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Zubair Dar

Produced by Zubair Dar

April 05, 2022
Kashmir’s Pencil Village Generates Two-Thirds of Wood Needed for Pencils in India

VOA’s Zubair Dar brings us the story of ‘Pencil Village’ where a factory provides two-thirds of the wood needed to make pencils in India, which exports the old-school writing implement to scores of countries. This report is narrated by Aisha Khalid.
December 24, 2021
Melting of Kashmir Glaciers Causes Concern About Water Shortages

Six glaciers in the Himalayas have nearly vanished since 1980, according to satellite data mapping
March 11, 2021
Thousands of Rohingya Refugees in Northwest India Live in Fear of Deportation

Following threats from the Hindu nationalists to forcibly dismiss the Rohingya from Jammu Kashmir, members of the refugee community say their return to Myanmar will further expose them to the Burmese military crackdown
December 15, 2018
Climate Change Hurting Kashmir Saffron Farming

Saffron is one of the world's most expensive spices. It roughly costs $4,000 for 1 kilogram in India, and it is mainly cultivated in Kashmir. Kashmir is considered one of three prime locations for saffron farming because of its terrain, soil quality and weather. However, because of unpredictable changes in climate in the last couple of years, saffron production in Kashmir Valley has been in decline. VOA's Zubair Dar and Yusuf Jameel have more on this. Bezhan Hamdard narrates their report.
October 22, 2018
Indian Kashmir’s Incredible Floating Homes Face Green Challenges

For many people, boating is considered a recreational activity, but in many parts of the world, including Srinagar, Kashmir – it is a way of life - giving 'life on the water' a very literal meaning. Lakes in the area have been home to houseboats for decades and the colorful imagery and the designs are a must see for tourists. VOA’s Zubair Dar and Yusuf Jameel filed this report narrated by Bezhan Hamdard.
September 10, 2018
Indian Kashmir’s Disabled Youth Preparing to Compete Internationally

An Urdu couplet goes, "Get up and gird your loins; then see what God does." A group of young and disabled boys and girls in Indian-administered Kashmir did just that. They decided to show their caliber by doing something out of the ordinary: wheelchair basketball. A three-day wheelchair basketball workshop held in the capital of Srinagar attracted about 24 participants. VOA’s Zubair Dar and Yusuf Jameel tell us more in this report narrated by Bezhan Hamdard.
September 02, 2018
Massive Joint Weddings Are Saving Poor Kashmiri Couples Money

Every culture has its own wedding ceremony traditions. In India and Pakistan, weddings can be costly, and traditions such as a dowry can prevent women from getting married because of their family finances. Now, a nongovernmental organization in Srinagar, Kashmir, is helping Indian parents and couples lower the financial burden by organizing marriage events where more than 100 couples tie the knot. VOA's Zubair Dar takes us to one of these ceremonies in this report, narrated by Bezhan Hamdard.
August 28, 2018
Women Photojournalists in a Male-Dominant Society are Breaking the Norm

In the violence-wracked, Indian-administered state of Kashmir, photojournalists have been capturing the daily lives of people and telling their stories to the outside world for many years. 18 journalists and media personnel have been killed covering the three-decade old armed conflict in the disputed Himalayan region. Like much of South Asia, the industry is predominantly staffed by men but that's changing. VOA’s Yusuf Jameel reports with narration by Bezhan Hamdard.
June 12, 2018
Tired of Unemployment, Kashmir Women Decide to Open Their Online Business

The separatist campaign in Indian-administered Kashmir broke out into major violence in 1989. More than 60,000 people are estimated to have died and 10,000 to have disappeared in the disputed Himalayan region. That has pushed their families into poverty. For the region's youth, earning a living has been a challenge, especially educated young women. However, one group of young entrepreneurs is taking matters into their own hands. Yusuf Jameel has more, in this report narrated by Bezhan Hamdard.

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