Green and Skilled Kashmir

The vision of Green and Skilled Kashmir adopted by the Attique government in AJK like Bhutto’s Roti, kapra Aur Makan is potentially a comprehensive socio-economic agenda yet is adoptable as a popular slogan. This is strength of a programme that at every level of polity people can identify themselves with it. For scholars and experts it may be a complete and complex social and economic programme but for common man it is simple and crisp; Plant trees or learn a skill and earn more. Unfortunately Bhutto’s Roti, kapra Aur Makan was instantly branded as socialistic. The Green and Skilled Kashmir in comparison is home-grown. It is not difficult to trace its ideological orientations in indigenous Islamic and Kasmiri origins. Ideas like conservation of nature and respect for working classes are deeply embedded in Islamic and kasmiri traditions. Another strength of the idea as economic programme is that it is based on traditional areas of comparative advantage for Azad Kashmir. Azad Kashmir is known for its green resources. Almost 42 % of the area of the state is under forests and major portion of state-revenue comes from exploitation of its green resource. Similarly the quality of human resource in AJK in terms of literacy rates and other social indicators is better than other parts of Pakistan. Investment in these sectors to rehabilitate depleted assets and to refurbish available ones is economically viable and socially acceptable.

The Vision of Green and Skilled Kashmir although is a coherent whole but for discussion purposes it is divisible into two component parts; Green and Skilled. Green Kashmir programme aims at natural resource development in the state and
Skilled Kashmir component focuses at human resource development. Thus the vision seeks economic growth through development of natural assets and its equitable distribution through increased employment opportunities. As such the vision fits well with the Poverty Reduction Strategy of Government of Pakistan.

The inherent components of the Green part of the vision are forestation, reforestation, specie-development and diversification, soil conservation and enrichment, maintenance of eco-balance, water resource management etc. AJK being a predominantly rural polity the programme suits it’s geographic, demographic and socio- economic realities. Land holdings in AJK are small and most of the land is inhospitable to traditional plough agriculture. Terrain and weather conditions favour forestation. Investment in green economy and sister cottage industry will diversify the economy and multiply the chances of wealth creation for the citizens. As a result pressure on government for employment generation will be lowered. Government will be able to divert more resources to social and productive sectors. Moreover by taking care of major environmental concerns like land, water and air pollution , land erosion and degradation, loss of biological diversity, diminishing forests etc Green component will help in achieving objectives of NEAP( National Environmental Action Plan). Giant steps are underway to ensure implementation and success of the programme at a fast track. Hundreds of plant nurseries with millions of plants are being developed. Cultivation of high value crops like mushroom and tea and exportable trees like olive, fig and pomegranate is especially encouraged. All governmental institutions have been instructed to carry out mandatory plantation campaigns. 07 million trees will be planted during coming Monsoon. In order to incentivise adoption of the Green Programme incentives like Carbon Credit have been announced. Community participation and ownership is ensured by dedicating forest clusters to the names of their planters and popular figures like national leaders. A Water Resource Management Authority has been established to tap and conserve water treasures.
Skilled Kashmir component is designed to upgrade available workforce and attract white-collars to skilled work. Hundreds of government schools have been declared as Skill Development Centres after normal school times. The skills imparted at these centres include both conventional and unconventional trades. To co-ordinate skill development effort Azad Jamu and Kashmir Technical and Vocational Training Authority has been established. Supported by small scale easy loans this skilled labour will not only revolutionize local cottage industry but will also help in value addition to traditional local products. Natural companions to skilled Kashmir are promotion of home grown technologies, welfare of working classes, promotion of marketing opportunities, introduction of new technologies etc. In order to support this economic transformation necessary infrastructural facilities are also being upgraded. Revolutionary Kashmir Trunk Road is under construction. New and improved roads coupled with tunnels, where necessary will shorten distances and increase market accessibility. Fruit and vegetable markets and cold storages are planned at sub-division level. To support industrialization and meet power shortage power generation through both conventional and unconventional sources is encouraged. Many projects in Hydropower sector ranging from 50-100 MW have been initiated. Solar and Wind potentials are also being actively pursued. Administrated powers are also being devolved by creation of new administrated units.

The vision has tremendous potential. However in order to catch the imagination of policy makers, researcher and donors planned marketing and promotional effort is required. Up till now it has been single handed enterprise by the Premier to advance and advocate the idea. It is important to institutionalize the programme as national asset. In this regard establishment of an independent Green and Skilled Kashmir Secretariat can be helpful. This will assist in pooling the efforts for marketing of the vision and develop result oriented policy regimes for successful implementation of programme. Multidimensional nature of the vision requires political commitment and pro-active collaboration among many ministries and departments which is not possible within existing set up. This secretariat will also serve as resource centre for bringing existing policies and programmes in line with the vision. The secretariat staffed by core team of development specialists can also be tasked to chalk out short term, medium term and long term plans for the programme and formulate implementation strategies and monitoring mechanisms for these plans. Without dateline plans and baseline data bank it will be impossible to achieve objectives and assess success. Development of agreed baseline and monitorable indicator is pre-requisite for performance audit of any organization and programme. Moreover generating donor support and public ownership is an unavoidable must which can only be achieved through a coherent and consistent public relation campaign. Institutionalized as national vision for progress the vision will succeed in earning peace and prosperity for generations to come.