Showing posts with label FATA. Show all posts
Striking photo of a beautiful nomad woman. She takes care of the sheep with her. She belong to a KOCHIAN tribe of nomads wandering in Pakistan and Afghanistan. During winter the come down to plans for search of pasture for their herds of livestock; due to heavy snow on mountains.
Bab-e-Khyber (Khyber Gate) a towering
structure stands at Jamrud and serves as the entrance of the historic Dara e
Khyber (Khyber Pass). It is seen as a mark of respect by citizens of Pakistan. It
is a monument in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan.
Jamrud Fort is located on its right. It was constructed in the early 60s and
inaugurated by President of Pakistan Muhammad Ayub Khan on June 11, 1963. By
the passage of time, the gate has become a symbol of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Formerly
NWFP) and its tribal belt (FATA). Notwithstanding obvious signs of ageing, the
Khyber Gate still presents an imposing sight.
Tag :// Bab-e-Khyber,
Tag :// Dara e Khyber,
Tag :// FATA,
Tag :// Gate,
Tag :// NWFP,
Tag :// Pakhtunkhwa,
Tag :// Pakistan,
Tag :// Pass
Arrested
tree at Landi Kotal
“I
AM UNDER ARREST”
In 1898, A British army officer James Squid in a
state of drunkenness feel an old banyan tree lurch towards him. He ordered mess
Havaldar to arrest the tree immediately. Presently, it is Khyber Rifles
Officers Mess; at Landikotal in Khyber Agency (FATA), at historic Khyber Pass, Pakistan. To this day, it stands
fettered and forlorn, with a board hanging on it that reads: “I am under
arrest.”
The
tree is still under arrest after all these years in remembrance of the British
invasion of the sub continent.
Historic
Khyber Pass, has witnessed the jostle of multiple empires as they fought for
the remote, rich expanses of the Hindukush. Harsh socio-political imprints left
behind by Alexander, Genghis Khan, and Amir Timur. All they came here from
north side. Sikhs also came here and establish their state, they came from
Lahore. After all British are dispersed throughout the craggy defiles and they
came from south in this area.
Now,
these tribal areas are trapped in the midst of another vortex, the ‘war on
terror.’
Tag :// Army,
Tag :// Arrested,
Tag :// British,
Tag :// FATA,
Tag :// Khyber Pass,
Tag :// Landi Kotal,
Tag :// tree
Seabuckthorn (Hyppophae rhamonides) is a
multipurpose hardy shrub, 2-4 meters in height, which produces valuable orange
berries. The plant is mostly found in the Northern Mountain Areas including
Gilgit, Hunza, Ghizar, Ganche, Astore, Skardu, Baltistan, Chitral, Upper Swat
and Kurram Agency (FATA).
Seabuckthorn has been used over centuries as an herbal medicine to relieve cough, aid digestion, invigorate blood circulation and alleviate pain. The sea-buckthorn is not widely tapped for its multifarious benefits despite an estimated natural cover of 7,000 acres with annual production of about 11,20,000kg. Earlier, in 1977 the Pakistan Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) had evaluated, developed, introduced and promoted various products of sea-buckthorn and also conducted capacity building programs to tap the resource in Skardu.
At local level it is used as firewood, hedges, fodder and compost while it`s potential as medicine, food as well as an income-generating source are limited and has not been realized appropriately. The Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) has been promoting various products of the plant in the Northern Areas quite recently through different projects.
Because of its severe weather resistant nature and huge root system fixing nitrogen in the soil, sea buckthorn is regarded as an environment friendly plant. It adds to the soil fertility and helps in reclamation of barren lands. Moreover, it also serves as a nurse plant for other vegetative growth. Its strong and extensive root network helps control landslides. The wide adaptation, fast growth, strong coppicing and suckering habits make the plant well adapted for soil conservation, soil improvement and marginal land reclamation. Observations and surveys show that many birds and animals depend on the plant for food and shelter.
Its significance is not only restricted to ecological importance, water conservation and soil stability but has also economic, biochemical and nutritional value with its fruits rich in vitamins. Studies have shown that its fruit is 5-16 times rich in vitamins C than any other fruit and vegetable. Its pulp has high medicinal value because of oil. Preparations of sea buckthorn oils are recommended for external use in case of burns and other skin complications induced by treatment with X-ray or radiation.
Recently, clinical studies on anti-tumor functions of sea buckthorn oils conducted in China have been positive. The oil, juice or extracts from oil, leaves and bark of the plant have been used successfully to treat high blood lipid symptoms, eye diseases, gingivitis and cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure and coronary heart disease. Its focal medicinal applications include cancer therapy, cardiovascular risk factors, gastrointestinal ulcers, skin disorders, and liver protection.
The seed of the plant having iron and phosphorus contents matures in September and October. The flavonoids of sea buckthorn which is mainly found in the fruit pulp as well as in leaves and oils of sea buckthorn which are obtained from its seeds and fleshy part of the fruit have medicinal value and application.
A variety of key products such as jams, jelly, syrup, squash, shampoo, can be prepared from the plant. Moreover, its leaves also serve as fodder having 23 per cent proteins. The residue obtained in wake of the processing method applied can also be utilised as valuable animal feed. The leaves are also being used for making a beverage tea.
In Northern Areas local communities are reluctant to tap this resource successfully because of time consuming harvesting technique, high labour cost, and high product prices and this has been one of the prime hurdles in proper marketing. Manual harvesting of berries is difficult due to their dense arrangement among thorns on each branch and farmers can`t afford advanced fruit harvesting techniques that are currently applied in developed countries.
As there is plenty sea buckthorn untapped in its core regions of the country, they can be collected and exported to European countries besides America and Canada. There is also great need to launch awareness campaigns for adopting sea buckthorn as an economic crop.
Farmers who raise the plant should be given incentives in terms of purchasing their produce at subsidised rates. There is also a great need to conduct extensive research and study to qualify the plant on grand scale use to benefit the local communities. Seabuckthorn plantation can be raised and promoted which would generate income and provide fuel wood. Its tapping can prove effective not only in alleviating poverty in Northern Areas but also help people in having access to a variety of its useful products.
Seabuckthorn has been used over centuries as an herbal medicine to relieve cough, aid digestion, invigorate blood circulation and alleviate pain. The sea-buckthorn is not widely tapped for its multifarious benefits despite an estimated natural cover of 7,000 acres with annual production of about 11,20,000kg. Earlier, in 1977 the Pakistan Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) had evaluated, developed, introduced and promoted various products of sea-buckthorn and also conducted capacity building programs to tap the resource in Skardu.
At local level it is used as firewood, hedges, fodder and compost while it`s potential as medicine, food as well as an income-generating source are limited and has not been realized appropriately. The Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) has been promoting various products of the plant in the Northern Areas quite recently through different projects.
Because of its severe weather resistant nature and huge root system fixing nitrogen in the soil, sea buckthorn is regarded as an environment friendly plant. It adds to the soil fertility and helps in reclamation of barren lands. Moreover, it also serves as a nurse plant for other vegetative growth. Its strong and extensive root network helps control landslides. The wide adaptation, fast growth, strong coppicing and suckering habits make the plant well adapted for soil conservation, soil improvement and marginal land reclamation. Observations and surveys show that many birds and animals depend on the plant for food and shelter.
Its significance is not only restricted to ecological importance, water conservation and soil stability but has also economic, biochemical and nutritional value with its fruits rich in vitamins. Studies have shown that its fruit is 5-16 times rich in vitamins C than any other fruit and vegetable. Its pulp has high medicinal value because of oil. Preparations of sea buckthorn oils are recommended for external use in case of burns and other skin complications induced by treatment with X-ray or radiation.
Recently, clinical studies on anti-tumor functions of sea buckthorn oils conducted in China have been positive. The oil, juice or extracts from oil, leaves and bark of the plant have been used successfully to treat high blood lipid symptoms, eye diseases, gingivitis and cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure and coronary heart disease. Its focal medicinal applications include cancer therapy, cardiovascular risk factors, gastrointestinal ulcers, skin disorders, and liver protection.
The seed of the plant having iron and phosphorus contents matures in September and October. The flavonoids of sea buckthorn which is mainly found in the fruit pulp as well as in leaves and oils of sea buckthorn which are obtained from its seeds and fleshy part of the fruit have medicinal value and application.
A variety of key products such as jams, jelly, syrup, squash, shampoo, can be prepared from the plant. Moreover, its leaves also serve as fodder having 23 per cent proteins. The residue obtained in wake of the processing method applied can also be utilised as valuable animal feed. The leaves are also being used for making a beverage tea.
In Northern Areas local communities are reluctant to tap this resource successfully because of time consuming harvesting technique, high labour cost, and high product prices and this has been one of the prime hurdles in proper marketing. Manual harvesting of berries is difficult due to their dense arrangement among thorns on each branch and farmers can`t afford advanced fruit harvesting techniques that are currently applied in developed countries.
As there is plenty sea buckthorn untapped in its core regions of the country, they can be collected and exported to European countries besides America and Canada. There is also great need to launch awareness campaigns for adopting sea buckthorn as an economic crop.
Farmers who raise the plant should be given incentives in terms of purchasing their produce at subsidised rates. There is also a great need to conduct extensive research and study to qualify the plant on grand scale use to benefit the local communities. Seabuckthorn plantation can be raised and promoted which would generate income and provide fuel wood. Its tapping can prove effective not only in alleviating poverty in Northern Areas but also help people in having access to a variety of its useful products.
Tag :// Agency,
Tag :// Astore,
Tag :// Baltistan,
Tag :// Chitral,
Tag :// FATA,
Tag :// Ganche,
Tag :// Ghizar,
Tag :// Gilgit,
Tag :// Hunza,
Tag :// Kurram,
Tag :// orange berries,
Tag :// PARC,
Tag :// PCSIR,
Tag :// Seabuckthorn,
Tag :// Skardu,
Tag :// Upper Swat
Pakistan
is a home of rare gemstones that can earn billions of dollars for the country
if properly exploited and marketed. The gemstone sector has a huge potential to
become regional leader by adopting modern techniques and methodologies. Pakistan is blessed with; more than 270 varieties of
precious stones etc.
Some of
the major gemstones are enlisted below.
Ø Peridot
Ø Aquamarine
Ø Topaz - in various colours
including violet, pink, golden, and champagne
Ø Ruby
Ø Emerald
Ø Bastnaesite - rare earth mineral
Ø Xenotime - rare earth mineral
Ø Sphene
Ø Tourmaline
Ø Quartz of various types
Demand
of gemstones is growing rapidly in international markets; there is a need to
exploit natural reserves in order to create a substantial international market
for the Pakistani gems and jewelry industry. It
is up to Pakistan to put in their best efforts to convert the potential into
tangible gains to benefit the country and economy. It will facilitate to
generate revenue for the state and jobs for the masses.http://www.pgjdc.org/
Tag :// Aquamarine,
Tag :// Baltestan,
Tag :// dollars,
Tag :// Emerald,
Tag :// export,
Tag :// FATA,
Tag :// gemstone,
Tag :// gemstones,
Tag :// Gilgat,
Tag :// Islamabad,
Tag :// Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,
Tag :// Pakistan,
Tag :// Peridot,
Tag :// Quartz,
Tag :// Ruby,
Tag :// Technology,
Tag :// Topaz,
Tag :// Trade
