Latest News from Balochistan
Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday expressed his deep grief over the demise of the wife of former Senate Chairman and Pakistan Peoples Party’s senior leader Nayyer Hussain Bokhari.
The prime minister condoled with Nayyer Bokhari and prayed for peace for the departed soul and strength for the bereaved family to bear the loss, according to a PM Office press release.
Peshawar: Inspired by international practices where snail mucus is highly valued for its cosmetic benefits, Sidra Sajjad, an ambitious female entrepreneur from Mansehra district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has become a pioneer in introducing snail farming to Pakistan.
With prior experience in herbal business, Sidra was intrigued by the economic potential of snail farming after reading an article highlighting its benefits.
This spurred her to conduct extensive research online and convinced her father, Sajjad Akhtar Swati, a retired primary school teacher, to support her vision.
In 2021, she established a snail farming operation on a three-kanal (approximately 16,335 square feet) plot in her hometown.
'Snail farming is a burgeoning industry centered around the extraction of snail slime, which is a sought-after ingredient in cosmetics and skincare products,' Sidra explained while speaking with reporter.
She noted that snail mucus contains antioxidants known to combat signs of aging, such as wrinkles, uneven skin tone, and sagging.
'I faced a lot of problems and became extremely worried at several stages after facing hardships and even failures, but remain committed as a result of which my experience proved successful,' she shared.
Her enterprise, branded as Prime Snail Mucus, has become a success story, thanks largely to the unwavering support of her family.
'Our farm houses over 500 kilograms of wild snails in a natural environment maintained by a team of 32 workers,' Sidra shared.
Initially, the extraction process caused stress to the snails, but persistent research enabled her to adopt a cruelty-free approach.
After doing continuous research and hard work we succeeded in carrying out the process of secretion in the `cruelty free' mode and our snails are treated with care throughout the extraction process, she reiterated.
'For over three years, we have implemented a lyophilization process and developed a proprietary, chemical-free extraction method,' she revealed. 'This innovative technique ensures superior quality and sets a new standard in the industry.'
On average, one kilogram of snail slime is extracted from 12 to 15 kilograms of snails. After resting for one to two months, the snails regenerate and produce new mucus.
The farm also features a dedicated laboratory where extracted slime undergoes filtration using ultraviolet (UV) light to eliminate bacteria. The purified slime is then supplied in both raw and serum forms based on demand.
The laboratory is equipped to manufacture creams and serums containing up to 90% pure snail slime.
Additional organic ingredients like aloe vera, glycol, and vitamin A are added to enhance the formulation.
The resulting products, rich in vital minerals, are used in a range of cosmetics, including serums, facial masks, moisturizers, and fading creams.
'The global market for snail-based beauty products is growing rapidly due to their multifunctional benefits,' Sidra observed.
'Snail cream is popular for its ability to absorb quickly, spread easily, and leave skin feeling non-sticky.'
Sidra emphasized the vast growth potential of snail farming in Pakistan, calling for official support to raise awareness and encourage investment in this innovative industry.
Sidra informed that snails in her farm are now a days in hibernation till March month and she is in Lahore for marketing of her product with different companies.
'I am now seeking strategic partnerships with forward-thinking companies. Together, we can harness the full potential of this innovative ingredient, elevating cosmetic formulations and setting new standards for skin care excellence,' she concluded.
Lodhran: Sadar police conducted a successful raid in Mouza Molvi Sikandar Wala and arrested eight gamblers red-handed while participating in illegal betting activities.
During the operation, the police team seized eight mobile phones, five motorcycles, Rs15,000 in cash and gambling stuff. A case was registered against the accused and legal action launched.
DPO Kamran Mumtaz said that gambling leads other social evils and it must be eradicated.
Islamabad: Indus River System Authority (IRSA) on Friday released 28,100 cusecs water from various rim stations with inflow of 39,100 cusecs.
According to the data released by IRSA, water level in River Indus at Tarbela Dam was 1473.51 feet and was 75.51 feet higher than its dead level of 1,398 feet. Water inflow and outflow in the dam was recorded as 16,200 cusecs and 6,000 cusecs respectively.
The water level in River Jhelum at Mangla Dam was 1132.95 feet, which was 82.95 feet higher than its dead level of 1,050 feet. The inflow and outflow of water was recorded 4,800 cusecs and 4,000 cusecs respectively.
The release of water at Kalabagh, Taunsa , Guddu and Sukkur was recorded as 13,600, 20,600, 9,000 and 1,100 cusecs respectively. Similarly, from River Kabul, a total of 11,800 cusecs of water released at Nowshera and 6,300 cusecs released from River Chenab at Marala.
Attock: A man has shot dead his brother over property dispute in village Barra in the limits of Hazro Police station on Friday, police sources said.
According to Police sources, Hashtam Khan has a dispute over land with his brother. On Friday 57 years old Raza Khan was working in his field when Hastham appeared on the scene with his gun and showered bullets over him resultantly he died on the spot.
The assassinator managed to escape from the scene successfully.
Separately, a man received burn injuries as the roof of his house caved in due to a blast due to gas leakage in village Dekhanir in Attock on Friday.
Police and rescue 1122 sources said that 50 years old Ameer Khan switched on the stove resultantly the house turned into a fire ball and the roof of his house caved in and he received burn injuries.
He was shifted to district headquarters hospital Attock in critical condition. Respective Police registered separate cases and launched further investigations.
Islamabad: Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi on Friday has welcomed the peace agreement in Kurram while emphasizing the need for its proper implementation to ensure lasting peace in the region.
Talking to a private news channel, he said that the KP government totally failed in ensuring peace in the province.
He said that it is the duty of provincial government in maintaining peace and implementing the agreement effectively.
However, he stressed that the KP government cannot tackle the challenges alone, such as removing check posts and seizing heavy ammunition, without the support of the federal government and law enforcement agencies.
He also raised concerns about the use of substantial funds provided to the province for the war on terror, calling for transparency and accountability in their utilization.