Blog

Army’s chilgoza forest in Shawal goes viral for earning billions in revenue

An infotainment TV channel, Discover Pakistan, recently interviewed a senior Frontier Corps (FC) official who revealed that the Pakistan Army has grown Asia’s largest pine nut orchard in North Waziristan, earning around Rs2 billion in revenue last year.

“We collect the pine nuts and supply them all over Pakistan. The quality of pine nuts in this area is very good, and they are also exported out of the country. The total area of pine nut forest spans around 650 to 700 square kilometres, which earned around two billion rupees in revenue last year,” stated Lt Colonel Waqar of FC Corps.

Pine nuts, also known as chilgoza in the local language, are famous for their creamy flavour. The very expensive commodity is an important source of income for local communities. Pakistan continues to be one of the top producers of pine nuts in the world.

“This area where we are standing is Shawal Valley. Its area spans around 800 square kilometres, and it is one of the most beautiful valleys in Pakistan. Shawal Valley is on the boundary between North and South Waziristan, and it is around 18 kilometres away from our international border with Afghanistan,” explained the security official.

The interviewer asked the Colonel whether the local population, which was displaced after military operations, had been settled back in their native area, to which he replied: “Yes, the area where we are standing right now is known as Turiali. The population of this area is around seven to eight thousand people, and during Operation Zarb-e-Azb, the native people were shifted to Baka Khel camps near Bannu.”

The Colonel clarified that the Shawal Valley used to be a hard area, but after the army conducted grand anti-terror operations, peace and stability returned to the area.

It merits a mention that Shawal Valley used to be a no-go area many years ago because it was under the control of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). In 2016, then-Army Chief Gen Raheel Shareef gave the green light for the initiation of the final phase of operation Zarb-i-Azab in the Shawal Valley region of North Waziristan.

January 22, 2025
PSL 10: PCB willing to ditch English players to ‘prioritise long-term relationship’ with ECB

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to prioritise long-term relationship with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) over players’ No-Objection Certificate (NOC) for Pakistan Super League’s tenth season.

The PSL has become a key event on Pakistan’s cricket calendar, attracting talent from around the world. However, recent changes in the ECB policy have created challenges for the league.

The ECB has denied permission for their red-ball players to participate in the PSL during the domestic season but has allowed them to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) during the same.

James Vince has decided to skip first-class cricket to ensure his availability for the PSL. Other players, including Jonny Bairstow, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, and Ben Duckett, also wanted to join the PSL, but the ECB will not issue them a NOC, reports said.

PSL franchises were informed before the draft that these players would not be available. Some players were ready to confront the ECB, with Bairstow even considering retirement from international cricket, but he has not taken that step yet.

According to reports, an ECB official told Pakistan that even if the players took action, the issue would remain unresolved until the PSL ends. Therefore, the PCB has decided to prioritize its long-standing relationship with the ECB over the potential conflict. It means not being able to have some English players in this year’s PSL.

The PCB believes that when the PSL returns to its original February-March window, English players will not face issues in getting approval. Similar challenges may arise in the future, and damaging relations with the ECB would not be wise.

As a result, several English stars will not participate in this year’s PSL.

PSL’s new chairman, Salman Naseer, recently visited England but was unable to convince the ECB to change its NOC policy.

The PSL season 10 will take place in the April-May window.

January 22, 2025
President Donald Trump Executive Orders: Impact of New Policies and Global Response

Donald Trump signed several executive orders as soon as the oath was taken in as the US President on January 20, 2025. The main purpose of President Donald Trump’s signed executive orders was to cancel the previous president Joe Biden’s policies and to fulfil his election campaign promises. These orders had different impacts on national and international levels.

Separation from the Paris Climate Agreement

President Trump has again separated America from the climate agreement through one executive order. He argues that “this agreement unnecessarily burdens the American economy, and the field of energy it is an obstacle to progress”.

Critics say that global environmental efforts will be destroyed by this step and the international reputation will be affected.

Withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO)

In another move, Trump ordered to take out America from the World Health Organization. He blamed that “during the COVID-19 epidemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) did not perform well leadership and colluded with China”.

The funding of the World Health Organization will likely be affected by this decision because America is the largest contributor to WHO.

Changes in Immigration Policy

Donald Trump also has issued an executive order to tighten immigration laws. This move would speed up the deportation of illegal immigrants and the right to citizenship will be limited based on birth.

Reforms in the Federal Bureaucracy

President Trump banned new hires in federal institutes, however, it will not apply in the army. To improve the efficiency of the federal bureaucracy he has announced to establishment of a new institute called “The Department of Government Performance”. Elon Musk will lead “The Department of Government Performance”. The purpose of this action is to monitor the efficiency of federal institutions and reduce unnecessary expenditures.

Diversity, Equality and Transgender Rights

In the federal government, Trump ordered to end of diversity and equity programs and acknowledgment of only male and female genders. This move is likely to affect the rights of transgender people. And human rights organizations have expressed concern over it.

Legal Challenges and Public Response

Against these executive orders of President Trump various states and organizations have started legal proceedings.

Attorneys General of New Jersey and Arizona have challenged restricting the right to birthright citizenship in the court. They say “These actions violate constitutional rights and no president can be allowed to run the affairs of the country in the style of a kingship”.

These decisions of President Trump have been an international reaction. Decisions to separate from the Paris Climate Agreement and withdraw from the WHO have been criticized by world leaders. They say that these actions will harm global cooperation and affect efforts to deal with global challenges.

Read Also: Jeremiah Smith: Rising and Shining Start in the World of College Football

January 22, 2025
NAB comes out swinging against Bahria Town project in Dubai; Malik Riaz calls it blackmail

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Tuesday cautioned the public against investing in Bahria Town’s new real estate project in Dubai, emphasising that the government was reaching out to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to seek property tycoon Malik Riaz’s extradition through legal avenues.

“Mr Malik Riaz is residing in Dubai, UAE. He has recently launched a project for the construction of luxury apartments in Dubai, UAE. The general public at large is hereby advised and warned to refrain from investing in the stated project. If the general public at large invests in the stated project, their actions would tantamount to money laundering, for which they may face criminal/ legal proceedings,” the anti-corruption watchdog said in a press release carried by Radio Pakistan on Tuesday.

It added, “The government of Pakistan is reaching out to the government of UAE for the extradition of Malik Riaz through legal channels.”

Pakistan and the UAE do have an extradition treaty, and Islamabad can legally request the Gulf country to extradite the real estate mogul.

The development came following the conviction of former Premier Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in the Al Qadir Trust case, commonly known as the 190 Million Pounds case, in which both were sentenced to 14 years and seven years in jail, respectively.

Property tycoon Malik Riaz and his son are also co-accused and proclaimed offenders in the Al Qadir Trust case.

NAB recounted that Malik Riaz was wanted by the court with the watchdog already having frozen innumerable assets belonging to him and to Bahria Town.

NAB was conducting investigations against Malik Riaz and his associates for “fraud, deceptive practices and cheating public at large,” said the anti-corruption watchdog.

The watchdog said it had “cogent and credible information about the fact that Mr Malik Riaz and his accomplices have not only illegally possessed/occupied state-owned land but also land belonging to private persons situated at Karachi, Takht-Pari, Rawalpindi and New Murree.

“He is using these lands for developing housing societies without obtaining mandatory/required regulatory permissions/no objection certificates and has committed fraud against the state and general public at large to the tune of billions of rupees.”

NAB alleged that the property tycoon was developing housing societies under the name of Bahria Town “in a duplicitous manner” in other cities, including Peshawar and Jamshoro, by “illegally possessing/occupying land” and failing to procure the same mandatory regulatory permissions and legal documents.

It added that he continued to “defraud the general public at large by selling them plots/files in these illegal housing societies” despite neither he nor Bahria Town having a “good/clear title” to any of the lands in “these illegal housing societies”.

In reply, Malik Riaz declared the press release a blackmail tactic, threatening to unleash the “storm” within him.

“NAB’s baseless press release today is actually a new blackmailing demand. I am holding back, but there is a storm within me. If this dam breaks, then everyone’s façade will shatter. Don’t forget that the secrets of the past 25–30 years are preserved along with evidence,” he warned on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday.

Riaz stressed that he will neither be used against anyone nor will anyone blackmail him, adding, “My decision yesterday was the same as it is today: no matter how much oppression you inflict, I (Malik Riaz) will not testify.”

January 22, 2025

Everything You Need to Know About Hiba Bukhari

Hiba Bukhari is the name of the prominent Pakistani actress who has been making strides in the industry with her unparalleled work. Actress Hiba witnessed her career surge when she appeared in the drama serial Thori Si Wafa, which aired on Hum TV. She became popular after the drama and even won the Hum Award for Marked Best Soap Actress. This was a tribute to her efforts as a successful actress. Hiba Qadir is her complete name, born in Karachi on 27th July 1993. However, she is famous for her stage name. Her versatility is one of the reasons she views herself as a superstar.

In this blog, we will discuss the beginning of her career and drama list. We will also discuss details about Hiba Bukhari husband and their newborn baby. Let’s start our topic of discussion!

Hiba Bukhari Profile Summary

Full Name	Hiba Qadir
Profession	Model and Actress
Age	29 Years
Date of Birth	27 July 1993
Birthplace	Karachi, Pakistan
Zodiac Sign	Leo
Nationality	Pakistani
Education Level	Intermediate
Hometown	Karachi
Religion	Islam
Debut Telefilm	“Yeh Ishq Hai” in 2017
Debut Drama	“Teri Meri Jodi” in 2015
Marital Status	Married
Spouse Name	Areez Ahmad

Beginning of Her Career

Hiba Bukhari made her first entry into acting through the television series “Teri Meri Jodi.” This drama was aired in 2015. This role was her first entry into acting and diplomatic recognition as a learner. Her talent was recognized, and she received a supporting role in the 2016 drama “Choti Si Zindagi.” She ably portrayed an unscrupulous neighbor in this drama.

Hiba’s outstanding year was 2017. She gained recognition as Bholi Bano on Geo TV alongside Syed Jibran and Arez Ahmed. Hiba received praise from both critics and the public. They showcase her performance as a working woman caught in the throes of poverty yet warmth. This drama won her the Hum Award for Best Soap Actress at the 6th Hum Awards that year.

Hiba has had various roles in her career. She has gained depth and versatility as an actress from each role. In 2019, she brought to life the girl-next-door character in “Ramz-e-Ishq,” a drama broadcast on Geo TV. Viewers resonated with this character. Later that year, she took on another hit, a standout performance as a headstrong bus hostess in “Deewangi.” This performance earned her a Lux Style Award nomination for best television actress.

After 2021, she pushed the limit further with portrayals of complex characters. In the critically acclaimed drama “Fitoor,” she portrayed a married woman at odds with her past and was praised on all sides for a performance. It was followed by “Inteha e Ishq” and “Berukhi.” These projects also established her reputation as a versatile and gifted actress.

In 2022, she charmed her audience once again as a steely medical student in “Meray Humnasheen” on Geo TV and as a mother seeking a fresh start in “Pehchaan” on Hum TV. She received considerable acclaim that showcased her ability to tackle complicated emotional narratives.

Hiba Bukhari Husband

Fans of Hiba Bukhari have admired and praised her personal and professional achievements. On May 7, 2022, she married Areez Ahmed, her real-life costar and soulmate. The couple’s story has inspired the nation.

The Couple Welcomed Their First Child

Hiba Bukhari and Arez Ahmed have welcomed a new member into their family. On December 28, she posted an Instagram story with her husband about welcoming their daughter as their first child. They shared a clip showing Arez and Hiba holding their newborn daughter’s little foot between their hands and a note accompanying it.

The couple ended the note by expressing gratitude to Allah for making their lives meaningful. They then revealed the name they had chosen for their daughter, stating in the caption, “Our little girl, Aynur, which means moonlight, is the essence of our lives.”

Hiba Bukhari Dramas List

Drama Name	Role	Channel Name	Year
Teri Meri Jodi	Jarya	Geo Entertainment	2015
Choti Si Zindagi	Saiqa	HUM TV	2016
Bholi Bano	Bano	Geo Entertainment	2017
Thori si Wafa	Seemal	HUM TV	2017
Silsilay	Hira	Geo Entertainment	2018
Haara Dil	Momina	A Plus Entertainment	2018
Deewangi	Nageen Faiyaaz	Geo Entertainment	2019
Ramz-e-Ishq	Roshni Wajahat Ali	Geo Entertainment	2019
Tarap	Zunairah	HUM TV	2020
Fitoor	Dilnasheen	Geo Entertainment	2021
Inteha e Ishq	Rida	A Plus Entertainment	2021
Berukhi	Sabeen	ARY Digital	2021
Meray Hamnasheen	Khajista Dilawar Khan	Geo Entertainment	2022
Ishq Nahin Aasan	Zara	Aan TV	2022
Tere Ishq ke Naam	Ruthba	ARY Digital	2023
Jhok Sarkar	Sassi	HUM TV	2023
Jaan Nisar	Dua Nosherwan	Geo Entertainment	2024
Rad	Emaan	ARY Digital	2024

January 22, 2025

Hania Aamir’s go-to coffee spot in Lahore is our favourite too

Actress Hania Aamir is celebrating the arrival of Aquarius season in style. The Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum actress posted pictures on her Instagram, captioned “It’s Aquarius season baby.” And we can’t help but notice the coffee spot she’s hanging out at.

The background of her photos reveals that Hania Aamir is at Double shot, a popular cafe chain in Lahore.

If you’re a coffee love like Hanai Aamir, Double Shot in Lahore is definitely worth checking out. Pro tip: Try the lemon cake with your coffee..

January 22, 2025
Two batters out as PCB mulls major changes for Champions Trophy

The selection process for Pakistan’s squad for the Champions Trophy is underway with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) poised to make a major change in the team ahead of the mega event.

The Champions Trophy will start on February 19. Before that, Pakistan will play a tri-series at home against South Africa and New Zealand.

According to reports, Saim Ayub’s fitness is still a concern, and no decision has been made about him yet. If a decision on Saim is made, the team selected for the tri-series will likely be the same for the Champions Trophy.

Sources also indicate that selectors have already decided on a replacement if Saim Ayub remains unfit.

Fakhar Zaman is confirmed for the 15-member squad, while Imam-ul-Haq and Haseebullah are also being considered. However, Abdullah Shafique and Usman Khan are likely to be dropped.

Possible Squad for Champions Trophy:

Fakhar Zaman
Imam-ul-Haq (under consideration)
Haseebullah (under consideration)
Saim Ayub (fitness dependent)
Abdullah Shafique (likely to be dropped)
Usman Khan (likely to be dropped)
Mohammad Rizwan
Babar Azam
Kamran Ghulam
Salman Ali Agha
Tayyab Tahir
Irfan Khan
Mohammad Hasnain
Naseem Shah
Shaheen Afridi
Haris Rauf
Abrar Ahmed
Sufiyan Muqeem

All other teams have already announced their squads, while Pakistan has only submitted a preliminary list to the ICC. The final squad must be announced by February 11, with the first match of the tri-series on February 8.

January 22, 2025
‘Is there a rape after every 15 minutes in Punjab?’ LHC asks IG Usman

In a hearing on the bail application of an accused in a rape case, the Lahore High Court summoned Inspector General Punjab Police Usman Anwar, asking him if reports claiming that a rape occurs every 15 minutes in the province are true.

A three-member full bench headed by Chief Justice Lahore High Court Justice Alia Neelam heard the bail plea of an accused in a rape case filed by Wajid Ali, who was arrested on charges of adultery.

The full bench also included Justice Faruq Haider and Justice Ali Zia Bajwa.

Advocate General Punjab Khalid Ishaq, Prosecutor General Punjab Syed Farhad Ali Shah and IG Punjab, along with FIA officers, appeared in the court order.

Advocate Ishaq told the court that 150,000 cases have been registered since the Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Act 2021 was enacted. To this, Justice Bajwa quoted Advocate’s report which read that “a rape is happening in Punjab every fifteen minutes.”

He further remarked that “According to your calculations, we have surpassed India as it is in third place on the list and here a rape is happening every fifteen minutes now.”

To this, Advocate General Punjab responded that all the cited cases are not of rape as many are lodged on false allegations. According to his claims, women officers are deployed in every center of Punjab for such cases, while medical officers are also being trained.

30 percent of false rape cases were registered, as per the report.

Advocate Ishaq assured the court that action is being taken against those who file false cases, while Justice Ali Zia Bajwa ruled that strict measures must be taken against such individuals.

Media reports reveal that rape cases are very high in Pakistan, whereas police’s report assure that action is also being taken against the cited cases.

Chief Justice Lahore High Court, however, again quoting the report, stated that rape cases are being reported the most, nonethtless, followed by drug and murder cases, asserting on the lack of implementation of the Anti-Rape Act.

“There are three stages of the Anti-Rape Act and they should be read before filing a case,” he added.

Justice Alia Neelam ruled that a trauma column in the form for investigating gender-based violence cases needs to be added.

The court appreciated IG Punjab’s work, but also reiterated the need to train the officers investigating these cases.

Prosecutor General Punjab Farhad Ali Shah told the court that no police officer less than grade less than 17 can investigate these cases.

IG Punjab Usman Anwar told the court that a virtual police station has also been established with the help of the Safe City Authority in which rape victims can file a complaint through email, call or WhatsApp.

2100 women have been recruited who have undergone special training, 880 investigation officers have been recruited whose minimum education is graduation. He noted that an investigation officer deals with an average of 53 cases.

However, Justice Farooq Haider remarked that some amendments are needed in the rules and this should be brought to the notice of the government.

Later, the Lahore High Court summoned the Attorney General, Advocate General, Prosecutor General and IG Punjab again on February 10.

January 21, 2025
Israel launches deadly operation in West Bank’s Jenin

The Israeli military said on Tuesday it had launched an operation in the occupied West Bank’s Jenin that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said aimed to “eradicate terrorism” in the area.

The Palestinian health ministry, based in Ramallah, said the operation had killed six people, just days after a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect in the Gaza Strip.

In a joint statement, the military and the Shin Bet security agency said that, alongside the Israeli Border Police, they had launched an operation dubbed “Iron Wall’ in Jenin, whose refugee camp is a stronghold of Palestinian resistant groups.

In a statement released shortly after the launch of the operation, Netanyahu said the raid aimed to “eradicate terrorism” in Jenin and was part of a broader strategy to counter Iran “wherever it sends its arms — in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen,” and the West Bank.

The Israeli government has accused Iran, which backs militant groups across the Middle East including Hamas in Gaza, of attempting to send weapons and money to militants in the West Bank.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said its first responders treated seven people injured by live ammunition and that Israeli forces were hindering their access to the area.

Jenin governor Kamal Abu al-Rub told AFP the operation was “an invasion of the (refugee) camp”.

“It came quickly, Apache helicopters in the sky and Israeli military vehicles everywhere”, he added.

An AFP journalist said Palestinian security forces, who had been conducting an operation against Palestinian factions in the area since early December, left some of their positions around the camp before the arrival of Israeli forces.

The spokesman for the Palestinian security forces, Anwar Rajab, said in a statement that Israeli forces had “opened fire on civilians and security forces, resulting in injuries to several civilians and a number of security personnel, one of whom is in critical condition”.

Notably, Israeli airstrikes killed more than 46 thousand people in Gaza in more than 15 months.

January 21, 2025
7yo Karachi kid raped before murder: reports

The autopsy report of seven-year-old Sarim, a child who went missing from North Karachi on January 7 and was found after 11 days, has revealed he was subjected to sexual assault before getting murdered.

Media reports cite the police are now treating the child’s case, whose body was found in an underground water tank of the high-rise building, as a murder case.

He was reportedly subjected to a sexual assault before being murdered in Bilal Colony’s Anam Apartments.

According to news sources, Sarim was a student at Madrasah Al Quran who went to his seminary on January 7 but never returned.

After he went missing, his father, Parvez, went to the seminary to ask about his son but was told by the administration that he had left for home at 3:40 pm.

When the father was returning from the seminary, he reportedly spotted Sarim’s gloves lying on the stairs inside a mosque.

After an extensive search, the police found the child’s body in a water tank in the building in the same vicinity on January 18.

The doctors who performed the autopsy revealed that the marks of injuries on the body suggested that it was “not an accidental death”.

In the initial briefing to the media, the police claimed to have been investigating the possible foul play or assault in the case. They also cited the possibility of the water tank not being properly covered, which may have caused the boy to fall inside if he had been playing nearby.

Later, however, the autopsy report has concluded that the child was raped.

As per the details, the victim had suffered 12 different injuries on various parts of the body and “all are antemortem (prior to death) except one injury”.

The report also outlined that although the body was found after 11 days, the examination of the body confirms that the boy had died “approximately four to five days” before the post-mortem.

The recent revelations have raised concerns about the investigating skills of the police’s efforts to recover the child, as it is clear now that he was alive at least a week after his kidnapping.

On the other hand, DIG-West Irfan Ali Baloch, in a statement, said that the exact cause and time of the death is yet to be confirmed by doctors and that he had not received the reports in this regard.

He informed that the police had already taken a teacher of the seminary in custody, and his DNA samples were taken for cross-matching with the samples of the victim.

The residents of Sarim’s neighbourhood expressed shock over his recovery, stating that law enforcement had checked the tank twice during the search but failed to find any sign of the child. Some speculated that the child’s body may have remained submerged and surfaced over time.

Read more: 7yo missing Karachi kid found dead after 11 days

January 21, 2025