Pakistan as not seen on TV! - Other side of Quetta

PAKISTAN – As Not Seen on TV!

Quetta... the other side!

Cycling down snow filled streets of Quetta

Building a snowman

People climb up a snowy hillside in Quetta

Snow covered trees on Quetta streets

Quetta youth build a mobile snowman.

A walk in the snow.

PIA plane in Quetta park.

Pakistani youths play in the snow in Quetta.

Pakistanis throw snowballs and play in the snow in Quetta. The valley of Quetta just received its first snowfall of the winter.

Snowball fight in Quetta

Pakistan as not seen on TV - Khyber Pakhtukhwah Province

PAKISTAN – As Not Seen On TV!

Khyber Pakhtunkhwah Province

On the way to Mohodand Lake – Swat

Jalkhed - The beautiful place in kaghan valley.

River-side hotel in Kalam Valley.

Amazing meadows in Swat Valley, Khyber Pakhtukhwa

Doodi Patsar Lake, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

An evening view of Swat River, Swat Valley, Pakistan

Stunning view of Chitral Airport

Pakistan – As Not Seen on TV

Pakistan – As Not Seen on TV! 

Nature at its best – Ayubia National Park

Ayuba National Park (abbreviated Ayuba) protected area of ​​3,312 hectares (8,184 acres) located in the district of Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. It was declared a national park named after the Muhammad Ayub Khan (1958-1969), the second president of Pakistan.

Area of ​​coniferous forest supports moderate and moderate and mixed deciduous forest with an average elevation of 8,000 feet (2,400 m) above sea level. Ayuba National Park is surrounded by seven large villages and small towns in four Thandiani, Nathiagali Khanspur. The Park and resort complex built Ayuba as a combination of four instead of mini-Khairi Gali Changle Gali, Khanspur Galyat.

 

The park has 104 species of plants. The main Cedrus deodara Floral, Blue Pine, Newry, fir, chestnut and oak. About 21 plants here related to 19 families are known for their medicinal properties. Many of those used in the treatment of jaundice, stomach ulcers, snake bites, infections, internal, diabetes and Chambal.

Some plants are known to have an effect on anti-cancer. In addition, some are used as insecticides and biological pesticides, mainly because of its nature insect repellent. Worldwide Fund for Nature launched an initiative here ethno-botany, to demonstrate the sustainable use of plant resources as a means of protecting biodiversity. The park is home to 203 species of birds. Many species of birds, including eagles, vultures, Sparrow Hawk and may Pigeon Hill, among other things to get here. It also houses some of the rarer species such as pheasant and the Himalayan pheasant Koklass Kalij. Ayuba national park supports 31 species of mammals.

Standing about 26 km from the tourist resort of Murree Hill Station, more than 100,000 tourists visit the national park and the surrounding areas Ayuba each year. Since this region attracts many tourists every year a large number of hotels and restaurants around the park. And walking paths, hiking areas, picnic and motels, occupies a central place Ayuba chairlift that takes visitors to a nearby summit for a view of wooded hills. This was the first chair leisure facilities of its kind in Pakistan and remains a major attraction for domestic tourists. The PTDC Motel is famous here.

A unique world in the heart of Khirthar- Sindh

Following are images from Khirthar mountains and surrounding areas in Sindh, Pakistan.

Recently, the Sujag Sansar team arranged a visit to Kachho and departed with the cavalcade of vehicles from Johi District Dadu. It is situated about 50 Kilometers away from Dadu District in Sindh.

The drive from Johi to Wahi was 28 km-long with mustard plants greeting us from each side of the road; waving yellow heads, swaying with the wind.

Our unseen destination was a wetland situated 8 km at the west of Wahi.

Kaccho was a beautiful place with herdsmen wandering around with their cattle of goats, camels and buffaloes, surrounded by fertile cultivated lands.

The gypsies too have erected their tents on the sides of the roads. The lives of the gypsies is rather unique; they descend from mountainous areas to the plains of Kachho along with their herds of sheep and goats to graze on abundant natural and cultivated grass.

In the south of Pat Suleman stands a historical cemetery.

On the north side of the road, five or six imposing monuments can be seen, which go by the name of‘butta quba’ (without minarets or twin monuments).

At a distance ahead is another historical graveyard called Bakhar Shaheed.

The mesmerizing environment and natural beauty took away from the preoccupation of day to day drudgery business for a while and provided a break from all the worldly matters.

Protection of this enviroment can ensue tremendous economic activity and create hundreds of jobs for the locals.

A cave which was once home to people in the past.

A view from inside the cave.

View of Zoroastrian remains near Wahi-Pandhi

A view of Piprasar.

Men near mountains offering camel rides.

Huts to enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Fish swimming were visible in the clean waters.

Mountainous springs and torrents have been harnessed by locals using their wisdom for cultivation of chilies, tomatoes and more.

After crossing Wahi Pandhi one enters a world of mountains, while driving on the zigzag roads of pebbles.

A water fall at Bodo.

Though this trip was short lived, the impression left by the sceneries was a lasting one.

Resource: http://dawn.com/2012/03/20/a-unique-world-in-the-heart-of-khirthar-sindh/

Gondrani Caves, Baluchistan

Gondrani Caves, Baluchistan

Unique place in Balochistan where traces of ancient cave civilizations exist!

It is popular with the name of Shehr-e-Roghan. This place is indeed a real archaeological treasure which is unfortunately hidden from the world. There is no exact information that who constructed these mysterious cave dwellings but one thing is for sure that this place is extremely fabulous.

Some historians relate Shehr-e-Roghan with the Buddists of 7th century AD. Shehr-e-Roghan of Gondrani is located at 18 KM north west of Bela which was previously known as Lasbela.

Now what is so unique about Shehr-e-Roghan of Bela ? This marvelous ancient cave city is spread over an area of 2-3 KM. Thousands of these cave houses are multi storey and are inter connected with each other through walkways. Almost every cave house consists of a single room and some of them have a veranda in front of them. Many myths are attributed to this mysterious place. 

Some locals believe Shehr-e-Roghan to be the city of jins. Some people also link this place with the thousands years old legend of Saiful Malook and Badiul Jamal.

India Could Use Pakistan’s Infrastructure – The Wall Street Journal

(a bit older article, but nice to read)


India Could Use Pakistan’s Infrastructure – The Wall Street Journal

By Tom Wright

 

A major conundrum to those who visit both India and Pakistan is why the roads are so much better in the latter. For all its problems, Pakistan’s 367-kilometer-long M2 motorway between Lahore and Islamabad strikes a visitor as being streets ahead of India’s decrepit inter-state roads even if roads minister Kamal Nath is on a binge of fund-raising to try to improve India’s highways. For one, there’s a disciplined motorway police that patrol Pakistan’s highways and don’t take bribes. If you go above 120 kilometers an hour, and are caught on camera, a fine awaits you at the toll gate. Nonpayment means you can’t get out. The M2 motorway passes through the densely populated Punjab countryside but there are no cows, rickshaws or motorbikes coming at traffic on the wrong side of the road which is a common experience in India.

 

The M2 road was built in the late 1990s by South Korean firm Daewoo, whose name is still emblazoned on the modern service stations that line the route. Sunita Kohli, a New Delhi-based interior designer who recently did work on a boutique hotel in Lahore, says she was impressed with the road compared to similar developments in India. “We really lag behind on infrastructure,” she said. “Now we’re trying to make up for lost time.” That’s not to say Pakistan doesn’t face its own infrastructure challenges. Its most pressing need is to build more power plants and stop people from stealing electricity to avoid hours of blackouts across the country.

 

And Pakistan’s motorways — at just over 600 kilometers in combine length — are only a small fraction of the total road network, much of which is old. Ms. Kohli says she sees the M2 as a “showcase.” India still slightly edges out Pakistan in the United Nations’ Human Development Index, which measures per capita GDP, literacy, life expectancy and other development criteria.

 

Until a couple of years ago, Pakistan’s economy was booming and there was plenty of public and private money for infrastructure spending. Now, foreign direct investment has dried up and the government, running a large deficit, has had to turn to the IMF for more than $11 billion in loans. But first-time visitors to Pakistan, many expecting a failed state, are surprised by some of the modern infrastructure. Apart from the roads, Pakistan’s broadband and wireless roaming speeds also compare favorably with India. Doing business in Pakistan is easier than in India and China, according to the World Bank. With regular Taliban suicide bombings, though, Pakistan is unable to capitalize on these positives and continues to generate only negative headlines.

 

http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2010/07/20/india-could-use-pakistans-infrastructure/

Sheltering the marginalised: The Pakistani Mother Teresa

Sheltering the marginalised: The Pakistani Mother Teresa

 

Josephine offers shelter to the children of slave-labourers.

 

LAHORE: Meet Josephine, a 34-year-old divorced mother of two. She runs an orphanage outside Lahore, where she gives shelter to children and has become a saviour to those bonded by labour.

 

“I visit brick kiln factories, where single parents and the elders of orphans make these little ones work to pay the debt they have taken,” says Josephine

Her task is not an easy one, as she has to convince the guardians that they are better off with her. “I am currently pursuing a mother of five to give her children to me because her husband died and now she has to work day and night along with her children to pay his debt.”

 

Brick kiln owners are the main hurdle and have threatened her. “They say if I can pay their loan, I can take the children, otherwise they will work till the loan is paid.”

 

In Pakistan, although illegal, slavery in brick kiln factories is common knowledge and it originates from a vicious circle of debt which sucks in labourers. Josephine has surveyed these factories for a year and has been able to convince almost 20 families to give their children to her.

 

She only helps the Christian minority currently because she feels they are more marginalised. “Most of the workers at these places are of Christian faith, and that is why I contact the local pastor of the area and take him along too, to get easy access.”

 

Trained to be a nun but not allowed by her parents to leave the country, Josephine now uses what she has learnt to mother the orphans.

 

She has rented an upper portion of a house, 20 kilometers outside Lahore, for Rs5,000 per month, where she lives with her own two offspring plus another 10 boys and 7 girls.

 

“I do not have any funding source. I teach at a local private school, and with whatever money I get, I try to give these children their lives back.” Along with this, she receives help from her brothers and the school principal where she is employed, but things are still hard. “Thankfully the principal has acknowledged my efforts, and has waived off fee for these children.”

 

Surprisingly, ever since she started the orphanage, she has been asked by a number of parents to take their children away. “People are so poor in these villages that they want to get rid of the children even they are not in debt.”

 

But she rejects them saying that she doesn’t want those who are orphans to feel different while living with such children who have parents.

 

The children in Josephine’s care were not allowed to go to school due to their slavery status, now they have learnt how to read and write.

 

http://tribune.com.pk/story/325758/sheltering-the-marginalised-the-pakistani-mother-teresa/

An Australian's REBUTTAL to TIME Magazine's story on Karachi

  

The Editor, Time Magazine 

Dear Editor, 

I recently returned from a charitable trip to Pakistan, whereby I visited both Karachi and Islamabad. I spoke with several universities, key businesses, prominent business leaders and several religious people from all generations…. 

On the day I returned to the office, someone had placed your magazine (January 16, 2012), on my desk. I read with interest your article on Karachi and the city in doom. For a person to have just returned from the very same place that your magazine described was somewhat bizarre, so I read with great detail your writer (Andrew Marshall’s) account. 

Let me begin by saying that I often flick through your magazine and find the articles of great interest, but on this particular day and this particular article, I found certain comments to be both one sided and indeed very negative. I say that because I saw a different Pakistan to what was portrayed in your article. I do not and will not comment on the political or religious problems that the country faces, but I will go so far as to say that not everything is as bad as the image that your magazine paints. 

Sure there are deaths in the cities. Please show me a city in the world that is free from political fighting and unrest. 

Sure there are differences in the political party opinions. Please show me a country in the world where the political parties agree. 

Sure the innocent are suffering. Please show me a country in the world where wealth and power is equal and the innocent don’t suffer. 

Sure corruption is in Pakistan. Please show me a country in the world that is corruption free. 

My list could go on, but my point is that Pakistan does have problems…but so does every other country in the world in some way or another. However, in the case of ALL other nations, there are often good things to report and the media goes out of its way to promote these good things across the globe, whenever possible. The ridiculous amount of shootings in the USA is balanced off by the success of Google, Microsoft and Apple. The financial dilemmas of Greece are lost in the marketing of the Greek Islands as a holiday destination of choice. The child slave industry of India, is brushed under the carpet in favour of the nation’s growth in the global software boom. What I am trying to say, is that someone needs to look further into Pakistan and see that there are millions of great stories to write about, which would portray the country in a different light, to that what is being portrayed by your article. 

When I was in Pakistan, I visited a towel manufacturing company (Alkaram Towels). They produced some $60million in export in 2011 and are aiming at $85million in 2012. A substantial increase in sales…in a recession I would remind you. The company was started by the current Chairman, Mr. Mehtab Chawla, at the tender age of nine, after his father passed away. Today the very man employs 3000 staff. Now that’s a story. 
I visited universities of NED, Hamdard, Karachi, Szabist and NUST. The students are unbelievably intelligent. They spend their spare time developing APPS for android and apple. They are involved in cutting edge technology and no one in the world knows this. Why not send a reporter to Pakistan to look into this. Why not research good things in this nation, rather than just the bad things. At NUST (National Institution for Science and Technology – Islamabad)) there were 38,000 applications for medicine. There are only 83 seats for the medicine course on offer. The competition is unbelievable. In short it pushes the best to be even better. But the world doesn’t know this. Why? Because no one wants to report on it, or no one knows about it…or both!! 

Please do not get me wrong. I understand that news is news, but it is high time that the western world stopped promoting these terrorists and political wars in Pakistan and started to write something that would help the nation. Something positive. If we really care about global partnerships and economic growth, then I suggest we try and give Pakistan a helping hand. There are 180 million people in Pakistan, 65% are under the age of 25. The youth of Pakistan is its strength.. it is like a sleeping giant. If you think that India is a booming nation. I suggest you stop a second and look at Pakistan. Given a little help from the western world, Pakistan can become a dominant economy. She doesn’t want aid and she doesn’t need money… she just wants the chance to be seen in a different light. I believe we have a fundamental obligation to assist. The only question is, who will reach out first. 

Warmest regards, 

Tony Lazaro 
Managing Director 
Rising Stars Management Group 
Tel: 02 8824 7000 
Fax: 02 8824 7766 

www.risingstars.com.au 




SOURCE:  http://www.siasat.pk/forum/showthread.php?99511-An-Australian-s-REBUTTAL-to-TIME-Magazine-s-story-on-Karachi 

Ansoo Jheel [The (Ansoo) Tear Lake] - Pakistan

ANSU JHEEL – KAGHAN PAKISTAN
Ansoo Lake is a high-altitude lake (elevation 13927 feet or 4245 metres) in the Kaghan Valley and is counted as one amongst the most beautiful lakes of the world. It is situated in the Mansehra District of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwaprovince of Pakistan. It is near Malika Parbat in the Himalayan range.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ansoo_Lake