'Iftar Dastarkhwan' feeds hundreds in capital
A free 'Iftar Dastarkhwan' has been set up in the federal capital, offering meals to hundreds of underprivileged individuals daily, including labourers, daily-wage workers, and the homeless.
Sponsored by local philanthropists and organisations, the initiative aimed to support those in need, fostering a spirit of generosity and communal well-being during the month of fasting.
Founder of a leading youth-led volunteer organisation, Ateeq Afridi, shared that his team had been organising the Ramazan Meherban Iftar Dastarkhwan for the past nine years. "The response had been incredible. Local and international students from leading universities are actively participating as volunteers," he said.
Afridi highlighted that the Dastarkhwan served approximately 400 to 500 people daily. "Labourers, bike riders, taxi drivers, and others rely on this initiative to break their fast," he said. The menu included dates, bananas, pakoras, samosas, chicken qorma, naan, roti, halwa, and occasionally zarda, ensuring a fulfilling meal for all, he added.
Funding for the initiative comes from his circle of friends and well-wishers, he said. Afridi emphasised that feeding the needy was considered 'Sadqa Jariya' in Islam. "I urge everyone to contribute to this noble cause. These people are part of our society and look to us for support."
Fatima, a dedicated volunteer for the past 10 years, expressed her fulfillment in being part of the initiative. "I feel immense satisfaction in serving others. I will continue to contribute to humanitarian efforts in the future," she said.
Sharing her experience, Ocean Lee, a student at Bahria University, said, "It's heartwarming to be part of this initiative. The kindness and generosity of the people here are inspiring." She pledged to remain engaged in volunteer work.
Kaleem, a daily-wage laborer, who earns between Rs1,200 and Rs1,500 per day, shared his gratitude. "I am the sole breadwinner for my family. This Dastarkhwan helps me save money for other necessities. It's truly a relief in these tough times," he said, offering prayers for those who organise the free meals.
A philanthropist involved in the initiative highlighted the growing number of attendees, underscoring the impact of such charitable efforts. "It's a great relief for the needy, and we are committed to continuing this service," he affirmed.
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Another Muharram approaches. Once again, we will gather and mourn wearing black while remembering a tyrant's violence and a family's sacrifice. But let this not be another year where we ritualistically grieve Karbala and then return to silencing our women. Let this not be another Muharram where we cry over Yazid's cruelty while enabling our own. Because if not for a woman, Islam wouldn't have survived. Not the Quran you recite. Not the Hadith you forwarded. Not the faith you gatekeep while violating every principle it upholds. Islam would never have made it past its earliest trials, political boycotts, economic starvation and rebellions, if it weren't carried on the backs, in the arms, and through the voices of women. Before Islam had a following, it had Bibi Khadijah (RA), not just a supporter, but the first believer. A businesswoman. A strategist. A financier. The one who bankrolled the mission of the Prophet (PBUH) when no man dared. When Quraysh exiled him, it was her caravan, her gold, her unwavering faith that sheltered him. It was Bibi Fatima (AS) who bore the lineage through which the Ahlul Bayt lived on. The axis of legacy. The embodiment of strength in grief. It was Aisha (RA) who brilliantly narrated over 2,000 hadith and debated scholars. Her voice helped shape the jurisprudence we now cite while refusing to let women speak in the same rooms. And then came Bibi Zainab (AS), shattered, shackled, but unafraid. After Karbala had become a graveyard and her brother Imam Hussain (AS) lay slaughtered in the sand, it was she who rose, not with weapons, but with words. Dragged to the court of Yazid, surrounded by mockery, she did not ask for mercy. She gave a sermon. She didn't break. She broke him. She was not just surviving. She was defying. And yet today, in a land that recites their names in every sermon, we silence their daughters. We call it modesty when we erase them. We call it culture when we kill them. We turn their resistance into relics, then light candles at their graves. As though mourning without action ever saved anyone. In 2024 alone, over 5,200 cases of gender-based violence were reported in Pakistan — murders, rapes, forced marriages, suicides, disappearances. We call our daughters Zainab, but fear their fire. We call them Aisha, but shush their speech. We call them Khadijah, but question their independence. We call them Fatima, but scorn their principles. We want them quiet. Covered. Passive. We fear their intellect, police their tone and question their clothing. Every year, we mourn the tragedies of the past and the violence of now and walk in processions. We cry for Karbala and for today's graves. And then? We go back. Back to honour killings, child brides, acid attacks. To clerics who blame women, politicians who mock abuse, courts that shame victims, and homes where daughters are silenced. We mourn the dead but never protect the living. Guilt has never been enough. You cannot grieve Karbala and ignore the women being buried in your own neighbourhood. You cannot claim love for Imam Hussain (AS) while tolerating Yazid's spirit in your own actions. If your grief does not make you just, then it is performance. If your rituals don't translate into compassion, then they are empty. If you cry for the women of Islam but ignore the pain of living women, then you are the problem. Because Karbala was not just a battlefield. It was a woman with a voice. And she didn't whisper. Because Muharram will come and go. But the Yazid of today doesn't need a throne; he rules from homes, offices, police stations, pulpits, parliaments, WhatsApp groups, comment sections, and benches. All he needs is a gun, a platform, and our silence. And too many others, like the armies that watched Karbala unfold, just looked away. Had Bibi Zainab stayed silent, you wouldn't even have a story to tell. So tell it. Live it. Let this be the year your grief grows a spine.
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Region's last surviving predator Wildlife specialists consider the fishing cat the last surviving major predator of the Indus flood plains following the near extinction of others such as gharials, tigers, and leopards from the region. "We have this last predator in the Indus flood plains that greatly contributes to keeping aquatic animal populations healthy," said Zafeer Ahmed Shaikh, head of the Indus Fishing Cat Project (IFCP). The IFCP, launched in 2021, forms part of the global Fishing Cat Conservation Alliance initiative, which seeks to protect and preserve this rare species. The project engages local communities, governmental authorities, and wildlife organizations to support conservation efforts. Before 2020, the status of the Indus fishing cat on Pakistan's IUCN country list remained uncertain, suggesting the species was nearing extinction, according to Shaikh. 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Express Tribune
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Pakistan's rare fishing cat nears extinction amid habitat loss, pollution
Listen to article Pakistan has long been struggling with the gradual disappearance of its rare wildlife species due to a lethal mix of environmental and human-induced factors, including habitat destruction, dwindling water resources, pollution, and poaching. Among these vanishing species is the endangered Indus fishing cat, found mostly in the Indus River Delta and surrounding buffer areas, where its numbers have dropped dramatically over recent decades. Habitat loss, food scarcity, hunting, and growing human populations have significantly impacted this rare feline, which plays a vital role in maintaining the balance of aquatic ecosystems, according to experts. 'The past two decades have appeared to be disastrous for this environment-friendly animal, mainly because of the destruction of wetlands and killings by local people,' Saeed-ul-Islam, a senior Pakistani wildlife expert, told Anadolu. Although official surveys have yet to determine precise figures, Islam explained that conservative estimates suggest the cat's population in Pakistan has declined by more than 50% in the last two decades alone. Globally, the fishing cat population has declined approximately 30% since 2010, and the animal has been listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)'s Red List since 2016. In addition to decreasing water levels, deteriorating water quality has exacerbated the plight of these animals. 'Deterioration of water quality due to untreated water flowing directly into water bodies, and the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers, are also taking a toll on conservation efforts,' Islam noted. Region's last surviving predator Wildlife specialists consider the fishing cat the last surviving major predator of the Indus flood plains following the near extinction of others such as gharials, tigers, and leopards from the region. 'We have this last predator in the Indus flood plains that greatly contributes to keeping aquatic animal populations healthy,' said Zafeer Ahmed Shaikh, head of the Indus Fishing Cat Project (IFCP). The IFCP, launched in 2021, forms part of the global Fishing Cat Conservation Alliance initiative, which seeks to protect and preserve this rare species. The project engages local communities, governmental authorities, and wildlife organizations to support conservation efforts. Before 2020, the status of the Indus fishing cat on Pakistan's IUCN country list remained uncertain, suggesting the species was nearing extinction, according to Shaikh. 'It was us (IFCP) who told the world that this animal not only still exists in Pakistan but that its distribution range has extended to the riverine areas of Sindh and Balochistan provinces through the canal network,' Shaikh asserted. In addition to the Indus delta, recent sightings have occurred in Jaffarabad and Jhal Magsi districts in the southwestern Balochistan province. Challenges in determining exact numbers Shaikh acknowledged the difficulty in determining the exact population numbers due to a lack of comprehensive surveys by either government agencies or wildlife groups. 'We cannot give any specific number about its population in Pakistan. But one thing is sure – its number has reduced due to shrinking wetlands and water bodies,' he said. 'That's why it is hard to fix its current status, but it can safely be described as 'almost endangered,' considering the given circumstances.' Shaikh acknowledged that, although the IFCP has made 'a little difference' in increasing the fishing cat's numbers, 'it's a long way to go.' Kamal Palari, a community worker involved with IFCP conservation efforts in Sindh's Thatta district, noted a significant reduction in hunting incidents involving the fishing cat in recent years. 'Locals, especially farmers, would kill them because they falsely believed this cat was a threat to their livestock and crops,' Palari told Anadolu. However, he said awareness campaigns launched by IFCP and increased community involvement have led to a noticeable decrease in such cases. Shaikh also clarified that the fishing cat 'very rarely' attacks goats and has no capacity to threaten livestock herds significantly. Balancing aquatic ecosystems Mumtaz Soomro, a deputy director at the Sindh Wildlife Department, believes that strict wildlife protection laws enacted in 2020 – imposing heavy fines and sentences for hunting rare species – have further helped reduce killings of fishing cats. Soomro said the department has worked with local communities and wildlife groups on awareness campaigns to protect the cat, which he emphasized is 'very important for keeping marine life healthy.' 'We have already almost lost leopards, tigers, and other predators because of human-induced factors. We cannot afford to lose this last predator,' he said. In addition to shrinking wetlands, Islam cited overfishing by local communities as another critical reason for food shortages affecting the fishing cat. He also stressed the fishing cat's vital role in maintaining the ecological balance within the Indus delta. 'The fishing cat is a species of low-lying wetlands and can survive not only on fish but also on supplementary foods like crabs, rodents, and birds. The cat catches only lazy animals and fish, helping maintain the health of the remaining aquatic life,' Islam explained. Shaikh echoed these views, underscoring the fishing cat's role in protecting crops by controlling populations of rodents and turtles. 'They control the population of small animals, so the ecosystem remains in balance,' he concluded.
