Event coverage report :

Event Coverage Report: Stakeholders Engagement for Gilgit Sanitary and Sewerage Project

Introduction
A stakeholders’ engagement meeting was held to address critical issues related to the Sanitary and Sewerage project in Gilgit. Attendees included community notables, representatives from the National Logistics Cell (NLC), the Soni Jawari Center, the Apex Committee for the Cantonment Area, Lambardars, project management staff, and media personnel.

Opening Remarks
Nazeem Khan, Social Mobilization Environmental and Rehabilitation Specialist, opened the session by outlining the agenda. He emphasized the formation and roles of the Apex Committee, challenges like utility damages, contractor human resource issues, slow progress at work sites, the traffic management plan during sewer pipe and manhole excavation, and side drainage issues.

Project Director’s Address
The Project Director provided an in-depth overview of the project design, implementation strategies, and current challenges. He assured community notables that excavation and manhole work would be expedited, with tightened monitoring to ensure quality.

Community and Stakeholder Inputs

1. **Engineer Khursheed, Civil Activist from Wahdat colony Jutial**: Expressed concerns about slow progress and community coordination, assuring support from the community.

2. **Iftikhar Malik, President of Ithihad Committee, Kashrote**: Stressed the inclusion of Kashrote notables in the Apex Committee and called for better deployment of contractor resources for swift and quality work.

3. **Mir Wali, Lambardar of Napura**: Highlighted the urgency of resolving side drainage issues due to the irrigation season and proposed a tentative completion timeline.

4. **Shamshad Sahib, Notable from Nagral**: Voiced concerns about the quality of manhole construction and proposed a community complaint mechanism.

5. **Ex-NHA DG Mehboob from Amphary**: Suggested community sensitization about project drawings, designs, and challenges to foster mental preparedness and cooperation.

6. **Fazal Rehman, Notable of Konodas**: Raised issues regarding utility damages and traffic management during the project.

7. **Karim Sher, Ex-Coordinator, GB Government**: Pointed out the delays in excavation work affecting school children and patient access to hospitals, calling for barricades and signage for public safety.

8. **Haider Shah, Lambardar of Sonikote**: Recommended deploying additional contractor forces to speed up work and address irrigation channel issues.

9. **Izhar Hunzai, Lead, Soni Jawari Center**: Proposed developing a website for community updates on the project and a public-private partnership model for sustainable operations and maintenance.

10. **Shabbir Mir, Journalist**: Commended the event’s community engagement efforts and highlighted the need for advance planning for traffic management during excavation.

Apex Committee, GBRSP and NLC Responses
The Apex Committee representative underscored the delay tactics by subcontractors and stressed the need for additional resources. Where’s the GBRSP representative assured the community organizations / Apex committee formations to facilitate community concerns.The NLC representative acknowledged these challenges and assured the community that current open work sites would be completed before Eid.

Conclusion and Commitments
GDA Deputy Director Sohail concluded the event by appreciating community input on timelines and quality expectations. He assured that contractors would deploy extra resources, facilitate road access, and adopt a participatory approach for future planning, incorporating lessons learned. The commitment to addressing the challenges highlighted by the community was reaffirmed, with an emphasis on timely project completion.

Refreshments and Media Talk
The meeting concluded with refreshments at Ibex Hotel Bab-e-Gilgit. A media talk was hosted by Shabbir Mir Media Lens and Zuhaib from Daily K2, featuring key stakeholders including Izhar Hunzai, Fazal Rehman, Professor Shahid, Karim Sher, GDA representative Sohail, Project Director Shafqat, Engineer Yasir PMU, Nazeem Khan Social Mobilization PMU, ex-NHA Chief Mehboob, and Shamshad Wali. Discussions centered on the Sanitary and Sewerage project’s challenges and progress.

In summary, the event was successful in engaging stakeholders, addressing community concerns, and setting a collaborative path forward. Photos of the event are enclosed with this report.