Maria Bangash:

Maria Bangash, 25, has successfully boosted her boutique of Afghani-styled dresses and jewellery. She started her business in 2018 from home and now owns two shops in the main Peshawar Saddar.

She believes that the key to success is the love of people towards the culture and traditions.

Ms Bangash was born in Kurram Agency but her family shifted to Peshawar due to the war on terror. She completed her graduation from Rehman Medical Institute but could not find the spark in the medical field.

From a small online business initiated from inside the home, Maria today exports her products to the United States, Europe and other countries.

One of the difficulties which she faces is the non-easy availability of raw materials. She has to import the raw material from Afghanistan by air due to the recent border trade issues.

Maria has said that she is much more comfortable working in the market as the environment in Peshawar is safer for women to work in as compared to other places she has visited.

Major Abid Zaman:

Major Abid Zaman (Tamgha-e-Basalat), a Ghazi of APS Peshawar carnage, who also successfully led the Pak Army operation against terrorists at Bannu, is belongs to KP’s Swabi District.

His Al-Zarrar ATU (Anti-Terrorist Unit) killed all the terrorists saving the lives of over 900 other students while he sustained injuries during the operation. He is the recipient of “red war wound stripe” and Tamgha-e-Basalat (TBt) which was awarded to him for his heroic act during the hostage rescue operation in APS Peshawar.

He is from Special Services Group (SSG) and served in Al-Zarrar’s Anti-Terrorist Unit. He also remained instructor at Pakistan Military Academy (PMA).

In December, 2022 when terrorists overpowered CTD personnel at CTD compound Bannu, Major Abid was on leave for Mid-Term Break of his Staff Course (Command & Staff College Quetta).

But he volunteered for the operation at Bannu and joined his parent unit Zarrar ATU (SSG) for counter terrorism and hostage rescue operation on December 9, 2022. He was injured in the operation (injury on leg).

Maj Abid Zaman is indeed a true hero of the nation.

Commando Israr Muhammad Shaheed

Pakistan Army’s Sepoy, Commando Israr was shot wounded during a heroic act of foiling an assassination attempt against Pakistani Chargé d’affaires at Pak’s embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan.

On December 2, 2022, when he and Pakistani ambassador to Afghanistan Ubaid-ur- Rehman Nizamani were out for a walk in the Embassy, an unknown assailant opened fire on them. Sepoy Israr, almost five meters away from the ambassador, jumped and while shielding the ambassador received a bullet to the chest.

After being shot, Israr placed one hand on his chest and pulled the ambassador towards the shelter with his other hand. Shortly; Israr was shot in the leg and lost consciousness as other security personnel arrived at the scene.

“I was trained to protect the diplomat and would not have cared for my own life while fulfilling my duty. It was important to protect our representative,” he said while talking to the media.

Naseem Shah (Cricketer):

Naseem Abbas Shah hailing from the Lower Dir town of Mayar Jandool is one of the few cricketers who made their Test debut at the age of 16. Soon after, he set a record as the youngest bowler to take a hat-trick in a Test match.

Naseem Shah debuted in 2018-19 for Zarai Taraqiati bank limited. In 2019-20, he was also up for the Quaid-e-Azam trophy. Pakistan cricket board also chose him to be one of the players in the National T20 cup tournament. In October 2019, he stood out against Australia in a Test series. The same month, he was selected to play in two games against Sri Lanka.

At the tender age of 16, he quickly gained fame as the sport’s youngest fast bowler. He was the second-youngest bowler to take five wickets in a Test match and the youngest pace bowler to do so in December 2019 during the second Test match against Sri Lanka. In February 2020, he did it against Bangladesh in the first Test.