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The truth behind Pakistan’s homemade cable car system

Published

2 years ago

August 23, 2023

A harrowing incident involving eight people, including children, left them stranded in a cable car precariously suspended above a ravine in Pakistan’s north-western Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

For many, the footage of the chair lift hanging 274 meters (900 feet) above the ground is the stuff of nightmares. However, makeshift cable cars are a common sight in eastern Mansehra and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, extending to Pakistan-administered Gilgit-Baltistan in the north.

In regions lacking infrastructure and with vast distances between essential amenities like schools, these cable cars, often hastily assembled with scrap metal, are born out of necessity. Local communities, driven by the absence of alternatives and the cost-effectiveness, build them – often illegally.

Improvised cable cars

These improvised contraptions take various forms. Some are crafted from the upper portion of a pickup truck, with vehicles like Suzukis converted into large cabins for transporting people and livestock. Ropes connect them to the cable, which may also consist of scrap iron.

While undeniably perilous, these cable cars serve a crucial purpose. They are used to traverse rivers and reduce travel time between valleys in mountainous terrain. In Allai, the region where the recent incident occurred, there is no road infrastructure or basic facilities.

Consequently, a local resident received permission from the city administration to construct the cable car, as confirmed by the police to BBC News. Locals refer to it as “Dolly,” connecting the village of Jangri to Batangi, where the local school is situated.

This cable car drastically cuts travel time. What would ordinarily entail a two-hour walk can now be accomplished in just four minutes by using the cable car.

Significant costs

Beyond convenience, affordability is a key factor contributing to the popularity of the Allai cable car. It is significantly cheaper than road travel, with fares starting as low as 20 PKR (£0.053; $0.067), varying according to the distance covered.

According to local resident Mohabbat Shah, people are willing to take the risk with these cable cars. As long as there have been no issues with a particular cable car before, it remains a viable transportation option for people navigating the region. He explained that a one-way trip costs only 10 rupees per person, while booking a cab for the same journey could cost up to 2000 rupees (£18.91; $24.09).

While this particular cable car has not faced any challenges to date, others across Pakistan have experienced accidents. In 2017, an illegal cable car crashed in Murree, Punjab, resulting in the tragic deaths of 11 passengers as it plunged into a ravine. Last December, local media reported a rope snapping incident in Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where 12 children had to be rescued while en route to school, leaving them stranded 61 meters over a river.

News

SpaceX IPO could make Elon Musk’s Mars dream a trillion-dollar reality

SpaceX’s upcoming IPO could raise $25 billion and value the company over $1 trillion, igniting investor excitement for Mars missions.

Published

1 day ago

December 12, 2025

Harvey Vargas

SpaceX’s upcoming IPO could raise $25 billion and value the company over $1 trillion, igniting investor excitement for Mars missions.

Investors are buzzing as SpaceX gears up for a potential IPO, aiming to raise more than $25 billion, possibly as soon as June. The offering could value the company at over $1 trillion, fueling Musk’s ambitious plans for Mars and beyond.

Despite the high-risk nature of space ventures, demand from retail investors is expected to be strong. Experts predict this IPO could become historic, with the company’s market value potentially soaring past $2 trillion once it launches.

Musk’s unconventional management style hasn’t slowed investor enthusiasm, even amidst regulatory hurdles. The funds raised could also support groundbreaking innovations, including energy-efficient space data centers.

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#SpaceX #ElonMusk #IPO #MarsMission #Investing #StockMarket #TrillionDollar #SpaceTech

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Russia shoots down 280+ Ukrainian drones as Zelenskyy pushes new peace plan

Russia claims 280 Ukrainian drones shot down; Zelenskyy finalizes a new peace proposal amid rising tensions and military clashes.

Published

1 day ago

December 12, 2025

Harvey Vargas

Russia claims 280 Ukrainian drones shot down; Zelenskyy finalizes a new peace proposal amid rising tensions and military clashes.

Russia’s Defence Ministry claims it has shot down over 280 Ukrainian drones, with 40 intercepted near Moscow, some targeting the city directly. Emergency services responded to debris, and temporary flight restrictions were enforced at Moscow’s airports amid the attacks.

Meanwhile, President Zelenskyy revealed his team is finalizing a revised 20-point peace proposal, introducing new ideas on territorial control. Ukrainian and American officials are set to consult online, focusing on security guarantees rather than the detailed points of the plan.

As tensions rise, both military clashes and diplomatic efforts continue to shape the future of the conflict. Keep up with the latest updates and expert analysis on these unfolding events.

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#UkraineConflict #RussiaUkraine #Zelenskyy #DroneAttack #PeacePlan #Moscow #WorldNews #TickerUpdates

News

Disney invests $1B in OpenAI to generate Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar videos

Disney invests $1 billion in OpenAI for AI-generated videos featuring iconic characters, enhancing fan interactions and launching in 2026.

Published

1 day ago

December 12, 2025

Harvey Vargas

Disney invests $1 billion in OpenAI for AI-generated videos featuring iconic characters, enhancing fan interactions and launching in 2026.

Disney is taking AI to the next level, investing $1 billion in OpenAI to create a licensing deal that allows users to generate videos featuring more than 200 characters from Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar. This partnership could redefine how fans interact with their favorite characters.

The deal will let users stream short AI-generated videos directly on Disney+, and ChatGPT will also produce images of Disney’s licensed characters. However, the agreement excludes talent likenesses or voices, keeping human performances separate.

Set to launch in 2026, the collaboration also gives Disney warrants to purchase additional OpenAI equity and use AI tools for product development, opening doors to new creative opportunities.

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