALA) has been
human rights, political rights of small provinces, completing its full term for a third consecutive time,
womens rights, minority rights, and so on. Thus there while no provincial or national assembly in the rest of
is a pattern to this denial of rights and it is rooted the country has completed more then a single term
in its failure to develop and democratize its polity. over the last 30 years.
18
Foreign Affairs, November / December 2002

the bedrock of a strong civil society movement in the
4.1: Civil Society, a Surrogate for Peoples Northern Areas, have demonstrated that people power
Power? or social capital, if channelled in the right direction, can
Although, participatory democracy should remain an accomplish Herculean tasks. This action can become
important goal, increasing citizens say in public affairs far more effective than typical government responses,
need not be limited to direct involvement in party in addressing major challenges, such as poverty
politicsboth are necessary. This can be achieved by reduction, managing natural resources wisely and
other means, such as articulating citizens will through in a sustainable manner, and in resolving intractable
civil society action. This is a relatively new route conflicts.
paved by the communities in the Northern Areas, and
has proven to be an effective method for promoting Social mobilization provides a missing link for greater
democracy in a real sense. participation of citizens and institutions, including
government, business, community organizations, and
Civil society action is no substitute for public discourse NGOs in sustainable local development strategies.
through formal democratic institutions, but it can Experience throughout the world has demonstrated the
contribute to improving overall governance and limitations of over-reliance on governments to provide
participation in a variety of ways, including providing a full suite of social, economic and environmental
an additional check on the public sector actors and services. A more institutionally plural approach to
institutions through public debate, evidence-based meeting local development challenges is, therefore,
scrutiny of public policy, resource allocation and other best guaranteed by a higher degree of collaboration
decisions. For instance, in many countries, including between the state, civil society, and the business sector
India, the alternative budgets prepared by the civil to improve stakeholder participation in local decision-
society groups through grassroots participation, are making.
regarded as powerful tools to precipitate public debate.
Forcing governments to do their proper homework Lessons learned by AKRSP and other RSPs show that
and defend or sometimes reverse their priorities and social mobilization techniques aimed at collective action
resource allocation decisions in the face of strong are effective in overcoming a variety of handicaps
public criticism on some undemocratic or unsustainable common in many parts of rural Pakistan. This includes
actions. low endowment in natural resources, poor state of
human capital and high levels of social fragmentation
More importantly, civil society action and participation that lead to subsistence conditions.
in major challenges, such as poverty reduction, social
justice, and delivery of social and livelihood services, Available evidence shows that social mobilization
makes them important and useful partners with public techniques are effective in: a) reaching out to all or
sector initiatives and programmes. Here the role of civil most of the poor households; b) enhancing financial,
society is more supplementary and complementary to social, physical, human and natural capital; c)
public sector policy and action. Without a doubt, the increasing productivity, equity and sustainability in
broad roles and functions played by the civil society, resources use and management; d) adding value to
ranging from checking the excesses of the state, to public and private sector services through economies
complementing it by sharing the burden of development, of scale and cost and management sharing; and, e) in
makes them an indispensable part of the polity. forging meaningful public-private partnerships (AKRSP;
Valleys in Transition, 2006).
People in the Northern Areas, in addition to voicing their
demand for legitimate political and constitutional rights, However, to succeed in these efforts, social mobilization
have been actively participating in civil society actions, interventions must be: a) promoted by apolitical,
particularly in issues dealing with local development. professional intermediaries; b) imbedded in the
The broad-based community organizations, which are local institutional history; c) follow local preferences

for organizational forms; d) infused with democratic g) inclusive of all or the majority of households,
norms; e) continuously renewed with organizational especially poor; and, h) linked with public and private
knowledge; f) backed by active government support; sector services (Ibid, p. 56).
6. Conclusion
People in the Northern Areas of Pakistan are engaged in a strange kind of struggle. They are making a case
to be part of the mainstream political life of their country, as opposed to distancing themselves from it.
And yet, they are told that they are a disputed region and therefore cannot be made part of Pakistan. In
most cases involving territorial disputes, the argument is other way round. Even in the case of J&K, both
India and Pakistan are trying to exclude each other from the territory in dispute, and have established
special autonomous governance systems for the parts that are under their control. Not even the relief
provided by the countrys highest court has any significance, which is at least understandable, as it has
now become an established fact that the only court decisions that matter are the ones made in favour of
the government in Pakistan.
Because the Northern Areas is strategically important for Pakistanit provides a land link with China
through the Karakoram Highway, which is significant from a military point of viewthe only way to keep
people happy is by providing the area with generous financial support and impose no taxes. The people
of the area have no incentive to change their mind about Pakistan as the situation of people in Indian-
controlled Kashmir and the historical animosity and cultural differences with Kashmiries is a sufficient
deterrence to entertain any thoughts about opting for India. Although people are disappointed that their
legitimate demands are not met, they are not going to turn away from their ultimate political goal to join
Pakistan. In the meantime, people are building their capabilities and gradually and incrementally making
reasonable progress on the development front.
The development potential of the Northern Areas is huge in terms of its water resources for hydropower,
mineral resources, tourism potential and opportunities for trade and transit with China and Central Asia.
The government has plans to build two mega hydropower projects in the area, and it has signed an
agreement with China to widen the Karakoram Highway. There are also long-term plans for a rail link with
China and even a pipeline for transporting energy to China from the Middle East. If the current development
trends continue, the overwhelming majority of Northern Areas population will become literate in the next
ten years. This will be a huge demographic dividend for the Northern Areas. With a literate population,
a solid start in development, huge resource potential and a confident and informed civil society and,
hopefully, stable democracy in the country, the dream of self-governance will be closer than ever and more
meaningful and rewarding.
The author is a Hunzukutz, currently working in Bangladesh.

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THE PROCESS OF SOCIETAL TRANSFORMATION: KHYBER VILLAGE EN-ROUTE
7
TO DEVELOPMENT
FAZAL AMIN BEG
During the last half century, Khyber village in Upper Hunza (Gojal) went through diverse experiences,
encountering hardships and conflicts as well as pleasures and happiness in socio-economic and politico-
cultural realms. This paper attempts to review the societal transformation process in the village by using
AKRSPs intervention year (1983) as a point of reference. This would enable us to develop an outlook of
the changes and development through the perspective of local community.
1.Introduction
K hyber is spread over an area of 330 sq km and is situated at a distance of 187 km from Gilgit City towards the
northeast. The village is located at an altitude of 10,000 ft above sea level. The 828 individuals of the village
live in 108 households (64 in the centre and 44 in Imamabad). The people speak two languages: the Wakhian
old Eastern Iranian language (also prominently known as a Mountain Tajik language), and Burushaskia unique
language of the world as its family root is not yet traced out. The villagers are genealogically affiliated with six
different descent groups, i.e., Sobir Ktor, Sakhi Ktor, Bahor Ktor, Hassan Kuts, Shah Kuts and Akbar Ali Kuts
that have their prominent roles in development of Khyber. All these inhabitants belong to the Shia Ismaili faith in
Islam.
2.Development Scenario before AKRSPs Intervention
Before the intervention of AKRSP, the people had sole dependency on agro-pastoralism (agriculture and livestock
raising). The people were growing limited quantity of baqla (black beans), barley, wheat and potatoes for household
consumption. In horticulture, only few farmers were growing spinaches, and people had limited number of fruit
trees especially apricot.
After the opening of the Karakoram Highway (KKH) in 1978, some villagers attempted to venture in business and
some affiliated with services especially Pakistan army and Aga Khan Education Service (AKES) as teacher1. The
literacy rate was very low for both men and women, even though the first school was opened in the village in
1950. There was no health facility in the village and people heavily depended on the traditional healing methods
such as the local hakeems. The khalifareligious authority at the village leveland Ostons (shrines) had their
dominant roles in providing spiritual healing and satisfaction to the people.
Kinship created strong economic dependencies and social bondages among the descent groups. Intra-clan, parallel
and cross cousins marriages preferred. There were strong gender-biases, and women were showed down and had
no say in decision-making process, within and out of the house.
Political structure for governance included a village headman, representing the Mir (ruler) of former Hunza State,
assisted by his Usher (chorbuew); and all the communal activities revolved around him. Abolition of the Hunza
State in 1974 led to the power transformation. The Government introduced its administrative structure and the
Jamati/religious (voluntary) Institutions such as the Shia Immami Ismaili Councils and Religious Education Boards
established social governance set-ups in the village.
1
Aga Khan Education Board (AKEB) for Hunza established DJ school in Khyber during 1950 and Mr Qurban Shah after completion of his primary
education from Baltit acted as the first teacher. Mr Muhammad Sirat after completing Middle education joined the school after 1954.
The Process of Societal Transformation -67-

The abolition of Hunza princely state brought up internal conflicts not only in the village but rather within the
households who bifurcated into pro- and anti-Mir: these days under the umbrellas of Pakistan Muslim League and
Pakistan Peoples Parties. The negative facets of this phenomenon still have its implications on the society, which
clandestinely hampers the development process.
The Karakorum Highway (KKH), which passes through the Khyber village at its length, brought new avenues and
diverse opportunities to the people in terms of its accessibility to and interactions with other villages and regions2.
The communities however also had constraints in terms of capacity (knowledge) and financial resources.
3. AKRSPs Intervention and Developments
3.1: Mobilisation and Social Organisation
In a difficult circumstance, AKRSP initiated its function in Khyber village with community mobilisation through
community leaders and jamati institutions. The intensive mobilisation has resulted in the formation of Village
Organisation (VO) Khyber on July 11, 1983 with 55 memberships3. The VO members started weekly meetings and
savings from one or half a rupee4.
3.2: First PPI to the VO: Construction of Irrigation Channel
In 1983, the VO members passed a resolution in their regular meeting to construct an irrigation channel for a
barren land, which was not possible till that time due to resource constrains. AKRSP approved their resolution
and granted Rs. 93,444 for the community identified project. Enthusiastically, the VO members constructed
the irrigation channel in 1985. Thus, VO Khyber became a model (an active) VO during the initial years of the
interventions of AKRSP in Northern Areas.
The VO members, according to the directives of AKRSP, did collective labouring in developing the barren land (801
kanals) before dividing the plots among the households. The collective labouring strategy was developed while
taking in consideration the inability of some members to develop their respective plots.
The community developed the land within about two years of collective labouring. The members who could not
participated in labouring paid fines of more than one hundred rupees on daily basis.
3.3: Shoaib Sultan Khans First Visit to the VO Khyber
During the development of the new settlement, Mr Shoaib Sultan Khan, the Founding General Manager of AKRSP
along with the then Chief Secretary visited the VO Khyber to witness the achievements of the local community. This
created a new linkage between the Northern Areas bureaucracy and the local community. The Chief Secretary, on
request of the community, ordered the construction of bridge for Karimabad settlement, by replacing the unsafe
suspension bridge.
2
The village elders said that they never dreamed to witness such revolutionary developments during their lifetime.
3
In 1983, there were 55 households in Khyber, which has doubled as in 2007 there are 108 households. The main reason of abrupt
increase in number of households was the joint families bifurcated in order to get a piece of land in the new settlement.
4
The weekly savings of the VO members reached to Rs. 9,313/- in 1984. Savings for 2005 was Rs. 906,468/-. It is noteworthy that
savings of the VO Khyber was around 1.5 million but decreased due to internal lending , as some members could not recover it and
their savings went in.

3.4: His Highness, Prince Karim Aga Khans Visit to the VO Khyber
His Highness, Prince Karim Aga Khan visited the new settlement5 in October, 1987 and applauded the efforts
of the V/WO members made for the socioeconomic development of the villagers.
Fig 1: His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan and Shoaib Sultan during the
visit of Khyber in 1987.
3.5: Beginning of Conflicts among the VO members over Collective Labouring
The first rift started among the VO members when some of the questioned about the lack of participation of many
households in collective labouring on newly developed land. These people were of the opinion to distribute the
plots among the members and the respective owners would be responsible to develop their allotted lands. To
resolve this issue, the plots were equally divided among the villagers through toss system.
3.6: Heifer Project to the WO Khyber
The Women Organisation Khyber was formed on February 9, 1984 and there were initially 72 members (more
than one member from a household). Through this WO, AKRSP provided a heifer project to the village. The
project provided 10 heifers, 10 calves and one bull and established a Dairy Farm in the village. This was a project
of WO, but the VO members dealt the project, as the women per cultural norms, were unable to regularly travel
and live 2 km away from the village. This project also got a great boom. The milk was commercialised and sold to
distant villages50 km away such as in Sost and Gulmit. This project benefited the villagers in many ways. Three
VO members were employed at Rs. 800 per month. The people however faced problems in collecting fodders for
the dairy farm. The VO members volunteered time to collect fodder from far flung areas, some 200-250 km away
from the village. Those who did not participated in fodder collection were fined.
5
This new settlement was named Karimabad after the visit of His Highness, Prince Karim Aga Khan to Khyber.

3.7 : Conflict over Heifer leading toward Separation of V/WOs Khyber
However, after two years, severe conflict arose among the members on the issue to collect fodder for the dairy
farm. Around half of the members refused to participate in the project activities, and there were only 25 members
left. Many people demanding separation of V/WO. This issue was raised in a conference in AKRSPs Office, Gilgit.
According to the then President of the VO, Dr. Akhtar Hamid Khan, a globally renowned development Scientist of
proposed the separation of Khyber V/WO.
Ultimately, the conflict on heifers led to division/bifurcation of V/WO Khyber in V/WO Khyber and V/WO Imamaabad.
It is explained that undercover of this phenomenon was political issues and reaction for the leaderships in the
V/WOs, and fodder for the heifers was just an excuse.
3.8 : Distribution of Heifers
Later on, the heifers were distributed among 20 members according to a toss system. Individuals, especially
women, started feeding the heifers proactively. Therefore, through the V/WOs, ten more heifers and two bulls
were provided to the members, who get maximum benefits and were very pleased. The local cows were sold,
and now about 80% of the community members have heifers and crossbreeds/hybrids and the families have got
abundance in milk and other dairy products.
3.9 : Restart of V/WOs
The V/WOs Khyber Centre restarted its journey after coming out of their hardships, as cited above, and while the
V/WO Imamabad began with its novice spirit with their savings and other activities and trying to move forward
from each other. The savings of these V/WOs, which can give us some insights, as under:
1. VO Khyber Centre 17/02/2005 Rs. 906,468/-

2. VO Imamabad 19/12/2005 Rs. 550,116
3. WO Khyber 2006 Rs. 1, 100,000 (1.1 Million)
4. WO Imamabad 19/12/2005 Rs. 195,000/-
3.10 : V/WO Banking: Internal Lending/Credit System
One of the major activities of the V/WOs were internal lending system in Khyber. AKSRSP provided these
organisations a sizeable amount as credit and kept the TDRs of these organisations as deposits. The V/WOs lent
that amount of credit to the needy members at an interest rate of 24% per annum. The loans were taken in line
with businesses, educational fees of children, health emergencies, land development, and purchasing agricultural
inputs. It was a good experience at first, but adequate rules and regulations were not formulated and strictly
adhered to. Consequently, the V/WO Khyber (when united) and later on the V/WOs of Khyber and Imamabad
faced bitter experiences.
The current office bearers of these V/WOs are now optimistic and have determined to recover the loans from the
borrowers that were given before and after bifurcation of the V/WOs. Furthermore, efforts are there to decrease
the high interest rates down to maximum 12%, while currently it is 16%.
3.11: Competition between the V/WOs and Emergence of SKIWO for the Reunification
The conflict among the V/WOs turned into a sort of less positive competition. Some of the youth (neutral and
educated) were the silent spectators observing these phenomena. They took the initiative to reunify the V/WOs

by providing an umbrella organisation for them. The youth after broad consultations with the V/WOs succeeded to
form Shahi Khyber-Imamabad Welfare Organisation (SKIWO) in 1990 as an umbrella organisation for V/WOs.
4. Role of SKIWO
SKIWO not only played its role in reunifying the community, rather became a legal entity (registered with the
government through social welfare act in 1992). Eighteen persons (three persons from each clan/descent group
of Khyber-Imamabad) were selected as members of SKIWO for a period of one year. These 18 members then
elected the office bearers7.
Since its inception, this locally clan-rooted social welfare organisation, has been resolving all local issues and disputes
of the village. SKIWO also took a marvellous initiative in conservation of the nature for human developmentthe
idea disseminated by AKRSP to the V/Wos. It imposed bann on hunting ibexes and other wildlife, deforestation
and unnecessary extraction of minerals within Khybers area of jurisdiction. In the beginning, some hunters,
strongly resisted and perceived it a jealousy. But gradually, campaigning for around five years, with both mild
and wild behaviour, the hunters compelled and announced to relinquish hunting, if the steps are taken for the
communal cause. This was a unique success of SKIWO.
5. Formation of SKIDO as an Umbrella Organisation
Some officials in AKRSP were initially sceptic of SKIWOs role among the V/WOs, as they considered the emergence
and presence of SKIWO a sort of threat to and meddling in the affairs of V/WOs. Therefore, SKIWO was not
given due recognition in the beginning. Later on, the same respective official(s) in the AKRSP suggested that the
umbrella organisations scope needs to be broadened. In this connection, Shahi Khyber-Imamabad Development
organisation (SKIDO) was formed in 1995 and registered with the government under the company act. Thus,
development in its holistic perspectives, ranging from social to economic, cultural to environmental and physical
development was included within its focus areas.
SKIDO is now the umbrella organisation of Khyber. SKIWO, and the two VOs and two WOs of Khyber-Imamabad
form the general body of the SKIDO. The respective organisations then select/elect members for the executive
body for a period of one year. The office bearers include the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and the like.
Under SKIDO, different committees operate for control over free-grazing, conservation of nature, management
of schools etc.
After its inception, SKIDO has been actively contributing to the community by creating linkages and partnerships
with different organisations in public, private and NGO sectors. In partnership with Mountain Area Conservancy
Project (MACP) of the IUCN, SKIDO constructed an irrigation channel above the old irrigation channel of Khyber.
In addition, a Guest House was also constructed at the cost of Rs. 1.5 million in the village. With the financial
support of the government (Khushal Pakistan Project), SKIDO successfully completed the irrigation channel of
Mastan Kerch.
SKIDO is now determined to bring further mega projects for its community by establishing linkages with national
and international donor agencies for the rural development, which it could not do so far.
6. Formation of Khyber Seed Growers Association
There is also a business association of the farmers called Khyber Seed Growers Association (KSGA) with a
membership of 37 local farmers. KSGA supplies potato seeds of high quality in all over the region. This is also
noteworthy that every year, the per sac price of KSGA seed remains higher than other villages.
7
This strategy still exists in SKIWO.

7. Rural Women Economic Development Project
For around two years, a native philanthropist, named Shaukat8, has taken a noble initiative to have his share in
Khybers development, especially for women. In this regard, he formed an organisation with the name of Rural
Women Economic Empowerment Project (RWEEP). The key objective of RWEEP is to help the rural women of low
income group to generate and increase their income, and build their capacity by providing them skill enhancement
trainings. Mr Shaukat has donated his house and vehicle to these women. Shaukat has donated his fields to the
women in order to cultivate potatoes and earn money for different activites of the organisation.
Local women were trained in sewing, knitting, cooking, embroidery and other areas of income generation. The
philanthropist provides free of cost cloths for the sewing centres. RWEEP has also opened a computer centre
for the young/less educated and students of Khyber. Before RWEEP, the Aga Khan Social Welfare Organisation
(AKSWO) within Sost Ismaili Council also provided the rural women some training for skill development, as
mentioned above.
8. Summary and Conclusion
In summing up, todays Khyber is not that village, which was before the AKRSPs intervention in 1983.
Political structure has transformed from an autocratic ruling to more democratic rather social governance.
Previously, there used to be a village headman, lumbardar (autocrat of the political institution at village
level), but now the lumberdars role has transformed into the modern village councillor elected by the
community. Gender-bias with regard to women was high, now to a greater extent, this has decreased.
Traditional agricultural and horticultural crops have transformed into market based crops (especially
potatoes, both seed and ration/table). Different varieties of vegetables are now grown while previously9
only few households were growing limited spinach, carrots and turnips for household comsumption.
Previously, there were very few fruit trees, especially. apricots, though some people had apples varieties,
but now a large number of apples, apricots, pears, cherries, almonds etc have been planted by the
farmers, introduced by the AKRSP.
The locally less productive cows have been replaced by highly productive heifers and crossbreds/hybrids.
The numbers of goats and sheep, which were high before, have not only decreased rather some community
members have given up in result of labouring. Previously, children were great supporters for the goats
and sheep caring, now children are not spared for this purpose, as they pursue their education, and more
particularly the quality education.
The previously traditional system of tol10 (credit of grains) has been replaced by the modern credit/internal
lending in the V/WOs and the scheduled banks.
Intra-clan/ cross and parallel cousins marriage was preferred which is now decreasing and discouraged
by literate community. Kinship-based voluntary works in the fields have decreased, which are preferred
previously. For such works, now labourers are hired from Ishkoman, Yasin and Baltistan.
The previous household patterns with regard to the traditional latrines have changed to the additional
modern rooms with bathrooms. More investment and emphasis is now made on education rather quality
education and hygienie issues , as there wasnt such awareness. Emphasis is made towards business and
commercialisation, as these components lacked before.
8
Mr Shaukat, a native of Khyber, is currently the General Manager of Landscaping for the Serena Hotels in Pakistan.
9
Previously or before in comparison refers to the socioeconomic conditions of the people before the AKRSPs intervention in 1983 in
the village.
10
Tol was a traditional system of lending grains (wheat, barely & baqla) to the needy persons as credit.

Practical campaigns are taking place for the conservation of nature that was considered ridiculous before.
Afforestation is more encouraged in contrast to the deforestation that was in practice previously. Ibexes,
blue-sheep, snow-leopard and other wildlife have been given protection, which was a mockery again, and
were hunted. The ibexes, without any fear, come down to the village and Karakorum Highway.
SKIDO is working hard to broaden its linkages with relevant organisations in order to multiply the benefits
of modern eras to the villagers. The key challenge may come up for them in sustaining voluntarism.
Fazal Amin Beg developed this paper as Consultant, Monitoring, Evaluation &
Research (MER), AKRSP. He is a development Consultant & Researcher.
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From Local Village to Global Village: A Media Perspective
8 SULTAN AHMED
O ld societies of remote regions that have existed

without change for centuries like the Gilgit-
Baltistan and which have suddenly been exposed to
politics. The second group of women (influenced by
media) was shown discussing Indian dramas, movies
as well as political issues ranging from Pakistan to the
shocking views of life through the electronic media and whole world and, of course, cricket.
the computer are struggling to come to terms with the
transformation to their values and mores of living. The emerging situation is proving difficult for locals
of my village to understand. People find themselves
Sociologists have noted three different kinds of exposed to the dilemmas, hopes, despair and struggles
responses that this exposure is encountering: the of a much larger world than they have known. Some
creative response of the young educated people people believe this development to be very positive,
who would find their way to swim with the tide; the while others would argue that it is eradicating our
traditionalist response of rejection based on the fear the cultural value systems. Annabelle Sreberny (Media and
new world would swallow up their values and traditions Cultural Studies, Key Works p. 621) has developed
and the response of those who have accepted change a tool to examine this kind of issue from different
as lifes principle and believe change would revitalize angles.
their stagnating cultures.
The first category, according to Sreberny is a happy
Take my case. I was born in a small village in the post-modernist approach, which involves integrating
Northern Areas of Pakistan, where we had few contacts cultural texts into lives in creative ways. In the context
with the outer world. My parents, like other villagers, of Northern Pakistan, an example would be the
were associated with farming and livestock. The whole educated youth who see an opportunity in the media
population was illiterate, except our teachers in the for the purpose of development and prosperity as I did
small village school. TV, VCR, telephones and computers in getting admission to a Canadian University on-line.
were unknown. Few people had radio sets. People
gathered to listen to news broadcasts at community The second category Sreberny discusses is the
places. It was in 1989 when I moved to Karachi for melancholy political economist who is suspicious of the
further studies that I saw a computer for the first onslaught of western or modern culture industries. This
time. I was 14 years old. is a major group that believes foreign media is capable
of eliminating cultural and religious values. The people
When after ten years, I went back to my birth place I in this school of thought are mostly illiterate about
found things had changed dramatically. I saw satellite internet and its use. They have heard some stories and
dishes all around, and realized that the people in my instances of how internet has been misused in certain
village were no longer limited; rather they had become contexts. They have never been oriented to the wealth
part of the larger village that Marshal McLuhan calls of knowledge that can be accessed through internet.
the global village. Today, in my village, people are able They are also worried about the various channels and
to see what is happening around the world. This is an cable. This group is of the view that media stand for
amazing revolution that has brought new dimensions to nothing but vulgarity.
the lives and thought patterns of people. For instance,
in a stage show by local school children in 2006, the The third category, according to Sreberny, is the
students showed comparison of two groups of women cautiously optimistic Fourth-Worldler, who sees the
discussing matters of mutual interest. The older group possibility of revitalization of local identities through
(of 1980s and before) was shown discussing village media. This category also stands true in many cases
issues like agriculture and livestock and petty village where the differences of language and ethnicity come
From Local Village to Global Village -- A Media Perspective -75-

into play. In case of the Northern Pakistan, some people community. On the other hand, there is always a danger
live extremely remote and media like radio gave them that people in such remote areas may become unaware
a sense of connection. One of the languages spoken in of their indigenous culture and become overwhelmed
the region is actually spoken on the highlands of three by the media power, as, according to McLuhan, media
other neighbouring countries. These people had no is so powerful that it can impose its assumptions on
way of conversation and were confined within their own the unwary. So, those villagers, like many other
national boundaries; they had a feeling of suppression marginalized communities, have neither the choice
and sense of exclusion. Luckily, a radio programme was to shun the electronic media, nor the well developed
initiated in the same language and people on all the discernment to be wary of what emerges from that.
A Hunza Girl during 1930s (Lorimmer Collection) Hunza Girls in 2009
four borders managed to connect as one community In such a situation, the civil society, academia and
through this medium. youth have responsibility to understand the nuances
of electronic media; so that besides development, the
To conclude, in the case of a small, remote village, which indigenous cultural heritage and values are able to
was largely deprived of communication in the past, survive in this journey from local to global village.
mass media has offered inclusion in the international
The Writer is CEO of Rupani Foundation.

We take pride in helping our customers with commitment.
Noor Shah Filling Station
Aliabad Hunza, District Hunza-Nagar
Northern Areas Pakistan
Phone +92-5821-55045

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Karakoram Knowledge Highways (KKH) Issue 2

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Karakoram Knowledge Highways (KKH)

Whistling with Knowledge

Rupani Foundation ventures into Production Phase

Rupani Foundation, a global leader in sustainable development of mountain

You are encouraged to get services at our produc-

For more details, please contact:

Rupani Foundation, JJ Market, Adjacent Alfalah Bank, Jutyal Gilgit, Pakistan.

GHULAM AMIN BEG

District Hunza-Nagar, Zulfiqar Ali and KADO Staff

Northern Areas of Paksitan

The opinions expressed in the various articles are those

Ensuring Sustainable Management of Central Karakoram

Decade of Hope and Accelerated Action: A Personal Story and

GHULAM AMIN BEG

Offering Jewels from Hunza

Products and Services

Gems Project Office , Karimabad Hunza

Karakoram Knowledge Highways (KKH) -7-

To meet your montly needs

Log on to www.soneribank.com or contact us at 0800-00500 (24/7 call centre) for assistance

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Fig 1: Silk Route Network

2. Ecological diversity and spatial utilization patterns in Central Asia

Great Game in the Pamirian Knot -9-

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3.The Great Game in Central Asia

Fig 2b: Great Game II

Great Game in the Pamirian Knot -11-

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Great Game in the Pamirian Knot -13-

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Fig 3: Afghanistan - borders of a buffer state

Border delineation and the

5. Boundary-making and its effects for diverse developments

Great Game in the Pamirian Knot -15-

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5.1. Wakhan, Shughnan and Darwaz - symbols of division in Badakhshan

Fig 5a: Badakshan in mid-19th Century

Great Game in the Pamirian Knot -17-

The Wakhan Corridor of

The stromstrich boundary

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5.2. Chinas boundary with Afghanistan and Tajikistan

Great Game in the Pamirian Knot -19-

Only by a written permission

5.3. Border disputes within the Soviet Union and thereafter

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dissolution of the Soviet Union

5.4. Future prospects and conflict resolution

Great Game in the Pamirian Knot -21-

6. Effects of boundary-making and two transformations in Central Asia

cooperation. Regularly open

The second exogenous

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Great Game in the Pamirian Knot -23-

Djan-Zirakyar, R. R. 1978: Stammesgesellschaft, Nationalstaat und Irredentismus am Beispiel der Pashtunistanfrage.

Felmy, S. (1993): The Dividing Line. In: Newsline 5 (5-6): 72-78

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Great Game in the Pamirian Knot -25-

1. The Context of Globalization and Effect on Cross Border Cooperation

2. Economic Changes in the Mountain Areas

Cross-Border Value-Chains and Competitive Advantages for Mountain Areas -27-

Table1: zBorder Trade through Khunjerab Pass between Pakistan-China Border

Source: Central Board of Revenue, Sost Office 2007