Tag: Swat

  • Pakistan Army promotes two Hindu officers to Lieutenant Colonel

    Pakistan Army promotes two Hindu officers to Lieutenant Colonel

    The Pakistan Army has promoted two Hindu officers, Kelash Kumar and Aneel Kumar, to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel for the first time in the history of Pakistan.

    Dr Kelash Kumar belongs to the Tharparkar district in Sindh province and Dr Aneel Kumar belongs to the Badin district.

    They are the first officers from the Hindu community who received a promotion from Major to Lieutenant Colonel.

    They both are serving in the Medical Corps of the Pakistan Army.

    Prior to the year 2000, Hindu officers were not appointed to senior positions in the Pakistan Army. However, a former dictator, General (Retd) Pervez Musharraf had issued orders under a decree appointing Hindus to senior positions in the Army. Since then, six Hindu officers have risen to the rank of Major, of which Kelash Kumar and Aneel Kumar have now become the first officers to reach the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

    Dr Kelash was honored with a ‘Medal of Defense’, on his courage as he performed a 36- day duty at the Saddle Checkpost in Baltoro Sector near K2 at an altitude of 22,000 feet, which is a record in itself.

    Major Dr Kelash got a commission in Pakistan Army in 2007. He joined a hospital in North Sudan as a senior doctor in 2012. He later took part in Operation Al-Mizan in Orakzai Agency of Waziristan and Operation Rah-e-Rast in Swat.

    Major Dr Aneel Kumar got a commission in Pakistan Army in 2008.

    Until now, six Hindu Army officers have been appointed in Pakistan Army.

    Hindu activist, Kapil Dev took to Twitter to celebrate the inclusivity of the Hindu community in the Armed Forces.

    He said, “History in Making Kelash Kumar becomes the first #Hindu officer to have been promoted as Lieutenant Colonel in #PakArmy. Congratulations, Kelash!!!.”

  • Student from Swat invents vibrating ‘smart shoes’ for visually impaired

    A matric student from Swat has invented  “smart shoes” for visually impaired people that warn them with a sound or vibration about any obstacle on their path within a radius of 120 centimeters.

    The 17-year-old told Arab News he had an interest in repairing and fixing damaged battery-operated toys and this is how he entered the world of innovation.

    “Visually impaired people will no longer need walking sticks or guides after smart shoes acquire popularity,” Wasiullah said.

    “The shoes are fixed with ultrasonic sensor and Arduino board to keep blind people safe while they are walking. Such individuals can get prior notification of any looming hindrance.”

    Physics teacher Muhammad Farooq said Wasiullah was his most bright student and that he had planned to design a new type of wheelchair to help visually impaired people navigate their surroundings, but he could not afford its financial constraints. 

    Financial problems did not hold him back and he came up with “vibrating shoes” instead.

    “I still believe he has the potential to emerge as a leading scientist if he gets proper coaching and opportunity,” Farooq said.

    “Smart shoes for visually impaired people are available in foreign countries,” Farooq said. “But their prices are beyond the reach for many in Pakistan. The government should own the project because the shoes Wasiullah has made are comparatively cheaper and more affordable.”

    Mian Sayed, a social activist from Swat, has seen Wasiullah’s smart shoes and is positive that they could even become an export product. 

    Wasiullah said the price of a pair of his smart shoes can be fixed at Rs4,500 ($26), but he would not be able to manage production himself as he also needs to finance his studies himself. 

    An opportunity may come from the local government.

    Sajid Shah, head of the provincial directorate general of science, told Arab News the shoes will soon be evaluated by experts.

    “After evaluation by our scientists,” he said, “our department will promote the project of smart shoes invented by Wasiullah for commercial purposes.” 

  • Lovebirds Saboor, Ali enjoy together on romantic vacation in ‘Switzerland of Asia’, Aiman Khan adores

    Lovebirds Saboor, Ali enjoy together on romantic vacation in ‘Switzerland of Asia’, Aiman Khan adores

    Fiancées Saboor Aly and Ali Ansari took to Instagram to share pictures from their romantic getaway in Swat and other Northern areas.

    Ishq Tamasha star Aiman Khan commented under Saboor’s picture.

    Saboor Aly celebrates birthday with a style

    The couple indulged in some delicacies together.

    The Fitrat star mentioned on Nida Yasir’s morning show while promoting her drama Gul-o-Gulzar that she loves to travel and would prefer spending her hard earned money on exploring the world.

    Ali added the location in his Instagram post as ‘Switzerland of Asia’.

    Earlier the Ishq Mein Kaafir diva mentioned in her interview with BBC, “When we (Ali and her) started talking, I made it clear that I don’t want to prolong the talking stage and that if there had to be something, I’d want it to happen right away. I thought it would fizzle out after I said that but everything happened very quickly from there on.”

    Saboor Aly and Ali Ansari's engagement was unplanned
  • Faysal Quraishi, family enjoy Eid vacations in Swat

    Faysal Quraishi, family enjoy Eid vacations in Swat

    On Eid-ul-Azha, many people travelled domestically especially to northern areas amidst the pandemic wave and actor Faysal Quraishi also spent his Eid vacations in a unique way this year.

    Faysal and his family are spotted at different vacationing spots like Mallam Jabba and Swat, spending quality time together.

    Here we have gathered some beautiful family pictures of Quraishi from their recent trip, look them up:

    His daughter Ayat also shared some pictures from the tour on social media.

    On the work front, the Qaid-e-Tanhai star is currently being seen in Fitoor opposite Hiba Bukhari.

  • Alka Yagnik praises Imran Abbas’ singing skills

    Alka Yagnik praises Imran Abbas’ singing skills

    Imran Abbas has earned a thumbs up from Bollywood music legend Alka Yagnik for his singing skills.

    Commenting on a video of Imran’s in which he is singing Yagnik and Udit Narayan’s Tu Mere Samnay while driving in Swat, Yagnik said: “Bohat acha gaatay hain aap (You sing very well).”

    “And what a beautiful drive,” added the Indian musician.

    In the video, Imran can be heard singing Tu Meray Samnay from the 2003 film Chori Chori featuring Ajay Devgn, Rani Mukherjee and Sonali Bendre.

    “My love for 90s film music is totally unexplainable and when it comes to Alka Yagnik and Udit Narayan, the craziness just hits the ceiling,” wrote Abbas in the caption.

    Meanwhile, this is not the first time Abbas demonstrated his singing skills for his fans and followers. Earlier a video of Imran singing Aik Pal Ki Khushi from the Pakistani film Karz with Babar Ali went viral on social media.

  • Youth from Swat to release Pashto version of ‘Ertuğrul’ after Eid

    Youth from Swat to release Pashto version of ‘Ertuğrul’ after Eid

    Ever since the popular Turkish historical series Diriliş Ertuğrul aired in Pakistan on the directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan, it has become a sensation in the country. From wedding entrances to birthday cake, the Ertuğrul fever gripped Pakistan. A group of young YouTubers based in Swat have taken their love for the series one step further and are all set to release a Pashto version of the first season after Eid.

    Read more – GCU students produce Pakistan’s first-ever fan-made Harry Potter movie

    According to a report in Dawn News, the young group hailing from Odigram, a historical town of Swat valley, said they were inspired by the Turkish history series after PTV started broadcasting an Urdu dubbed version.

    The group is shooting the series at different locations in the Swat valley, with a majority of the scenes being shot at the seventh-century archaeological site of Raja Gira Castle and 11th century Mahmood Ghaznavi Mosque, both of which are in Odigram town.

    Muhammad Abbas, a student of BS Mathematics at the Government Post Graduate Jahanzeb College, is essaying the role of Ertuğrul Ghazi in the drama besides also serving as the producer. Other roles for the dramas have been assigned either according to looks or preference.

    Abbas shared that he and his friends watched the popular series during the first wave of COVID-19 and were impressed by the story and action which inspired them to “remake the series in Pashto language” with their own resources. The team behind the project also said that they wanted to show the “glorious history” of Muslims to Pashto-speaking people through this drama.

    Abbas said he and his friends collected their pocket money and made wooden swords, axes, shields as well as jackets with low-cost materials. They also made iron swords and leather jackets used in the original Turkish series.

    “I also work as a tailor after school so I know how to sew the jackets. Now we are such experts in making the dresses that we receive orders from different parts of the country,” said Abbas.

    The youngsters involved in the project are purely driven by their passion because all of them have day jobs – they are either students or shopkeepers. Most of their shoots take place on Friday since it’s their day off.

    Read more – ‘Raj Rani’: Sindhi channel introduces new show inspired by ‘Diriliş: Ertuğrul’

    “We collect money and arrange for good food including biryani or other dishes for the shooting day. So, we shoot the scenes and have fun,” says Abbas.

    According to Abbas, shooting for the drama is almost complete and only the post-processing and editing is left, which they will also do themselves despite offers from different editing companies.

    Meanwhile, the team said they will also make films on their own historical heroes if they were provided support and story ideas.

  • PIA to restart flight operations to Swat

    PIA to restart flight operations to Swat

    The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has decided to restart flights to Swat, Skardu and Gilgit in order to promote tourism in these areas.

    As per details, Pakistan’s national carrier will resume flight operations to the country’s scenic Swat valley after nearly 17 years from next week, a spokesperson for the airline said on Thursday.

    According to reports, ever since Taliban militants took over Swat, tourism in the picturesque valley was badly affected with flight operations suspended. Army operations to clear out militant safe havens and improved security in recent years have allowed tourism to re-emerge on the Hindu Kush mountain range.

    “PIA is going to resume flight operations to Saidu Sharif, Swat, after 17 years,” said PIA spokesman Abdullah Hafeez Khan while talking to a local media outlet. The spokesperson added that Swat’s only airport, equipped to handle small ATR-70 aircraft, has been closed since 2004.

    The purpose of resuming the flights now, Khan said, was “to encourage tourism in the region,” adding that “there is huge potential.”

    Khan further said that two weekly flights will also operate from Lahore, with a 15 minute stopover in Islamabad.

    In January 2019, Pakistan loosened travel restrictions in the hope of reviving tourism by offering visas on arrival to visitors from 50 countries and electronic visas to 175 nationalities.

    Pakistan was last a prominent tourist destination in the 1970s when the “hippie trail” brought Western travellers through the apricot and walnut orchards of the Swat Valley and Kashmir on their way to India and Nepal.

    Since then, deteriorating security conditions have prevented tourists and travellers from visiting the country.

    A 2019 Gallup report said tourist traffic at cultural sites in Pakistan had seen an increase of 317 per cent over five years. Prince William and Kate Middleton’s five-day visit to Pakistan in October 2019 also boosted interest in the country as a tourist spot.

  • Swat teacher attacks 3-year-old with blade to postpone student’s sister’s wedding

    Swat teacher attacks 3-year-old with blade to postpone student’s sister’s wedding

    Police in Swat arrested a seminary teacher for attacking her three-year-old student with a blade.

    According to reports, the teacher attacked the student as she wanted her student’s sister’s wedding to be postponed.

    Investigation SP Nazeer told media outlets that the teacher wanted her student’s sister to marry her brother.

    When the teacher got to know that her student’s sister is marrying someone else, she could not tolerate it and took the extreme step.

    The suspect confessed to her crime in court after which she was sent to a jail in Swat.

    Earlier, a girl in Hafizabad hired an assassin to kill her best friend for breaking a promise regarding living and dying together, and not getting married.

  • 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.

  • Hotel owner, manager fined over violating SOPs in ‘vulgar’ student party

    Hotel owner, manager fined over violating SOPs in ‘vulgar’ student party

    A video of tourists celebrating and partying at tourist destination at Malam Jabba recently went viral on social media, prompting authorities to register an FIR against the participants and hotel management for violating SOPs.

    According to reports, the FIR also states that “obscene acts” were carried out at the party. The FIR was lodged under Section 294 and 33 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). The FIR also says that 30 to 40 participants are unidentified and missing.

    The FIR was registered on the complaint of SHO Javed Iqbal.

    Later, hotel owner Fazal Khan and manger Hasnain Ahsan were presented before a divisional magistrate. Both were fined Rs40,000 and released.

    Reacting to the incident, Ahmed Ali Butt hit out at authorities for allowing jalsas and rallies but registering FIRs against dance parties.

    Meanwhile, despite a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases, tourists are thronging to Pakistan’s scenic northern areas to witness snowfall and experience the winter wonderland.

    As per the latest reports, tourists flocked to Kalam valley to witness the Snow Kabaddi Championship, organised by the local youth in collaboration with the hotel association and youth affairs department.

    Six local teams took part in the championship with the Matiltan Tiger emerging as the winner.