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Parking fee at Peshawar Airport

Haroon Khan, Peshawar. Monday, December 24, 2007
I recently went to Peshawar International Airport to receive my cousin. I was shocked to discover that even pedestrians who don’t use the car park facility have to purchase a Rs20 ticket. It is totally unjustifiable on the part of the authorities concerned to charge pedestrians for using the airport premises. I request them to abolish the fee as it doesn’t make much sense to fleece the common people for no reason.
 

Peshawar Islamia College upgraded to university level

12/5/2007 PESHAWAR: The upgrading of the historic Islamia College to the status of a full-fledged university was announced at the general body meeting of the Senior Alumni Association here Tuesday.

NWFP Governor Lt Gen (retd) Ali Muhammad Jan Aurakzai, who himself is an old Islamian, made the announcement and renamed the historic institution as the Islamia College University (ICU).

The meeting was largely attended by old as well as new Islamians besides the students of newly-established girls section of the college.

"The Islamia College Peshawar stands upgraded to a university," the governor announced.

Aurakzai said that Islamia College qualified in all respects to be made a university and all the procedures for upgrading the college to a university level had been considered. He announced an initial amount of Rs 500 million for the creation of the university.

"It has been the long cherished desire of everyone attached to this prestigious institution, which has materialized today," he said.

Caretaker NWFP Chief Minister Shamsul Mulk, Provincial Minister and Chairman Senior Alumni Association Azam Khan and Islamia College Principal Prof Nisar Mohammad Nisar were also present on the occasion.

The governor said that the college had covered a lot of ground during the preceding years. He made a special mention of the proposed Islamia College at Swabi, saying that it would be constructed on the pattern of the Islamia College, Peshawar. "The building will be the same, the layout more or less will be the same and even the names of the hostels will be the same," he added.

Aurakzai said that land for the college at Swabi had been acquired and funds were being generated. He hoped that the construction would start in June next and an amount of Rs 200 million had already been allocated for the purpose.

The governor also announced Rs 2.5 million for grant of different scholarships to students of the Islamia College Peshawar and its girls section. These include 50 scholarships – 35 for boys and 15 for girls – Rs 0.7 million for the Senior Alumni Association scholarships and 100 scholarships for students from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas studying in universities and institutions anywhere in the country.
 

Irfan Khan performs live at Boston

Nov 24th 2007. Popular pashto artist Irfan Khan performed live at Boston in a unique pashto concert. The event was organized by New England Pakhtoon Association (NEPA), a group that promotes pashto culture and music in Boston area. People from various walks of life travelled from around including neighbouring states of Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hemshire to participate in the event. Irfan Khan revealed that this was his first solo performance as he entertained the crowd with songs from his first Album 'Brekhna'.

Peshawar, Nowshera residents complain about low gas pressure (The News)

Friday, December 14, 2007
By Nisar Mahmood

PESHAWAR: The winter has once again brought miseries to the residents of the NWFP, particularly the provincial metropolis, in the shape of low pressure of natural gas and power load-shedding.

Residents in many localities of the capital city have complained of low pressure of gas that has put domestic consumers in trouble.

Gas pressure remains low, particularly at peak hours in localities like Gulberg, Khyber Super Market, Army Officers Colony, Hayatabad, Kohat Road, University Town, etc, putting housewives in trouble while preparing dinner and breakfast. The pressure comes down early in the morning and evening.

In some areas, residents have also complained about power load-shedding. The people of the NWFP are suffering gas load-shedding and low pressure despite the fact that a new pipeline was laid last year.

ÒIt takes hours to prepare breakfast or dinner,Ó said a housewife in Gulberg, adding that it was the beginning of winter. ñGod knows better what would be the situation if the chill grows.î

ÒGas load-shedding and low pressure has made the lives of dwellers difficult as they are facing problems in cooking meals and heating rooms in the chilly weather conditions,Ó said Mian Riazul Haq Bacha, the Naib Nazim of Hayatabad.

Many localities of the posh township were facing the shortage problem, he told The News.

Muhammad Ikram, an office boy at Khyber Super Market, said preparing tea was taking half-an-hour due to the low pressure of gas. The pressure remains low from evening to late night and sometimes even up to morning, he said.

Our correspondent adds from Nowshera: The residents of Nowshera Kalan have warned of launching protest movement if the SNGPL authorities did not stop gas load-shedding in the area. They said that unannounced load-shedding of natural gas had been started in Mohalla Samandar Garhi, Shah Mir Garhi, Abakhel, New Abakhel, Khatokhel, Malikabad, Basrakhel and Shah Hussani.

The residents were facing great hardships because of gas shortage. Nawa Kely Union Council Nazim Hakim Ali Haqqani warned of staging protest on Friday if the gas problem was not resolved.

However, SNGPL Deputy Chief Engineer Momin Khan when contacted told The News there was no problem of gas load-shedding or low pressure. The problem has been resolved after a new pipeline was laid and now gas pressure and supply is satisfactory, he claimed.

The low pressure, if any, could be because of some technical problem that would be removed, he said, adding that they did not receive any complaint in this regard.

The Pathan from Peshawar

They don't make him like him anymore. Maverick, magician, mad! Just some of the words one could associate with Sahibzada Mohammad Shahid Khan Afridi — yes that is his full name — though the world knows him as Shahid Afridi. If ever there needed proof that a sound technique is not imperative to a player's success, Afridi is the man to look up.

Blessed with ridiculous natural talent — most of which is utilised in smacking a leather ball to all parts of a cricket ground — Afridi has been Pakistan's trump card on many a occasion. Though Geoffrey Boycott doesn't buy the 'fact', Afridi is 27-years-old, and one of the more experienced members of a Pakistan team, which is in rebuild mode.

Afridi has often displayed a fondness to the Indian bowlers and with pitches in the forthcoming series looking like they could very well be flat 'highways', this Pathan from Peshawar could send India on the highway to hell, and within a matter of no time, at that too.

Governor praises peoples efforts to help survivors (Dawn)

PESHAWAR, Oct 8: NWFP Governor Lt-Gen (retd) Ali Mohammad Jan Aurakzai has said the earthquake of 8th October, 2005 was a test for the nation.

�It is a matter of great satisfaction that we confronted the challenges with the spirit of a united nation,� he remarked. He said this while speaking as chief guest at the prize-distribution ceremony of a declamation contest for students on the campus of the Hazara University, Mansehra, on Monday.

The governor said: �History is testimony to the reality that whenever we faced any such test, we faced that as a united nation and this in fact must be a great honour for all of us collectively.�

The governor said the disastrous situation emerging in the wake of the quake moved the entire nation right from Karachi to Khyber and the people demonstrated the highest spirit of brotherhood in helping their needy countrymen.

Indeed, he remarked, living nations learnt from the experiences of their past and with this aspect in mind, 8th October got the status of a national day, like March 23 and August 14.

However, he remarked, after relief and rehabilitation activities the re-construction process is in progress and it is our utmost desire to continue this struggle till the complete dispensation of damages.

No doubt, Mr Aurakzai said, both humanitarian and property losses, caused because of the earthquake were highly unfortunate, yet we have our eyes on the future now and enthusiastically participate in the rehabilitation struggle like a living nation.

Referring to developmental activities, the governor pointed out that since the hour of test is over, now many opportunities have emerged in the wake of the re-construction process.

Creation of job opportunities, he added, is one such example and there is need to fully capitalize them.

At the same time, he said, we must also have to prepare ourselves to face any such difficulty in future too and fortunately institutionalised arrangements are in progress in this connection.

He expressed determination that we would emerge successful as a nation in all the challenges. The governor also stressed the need for ensuring quality work in re-construction activities.

About Pekhawar

Founded over 2,000 years ago by the Kushan Kimgs of Gandhara, Peshawar has had almost as many names as rulers. Moghal emperor Akbar, formally gave the city the name Peshawar which means "The Place at the Frontier". Earlier it had been known as the "City of Flowers" and the "City of Grains".

Until the mid-fifties Peshawar was enclosed witin a city wall and sixteen gates. Of the old city gates the most famous was the Kabuli Gate but only the name remains now. It leads out of the Khyber and on to Kabul.

One of the main attractions of Peshawar is Qissa Khwani Bazaar. Here perhaps visiting travellers or the relaxing townesmen were regaled with stories by professional story-tellers, in the evening, in the many tea-shops. Hence the name Qissa Khwani (story telling). The tea-shops still adorn the bazaar front with their large brass samovars and numerous hanging teapots and tea-cups, though the legendary story-tellers are nowhere to be seen.

Handicrafts such as engraved and embossed jars, bowls, ewers, plates and jewelry etc., can be found at other famous bazaars of Peshawar which include: The Khyber Bazaar, Bird Bazaar, Fruit Bazaar, Basket Bazaar, Andershehr Bazaar, Jewelry Bazaar, Meena Bazaar for women and Mochilara (Shoemakers' Bazaar.)

In fact, the variety of craft in which Peshawar excells even today is amazing and this is a part of the city's character often eclipsed by it's martial tradition. Remember that it was in this valley of Peshawar that there flourished that remarkable school of Gandhara Sculpture (roughly from from the first century B.C. to the fifth century A.D.), which is one of the glories of Pakistan's heritage. The prime attraction in this region is the Khyber Pass (shown above) situated in the Sulaiman Hills which form the Western barrier of Pakistan. The hills dip down here, leaving a passage sometimes as broad as one mile and sometimes as narrow as fifty-two feet. The pass begins near Jamrud Fort, eleven miles from Peshawar and extends beyoiund the border of Pakistan at Torkham, thirty six miles away. 

Okay so that was the formal stuff. It's a conservative city i guess with double standards. It's small..more like a town so it's easy to go anywhere in a short time. It's a close knitted community and you get to know almost everyone in a little while. The teenage hangouts are FEW and the thrill of the evening for a gang is screeching the car around. Duh.
Arts and culture is almost non-existent. So no art displays or theatre.
It's great for shopping. We've the nation wide famous Bara Market (smuggled maal). We also have Saddar bazar. It's cheap here y'know.
Loads of restrictions for females (which is good in a way).
Don't think it's boring people. Everything happens here but very secretly. Know what I mean?
Idher ka paani bohat meetha hai waise. The water is really sweet.