Ayesha Omar’s new film focuses on realities in Balochistan

Ayesha Omar plays a journalist in Balochistan in the upcoming Dhai Chaal. The film premieres in February 2020. 13th November, 2019. (Image via Ayesha Omar Instagram)
Updated 16 November 2019
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Ayesha Omar’s new film focuses on realities in Balochistan

  • Film ‘Dhai Chaal’ is expected to hit the big screen in February 2020
  • People of Balochistan are helping us to complete the project

ISLAMABAD: Ayesha Omar’s next role in “Dhai Chaal” is playing a journalist on a quest of uncovering life and realities in Balochistan.
“It’s about how the people of Balochistan have sacrificed a lot, and went through a lot of hard times to regain peace in the region. It’s about their sacrifices,” Omar told Arab News.
Directed by Taimoor Sherazi and written by Faiza Chaudhry, Dhai Chaal is expected to hit the big screen in February 2020.
Omar’s role will be aiming to report on Balochistan and provide a real account of what people in the region are facing ranging from the presence of foreign entities to corruption.
Her role is opposite Shamoon Abassi who will be playing an Indian spy working to dismantle progress and miff China-Pakistan relations.
the film is produced by Dr. Irfan Ashraf who is committed to highlight the tribulations faced by the people in Balochistan, Omar said.
“He’s been working in the region of Baluchistan for the past 15 years,” she said. “He saw the struggles of the people and wanted to give people a true picture of what’s happening there.”
Omar said, “In addition to our great cast and team, we have people helping out locally from Baluchistan. It’s a team of young people and energetic hard working kids, and lots of university students from universities in Balochistan,” citing producer and writer Ashraf’s work in the region as inspiring the support from the local population.
“People are just genuinely helping this guy with his mission. And that’s what he came to me with... I really, really want to do this (role),” Omar said.


Pakistan unveils world’s ‘largest’ Markhor sculpture in Kaghan Valley

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Pakistan unveils world’s ‘largest’ Markhor sculpture in Kaghan Valley

  • Massive structure, standing 105 feet high and 38 feet wide, took five years to complete
  • Authorities aim to draw tourists to mountainous north, raise awareness about species

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has unveiled the world’s “largest” sculpture of the Markhor, the country’s national animal, in the scenic Kaghan Valley, Radio Pakistan reported on Friday, highlighting cultural pride, wildlife heritage and the country’s growing focus on tourism. 

By immortalizing the Markhor in stone, authorities aim to draw tourists to the mountainous north and raise awareness about the species, a symbol of national identity and a conservation-success story.

“The massive structure, standing 105 feet high and 38 feet wide, took five years to complete,” Radio Pakistan reported. “The Kaghan Valley, known for its breath-taking landscapes, now hosts this record-breaking tribute, attracting visitors from across the country and beyond.”

The Markhor, a wild mountain goat native to the high-altitude regions of northern Pakistan, including Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has distinctive corkscrew-shaped horns and remarkable agility on rocky terrain. 

Once heavily threatened by overhunting and habitat loss, the Markhor’s fortunes have rebounded in recent decades thanks to conservation efforts and community protection programs. Its increasing population has led to its conservation status being downgraded from “Endangered” to “Near Threatened.” 

Local tourism officials say the new sculpture is expected to draw significant numbers of visitors to Kaghan Valley, giving a boost to local economies while reinforcing interest in wildlife conservation and Pakistan’s natural heritage.