Tag: Pakistan

  • British-Pakistani woman becomes Britain’s first hijab-wearing judge

    British-Pakistani woman becomes Britain’s first hijab-wearing judge

    British-Pakistani Raffia Arshad has become the first-ever, hijab-wearing deputy district judge in the United Kingdom.

    After completing her law degree from Oxford Brookes University, Arshad worked as a barrister at a firm specializing in family law. She has also written a book titled Islamic Family Law.

    As per reports, she is the first in her family to go to university. 

    Speaking to a private media outlet the newly-appointed judge said: “My appointment is a celebration for all Muslim women. I am delighted that I have broken the glass ceiling for many more capable Muslim women.

    “At a time when everyone is facing uncertainty and unprecedented challenges, I urge everyone to rekindle their dreams and pursue them.”

    Arshad credited her parents and mentioned how their prayers have helped her in her success. She said she felt proud of being counted as an outstanding Pakistani in the west.

    Read more – Tunisian woman bicycles to Makkah in 53 days

    Arshad’s husband is a doctor and a religious scholar, who completed a diploma in Islamic jurisprudence and coaching while working as a barrister.

    The further said: “I am a court-appointed expert on matters of Islamic family law and have authored many publications, including a textbook that is used by other judges worldwide. I have been invited to Germany and America to speak on Islamic family law.”

    Breaking stereotypes, she highlighted how women could follow their religion and also succeed in their careers at the same time. 

  • Currency worth Rs3 crores was being smuggled on PK8303; discovered in PIA plane’s debris

    Currency worth Rs3 crores was being smuggled on PK8303; discovered in PIA plane’s debris

    In a shocking development, local and foreign currency amounting to Rs30 million was allegedly being smuggled in the plane that crashed in a Karachi neighbourhood on May 22, a spokesperson of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has claimed.

    “Local and foreign currency worth millions of rupees was recovered from the crash site,” said the spokesperson, adding that a total of Rs30 million had been recovered from three separate bags.

    The PIA official said that such an amount cannot be transported without informing the airline and that an extra seat ticket needs to be purchased for transporting such huge amounts of cash. “A passenger cannot carry it in their luggage or cabin baggage.”

    He said for such large amounts of cash, a passenger has to be seated next to the cash but no passenger had brought an extra seat.

    So far, three people have come forward to claim the money, the spokesperson said.

  • Pakistan receives export orders of face masks from US, Canada and Europe

    Pakistan receives export orders of face masks from US, Canada and Europe

    Adviser to Prime Minister (PM) on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood has said that Pakistani exporters have received large orders of face masks from the United States (US), Canada and Europe.

    In a series of tweets on Thursday, he congratulated the exporters and termed their achievement a major breakthrough in the country’s export sector.

    “I have received information that some exporters have obtained large orders for face masks from US, Canada and Europe. This is a major breakthrough and I congratulate them for this achievement,” he tweeted.

    He further emphasised the need for Pakistani exporters to diversify into new segments in order to meet the changing global needs.

    “It is part of our strategy to diversify into new segments and this has been achieved by the exporters through their own efforts. I’m sharing this information with others to encourage them to seek more orders from different parts of the world,” he stated.

    Separately, the adviser stated that in order to achieve the target of agricultural exports, the government was striving hard to make space in the rice markets of the Middle East, North America and Africa.

    Talking to APP, he said the government intends to take the exports to the highest-ever level and in this regard, it was taking different measures to reclaim traditional markets besides getting access to new ones.

    “All members of the Rice Exports Association Pakistan (REAP) should prepare themselves for this opportunity so that they could get their orders approved in the Mexican market.”

    He further informed that rice export to Mexico was stagnant for the past few years but after the delegation’s visit, “we are hoping that our rice will be able to enter the Mexican market”.

    Dawood said that rice was the largest agro-export commodity in the country’s export basket, having a total volume of over $2 billion, which would be increased to $5 billion in the next five years.

  • Temporary visit turned all-time love, tourist doesn’t want to leave Pakistan

    Temporary visit turned all-time love, tourist doesn’t want to leave Pakistan

    A UK citizen Stephen David Sheen, who visited Pakistan as a temporary destination on his way to India, where his cousins live, ended up staying here because of the country’s hospitality. He has been living in Pakistan for the past decade.

    Popularly known as Steve among his students, Sheen is currently serving as a school Principal in Khairpur, Sindh.

    In an interview with Independent Urdu, Sheen said that he made a plan for a train trip to Europe and then to India in 2010. He first visited Turkey from where he took a train to Iran and finally to Pakistan. He stayed in Quetta for the initial time before going to Karachi, and from there to Khairpur.

    Steve has learned to speak fluent Sindhi and teaches Mathematics, Physics, and English to the students of Sojhro Faiz High School. The school is now famously known as the ‘Angrez ka School’ among the locals in Khairpur.

    He had volunteered to teach at the school for one summer camp but decided to stay and teach its students permanently.

    Steve mentioned that everywhere around the globe, people make money off tourism, but in Pakistan, the hospitality of the people doesn’t allow them to earn because here, people present him with free food, accommodation, and travel.

    On learning Sindhi, Steve mentioned that when he first arrived in Khairpur, he was invited to an Eid dinner. Everyone at the dinner party was talking to each other in Sindhi, and he felt isolated. That is when he decided to learn the language and now he speaks it fluently.

    Other than teaching and running a school, Sheen also enjoys woodwork. He makes wooden tables and chairs, and some of his students also join him in this activity from time to time.

  • ‘Murree Brewery is a juice brand’: BOL clarifies how beverages manufacturer sponsored its Iftar

    ‘Murree Brewery is a juice brand’: BOL clarifies how beverages manufacturer sponsored its Iftar

    BOL Network, which many deem as one of the country’s most controversial media outlets, has clarified its position after a viral screen grab from its Iftar transmission, showing Pakistan’s popular alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages manufacturer Murree Brewery as a sponsor, caused outrage over the internet.

    “Iftar sponsored by: Murree Brewery” could be seen popping up on television screens during BOL’s transmission in Ramzan as the channel hosted religious scholars, clerics and celebrities for Iftar every day.

    Here’s what Twitterati had to say about it:

    https://twitter.com/salarzai_/status/1262483061108871173

    https://twitter.com/FarazYasin97/status/1264691048699305989

    “Murree Brewery is a juice manufacturer,” actor Danish Taimoor clarified as he hosted his game show on BOL with host of the Iftar transmission in the hotseat.

    While it was also pointed out by several Twitterati that Murree Brewery also manufactured non-alcoholic beverages, Taimoor went on to name some of the juices and other non-alcoholic drinks by the beverages manufacturer.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    “People are assuming its just alcohol. But as Muslims, we cannot even think of doing it,” he said as the host of the Ramzan transmission also clarified and said he had also apologised during his own show and the logo had been removed.

    “It was a misunderstanding and we cannot even think of doing something of the sort,” the two reiterated.

  • Taliban deny plan to target Delhi, say ‘Kashmir is India’s internal matter’

    Taliban deny plan to target Delhi, say ‘Kashmir is India’s internal matter’

    Taliban have denied claims of joining Kashmiris’ freedom movement and attack New Delhi in retaliation against Indian atrocities under Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s regime that Pakistan and the international community fear is leading to the ethnic cleansing of the troubled valley’s majority Muslim community.

    According to Hindustan Times, the militant group has underlined that the Taliban “do not interfere in internal affairs of other countries”, saying the statement published in the media about the group joining Jihad in Kashmir was wrong.

    “The policy of the Islamic Emirate is clear that it does not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries.” Suhail Shaheen, the spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, as the political wing of Taliban calls itself, tweeted in Arabic.

    The clarification came after officials monitoring social media noted a spike in posts around claims that Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid had said it was impossible to be friends with India unless the Kashmir dispute was resolved. The spokesperson was also claimed to have said that the Taliban, after capturing power in Kabul, would also “capture Kashmir from infidels”.

    Diplomats based in Kabul and Delhi said that the Taliban spokesperson’s clarification came after India worked the backchannels to confirm reports about the group’s approach to India, and on Jammu and Kashmir.

    New Delhi was told that the social media posts were fake and did not reflect Taliban’s position.

    But analysts have also underlined that Taliban comprises people holding different beliefs. For example, while the group has alleged deep linkages with the deep state of some countries, there are also some who favour an independent line.

  • ‘Eid tomorrow,’ says Fawad ahead of moon-sighting committee’s meeting

    ‘Eid tomorrow,’ says Fawad ahead of moon-sighting committee’s meeting

    Ahead of the Ruete Hilal committee’s meeting scheduled for later today for moon sighting, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has said that the Shawwal moon could be sighted tonight.

    “The Shawwal moon was born on May 22 at 10:30 pm and will be visible between 7:36 pm and 8:15 pm tonight in Badin, Thatta and Pasni,” Chaudhry said while addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Saturday, and also tweeted it.

    The minister said that according to the calendar prepared by his ministry, Eid will be celebrated on May 24 in many countries including Pakistan. He also shared the link to ‘The Ruet’ app on Twitter.

    Saturday will be the last day of Ramzan and Sunday is the first day of Eid in many countries.

    The government has earlier announced six Eid holidays from May 22 to 27 both of the public and private sectors. According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Interior, Friday, May 22 to Wednesday, May 27, will be Eid holidays in the country.

    Meanwhile, addressing the presser, Fawad regretted that “there are always different announcements by the Reute Hilal Committee and Qasim Khan Mosque [of Peshawar, headed by Mufti Popalzai].”

    He also rejected the notion that there was no relation between the sighting of the moon according to Islamic practices and the use of technology in doing so.

    “Nowhere in the world is moon sighting an issue. With advances in technology it has become easier to sight the moon,” Fawad said.

  • PK8303 — not the first: Timeline of major Pakistani air crashes

    PK8303 — not the first: Timeline of major Pakistani air crashes

     

    At least 97 people have been killed after an Airbus A320 passenger airliner crashed into a residential neighbourhood while on approach to the airport in Karachi.

    Only two male passengers of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK8303 from Lahore to Karachi survived the crash that wasn’t the first in Pakistan’s history, and, unfortunately, might not be the last.

    The country has a chequered aviation safety record, and here is a timeline of the air crash tragedies that shook Pakistan.

    May 20, 1965

    PIA Boeing 707 crashes during inaugural flight while attempting to land at Cairo airport, killing 124 passengers.

    August 6, 1970

    PIA Fokker F27 aircraft crashes while attempting to take off from Islamabad in a thunderstorm, killing 30 on board.

    December 8, 1972

    Another PIA Fokker F27 crashes in Rawalpindi, leaving all 26 passengers dead.

    November 26, 1979

    A PIA Boeing 707 bringing home Pakistani Hajj pilgrims from Saudi Arabia crashes shortly after take off from Jeddah airport, killing 156 people.

    October 23, 1986

    PIA Fokker F27 crashes in Peshawar, leaving 13 out of 54 passengers dead.

    August 25, 1989

    Another PIA Fokker crashes in Gilgit with 54 people on board. The wreckage was never found.

    September 28, 1992

    A PIA Airbus A300 crashes while approaching Kathmandu after the plane descended too early, killing 167 people.

    July 10, 2006

    PIA Fokker F27 crashes in Multan shortly after take off, killing 45 people.

    July 28, 2010

    Airblue Airbus 321 from Karachi crashes in Margalla Hills outside Islamabad, leaving all 152 passengers dead.

    April 20, 2012

    A Bhoja Air Airbus 737 from Karachi crashes in Islamabad due to bad weather, killing all 127 passengers.

    December 7, 2016

    PIA ATR-42 aircraft flying from Chitral to Islamabad, crashes near Abbottabad. 48 people died in the incident, including singer-turned-preacher Junaid Jamshed.

    Friday’s tragic episode was the first commercial airliner crash since 2016. There have, however, been a number of chartered and military jet crashes.

  • American singer Cher thanks Pakistani govt for freeing lonely elephant Kaavan

    American singer Cher thanks Pakistani govt for freeing lonely elephant Kaavan

    The Islamabad High Court has ordered the Islamabad Zoo to move all animals, including their famed elephant Kaavan, to an animal sanctuary within 30 days because it lacks the basic facilities for their proper care and upkeep.

    https://twitter.com/IsbZooFriends/status/1263420894866821120?s=20

    In a judgement, they ordered wildlife officials to consult with Sri Lanka to find Kaavan a “suitable sanctuary” within 30 days.

    The condition and treatment of Kaavan, an Asian elephant from Sri Lanka, who had spent nearly three decades without a female partner in a small cage in the zoo had gathered international outrage several years ago.

    The elephant’s behaviour, including bobbing his head repeatedly, demonstrated “a kind of mental illness” and wildlife experts were of the opinion that he was depressed.

    Apart from not having a partner, activists said he had insufficient shelter from Islamabad’s searing summer temperatures, which can rise to above 40 degrees Celsius (100 Fahrenheit).

    Asian elephants can roam thousands of kilometres through deep tropical and subtropical forests, according to the World Wildlife Fund. In contrast, Kaavan’s 90 by 140 metre (100 by 150 yard) pen had almost no foliage, and only limited shade was provided.

    Read more – Leopard spotted near Islamabad’s hiking trails

    It was also reported that food which was meant for Kaavan was being stolen by his caretakers. Last year, Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry had also alleged that chickens meant to feed lions at the zoo were being cooked in the home of the zoo director.

    Arriving as a one-year-old in 1985 from Sri Lanka, Kaavan was temporarily held in chains in 2002 because zookeepers were concerned about increasingly violent tendencies, but he was freed later that year after an outcry.

    His mate Saheli, who arrived also from Sri Lanka in 1990, died in 2012, and in 2015 it emerged that Kaavan was regularly being chained once more — for several hours a day.

    Kavaan’s misery caught the attention of American music icon and actor, Cher, who had long propagated for his release. After the news of Kavaan’s release emerged, she took to social media to express her joy and thank the Government of Pakistan.

    Cher also referred to this as “one of the greatest moments of her life”.

    IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah, during the hearings, had blasted the Marghazar Zoo for lack of necessities and has asked that all the animals be moved to an animal sanctuary. The Islamabad Zoo will be allowed to keep animals only after they are capable of providing physical, psychological and emotional needs to the animals.

  • VIDEO: Unusual snowfall in Ayubia in May after a century

    VIDEO: Unusual snowfall in Ayubia in May after a century

    In an unusual occurrence, the lush green mountains of Abbottabad district’s Ayubia village, after over a century, have received snowfall in the month of May that is known for bringing warmer weather.

    According to The Express Tribune, nearby areas, including the Galiyat region, also received light snowfall on Tuesday, which was very unusual even for the local population.

    A report by the local English daily quoted a 90-year-old resident of Ayubia as saying that he hadn’t seen such weather since the British colonial rule. The resident said that his elder brother told him how in the 1920s the beautiful hilly region received snowfall for the last time in the month of May, while back when his forefathers resided in the region, the cold weather used to be very harsh even in June.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    Galliyat Development Authority (GDA) Director General (DG) Muhammad Raza Habib said he had received reports from his team in Ayubia about the weather, adding that there was no causality or disturbance for civilian life in the region due to the unexpected snowfall.

    Rina Saeed, an Islamabad-based writer and author, said the changes in weather were due to coronavirus pandemic as most of the world was under lockdown.

    READ: Improved air quality leads to breathtaking view of Kashmir from Sialkot

    “The environment is much cleaner now as compared to pre-coronavirus period. Since there is no pollution in the atmosphere, the flora and fauna of this region would benefit from it,” she said.