Articles and letters may be edited for the purposes of clarity and space. They are published in good faith with a view to enlightening all the stakeholders. However, the contents of these writings may not necessarily match the views of the newspaper.
Objectives of independence
It was a little difficult to celebrate the momentous occasion of the 76th anniversary of Pakistan’s independence in the light of a long list of daunting challenges before us. The leaders whose heroic efforts paved the way for the wheel to come full circle and send the colonial masters packing are worth remembering and being inspired from. There’s a lot that needs a determined resolve from the masses as well as the political leadership. From sky-touching inflation rates to bouts of political uncertainty to the resurgence of terror outfits to the comprehensive successes of the propaganda machines fuelled by hawkish bigotry, fires are raging in all corners of the kitchen.
State policies would have to start focusing on the list of priorities that centres around increasing the literacy rate, working upon the industrial output and focusing on a humane, progressive society would help steer the ship out of choppy waters. It is high time to look towards building our own space in the international community on the basis of a strong, resilient economy, exemplary nation-making and democratic traditions.
Establishment of a welfare Islamic and democratic state was the objective versioned by freedom fighters should be the sole objective of all empowered constitutional institutions, deviation from these objectives would not be in the larger interest of the integrity and solidarity of the country.
MUNAWAR SIDDIQUI
Lahore
Nanoparticles potential in combating cancer
Breast and cervical cancers are abnormal conditions where cells of breast and cervix tissues of women divide continually, forming clumps misleading to life threatening pathological complications. Anti-cancer awareness campaigns highlight the ways to defeat cancer by regular screenings, self-examination and consultation with healthcare professionals.
The chemotherapeutics with conventional drug delivery systems have several pharmaceutical limitations such as drug to drug interaction, poor solubility, stability, peripheral neuropathy and indiscrimination between cancerous and normal cells. Apart from this misuse of antibiotics develops multi-drug resistance enabling the bacteria to withstand dose, which was once effective. Development of nanoparticles focusing on targeted drug delivery has revolutionized the treatment of cancer and bacterial resistance due to their enhanced therapeutic properties.
Keeping in view the above said constraints, a research project titled “Antibacterial, Anticancer and Toxicological Evaluation of Carvacrol and its Nanoparticles in Combination with Ciprofloxacin and Doxorubicin” was designed and executed at University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore.
For this purpose, chitosan polymer nanoparticles were prepared through an ionic gelation method and loaded with carvacrol in varying ratios followed by physicochemical analysis through well-established standard methods. The anti-cancerous and cytotoxic potential of carvacrol nanoparticles in combination with topoisomerase inhibitor drugs were evaluated on confluent cell culture, meanwhile anti-bacterial effect was determined on Salmonella, S Aureus and E Coli.
It was observed that spherical shaped nanoparticles of standard average size doped with different concentrations and combinations of drugs exhibited strong synergistic effect against cancerous as well as bacterial cells at significantly low dose. It was concluded that combination of carvacrol loaded chitosan nanoparticles with Topoisomerase inhibitors may represent an innovative & promising strategy to improve the efficacy, resistance & targeted delivery of chemotherapeutics and antibacterial agents.
AMINA AKHLAQ, DR M ASHRAF
Lahore
Jaranwala atrocity
The founding father of Pakistan, Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had said: “You are free! You are free to go to your temples. You are free to go to your mosques or to any other places of worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion, caste or creed — that has nothing to do with the business of the state”.
He also said “Islam stands for justice, equality, fair play, toleration and even generosity to non-Muslims who may be under our protection. They are like brothers to us and would be the citizens of the State”.
In absolute negation of what Pakistan’s founding father Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had said, a bunch of barbaric zealots resorted to utterly shameful torching of several Churches and heartlessly pulling down a large number of abodes of the Christian community in Jaranwala-Faisalabad on August16.
This exceedingly unfortunate and disgraceful incident has left every segment of the Pakistani society in a state of utter shock and disbelief. Religious intolerance grossly overwhelms our society today. There’s an urgent need to bring an end to this awful trend which has acquired alarming proportions in the country, over the years.
Needless to say, the Jaranwala incident has badly tarnished the image of Pakistan in the comity of civilized and respected world nations. It has opened doors for the detractors of Pakistan to launch a negative propaganda against it. They, for sure, are going to blow the Jaranwala incident out of proportion and make it a huge human rights issue.
The Jaranwala incident must be condemned by all and sundry in the strongest words. The perpetrators of this heinous crime who took the law in their hands and resorted to burning of Churches and demolishing the houses of our venerable Christian brethren must be apprehended and brought to book expeditiously.
M FAZAL ELAHI
Islamabad
Box letter
Early marriage
Early child marriage remains a pressing issue in Pakistan, casting a shadow over the lives of numerous young girls. This practice, wherein girls are wed before they reach the age of 18, brings forth a plethora of concerning consequences for their health, education and general welfare.In Pakistan, the prevalence of early child marriage reflects a complex interplay of cultural, social and economic factors. Traditionally, marriage is viewed as a pathway to safeguarding a girl’s honour and securing her future. Economic hardships faced by many families also contribute, as marrying off daughters at a young age can alleviate financial burdens.However, the ramifications of early child marriage are extensive and far-reaching. The health of these young brides is often compromised, as their bodies may not be physically ready for pregnancy and childbirth. This increases the risk of maternal mortality and infant mortality. Additionally, these girls are often deprived of education, limiting their opportunities for personal growth and economic independence. Efforts to combat this issue have been ongoing. Legal reforms have been instituted to increase the legal marriage age to 18 for both boys and girls. Nevertheless, implementation remains a challenge due to gaps in enforcement and a lack of awareness in certain communities.
UNZILA TAHIR HUDA
Karachi
