Latest news with #Yaseen
Hindustan Times
9 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Delhiwale: This way to Kucha Nahar Khan
Jun 28, 2025 05:18 AM IST Even as the Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is enjoying his big fat wedding in Venice, his company is actively seeking 'illiterate to graduate boys' for 'packing and scanning' in Purani Dilli's Kucha Nahar Khan street. The poster is plastered on a peeling wall, beside a flyer offering tuition classes in 'computer, Punjabi, abacus, divinity course.' The street is punctuated with a couple of old doorways. One is in fading blue—a shade so fragile that it might wash away in the first monsoon shower. (HT Photo) This afternoon, the pre-monsoon air in Kucha Nahar Khan is unbearably hot+humid. Nevertheless, the cook at Yaseen Bawarchi is sombrely braving the heat in his street-facing kitchen crammed with pots and ladles. While the adjacent stall's poker-faced Yusuf Chai Wale is preparing one more round of chai. Close by, electric appliance repairer Yaseen is trying to revive a battered toaster. His tiny establishment is filled with dozens of household utilities in varying states of deterioration. The busy Yaseen condescends to utter only a single short sentence, but in it he discloses everything he knows about the historical figure who gave his name to the Kucha—'Nahar Khan was accha aadmi.' (Kucha, of course, refers to a lane whose dwellers share the same occupation.) The street ahead is punctuated with a couple of old doorways. One is in fading blue—a shade so fragile that it might wash away in the first monsoon shower. This door is ajar, revealing three more doorways within, coated in the same dreamy blue. A limp dog hobbling along the lane confidently enters the beautiful portal and promptly disappears from view. The other doorway is crowned with a marble plaque bearing the name of the residence (Hasan Manzil), and the year of its built (1956). The black paint on the plaque's Urdu inscription has partly faded. The lane in fact is eclectically kaleidoscopic. Every turn of the gaze reveals an altogether new character. Look this side: that's a workshop manufacturing juice machines. Look the opposite side: that's the bookstore Kitab-Bu-Shifa specialising in books on the Unani school of medicine. And over there: a balcony decked with potted flowers, too close to a tangle of overhanging power cables. The street ends beside an anonymous man's grave, a landmark revered by the street dwellers as a sacred mazar. That's why Kucha Nahar Khan is also called Gali Mazar Wali.
Business Recorder
10-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Pakistan, China ink technology transfer, labour training deal
LAHORE: A landmark five-year agreement has been signed between China and Pakistan aimed at facilitating the transfer of cutting-edge technology and the training of skilled professionals in line with evolving global trends. The agreement, formalised between the Guangdong Shoe-Making Machinery Association a Chinese government-affiliated organisation and the Pakistan Industrial Sewing Machines Importers and Dealers Association (PISMIDA), seeks to bolster Pakistan's capabilities in the fields of footwear manufacturing, leather processing, and garment machinery by introducing state of the art equipment and technology, according to PISMIDA Vice Chairman Muhammad Yaseen here Monday. As part of the agreement, Pakistani workers will receive specialized training aligned with modern industrial requirements, enhancing local expertise in advanced machinery and production techniques. The initiative also includes a strong focus on innovation in leather-based product manufacturing and garments, positioning Pakistan to better compete in international markets. PISMIDA Vice Chairman Muhammad Yaseen represented Pakistan at the global exhibition 'JISMA' held in China, where he was invited as a special guest by the event organizers. During the event, he engaged in high-level meetings with international association representatives and commercial attaches to discuss bilateral cooperation and explore strategic growth opportunities. Speaking about the agreement, Yaseen described it as a historic milestone that will offer immense benefits across several Pakistani industries. 'Following Eid-ul-Azha, we will hold detailed sessions with stakeholders from relevant sectors to brief them on the agreement's benefits and guide them on how to leverage these new opportunities,' he added. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Indian Express
07-06-2025
- Indian Express
Engineer going home for Eid, 3 brothers visiting Vaishno Devi – Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat takes off with 530 on board
ON SATURDAY morning, when the first Vande Bharat train with 530 passengers on board sounded the whistle at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi railway station here, it marked the beginning of a journey to Kashmir through various engineering marvels and three major geological thrust zones — Reasi, Murrie and Panjal. An electrically propelled engine hauled eight coaches of Vande Bharat on a historic trip from Katra to Srinagar railway station, a distance of 189 km, at 8:10 am sharp. Of this, 78 km falls between Banihal and Srinagar, and 111 km between Katra and Banihal. Nearly 97 km of this 111 km is through 27 tunnels, while another 7 km passes over 49 bridges, including the iconic Rail Arch Bridge over Chenab and the cable-stayed bridge over Anji Khad. As the train left behind Katra town and entered the first 330-metre tunnel (T33) towards Reasi, Mohammad Yaseen, a young geological engineer from Kashmir, exclaimed, 'I have worked on its excavation.' Yaseen was on his way home in Kashmir to celebrate Eid with his parents, wife and child. Currently working on a railway line in Rishikesh, he arrived in Katra Saturday morning and boarded the Vande Bharat for Srinagar. 'My brother, who is coming home by air, is still at the Jammu airport, while I have almost reached Srinagar,' he said. Many passengers were pilgrims and tourists to Vaishno Devi, who changed their plans at the last minute to take the historic ride. Deepak Gupta, a government teacher from Uttar Pradesh, who came for 'darshan' with two younger brothers, was among them. 'On seeing that the ticket was available for Saturday in the first Vande Bharat to Kashmir, we decided to visit the Valley,' he said. The three will visit the Vaishno Devi shrine near Katra on their return journey. Anil Bhat, an IT engineer who migrated to Jammu with his parents from Kupwara district following the eruption of terrorism in 1990, said he is going to Kashmir after 35 years. Pointing out that he was 10 when his parents left the Valley, he said he has some faint memories of his native place. Accompanied by his parents, wife and a teenage daughter, Anil said his father Mohan Lal Bhat, 77, was visiting Kashmir after 20 years. 'We just wanted to explore the train journey and the bridge,' he said, adding that they parked their car at the Katra railway station. 'We will stay in Srinagar for two-three days and I may visit my native place in Kupwara.' As the train moved against the backdrop of the Shivaliks, Pir Panjal and the Himalayas, over India's highest and first cable-stayed rail bridge over Anji Khad and the world's highest rail bridge over Chenab river, the passengers were in awe. 'Our engineers have made it possible with their courage and determination,' said Kalpna Khatri, a housewife going to Kashmir for vacation with her husband and son. 'We are very excited as we will be in Srinagar in just three hours. Last time when we took a car, it took almost eight hours.' The train also connects people and places in isolated and rugged Shivalik and Pir Panjal ranges, said Alam Din of Sopore, who was visiting Kashmir to celebrate Eid with his friends. 'Had it not been for the train, I would have celebrated Eid at home in Jammu,' he said. Alam also pointed out that the train will help people in need of medical help in Kashmir reach super-speciality hospitals outside the Valley. The Katra-Srinagar rail line forms an important part of the 272-km Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), which has been built at a cost of Rs 43,780 crore. With heated windshields, advanced heating systems and insulated toilets, the train has been designed to overcome the region's challenging geography. During winter, a snow removal locomotive engine will move ahead to clear the tracks, while seismic dampers have been installed to absorb tremors, offering a safer and smoother journey in this high-risk zone, officials said. Scheduled to run six days a week, it has CORAS commandos deployed on the train, apart from dedicated staff for maintenance.
Mint
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Mint
A family's decade-long search for children stolen by Assad's regime
DAMASCUS—The resemblance was striking. The boy in the photograph had the family's same thick eyebrows and looked about 17, the same age Ahmed Yaseen would now be—if he was still alive. Could it be him, his aunt Naila al-Abbasi wondered? More than 12 years had passed since the boy and his five sisters had disappeared, after Syrian military intelligence detained them and their parents in the early years of the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad. Six months after rebels toppled the Assad regime in a seismic moment for the Middle East, many Syrians are still searching for missing relatives, including an estimated 3,700 children. An investigation by The Wall Street Journal, based on secret documents from the Assad regime and conversations with former detainees and corroborated by Syria's current government, found that at least 300 children like Ahmed were forcibly separated from their families and placed in orphanages after being detained during the country's civil war. 'He looks very similar," said al-Abbasi, who had scrolled through hundreds of photographs on Syrian orphanages' websites before finding this one. 'The nose, even the mouth." More than 112,000 Syrians arrested since the start of an uprising against Assad in 2011 remain unaccounted for, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights. That figure is comparable to the number of people who have disappeared in Mexico's drug wars, though Syria's population is only a fifth the size. Children are often used to punish or pressure opponents in war. Russia has taken thousands of children from Ukraine. Decades after Argentina's military dictatorship ended, families are still finding missing relatives seized as newborns and adopted by military couples. Dealing with this brutal legacy is a crucial challenge for the new Syria, whose government, led by an Islamist group that cut its past ties with al Qaeda, is trying to assert its control over a country riven by sectarian tensions. Syria's presidency said in May that it will set up commissions to probe crimes committed under Assad, compensate victims and trace the missing. But it is a huge and complex task for a government beset with other pressing issues, including a battered economy. Failure to address the issue of missing people 'could contribute to cycles of violence," said Kathryne Bomberger, director general of the International Commission on Missing Persons. At the time of their abduction, the Yaseen children were living in the relatively affluent Dumar neighborhood of Damascus. Their mother, Rania al-Abbasi, was a national chess champion who ran a successful dental clinic. In photographs Rania posted on social media, the children are pictured smiling alongside SpongeBob and Spider-Man performers during a trip to Syria's coast. Other pictures show Ahmed on a playground swing; wearing a cardboard crown; and with his hair gelled neatly into a crest. When the uprising against Assad began, relatives urged them to leave Syria. The family had a history with the regime: Rania's father—a prominent religious scholar—had spent 13 years in prison under Assad's father, President Hafez al-Assad, because of his oppositional views. Islamists were often considered a threat by the secular Assad regime. After Rania's father was released, the family went into exile in Saudi Arabia, where Ahmed was born. But his parents wanted to raise him and his sisters where they had roots and returned to Damascus in 2009. 'She thought she was safe," said Rania's younger sister, Naila, a doctor who remained in Saudi Arabia with much of the family. Between six children and work, Rania had no time to get involved in political activity or protests, even if she supported their demands. But she did give generously to Syrians displaced by the government's crackdown. And her father, from abroad, had voiced support for the uprising. It was enough to bring the regime's fist down on the family. On March 9, 2013, Syrian intelligence agents came for Rania's husband, Abdurrahman Yaseen. Two days later, they returned and took Ahmed and the other children, between 1 and 14 years old, along with their mother. The father's fate eventually came to light in a cache of 50,000 images smuggled out of Syria by a forensic photographer who defected in 2013. The grim catalog contained photographs of some 6,786 Syrians who had died in custody, some with their eyes gouged out. Among the images was one of Abdurrahman. Still, there was no sign of Ahmed, his siblings or Rania. The strongest lead came from another mother who had been detained with her children the year after al-Abbasi and her family. Freed in a prisoner exchange in 2017, Rasha al-Sharbaji revealed that security services had seized her five children and placed them in an orphanage run by SOS Children's Villages, an international charity with several locations in Syria. She said she recovered her children from the charity after being released. Asking around, relatives learned that four sisters with age gaps similar to four of the Yaseen girls were living in one of the centers of SOS Children's Villages. But orphanage staff were too afraid to speak, according to family members, and a lawyer appointed to ask the authorities received no answers. After the regime crumbled in December, thousands of prisoners stumbled out of fetid prison cells as Syrians celebrated in the streets. Scattered abroad, members of the extended family mobilized a fresh search, including approaching SOS Children's Villages again. In a statement, its Syria operation acknowledged it had received 139 children 'without proper documentation" between 2014 and 2018, when it demanded the authorities stop placing such cases in its care. Most of those children were returned to authorities under the former regime, SOS Children's Villages said, citing an audit into past records. The Journal couldn't determine what happened to them later. 'We regret the untenable situation we found ourselves in when receiving the children and unequivocally disapprove of such practices," it said. The group said it had taken steps to ensure it didn't happen again. The organization has since filed a claim with Damascus's public prosecutor to open an official investigation into the Yaseen children's disappearance. It said there was no record they had ever been placed in SOS Children's Villages' care. The family expanded their search to other orphanages. Baraa al-Ayoubi, director of the al-Rahma orphanage in Damascus, said Syrian security agents had placed 100 children of detainees in her care over the course of the war, but none of them belonged to Rania. The orphanage was forbidden to disclose details about the children, even to their relatives, when Assad was in power, she said. Eventually, all the children were handed back to their parents, she said. Records in the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, which has authority over orphanages, confirmed the practice was official. Tucked away in bulging files were secret communiqués from Syria's intelligence services, seen by a Journal reporter, instructing the ministry to transfer detainees' children to orphanages. An investigation launched by the ministry found a document indicating that SOS Children's Villages had returned the Yaseen children to the former regime. But the family wasn't convinced the document, which wasn't on official letterhead, was real. SOS Children's Villages declined to confirm whether it was authentic. A search of the ministry's archives identified about 300 children who were transferred to four orphanages in Damascus, said spokesman Saad al-Jaberi. But many documents have likely been lost, Jaberi said, and the answers that relatives of the 3,700 missing children are seeking may lie elsewhere. 'There are many mass graves," he said. As the search foundered, the children's aunt, Naila, traveled to Damascus from Saudi Arabia, returning to her home country for the first time since before the uprising. Opening the door to her sister's apartment, it was as though time had stopped on the day the family was taken 12 years earlier. Dust-covered school books were stacked neatly on the dining-room table. The refrigerator's contents had rotted beyond recognition. In a notebook belonging to the second-eldest child, there were declarations of love for Syria. 'We'll stay in Syria until you leave, Bashar," wrote Najah Yaseen, who was 11 at the time the family was detained. A cigarette butt on a tray was the only apparent trace left by the security men. Another document, collected by civil-society groups from Syria's air force intelligence, indicated that Rania had been transferred to another branch of the security apparatus in 2014. There was no reference to the children, suggesting they might have been separated by then. The family could only assume she had been killed, but they wouldn't give up on the children. Family members studied photographs on orphanage websites and official channels of the former Syrian government. A girl in a promotional video for SOS Children's Villages strongly resembled one of the Yaseen girls, Dima, who would now be 25. SOS Children's Villages insisted she was someone else. Family members weren't sure they would recognize the children today, so a family friend used artificial intelligence to visualize what they might look like now. After seeing the boy who resembled Ahmed on the website of Lahn al-Hayat, another orphanage, the family tracked him down. His name was Omar Abdurrahman—not Ahmed Yaseen—but other children who grew up in the orphanage said their identities had been changed. Orphanage administrators declined to comment. He couldn't remember anything about his life before the orphanage. But maybe the trauma of being detained at the age of 5 had erased his memories—and the likeness was undeniable. While family members waited for a DNA test to settle any doubt, Omar began referring to the missing boy's aunts as his own. When he saw a photograph of Ahmed, he recognized himself. 'That's me when I was young," he said. Weeks went by before a laboratory finally processed the test. The result came back negative. The boy remained at the orphanage. For the Abbasi family, the search continues. Write to Isabel Coles at
Syyaha
20-05-2025
- Business
- Syyaha
United Pharmacies Wins 'Best Place to Work' Award in Saudi Arabia for 202594% of employees say it's a great place to work – 4% above the global average
United Pharmacies, one of the leading companies in the pharmaceutical and healthcare products sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has announced that it has been awarded the 'Best Place to Work' title for the year 2025 by Great Place to Work. This achievement reaffirms the company's status as one of the most attractive and reputable employers in the healthcare sector in the 'Best Place to Work' award is one of the most prestigious honors both locally and internationally. Its evaluation is based on employees' own feedback and their direct experience within the workplace. This year's results revealed that 94% of United Pharmacies employees affirmed that the company is 'a great place to work,' exceeding the global average by 4%. This reflects the high level of satisfaction among the company's on this milestone, Sarah Lewis-Kulin, Vice President of Global Recognition at Great Place to Work, stated:'The Best Place to Work certification is more than just a title; it is a genuine reflection of a company's culture and daily practices that foster a strong sense of belonging and satisfaction among employees. Based on the outstanding evaluation results, it is clear that United Pharmacies is among the top organizations that prioritize employee well-being.'She added:'This recognition demonstrates that United Pharmacies has successfully built a workplace culture based on trust, transparency, and continuous support—values that sustain high performance and attract top talent.'On his part, Mr. Khaled Yaseen, CEO of United Pharmacies Group, expressed his pride in this achievement, saying:'Receiving this prestigious award is a true testament to our commitment to building a positive and supportive work culture. The credit goes to our dedicated employees, who are the cornerstone of our continued success. We deeply value their commitment and efforts, which have paved the way for this exceptional recognition.' Yaseen also noted that United Pharmacies places the development of the work environment at the top of its priorities. The company continuously invests in professional training programs and employee development to enhance performance and achieve organizational excellence. Founded on Professional Values and Vision United Pharmacies Group was established by Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Abdulrahim Yaseen, one of the pioneers of the pharmacy and healthcare sectors in the Kingdom. With decades of experience, Sheikh Dr. Yaseen laid the foundation for a strong, trusted national company rooted in authentic Islamic values and high professional standards. The company is committed to delivering the highest levels of healthcare service, supporting innovation, and empowering national talents. This award stands today as a direct outcome of the company's clear institutional approach—built on a solid foundation of trust, sustainability, and long-term vision. A Supportive Environment for Growth and DevelopmentUnited Pharmacies adopts a people-first philosophy, placing employees at the heart of its growth journey. The company offers advanced leadership and development programs aimed at building the capabilities of its administrative and technical staff while enhancing organizational loyalty. Flexible workplace policies are also in place to promote work-life balance, fairness, and recognition—fostering a positive atmosphere across all levels of the organization. Promising Career OpportunitiesUnited Pharmacies invites skilled professionals and qualified Saudi and non-Saudi talent to join its internationally certified work environment. Interested candidates can visit the company's official careers page to apply via:🔗 United Pharmacies is one of the fastest-growing pharmacy chains in the Kingdom, distinguished by its comprehensive offerings of medications, treatments, and healthcare services. The company is committed to the highest standards of quality and professionalism, with a clear mission to improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities across Saudi Arabia.
