Latest news with #TariqKhan
Express Tribune
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Former Haripur food official accused of corruption
A corruption scandal has reportedly emerged in the Haripur Food Department involving the alleged illegal sale of wheat worth millions of rupees. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa deputy director of food had earlier written to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief secretary, secretary food, director anti-corruption and director NAB about the alleged corruption. According to the letter, a former district food controller (DFC) allegedly sold wheat worth around Rs80-90 million illegally during 2015-16. Although an inquiry was initiated by the department, it was reportedly shelved due to the political influence of a former food minister and a former food secretary. The deputy director stated that the accused was exonerated without investigation due to this political backing. He further claimed that the ex-DFC purchased a house worth Rs30 million in Gulberg Colony, Abbottabad and sent his son to the UK for higher education. It was also alleged that he gifted luxury vehicles and other items to a senior female clerk, with whom he reportedly worked closely in postings. The deputy director added that the former DFC always kept the clerk in his team. Further allegations suggest that over Rs70 million worth of wheat has gone missing from Haripur's food procurement for the 2024-25 season. The former officials are accused of once again selling wheat illegally from the Haripur food warehouse. The newly appointed Haripur DFC Tariq Khan has reportedly refrained from taking charge of the warehouse, allegedly due to awareness of the missing wheat stock worth Rs70-80 million. The duo is accused of causing a loss of around Rs150 million to the national exchequer.
South Wales Argus
14-05-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
New support hub to open in Newport to meet rising demand
With living costs continuing to rise and donations and volunteers becoming harder to come by, Newport Support Network is finding new ways to meet growing demand. Located on 192 Commercial Road, Feed Newport and Cultural Food Hub is a buzzing community hub offering far more than just standard food parcels. Handing out baby essentials, cultural foods and hot meals, this organisation has become a lifeline for many. Founded in 2020 by Tariq Khan, the food hub started with the goal of supporting ethnic minority communities but has since evolved into a vital support network for anyone in Newport who needs it, from domestic abuse victims to refugees and families living in temporary accommodation. They also offer a soup kitchen every Friday from 11.30am to 1.30pm, funded by the National Lottery. Mr Khan's motive for starting Newport Support Network 'sounds cliché', he said, "but a support worker helped me in the past and, when I was able to, I wanted to give back. "Fast forward 20 years, I became a qualified support worker and started Feed Newport." The organisation now operates as a cultural food hub, soup kitchen, baby bank and 'everything in between', said Mr Khan. Services run throughout the week, providing catering to a diverse range of dietary needs, including halal, vegan and gluten-free. Newport Support Network is now expanding further. A new site at 92 Commercial Street is set to open in the coming weeks, offering what Mr Khan describes as an "open table and pantry, which is a space for families, providing them with English lessons, cooking lessons and community workshops." They also provide baby food, nappies and other essentials to new mums and families in need. This initiative supplies essential items for infants and toddlers to ease some of the pressures of early parenthood, especially for families experiencing poverty, homelessness, or crisis. "We're creating a space where people can access everything under one roof," he said. Mr Khan is also working with Asda's community scheme and local farm shops to ensure food sustainability, while making new investments, including a £35,000 Comic Relief sponsor, which aims to create jobs and reduce the number of empty shops in Newport. "It's just good people coming together," Mr Khan said. "When you see so much negativity on social media, it's important to show that there are still people out here who care." How You Can Help Newport Support Network welcomes all kinds of support. They're currently accepting non-perishable food items and monetary donations and are looking for volunteers. You can also self-refer through their website if you need support. Every contribution helps build a Newport where everyone feels welcome, supported and seen. To get involved, visit the Feed Newport website, or stop by their centres at 192 Commercial Road, NP20 2PP, or the soon-to-open 92 Commercial Street.
Arabian Business
14-05-2025
- Business
- Arabian Business
beauty business
While many assume the cosmetics industry is overly saturated, Tariq Khan, founder of the award-winning beauty brand, CTZN Cosmetics, begs to differ. He insists that the industry is not only resilient but is a goldmine for exponential growth
Arab News
01-05-2025
- Arab News
Pakistani Hajj pilgrims praise ‘remarkably smooth' Makkah Route Initiative immigration process
ISLAMABAD: The first batch of Pakistani Hajj pilgrims who arrived in Madinah under the Kingdom's Makkah Route Initiative on Wednesday praised its 'remarkably smooth' immigration process, thanking the Saudi government for the facility. The Makkah Route Initiative is designed to streamline immigration processes by enabling pilgrims to complete official travel formalities at their departure airports. Initially tested in Islamabad in 2019, the program was later expanded to Karachi, benefitting tens of thousands of Pakistani travelers. This saves pilgrims several hours upon arrival in the Kingdom, as they can simply enter the country without having to go through immigration again. Pakistan kicked off its pre-Hajj flight operations on Tuesday, with the first batch of 900 Pakistani pilgrims arriving in Madinah from Islamabad, Karachi and other cities. Those who arrived from Karachi and Islamabad praised the Makkah Route Initiative for making their travel hassle-free. 'It was remarkably smooth as the Saudi immigration process was completed at Islamabad Airport without the need to wait in long queues,' Tariq Khan, a resident of Pakistan's northwestern Swabi city, told Arab News over the phone from Madinah. Around 50,500 Pakistani pilgrims in total from Islamabad and Karachi will travel to Saudi Arabia under the Makkah Route Initiative this year. Khan, who is performing Hajj for the second time since 2016, said the pre-departure immigration process had saved pilgrims' considerable time. 'The difference was [like] night and day,' Khan, comparing his Hajj journey in 2016 to the present one. 'This time, the process was efficient and stress-free, allowing us to focus on the spiritual aspects of our journey.' Upon landing, Khan said pilgrims bypassed the usual immigration queues while buses were waiting to transport them directly to the hotel. 'Our luggage, which had been tagged and processed in Islamabad, arrived at the hotel shortly after we did,' he noted. Shamim Akhtar, who arrived from Karachi, described the immigration process as 'exceptionally well-organized.' 'Dedicated immigration counters at Karachi Airport handled all formalities efficiently and the staff was courteous,' she told Arab News. 'And the entire process was completed swiftly, allowing us to reach the boarding lounge without hassle.' She thanked the Saudi government for extending the service to Karachi, saying the Makkah Route Initiative significantly reduced the stress and time associated with international traveling during Hajj. 'It's a commendable effort that enhances the overall pilgrimage experience,' she said. 'EXCELLENT ARRANGEMENTS' Osama Anwar, an information technology professional from Pakistan's eastern city of Rawalpindi, praised the entire Hajj process from submitting the application to the mandatory trainings organized by the government, and the 'smooth' travel facilitated under the Makkah Route Initiative. 'Under the Route to Makkah, arrangements were very good and it was a very smooth process at the airport,' he said. 'It hardly took us just 20 to 25 minutes to reach the hotel from the airport in Saudi Arabia.' He said pilgrims had been guided thoroughly about the process. 'Now that we have arrived in Madinah, we found that excellent arrangements have also been made here including good rooms and food arrangements,' Anwar said. This year's annual pilgrimage will take place in June, with nearly 89,000 Pakistanis expected to travel to Saudi Arabia under the government scheme and over 23,620 Pakistanis expected to perform Hajj through private tour operators.
