Naltar Valley- Beauty yet Undiscovered in Pakistan

Pakistan’s northernmost territory of Gilgit-Baltistan portrays a spectacular amalgamation of various facets. Not only, does it mark the border with countries  including  Afghanistan, China and India but it is also home to a variety of natural wonders that enthrall the tourists with their beauty.

Naltar Valley is one such example of the sheer beauty that the Gilgit-Baltistan area possesses. The valley is emerging as a popular tourist spot because of the variety of enthralling views that seems to behold the visitors with their beauty. To help tourists who are planning to visit the beautiful Naltar valley,  Jovago Pakistan brings an exclusive travel guide on this valley which is yet to be discovered.

History

During the British Rule, Naltar valley served as the hill station of Gilgit Agency. The British administrators used to spend their summers here to escape the oppressive summer heat.

Location

The Naltar Valley is a beautiful mountain valley, that is situated at an approximate distance of 40km from Gilgit, in the Gilgit-Baltistan territory.  The valley comprises of two villages i.e. Naltar Bala and Naltar Pine which are accessible through Gilgit.

Description

Naltar valley is surrounded by barren mountains that seem to embrace it in their folds. The blanket of the alpine trees covers the entire valley and it provides a stunning view to the passersby. It is also home to a variety of wildlife. Moreover, the three colorful lakes also add to the sheer beauty of the area. This is perhaps why a large number of tourists visit this valley in particular.

Popular tourist attractions

❖       The Naltar lakes

Naltar valley is famous for the three lakes, which are called Naltar or Bashiri lakes. These lakes  allure the tourists with their beauty as each lake is in a different color. The different hues of color ranging from aquamarine to azure, that can be seen in all the three lakes, attract tourists towards themselves. Natl three with its azure color, in particular, is the most visited lake out of the three Naltar lakes.

❖       Skiing chairlifts

Naltar is all set to emerge as the skiing hub of Pakistan. It is home to the country’s first skiing chairlifts which are used in the winter games. For Naltaris, skiing is not only a tradition but it is a part of their identity as well. Although they cannot afford the expensive equipment, almost all of the residents know how to ski and they tend to carve their own kits from the wood that is chopped from the widely spread pine trees.

Social Media and Its Impact on Pakistan’s Tourism Industry

Technology has enabled people from all over the world to stay connected with others, irrespective of the distance. The communication barrier between people has between removed to a great extent by the introduction of various innovation including smartphones and social media.

The revolution brought about by technology is phenomenal. It has literally breathe life into the word ‘convenience’ by letting it seep into our lives through various inventions. This can be seen through the various platforms that the technology has provided to people so that they are better able to connect and remain in touch.

One such platform is the social media which in its literal sense means the use of technology to create and share information, ideas and other forms of expression through virtual communities and networks. Popular social media platforms include Facebook, twitter, youtube, Instagram etc.

Not only people are using these platforms to connect with other people but businesses too are using the opportunity to their benefit. They are using this platform to reach customers beyond the geographical boundaries and to connect and sell their products. They are doing this by offering customers the opportunity to shop online.

Apart from the brick and mortar stores, online shopping has emerged as an important platform for businesses to connect and engage with their customers by going beyond the geographical boundaries by creating a virtual market.

As the wings of technology spreads are spread in Pakistan, the country seems to go through a revolution. This technological advancement has opened the world of social media to the large Pakistani market, comprising of 210 million people. With more and more people joining social media platforms each day, the platform has emerged as an important tool that can be used by businesses to their advantage.

Seeing the potential that the large online market provides, many startup businesses have already made their launches in Pakistan in various sectors of the economy. In the travel and tourism sector, many startup ventures including Jovago Pakistan, Uber and Careem have already launched their successful operations. These startups have revolutionized the tourism industry in a better way.

By the introduction of these startups traveling has been made very easy. Gone are the days when people had to spent a large time planning their trip and then spending huge sums of money to ensure a safe trip is made. People nowadays are able to make quicker and cheaper travel plans including online hotel booking.

Moreover, with the emergence of social media platform people are more aware of everything that is going around them. For instance, when it comes to traveling, people are more aware of the new tourist spots that have been discovered in the country. With blogs, they get hold of the information about a place, which otherwise would have been difficult for them.

5 Destinations in Pakistan to Head Out to This Winter Season

The four seasons are a blessing of Mother Nature for human beings. They provide Earth to experience the different changes that occur in the weather. There are only a handful of countries all over the globe that are able to experience all four seasons and enjoy the various offerings as a result of the changes in weather.

Pakistan is one those countries that are blessed with the opportunity to enjoy all the four seasons. The various natural wonders that the country possesses, enthrall  travellers with the  different views in all the four seasons.

As the winter season is just around the corner, Jovago Pakistan brings to you a list of 5 destinations in Pakistan that are a must visit in the cold season.

1.    Hunza valley

Referred to as heaven on Earth, Hunza is situated at an approximate distance of 100 kilometers from Gilgit. Hunza is a valley in the region of Gilgit Baltistan and is situated at the North/ West side of the Hunza River. The valley is surrounded by various mountain peaks and provides a stunning view in the winter season when the snow encase these mountains in a white blanket.

      2.  Ziarat Valley

Ziarat valley is located in the Ziarat District, Balochistan. It is basically a hill station that is located at an altitude of 8000 feets. The valley is home to the world’s second largest juniper forest with its Juniper trees being one of the oldest trees in the world. A stunning view, which is certainly enchanting, is provided to the travellers when the area is covered with a blanket of snow in the winter season.

      3.  Leepa Valley

Located at a distance of 45 kilometers from Muzaffarabad, the Leepa Valley is considered to be one the most stunning wonders that Azad Kashmir seem to possess. The valley is surrounded by mountains. The pine trees which cover these mountains provide an picturesque allure in the winter season when snow decides to wrap them in its white blanket.

       4.  Quetta

The capital city of Balochistan, which is the largest province of Pakistan. The city is famous for the Pashtun delicacies that comprise of delicious fruits, both dry and fresh. As a result, Quetta is known as the fruit garden of Pakistan. Although it gets pretty cold in the winter season, Quetta offers an alluring sight to the travelers that makes it a must-visit destination.

   5.  Malam Jabba

Malam Jabba is the only ski resort in Pakistan and is a popular tourist destination where tourists head to in order to enjoy the winter season. It is equipped with various tourist facilities including chair lift, ice-skating rinks and skiing platforms.

5 Famous Sufi Shrines in Pakistan

Pakistan is among those few countries that are blessed in various departments. Apart from the sheer natural beauty that Pakistan possesses, the country also has a diverse yet rich heritage and culture. This can be contributed to the various dynasties and civilizations that have resided, over the course of history, in this part of the South Asia.

The diversity that the country possesses in the form of various tourist sites, pertaining to different facets of history, religion, culture etc, is phenomenal. One aspect of this diversity can be seen through a large number of Sufi shrines that are spread all over the country. Keeping in mind the large number of devotees that these shrines attract, Jovago brings you an exclusive article on the 5 famous Sufi Shrines in Pakistan.

1.    Data Darbar, Lahore

Situated in the city considered to be the heart of Pakistan, Data Darbar is the shrine of the famous Sufi saint Hazrat Abul Hassan Ali Hajvery, who is commonly known as Data Ganj Baksh. The Sufi mausoleum is one of the oldest Muslim shrines in South Asia. It was built in 11th century by Sultan Zakiruddin Ibrahim, one of the rulers of the Ghaznavi Dynasty, and is located near the Bhatti gate.

     2.   Shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, Sehwan Sharif

Syed Muhammad Usman Marwandi, popularly known as Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, was a 12th century Sufi. He traveled to various parts of the subcontinent and then finally resided in the area which is known today as Sehwan. The saint is adorned not only by Muslims but Hindus as well.

     3.   Shrine of Abdullah Shah Ghazi, Karachi

The largest Sufi shrine in the largest city of Pakistan is that of the shrine of Abdullah Shah Ghazi. The shrine was built, almost 10 centuries ago, on a sandy hill on the coastal area of Karachi. It is believed that the saint protects the city from the cyclones.

   4.  Mausoleum of Hazrat Baha-ud-Din Zakaria, Multan

Multan, which is known as the city of saints, is the resting place for the famous Sufi saint Hazrat Baha-ud-Din Zakaria. The mausoleum was built in 1267 and is made from red bricks. It suffered during the British Rule but was restored by people belonging to different faiths.

 

   5. Shrine of Ghulam Farid Shakar Ganj, Pakpatan

Fareeduddin Masood Ganjshakar, popularly known as Baba Farid, is a Sufi saint belonging to the Chishti clan of the Muslims. The white mausoleum made of marble in Pakpattan, Punjab is said to have a Bahishtī Darwāza, or 'Gate of Paradise' .

Do’s and Don'ts of Purchasing Products During Black Friday

The largest shopping extravaganza is just around the corner. It will mark the official start of the holiday and shopping season all over the world. Amidst the globalization, there can be seen an exchange of not only people but tradition and culture as well. The western event of ‘Black Friday” was introduced in Pakistan in 2015.

The initial launch of Black Friday proved to be a massive hit among shoppers. As people make plans to get the most out of this shopping spree, Jovago Pakistan brings an exclusive article on the Do’s and Don'ts of purchasing products during the Black Friday.

Do’s

●     Make a list of items

Rather than just adding everything that you like to your cart on the actual sale day, it is advised that you make a list of items that you need to purchase prior to the Black Friday. This will help in avoiding those unnecessary items, which most probably you won’t use, that you just purchase in the spur of the moment.

●     Set a budget

Rather than  purchasing whatever items you like on the Black Friday, it is strongly recommended that you set up a budget for the Black Friday. This will help you to avoid straining your bank account.

●     Do pre-shop

It will be better if you browse the websites, that will be offering exciting deals and discounts, prior to the Black Friday. This will give you an idea about which items to find in which category. Also, you can compare the prices of various websites which will help in purchasing items that are worthy of your money.

Dont’s

●     Purchasing things just for the sake of it

Don’t get tempted into buying a large quantity of an item just because the discounts offered on them are too irresistible. Instead, it will be better to spend money on items that you will actually use.

●     Waiting until the last minute

Rather than being lazy and waiting until the last moment to shop on Black Friday, it is better that you visit all these websites quickly before all the good deals are sold out.

Kashf Foundation becomes first Pakistani institution to win European Microfinance Award

23^rd November 2016, Lahore: Kashf Foundation, one of Pakistan’s leading microfinance institutions, has been awarded the prestigious European Microfinance Award by the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. The award is a first-time win for Pakistan and is in recognition of the Foundation’s credit and training facilities to low-cost private schools.

Pakistan suffers from a serious dearth of quality education, especially within the public sector. As a result, the country has seen a rise in low-cost private schools which look to fill the gap left by inadequate equipment and facilities in public sector schools. After extensively researching the needs of low-cost private schools, Kashf Foundation tailored an integrated solution that provides access to finance, school development trainings, and general pedagogy trainings for teachers. To date, the Foundation has serviced over 1,100 schools, trained 4,500 teachers, trained over 1,800 school owners, and positively impacted more than 570,000 students in low-cost private schools across Pakistan with a product unmatched anywhere in the world.

The Award, which highlights the importance of having an innovative approach and structural impact, also acknowledges the creative use of both financial and non-financial tools to improve the quality of the social and economic lives of families and communities.

Ms Roshaneh Zafar, Founder and Managing Director of the Kashf Foundation, expressed her pride in how the Award recognizes the importance of microfinance in reaching the goal of universal education: “Every child deserves a good education, and education provision needs to be child-centric. The Kashf program provides a new way to address quality issues of low-cost private schools and can also provide means of getting more out of school children into schools.” ”

About Kashf Foundation 

Kashf Foundation has been working for the economic and social empowerment of women since 1996. It offers a holistic suite of products and services for the financial and non-financial needs of low-income households. Kashf provides low-income households, especially women, access to finance through micro-credit and micro-savings, access to social safety nets via micro-health insurance and life insurance, access to capacity building services such as financial management trainings, business development trainings, and vocational trainings, and access to social advocacy interventions such as mainstream media campaigns, social theatre, and gender justice trainings.

European Microfinance Award

The only one of its kind in the world, the European Microfinance Award was launched in October 2005 by the Directorate for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs of the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs to nurture innovative microfinance initiatives. It is jointly organised by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, the European Microfinance Platform (e-MFP) and the Inclusive Finance Network Luxembourg (InFiNe.lu).

Jovago Pakistan brings you an exclusive article on how Black Friday is celebrated all over the world

As the shopping season is just around the corner, people all over the globe are anxiously waiting for the famous Black Friday to arrive. This is because they get hold of the craziest discounts and sales in various shopping categories, which they otherwise could not get hold of.

Keeping up with the Black Friday frenzy, Jovago Pakistan brings you an exclusive article on how this ultimate shopping extravaganza is celebrated all over the world.

• Pakistan

Black Friday’s magic spread to Pakistan in 2015 as a result of various startups offering crazy deals to customers. Daraz.pk and Kaymu emerged as the pioneers in the online shopping arena. Whereas Jovago Pakistan brought the concept of Black Friday in the travel and tourism sector by offering discounts up to 50%.

• Myanmar

The Southeast Asian country experienced its first ever Black Friday in 2015 when the online startup, Daraz Myanmar introduced the largest shopping festival of the year. The launch was a massive hit among shoppers as more than 85,000 people bought products belonging to various categories. The positive response of the shopping extravaganza can be seen through the top deals being bought within an hour of the official launch of Black Friday.

• Bangladesh

The year 2015 saw the initial launch of Black Friday in Bangladesh. Rather than going for the actual term “Black Friday”, which marks the official launch of the shopping season, the event was launched by the name of Fatafati Friday in Bangladesh. With websites such as Daraz.pk, offering discounts up to 80%, consumers will get the exclusive opportunity to shop more and pay less.

• Kenya

The East African country experienced its first ever Black Friday in 2015 when Jumia, an e-commerce startup by Rocket Internet Group catering to various categories including clothing and travel, launched the mega sale with discounts up to 90% across its large assortment of products. The introduction of the shopping extravaganza in Kenya proved to be a massive hit among Kenyans as sales surged to an all-time high.