Green supply chain
Pakistan is on the road towards becoming a environmental friendly nation. The people of Pakistan are realising that environmental problem is real and global warming is a gigantic problem. This issue has also shook business and corporate world, people have started to follow green practices. Green supply chain management (GSCM) is a approach in which all the operations of supply chain management (SCM) are integrated while keeping in consideration that it doesn’t harm environment. Some of the researchers think it is one way to make businesses sustainable. It is an opportunity for corporate world in Pakistan to transform their structures for good.
Supply chain management is fairly a new concept in Pakistan in comparison with HR, marketing and finance but the fact remain it binds all the department of an organisation. Some of the smaller entities do not have SCM till this date so the question arises Does Pakistan need a major structural change in the form of GSCM? The answer to this question is an emphatic yes because GSCM is making firms more profitable. From green procurement to waste management every operation in supply chain is carefully laid out to cut down upon costs and reuse the waste materials.
One of the benefits of GSCM is product differentiation and completive advantage, which might be attained if firm is successful to position itself as an environmental friendly company in its product, services and operations. This kind of brand enhancement is needed for the companies in order to grow internationally. One of the major problem of Pakistan is trade deficit, through GSCM quality of products can be improved, companies can meet six sigma and international standards thus they can be in position to export raw materials or even semi goods.
TEHINYAT BANO
Islamabad
Mental health issues
Long-term anxiety and panic attacks can cause your brain to release stress hormones on a regular basis. This can increase the frequency of symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and depression.
Depression affects people of all ages, from all walks of life, in all countries. It causes mental anguish and impacts on people’s ability to carry out even the simplest everyday tasks. At worst, depression can lead to suicide, now the second leading cause of death among 15 to 29-year-old people. Pakistan is one of those vulnerable countries where stress, anxiety and depression are at high level.
The number of people with anxiety and depressive disorders in Pakistan stands at 34 per cent, according to a 2005-2006 Agha Khan University study. Depression is the result of a multitude of factors including genetic, environment, personality, upbringing, social, illiteracy, lack of health and education facilities etc.
This year world mental health day (Oct 10), with focus on ‘preventing suicide ‘, received more attention in Pakistan than in the past, and what leading psychiatrists said at various events increased public anxiety at the scale of mental health problems in the country. According to a 2018 report by WHO, the suicide mortality rate (suicide per 100000 deaths) in Pakistan in 2016 was 2.9. The level of mental health should improve if we start caring for every other human being and don’t leave him or her to drift from frustration to mental illness.
Effective treatment is available through talking therapies and antidepressant medications, or a combination of both.
Government can improve mental health services, families and communities can provide social support, civil society groups can raise awareness and individuals can seek help and treatment and talk to others about how they feel.
MUHAMMAD ABUBAKER KHAN
Rawalpindi
Career counselling
It is career counselling that enable people to choose proper professions and boost future opportunities according to their aptitudes. In university life, students mostly chose their career either by agreeing to their parents demands or needs required for future jobs without ever thinking what is their actual aptitude.
We all are inspired and attracted by just Engineering and Medical degree. We even don’t think for other departments like Commerce, Computer Science, Artificial intelligence and many more emerging careers. Because of this wrong selection, we feel discouraged and ultimately unemployment and poverty increase. So career counselling, at initial level should be encouraged and applied rather than at university level. Let students be aware of new trends and innovations that are taking place these days. This is the duty of every institution to arrange career-building seminars in order to help students to select their careers according to their choice. Promote right career, attract and get right people.
SYED ZAHID ALI
Khairpur, Sindh
Royalty visit
UK’s Royal family visit to Pakistan was a great message to the world that Pakistan is a safe country and beautiful country. It was a 5-day visit to Pakistan from 14th to 18th of October, 2019. Duke and Duchess met Imran Khan, the Prime Minister of Pakistan and Dr. Arif Alvi, President of Pakistan. Next day, the Royal couple visited Chitral, the Northern areas of Pakistan and met the local people, mingled with them and enjoyed a lot.
After the visit to northern areas of Pakistan, the Royal couple went to Lahore. Lahore always warmly welcomes guests. Ch. Muhammad Sarwar Governor, Punjab and Usman Buzdar, Chief Minister Punjab welcomed the Royal couple in Lahore City. After that, duke and duchess visited famous places of Lahore like Badshahi Mosque, National Cricket Academy, SOS Children Village and Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre.
In National Cricket Academy, the Royal couple played cricket over there with some Pakistani players and after that they met Ehsan Mani, the Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
In short, the Royal couple enjoyed their visit to Pakistan a lot. On the other hand, the soft message went to the world that Pakistan is a safe and peaceful and foreigners, especially Europeans should visit Pakistan.
Muhammad Haider
Via email
PPP vs GDA
It was shocking news for all PPP workers and leaders that opposition Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) won PS-11 seat again with a lead of 5000 votes. Larkana is thought to be the stronghold of Pakistan People’s Party then how it happened that PPP lost it home seat.
I myself was polling agent of Jameel Ahmed Soomro who was PPP candidate for PS-11. Jameel is Political Secretary of Bilawal Bhutto and he himself nominated him for this by-election. Are people really angry? I think now it’s time for Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to take notice and hold accountable all those who are responsible for our defeat second time.
ANTHONY SAHOTRA
Larkana
Will economy improve?
One of the most important slogans in the election manifesto of the PTI government was that it will improve economy of the country and foreign investment will come after Imran Khan takes up the office. But even after one year, the situation seems to be worst. Business community is not happy with the government, dollar rate is high as always and the economy is in bad shape.
Though optimism is good yet recently IMF’s Deputy Director Research Gian Milesi-Ferreti in a press conference stated that Pakistan’s economy would turn around from the year 2020. Now we can only hope that PTI government somehow improves the economy and create jobs and other opportunities for welfare of our citizens which is their ultimate duty.
MUHAMMAD ASIM KHAN
Islamabad
Eco-friendly Diwali
Diwali is a Hindu festival but sadly people are forgetting the real meaning of Diwali. For them, it is not a festival of lights but a festival of crackers. With every household exploding crackers, noise pollution and air pollution increases and it causes more sickness to already sick and suffering people.
Diwali must be celebrated in an eco-friendly manner. Noisy crackers and those emitting a lot of toxic gases should not be used.
People are prone to breathing problems when they inhale smoke. Those suffering from asthma, bronchitis and hypertension suffer a lot. If we cannot refrain from exploding crackers, then let us at least make Diwali safe. Plastic sheets from rooftop of houses should be removed in order to avoid accidental fires during Diwali, especially when exploding dangerous firecrackers.
JUBEL D’CRUZ,
Mumbai, India
