Daily Diary (DD) - Day 59 of 2026

0532hrs:

The onset of Ramadhan has dictated its own routine, which hovers around 2300hrs to sleep and 0400hrs to wake up, although last night it stretched beyond midnight and to 0430hrs this morning. This lunar month remains my best opportunity to get this 2000hrs to 0300hrs daily sleeping routine right.

..

I returned home today from another week in Mirpur.

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Public Finance Update:

Number of co-citizens who have paid their share (over 20 years): 

16

Number of co-citizens who have paid a portion to date, since direct public funding began in 2012:

208

Number of co-citizens who have promised to pay:

86

Number of co-citizens I have directly contacted since the 9th of October 2025 (of total 5,000):

542

Cash in Hand: 4,870

Cash Deposits: 258,401

Immediate Debts: 0 

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 58 of 2026

0427hrs:

A 0400hrs start preceded by a 2300hrs finish last night. 

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Public Finance Update:

Number of co-citizens who have paid their share (over 20 years): 

16

Number of co-citizens who have paid a portion to date, since direct public funding began in 2012:

208

Number of co-citizens who have promised to pay:

86

Number of co-citizens I have directly contacted since the 9th of October 2025 (of total 5,000):

541

Cash in Hand: 370

Cash Deposits: 258,401

Immediate Debts: 0 

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Daily Diary (DD) - Day 57 of 2026

0936hrs:

A 0430hrs start today, despite sleeping beyond 0100hrs again. The day in Dadyaal yesterday was exhausting! Over 80 kilometres each way between Mirpur & Dadyaal post Mangla Dam completion 1967. A distance that would have been not much more than 25 kilometres (if that) - if no such 'sacrifice' was usurped from us by the thirsty & energy hungry Pakistani State.

We have to drive around this lake (water storage tank) for the sake of Pakistan's irrigation and electricity needs, at our regular cost (with zero benefit) and their unlimited benefit (with almost zero cost). This topic strikes a painful chord whenever it is broached. 

Meanwhile, I am not getting enough sleep these days but I am closer to my optimum target in the morning - on a regular basis - than ever before.

....

Public Finance Update:

Number of co-citizens who have paid their share (over 20 years): 

16

Number of co-citizens who have paid a portion to date, since direct public funding began in 2012:

208

Number of co-citizens who have promised to pay:

86

Number of co-citizens I have directly contacted since the 9th of October 2025 (of total 5,000):

540

Cash in Hand: 370

Cash Deposits: 260,717

Immediate Debts: 0 

....

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 56 of 2026

0336hs:

Ok, this may seem to be close to the optimum start and it is. However, despite trying to sleep from 2300hrs onwards I couldn't. Though this isn't quite another example of a false dawn, it deserves a positive spin for the effort made.

....

Public Finance Update:

Number of co-citizens who have paid their share (over 20 years): 

16

Number of co-citizens who have paid a portion to date, since direct public funding began in 2012:

208

Number of co-citizens who have promised to pay:

86

Number of co-citizens I have directly contacted since the 9th of October 2025 (of total 5,000):

539

Cash in Hand: 470

Cash Deposits: 260,978

Immediate Debts: 0 

....

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 55 of 2026

0500hrs:

Slightly better today. I got up at 0400hrs, now just an hour behind my cherished target, while getting to sleep last night at 2300hrs, still 3 hours behind target. 

It should get sustainably better from here. 

....

Public Finance Update:

Number of co-citizens who have paid their share (over 20 years): 

16

Number of co-citizens who have paid a portion to date, since direct public funding began in 2012:

208

Number of co-citizens who have promised to pay:

86

Number of co-citizens I have directly contacted since the 9th of October 2025 (of total 5,000):

539

Cash in Hand: 10,160

Cash Deposits: 259,260

Immediate Debts: 0 

....

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 54 of 2026

0520hrs:

A similar start to yesterday (0430hrs) despite not sleeping till 0100hrs this morning. The one and a half hour shortfall this end can be addressed by disciplining myself to sleep by 2000hrs every evening.

Another 'foray' to Mirpur today!

....

Public Finance Update:

Number of co-citizens who have paid their share (over 20 years): 

16

Number of co-citizens who have paid a portion to date, since direct public funding began in 2012:

208

Number of co-citizens who have promised to pay:

86

Number of co-citizens I have directly contacted since the 9th of October 2025 (of total 5,000):

539

Cash in Hand: 10,690

Cash Deposits: 259,047

Immediate Debts: 0 

....

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 53 of 2026

0554hrs:

A 0430hrs start today and genuine as I had slept by 2300hrs last night. I am still one and a half hours away from my morning target and 3 hours behind my evening target. 

....

Public Finance Update:

Number of co-citizens who have paid their share (over 20 years): 

16

Number of co-citizens who have paid a portion to date, since direct public funding began in 2012:

208

Number of co-citizens who have promised to pay:

86

Number of co-citizens I have directly contacted since the 9th of October 2025 (of total 5,000):

539

Cash in Hand: 10,870

Cash Deposits: 259,047

Immediate Debts: 0 

....

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 52 of 2026

0353hrs:

Even better than yesterday but like the day before yesterday it is another false dawn. I've been working away tonight too, given that I'm too behind in my documentary work for comfort. That anxiety kept me awake and its better to work in such a state than not.

....

Public Finance Update:

Number of co-citizens who have paid their share (over 20 years): 

16

Number of co-citizens who have paid a portion to date, since direct public funding began in 2012:

208

Number of co-citizens who have promised to pay:

86

Number of co-citizens I have directly contacted since the 9th of October 2025 (of total 5,000):

539

Cash in Hand: 10,870

Cash Deposits: 259,047

Immediate Debts: 0 

....

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 51 of 2026

0516hrs:

I woke at c. 0415hrs after sleeping at about 2300hrs last night. Obviously my sleep quota isn't complete but its refreshing that I've been able to wake up just an hour and 15 minutes later than my aspired target. If I can get to sleep a bit earlier I may be able to attain that target, elusive on a consistent basis since I began this particular struggle in April 2025.

Ramadhan this year may just prove to be a blessing in disguise.

....

Public Finance Update:

Number of co-citizens who have paid their share (over 20 years): 

16

Number of co-citizens who have paid a portion to date, since direct public funding began in 2012:

208

Number of co-citizens who have promised to pay:

86

Number of co-citizens I have directly contacted since the 9th of October 2025 (of total 5,000):

539

Cash in Hand: 11,300

Cash Deposits: 259,047

Immediate Debts: 0 

....

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 50 of 2026

0314hrs:

This is more like it but its still a false dawn, as I haven't slept yet. 

For those of you unaware of my running battle for the last 10 months; it is to sleep every evening at 2000hrs (8pm) and wake the next morning at 0300hrs (3am). 

We welcome Ramadhan (2026) or (1447 AH) today too. 

....

Public Finance Update:

Number of co-citizens who have paid their share (over 20 years): 

16

Number of co-citizens who have paid a portion to date, since direct public funding began in 2012:

208

Number of co-citizens who have promised to pay:

86

Number of co-citizens I have directly contacted since the 9th of October 2025 (of total 5,000):

539

Cash in Hand: 11,460

Cash Deposits: 258,408

Immediate Debts: 0 

....

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 49 of 2026

1444hrs:

Its an 0800hrs start once again. There is a danger that such a time could become an unwanted habit.

....

Public Finance Update:

Number of co-citizens who have paid their share (over 20 years): 

16

Number of co-citizens who have paid a portion to date, since direct public funding began in 2012:

208

Number of co-citizens who have promised to pay:

86

Number of co-citizens I have directly contacted since the 9th of October 2025 (of total 5,000):

539

Cash in Hand: 11,460

Cash Deposits: 259,686

Immediate Debts: 0 

....

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 48 of 2026

1747hrs:

Yet another 0800hrs start. I fully maintain intent to get to what remains a consistently unattained target. 

....

Public Finance Update:

Number of co-citizens who have paid their share (over 20 years): 

16

Number of co-citizens who have paid a portion to date, since direct public funding began in 2012:

208

Number of co-citizens who have promised to pay:

86

Number of co-citizens I have directly contacted since the 9th of October 2025 (of total 5,000):

539

Cash in Hand: 12,040

Cash Deposits: 260,167

Immediate Debts: 0 

....

Daily Diary (DD) - Day 47 of 2026

2306hrs:

An 0800hrs start it was, though posting at this late stage is dangerous, even if it is in the wake of a funeral of a writer. A rare commodity in AJK.

Quayyum Raja on the death of Younus Taryaby, who died yesterday afternoon in Mirpur city (Sunday 15 February 2026):  

A gentle giant with a clean heart. 

Ideologically and actively committed to the very end. 

May the Lord bless his soul and enable our co-citizens to ensure all his written work is archived and publicly available. 

Writers are rare in our society. 

They need to be celebrated. 

JKA PUBLIC AGENCY Note: #E223016022026

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Public Finance Update:

Number of co-citizens who have paid their share (over 20 years): 

16

Number of co-citizens who have paid a portion to date, since direct public funding began in 2012:

208

Number of co-citizens who have promised to pay:

86

Number of co-citizens I have directly contacted since the 9th of October 2025 (of total 5,000):

539

Cash in Hand: 41,280

Cash Deposits: 261,795

Immediate Debts: 0 

....