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.
Defence Day
Undoubtedly, the month of September has utmost importance for us as this day tells the story of bravery, sacrifice and patriotism of our soldiers, leaders and people. Our defence forces – Army, Air Force and Navy – left no stone unturned to defend the beloved country against enemy antagonism in the year 1965. As a result of those sacrifices, our nation- till today- is secure from external attack and aggression because our enemy knows that Pakistani can never compromise on their sovereignty even at the cast of their life.
The year 2023, we are going to celebrate, 58th defence anniversary in the country. But, this year celebration – owing to current economic situation- demands a sort of change in the way of celebration. Political stake holders, Arm forces’ commanders and public too, should ponder over present bleak scenario- , in the context of economic, social and internal security – instead of just speeches, Air Show and public processions. Truly, we are losing country’s internal sovereignty.
Therefore, it is must now to sit together on the defence day and jointly formulate a strategy to cope with political and economic crisis. We should make a firm resolution of being united in order to save our country from further deterioration. Such a unique celebration will be, in fact, a real tribute to martyrs of 1965 war as their actual purpose of sacrificing their lives was to save the country.
ASIF MEHMOOD
Attock
Rape cases
In recent years, Pakistan has witnessed a troubling surge in reported cases of rape, highlighting a deeply concerning societal issue, newly collected and compiled data showed that as many as 21,900 women were reported to have been raped in the country from 2017 to 2021. This meant that around 12 women were raped across the country daily, or one woman every two hours,” said the survey while from 1st January 2023 till 30th April 2023, a total of 10,365 cases of violence against women were reported to the police, while 1,768 cases of violence against children were also reported.
These incidents shed light on a complex web of factors contributing to the rise of sexual violence which demand immediate attention and comprehensive solutions. The gravity of this problem is exacerbated by a series of recent examples that serve as painful reminders of the urgency for change.
One such case involved a young woman who was assaulted by a group of men while travelling on public transportation. The rape and murder of a young girl in Kasur and the assault of a woman on the Lahore-Sialkot motorway, these cases have sent shockwaves throughout the country, sparking outrage and calls for stricter laws, improved law enforcement and changes in societal attitudes. Opinions on the issue vary, but many agree that the increasing frequency of rape cases points to a deeply entrenched culture of misogyny and male entitlement. This attitude, coupled with a lack of effective legal measures and inadequate law enforcement, has created an environment in which perpetrators feel emboldened and victims are left vulnerable and marginalized.
UNZILA TAHIR HUDA
Karachi
Change in human lives
Experts have been debating this topic for years. Also, the technology covered a long way to make human life easier. Regularly evolving technology has become an important part of our lives.
Also, newer technologies are taking the market by storm and people are getting used to them in no time. Above all, technological advancement has led to the growth and development of nations. Although technology is a good thing, the negative aspects of it can’t be ignored. Technology also has two sides, one is good and the other is bad. Here are some negative aspects of technology that are discussed.
Over the years technological advancement has caused a severe rise in pollution. Also, pollution has become a major cause of many health issues. Besides, it has cut off people from society rather than connecting them. Above all, it has taken away many jobs from the workers, due to a single machine that can replace many workers. Also, machines can do work at a constant pace for several hours or days without stopping.
Due to this, many workers lost their jobs which ultimately increased unemployment. Generally, we judge technology on the same scale but in reality, technology is divided into various types. This includes information technology, industrial technology, architectural technology, creative technology, and many more. Today, everything we use in our daily life is a gift of technology and without which we cannot imagine our lives. Also, we cannot deny the fact that it has caused severe damage to our surroundings.
JAWERIA AARA
Hyderabad
Strategies for buffaloes
The productive performance of buffaloes is suffering due to the adverse effects of heat stress. Current heat mitigation strategies, such as the use of hose pipes and ponds, have proven inadequate and consume a significant amount of water. Existing literature indicates that a more efficient approach involves applying smaller quantities of water over multiple sessions to cool the animals.
This study was undertaken with the primary objective of optimizing a showering strategy to alleviate heat stress in Nili Ravi buffaloes, encompassing three distinct experiments. The first experiment focused on optimizing showering cycles in flow rates. Subsequently, buffaloes were subjected to various cooling sessions based on the optimized flow rate within specific cycles. Additionally, the behaviour of buffaloes was observed at different Temperature-Humidity Index (THI).
The findings of this study have led to the conclusion that a showering cycle consisting of three minutes of active cooling followed by a 3-minute break, using a flow rate of two litres per minute, is the most effective method to maintain buffalo body physiology.
For optimal results in enhancing animal productivity, it is imperative to conduct a minimum of five cooling sessions, each lasting one hour, within 3|3 cycles at a 2-liter flow rate during daytime.
SYED ISRAR HUSSAIN
Lahore
Health sector
The healthcare sector in Pakistan is currently facing a critical situation. Essential medicines are slowly disappearing from the markets in Karachi. This dangerous problem has been escalating for the past six months and it can be attributed to the negligence of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) which is under scrutiny by the medical community.
Over the past six months, the cost of medicines has surged rapidly by 50-70%. This surge, coupled with the hoarding of medical drugs for rare conditions, poses a significant threat to public health. Recent surveys have revealed a concerning shortage of insulin for diabetes patients in Karachi’s market.
Immediate action from the authorities is of utmost importance, especially considering the increasing incidence of malaria and fever reported in Sindh. Therefore, the authorities must learn from past mistakes and take decisive steps to ensure the availability of essential medications. Failure to do so quickly will have severe consequences for public health in Pakistan.
AMREEN NOOR
Kech
Box letter
Junk food
Junk foods have become an essential part of modern diets. These are high in calories, sugar, salt and fat. Examples of junk foods include items like chips, candy, sugar, spring roll, samosa, potato chips, burger, pizza, pasta etc that may taste good. Eating junk foods may lead to weight gain and excess body fat, which can contribute to high blood pressure and an increased risk of diabetes. Junk foods are not healthy foods which children must love to eat. It is the parents who are fully responsible for the good or bad eating habits of their kids. Researchers have proved that 87pc of diseases come from these food habits. The matter must be rectified soon.
HASSAN JAN
Turbat
