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	<title>The News International - <![CDATA[Footloose]]></title>
	<atom:link href="https://www.thenews.com.pk/rss/4/58" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/]]></link>
	<description>The News International Pakistan's Leading English Language Newspaper.</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Sat, 06 Jun 2026 22:24:42 +0500</lastBuildDate>
	<language>en-US</language>
			<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Speed, tea and unexpected  brotherhood]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1357902-speed-tea-and-unexpected-brotherhood]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 16 Nov 2025 18:46:01 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1357902-speed-tea-and-unexpected-brotherhood]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-11-16/l_1357902_064930_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[&ldquo;M        y children are safe thanks to you guys. My parents are safe thanks to you guys. I am able to work and provide for my family thanks to you guys. Pakistan, Azerbaijan, qarda            !&rdquo;Never thought I&rsquo;d hear words praising Pakistan - outside of Pakistan.So, my bachpan...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[A saint for Potohar]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1356380-a-saint-for-potohar]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 09 Nov 2025 18:13:00 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1356380-a-saint-for-potohar]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-11-09/l_1356380_061559_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[View of shrine complex of Khawaja Muhammad Namdar Shah at Nathial village. &mdash; Photos by the author          P        othohar is home to numerous shrines of Naqshbandi Sufi adepts, each deeply woven into the social, political and religious fabric of the region. One of these sites is the shrine...]]>
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				<item>
			<title><![CDATA[From wildflowers  to waste]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1354863-from-wildflowers-to-waste]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 02 Nov 2025 18:31:40 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1354863-from-wildflowers-to-waste]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-11-02/l_1354863_063342_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[Jeep and Horse Track through Paye Meadows. &mdash; Photos by the author          L        ast year, while riding along the winding Glenn Highway in Alaska and taking in the landscape of the Talkeetna Mountains, I was reminded of our own Kaghan Valley and its Paye meadows. The similarities were...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[In the heart of  Potohar]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1353542-in-the-heart-of-potohar]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 26 Oct 2025 17:24:06 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1353542-in-the-heart-of-potohar]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-10-26/l_1353542_054713_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[Imam Ghazali Mosque in Tamman. &mdash; Photos by the author          T        amman, a small town in Talagang tehsil, is renowned for its mystics, mansions and mosques. Among these are the Bari Ban Wali Masjid, Masjid Phulan Wali, Chishmey  Wali Masjid, Thanay Wali Masjid and Masjid Baghban. Among...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[A journey through Samarkand]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1351705-a-journey-through-samarkand]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 19 Oct 2025 19:03:50 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1351705-a-journey-through-samarkand]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-10-19/l_1351705_070727_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[Registan Square. &mdash; Photos by the author          S        amarkand, the third-largest city in Uzbekistan, has always stirred my surprise and wonder. Perhaps it is because, as a child, I read so many tales that painted Samarkand as a place of flying carpets and magical marvels. My wife and I...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[Magnificent Markhal village of Talagang]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1350007-magnificent-markhal-village-of-talagang]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 12 Oct 2025 17:05:27 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1350007-magnificent-markhal-village-of-talagang]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-10-12/l_1350007_051508_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[View of Markhal with Soan river flowing in background. &mdash; Photos by the author          M        arkhal is a remote village in Chakwal&rsquo;s Talagang tehsil, located on the left bank of the Soan River, approximately 42 kilometres northwest of Talagang town. From the surrounding hills, one...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[Walking through a city of legends]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1348309-walking-through-a-city-of-legends]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 05 Oct 2025 18:17:34 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1348309-walking-through-a-city-of-legends]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-10-05/l_1348309_062008_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[Poi Kalan Minor, Kalyan Mosque and Mir Arab Madrassah. &mdash; Photos by the author          I         do not recall exactly when I first heard the name Bukhara , yet each time it reached my ears it carried a sense of romance, mysticism and fantasy. Perhaps it was the stories I read of...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[Fading frescoes]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1346561-fading-frescoes]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 28 Sep 2025 18:22:55 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1346561-fading-frescoes]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-09-28/l_1346561_063323_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[Ganj Mandi Temple in Rawalpindi. &mdash; Photos by the author          R        awalpindi is home to several historical temples located in various mohallas and bazaars throughout the city. A notable temple can be found in GanjMandi, a well-known marketplace that features several small bazaars and...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[The crumbling gate of Anarkali Bazaar]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1345052-the-crumbling-gate-of-anarkali-bazaar]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 21 Sep 2025 14:40:03 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1345052-the-crumbling-gate-of-anarkali-bazaar]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-09-21/l_1345052_025048_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[I        In Old Anarkali Bazaar stands the shop named Yousuf Falooda. In the gali  immediately behind it, an old arch of small bricks survives, with a plaque above its entrance.An initial photographic examination suggested the arch might date from the British era. Yet the small bricks, coarse...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[Tales of a  forgotten grandeur]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1343353-tales-of-a-forgotten-grandeur]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 14 Sep 2025 15:15:46 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1343353-tales-of-a-forgotten-grandeur]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-09-14/l_1343353_032542_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[Sujan Singh Haveli in Rawalpindi.&mdash; Photos by the author          R        awalpindi&rsquo;s old neighbourhoods are home to some of the most magnificent mansions, many of which have lost their original lustre and are now in a rundown condition. One such mansion, the Sujan Singh Haveli, is...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[The glittering jewel of Gilgit Baltistan]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1341526-the-glittering-jewel-of-gilgit-baltistan]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 07 Sep 2025 16:24:21 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1341526-the-glittering-jewel-of-gilgit-baltistan]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-09-07/l_1341526_043130_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[Khaplu Fort.          D        uring July and August 2025, shocking scenes of landslides, flash floods and cloudbursts in Gilgit-Baltistan stunned everyone, most of all the people directly affected. The region, so often described as heaven for tourists, now seemed fragile and threatened.Watching a...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[The legacy of Bohar Wala Darbar]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1340156-the-legacy-of-bohar-wala-darbar]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 31 Aug 2025 15:21:38 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1340156-the-legacy-of-bohar-wala-darbar]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-08-31/l_1340156_033045_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[Shrine of Syed Haider Shah. &mdash; Photos by the author          R        awalpindi is home to several Sufi shrines, which represent the city&rsquo;s living heritage. I have been visiting and doing ethnographic research on the shrines in various localities of Rawalpindi. A few of the shrines...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[ A city frozen in time]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1337825-a-city-frozen-in-time]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 24 Aug 2025 19:32:22 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1337825-a-city-frozen-in-time]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-08-24/l_1337825_073622_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[Picture showing Islam Khojda minaret and dome of Pahlavon Mahmud Complex. &mdash; Photos by the authorSometimes one does not know what awaits one until it arrives. That is how I found myself boarding an Uzbekistan Airways flight to Tashkent in June. The capital was ready to welcome us, even though...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[Building an education  powerhouse]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1336072-building-an-education-powerhouse]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 17 Aug 2025 17:37:29 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1336072-building-an-education-powerhouse]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-08-17/l_1336072_054017_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[Chellasing and Sitaldas College. &mdash; Photos by the author          I        In Shikarpur, merchant and elite families held education in the highest regard, viewing it as the cornerstone of progress. Leveraging their extensive networks and influence, they turned their social capital into...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[Parched and pleading]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1334199-nathiagalis-water-system-is-on-the-brink-of-collapse]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 10 Aug 2025 18:51:52 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1334199-nathiagalis-water-system-is-on-the-brink-of-collapse]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-08-10/l_1334199_065821_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[The pristine valley on the brink of transformation. &mdash; Photos by the author          N        athiagali&rsquo;s pine-wrapped hills and crisp air lure growing crowds of tourists. But beneath its beauty, the town is parched and pleading. The most basic necessity &ndash; water &ndash; is scarce...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[Tracing histories]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1332459-tracing-histories]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 03 Aug 2025 17:29:54 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1332459-tracing-histories]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-08-03/l_1332459_053938_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[Rock art site of Shatial, on the left bank of the Indus River.&mdash;           N        owhere else can such a large number of Buddhist rock carvings be found as in Gilgit-Baltistan. These carvings are primarily located along the Indus River and its various tributaries. Historically, it served as...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[In the carved stones]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1331003-in-the-carved-stones]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 27 Jul 2025 15:07:28 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1331003-in-the-carved-stones]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-07-27/l_1331003_031735_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[A banyan grove inside the fort shadows the area of a graveyard and a small shrine architecture. &mdash; Photos by the author          B        etween tangled pasts and fabled histories, myth and fact, reconstruction and erosion, the site of Pharwala Fort, stretching between Kahuta and Islamabad,...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[A new appetite  for change]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1329427-a-new-appetite-for-change]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 20 Jul 2025 14:05:26 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1329427-a-new-appetite-for-change]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-07-20/l_1329427_021203_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[GK Pizza Hut in Habib Chowk. &mdash; Photos by the author          F        ast food restaurants are becoming increasingly popular in various tehsils of the Rawalpindi district, similar to other districts in the Punjab. In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of new...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[Where the stars lose their way]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1327767-where-the-stars-lose-their-way]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 13 Jul 2025 17:36:03 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1327767-where-the-stars-lose-their-way]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-07-13/l_1327767_053948_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[&ldquo;S        wat is where the stars lose their way, not because they&rsquo;re lost, but because they&rsquo;ve found beauty worth staying for.&rdquo;An elder once quietly shared these words with me, recounting the awe of a visitor from a distant land who had wandered through this fairy-tale...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[Before there were borders]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1326445-before-there-were-borders]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 06 Jul 2025 18:32:04 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1326445-before-there-were-borders]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-07-06/l_1326445_063635_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[Government High School Neela built by Sardar Mota Singh in 1916. &mdash; Photos by the author          N        ot much has been written about the role of Muslim, Hindu and Sikh philanthropists in developing educational and healthcare infrastructure in the Punjab&rsquo;s Pothohar region during the...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[On the  road to K2]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1325076-on-the-road-to-k2]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 29 Jun 2025 19:24:43 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1325076-on-the-road-to-k2]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-06-29/l_1325076_072636_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[I        was dreaming; there is no doubt about that. Soaring above snowy mountains and drifting through fluffy clouds, I felt as free as a bird. The world below looked incredibly beautiful, calm and serene. I wished the dream would never end, so I wouldn&rsquo;t have to wake up next to my study...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[The legacy behind Shikarpur's historic hospital]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1323467-the-legacy-behind-shikarpurs-historic-hospital]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 22 Jun 2025 14:54:06 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1323467-the-legacy-behind-shikarpurs-historic-hospital]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-06-22/l_1323467_030233_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[P        hilanthropy has long been a vital force in shaping the social and healthcare landscape of Sindh. Community-driven initiatives played a crucial role in establishing schools, hospitals and community centres. The contributions of local philanthropists increased significantly over time....]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[In the den of  'Lion of Arab']]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1320879-in-the-den-of-lion-of-arab]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 15 Jun 2025 17:42:55 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1320879-in-the-den-of-lion-of-arab]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-06-15/l_1320879_054630_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[Q        atar Foundation operates differently from many other charitable organisations in Gulf countries such as the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. From a Pakistani perspective, Doha stands out as one of the more open cities in the region, second perhaps only to Muscat.This...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[Beyond the gorges of Gorakh Hill]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1318788-beyond-the-gorges-of-gorakh-hill]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 08 Jun 2025 17:28:03 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1318788-beyond-the-gorges-of-gorakh-hill]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-06-08/l_1318788_053136_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[E        xploring the rugged mountains of Sindh has long held my interest, particularly in the context of rock art research. My excursions to the gorges of the Kirthar, Bado and Lakhi Hills, as well as the Mol and Maher valleys &ndash; especially around Gorakh Hill &ndash; have led to the...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[The forgotten  sentinel]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1317154-the-forgotten-sentinel]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 01 Jun 2025 15:18:50 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1317154-the-forgotten-sentinel]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-06-01/l_1317154_032710_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[H        istorical graffiti, everyday graffiti and willful heritage vandalism are entirely different phenomena. While all these marks and engravings may appear to distort the surfaces and architectural details of historic sites, the purposes and intentions behind them vary&mdash;often originating...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[Remembering  Sufi Shah Naseer]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1314497-remembering-sufi-shah-naseer]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 25 May 2025 17:09:43 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1314497-remembering-sufi-shah-naseer]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-05-25/l_1314497_051939_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[I        have been documenting the shrine culture of Sindh since 1998. These shrines have a vital role in the culture and society of the region. Most of the Sufi adepts buried in them have significantly shaped Sindh&rsquo;s cultural landscape.One notable shrine is that of Sufi Shah Naseeruddin...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[Walking through Medina Az-Zahara]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1312172-walking-through-medina-az-zahara]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 18 May 2025 17:46:50 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1312172-walking-through-medina-az-zahara]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-05-18/l_1312172_055036_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[L        iving in Islamabad has its benefits: within a couple of hours&rsquo; drive, one can reach numerous tourist attractions to the north or south of the city. Old buildings and archaeological sites have always fascinated me. I don&rsquo;t visit them just once; I keep returning to them. Each...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[The last grave railings of  Kohistan]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1309929-the-last-grave-railings-of-kohistan]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 11 May 2025 18:36:03 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1309929-the-last-grave-railings-of-kohistan]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-05-11/l_1309929_063937_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[I         have always been fascinated by carved wooden coffins and grave railings in northern Pakistan, particularly in regions such as Swat-Kohistan, Dir-Kohistan and Indus-Kohistan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Since 2000, I have been documenting these wooden funerary monuments. I have visited...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[The fort that  time rewrote]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1307537-the-fort-that-time-rewrote]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 04 May 2025 18:38:04 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1307537-the-fort-that-time-rewrote]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-05-04/l_1307537_064225_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[H        istorical graffiti and wilful acts of heritage vandalism are not the same. While such marks and engravings may seem to distort the surfaces and architectural details of historic sites, their intentions and meanings differ greatly. Many of these inscriptions originate from individuals and...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[The saint of Sujawal's Jati]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1305081-the-saint-of-sujawals-jati]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 27 Apr 2025 18:32:54 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1305081-the-saint-of-sujawals-jati]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-04-27/l_1305081_063629_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[T        There are several saints and shrines in Sindh that require thorough research. Unfortunately, not much has been written about some mystics who likely played an important role in Sindh&rsquo;s complex religious history. One such saint deserving more research is Shaikh Abro Halani. His...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[After the flood]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1302700-after-the-flood]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 20 Apr 2025 18:53:28 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1302700-after-the-flood]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-04-20/l_1302700_065528_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[H        ard times often serve as the ultimate litmus test for the strength and resilience of a people. The 2022 floods, which began on June 15 and lasted until mid-November, wreaked havoc on 33 million Pakistanis &ndash; half of them children. According to the United Nations Office for the...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[Temples in time]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1300288-temples-in-time]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 13 Apr 2025 16:40:51 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1300288-temples-in-time]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-04-13/l_1300288_044939_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[T        he Hindu temples of Taxila, in the Rawalpindi district, built in the second quarter of the Twentieth Century, testify to the city&rsquo;s glorious past. These temples reflect the distinctive Pothohari temple architecture and are noted for their elegance and aesthetics. They are located on...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[The cradle of renaissance]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1297908-the-cradle-of-renaissance]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 06 Apr 2025 18:34:38 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1297908-the-cradle-of-renaissance]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-04-06/l_1297908_064039_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[M        arch saw me strolling around the streets of Islamabad under an overcast sky; and it was a stroll to remember. Clouds brushed against the picturesque Margalla Hills, creating ideal weather conditions. As a child I used to be good at seeing all sorts of shapes in the sky &ndash; animals,...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[Carved in time]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1296438-carved-in-time]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 30 Mar 2025 14:34:27 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1296438-carved-in-time]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-03-30/l_1296438_023821_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[Front view of Jamia mosque in Chaki Shah Jee.          C        haki Shah Jee village is located nearly 12 kilometres northwest of Kot Gulla in Lawa tehsil of Chakwal. I visited this village in 2022 with my friend Tariq Mehmood Malik, a historian and author from the Talagang town. The village is...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[Islamabad's run-down caravanserai]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1293965-islamabads-run-down-caravanserai]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 23 Mar 2025 16:41:24 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1293965-islamabads-run-down-caravanserai]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-03-23/l_1293965_044328_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[M        ughal emperor Nur-ud-Din Muhammad Saleem, who assumed the imperial name Jehangir, spent the day of Ashura in 1016 Hijri  at an inn that is now on the verge of annihilation. Although Jehangir stayed there for only a day, the inn holds historical significance as a site that offers insight...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[Mystics in Rawalpindi's  Dhoke Qazian]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1291756-mystics-in-rawalpindis-dhoke-qazian]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 16 Mar 2025 16:34:25 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1291756-mystics-in-rawalpindis-dhoke-qazian]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-03-16/l_1291756_043722_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[D        hoke Qazian, located near the historic Takhat Parri village in Rawalpindi tehsil, is renowned for its Qazi family, who significantly influenced social and religious life not only in Dhoke Qazian but also in the surrounding villages. Their ancestors were learned men who served as judges...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[Paradise lost]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1289584-paradise-lost]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 09 Mar 2025 15:39:08 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1289584-paradise-lost]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-03-09/l_1289584_034251_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[T        ourism in Gilgit-Baltistanhas experienced significant growth over the past three years, despite inadequate infrastructure and a lack of visitor facilitation. Since 2018, a large number of tourists has been drawn to the region&rsquo;s natural beauty, leading to the rapid expansion of guest...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[A timeless retreat]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1289583-a-timeless-retreat]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 09 Mar 2025 15:33:26 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1289583-a-timeless-retreat]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-03-09/l_1289583_033616_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[W        hen one thinks of the Isle of Wight, it conjures an image of tranquillity, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in the island&rsquo;s natural beauty and serenity. With its exceptional nature trails, well-preserved historic churches and dramatic freshwater beaches set against an...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[Jand Najjar's  spiritual legacy]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1287724-jand-najjars-spiritual-legacy]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 02 Mar 2025 16:48:40 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1287724-jand-najjars-spiritual-legacy]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-03-02/l_1287724_045307_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[J        and Najjar is a historic village in Gujar Khan tehsil, situated around seven kilometres east of Gujar Khan town. Jand Najjar comprises small hamlets, locally called dhoke. Some of the notable dhokes in Jand Najjar village include Dhoke Baba Rahim Bakhsh, Dhoke Munshi Ghulam Haider, Dhoke...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[journey  In search of  an identity]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1285123-journey-in-search-of-an-identity]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 23 Feb 2025 17:09:57 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1285123-journey-in-search-of-an-identity]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-02-23/l_1285123_020217_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[Roman bridge with Cordoba Mosque. &mdash; Photos by the author          T        he chilly March afternoon greeted me as I stepped into C&oacute;rdoba, the city I had dreamed of for long. The arrival was the culmination of a bus ride of about 16 hours from Barcelona. The sky was cloudy, with a...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[The forgotten Kalyan Das Temple]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1283082-the-forgotten-kalyan-das-temple]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:45:35 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1283082-the-forgotten-kalyan-das-temple]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-02-16/l_1283082_040219_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[I         have been visiting Rawalpindi&rsquo;s old localities since 2000 and have seen several impressive pre-independence buildings that reveal the city&rsquo;s rich and glorious past. The narrow streets and alleys of Rawalpindi&rsquo;s historic areas are dotted with magnificent structures...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[A hymn for the weekend]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1280390-a-hymn-for-the-weekend]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 09 Feb 2025 18:02:52 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1280390-a-hymn-for-the-weekend]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-02-09/l_1280390_060648_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[W        e live in a beautiful world &ndash; From Don&rsquo;t Panic by Coldplay32; the age when musical paralysis sets in &ndash; an individual&rsquo;s ability to absorb and appreciate new music starts to decline. Professor Rentfrow of Cambridge studied more than a quarter of a million samples to...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[The warrior saint of Sindh]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1278195-the-warrior-saint-of-sindh]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 02 Feb 2025 17:49:51 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1278195-the-warrior-saint-of-sindh]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-02-02/l_1278195_055202_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[T        ravelling in Sindh&rsquo;s mountainous regions, one encounters several shrines dedicated to saints who played significant roles in the famous Mianwal Movement or tariqa of the Kalhoras during the 17th Century. I have been collecting oral history and ethnographic data to analyse...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[From Surab to gold]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1278193-from-surab-to-gold]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 02 Feb 2025 17:46:36 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1278193-from-surab-to-gold]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-02-02/l_1278193_054918_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[N        isar Ahmed&rsquo;s journey from the quiet district of Surab to the podium of the International Cup of Peace and Friendship is a story of determination, resilience and an unbreakable will to succeed. Competing against skilled athletes from Afghanistan and Iran, the 18-year-old taekwondo...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[Touring Tokyo]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1275646-touring-tokyo]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 26 Jan 2025 18:49:22 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1275646-touring-tokyo]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-01-26/l_1275646_065249_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[L        ike most of my countrymen, I grew up wondering about the Japanese people who, so fastidiously, manufactured bullet trains, flawless motor vehicles, robust electrical appliances, thrilling video games and durable quartz watches. They had to be devoted not just to their employers but also...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[Sacred spaces]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1273244-sacred-spaces]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 19 Jan 2025 17:36:05 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1273244-sacred-spaces]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-01-19/l_1273244_054204_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[Guru Granth Sahib in Sakhi Sajal Sher Darbar in Shikarpur. &mdash; Photos by the author          S        hikarpur city is home to several historical temples and shrines. One prominent darbar is that of Sakhi Sajal Sher, located in the city&rsquo;s Old Piri area. This darbar, believed to be around...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[The last dance]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1270691-the-last-dance]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 12 Jan 2025 16:13:41 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1270691-the-last-dance]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-01-12/l_1270691_042110_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[I        t was March 2009. I&rsquo;ll reveal the name of the city I was in later to give you a chance first to guess it. The evening had descended swiftly. I was waiting in a queue to buy an entry ticket to a club located in a narrow underground cave renowned for its dance show. The receptionist...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[Stone circles and silent stories]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1268264-stone-circles-and-silent-stories]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 05 Jan 2025 18:34:33 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1268264-stone-circles-and-silent-stories]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2025-01-05/l_1268264_063832_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[Stone alignment on Bapro Rek Buthi in Mol Valley. &mdash; Photos by the author          M        ol Valley, located in the Thano Bula  Khan taluka of Jamshoro, is renowned for its megalithic sites. I have been documenting these sites since 2001. In 2010, I discovered two sites in Mol Valley that...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[From familiar trails to new horizons]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1266015-from-familiar-trails-to-new-horizons]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 29 Dec 2024 16:25:37 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1266015-from-familiar-trails-to-new-horizons]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2024-12-29/l_1266015_125407_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[A thoroughfare lined by marble buildings in Ashgabat - also known as the White City &ndash; Photo by Shueyb GandapurAcross oceans and time




    

Brian Lara in POS - Photo by the authorOnce in Montego Bay, I realised the place was a tourist trap. Large swathes of beachfront were monopolised by...]]>
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			<title><![CDATA[ City by  the sea]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1263643-city-by-the-sea]]></link>
			<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 22 Dec 2024 18:39:38 +0500]]></pubDate>
            <guid><![CDATA[https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1263643-city-by-the-sea]]></guid>
			<description>
                                    <![CDATA[<img src="https://www.thenews.com.pk/assets/uploads/tns/2024-12-22/l_1263643_064535_tns.jpg"/>]]>
                				<![CDATA[M        ai Kolachi&rsquo;s tale lives on in lore, breathing with the calm of the unruffled sea and the vigour of its ebullient waves &ndash; much like the way she expressed joy at the return of a family member, thought lost to a cyclone when all hope had been abandoned. When hope fades, many turn...]]>
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