Skip to main content

Posts

Featured Post

Beyond Degrees: The Radiance of Character-Driven Knowledge

By   Syed Shamsuddin One may have often reflected upon the saying, "Degrees are merely receipts for educational expenses; true knowledge is that which shines through one's character." This succinct yet powerful statement draws a clear distinction between formal education and the kind of wisdom that is lived out through humility, empathy, and ethical conduct . It seems to stem from the collective observation of ordinary people , who, through their interactions with officials and administrators, have come to notice a recurring pattern: an unsettling disconnect between academic qualification and human decency . In many encounters, particularly in bureaucratic or administrative contexts, this disconnect becomes painfully evident . What is especially disheartening is that even officials occupying the lowest rungs of the hierarchical ladder —clerks, assistants, or minor staff—often adopt an air of arrogance or haughtiness , mimicking the behavior of those in higher positions....
Recent posts

Danyore’s Dangerously Altered Waterscape: A Community on the Brink

By   Syed Shamsuddin A devastating cloudburst over Manogah Nullah has thrown Danyore into turmoil, triggering a crisis that threatens the very lifeblood of this densely populated mega-village. Once a stable and reliable waterscape sustaining both daily life and an agro-forestry-based economy, the area now faces an unfolding catastrophe marked by infrastructure collapse, environmental degradation, and growing public despair. The deluge that began on July 21, 2025, ravaged the village’s two main water arteries: the essential irrigation canal and the piped drinking water supply. These were not mere conveniences — they were critical to survival. The flash flood choked the nullah, disrupted its natural flow, and destroyed the infrastructure that had long underpinned Danyore’s agricultural and domestic life. In the immediate aftermath, local volunteers and the administration moved swiftly to initiate emergency restoration, particularly of the irrigation channel — a race against time t...

Verses of Peace: Remembering Jamshed Khan Dukhi

By   Syed Shamsuddin I came across the publication of the late Dukhi’s Urdu poetry in Adab-e-Shumal’s Facebook post today, August 3, 2025, which prompted me to present it hereunder. حج سے واپسی پر — مرحوم جمشید خان دُکھی مجھے دیکھو کہ مدینے کے نظارے لے کر آیا ہوں، سجا کر اپنی پلکوں میں ستارے لے کر آیا ہوں۔ نہیں مایوس مستقبل سے مسلم قوم کا ہونا، کہ میں اتحادِ ملت کے اشارے لے کر آیا ہوں۔ کرو پیوند کاری رحمتوں کے کوہساروں پر، نمونے جبلِ رحمت کے میں سارے لے کر آیا ہوں۔ جو بوؤ گے وہی کاٹو گے، یہ قانونِ فطرت ہے، صلۂ اعمال کے حاکم تمہارے لے کر آیا ہوں۔ “On Returning from Hajj” – Late Jamshid Khan Dukhi Behold me now, returning with visions of Madinah in my eyes— Adorned with stardust cradled softly in the lashes of my gaze. Let not the Muslim nation despair of the days to come, For I have brought with me the signs of unity and brotherhood. Stitch the shattered seams upon the mountains of mercy, I bring with me the very symbols of Jabal al-Rahmah. What you sow, so shall you ...

Gilgit-Baltistan at the Climate Crossroads: Federal Government Vows Lasting Solutions

By   Syed Shamsuddin Towards a Sustainable Future: Federal Government Pledges Permanent Solutions for Gilgit-Baltistan’s Climate Crisis Gilgit-Baltistan — a region that cradles Pakistan’s towering glaciers, sparkling rivers, and fragile mountain ecosystems — is increasingly under siege from the mounting impacts of climate change. Often referred to as the country's "water towers," its vast glacial reserves feed the Indus River system, sustaining agriculture, energy, and livelihoods across Pakistan. However, the region now faces a pattern of intermittent disasters: flash floods, glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), erratic weather, and ecological degradation — all exacerbated by unchecked human encroachments and poor planning. Amid this critical juncture, the Federal Government has voiced a firm commitment to adopt a long-term and systemic approach to mitigate and manage the worsening environmental situation in Gilgit-Baltistan. In an exclusive conversation with Tahir Ra...

Mini-Dams, Reservoirs, and Resilience: A Strategic Pathway for Climate Adaptation, Afforestation, and Land Expansion in Gilgit-Baltistan

By   Syed Shamsuddin Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), Pakistan’s northernmost mountainous frontier, is facing the compounded threats of climate-induced disasters , deforestation , and chronic water stress , worsened by a surge in cloudbursts , glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) , and the degradation of fragile highland ecosystems. In this context, the construction of mini-dams and reservoirs emerges not only as a feasible solution but a strategic imperative to mitigate these challenges, while simultaneously enabling afforestation, reclamation of land, and glacier conservation . Among other points, this writer had briefly emphasized the importance of constructing mini-dams in an article titled "Untapped Wealth of the Northern Areas," published in The Frontier Post on January 1, 1999. Unfortunately, the suggestion failed to prompt timely action. Had such an initiative been undertaken, it would have significantly contributed to environmental sustainability. Feasibility of Mini-...

Awaiting Redress: The Gilgit-Baltistan Discourse

  By   Syed Shamsuddin I recently came across an image of a crucial letter dating back to 1995—likely preserved in the archives of the relevant authorities—in which the then Chief Secretary of Gilgit-Baltistan astutely highlighted the region’s ground realities and, with commendable administrative foresight, made thoughtful recommendations to the then Central Board of Revenue, as follows: A Crucial Document Reflecting the Ground Realities of Gilgit-Baltistan (1995) Reference: Letter No. Sec-1(12)/95-CS, dated 13th December, 1995 From: Mahmood Khan, Chief Secretary, Northern Areas To: Chairman, Central Board of Revenue Copy: Secretary, Kashmir Affairs & Northern Areas Division, Islamabad Key Highlights & Strategic Significance 1. Political and Constitutional Status The letter candidly addresses the ambiguous constitutional status of Gilgit-Baltistan: Though under de facto control of Pakistan since 1947, the region was not included in Articl...

Gilgit-Baltistan’s Vanishing Forests: A Dendrophile’s Lament

By   Syed Shamsuddin "A Tree Does Not Scream When It Is Cut – But the Earth Does" “The tree falls in silence, but the earth grieves aloud.” This haunting truth captures a grave reality: while the felling of a tree may pass unnoticed by human ears, its consequences reverberate powerfully through the climate, ecosystems, and the future of our planet. Rising temperatures, disturbed habitats, soil erosion, and disappearing biodiversity—all echo the loss. Nowhere is this quiet devastation more urgent than in Gilgit-Baltistan, the hydrological heart of Pakistan. Gilgit-Baltistan’s Forests: The First Line of Environmental Defense Cradling more than 7,000 glaciers and crowned by some of the world’s highest peaks, Gilgit-Baltistan is the lifeline of the Indus River system that sustains around 80% of Pakistan’s agricultural and drinking water needs. Yet, this ecologically fragile region faces relentless deforestation—driven not by greed, but by necessity. Rural poverty, energy deprivat...