Carla Khan

Carla Khan is from the great line of squash champions, her grandfather being Azam Khan, great uncle Hashim Khan known as the godfather of squash. Her Father is from Nawakille, Peshawar, Pakistan he was a junior world champion and won the prestigious Davis Cup which is equivalent to the British Junior Open.

She started with her brother playing squash at the age of 12, from the very first moment she stepped onto the court she realised that this was what she wanted to do for a long time to come.  Carla Khan reached 20 in the world on the professional women's International circuit, she represented England and was a top junior player having won various junior titles including being European junior number one.  At the age of 19 she changed to represent Pakistan, Carla then made history as she was the first female from the direct line of champions to pursue a career in the game.

In November 2002, at the El Salvador Open, she won her first major title. Her improvements continued in 2003, her most successful season yet and won the Ottawa International Open in Canada. She then broke into the top 30 world rankings and soon became the Pakistani National Number One.  In 2005 Carla beat current World Number One Nicol David from Malaysia in the Irish Open her best achievement yet. She then went on to win the first ever women's international tournament in Pakistan not dropping a single game beating her opponent from Malaysia in straight sets.

Through Carla Khans achievements she gained media coverage around the world and has been recognised as the Squash Queen of Pakistan, her fan base stretches worldwide including ex pats from Pakistan.

After a serious back injury in Sri Lanka at the South Asian Games in 2006 whilst playing for the Pakistan team as the Number One, Carla had to stop playing and was informed that her squash playing days were over. However she returned in 2007 and leaped back into the top world 40's, winning the Iranian Open and the Austrian Open.

Carla made a decision in 2008 to retire even though she was moving back up the ladder to reach her ultimate goal. Carla has not fully left the sport as she trains, continues to play leagues and coaches squash players. She has now had the opportunity to coach in many countries, having been invited to coach the Iranian women's team, Egyptian women's team, Pakistan girls and in 2008-2009 she coached full time in New York, U.S.A. developing the women's squash at a prestigious Country Club.

Carla Khan now retired from the tour but continues to be a role model for women sport players in Pakistan as she made history for sport in the country that opened there arms to her, she is best know as the controversial player and "hardest hitter" who was always aggressive, passionate and determined as life was never easy for Carla, as she was never fully accepted by both English or Pakistani sports institutions but for that reason she strived to do her best.

Carla is now pursuing a career in t.v, radio and writing which has always been her passion, Carla would also love to be a spokeswoman for female players worldwide.

Sultan Golden

Sultan Muhammad Khan Golden has to his credit the world record of jumping over 22 cars in 1987 during the national horse and cattle show in Lahore, where he covered 249 feet distance, leaving behind USA 's ever achieved Koddosely who had covered 246 feet while jumping over cars.

Following is a list of his Achievements sorted according to the Year.

He jumped over 15 cars and broke through 3 burning wooden walls on a motor bike. He also crossed through 60 feet long fire belt at Minar-e-Pakistan, Lahore on 23rd of March 1984. The show was arranged by Sports Board of Punjab

 

He created Asian Record during National Games 1986 in Quetta by jumping over 15 cars on motor cycle for which he was awarded a trophy and a certificate by then Chief Minister of Balochistan. He jumped over 5 cars and performed the stunt of reeling the car. He also broke through 3 burning wooden walls at fortress stadium Lahore during National Horse and cattle show in 1986, where Prime Minister Muhammad Khan Joenjo, Governor of Punjab and Chief Minister of Punjab awarded him a Gold Medal, trophy and Cash Prize. Later On in a stunt, he enveloped within the blanket of the motorcar and performed acrobatic features as the Car rolled, at Fortress Stadium Lahore during National Horse and Cattle show in 1986 where President of Pakistan (General Zia-ul-Haq) and his Royal Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Al-Nahyan (President of UAE) were in guests of honor and the later inspired by his performance awarded him with Royal Dogger Trophy and Motor Car.

He jumped over 20 parked cars on motor bike, he also crashed while jumping over 20 parked cars on a motor car. He was awarded with a trophy by the President of Pakistan (Late) Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq.
During National Horse and Cattle Show at Fortress Stadium in 1987 he created world record by jumping over 22 parked cars on a Motor bike covering 249ft distance for which Prime Minister Muhammad Khan Jonego (Late) Awarded him Trophy and cash prize.

He was enlisted in Guinness Book of world record based on creating world record of covering 249ft distance by jumping over 22 cars with Motor Cycle. 

He Jumped over 15 cars on a  motor car during National Horse and Cattle Show 1989 for which then President of Pakistan Ghulam Ishaq Khan awarded him a Trophy.

 

He performed a burning car jump over 15 cars, and performed a reverse car jump for the first time in the history of the world over 15 cars at fortress stadium, Lahore.

He made another world record while performing T-Bone Dive Motor Car jump over 249 feet at Fortress Stadium, Lahore

Mahmood Lodhi

Mahmood Lodhi, the reigning national chess champion, holds the record of having claimed the crown on the highest number of occasions. He has been Pakistan’s highest rated International Master for a long time.

Hailing from the Punjab’s industrial town of Gujranwala, he appears on course of becoming Pakistan’s first-ever Grand Master of chess. He has been national champion for 12 years running now. He was ranked 2,475 in the world in 1993-94, which was then the highest-ever for Pakistan.

He has participated in various international tournaments over the years despite the limited support from the Chess Federation of Pakistan. He has, however, been supported overwhelmingly by the Mind Sports Association of Pakistan, having been founded just a few years ago.

He was recently appointed as Brand Ambassador of a leading oil company. Chess has been in his blood as all his four brothers were into it but he is the only one to have turned professional. They inherited chess from their father who was a colonel in Army.

Rehana Saigol

Rehana Saigol is a big name in Pakistan’s fashion industry, working terrifically in highlighting the name of the country both nationally and internationally. She is ranked among the top fashion designers of the country. She is also a pioneer of jewelary designing.

She is credited to have brought a variety of enthralling and charismatic outfits for women including embellished lehengas, saris and traditional suits. She launched her women’s wear label just a couple of years ago. Her women’s wear couture collection ‘Beyond Ivory’ reflects her vision and philosophy of bringing back the saree to the wardrobe. ‘Beyond Ivory’ is crafted on a variety of fabrics such as georgette, net, velvet and tissue and embellished with threadwork, crystals, beads, dabka, kora and sequins.

She has establishied her name in designing of bridal and other types of formal sarees in particular. She has experimented with different styles of structuring the saree beyond the traditional six yards of fabrics. Her collection presents variations in her pursuit of contemporizing and glamorizing the saree. Beyond the fashion world, she also made it big on the international bridge scene. Besides making it to the national bridge team on numerous occasions, she became the first and todate the only lady to head the Pakistan Bridge Federation.

Mushtaq Mohammad

Mushtaq Mohammad has been acclaimed as the most inspirational captain to have led the Pakistan team in the cricket field. One of the four Mohammad brothers having played for the country with distinction, he became the youngest Test player at the age of 16, a record broken by Hasan Raza many years later.

Besides being a prolific middle-order batsman, he was a more than useful leg-spinner. He made his Test debut against the West Indies in 1958-59. He galvanized the team into a well-knit unit after taking over as the captain in 1976-77 enabling Pakistan to win Tests abroad besides registering victories at home more frequently than before.

He played in 57 Tests in a career spread over a period of two decades, scoring 3,643 runs at 39.17 with the help of 10 centuries. He also took 79 wickets at 29.22. He got the opportunity of playing only 10 One-day Internationals in which he scored 209 runs at 34.83.

He has had quite a few stints as manager and coach of the national cricket team. He has also brought out his autobiography. Having played county cricket for Northamptonshire for a number of years, he has been living with his family in England for the past many decades.

Iqbal Qasim

Iqbal Qasim was an orthodox left-arm spinner whose forte was control over his line and length. Besides taking the crucial wickets he was mostly very accurate and gave little away to create pressure in the ranks of the opposing teams.

Although he is remembered as the ‘Bangalore Hero’ for having scripted that famous win that helped Pakistan to record their only Test series victory on the Indian soil in 1986-87 he was also the saviour of the team on his Test debut against Australia at Adelaide in 1976-77 where he had hung with the bat on for hours to allow Asif Iqbal to turn it around with flurry of strokes.

He played in 50 Tests, claiming 171 wickets at 28.11. He, however, got limited opportunities in the shorter version of the game, getting to play in only 15 One-day Internationals. He played first-class cricket until 1992-93 while he last played for Pakistan in 1988-89.

He has remained actively involved with the administration of the game after hanging his boots. Besides being the chairman of the national selection committee he has held various other positions over the years. The 57-year-old Iqbal Qasim has been the executive incharge of the sports division of National Bank of Pakistan for a number of years.

Mansoor Akhtar

Mansoor Akhtar was a flamboyant top-order batsman whose grace and poise are still talked about with awe. He was held in very high esteem by Imran Khan, who was hugely impressed by his batting skills.

He first came in prominence by having featured in a world record opening partnership of 561 in first-class cricket in 1976-77. Still a teenager, his contribution in the monumental stand was an unbeaten 224 while his partner, Waheed Mirza, scored a triple century.

After having blunted the fearsome West Indian pace battery in a side game, he was rewarded with the Test cap against the same opponents in 1979-80. He went on to play 19 Test matches and 41 One-day Internationals for Pakistan but his record was deemed as modest and many people thought that he didn’t do justice with the loads of talent he possessed.

Although he played his last Test and ODI in 1989-90 but he continued playing first-class cricket for United Bank Limited until 1997-98. He has lost none of his hunger for runs and the 53-year-old Mansoor Akhtar is still scoring heavily in veterans cricket at all levels. He has been the head of sports department of United Bank for over a decade.

Jalaluddin

Jalaluddin was a lively fast-medium bowler who struck the deck hard and extracted extravagant movement on the most docile of pitches in Karachi and rest of the country. His entry in the international arena was delayed due to injury but he didn’t take long in hitting headlines after wearing the Pakistan cap.

On September 20, 1982, he recorded the first-ever hat-trick in the history of One-day Internationals by dismissing Australia’s trio of Rodney Marsh, Bruce Yardley and Geoff Lawson on successive deliveries on a flat track of Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad, to help Pakistan win the game.

He made his Test debut against Australia at Qaddafi Stadium, Lahore, in the same winter and returned the impressive match figures of five for 92. He could play only four more Tests in the next two years despite consistent performance in national tournaments. He played his last in 1985-86 and that was the end of his international career rather prematurely. He continued playing for Pakistan Customs until 1988-89.

He returned to the scene with a bang after taking various coaching courses. He established Customs Cricket Academy in 1999 where he groomed youngsters besides fine-tuning first-class cricketers. The 51-year-old Jalaluddin is recognized as the highest qualified coach in the country, having undertaken various assignments.

Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui

Mr. Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui, having joined the civil service in 1984, has been hailed as one of the most proactive and efficient government officer. To his credit, he has been successful in making his presence felt in a big way while carrying out every single assignment.

One of his greatest attributes has been the liaison with the media. A firm believer in promoting the soft image by letting the positive word spread to all corners, he has remained instrumental in earning goodwill and recognition for the government.

He had graduated as Civil Engineer before qualifying for the civil service where he has allocated to the District Management Group. He did Masters in Development Administration from the University of Birmingham in England.

He served as Assistant Commissioner and Registrar Cooperative Societies, Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation and Karachi Development Authority. He is believed to be the only officer to serve as Deputy Commissioner in three districts of Karachi. He has also served as Director of Protocol, Government of Sindh. Upon the launching of the Devolution Plan in 2001, he was posted as Executive District Officer, Finance and Planning in the City District Government, Karachi.

He served as Additional Secretary to the Government of Sindh in the Education and Literacy Department. He has also worked as Executive District Officer, Works & Services, City District Government, Karachi and was greatly involved in the development of city infrastructure. He then worked as Additional Secretary, Excise & Taxation Department.

On promotion he was posted as Special Secretary Home Department and then Special Secretary Finance Department. Mr. Siddiqui was then assigned the responsibility of Member Land Utilization from where he was posted as Project Director, Karachi Mega City Programme which was executed with the support of the Asian Development Bank. He was Secretary Livestock and Fisheries Department before taking up the present post of Secretary, Sports and Youth Affairs Department, Government of Sindh.

Hafiz Salman Butt

Hafiz Salman Butt was born on January 17, 1956 in Lahore, Punjab. He was elected for his third term as MNA as an Independent candidate and later joined MMAP. He is politically affiliated with JIP.

businessman by profession, he completed a B.Sc. degree in 1982 from University of the Punjab and was previously elected to the National Assembly during the terms of 1985-1988 and 1990-1993. Active in student politics, he was elected as the Vice President Punjab University Student’s Union. Hafiz Salman Butt has also espoused labour causes and has served as President Prem Union and Vice President of National Labour Federation.

Married with two sons and two daughters, Hafiz Salman Butt has been a member of the Pakistan Football Federation since 1983; the Pakistan Swimming Federation since 1986, and the Lahore District Hockey Association since 1990.

Pir Aftab Hussain Shah Jilani

Pir Aftab Hussain Shah Jilani, Federal Minister for Culture was born on November 15, 1946 in Mirpurkhas, Sindh and is politically affiliated with the PPPP. Previously he has served as MPA Sindh Assembly, and MNA from 1993 to 1996 and 1997 to 1999.

He did his Masters of Science in Agriculture in the year 1972 and works as an agriculturist. Married, with 2 sons and 2 daughters, he has traveled to U.S.A, U.K, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Kenya, Dubai, Srilanka and Thailand. Reading books is his favorite past time.

Rubab Raza

Rubab Raza (born January 15, 1991) is a Pakistani swimmer from Lahore. At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece she became her country\'s first female swimmer to compete at the event when she contested the 50 m freestyle, though unable to progress through the first round she undoubtedly opened up the opportunity for future female Pakistani swimmers.

Rubab has won a wild card entry for the 2004 Olympics due to her performances in swimming championships around the world. She also became the youngest sportswoman to represent Pakistan in any Olympics event when she took part in the 2004 Olympics at the age of 13. Rubab has an assortment of medals from various national and international tournaments including the South Asian Games and other competitions in Spain and India.

Maria Toor Pakay

In 2010, the 19-year-old Maria Toor Pakay is Pakistan's top-rated female squash player and the world number 85. Pakistan's squash champion has defied convention to become a trailblazer in her sport. She hails from South Waziristan, part of Pakistan's tribal belt branded by Washington as the most dangerous place in the world. It is rife with Islamist militant groups, while tribal customs often force women to remain at home.

Aamir Atlas Khan

Aamir Atlas Khan (born July 30, 1990 in Peshawar) is a Pakistani professional squash player. He is the nephew of former world champion, Jansher Khan.

2007 has been his most successful year and has seen his rankings rise. He was a finalist in the Governor NWFP International 2007 and in the President PSF international 2007, but in both occasions he was beaten by Mansoor Zaman. In August, he went one step better by winning his first title at the CAS international, beating Malaysian Mohd Azlan Iskandar.

As of 2009, Aamir, who turned pro in 2002 is ranked 15th, his highest ranking, and is the current No. 1 Pakistan squash player.

Aamir won a silver medal in the individual event at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.

Aamir Sohail

A combative left-hand opener, Aamir Sohail was a predominantly back-foot player whose forte was improvisation. He loved to attack, and almost found it impossible to control his aggression. He showed no fear, epitomised by his baiting of Venkatesh Prasad in a 1996 World Cup quarter-final in front of a hostile Bangalore crowd. He was an effective left-arm spinner, more a one-day bowler than a Test wicket-taker. Aamir played a big part in Pakistan's World Cup triumph in 1992, and famously told Ian Botham that he might want to send his mother-in-law in to bat after Botham was controversially given out for 0 in the final. He captained Pakistan at the height of the match-fixing controversy, and was one of the whistle-blowers. His career suffered as a result, and he left the international scene early to work in broadcasting, where he might have tried harder to suppress his personal prejudices.

Hanif Mohammed

Hanif Mohammed (born 21 December 1934 in Junagadh, Gujarat, India) was one of Pakistan’s greatest cricketers, playing for the Pakistani cricket team in 55 Test matches between 1952/53 and 1969/70 and averaging a fine 43.98, with twelve hundreds.

The highest of those centuries, 337 against West Indies in 1957/58, was the longest innings in Test history (and stood as the the longest in all first-class cricket for over 40 years) as Hanif spent more than 16 hours at the crease to save his team from a hopeless position after they had followed on 473 runs behind.

In 1958/59, he produced another astonishing batting display by breaking Don Bradman’s record for the highest individual first-class innings. Hanif made 499 before being run out attempting his five hundredth run; this mark stood for more than 35 years before being eclipsed by Brian Lara in 1994. Plenty more runs were still to come, and in all he made 55 first-class centuries and finished with an outstanding first-class career average of 52.32. He could bowl with either arm, and even kept wicket on a number of occasions.

Hanif’s long career lasted until 1975/76 and took him all over the world, but he never played in the English County Championship, although he did have a single outing for the Northamptonshire Second XI in August 1965 whilst preparing for his appearance for a Rest of the World XI against England at the Scarborough Festival a few days later. Hanif was in fact working in England in 1994, and hearing of the possibility of his record being broken rushed to Edgbaston, unfortunately too late to witness any of Lara’s innings.

Hanif was named as a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1968.

Many of Hanif’s relations were also fine cricketers: his brothers Mushtaq, Sadiq and Wazir all played Tests for Pakistan, as did his son Shoaib, another brother Raees was once twelfth man for Pakistan, and four nephews had first-class careers. His mother Ameer Bee was a national badminton champion in pre-independence India and is considered responsible for inspiring her sons to take up sports.

http://profiles.incredible-people.com

Tauqir Zia

Lt. Gen (R) Tauqir Zia completed his out standing meritorious military service on 14 September 2003. In his brilliant military career, spanning over almost four decades, he has had the honor and privilege to hold the most coveted appointments in command, staff and instruction field, excelling at every level-from a Troop Leader in 19th Lancers to Commander of Army Field Headquarters during the crisis with India in 2001-2002.

As the chairman Pakistan Cricket Board for 4 years, he not only introduced the "Vision 2005", paragon for the promotion and development of Cricket in Pakistan but also managed to implement almost 75% of that Project in every part of the country particularly in the far flung areas of Balochistan, Sind and Frontier.

Sana Mir

Sana Mir (born 5 January 1986 in Abbottabad, North-West Frontier) is a female Pakistani cricketer and captain of the Pakistan women's team. She was announced Player of the Tournament at the 2008 Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier, and currently ranks 16th in the Women's ODI Bowlers in the ICC Player Rankings. She is also the only Pakistani in the top 20.

Alongside her cricketing career, Mir is a full time student. Her favourite cricketers are Waqar Younis, Jonty Rhodes and Imran Khan.

On May 4 2009, Mir was handed the Pakistan captaincy for the Women's World Twenty20. She had formerly been vice-captain under Urooj Mumtaz, who remained in the squad. Mir's duties as vice-captain were handed over to Nain Abidi.

Mir retained the captaincy for the forthcoming ICC Women's Cricket Challenge in South Africa.

At the 2010 Asian Games, Mir led the team to a gold medal

Wasim Akram

A dream cricketer. At his best Wasim Akram plays like most of us would wish to. He has complete mastery over swing and seam, and sometimes moves the ball both ways in one delivery. All this comes at high speed from a quick, ball-concealing action, and is backed up by the threat of a dangerous bouncer or deceptive slower delivery. Wasim is rated by many as the best left-arm fast bowler of all time and his career record certainly bears that out - along with the high regard of his contemporaries. 

He hits like a kicking horse, but batsmanship is one skill in which Wasim has underachieved, despite a monumental 257 against Zimbabwe at Sheikhupura in 1996-97. He was the natural successor to Imran Khan as Pakistan's leader and captain, but the match-fixing controversies of the 1990s harmed him, blunting his edge and dimming his lustre. Though he reached the 500-wicket landmark in ODIs in the World Cup, he was among the eight players dumped after Pakistan's miserable performance. He retired shortly after, after a brief spell with Hampshire.

Aisam-ul-haq Qureshi

Aisam-ul-haq Qureshi Born in Lahore, Pakistan, Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi is Pakistan's top professional tennis player and is ranked in top 50 doubles players. He is the only Pakistani tennis player to reach the final of a Grand Slam, which he has done in 2010 competing in both mixed doubles and men's doubles at the US Open

Like other pakistani boys, Aisam used to play cricket and soccer in his school. Along with that he started playing tennis as a hobby. It all started when he was 14 years old when his mother took him to the tennis club and they used to play with each other.

"I never thought I would be a professional tennis player when I started", says Aisam

When he turned to 16, he got into the ITF team which sponsored him for two years. This was the turning point of his life. Later on, he had a successful junior career he managed to get to No.7 (in juniors).

In 1998, Aisamul haq became world number 11 player in junior tennis. This achievement made him Pakistan's highest-ranked tennis player. By the time he had defeated several world junior champions including Andy Roddick (American), Taylor Dent (American), Artem Derepaasco, Simon Dickson (British), Oliver Rochus and Nathan Healy (Australian). After that, he mostly played Pakistan Davis Cup team and ATP tournaments and began appearing ITF tournaments all over the world. After winning plenty of titles, Aisam jumped to top 200 players of the world in men's single and was counted in top 100 in doubles.

In 2002, Aisam played with Israel's Amir Hadad in Wimbledon as well as in US Open. They got eliminated in the 3rd and 2nd round of wimbledon and US open respectively.

In 2007, Aisam became the third tennis player of Pakistan to qualify for the Wimbledon. Khwaja Saeed Hai was the first man to represent Pakistan at Wimbledon singles in 1954, 1955 and 1956. Then it was Haroon Rahim who played at Wimbledon in 1976.

Aisam is not the only Tennis player in his family. His mother Mrs Nausheen Ehtesham was also a tennis player winning Pakistan's several ladies single titles in 1982. She has also represented Pakistan in the Fed Cup, which is women’s version of the Davis Cup. Her father Khawaja Iftikhar Ahmad was also a tennis player who represented both Pakistan as well as India in Davis Cup. In response to the question asked in an interview about his entry into the Tennis, Aisam said, "Tennis is in my blood". It would not be wrong to say that Aisam inherited Tennis from his ancestors.