
Two labourers inaugurate four-star restaurant, championing dignity for the working class
Listen to article
In a heartwarming gesture that has stirred the community, two labourers were given the honour of inaugurating a newly launched four-star restaurant here on Thursday marking a symbolic step towards acknowledging the dignity and value of the working class in the society.
A cobbler Shakeel Ahmad and a baker Ahmad Din cut the ribbon among the hundreds of local businessmen opened the first four-star hotel at Upper Ada in the commercial nerve of the capital city of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
'People invite government officials and ministers to inaugurate the business centres but we have established this hotel to serve labour class people to get first class meals at special discount at any time,' said Syed Salahud-Din Andrabi the owner of the hotel.
Andrabi said though we all know that there is tension on the Line of Control (LoC) between Pakistan and India, but in AJK people do business in tourism and hotel industry from June to September.
Hotel and restaurant rooted in the spirit of inclusivity and cultural pride aims to challenge societal norms by offering due respect to those who form the backbone of daily life the labourers. The inauguration saw emotional scenes as the two men cut the ribbon amid applause from guests and dignitaries.
'This is our tribute to the unsung heroes of our society,' said the restaurant's founder Dr Haleem Khan. 'By letting labourers lead this inauguration we want to set an example that every person deserves dignity regardless of their profession,' Khan added.
General manager of the hotel, Ahtisham Qurashi, said that the restaurant will serve authentic traditional Kashmiri cuisine, including the much-loved pink salt tea and the multi-layered ghee-rich bread known as 'Bakarkhani'.
Qurashi emphasised that the menu reflects the cultural richness of Kashmir and the ambience is designed to evoke a sense of home and heritage.
The move has been widely appreciated by social activists and citizens alike, calling it a progressive and thoughtful initiative in a time when inclusivity is more important than ever.
Politicians, journalists, businessmen and members of civil society who were present during the inauguration appreciated the hotel management's decision for inaugurating it by labourers to set a lovely example in the society that must be appreciated and encouraged in future.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Business Recorder
‘Despite crushing defeat, Modi remains unlearned'
This is apropos a letter to the Editor from this writer carried by the newspaper yesterday. I would like to add that since 1947, Pakistan and India have fought five wars—1947, 1965, 1971, 1999, and most recently from May 5 to May 10, 2025. Each war, regardless of its military outcome, has been a loss for the people: lives lost, families torn apart, economies devastated, and generations scarred. Estimates suggest that the cumulative economic loss from these conflicts runs into hundreds of billions of dollars—conservative estimates place the direct and indirect costs at over $250 billion for India and $100 billion for Pakistan, excluding the immeasurable human toll. The 2025 war alone, lasting merely five days, is believed to have cost both nations approximately $100 billion in combined economic damage, infrastructure losses, disrupted trade, and lost productivity. The pattern is predictable: every war begins with heightened rhetoric, spirals into military confrontation, and ultimately ends at the negotiating table—often right where it all started. So, why not choose the table first and save countless lives and resources? Why not learn from the lessons of history, where every war has brought more pain than gain, more wounds than wins, and more bitterness than breakthroughs? Central to this perpetual conflict is the Kashmir issue—a festering wound that has fueled tensions for decades. Until this core dispute is resolved in line with United Nations Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people, lasting peace will remain elusive. Kashmir is not just a piece of land; it is a symbol of unresolved grievances, a humanitarian crisis, and the spark that has ignited many of the wars between the two countries. While international actors have offered their good offices to mediate a solution, India continues to resist external facilitation, insisting on bilateral dialogue while simultaneously rejecting meaningful negotiations. This stalemate serves no one — least of all the people of Kashmir, who continue to suffer the most. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025


Business Recorder
6 days ago
- Business Recorder
Standard Chartered, Emirates ink MoU
KARACHI: Standard Chartered Pakistan and Emirates have entered into a strategic partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The collaboration offers significant benefits to Standard Chartered Credit Card holders, special fares on tickets purchased online through the Emirates website. Additionally, customers can opt to split their payments into convenient monthly instalments of up to 12 months. The partnership further solidifies Standard Chartered's position as the premier wealth advisory bank in the country and as the trusted banking partner for global corporations operating in the region. It further underscores the Bank's commitment to providing exceptional services and benefits to its clients. The MoU was signed by Rehan Shaikh, CEO and Head of Coverage, Standard Chartered Pakistan and Mohammed Alhashmi, VP for Pakistan, Emirates. Also present at the signing ceremony were senior management officials from both companies including Saadya Riaz, Head Wealth & Retail Banking, SC Pakistan and Ashfaq Shah, Corporate Sales Manager – Pakistan from Emirates. Rehan Shaikh, commented on the partnership said that this strategic alliance with Emirates is a significant milestone in our mission to deliver superior value and convenience to our clients. 'This collaboration not only strengthens our market position but also exemplifies our commitment to fostering strong partnerships that drive innovation and growth in the banking sector', he added. Mohammed Alhashmi, VP for Pakistan, Emirates said that Emirates has a special relationship with Pakistan where we have been operating since 1985 and, in partnering with a leading bank operating in the country, we hope to expand our customer base further. The incentives we are providing to Standard Chartered customers will allow them to experience our premium travel proposition while enjoying added-value, he added. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025


Business Recorder
29-05-2025
- Business Recorder
Sarah Adam lifts the veil on India-TTP nexus to kill Kashmiris
In a world growing increasingly chaotic, the latest revelations by former CIA operative Sarah Adam could not have come at a more critical moment. Her interview, rich in classified insight and field-sourced intelligence, exposes a sinister and elaborate strategy being orchestrated by India—one that not only seeks to eliminate Kashmiri freedom fighters but also aims to destabilize Balochistan and undermine the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Sarah Adam's whistleblowing reveals a two-pronged covert war being waged by India. On one front, India is reportedly collaborating with Taliban factions to assassinate Kashmiri militants on Pakistani soil, specifically those allegedly aligned with Pakistan's military and intelligence services. On the second front, India is accused of utilizing Afghan soil and TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan) infrastructure to arm and finance Baloch insurgents—targeting Pakistan's territorial integrity and its most vital economic artery: CPEC. Adam argues that India's use of Taliban infrastructure is not merely tactical—it is strategic. By removing the 'old guard' of Kashmiri militants, India and its Taliban collaborators are paving the way for a new generation of militants—fighters indoctrinated in the ideological warfare of the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. These emerging actors, shaped in the fires of Afghanistan's post-occupation resistance, reject diplomacy, borders, and national loyalty. They envision not political autonomy but an Islamic emirate in Kashmir, formed through unrelenting, decentralized jihad. Their loyalties lie not with Rawalpindi or Islamabad, but with global extremist agendas. The geopolitical implications are worsened by the fact that this insurgency is being indirectly financed by Western taxpayers. Since 2021, the US and the UN have funneled over $11 billion in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. Intended for civilian relief, much of this aid is reportedly siphoned off by the Taliban through taxes, coercion, and diversion tactics—and then repurposed to fund regional militant operations, including those targeting Pakistan. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025