Shadi's take on PKK disarmament
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Khaleej Times
37 minutes ago
- Khaleej Times
Empowerment in Pakistan: Women reclaim work, worth and voice
On a cloud-swept morning in the upper reaches of the Karakoram, the rhythmic tap of chisels against wood rings out across a modest workshop. Inside, surrounded by planks of walnut and mulberry, a group of women methodically carves custom furniture. One of them, Bibi Amina, barely looks up as she guides her students through the finer points of joint-making. 'This work used to be unthinkable for someone like me,' she says, brushing sawdust off her sleeves. 'Now it's our livelihood and our statement.' Amina isn't a celebrity or activist. She's a carpenter, business owner, and mentor based in the Hunza Valley, a mountainous pocket of northern Pakistan where women are increasingly reshaping their roles in society. It's not a movement driven by slogans or hashtags but by grit, education, and necessity. As Pakistan marks its independence, the stories unfolding in the valleys and plains offer a compelling footnote to the national narrative; one where women, long excluded from formal labour and leadership, are quietly writing a new script of self-reliance and purpose. From Punjab to the cosmos From the quiet city of Mandi Bahauddin in Punjab, another boundary is being broken, this time, far beyond the atmosphere. Ayesha Habib has become the first Pakistani selected for the prestigious Space Studies Program 2025 by the International Space University. Set to take place in South Korea, the programme brings together top minds in engineering, space science, and policy from across the globe. Ayesha's achievement not only marks a personal milestone but also signals Pakistan's growing presence in global scientific discourse, a reminder that even from the most unassuming corners of the country, women are reaching for the stars. Not just helping hands, but heads of households Amina's workshop, which she established in 2008, now trains women from surrounding villages in skills ranging from carpentry to project management. The orders come in steady, from hotels, NGOs, and even local government offices. But for Amina, the real impact is visible in smaller, more intimate ways. 'Some of the girls here never thought they'd earn their own money,' she says. 'Now they're contributing to their homes, buying school supplies for their siblings, and saving for the future.' Across the region, the shift is visible. Once limited to seasonal agricultural work or domestic chores, women in Hunza and surrounding areas are taking ownership of businesses, running cafés, managing farms and even commanding football teams. The evolution has been gradual but firm, rooted in something that sets this region apart: literacy. 'We grew up knowing how to read, how to think for ourselves,' says cafe-owner Lal Shehzadi, who opened a roadside restaurant nearly two decades ago. 'My daughter works with me now and she's already thinking of launching a bakery.' Her restaurant, perched on a hilltop overlooking the valley is modest, plastic tables with handwritten menus, but it buzzes with life, especially in the evenings. Shehzadi says the café now employs 11 people, most of them women. 'This little place gave me freedom,' she smiles. 'And I wanted others to taste that too.' From mountains to markets: Reclaiming economic space In nearby towns, other women are launching ventures with equally bold intent. Safina, once a low-paid employee at a local shop, decided to quit her job a decade ago and start her own eatery. With little financial backing, she persuaded her family to sell two cows to fund her startup. 'I just needed one chance,' Safina says while talking to local media. 'Now I'm making more than fifteen times what I earned before and I'm my own boss.' What unites these stories is not only courage, but pragmatism. The region's small landholdings and harsh winters have long forced communities to adapt creatively to survive. As men migrated seasonally for work, women gradually stepped into roles that blurred traditional gender boundaries. But the change wasn't just economic, it was educational and cultural. Much of the valley follows the Ismaili branch of Shiite Islam, where female education has historically been prioritised. Community investments in schooling, dating back to a girls' school established in the 1940s, have led to gender parity in literacy that far exceeds the national average. As Sultan Madan, head of the Karakoram Area Development Organisation, puts it: 'The seeds were planted long ago. Now we're watching the garden grow.' When the pitch becomes a platform Perhaps nowhere is the valley's shift more visible or audible than on its sports fields. In villages like Passu, Gulmit and Gojal, the unmistakable sound of football boots pounding against turf echoes across the hills. 'Every village has a women's team now,' says Nadia Shams, 17, a midfielder who trains in shorts and joggers. 'And we're not playing for fun. We're playing to win.' On a warm July afternoon, Nadia and her teammates drill formations under the guidance of Fahima Qayyum, a local hero who's represented Pakistan in international tournaments. 'Playing football gave me confidence I didn't know I had,' Qayyum says. 'Now I tell the girls that if you can face a stadium, you can face anything.' Her dream is to create a formal league system and tap into scholarships for players who show promise. 'Sport can change lives, not just through medals, but by building identity and resilience,' she says. South to Nushki: Stories from the sand The momentum isn't limited to the mountains. In the arid expanses of Balochistan, another quiet trailblazer is writing new narratives, literally. Alishba Khan Barech, a 23-year-old novelist from Nushki, recently became the first Pakistani to win the 'Young Woman of the Year' award at the Women Changing the World Awards in London. 'I didn't think my stories would leave my town, let alone reach a global stage,' says Barech. 'But the response proved that people are hungry for different perspectives from Pakistan, not just the headlines, but the hope.' Barech's work, often rooted in the everyday challenges of Baloch women, has been widely praised for its emotional clarity and social depth. She says her next project will focus on climate resilience among rural girls, a subject close to her heart. Fields of change in Punjab Back in the heartland of Punjab, Sahar Iqbal is leading one of the country's most surprising agricultural success stories and it's run almost entirely by women. Her potato and maize farm, based near Okara, employs over 250 women and focuses on sustainable, water-smart agriculture. 'We started on land everyone had given up on,' Sahar says, speaking to Khaleej Times. 'Now we're not just feeding our families, we're feeding the market.' The initiative offers better-than-average wages and formal training in climate-resilient practices. 'We've created our own SOPs because nothing existed for women-led farming,' Sahar adds. 'Now, the community looks to us for guidance.' A different kind of independence In a country where only 23 per cent of women are part of the formal workforce, these stories may seem exceptional but they're gaining ground. And they point to a deeper truth: that freedom isn't just a matter of sovereignty, but of agency. These women working as carpenters, cooks, coaches, writers, and farmers are redefining what it means to be independent in Pakistan. Not with declarations, but with daily decisions. Not with protests, but with perseverance. And not always with recognition, but always with resolve.
Khaleej Times
7 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Open book exams in some CBSE schools soon; teachers to be trained
As students in the UAE prepare for Open-Book Assessments (OBAs), some CBSE-affiliated schools are ramping up efforts to equip teachers with the skills they need to navigate these new types of tests. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has approved the introduction of OBAs for Class 9 starting in the 2026-27 academic year. The move follows a pilot study that showed strong teacher support for the approach. Although schools will be encouraged to follow the framework, its adoption will be voluntary. Shining Star International School in Abu Dhabi, Principal Abhilasha Singh drew upon her own experiences. 'I remember being in Grade 9 when the Government of India first piloted this for the Uttar Pradesh (state) Board. We were excited to have the textbook as an ally, but it wasn't easy to find answers if you hadn't thoroughly read the book.' Headteachers emphasized that the decision is in alignment with the National Curriculum Framework 2023, which underscores the need to transition from rote memorization to competency-based learning. Muhammad Ali Kottakkulam, Principal of Cosmopolitan International School in Ajman, said, 'The proposal, based on a pilot study, is to incorporate OBA into three pen-paper tests conducted each term in languages, Mathematics, Science, and Social Science. The pilot study indicated that students are facing challenges in effectively utilising resources, grasping interdisciplinary concepts, and applying critical thinking and problem solving skills." The focus, he said, will be "on equipping teachers with the skills to design application-based questions, how to effectively implement them into the classroom settings, and how to monitor student progress and evaluate their performance in an OBA format.' CBSE has previously explored open-book assessments; in 2014, it launched the Open Text Based Assessment (OTBA) for Class 9, covering subjects like Hindi, English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Science. Principals noted that the program was later extended to Class 11 for subjects including Economics, Biology, and Geography, but it was discontinued in the 2017–18 academic year due to its limited effectiveness in fostering critical thinking skills. 'I strongly recommend that questions be application-oriented, demanding analysis, synthesis, and problem-solving,' said Shiny Davison, Principal of Woodlem Park School in Hamidiya, Ajman. 'CBSE will provide guidelines, sample papers, and question-design frameworks, with an optional rollout allowing schools time to adapt. As a school leader, my priority is building teacher capacity through training, workshops, and master-trainer support to create and assess higher-order questions. If implemented with thoughtful design and phased adoption, OBAs can deepen understanding, ease exam stress, and prepare students for real-world challenges.'
Zawya
20 hours ago
- Zawya
Hamdan Centre for Giftedness and Innovation students excel in Cambridge University Pre-University Program
Dubai, UAE: Students from the Hamdan Centre for Giftedness and Innovation, part of the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, have concluded their participation in the Pre-University Program at Fitzwilliam College, University of Cambridge, achieving outstanding results and receiving certificates of excellence across multiple fields of academic research. The program, held from 27 July to 9 August 2025, brought together more than 250 students from 15 countries, reflecting the ability of Emirati students to excel in prestigious international academic environments. Dr. Mariam Al Ghawi, Director of Hamdan Centre for Giftedness and Innovation, said: "We are proud of the exceptional performance of our students, which reaffirms their ability to innovate and excel in the most distinguished global academic settings. These achievements are the result of a clear vision and an integrated strategy for nurturing talent and refining research and scientific skills. Their outstanding participation at a renowned institution like Cambridge reflects the high quality of academic preparation we provide, their ability to engage in advanced scientific discussions, and their capacity to present research characterized by depth and innovation. We believe that investing in young minds is an investment in the nation's future, and that these talents will be capable of leading research and scientific projects that contribute to the UAE's progress and strengthen its global standing in science and technology." Student Humaid Al Hooli was named Best Overall Student across all program cohorts for his work in the Mechanical and Electrical Engineering course. His extensive research focused on the Chernobyl disaster, covering its historical background, technical causes, and environmental and human impacts, while highlighting its role in reshaping global nuclear safety regulations and contributing to the development of safer operational systems for nuclear power plants. Student Khalid Al Emadi secured first place in the Mechanical and Electrical Engineering course with research on advanced applications of artificial intelligence in the aviation sector, focusing on real-time aircraft data analysis for early fault detection, enhancing predictive maintenance procedures, and improving air traffic monitoring systems to raise safety standards and reduce accidents. Student Hanadi Darwish earned first place in Physics with a comprehensive research project on antimatter, exploring the theoretical foundations of its formation, possibilities for industrial-scale production in high-energy laboratories, associated technical challenges in storage and utilization, and potential future applications in energy and medicine. Student Sayed Mansour Al Hashemi participated in the Cybersecurity and Computer Science course, presenting an analytical study on password security. His research provided an in-depth review of common hacking techniques and vulnerabilities in traditional authentication systems, proposing innovative solutions such as multi-factor authentication and advanced encryption methods to strengthen data protection against increasing digital threats. This achievement aligns with the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation's vision to support talented students and prepare them to compete globally, reaffirming the UAE's position as a leading hub for fostering creativity and innovation. The Centre continues to enhance its academic and training programs to expand opportunities for participation in international scientific events, empowering students to lead pioneering projects that contribute to building a knowledge-based future. Hamdan Centre for Giftedness and Innovation is one of the Foundation's flagship initiatives, dedicated to identifying and nurturing gifted students, offering advanced educational and training programs, and creating opportunities for participation in international academic events to develop their scientific and practical abilities, preparing them to become future leaders across diverse fields.
