Pakistan honours its citizen in Oman for social service
Shaandar Ali Shah Bukhari, originally from Pakistan, received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation, an agency under the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development. The certificate acknowledges his commitment to assisting destitute expatriates, particularly those caught in legal or financial crises within Oman's prison system.
Over the years, Bukhari has helped repatriate more than 150 prisoners, including not only Pakistanis but also nationals of Bangladesh and Afghanistan. He also coordinates the return of deceased expatriates and runs a small wheelchair distribution initiative for the differently-abled. His efforts are self-managed, with no formal structure or fundraising mechanism.
'This honour means a lot, not just for me, but for every volunteer and well-wisher who stands up for those who have no voice,' Bukhari said. 'Helping prisoners and the needy is not just a social responsibility – it is a spiritual duty.'
He credits the Pakistani embassy in Muscat and the broader expatriate community for their continued support. 'No humanitarian effort succeeds in isolation. It's always a team effort, driven by compassion and backed by belief,' he said.
His repatriation work involves close coordination with legal teams and community members. In cases involving prisoners, the cost of return tickets is channelled through a local travel agency, Travel House, to ensure transparency.
The certificate, issued by the chairman of the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation, is not the first recognition for Bukhari. He has also received the American Red Cross Life Saving Award, appreciation letters from governors in Pakistan, and the Outstanding Citizen of Pakistan Award. His work has been officially acknowledged by the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resources Development.
Still, Bukhari says he draws strength not from awards, but from the people he helps. 'I may be doing this as a one-man show, but I never feel alone. The prayers and trust of the community are my strength,' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Times of Oman
6 days ago
- Times of Oman
India, UK united that there can be no place for double standards in fight against terrorism: PM Modi
London : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that India and the UK are united in their view that there can be no place for double standards in the fight against terrorism and that forces with extremist ideologies must not be allowed to misuse democratic freedoms In his remarks at a press statement with British PM Keir Starmer, PM Modi said those who undermine democracy should be held accountable. "We thank the Prime Minister and his government for strong condemnation of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. We are united in the belief that there is no place for double standards in the fight against terrorism. We also agree that the forces which espouse extremist ideologies should not be allowed to misuse democratic freedoms," he said "Those who misuse democratic freedoms to undermine democracy itself must be held to account. Our security agencies will continue to enhance cooperation and coordination on matters such as the extradition of economic offenders," he added. The two leaders exchanged views on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the situation in West Asia and emphasised the importance of the restoration of peace. "We have continued to exchange views on peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and the situation in West Asia. We support early restoration of peace and stability, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries is essential. Today's era demands development, not expansionism," he said. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who addressed a press conference on PM Modi's visit to UK, said that both the leaders expressed a commitment to strengthening the global fight against terrorism. "The leaders also had the opportunity to discuss at some length the menace of terrorism. Prime Minister Modi thanked UK PM Keir Starmer for the strong support and solidarity extended by the United Kingdom to the people of India in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack. Both leaders expressed a commitment to strengthening the global fight against terrorism. It was noted that extremism and radicalisation pose a threat to both societies and that there is a need to further enhance bilateral collaboration and cooperation to deal with these scourges of terrorism, extremism and radicalization," he said. Prime Minister Modi also sought the UK's cooperation to bring to justice economic offenders and fugitives from Indian law. India had hit terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoJK early on May 7 under Operation Sindoor in response to Pahalgam terror attack. India repelled subsequent Pakistani military aggression and pounded its airbases.
Observer
01-07-2025
- Observer
Living in an era of online lies and fakes
With the emergence of various digital platforms, journalistic practices have undergone significant changes in recent years. While these changes have introduced innovative forms of communication, they have also created opportunities for disinformation, commonly referred to as 'fake news'. Defining fake news is a contentious issue, although most people recognise the common understanding of what it involves: reports that are deliberately fabricated, often malicious and politically motivated, disseminated on social media and sometimes produced for cash. Those 'fake news outlets', as we know, do not adhere to the editorial standards and processes that traditional news media employ to ensure the accuracy and credibility of information. It mimics the content and format of legitimate news media while intersecting with various types of misinformation. However, fabricated stories masquerading as serious journalism are unlikely to disappear, as they have become a lucrative avenue for some writers and a potential means to influence public opinion. We should anticipate their prevalence during any major event, as evidenced during the Covid-19 pandemic, when misinformation reached unprecedented levels. In wars and conflicts, such stories serve as a primary weapon. For example, as soon as you get out of bed and check your phone, a video appears showing what appears to be an air strike, accompanied by a post claiming that missiles have been launched. In moments like this, when tensions are high in the country where you live, it can evoke a sense of panic. In the recent military confrontations between Israel and Iran, as well as the conflicts between India and Pakistan, the most disturbing aspect was that the battles did not occur solely in the skies or on the ground. Instead, they unfolded on platforms such as WhatsApp, X, Telegram and Facebook, where footage from past conflicts was circulated as breaking news. Images and videos from Syria, Gaza and Yemen have been misrepresented in this manner, including deepfake videos that portray fabricated speeches by national leaders, which fuel warmongering, provocation, rumours and fears. A video claiming to show an explosion caused by a Pakistani counter-attack was found to be from an explosion at the main port of the Lebanese capital of Beirut in 2020. The so-called wannabe nationalists in different countries became their wholesalers! However, when news can spread across the globe in seconds, merely labelling its source does little to stem the flow of misinformation. Few users take the time to verify the origins of the information they share and mainstream media has been known to publish stories that lack accuracy. 'In today's world, it is very easy to create, modify, fabricate and widely share various messages. The information environment is polluted in many ways. Even if the information itself is genuine, it might be used out of context and transformed into a tool for propaganda,' writes HiveMind in the Commons Library newsletter while defining disinformation. But what significant is that fact-checking by online users has been helpful in correcting people's misconceptions. As a result, individuals are changing their minds after encountering these debunks, even when the original misinformation aligned with their beliefs. Agencies like the International Fact-Checking Network have coordinated efforts among their accredited members in verifying the facts before the broadcast of the reports. News agencies such as Reuters, BBC and AFP Fact Check all actively took extra efforts to debunk those false claims. It is welcoming that Meta in early January, announced a controversial shift in its approach to disinformation, replacing independent fact-checkers on Facebook and Instagram with a Community Notes-style system. Still, a significant lack of media literacy persists, hindering the ability to evaluate the credibility of news sources. This underscores the urgent need for education focused on identifying fake news. After all, we all need to become more sophisticated consumers of news!
Observer
19-06-2025
- Observer
Govts scramble to evacuate citizens from Israel, Iran
Governments around the world are attempting to evacuate thousands of their nationals caught up in the rapidly spiralling Israel-Iran conflict, organising buses and planes and in some cases assisting people crossing borders on foot. Foreigners have rushed to leave both countries after Israel launched an unprecedented bombing campaign last Friday targeting Iran's nuclear and military facilities, sparking retaliation from Tehran. But with Israel's air space closed and the two countries exchanging heavy missile fire, many people are being evacuated from third countries. European countries have already repatriated hundreds of their citizens from Israel. The Czech Republic and Slovakia said Tuesday they had taken 181 people home on government planes. "It was not possible to send the army plane straight to Israel," the Czech defence ministry said in a statement, citing the air space closure. "The evacuees were taken to an airport in a neighbouring country by buses. They crossed the border on foot." The German government said flights were scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday via Jordan, while Poland said the first of its citizens were due to arrive back on Wednesday. Greece said it had repatriated 105 of its citizens plus a number of foreign nationals via Egypt, while a private plane with 148 people landed in the Bulgarian capital Sophia on Tuesday. The US ambassador to Israel on Wednesday announced plans for evacuating Americans by air and sea. The embassy is "working on evacuation flights & cruise ship departures" for "American citizens wanting to leave Israel," Ambassador Mike Huckabee posted on X. Australia has started evacuating around 1,500 citizens from Iran and more than 1,200 from Israel -- but missile barrages have made it too risky for civilian aircraft to land in either country, it's foreign minister said. "There's no capacity for people to get civilian aircraft in, it is too risky, and the airspace is closed," Foreign Minister Penny Wong told national broadcaster ABC. "We have taken the opportunity to get a small group of Australians out of Israel through a land border crossing. "We are seeking to try and do more of that over the next 24 hours." Pakistan has shut its border crossings with neighbouring Iran, except to Pakistanis wanting to return home. Around 1,000 Pakistanis have fled so far, including at least 200 students. The foreign ministry said the families of diplomats and some non-essential staff from Iran had been evacuated. Around 110 Indian students have been evacuated from Iran on a special flight from Armenia, India's foreign ministry said Thursday. New Zealand said Thursday it had closed its embassy in Iran, evacuating two staff members and their family to Azerbaijan by land. "If and when opportunities arise to assist the departure of other New Zealanders in Iran and Israel, we will pursue them with urgency," Foreign Minister Winston Peters said in a statement. Japan has ordered military planes to be on standby for around 1,000 Japanese nationals believed to live in Israel, and around 280 in Iran, according to government ministers. The Japanese embassies in Iran and Israel are preparing to use buses to evacuate citizens to neighbouring countries, a government spokesman said, as the war entered its seventh day.
