Houbara Bustard, Provincial Bird of Balochistan

Houbara Bustard with her chicks

Houbara bustard is provincial bird of Balochistan. This is an endangered bird. There are two types of houbara bastard; indigenous and migratory.  Migratory Houbara Bastard starts arriving in Balochistan (Washuk, Khuzdar, Lasbela, Nushki, Dalbindin, Zhob, Ormara, Gwadar, Pasni, Panjgur, Dera Bugti, Dera Murad Jamali, Chaghai and Sibi) from the Mongolia, Siberia and Central Asian Republics at the start of the winter season (November and December) as the temperature drops below freezing point in these areas and return back in March and April. Experts have estimated that number of these migratory birds entering Balochistan is about 15,000-20,000. The bird takes only seven to ten days while covering about 5,5O0 kilometers from Siberia and Central Asian Republics to Balochistan and flies at a height of 4,000 meters. Houbara Bastard travels in groups with a leader, others follow him in a row. Once they lose their leader, the deputy guides the group to reach its destination. Houbara is a very sensitive bird and does not use the route again if they sense any danger on their way during the first journey. In case the houbara loses its mate, it takes three to five years to find a new one. Its population is declining due to illegal hunting and destruction of its habitats. The rapid increase in population is also affecting the bird’s habitat and breading grounds.  Houbara gives birth to only two chicks a year, but the elder kills the younger one due to the fear of sharing food. Interestingly, this rivalry between the houbara newborns is also one of the factors of their gradual decrease.
 Nag Rakshan Valley in district Washuk in Balochistan is only place in Pakistan where residential houbara bustard is found. Rakhshan provides rich diversity of flora, fauna, insects and weeds to this endangered, modest and shy bird. A plant local called Kareech in Balochi is abundantly found here. Its flowers and leaves are favorite food & breeding habitat for houbara bustard. Due to non availability of other sources of fuel, the local community of Rakshan valley uses this plant to burn it in their kitchen so putting its existence to severe danger. The population of residential bird has been reduced drastically in the area due to hunting by Arab hunters (because they value its meat as an aphrodisiac) and due to domestic abuse (illegal netting, trapping and poaching) as well as exploitation of its habitat. Houbara Protection Organization is an NGO in district Washuk to protest hunting of Houbara and preserve this natural asset of Rakhshan valley. UAE obtained hundreds of eggs, chicks and birds to develop National Avian Research Centre in Abu Dhabi in 1980’s from here. Houbara bustard is a highly protected species both under national law and international conventions. It is protected under the Provincial Wildlife Acts/Ordinance of Balochistan. By 1975 it was declared an endangered species in Pakistan. The houbara could become extinct within 10 to 15 years from Balochistan if unchecked hunting, illegal trapping and trading of the bird continue. The natural death rate of the endangered birds is 30 percent while death due to hunting is more than 70 percent.

There is need for community awareness about this endangered bird and their involvement in preservation and protection of the houbara and a complete ban on issue of hunting permits to foreign hunters.

Characteristics of Houbara Bustard: The Houbara Bustard is a small to mid-sized bird. It measures 22–26 inches in length and spans 53–67 inches across the wings. It is brown above and white below, with a black strip down the sides of its neck. In flight, the long wings show large areas of black and brown on the flight feathers. The sexes are similar, but the female is rather smaller and greyer above. The body mass is 1.15–2.4 kg in males and 1–1.7 kg in females. The Houbara Bustard breeds in deserts and other very arid sandy areas and is largely resident within its range. Like other bustards, this species has attractive display raising the white feathers of the head and throat and withdrawing the head. Two to four eggs are laid on the ground. This species is omnivorous, taking seeds, insects and other small creatures. Its average life is 15 years.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom:    Animalia

Phylum:     Chordata

Class:          Aves

Order:        Gruiformes

Family:       Otidae

Genus:        Chlamydotis

Species:      C. undulata

Binomial name: Chlamydotis undulata

Mentality of a Common Baloch Mir

In life, somethings occur seldom but they make one to think a lot. Such a situation occurred with me while moving through pages of daily Intekhab, an online Quetta based local newspaper. Statement of a local Mir was published in page 6 of 6^th April’s edition. Mir sahib leads a village of District Washuk, poorest district of Pakistan. He says: “Washuk is pacing track of prosperity under leadership of Mir Habib-ur-Rehman Mohammadhasani. He has initiated a network of multifaceted development projects for prosperity of district. We salute his struggle for public. His achievements have perturbed opponents. They stop propaganda against MPA.

This is a normal statement for you if you have not visited Washuk. You will have completely different feelings toward this statement if you visit Washuk or ask a common Baloch of Washuk about his sufferings.

Washuk is poorest district of Pakistan! It was established after partition of district Kharan in 2005. It has a population of about 0.18 million, with an area of 29,510 km^2.  Washuk District is divided into 3 tehsils, 10 union councils and 216mauzas.

 Can you imagine that this district has no NADRA office, no degree college and no vocational college? But Washuk is void of these. District Washuk has running without any bank. Employees travel a distance of 70 to 100 km for getting their salaries and to make a bank transaction. There is no civil hospital, no single lady doctor, only two rural health centers and one rural health center has no electricity, PTCL connection beside Assistant Commissioner House with electricity and PTCL connections. 80% of villages have no electricity. Mobile service is limited to two tehsils. My district Washuk owns only one Inter College and one High School for girl’s education. Inter college was established in 2010, but no land has acquired for construction of its infrastructure. Both inter college and Girls High School has no bus. Students travel on foot 10 to 15 km before reaching to institutions. Girls High School has no science laboratory. There is no computer lab and computer teacher in any institution. Whole district lacks DSL facility. 85% of local roads are unpaved and bumpy.

Mir Habib-ur-Rehman was elected twice as MPA from this constituency, he is serving as provincial minister since 2003, minister of Jail Affairs in cabinet of Ex-CM Jam Muhammad Yousuf, and minister of WASA in present Balochistan cabinet. Governor, CM Balochistan and Chief Secretary has not visited district since its establishment to solve its problems. MPA has not presented a bill for special attention of government about predicament situation of district.

Mir Sahib! Have you ever thought why we select MPA? Is there any other sector important than education, health, transportation sectors to be invested first? Provision of a transformer to a village with an inscription of appraisal is not from pocket of MPA and there is a wide world other than appointment of someone in levies force. Alas you may have thought for one minute about future of your children in 21th century of global village!  

Rakhshan Professional Students Forum

Rakhshan is a huge region with a population of about 140,000 people on an area larger than area of any district of Balochistan province. Dispersed population, on one side enjoys natural clean environment and leads a free life, on other hand, provision of health, educational and other basic human rights provision are rare for it. No serious effort has been made yet to pave it to advancement by Government and responsible authorities. This was the topic being discussed by young professionals of Rakhshan belt on December, 2011. They thought what role they can play to serve Rakhshan. They thought the collective problems. They came to result that solution of problems is in team work on a platform. So Rakhshan Professional Students Forum was made. Initially its Organizing Body was made, its purpose is to launch a campaign for RPSF and propagate the thought that collective problems can be solved by team work on an unbiased, sincere platform.

Monogram of RPSF

Members of Organizing Body are

1)      Dr. Nauroz Khan Essazai (Organizer)

2)      Hashim Baloch (Deputy Organizer)

3)      Dr. Musadiq Aziz Essazai (member)

4)      Dr. Shehzad Baloch (member)

5)      Atif Essazai (member)

6)      Atta-ur-Rehman Baloch (member)

7)      Izzatullah Baloch (member)

8)      Fida Baloch (member)

9)      Ansarullah Essazai (member)

This will work for a duration of three months and then Central Body will be made after counseling.

To know more about its aims and objectives, code of conduct, strategy of work, its activities visit the official web page of Rakhshan Professional Students Forum on http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rakhshan-Professional-Students-Forum-RPSF/129509780505800. You can comment, like, report and share its uploads. Also one can upload his own articles, photos on it after liking it.

Education in Basima

Education plays an important role in development of a nation and region. Especially in today’s world of Information technology and scientific era, it is a fundamental need of man. With the development of human society, schooling which initially imparted from parents and rural society, it was formally offered in institutions. Schools, Academies were established. Religion, arts, scientific education and skills were taught there. Education transfers culture, skills  and knowledge of a nation to next generation efficiently in a safe mode. Equal educational opportunities should be available to every citizen but unfortunately here people had not realized the importance of education.  Education is not top priority of government.  Double standard education, lack of consistency in implementing policies, low standard education, Medium of teaching, lack of qualified teachers and facilities in institutions, copied curriculum are some big problems of low standard education. These problems are more prominent in rural areas of Balochistan province. Remote areas Like Washuk, Gwadar, Pasni, Awaran, Chaghi, Kohlu, Barkhan, Musakhel are prominent examples where educational setup is very poor.

Washuk, a district of three tehseels, with area more than combined area of these four districts: Quetta, Ziarat, Pishin, Kila Abdullah, have only one Inter College. This collage had approved officially but no building has been constructed, even no land has been acquired for its construction. After passing matriculation examination, poor students have no option except leaving studies. Middle class people send their children to Kharan, Khuzdar, Pangur and Quetta for more education. Law and order situation, inflation, lack of hostels, politics in institutions, adoption of new environment become hindrance for them. Most of students become disappointed and leave studies. MPA, MNA have no interest in raising problems of Washuk on forums for which they are selected.

 Tehseel Baima of Washuk has only two High schools for boys and one for girls. These schools have serious problems. They have no bus. Girls and boys travel 5 to 10 km on foot before reaching to school. Building of schools is in bad condition due to no maintenance and low quality of construction. There is no science laboratory in Girls High School Basima.  Teacher unions are becoming another obstacle in way of education. Govt Middle High School Zaik, Siahozai, Kurrragi are submerged in problems. They have insufficient classrooms, no walls around them. Staff required for running school is not completely appointed. Government supervision is limited to payment of salaries to teachers and provision of books to students at the start of year. These schools have no money for carrying any co-curricular activity. Six villages are located in Sajid area but they have no Middle School.

Students of a primary Govt School

Runuing in such a harsh environment, schools have still produced icons. Two self supporting academies, “New Vision Academy and Hope Public School” are functioning with better results. They are result of hard work of Saifuddin (a Basimian bureaucrat) and Mohammad Kareem(a young social worker) respectively. They have appointed qualified teachers for their academies and launched public awareness campaign about importance of education. Their students have got admission in BRC’s and Cadet Colleges. Public cooperation is negligible to these academies. Government Middle School Zaik is also a good school. It is serving Zaik as well as Sajid village.

Religious education is offered in Madrissahs of Basima town, Sajid, Siahozai, Zaik and Kurragi. They teach Nazira-e-Quran, basic Islamic books like Taleem-e-Islam, Panch Kiatb, Bahshti Zawer, Gulisatn, Serf and conduct Hafiz classes.

Governament should extend its coopearion to these Madrissahs and private schools. It should solve problems of government schools and Inter College Basima must be made functional. It is responsibility of MPA, MNA, local leaders and NGO’s to give first priority educational problems, address and convey them to provincial level and national level education departments. Public will have to change its mood. The above stated institutes are our assests. We must take care of them.