Latest news with #Bukhari
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Express Tribune
Lion cubs among 23 wild cats rescued in Punjab wildlife crackdown
Listen to article An illegal network involved in the sale and purchase of big cats, including lions, tigers, and leopards, has dismantled by Punjab Wildlife Rangers. In a series of operations, authorities recovered 23 big cats, several of them hidden in private homes. Among the seized animals were multiple lion cubs, officials confirmed. In Lahore, Wildlife Rangers have rescued five lion cubs from a posh residential area where they were being secretly kept. According to wildlife authorities, it has become increasingly common for individuals to buy newborn lions and tigers from private breeding farms as a hobby. A single cub is sold for between Rs800,000 and Rs1 million, they said. Valued for their exotic appearance, many of these animals are kept inside homes. However, officials warn that by six months of age, the cubs begin to exhibit wild behaviour, posing safety risks to both owners and surrounding communities. Officials revealed that some breeding farm owners were illegally relocating cubs from their facilities and selling them through unlicensed channels. Following a series of targeted crackdowns, authorities now say that this underground market has been dismantled. Read: Punjab CM announces Rs500,000 compensation for victims of lion attack Additional Director General of the Punjab Wildlife Rangers, Syed Kamran Bukhari, stated that wild animals will only be allowed in captivity under the protocols of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA). He emphasised that, under WAZA regulations, dangerous wild animals cannot be kept in residential areas under any circumstances. Bukhari confirmed that operations against individuals keeping lions and tigers illegally are still ongoing. Of the 23 animals recovered so far, 12 were seized in Lahore, four in Gujranwala, two in Faisalabad, three in Multan, and one each in Rawalpindi and other districts. These enforcement actions have led to the arrest of eight individuals and the registration of seven criminal cases. In Punjab, a total of 582 big cats have been officially declared as being in private possession. Lahore accounts for the largest number with 198, followed by Multan with 129, Rawalpindi with 104, Gujranwala with 86, Faisalabad with 20, the Salt Range with 26, Gujrat with nine, Bahawalpur with six, and one each in Sahiwal, Dera Ghazi Khan, and Sargodha. Wildlife authorities say verification of these animals is currently underway. Registered wildlife breeding farms have been given a three-month deadline to rectify shortcomings in their facilities and bring their operations into full compliance with legal and safety standards.
Express Tribune
03-07-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
ADB, Sindh launch Rs440m initiative
Listen to article The Asian Development Bank (ADB), in collaboration with the Government of Sindh, has launched a Rs440 million business recovery and empowerment initiative for families impacted by the 2022 floods. According to a statement issued on Wednesday, ADB's Gender Specialist Judha Bukhari led a delegation to Hyderabad on Wednesday and held a strategic meeting with the Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders & Small Industry (HCSTSI). During the meeting, Bukhari stated that 2.1 million families were affected by the floods and, in the first phase, over 6,000 households will receive financial assistance ranging from Rs100,000 to Rs300,000 to help them establish small businesses suited to their needs. She said the aim is to empower vulnerable communities through sustainable livelihoods and appreciated HCSTSI's support in conducting the upcoming business survey in Hyderabad. HCSTSI Acting President Ahmed Idrees Chohan lauded the initiative as a timely effort to help women and youth achieve financial independence. He highlighted business models such as tailoring, tiffin services, and e-commerce training. Vice President Shan Sehgal emphasised the potential of hospitality and food ventures, citing Bangladesh's success with women-led microenterprises. He called for youth training in marketing and technical skills to foster self-sufficient businesses. The meeting was attended by ADB officials and HCSTSI members, including former president Muhammad Akram Ansari.
AFP
27-06-2025
- AFP
Baseless hoax of ban on Pakistani wedding tradition spreads online
"A ban has been placed on throwing currency notes during weddings. Bridegroom will be arrested on violation of this ban," reads an Urdu-language Facebook post published April 13, 2025. The post refers to a common wedding where the groom's entourage tosses money over their wedding guests. Image Screenshot taken June 13, 2025 of the false Facebook post, with a red X added by AFP Similar posts with the same false claim surfaced on TikTok and Threads. Some social media posts have portrayed the tradition as overly extravagant, highlighting cases in which large sums of foreign currency or even mobile phones are showered on crowds (archived link). But AFP found no credible reports about an official ban on the wedding tradition. Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari told AFP on June 12 that the government had not prohibited the wedding custom (archived link). "No such order has been issued to ban giving away of money or throwing of currency notes during wedding ceremonies," Bukhari said. "These are all baseless rumours." Tauseef Sabih Gondal, director of public relations for Punjab Home Department, told AFP on June 24: "It's a fake news. No such notification has been issued." Gondal said police have also informed the Home Department that they have not received any instructions on a purported ban, adding that the police have not made any related arrests. A Punjab Police spokesman confirmed to AFP on June 23 that "no such instructions have been received."
Time of India
26-06-2025
- Time of India
Kashmiri man gets 5-yr jail term for anti-national activities, fraud in Odisha
Jajpur: A court in Jajpur district on Thursday sentenced a 37-year-old Kashmiri man to five years of rigorous imprisonment for anti-national activities and fraud, two years after his arrest. Sayed Isham Bukhari from Kupwara district in Jammu & Kashmir, was convicted by the judicial magistrate first class (JMFC), Chandikhol, under multiple sections of the IPC and Information Technology Act. The charges include cheating, forgery, impersonation, and links with anti-national elements. Bukhari was arrested on Dec 15, 2023, by the special task force (STF) and district police from Millatnagar village under Dharmasala police limits. He had been posing as a doctor and living intermittently in the area since 2017 when he married a local woman after meeting her on Facebook. "During investigation, police seized fake medical degrees allegedly from the USA, Canada, and Vellore," said public prosecutor Jagannath Mallick. The court's verdict was based on testimonies from 18 witnesses and 130 documents. Local residents had previously reported Bukhari's suspicious activities during the 2019 Covid-19 pandemic. Although police questioned him, he was released for lack of evidence. This case follows a 2018 incident where the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested another person from the region, Habibur Rahman of Kendrapada district, for alleged links with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Bukhari had been staying in Odisha since 2018 by masquerading as a doctor in the PMO and Army. Bukhari, who married multiple women in different states, has a wife and a daughter in Odisha.
Express Tribune
23-06-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Civil Hospital to have high-tech modular Ots
The Civil Hospital Karachi is set to receive three state-of-the-art modular operation theatres, designed to meet international infection-control standards. The project, estimated to cost up to Rs450 million, is expected to be functional within two months. Speaking to The Express Tribune, Medical Superintendent Dr?Khalid Bukhari said that the modular OT plan was under consideration for two years. It has officially been approved in the 2025-26 fiscal year. Credit for the scheme goes to Sindh Health Minister Dr?Azra Fazal Pechuho and Health Secretary Dr?Rehan Baloch. Under the provincial initiative, 15 modular OTs will be built across Sindh, with three at Civil Hospital Karachi. Dr?Bukhari noted that while private hospitals in Karachi already have modular OTs, this is going to be the first time that such facilities are installed in a government hospital in the city. He explained that these theatres provide a sterile environment during surgery with HEPA filters, ensuring continuous clean air for both the surgeon as well as the patient. Key features of the modular OTs include airtight doors, dedicated air-handling units, antibacterial flooring, and the use of stainless steel or antimicrobial materials to facilitate cleaning and prevent microbial growth. Temperature, airflow, lighting, and gas systems are all fully controlled, with shadowless lights and automatic doors aiding surgical precision. Compared to traditional OTs, modular versions drastically cut down the risk of infection. Currently, the hospital has 14 conventional operating theatres, where surgeons handle complex cancer and other long procedures lasting six to eight hours. In this context, modular OTs have become essential. Dr?Bukhari said that approval for the three theatres has been secured and a request for four more will be submitted soon. He mentioned that all equipment including tables, head lights, and related hardware will be imported. "These modern OTs will be a boon not only for medical staff but also for patients," he added.
