Chitral Ismailis

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kmaherali
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Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2003 3:01 pm

Chitral Ismailis

Post by kmaherali »

27 couple married in Mass Marriage
by G. H. Farooqui July 04, 2011

Photos:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/16901703@N ... otostream/

27 couples tied in Mass marriage ceremony at Madaglasht.

CHITRAL: 27 couples were married in a mass marriage ceremony at Madaglasht the most scenic valley of Chitral some 100 kilometers from here. Mass marriage program was organized by Aga Khan Council Madaglasht Lower Chitral and was sponsored by Aga Khan Social Welfare Board Chitral (AKSWB). The ceremony was presided over by Amir Wali president Namdar Local council Garamchishma. During the ceremony 27 young couple were got married by paying 5500 fee per couple while individually they have to spend more than 100000 rupees per single marriage. Addressing on the occasion Sher Azim president Aga Khan local council Madaglasht highlighted aim and objectives of the ceremony. He said that our council arranged for this mass marriage where 27 couple was married for the purpose to save money and time of the people. Usually in Chitral valley people celebrate 3 days for a single marriage and feeding wedding to the guests which not only wastage of money but also of time. And presently 27 marriages were ended in a single day by offering single dish to the guests and participants. He said that if these people celebrate their marriages individually it will take 3 months. He said that our country is facing great financial crises and we should to minimize our extra vegans so as to utilize our resources in developmental sector and for uplifting purposes. During the mass marriage gifts were also presented to brides and bridegrooms distributed by Amir Wali President Aga Khan Local Council Garamchisham, Mrs. Shakila Anjum Assistant District Officer Female Education and honorary member of AGSWB, Fazal Hamid chairperson Aga Khan Tareeqa Board Garamchishma, Mrs Mukhtar Chairperson AKSWB Garamchishma, Zar Jawan secretary volunteer corps and Miss Mehrun Nisa Chairperson Focus local.

It is worth to mention here that Aga Khan council for Madaglasht organizing mass marriage ceremonies since 2007 and more than 100 couple have been married until now. The council had organized seven mass marriage ceremonies to save the money and time from wastage as usually people of Chitral waste mass money and time on their marriages ceremonies. The valley is still covered by snow Peak Mountains from four sides and the weather is very pleasant where the guests use blanket inside the room during night stay. A large number of people belonging to all walks of life participated in Mass marriage ceremony. Talking to this scribe Zareen Hussain said that I am very happy because I got married in mass marriage by spending only 5500 rupees otherwise I was not in a position to arrange my marriage and to feed a large number of guests. Taskeen a newly married bride told that she is very happy because her parents are poor and can not bear the expenditures of her marriage to feed their guests for 3 days and now she was get married in a single day with a single dish.

G.H. Farooqi PO Box NO.50 GPO Chitral Pakistan or Bank Islami Main Branch Chitral.
Telephone No.(0092) 03025989602, 03337069572, 03469002167, 03159698446, 0943-302295, 0943-316052, 0943-414418, 0943-320737
Email: gulhamad@gmail.com

http://www.groundreport.com/Media_and_T ... ge/2939967
Last edited by kmaherali on Mon Jul 02, 2012 6:38 am, edited 2 times in total.
GMR
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Joined: Fri Nov 26, 2004 11:31 pm

Mass marriages in Chitral (Khyber Pukhtunkhwa)

Post by GMR »

Brother Karim!

Chitral is far away from Hunza. Please note the following for future reporting:

Chitral District is situated in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa formerly North-West Frontier Province (NWFP)

Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan is a newly set-up Province, has seven districts, namely Gilgit, Ghizer, Hunza-Nager, Astore, Diamer, Skardu and Ganche.

Gilgit district has mixed community of Sunnis, Ithnasharis and Ismailis.

Ghizer district has 70% Ismailis, 27% Sunnis and 3% Ithnasharis

Hunza 90% Ismailis 9% Ithnasharis and one percent Sunnis
Nager has 100% Ithnasharis.

Astore Sunnis 70% and Ithnasharis 30%

Diamer 100% Sunnis

Baltistan has mixed 95% Ithnasharis and Noorbakhshis and hardly 5% Sunnis and Ismailis.
kmaherali
Posts: 25106
Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2003 3:01 pm

Re: Mass marriages in Chitral (Khyber Pukhtunkhwa)

Post by kmaherali »

GMR wrote:Brother Karim!

Chitral is far away from Hunza. Please note the following for future reporting:

Chitral District is situated in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa formerly North-West Frontier Province (NWFP)
Thanks brother GMR for bringing this to my attention. I stand corrected.
kmaherali
Posts: 25106
Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2003 3:01 pm

Post by kmaherali »

Mass Marriage Ceremony In Chitral – Easy and Happy Union
Submitted by Staff Report on Sat, 2012-06-30 01:45 | filed underChitral/Chhetrar

Chitral— 19 couples wedded in a Mass Marriage Ceremony organized by Aga Khan Social Welfare Board in collaboration with the Ismaili Council of Madaghlasht, some 100 KM from central Chitral. Addressing on the occasion Hon. Secretary, Mrs. Shakila said that the purpose of the mass-marriage arrangements was to cut costs and to avoid unnecessary hardship that one might take entwining this scared and happy relationship.

Utilizing the opportunity, Mrs. Shakila advised young girls not to marry in early ages. She also stressed upon importance of the post-marital schooling and education.

President of the Ismaili Council of Madaqlasht, Sher Azim said that the objective of the Mass Marriage Ceremonies was to steer resources towards other areas of human development such as education, health and living standards.

“It takes 3-4 days to wrap up any traditional wedding ceremony here in Chitral. It takes a lot of resources to manage and those who are less privileged hardly keep pace with those who can afford. Marriage, thus, becomes a stressful rather than a happy occasion”, He said.

During the Mass Marriage Ceremony, couples were blessed and signed into the Nikah according to the Islamic teachings and traditions. Gifts were presented to the couples and food was arranged for and wedding attendees. To symbolize the simplicity, one course meal was served to the guests.

Talking to this scribe a Bride and Groom expressed their jubilance. “Many people wait for years to get marry, for they cannot afford their wedding costs and other customaries. We are happy to marry here and it took a lot less time and efforts to get through our happy union.” They said.

Couple accede to pay Rs. 7000 to get marry in the Mass Marriage way and that is all what they have to pay for their wedding arrangements. Last year, the same organization had arranged the Mass Marriage Ceremony where 27 couples got married.

http://www.dardistantimes.com/content/m ... appy-union
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Chitral child survival

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tribune.com.pk/story/665854/achievements-chitral-witnesses-improvement-in-child-survival/

Achievements: Chitral witnesses improvement in child survival

Published in The Express Tribune, February 1st, 2014.
By News Desk

Published: February 1, 2014

There has been a remarkable improvement in child survival in Chitral during the last five years – thanks to the improved skilled birth attendance, says a report.

The findings of the report were discussed at a seminar here on Friday, said a press release.

The Chitral Child Survival Programme (CCSP) was implemented in 28 remote and isolated clusters in Chitral from 2008 to 2013.

“In the last five years since its implementation, the programme has achieved remarkable results in improving skilled birth attendance from 33 per cent in 2009 to 82 per cent in 2013 in Chitral,” said the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) Chief Executive Officer Karim Alibhai.

The objective of the programme was to reduce maternal, neonatal and child mortality and morbidity by using the obstetric and neonatal continuum of care in the target communities.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health (MNCH) programme coordinator Dr Sahib Gul while speaking as chief guest on the occasion appreciated the contribution and achievements of the Foundation.

photo 1_zps41d85251.jpg

“The partnership between the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and the K-P government has been exemplary in many areas including child immunisation, management of tuberculosis and strengthening health services delivery in three government health facilities at Shagram, Mastuj and Garumchashma tehsils of Chitral,” Gul said.

As a result of this partnership, health indicators in Chitral have been far better than other districts of the province.

According to a baseline survey conducted under the programme in 2009, 26 per cent of pregnant mothers did not have access to antenatal care, 27 per cent could not bear cost of health care and 36 per cent faced difficulties in travelling to other places in search of health facilities.

Under the programme, 28 community midwives (CMWs) were trained.

Assistant Prof at the Aga Khan University School of Nursing and Midwifery (AKU-SONAM) Arusa Lakani said: “The performance of the CMWs has increased progressively since they were deployed in 2011. The CMWs acceptance at the community level is perceived to be high due to their availability at the time of need.”

The evaluation report has also recommended that the K-P government should include the 28 trained CMWs in the mainstream health system to continue maternal, neonatal and child services to the remote communities of Chitral.

The seminar was organised by Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) in collaboration with the Aga Khan Health Services (AKHS-P) and the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) and attended by the K-P health officials, representatives of USAID and other development partners and representatives of village health committees.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 1st, 2014.
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