he All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has urged Kashmiris to observe October 27 as a Black Day to record their protest against the 1947 Indian military intervention in occupied Jammu and Kashmir against the will of the Kashmiri people.

The APHC cites this date as the beginning of India’s brutal occupation of the territory, a move violated the Partition Plan and disregarded the Kashmiri people’s aspirations.

APHC General Secretary Moulvi Bashir Ahmed Irfani in a statement in Srinagar reiterated the Kashmiri people’s commitment to their struggle for self-determination.

Motorsports have been a lifelong passion for Nadir Magsi, deeply ingrained in his family’s heritage. Both his grandfather and father shared a fervent enthusiasm for motorsports, passing down this exhilarating legacy. For Nadir, it was more than a hobby; it was a family tradition. His journey behind the wheel began at an early age, crafting his first vehicle at the tender age of 10, ingeniously using a generator engine and a Triumph gearbox.

The expansive and arid terrain of his ancestral land in Jhal Magsi served as an ideal playground for off-road driving. Those precious school vacations were eagerly awaited, as they meant more time to indulge in his driving passion. Little did he know that years down the road, he would spearhead an endeavor to transform the Jhal Magsi car rally into one of the premier off-road events in Pakistan, and indeed, a global sensation.

Nadir’s education in motorsports took an international detour when he spent five years in the United States. It was there that he honed his skills in karting, mastering the art of precision driving. He firmly believes that karting serves as the foundational training ground for aspiring rally drivers, offering essential technical expertise.

Upon returning to Pakistan from the United States, he found the local motorsports scene in its infancy. Although Pakistan had seen a few off-road events in Chowlistan in 1994-95, these were sporadic occurrences, far from being regular fixtures on the motorsports calendar. Nadir marked his formal debut in the Chowlistan rally and has been a steadfast participant in every rally held in Pakistan ever since, securing victories in a significant majority of them.

Among the four major rally events in Pakistan, namely Chowlistan, Thal, Gwadar, and Jhal Magsi, the latter holds a special place in Nadir’s heart. Beyond its sentimental value as his hometown, he considers Jhal Magsi the most challenging due to its diverse terrains, necessitating drivers to adapt to varying conditions. He firmly believes that anyone who can navigate the Jhal Magsi course can compete in rallies across the world.

While motorsports in Pakistan are still in a nascent stage, organizations like Pakistan Motor Sports, led by passionate motorsports enthusiasts in the private sector, have been instrumental in its development. The government’s support has been limited, but there are promising signs on the horizon.

Nadir holds the Pakistan Army in high regard for its pivotal role in facilitating major rallies like Gwadar, Jhal Magsi, and Chowlistan. He recognizes that without the army’s assistance, the rally scene in Pakistan would not have reached its current level.

Currently, motorsports enthusiasts participate out of sheer love for the sport, without significant recognition or financial rewards. Nadir is hopeful that one day, the corporate sector, especially automobile manufacturers, will recognize the benefits of supporting motorsports and participate for their own gain, as they stand to gain considerable exposure from event coverage.

He also anticipates that media coverage of motorsports events will continue to expand, garnering public attention and achieving the recognition it rightfully deserves. When asked about the future of the rally scene in Pakistan, Nadir is optimistic. He has unwavering faith in the potential of Pakistani drivers and is dedicated to mentoring and assisting new talents without seeking personal credit.

Nadir firmly believes that true potential can only be unleashed when the corporate sector invests in motorsports, providing financial stability, recognition, and rewards. He commends Red Bull for its substantial support of motorsports in Pakistan since 2004.

Additionally, he hopes that academies and karting facilities will emerge in Pakistan to train young aspiring drivers from an early age. While National Motor Sports does its part to support drivers, Nadir stresses that government and corporate backing can revolutionize the motorsports landscape in Pakistan, ushering in a new era of opportunities for motorsports enthusiasts.

China’s digital farming and smart agriculture practices are going to be a shot in the arm of Pakistan’s agriculture growth with inspiration from Chinese agro-based innovative technologies and techniques. A group of young Pakistani agri-tech entrepreneurs has pioneered a project “Digital Dera” in district Pakpattan, around 148 kilometers away from Lahore.

A tech-savvy project “Digital Dera” aims to empower farmers with cutting-edge agriculture solutions and assist them in the creation of smart communities. Talking to Gwadar Pro, founder of “Digital Dera” and co-founder of a Think Tank ‘Agriculture Republic’, Aamer Hayat Bhandara emphasized that data, information, advisory, and technology are pre-requisites for maximizing agricultural growth.

He believed that despite the ideal weather and fertile land, Pakistan is unable to achieve the standard yield due to the lack of modern agricultural techniques. He also urged the usage of sensors to assist farmers in making accurate decisions for their crops. He was of the view that because China is leading the world in technological innovation, therefore, he proposed that Chinese agro-based companies aligned with modern agriculture vision may digitally equip Pakistani farmers by transferring technology of agriculture drones, geo-tagging, data collection through satellite imagery, electric tractors, and human resource development.

Talking about the impact and prospects of “Digital Dera”, he said that this model can easily be replicated anywhere in the country. He also looked forward to collaborating with China on capacity building and the transfer of digital technology in agriculture.

It is an encouraging development that footprints of China’s digital farming in Pakistan are getting visible. Farmland Digital Integrated Management System, which Shandong ARK IT Business implemented in east China’s Shandong Province, is now working on digital agriculture development in Pakistan. While supplying high-quality drip irrigation and sprinkler irrigation equipment, the company also uses artificial intelligence technologies to help Pakistan’s small farmers and large-scale plantations save money and boost efficiency.

The Farmland Digital Integrated Management System’s machine vision and intelligence are primarily used for monitoring plant diseases and insect pests. To achieve agricultural production prediction, pest control, and other challenges, the system uses artificial intelligence technologies such as computer vision, picture recognition, and deep learning. Pakistani farmers can directly replicate the advanced Chinese agricultural technology in order to accomplish higher crop yields to ensure food security in the country. It should be noted that Pakistani food imports have risen by 54 percent during the last fiscal year. In Pakistan, various factors have contributed to increased food imports, and one of them is low crop yield. According to a study conducted by Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited in 2020,