After bagging UK prize, Pashtun girl calls for art education in conservative Pakistani hometown

Pakistani artist Almas Khanum (left) presents her artwork to former Afghan president Ashraf Ghani (center) in Kabul, Afghanistan, on March 15, 2019. (Photo courtesy: Almas Khanum)
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Updated 10 November 2022
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After bagging UK prize, Pashtun girl calls for art education in conservative Pakistani hometown

  • Almas Khanum from militancy-hit Malakand region won award for artwork promoting religious tolerance
  • Khanum makes images using needle and thread, award received in UK by parents of Malala Yousafzai

ISLAMABAD: A Pashtun girl who bagged the top position at an international art competition in the United Kingdom earlier this year has called for more art schools and colleges, particularly for women, in the conservative, restive northwestern Pakistani region that she hails from.

Almas Khanum, 19, who belongs to the militancy-hit Malakand division in Pakistan’s northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, comes from a family of artists and specializes in embroidery and sculpture.

The high school graduate who plans to pursue media studies participated in an international competition organized by a British NGO, Bellwether International, in September, which encouraged artists from around the world to submit works on a wide variety of themes.

Khanum’s submission, a needle-on-thread piece, depicts a woman wearing traditional Afghan clothing and carrying a water pot on her head. The subject of the image is also playing the flute, but is surrounded by darkness, which the artist used to depict an atmosphere of cultural restrictions.

The artwork won the first prize in the category of “religious tolerance,” which came with a two thousand pound cash prize.

“I submitted my art piece in September,” Khanum told Arab News over the phone during an interview from Malakand. “On October 5, I got an email informing me that my work had ranked first [among submission from] all over the world, which is a matter of great pride and joy for me.”




Pakistani artist Almas Khanum can be seen with a portrait of the philanthropist and social worker, Abdul Sattar Edhi, in Malakand, Pakistan, on April 20, 2020. (Photo courtesy: Almas Khanum)

Khanum said the organizers called her method of creating an image with a needle and threads “unique and impressive.”

“In this artwork, I depicted myself dressed in traditional Afghan clothing and holding a water pot over my head which is associated with my culture,” the artist said. “The woman in the artwork is using music to promote religious freedom as I believe that music can promote religious harmony across different faiths.”

Khanum was invited to attend the awards ceremony at British parliament in London on October 27, but faced visa issues.

“I applied for a [UK] visa but I couldn't get it, which was why I couldn't go there and receive the award myself,” she lamented. “But I am immensely proud and happy that the parents of Pakistani Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai received the award on my behalf.”




In a photograph taken on October 5, 2022, a needle-and-threat art piece by Pakistani artist Almas Khanum can be seen. The work won first prize at an international competition held in London, United Kingdom, in September. (Photo courtesy: Almas Khanum)

Asked how she got into creating art, Khanum said her first creation was a portrait of Malala Yousafzai, who also hails from KP province, made using the needle-on-thread technique.

“I have tried to promote my art as much as possible by making pictures of Pashtun leaders and famous people in other parts of the world,” she said. “Whether they were doctors or politicians, I made pictures of personalities who served humanity.”

About her future plans, Khanum said she wanted to promote art among women of the tribal region after completing her education.

“In the future, I intend to promote my art and turn it into an industry as many girls in the region are interested in it,” she added. “So, I feel that I should teach this art to all my sisters and brothers.”

“I request the present government to build art academies and colleges in our area because there are many in Islamabad and other big cities but not in KP [Khyber Pakhtunkhwa].”

The artist said getting an award in the UK was proof that people in other countries respected and recognized Pakistani traditional art more than it was appreciated by the country's own people:

“It is very unfortunate that our own art is not valued in Pakistan as much as it is valued and respected in foreign countries.”


PM Sharif announces 25% federal development share for insurgency-hit Balochistan

Updated 5 sec ago
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PM Sharif announces 25% federal development share for insurgency-hit Balochistan

  • The prime minister calls for efforts to bring back ‘misguided’ individuals who have joined militant groups
  • He recognizes Balochistan’s history of economic deprivations but says ‘terrorists’ know nothing but brutality

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said Pakistan’s restive southwestern province of Balochistan will receive 25% share from the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) in the upcoming budget, as the government continues to grapple with a decades-long separatist insurgency that has surged in recent years.

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but least populated province, is strategically significant as the centerpiece of the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a major infrastructure development and regional connectivity initiative linking western China to the Arabian Sea.

While the state touts CPEC as a game-changer for the region’s development, Baloch separatist groups accuse the government of exploiting the province’s vast mineral resources without benefiting the local population. Officials reject the narrative, pointing to ongoing investments in various sectors aimed at improving livelihoods.

Sharif announced the allocation while addressing a grand jirga, an assembly of provincial elders and influential figures alongside top military leadership, in Quetta, where he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to Balochistan’s development.

“I think that PSDP will be of Rs1,000 billion [in the next budget],” he told the gathering. “So, out of this [amount], a fund of approximately Rs250 billion is for Balochistan alone. That is, 25% of the total federal PSDP for Balochistan.”

The PSDP is Pakistan’s central development program used to fund infrastructure, energy, education and other long-term public investment projects across the country.

It includes both federal initiatives and financial support for provincial projects, particularly in underdeveloped regions like Balochistan.

The prime minister said the allocation was the province’s “right.”

“Along with this,” he continued, “these resources should be used transparently, whether it is Gwadar, whether it is Pasni, whether it is Chaman, whether it is Killa Saifullah, whether it is Quetta, whether it is Jhal Magsi or any other areas,” he continued. “Every single penny there should be used honestly for the development and prosperity of the people.”

Addressing the challenge of militancy in the province, Sharif said efforts must continue to bring back “misguided” individuals who had joined militant groups.

He acknowledged Balochistan’s history of economic deprivation, while reiterating that those engaged in violence offer no solutions.

“Terrorists do not know anything but brutality,” he said.

Calling for national unity, Sharif maintained: “Let’s sit together and talk. It is only by sitting together that a family becomes strong and prosperous. No evil eye can harm a united household.”


Pakistan to set up maritime chamber to boost blue economy, promote greener ports

Updated 57 min 5 sec ago
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Pakistan to set up maritime chamber to boost blue economy, promote greener ports

  • Maritime minister says new chamber will unite industry to drive sustainable growth and long-term economic resilience
  • Pakistan aims to grow its blue economy through sustainable use of ocean resources for jobs and ecosystem health

KARACHI: The Pakistan government on Saturday announced the creation of a new Maritime Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) to promote sustainable development in the country’s coastal and marine sectors, saying the initiative would help strengthen the country’s blue economy while addressing rising climate risks at its ports.

Addressing the Pakistan Business Council Forum, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said Pakistan’s coastal zones were increasingly exposed to environmental challenges such as rising sea levels, extreme weather events and marine degradation.

The new chamber, he noted, would serve as a specialized platform for uniting stakeholders from across the maritime spectrum to pursue greener policies and long-term economic resilience.

“This chamber will not only support investment and innovation in the maritime sector but also prioritize sustainability at ports, promote green technologies and foster carbon reduction strategies,” he told the participants of the forum.

Pakistan is striving to strengthen blue economy by ensuring the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, jobs and ecosystem health.

This requires the authorities to enhance the potential of its ports, fisheries, logistics and marine services while reducing environmental harm.

The new chamber is expected to provide a unified institutional voice for sectors ranging from shipping to coastal tourism, helping to align business incentives with climate adaptation goals.

Pakistan has been pushing to modernize its port infrastructure and expand its role in regional trade by improving cargo handling, digitalizing port operations and encouraging public-private partnerships.

The country has also invited landlocked Central Asian states to use its ports to access global markets, aiming to position itself as a regional trade hub.

The Pakistan Business Council welcomed the announcement, calling the new chamber a critical step toward building a climate-resilient and economically vibrant maritime economy.


Pakistan PM says Indian bid to set ‘new norm’ thwarted, vows focus on economy and governance

Updated 3 min 24 sec ago
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Pakistan PM says Indian bid to set ‘new norm’ thwarted, vows focus on economy and governance

  • Shehbaz Sharif tells military officials in Quetta India suffered setbacks on battlefield and in diplomatic realm
  • He reiterates that New Delhi will not be allowed to ‘weaponize water,’ calling IWT suspension a ‘red line’

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday highlighted a range of security threats facing Pakistan days after a military standoff with India, saying New Delhi’s attempt to establish a “new norm” by targeting his country at will had been thwarted, though Pakistan must now focus on strengthening economy and governance.

The remarks came during a televised address to senior military officers at the Command and Staff College in Quetta, where the premier recounted the recent escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

The flare-up followed an April attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, which New Delhi blamed on a Pakistan. Islamabad denied the allegation and called for an impartial probe, but tensions rapidly escalated into four days of cross-border hostilities, ending after a US-brokered ceasefire on May 10.

“The threats we face are no longer limited to conventional battlefields,” Sharif said during his address. “They are multifaceted, ranging from kinetic warfare to cyberattacks, economic coercion to disinformation campaigns and hybrid threats that challenge both our borders and our ideological frontiers.”

“The recent Indian aggression against Pakistan, violating our territorial integrity and targeting our innocent civilians, was not merely countered successfully, but instead we succeeded in turning the tables on those who were dreaming of establishing a new norm,” he said.

Sharif added that Pakistan accepted the ceasefire offer “in the interest of peace, progress and prosperity in South Asia,” asserting that India’s claim of a new strategic precedent “was buried for all times to come by our brave armed forces.”

“In fact, it was Pakistan that established the new norm in its relations with India,” he said. “Henceforth, we will not allow her to behave in an arrogant and haughty manner.”

The prime minister said India had suffered “serious setbacks in both warfare and finest diplomacy” during the episode.

Turning to domestic matters, Sharif said while the military had fulfilled its responsibility, Pakistan still faced “major challenges in the field of economy and governance.”

He cited the dire financial situation when his administration took office, saying it compelled Pakistan to seek external assistance from lenders such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

However, he maintained the economy had since stabilized and was now on a positive trajectory.

The prime minister also criticized India’s recent move to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), a World Bank-brokered water-sharing agreement signed in 1960, reiterating it was unacceptable to his country.

“We will not allow India to weaponize water by holding the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance,” he said. “This is an absolute red line for us.”


Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem reigns supreme with javelin gold at Asian Athletics Championships

Updated 31 May 2025
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Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem reigns supreme with javelin gold at Asian Athletics Championships

  • India’s Sachin Yadav won silver with an 85.16m throw, while Japan’s Yuta Sakiyama took bronze by throwing 83.75m
  • Nadeem made history at 2024 Paris Olympics by winning Pakistan’s first athletics gold with a record throw of 92.97m

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem on Saturday won gold with a massive 86.4-meter throw in the men’s javelin final at the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea, Pakistani state media reported.

Nadeem is the first Pakistani in over 50 years to win a gold medal at the Asian Athletics Championships. Pakistan’s Allah Daad last topped the podium in javelin throw and Muhammad Younis won the 800-meter event in 1973.

“Arshad Nadeem has once again made the nation proud by making a massive 86.40 meter throw and led the field in the men’s Javelin final at the Asian Athletics Championship in Gumi,” the state-run Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.

In Saturday’s event, India’s Sachin Yadav won silver with an 85.16m throw, while Japan’s Yuta Sakiyama took bronze with an 83.75m throw. Both threw their personal best.

Nadeem advanced to the final with a powerful throw of 86.34 meters on his first and only attempt in the A qualification round on Friday.

He made history at the 2024 Paris Olympics by winning Pakistan’s first-ever athletics gold with a record-breaking javelin throw of 92.97 meters. His throw not only set a new Olympic and Asian record but also ended Pakistan’s 32-year Olympic medal drought.

Nadeem has since become a national hero, inspiring millions with his journey from humble beginnings in smalltown Mian Channu to the top of the Olympic podium.


Pakistan voices concern over rise in Islamophobic incidents in India

Updated 31 May 2025
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Pakistan voices concern over rise in Islamophobic incidents in India

  • The reports of increasing attacks against Muslims in India emerged after an April 22 attack on Hindu tourists in disputed Kashmir
  • Pakistan’s foreign office urges the Indian government to uphold the rights and safety of all its citizens, regardless of their faith

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan expresses grave concern over a rise in Islamophobic incidents across India, the Pakistani foreign office said on Saturday, following reports of attacks against Muslims.

The reports of increasing attacks against Muslims and Kashmiris in India emerged after an April 22 attack on Hindu tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir’s Pahalgam town that killed 26 people.

New Delhi blamed the assault on Pakistan, a charge denied by Islamabad. The attack triggered a four-day standoff between the neighbors this month that killed 70 people on both sides before a truce was announced on May 10.

At least 184 anti-Muslim hate incidents, including murders, assaults, threats and vandalism, have been recorded countrywide in India, Indian media outlets quoted New Delhi-based Association for Protection of Civil Rights as saying this month.

“Pakistan calls upon the Government of India to uphold the rights and safety of all its citizens, regardless of faith,” Pakistani foreign office spokesman Shafqat Ali Khan said, adding that such incidents violate international human rights obligations and vitiate the prospects for communal harmony and regional stability.

Bitter rivals India and Pakistan have fought three wars, including two over the disputed region of Kashmir, since gaining independence from British rule in 1947. Both claim the Himalayan territory in its entirety but rule it in part.

While a conflict between the neighbors feeding minority hatred on either side is not a new phenomenon, critics and rights bodies say Hindu right-wing groups have become emboldened in recent years due to a “culture of impunity.”

“Prime Minister [Narendra] Modi likes to boast of India’s democratic traditions, but it’s become increasingly hard for him to hide his government’s deepening crackdown on minorities and critics,” Meenakshi Ganguly, the deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said in January this year.

“A decade of discriminatory policies and repression has weakened the rule of law and has restricted the economic and social rights of marginalized communities.”