Fans, media remember iconic singer Mehnaz Begum on 12th death anniversary

Islamabad: Fans and media outlets on Sunday paid glowing tributes to iconic Pakistani singer Mehnaz Begum on her 12th death anniversary, remembering her remarkable contributions and lasting impact on the music industry.

Mehnaz Begum, known for her enchanting vocals, was a legendary artist who left an indelible mark on the country's music scene. Her soulful renditions continue to captivate audiences to this day, PTV news channel reported.

Mehnaz Begum's legacy serves as a testament to her enduring talent and dedication to her craft.

She remains one of the most beloved and respected figures in Pakistani music.

Mehnaz was the daughter of popular sub-continental singer Kajjan Begum.

Born as Kaneez Raza in Karachi in 1955, Mehnaz sang a variety of genres for radio, television and films.

She recorded over 1500 songs in total.

The government acknowledged her outstanding contributions by bestowing upon her the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence.

She died on this day in 2013.

Besant Hall Cultural center pays homage to Hameed Sindhi

Hyderabad: Besant Hall Cultural Centre (BHCC) organized a programme in honour of renowned writer Abdul Hameed Sindhi on Saturday

The Director Besant Hall, Sobia Ali Shaikh in her welcome address said that it is honour for her to organize a tribute programme for famous writer.

She lauded the contribution of the Bazm-e-Rooh Rihan team particularly its General Secretary Wahid Kandhro who was officiating literary sessions on the Bazm-e-Rooh Rihan platform.

Administrative Officer BHCC and grandson of Hammed Sindhi Salman Arshad Hameed shared various aspects of the life of Hameed Sindhi while his son Arshad Hameed recalled his memories with his father and termed it a big asset.

He said that Hameed Sindhi was the history of Sindhi Literature and the founder of Bazm-e-Rooh Rihan.

Secretary General Bazm-e-Rooh Rihan Wahid Kandhro said that the literary work of Hameed Sindhi would be remembered for a long time.

He said that Hameed Sindhi provided a literary platform to many famous writers including revolutionary poet Shaikh Ayaz and today's literary festivals are the testimony of Hameed Sindhi's untiring literary work..

He said that despite son of Deputy Collector Hameed Sindhi never considered him a bureaucrat and dedicated his life for the sake of literature.

Ustad Iqbal on the occasion said that although he was not a literary person but a fan of Hameed Sindhi.

Writer Nafees Nashad described his memories with Hameed Sindhi and said that as he was the publisher of a Quarterly magazine and got authored fiction from Hameed Sindhi.

Journalist Niaz Panhwar talked about publishing creative work of Hameed Sindhi after his death including articles and columns which he wrote for daily Kawish,

He said that in 60's decade so many literary magazines were published but few magazines received applause from readers including 'Rooh Rihan'

Taj Joyo on the occasion shed light on the contribution of 'Rooh Rihan' Magazine on movement carried in against one-unit.

He quoted the sayings of Qamar Shahbaz and Shaikh Ayaz in which they said that magazines like Rooh Rihan infused a new vigour among them.

Eminent Broad caster Naseer Mirza and Shams ul Haq Memon also spoke on the occasion and eulogized the literary contribution of Hameed Sundhi.

Besant Hall Cultural center pays homage to Hameed Sindhi

Hyderabad: Besant Hall Cultural Centre (BHCC) organized a programme in honour of renowned writer Abdul Hameed Sindhi on Saturday

The Director Besant Hall, Sobia Ali Shaikh in her welcome address said that it is honour for her to organize a tribute programme for famous writer.

She lauded the contribution of the Bazm-e-Rooh Rihan team particularly its General Secretary Wahid Kandhro who was officiating literary sessions on the Bazm-e-Rooh Rihan platform.

Administrative Officer BHCC and grandson of Hammed Sindhi Salman Arshad Hameed shared various aspects of the life of Hameed Sindhi while his son Arshad Hameed recalled his memories with his father and termed it a big asset.

He said that Hameed Sindhi was the history of Sindhi Literature and the founder of Bazm-e-Rooh Rihan.

Secretary General Bazm-e-Rooh Rihan Wahid Kandhro said that the literary work of Hameed Sindhi would be remembered for a long time.

He said that Hameed Sindhi provided a literary platform to many famous writers including revolutionary poet Shaikh Ayaz and today's literary festivals are the testimony of Hameed Sindhi's untiring literary work..

He said that despite son of Deputy Collector Hameed Sindhi never considered him a bureaucrat and dedicated his life for the sake of literature.

Ustad Iqbal on the occasion said that although he was not a literary person but a fan of Hameed Sindhi.

Writer Nafees Nashad described his memories with Hameed Sindhi and said that as he was the publisher of a Quarterly magazine and got authored fiction from Hameed Sindhi.

Journalist Niaz Panhwar talked about publishing creative work of Hameed Sindhi after his death including articles and columns which he wrote for daily Kawish,

He said that in 60's decade so many literary magazines were published but few magazines received applause from readers including 'Rooh Rihan'

Taj Joyo on the occasion shed light on the contribution of 'Rooh Rihan' Magazine on movement carried in against one-unit.

He quoted the sayings of Qamar Shahbaz and Shaikh Ayaz in which they said that magazines like Rooh Rihan infused a new vigour among them.

Eminent Broad caster Naseer Mirza and Shams ul Haq Memon also spoke on the occasion and eulogized the literary contribution of Hameed Sundhi.

Two MC employees suspended over negligence

Muzafargarh: Two employees of the Fateh Pur Municipal Committee, Tehsil Karor Lal Esan, were suspended for negligence and absence during the "Clean Punjab" campaign. The suspension orders were issued by the Assistant Commissioner (AC) Karor Lal Esan under the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline, and Accountability (PEDA) Act, 2006.

Sanitary Inspector Faiz Rasool was suspended for neglecting his duties, leading to poor cleanliness in the city. During an inspection, the AC noted his lack of interest and absence, prompting the suspension. Baildar Muhammad Riaz, responsible for maintaining green belts, was also suspended after being found absent from duty. His negligence allowed unauthorized encroachments to appear on the green belts.

The AC confirmed that both employees would soon receive show-cause notices for their actions.

Justice Athar Minallah calls for acknowledging intrinsic value of animal rights

Lahore: Supreme Court Judge Justice Athar Minallah underscored the importance of recognizing animal rights as an acknowledgment of their intrinsic value.

Speaking at the Pakistan's first International Animal and Environmental Rights Conference (PIAERC) 2025, held at a local hotel, here on Sunday, he explained that rights were fundamentally tied to the protection of inherent value, which applies not only to humans but also to animals, plants, and all forms of life.

Reflecting on his experiences as a student and a jurist, Justice Athar Minallah shared how his education and early life encounters shaped his perspective on justice and equity. He recounted childhood memories of learning about lions in the wild while hearing their roars from cages at the London Zoo, highlighting the contradictions between the natural world and human-imposed captivity. He recounted his academic journey, including studying Islamic jurisprudence, which emphasized the preservation of all forms of life as a fundamental principle.

Justice Athar Minallah explained that this philosophy was central not only in Islam but also in other major religions such as Judaism and Christianity. This understanding played a pivotal role in developing his jurisprudence on animal rights during his tenure at the Islamabad High Court.

Highlighting global historical injustices, Justice Athar Minallah discussed the dehumanization of people and its parallels to the treatment of animals. He cited cases like Ota Benga, a Congolese teenager exhibited in a zoo in 1906, and Sarah Baartman, a South African woman exploited in the 19th century. These examples, he argued, underscore the need to challenge perceptions and redefine relationships between humans and nonhuman species.

Justice Athar Minallah emphasized that humans have been the most destructive force in history, destroying habitats and ecosystems, often without regard for the consequences. Quoting Sir David Attenborough, he highlighted the irony of portraying gorillas as symbols of aggression, despite their inherently peaceful nature, while humans have historically been the aggressors.

During his tenure as Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court (2018-2022), Justice Minallah faced the challenge of safeguarding fundamental rights amidst political and constitutional crises. He noted that courts have a critical responsibility to protect the rights of all beings, not just humans, and to ensure justice and equity prevail.

Justice Athar Minallah also called for a transformative shift in societal perspectives to acknowledge the inherent value of all life forms, emphasizing the need for a robust legal and ethical framework to safeguard their rights and ensure their protection.

British High Commissioner for continuing cooperation to promote entrepreneurial culture in Pakistan

Islamabad: Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Pakistan, Ms. Jane Marriot has said that the United Kingdom (UK) will always continue its full cooperation with Pakistan to promote entrepreneurial culture and skills and instil entrepreneurial spirit in youth of the country.

Pakistani youth have entrepreneurial skills and potential and the British High Commission in Islamabad will continue its due support to develop this potential and such programs will be continued in the future to enhance their business skills, the British High Commissioner said.

Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Pakistan, Ms Jane Marriot told reporter here, the annual inter-School business competition was hosted by British High Commissioner, Jane Marriott CMB OBE, in Islamabad with King's Trust International and SEED Ventures.

Meanwhile talking to reporter, she said that today, young students from five different schools and education institutions belonging to all the provinces of the country including Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Baluchistan and Islamabad Capital presented their business models and business-related ideas, which reflect their excellent entrepreneurial skills and business capabilities and such talented youth in Pakistan are testifying to the bright future of the country.

The British High Commissioner said that in an annual inter-school business competition held here today in British High Commission Islamabad, students from different education institutions demonstrated their full potential and in this, especially girl students expressed their talents in the best way.

The envoy said that the British High Commission Islamabad has already started various programs to promote girls' education and entrepreneurship in Pakistan and more programs are being planned in this regard in the future.

She said that the private sector, especially Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), play a very important role in any economy and such programs will improve the national economy by promoting SMEs in Pakistan.

In today's modern world, start-ups, innovation, and entrepreneurial skills are the backbone of any emerging economy and especially to increase the role of youth in the future economy, these skills must be taught to them, she said.

The High Commissioner said that there is a lot of potential in economic and trade relations between the United Kingdom and Pakistan and there are vast opportunities for promoting future bilateral trade on both sides.

She said that at present, the volume of bilateral trade between the two countries is 4.4 billion pounds, which is much less than its potential and it needs to be enhanced in the future.

The British envoy said that the United Kingdom has historical social, economic and cultural relations with Pakistan, which are growing day by day.

At present, 1.6 million Pakistanis are present as the Pakistan diaspora in the UK, which plays the significant role of a cultural bridge between the two countries and is also our cultural heritage.

Enterprise Challenge Pakistan (Enterprise Challenge Pakistan) is an annual inter-school business competition, a joint initiative from Prince's Trust International and SEED Ventures. Now in its eighth year, the programme enables school students to learn practical business skills through coaching, mentoring and an online business simulation game. Enterprise Challenge Pakistan received a mention in Forbes as one of the 'Five Leading Programs Supporting the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs'.

The event will host 100 guests from a diverse range of sectors. The event commences at 3: 00 p.m. and will conclude at 6: 00 p.m with the speech from the High commissioner and the winner.

In annual Inter-School business competition was hosted by the British High Commissioner team 'Eco-EduTech from Daharki' won the eighth cycle of Enterprise Challenge Pakistan.

The King's Trust International delivers interventions in 20 countries, providing opportunities for young people to develop the skills and confidence to learn, earn and thrive.