Pakistan In Pictures

The Badshahi Mosque or the 'King's Mosque' in Lahore, commissioned by the sixth Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1671 and completed in 1673, is the second largest mosque in Pakistan and South Asia and the fifth largest mosque in the world. Epitomising the beauty, passion and grandeur of the Mughal era, it is Lahore's most famous landmark and a major tourist attraction.

Capable of accommodating 5,000 worshippers in its main prayer hall and a further 95,000 in its courtyard and porticoes, it remained the largest mosque in the world from 1673 to 1986 (a period of 313 years), when overtaken in size by the completion of the Faisal Mosque in Islamabad. Today, it remains the second largest mosque in Pakistan and South Asia and the fifth largest mosque in the world after the Masjid al-Haram (Grand Mosque) of Mecca, the Al-Masjid al-Nabawi (Prophet's Mosque) in Medina, the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca and the Faisal Mosque in Islamabad.

The inside view of Noor Mahal. Image : M. Awais

One of the most famous cities of the Southern Punjab in Pakistan is Bahawalpur which is also known as the city of Nawabs. Bahawalpur is stretched along the banks of Satluj and Indus river, due to which this historic city has observed massive civic development over the centuries. It is also the twelfth largest city of Pakistan.

One of the prime features of this fabulous city is the palace architecture that were basically the royal residencies of the local Nawabs before the partition of India. The most distinguished of them is the Noor Palace or Noor Mahal, the Gem of Bahawalpur that was built on Italian construction style. Nawab Subah Sadiq the fourth who was well known for his construction passion elevated the fantastic Noor Mahal in 1875. Noor Malahl comprises of an area of 44,600 square feet and it has 32 rooms including 14 in the basement, 6 verandas and 5 domes.  Source: The Lovely Planet

Saad Shahid, is a first year medical student, and a professional squash player in second position in the world ranking for under 17 squash players. Saad won the Under 15 event in India and grabbed the second ranking in the Under 15 category in Pakistan. Grateful to his parent’s support both financially and morally, Saad says he wants to regain the lost glory of Pakistan in Squash. He brought five European titles to Pakistan fetching his ranking to number five in Under 19. Saad’s aim is to play at sports and cultural events and make Pakistan proud. – Photo courtesy Saad Shahid. Source: Dawn News

(Zardari, Nawaz and Imran Khan beware . lol)

MULTAN: Shahana Abbas Shani, President of She-male Association, has announced that she will contest elections as an independent candidate for Muzaffargarh PP-254 constituency of provincial assembly. Talking to The Express Tribune on Monday, Shani said that she has made this decision because she wants to discuss problems faced by her community in the assembly.  By Owais Jafri. The Express Tribune

Sabina Pasha. PHOTO : COURTESY CATALYST PR

Al Karam launches its winter collection at the Al Karam Studio in Lahore.