Latest news with #Zakia
Express Tribune
07-06-2025
- General
- Express Tribune
Women get ready for meaty feasts
The women of the city have completed the three-day preparations for Eidul Azha. From meat dishes to home decorations, from new clothes for children to their own adornment, women have completed every task. On Eidul Azha, while men were busy buying sacrificial animals, women took on all the responsibilities inside the house. A day before Eid, homemakers have completely cleaned the refrigerator and deep freezer so that there is no problem in preserving the sacrificial meat. They have also bought spices to prepare delicious dishes from the sacrificial meat. Foodies have also submitted their food lists. The regular favourites include biryani, pulao, karhai and barbecue items. While scores of young ones are glued to online sites for culinary experiments with sacrificial meat. Zakia, a homemaker from Scheme 33, while talking to The Express Tribune said, "I have started cleaning, arranging the dishes and organising the kitchen. I have prepared everything, including children's clothes and my own shoes. The rush in the kitchen will start from the morning of Eid, but happiness has its own taste, the spirit of Eidul Azha." Similarly, Razia, a 45-year-old from Gulshan-e-Iqbal, said, "These days are tiring for us. We have made special arrangements to handle the meat. I have even crushed special spices and the preparation of various meat dishes will start from the morning of Eid." Razia said she also went to the parlor to look fresh on Eid. It will be a holiday for the maids and we will be in the kitchen. Hufsa upbeat on the annual meat bonanza said: "My message to young girls, if you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen."
Scottish Sun
19-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
I've made £1.2k on Vinted and buyer even wore my dress to the BAFTAs – my 50p trick works every time for sales
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A THRIFTY fashionista has shared her top Vinted selling tips after making £1,200 on the app - and she's even flogged a dress to a BAFTAs guest. Zakia Moulaoui Guery, 37, has loved vintage clothes and thrift shops for as long as she can remember. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 Zakia Moulaoui Guery has made £1,200 selling items on Vinted Credit: Supplied 7 Zakia got her love for second-hand clothing from her mum Marie-Therese Credit: Supplied 7 Marie-Therese used to take Zakia to thrift stores when she was younger Credit: Supplied Her passion for second-hand clothing was sparked by her mother Marie-Therese who would take her to thrift stores in France during her childhood. Zakia, who now lives in Edinburgh, said: "My mum was the best at finding treasure, sometimes matching outfits for me and my sister and stuff. "When I grew up, that was the only thing we could do really, because we didn't have the money to go and buy new clothes all the time. And we had really nice clothes because my mother was really good at this. "She loved it. So she would take the time to do it. This is the only thing I would say, it's really demanding, it takes time. If you're shopping quickly, then it's not for you." Vintage and second-hand items now make up 90 per cent of Zakia's wardrobe. She's made a commitment to stop buying brand new clothing but admits it can be tough if she needs something for work. She said: "It's really hard because a lot of the basic items that you may need are really hard to find second-hand. "So it doesn't work all the time, but I'm trying. "Like if you need something specific, like work trousers or something specifically smart for something, it's a lot easier to just pop into M&S and just buy something rather than try to search for it." And Zakia doesn't just buy second-hand and thrifted items, she sells on items from her wardrobe too. I've made £10k on Vinted in 2 years - here's exactly why your items aren't selling, and how you can turn things around In the past two years, she has flogged 48 items on Vinted - making an impressive £1,200. Vinted is an online marketplace where people can buy and sell second hand clothes, shoes and accessories. It's completely free to upload clothes to the app and Vinted does not take a cut of sellers' profits and instead charges buyers a small fee to purchase each item. Zakia chose the username @VintageMamaScot which showcases her wardrobe style and is a nod to her beloved mum, who passed away during the Covid pandemic. She said: "I only sell vintage or retro-inspired pieces on Vinted. I think unique items sell well. "If it's something you definitely cannot find somewhere else, whether it's a dress that has a particular vibe or era, that might sell a lot quicker. "But also good brands. So if you sell something that is a little bit pricey on the high street at an affordable price, that will get snapped up quickly. COS for example, or even things that are no longer made anymore. "Cosmetics as well, it's not only clothing, it's also the beauty brands and stuff. That's where you can make a lot of money." 7 Zakia is making an effort not to buy new clothes Credit: Supplied 7 She sold this dress which ended up being worn to the BAFTAs Credit: Supplied 7 Her delighted buyer sent her a snap of the dress on the day Credit: Supplied 7 Zakia travels a lot for work and loves finding hidden gems Credit: Supplied She continues: "If you're anything like me at Christmas, somebody gives you something and it's totally not you. You can sell it. "As long as it's brand new in packaging, as long as it's not been used, then that's absolutely fine. I've sold perfume and creams and stuff on there and that's because the retail price is so high, so you can really make money on that. "I've also been gifted pieces from Uniqlo, which is totally not me. So that sold really, really well because I think it's a good brand and it can be quite pricey." Zakia is the CEO and founder of Invisible Cities - which arranges walking tours by people who have experienced homelessness. She travels a lot for work, which means she has the chance to find unique pieces along the way. She said: "I'm very lucky to be able to be in different places and buy different things from different cities. "In turn, that means that somebody from the UK or from Scotland might be able to buy a dress that is actually coming from the other side of the world - but it's second-hand and came back in my luggage." Selling tips But having interesting items isn't always enough to get them sold on Vinted. So Zakia has picked up some handy tips during her time on the app, and they always help her to get the sale. Do you need to pay tax on items sold on Vinted? QUICK facts on tax from the team at Vinted... The only time that an item might be taxable is if it sells for more than £6,000 and there is profit (sells for more than you paid for it). Even then, you can use your capital gains tax-free allowance of £3,000 to offset it. Generally, only business sellers trading for profit (buying goods with the purpose of selling for more than they paid for them) might need to pay tax. Business sellers who trade for profit can use a tax-free allowance of £1,000, which has been in place since 2017. More information here: First up, she maintains the 'Frequent Uploads' badge which Vinted gives to sellers if they regularly list five or more items, even if she doesn't have new clothes to flog. She said: "If you don't have too many things to sell, say you only have five items, there's only so many times you can post, right? "So what I do is I delete the post and then I upload it again. So Vinted believes that I'm putting up new stuff all the time." Revealing her next hack, she adds: "And then I always start by knowing what I would absolutely sell it for at a minimum, so that I can reduce the price if needed. Once it's posted online, I just want it to sell. "So if I'm reposting, I knock off £1 or 50p. Reducing your items regularly works quite well." And her most exciting sale to date? A red sequins maxi dress which she had found in a New York thrift store for just $6 (£4.49). Zakia was gutted when she realised the bargain buy was too big for her so decided to sell it instead. She managed to sell it on for £15, three times what she paid for it, and even discovered the frock had made it all the way to the BAFTAs. Guests at this year's glitzy award bash had been encouraged to "make sustainable fashion choices" and buyer Jackie quickly snapped up the sparkly dress. She was so happy with her buy that she sent Zakia a picture from the event. Zakia said: "It shows how we can absolutely make vintage work on the red carpet. "It's an old vintage Debenhams brand. So it must have been the late 80s or maybe the early 90s, I would say. "And this is just the story of this dress with two of us in it over the last three months. So imagine the stories this dress has seen from the moment it was made."
The Irish Sun
19-05-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
I've made £1.2k on Vinted and buyer even wore my dress to the BAFTAs – my 50p trick works every time for sales
A THRIFTY fashionista has shared her top Vinted selling tips after making £1,200 on the app - and she's even flogged a dress to a BAFTAs guest. Zakia Moulaoui Guery, 37, has loved vintage clothes and thrift shops for as long as she can remember. 7 Zakia Moulaoui Guery has made £1,200 selling items on Vinted Credit: Supplied 7 Zakia got her love for second-hand clothing from her mum Marie-Therese Credit: Supplied 7 Marie-Therese used to take Zakia to thrift stores when she was younger Credit: Supplied Her passion for second-hand clothing was sparked by her mother Marie-Therese who would take her to thrift stores in France during her childhood. Zakia, who now lives in Edinburgh, said: "My mum was the best at finding treasure, sometimes matching outfits for me and my sister and stuff. "When I grew up, that was the only thing we could do really, because we didn't have the money to go and buy new clothes all the time. And we had really nice clothes because my mother was really good at this. "She loved it. So she would take the time to do it. This is the only thing I would say, it's really demanding, it takes time. If you're shopping quickly, then it's not for you." Vintage and second-hand items now make up 90 per cent of Zakia's wardrobe. She's made a commitment to stop buying brand new clothing but admits it can be tough if she needs something for work. She said: "It's really hard because a lot of the basic items that you may need are really hard to find second-hand. "So it doesn't work all the time, but I'm trying. Most read in Fabulous "Like if you need something specific, like work trousers or something specifically smart for something, it's a lot easier to just pop into M&S and just buy something rather than try to search for it." And Zakia doesn't just buy second-hand and thrifted items, she sells on items from her wardrobe too. I've made £10k on Vinted in 2 years - here's exactly why your items aren't selling, and how you can turn things around In the past two years, she has flogged 48 items on Vinted - making an impressive £1,200. Vinted is an online marketplace where people can buy and sell second hand clothes, shoes and accessories. It's completely free to upload clothes to the app and Vinted does not take a cut of sellers' profits and instead charges buyers a small fee to purchase each item. Zakia chose the username She said: "I only sell vintage or retro-inspired pieces on Vinted. I think unique items sell well. "If it's something you definitely cannot find somewhere else, whether it's a dress that has a particular vibe or era, that might sell a lot quicker. "But also good brands. So if you sell something that is a little bit pricey on the high street at an affordable price, that will get snapped up quickly. COS for example, or even things that are no longer made anymore. "Cosmetics as well, it's not only clothing, it's also the beauty brands and stuff. That's where you can make a lot of money." 7 Zakia is making an effort not to buy new clothes Credit: Supplied 7 She sold this dress which ended up being worn to the BAFTAs Credit: Supplied 7 Her delighted buyer sent her a snap of the dress on the day Credit: Supplied 7 Zakia travels a lot for work and loves finding hidden gems Credit: Supplied She continues: "If you're anything like me at Christmas, somebody gives you something and it's totally not you. You can sell it. "As long as it's brand new in packaging, as long as it's not been used, then that's absolutely fine. I've sold perfume and creams and stuff on there and that's because the retail price is so high, so you can really make money on that. "I've also been gifted pieces from Uniqlo, which is totally not me. So that sold really, really well because I think it's a good brand and it can be quite pricey." Zakia is the CEO and founder of She said: "I'm very lucky to be able to be in different places and buy different things from different cities. "In turn, that means that somebody from the UK or from Scotland might be able to buy a dress that is actually coming from the other side of the world - but it's second-hand and came back in my luggage." Selling tips But having interesting items isn't always enough to get them sold on Vinted. So Zakia has picked up some handy tips during her time on the app, and they always help her to get the sale. Do you need to pay tax on items sold on Vinted? QUICK facts on tax from the team at Vinted... The only time that an item might be taxable is if it sells for more than £6,000 and there is profit (sells for more than you paid for it). Even then, you can use your capital gains tax-free allowance of £3,000 to offset it. Generally, only business sellers trading for profit (buying goods with the purpose of selling for more than they paid for them) might need to pay tax. Business sellers who trade for profit can use a tax-free allowance of £1,000, which has been in place since 2017. More information here: First up, she maintains the 'Frequent Uploads' badge which Vinted gives to sellers if they regularly list five or more items, even if she doesn't have new clothes to flog. She said: "If you don't have too many things to sell, say you only have five items, there's only so many times you can post, right? "So what I do is I delete the post and then I upload it again. So Vinted believes that I'm putting up new stuff all the time." Revealing her next hack, she adds: "And then I always start by knowing what I would absolutely sell it for at a minimum, so that I can reduce the price if needed. Once it's posted online, I just want it to sell. "So if I'm reposting, I knock off £1 or 50p. Reducing your items regularly works quite well." And her most exciting sale to date? A red sequins maxi dress which she had found in a New York thrift store for just $6 (£4.49). Zakia was gutted when she realised the bargain buy was too big for her so decided to sell it instead. She managed to sell it on for £15, three times what she paid for it, and even discovered the frock had made it all the way to the BAFTAs. Guests at this year's glitzy award bash had been encouraged to "make sustainable fashion choices" and buyer Jackie quickly snapped up the sparkly dress. She was so happy with her buy that she sent Zakia a picture from the event. Zakia said: "It shows how we can absolutely make vintage work on the red carpet. Read more on the Irish Sun "It's an old vintage Debenhams brand. So it must have been the late 80s or maybe the early 90s, I would say. "And this is just the story of this dress with two of us in it over the last three months. So imagine the stories this dress has seen from the moment it was made."
Hans India
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
YSRCP MLC Zakia quits party, joins BJP
Vijayawada: AP Legislative Council Deputy chairperson Zakia Khanam on Wednesday resigned to the YSRCP and joined BJP in the presence of BJP State president Daggubati Purandeswari at the state party office. She hails from Annamayya district and became MLC in 2020 on behalf of the YSRCP. She visited the BJP state office and met the state president Daggubati Purandeswari and the two leaders held discussions. Speaking on the occasion, Purandeswari said BJP strives for the development of all sections of people in the country and its slogan is Sabkaa Saath and Sabka Vikas. She expressed happiness that Zakia resigned to the vice chairperson post and joining the BJP. Stating that Minorities will get good recognition in the BJP, she congratulated Zakia for joining the party. Referring to the war with Pakistan, the BJP leader said India had attacked the Pakistani military bases and not the civilians of Pakistan. Health Minister Y Satya Kumar Yadav, MLA Dr Parthasarathy, BJP whip Adinarayana Reddy, party State secretary N Ramesh Naidu, SC Morcha president G Devanand, Kisan Morcha president Ch Kumar Swammy and other leaders welcomed Zakia Khanam. Later briefing the media, Zakia said that she had taken a bold decision to join the BJP. She said PM Narendra Modi is giving equal rights to all people and she joined the Party to give good message to the BJP on behalf of the Minorities of Andhra Pradesh. She praised the policies of the Central government. The strength of YSRCP is gradually decreasing in the legislative council during the past few months. Some MLC quit the posts and the party and the latest name added to the list is Zakia Khanam.
Express Tribune
21-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Empowered women, empowered Sindh: Breaking barriers & transforming lives
During my recent visit to various regions of Sindh, I witnessed a remarkable transformation—stories of resilience, empowerment, and progress that fill the heart with hope and satisfaction. The Sindh government's visionary initiatives have touched countless lives, fostering economic independence and social upliftment. Today, I want to share one such inspiring story—that of Zakia Khanum from the village of Muhammad Saleh Warar in Badin. Just a few years ago, Zakia Khanum's life was a relentless struggle. She, along with other women from her village, toiled as daily-wage laborers on a landlord's farm. Their work changed with the seasons—harvesting tomatoes, collecting paddy, and gathering sunflower seeds. Yet, despite their hard labor, their wages were so meager that affording two meals a day was a constant challenge. A single unforeseen circumstance—a bout of illness or an unexpected day off—meant going to bed hungry. Life was an unending test of endurance. The turning point in Zakia's life came when she and other women in her village came into contact with the Sindh Rural Support Organization (SRSO), an NGO funded by the Sindh government. The SRSO team encouraged them to farm independently rather than work on someone else's land. To facilitate this, the women formed a business development group comprising fifteen members and were granted an interest-free loan of PKR 1.39 million. With this financial support, Zakia and her group leased farmland and cultivated tomatoes. SRSO not only provided them with high-quality seeds but also guided them through every step of the cultivation process. A few months later, as their lush tomato fields flourished, these women experienced a rebirth—this time as entrepreneurs, reaping the full rewards of their labor. Their first harvest generated a remarkable profit of PKR 620,000. Inspired by this success, five members of the group branched out to establish their own ventures. The remaining ten, including Zakia, utilized their earnings to cultivate sunflowers in the Rabi season, yielding another PKR 450,000 in profit. When the original landowner reclaimed his fields, they refused to be discouraged. Instead, during the Kharif season, they leased a larger plot and planted rice—securing a net income of PKR 818,000 after covering all expenses. When I met Zakia Khanum, she spoke with immense pride and optimism. This season, they have cultivated muskmelons, with expectations of earning at least PKR 2 million in profit. Her eyes shone with gratitude as she shared how, for the first time in years, no one in their households has gone to bed hungry. Their children now eat nutritious meals and dress in better clothes. The SRSO team continues to support them, guiding them in crop selection, market linkages, and financial planning. Zakia's journey is not just a personal triumph; it is a beacon of hope for countless women. Her success has ignited a movement of economic empowerment, inspiring other women across Sindh to break free from the cycle of poverty. Under the leadership of Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the Sindh government is materializing the vision of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, fostering self-sufficiency and prosperity among marginalized communities. Comprehensive Empowerment Initiatives The Sindh government's Poverty Reduction Program, implemented through SRSO, extends beyond agriculture. It provides financial assistance and expert guidance in livestock farming, poultry farming, fisheries, handicrafts, and various entrepreneurial ventures, ensuring diverse opportunities for economic stability. Another groundbreaking initiative is the Sindh People's Housing for Flood Affectees (SPHF)—the world's largest free housing project, aiming to construct 2.1 million homes in flood-affected areas. In a significant step toward women's empowerment, 1.2 million of these homes will be registered in women's names, with 800,000 women designated as sole beneficiaries. These women have been provided with bank accounts, enabling them to manage financial transactions independently—an achievement that marks a historic shift in their economic agency. The Thar Coal Project is another testament to Sindh's commitment to gender inclusivity. The project has not only transformed the region's energy landscape but has also uplifted its women. Today, in an unprecedented development, women in Thar are driving heavy dumpers, working in solar energy projects, operating reverse osmosis (RO) plants, and taking on various technical roles. Their contributions have been globally recognized, with UNESCO officials acknowledging Sindh's efforts as a rare and exemplary model of women's empowerment. Real Change Comes from Action True progress is not achieved through mere rhetoric but through concrete action—and the Sindh government is proving this through its people-centric policies. The initiatives led by the Chief Minister of Sindh are reshaping the socio-economic fabric of rural communities, ensuring that women are no longer confined to the sidelines but are active participants in economic growth. Zakia Khanum's story is just one among thousands of untold success stories emerging from Sindh's villages. These women, once burdened by poverty and dependency, are now pioneers of change—nurturing hope, fostering economic resilience, and paving the way for a more prosperous, self-reliant Sindh. Sindh's commitment to women's empowerment is not just commendable—it is revolutionary. The province is setting a benchmark for inclusive development, proving that when women are uplifted, entire communities thrive. The dawn of economic independence and social prosperity is spreading across Sindh—one empowered woman, one empowered family at a time.
