Latest news with #HaroonRashid
Business Recorder
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Business Recorder
Fly Jinnah marks Pakistan's Independence Day
KARACHI: In celebration of Pakistan's 78th Independence Day, Fly Jinnah, Pakistan's leading low-cost carrier, surprised passengers onboard its Karachi to Lahore flight with a unique in-flight experience, marking the nation's cultural richness and unity. Renowned Pakistani artist Haroon Rashid, best known for his iconic anthem 'Dil Se Maine Dekha Pakistan,' performed live during the flight. He was joined by a multicultural choir featuring voices from across Pakistan, with verses beautifully rendered in Sindhi, Balochi, Pashto, Punjabi, and Urdu, reflecting the country's diversity. Adding to the festive atmosphere, Fly Jinnah's cabin crew, representing various regions across Pakistan, participated in the celebration onboard, further enhancing the onboard experience for passengers. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Business Recorder
Independence Day: Fatima Fertilizer ignites patriotic fervour thru ‘Dil Se Sarsabz Milli Naghma' Competition
KARACHI: In a heartfelt celebration of Pakistan's Independence Day, Fatima Fertilizer brought together the power of music and national pride through its first-ever 'Dil Se Sarsabz' Milli Naghma Competition, held in Islamabad. The campaign invited individuals from across the country to record and share their renditions of classic patriotic songs on TikTok using the hashtag #DilSeSarsabz. From hundreds of digital entries, ten finalists were shortlisted to perform live in front of a distinguished jury panel at the grand event. The legendary singer and music producer Haroon Rashid joined as a juror, lending his expert judgment to select the top three winners. The event was attended by senior leadership of Fatima Fertilizer, including Rabel Sadozai, Director of Marketing and Sales, and Asad Murad, Chief Operating Officer, who lauded the participants and shared their thoughts on the campaign's success. The first prize was awarded to Tahir Ali Khan from Chakwal for an emotionally moving performance, the second prize winner was Shumaila Fareedon from Islamabad, and Mehtab Ali Talpur from Khairpur secured the third position. In addition, the top three most engaging TikTok entries received exciting surprise gifts, recognizing their digital creativity and audience engagement. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Time of India
08-08-2025
- Time of India
H'bag woman dies after mud house collapses
1 2 Hazaribag: An 80-year-old woman died after her mud house collapsed in Barka Irga of Hazaribag district on Friday. The villagers and her relatives removed the soil with a spade to retrieve her, but she was declared dead. The woman is survived by five sons, two daughters, and grandchildren. Block development officer Haroon Rashid, circle officer Ram Balak Kumar, Daru police station officer-in-charge Iqbal Hussain, and local mukhiya Anita Devi reached the spot and assured compensation as per govt provision. TNN Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
Express Tribune
22-06-2025
- Express Tribune
Peshawar buckles under urban sprawl
Once celebrated as the "City of Flowers", Peshawar now struggles to live up to its poetic title. The air that once carried the sweet scent of blooming apricots and the gentle rustle of orchard leaves now hangs heavy with dust, smoke, and the cacophony of honking horns. A city that was once admired for its natural beauty and cultural richness has descended into chaos, a casualty of unchecked population growth, political apathy, and haphazard urban development. Peshawar's transformation began in earnest during the 1980s, when the Soviet-Afghan war sent a huge influx of refugees across the border into Pakistan. Many of them settled in and around Peshawar, altering the city's demographic landscape. In the following decades, Peshawar became the preferred refuge for internally displaced persons from the tribal belt, who were fleeing military operations, insurgency, and insecurity. Over time, the refugee camps evolved into permanent neighborhoods, and the temporary shelters turned into sprawling, unregulated settlements. The resultant population boom has been relentless. According to the 2023 Digital Census, the population of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa reached 40.8 million, up from 35.5 million in 2017: an increase of 5.3 per cent in just six years. While the majority, 34 million, still reside in rural areas, the urban population has swelled dramatically. Peshawar alone grew from 4.3 million in 2017 to 4.7 million in 2023, at an annual growth rate of 1.5 per cent. For Peshawar, the results of this rapid urbanization are visible in every corner. The roads, once adequate for a smaller population, are now choked with vehicles. According to Chief Traffic Officer Haroon Rashid, over 500,000 vehicles ply the city's roads daily. Despite the introduction of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in 2020, locals' heavy reliance on illegal rickshaws, unregistered vehicles, and a lack of public discipline continue to worsen road congestion and deteriorate air quality. Dr Rashid Rehman, an urban infrastructure specialist at the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Peshawar, believed the city was facing a systemic failure. "Urban development continues to expand horizontally, devouring agricultural land and pushing the city's boundaries into rural areas. The lack of long-term strategic planning and zoning regulation is responsible for the chaos. High-rise buildings, for instance, could reduce the strain on land and services, but most housing schemes continue to promote large, detached homes. Weak enforcement of building codes has led to the construction of commercial plazas and residential complexes without adequate parking, water supply, or waste disposal systems," highlighted Dr Rehman. K-P's Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Arshad Ayub, acknowledged the city's growing pains but insisted that efforts were being made to improve conditions. "Five new flyovers are under construction and the Ring Road will be expanded to divert traffic from the city center. The upcoming provincial budget includes significant allocations for urban development in Peshawar, including the procurement of new buses for the BRT system and stricter regulations for commercial and residential construction," claimed Ayub. However, critics argued that such projects were reactive rather than proactive. Environmentalists warned that the loss of green spaces was not just a cosmetic issue but a threat to public health and ecological balance. Peshawar has lost many of its parks and orchards to unregulated construction due to which tree cover in the city has declined sharply. The sense of loss is palpable among older residents, who remember a very different city. Haji Tahir Khan, a 60-year-old shopkeeper in Saddar Bazaar, recalled a time when the city was not only cleaner but also more livable. "We had space to breathe, walk, and sit under a tree," he said. "Now, even finding a parking spot is a daily struggle. The roads are full, the air is dirty, and the water is getting scarce. Is this the progress we were promised?"
Express Tribune
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
'FIA officials sacked over misconduct'
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhary informed the National Assembly on Thursday that 51 officials of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had been dismissed over the past two years for various types of misconduct. Speaking during the question hour, the minister said the FIA has an effective internal accountability system to take disciplinary action against its personnel involved in wrongdoing. He expressed satisfaction with the performance of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Authority (NCCIA), particularly in addressing cybercrime across the country. He told the House that a Director General had been appointed to lead the NCCIA and that about 500 personnel were currently working in the authority. A proposal has also been submitted to hire additional staff to enhance its capacity. Crackdown The Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) Counter-Terrorism Wing in Islamabad has intensified its crackdown on an international gang involved in issuing fake Pakistani CNICs, machine-readable passports and Saudi Arabia work visas to Afghan nationals and other foreigners. Acting on intelligence reports, the Agency has arrested three more suspects linked to the network, bringing the total number of arrests to five. According to officials, the latest arrestsmade during raids conducted in the last 24 hoursinclude Muhammad Alam Zeb, Asif Khan and Haroon Rashid. Investigations have revealed that Zeb facilitated Saudi work visas for 31 Afghan nationals using Pakistani passports. Asif Khan reportedly arranged similar visas for four Afghan citizens, while Haroon Rashid enabled the issuance of Saudi visas for 58 Afghans. On Tuesday, two other suspectsMuhammad Ishaq Khan and Syed Ahsan Shahwere arrested. Shah is accused of helping 580 Afghan nationals secure Saudi work visas with forged Pakistani documentation, while Ishaq Khan allegedly assisted 22 individuals. Together, the five suspects are believed to have facilitated a total of 693 Afghan nationals in obtaining Saudi work visas using fraudulent Pakistani CNICs and passports. Authorities noted that the involvement of officials from the Immigration and Passport Office and the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) in the scam will be determined during investigation. Further raids are being carried out to apprehend other members of the network.
