Tag: Khyber Pakhtun­khwa

  • 1st century murals discovered from Buddhist site in Swat

    1st century murals discovered from Buddhist site in Swat

    Intact murals dating back to the 1st century have been discovered from a Buddhist site in Swat, Dawn News has reported.

    Saqib Raza, who was leading the team of archaeologists on the site, while speaking about the murals said: “We have discovered some rare fresco paintings belonging to the first century from the Abbasahib-China Buddhist site in Barikot during our recent exactions. The paintings are in different poses including namaskar pose. Six of them are visible and intact.”

    Director of Archaeology and Museums Dr Abdul Samad while speaking to the publication referred to the discovery of the murals as a landmark achievement, adding “there is no other example here in Gandhara of finding intact paintings”.

    He further shared that rare Kharosthi script inscriptions and coins were also discovered by the archaeologists in the area.

    According to Director of Italian Archaeological Mission Prof Luca M Olivieri, the discovery is really important because it provides evidence of a painting school at Swat and Gandhara “whose traces have unfortunately faded away”.

    Earlier, a Hindu temple, believed to be 1,300 years ago, was discovered at a mountain in Swat district. Researchers from Shah Abdul Latif University’s Department of Archaeology also found traces of a third-century settlement in Brahmanabad, Sindh.

  • Pashto folk singer forced to live in a tent with over 200 family members

    Pashto folk singer Zarsanga Bibi is reportedly living in a tent along with over 200 family members after the culture department took back her official residence in Kohat district.

    Read more – KP govt offers job to Pakistan’s ‘Charlie Chaplin’

    Popularly referred to as the ‘melody queen’, Zarsanga Bibi has requested for help and demanded the culture department to provide her with a residence so that she can live the last years of her life in peace, comfort and dignity.

    Zarsanga Bibi said that the current pandemic has worsened living conditions for her and her family, forcing her to beg.

    According to details, the singer and her sons have rented a shop in Kohat Bazaar where they have kept over 2,500 awards, certificates and medals of the singer.

    “I appeal to President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan to take notice of my miserable plight. I just want a piece of plot where I could feel proud that my contributions fetched me at least a state given shelter. I at this stage and age have no other wish,” said Zarsanga.

    She said that she had rejected offers from Afghanistan and several other countries, saying that she only worked for Pakistan and that her country has been her identity and she would live and die with it. She added that she would never leave Pakistan despite her current situation and the disappointing attitude of relevant authorities.

    “I have over 200 sons and daughters and grandchildren and they all depend on me,” says Zarsanga Bibi. “The government had allotted me an official residence in Kohat for two years and on termination the specified time, I along with my extended family was forced to live once again in the tents in the open air where we have to pay Rs15, 000 as rent to the owner of the land.”

    Shahzada, the elder son of the living legend, said that his mother was suffering from chest infection and had other multiple health complaints. He said that despite multiple appeals and requests, no official responded to his family sufferings.

  • 1,000 bricks in 27 minutes: KP’s Neelofar Shirazi aims to set new record

    1,000 bricks in 27 minutes: KP’s Neelofar Shirazi aims to set new record

    In a bid to set a new brick smashing record in the Guinness Book of Records, Neelofar Shirazi smashed 1,000 bricks in 27 minutes at Islamabad’s multi-purpose sports stadium on Sunday. Shirazi had smashed 150 bricks last year so she decided to go for 1,000 now.

    As per details, it took Shirazi only 27 minutes to smash 1,000 bricks. The 32-year girl from Battagram, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa won a cash prize of PKR 50,000 for her attempt.

    The organiser of the event, Imtiaz Ahmed said it was an honour to showcase Neelofar’s talent as she has made Pakistan proud.

    No one in the world has broken 1,000 bricks in a row.

    “We shall send the complete video recording of the event to the Guinness Book team so that they could include her name as the world record holder in the brick-breaking category,” he said.

    Later, while speaking to Gulf News Neelofar said: “My mother and members of the family, my coach Master Chen, friends and sponsors of the event are all here to support me and their presence is quite reassuring.”

    “In my childhood, I used to be a shy girl and always cried when someone bullied me,” she shared. “Whenever in class or playground someone intimidated me, I became so upset that I spent hours crying and rubbing my eyes and I did this so often that it affected my eyesight.”

    Also Watch: Sunday Superstar ft. Kulsoom Hazara

    Shirazi added that she wants to set a world record of breaking eight blocks with a single strike. At present, she is practicing five.

    Commenting on Pakistani women, Neelofar said that women of our country have great potential to make their mark in the world, we only need to support and acknowledge their talent.

  • KP govt offers job to Pakistan’s ‘Charlie Chaplin’

    KP govt offers job to Pakistan’s ‘Charlie Chaplin’

    The Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has announced that it will offer legendary comic actor Charlie Chaplin’s Pakistani doppelgänger Usman Khan a job to encourage talent in the province.

    According to details, KP Minister for Labour and Culture Shaukat Yousafzai invited Khan to his home and offered him a job.

    Talking to the media, Yousafzai said the provincial government will offer Khan a suitable job and ensured that they will support him at every level. The minister added that he had forwarded Khan’s videos to the chief minister.

    Khan thanked the minister and the provincial government for the appreciation and job offer.

    Earlier, videos of ‘Peshawar’s Charlie Chaplin‘ went viral on social media due to his comic expressions and style. His objective was to bring smiles to people’s faces amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The stand-up comedian wears Chaplin’s trademark oversized shoes and baggy pants, and holds a cane and black bowler hat as he performs across the city.

  • Owner of Kapoor Haveli demands Rs 2 billion for property

    The owner of Kapoor Haveli in Peshawar has refused to sell the house to the government at the price set by the authorities.

    According to a report in The News, the owner of the mansion Haji Ali Qadir is asking for Rs 2 billion for the property whereas, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has set a price of Rs 15 million for the house.

    Speaking to the publication, Qadir had said that the price set by the government was ridiculous as “half a marla of land is not available in Dhaki Nalbandi near historical Qissa Khwani bazaar for Rs15 million and the government is giving us Rs15 million for a six marla house”. He added that the government has yet not made any formal contact for property and that he is getting news about it from the media.

    He further shared that his father Haji Khushal had bought the property in 1965 through a government auction.

    “When our father bought the house, the gold was Rs50 per tola,” said Qadir. “In this house, diyar wood has been used which is very expensive.”

    Read more – Rishi Kapoor’s unfulfilled wish: a visit to Pakistan

    On the other hand Director Archeology and Museum, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Dr Abdul Samad said the government has fixed the price of the house at DC rate as plots are bought and sold at DC rate in the area, adding that the government cannot pay more than the said price.

    Dr Samad further commented that if the owner has an objection to the price, he can submit an application to the Deputy Commissioner.

    Previously, when it had been reported that the owner is demanding at least two billion rupees for the historic haveli, the province’s archaeology department had said that it will use legal powers to purchase the Kapoor Haveli as well as Dilip Kumar’s house if needed.

    Read more – Dilip Kumar recalls memories of his ancestral home in Peshawar

    Meanwhile, Chief Minister KP Mahmood Khan recently approved funds of Rs 23.56 million to purchase the ancestral houses of Bollywood legends Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor in Peshawar. Both houses will be converted into museums after restoration work.

  • No pension for new hirings at KP universities in ‘Naya Pakistan’: report

    In what appears to greatly contradict claims of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for ‘Naya Pakistan [new Pakistan]’, Higher Education, Archives and Libraries Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has issued a notification to the public sector universities directing it to implement “no pension liability” for all future initial recruitments in addition to other strict measures to overcome the rising deficit.

    According to a report by Express Tribune, the department has also directed delinking of the pay scales from the basic pay scale scheme and university pay scale, while further stating in a notification that government grant and other resources meant for higher education shall not be expended on meeting the shortfall of the schools run by the universities.

    “These schools should have separate Board of Governors (BoG),” it reportedly read.

    Furthermore, house subsidy and requisition should be paid to the employees on the provincial government rates.

    All medical allowances in their current form have been abolished and shall be paid at the provincial government rates, says the notification, adding that the maintenance cost including repair, security and other facilities’ costs should be fully recovered from the employees provided with accommodation by the universities.

    “The universities will be assisted in the process of exploring new avenues of financial resources, including renting out academic blocks to other institutions,” says the notification.

    The report also quoted a university official as saying that in the presence of the University Act 2012, amended in 2016, all the incentives provided to the employees by the universities had completely been protected and in the presence of an act, no notification could change it including abolishing of the pension, house rents and medical allowances.

  • VIDEO: 50 rare Himalayan ibex spotted in Hunza valley

    As many as 50 rare Himalayan ibex, including females with their young ones, were spotted by officials of the World Wide Fund (WWF) near Khyber village in Hunza Valley.

    According to WWF, the Himalayan Ibex is found at an average altitude of 3,660 meters and they usually come down the mountain due to snow and in search of food in the winter season.

    Elaborating further, the animal rights body said: “The population faces numerous threats across its range in Pakistan, from habitat loss to illegal hunting, climate change, and lack of awareness about the species.”

    “Despite these challenges, a significant increase has been recorded in their population as a result of continued and concerted efforts of the local community, Gilgit-Baltistan Wildlife Department and WWF,” it added.

    A survey conducted in 2019 by the government and local communities revealed that almost 1500 ibex were sighted in Ghulkin catchments in recent years.

    “The sighting of such a large herd is a welcome indicator of the conservation success of WWF in its fiftieth year in Pakistan,” expressed WWF-Pakistan Senior Director Programmes Rab Nawaz.

    VIDEO: Man in Chitral jumps into river to save baby Markhor from drowning

    The photographs of the ibex have been captured by photographers Nyal Mueenuddin and Imtiaz Ahmed.

  • Five areas in Peshawar under smart lockdown

    Five areas in Peshawar under smart lockdown

    Five areas in Peshawar are under smart lockdown, according to a notification issued by the Peshawar Deputy Commissioner.

    According to a notification, the areas are:

    • Streets 7-11, Sector E-VI, Phase VII, Hayatabad
    • Streets 1, 1-A and 2, Sector N-IV, Phase IV, Hayatabad
    • University Town area, bound by Circular Lane, Park Road and Old Jamrud Road
    • Hayatabad Industrial Estate, bound by Industrial Estate Road, Wazirdund Canal, National Highway 5, Polyfine Chemfarma Road
    • Peshawar Cantt area, bound by Gulberg Road, Stadium Road and Qayyum Sports Complex

    Lockdown in these areas will be executed from 6 pm today and will remain in place until further notice. During the lockdown, all gatherings will be banned and all shops except those of essential services will remain closed. Congregations in mosques will also be restricted to five people only.

    Pakistan has reported 400,482 coronavirus cases so far. The virus cases emerged during the last 24 hours are 2,458.

  • 1,300-year-old Hindu temple discovered in KP

    1,300-year-old Hindu temple discovered in KP

    A Hindu temple, believed to be 1,300 years ago, has been discovered by Pakistani and Italian archaeological experts at a mountain in Swat district. The discovery was reportedly made during an excavation at Barikot Ghundai.

    According to Fazle Khaliq of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Department of Archaeology, the temple discovered is of Lord Vishnu. It was built by the Hindus 1,300 years ago during the Hindu Shahi period, he said.

    The Hindu Shahis or Kabul Shahis (850-1026 CE) was a Hindu dynasty that ruled the Kabul Valley (eastern Afghanistan), Gandhara (modern-day Pakistan), and present-day northwestern India.

    During their excavation, archaeologists also found traces of a cantonment and watchtowers near the temple site. Experts also found a water tank near the temple site which they assume was used by the Hindus for bathing before worship.

    Khaliq said that the Swat district is home to numerous ancient archaeological sites, some of which are thousands of years old, but traces of the Hindu Shahi period have been found for the first time in the area.

    Dr Luka, the head of the Italian archaeological mission, said this was the first temple of the Ghandhara Civilisation discovered in Swat district.

    Swat district is among the top 20 sites in Pakistan which is home to every kind of tourism such as natural beauty, religious tourism, cultural tourism and archaeological sites.

    Several places of worship of Buddhism are also situated in Swat district.

    Read more – KP Police arrest offenders involved in vandalising ancient Buddha statue

    Last year in October, archaeologists and historians discovered another temple, reportedly built in the 7th century, during the Turki Shahi period, on the top of Ghwandai mount at Bazira in Barikot Swat.

  • Man fined for illegally hunting rare bird in Parachinar

    Man fined for illegally hunting rare bird in Parachinar

    The Environment Ministry of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has fined a man Rs 40,000 for illegally hunting a rare pheasant in Parachinar.

    Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam, shared the news on social media, saying that “PTI believes in wildlife preservation through strict enforcement of the new Wildlife Protection Act.”

    He lauded authorities for apprehending and penalising the person for his crime within a day of illegally hunting this “rare and beautiful Monal Pheasant”.

    https://twitter.com/IsbZooFriends/status/1324018955330224130?s=20

    According to details, the Himalayan Monal is a pheasant native to Himalayan forests and shrublands. It is native to the KP province and has been recorded in Kaghan, Palas Valley, and Azad Kashmir. The main threat to the species is poaching, as the crest is valuable. It is thought to bring status to its wearer and is a symbol of authority.

    Read more – Rare striped hyena rescued in DI Khan

    Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Chaudhry Fawad Hussain and senior PML-N leader Khawaja Asif condemned the act of illegal hunting the rare bird.

    “So upsetting,” said Fawad, while Asif called the act “despicable”.