The Costal Courier

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Islamic studies no longer compulsory for Pakistan's non-Muslims

The Pakistani government has decided that the study of Islam is no longer compulsory for non-Muslim students in Pakistan . In a notification on Jan. 22, the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training approved a new curriculum, which makes studying Islam non-compulsory for Christian, Bahai, Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, and Zoroastrian students in the Islamic nation. The Religious Education Curriculum 2023 for Grades 1 to Grade 12 will be introduced from the next academic year in 2024-2025. The Catholic Church has been urging the government to make provision for non-Muslim students to receive religious education in their faith instead of Islamiat, which comprises courses on Islamic beliefs and practices. Naeem Yousaf Gill, director of the National Commission of Justice and Peace, the rights body of the Pakistani bishops’ council, welcomed the development. “We appreciate the government for involving Catholic bishops in developing the syllabus of Christianity. However, its monit

Pakistani influencer celebrates Diwali for the first time in Karachi. Video goes viral

A Pakistani content creator shared a video of him celebrating Diwali for the first time in Karachi on social media which has gone viral. The video, shared by Bilal Hasan on Instagram, has clocked over millions of views as it perfectly showcased his heartwarming experience. “Diwali in Pakistan. Maine kabhi zindagi mein Diwali nahi manayi until today [Diwali in Pakistan. I have never celebrated Diwali until today],” Hasan said. “Sindh is home to Pakistan's largest Hindu community. Karachi, being the largest city, has some of the liveliest and most vibrant celebrations [of Diwali] in the country,” he said. In his video, Hasan was seen soaking up the festive spirit at the bustling Swami Narayan Temple, where locals gathered to celebrate the festival of lights. The temple, lively with families and friends lighting firecrackers and enjoying sweets, showcased vibrant Diwali celebrations. “ Ab ye saari baatein suni thi. Apni aankhon se kabhi dekha nahi tha. Tyohaar ki khushi mein

CPEC’s promises through the Eyes of Gwadar's youth

CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor): A $46 billion project connecting Pakistan's Gwadar with China's Kashgar. On a bustling street of the Jannat Market in Gwadar, is a long line of shops selling locally made Gwadari sweets and imported food items from Iran, with women and men queuing up to buy them in bulk. The shop owner ,Ramzan Baloch, doesn’t sense anything beneficial because his life has been the same since China and Pakistan signed the CPEC project. “Nothing is changed. I own the same old shop and ride the same old bike,” he says.” The only difference now is that you come across Chinese people—whom we had not seen in real life but in movies only." Gwadar, commonly hailed as the ‘Crown jewel’ of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has the tendency to be the next Dubai. Having a deep-water seaport, as envisioned, this would not only create jobs for the people of Pakistan but also help China to have a stronghold over the major trade routes and waterways of

Saving the Balochi language

Mah chok’y baloch’ani Mah chok’y baloch’ani may thurs’a zameen larzith may bem’a kalath jask’an,, “We are the sons of Baloch We are the sons of Baloch The earth shakes with our fear The forts shake in fright Written by Majeed Gwadri in 1948 Song by: Faiz Muhammad I watched with pride as three people chorused this in unison. I was not attending a concert of the 1800s and 1900s when Balochistan was blessed with coveted poets and singers like Mir Gul Khan Naseer, Sayad Zahoor Shah Hashmi, Mullah Qasum, Mullah Fazul, Faiz Muhammad, Atta Shad, Noor Muhammad Nooral, Noor Khan Bezanjo and songs like,’ kale wale kale wale and Laila o Laila beya tara baran sayl’a ‘ ruled the entire literary circles of Baloch societies. But I was attending a concert on the Second March__Baloch culture day___ in the Balochistan University, Quetta. The program ended there and these words kept ringing in my mind for the whole day. The only thing I could ponder about was, is Balochi language improving? What have w

Balochistan's endangered Houbara Bustards

The endangered houbara bustard As the Houbara Bustards have started to migrate from the central Asian Countries in the chilled winter season to the deserts of Balochistan, Sindh, KPk and Punjab, the Arab shiekhs with their entourage have too started arriving in different areas of Pakistan to hunt the endangered bird. Indubitably, these Arabs arrived here in the early 1970s who included Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, at the time when he ruled the UAE which included federations and sheikdoms of Ajman,Fujairah ,Ras al-Khaimah, Abu Dubai and Umm al-Quwain. Having been hunting for a long time in the winter season in different areas and regions of Balochistan, these Arabs were once again permitted to hunt the internationally threatened bird in various areas of the country. They hunt here during the winter season from the November 1st to January 31st. Per contra, the federal government annually issues 25 to 35 permits to the Arabs. Pakistanis are prohibited to hunt the bird because of

Balochistan's fauna

The Balochistan province is blessed with hundreds of thousands of species of plants and animals, varying from the ibex, black bear, brown rabbits, markhor, tortoise, migratory birds, including zaarhi, zark (chakor), Sisi and even the tiniest mouse of the planet Earth, the pygmas jerboa. With no doubt, Balochitherium is one of the largest land mammals ever existed on Earth and it extincted being discovered by a French paleontologist Jean-Loup Welcomme in the Province of Balochistan in Dera Bugti district. Pygmy Jerboa mouse, which is equal to the size of a cent was first discovered in the Chagai district of the province by J.A Anderson. From the salty seas to the barren deserts and from the deep oceans to the bleak plains, wild animals native to the province face the ongoing threat of cruelty and annihilation which is exceeding without any respite in Balochistan. A farmer from Kolahoo narrates, ” Druchk (Finch,a migrotory bird from Sibera to Balochistan in the summer season when wheat c

Epic: The story of Hammal and Mahganj

The Baloch history is full of secrets and adventures but unfortunately, with the lack of media and government’s attention, the issues and historical heritage still remains uncovered. The Baloch history is congested with exemplary incidents and events. The same like the Mughals’ rule in the Indian subcontinent, the Delhi sultanate or be it others. The Balochi love story of Hammal_o_Mahganj also remains one of the naked witness when it comes to the love. The love story of Hammal and Mahganj has passed generations to generations in the Baloch tribe. It is evident that one can find many ports in the coast of Makran. One of the very old port is the port of Kalmat. The area was green and tidy. Therefore, it was in the limelight throughout Balochistan. In the old days,this area was ruled by a very vigorous, familiar and brave Baloch ruler named Jeehand. That time the Portuguese had invaded Amman establishing an empire from Zenjerbar to Balochistan and Amman. The Portuguese knew about the br