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.
Chicken infectious Anemia virus
Poultry industry is one of the most vibrant segments of livestock sector in Pakistan having current investment of more than700 billion rupees. Poultry meat production for the year 2017-18 was to the tune of 1.39 million tons, which contributed 32.7 per cent of the total meat (4.3 million tons) production. High proportion of protein derived from the animal source is contributed by poultry.
In Pakistan, poor community can’t afford to buy red meat, so poultry is the cheapest available animal protein. Many bacterial and viral diseases which affect the immune system of poultry results in huge economical losses due to decrease in egg and meat production.
Chicken Infectious Anemia Virus (CIAV) is one of the viral diseases which result in immune suppression in broiler and layer flocks. The chicken of all ages is susceptible to the chicken infectious anaemia virus. The clinical findings include poor feed conversion ratio, decreased hematocrit values, anaemia, increased mortality rate, lymphoid tissue atrophy with bone marrow aplasia.
The Chicken Anaemia Virus (CAV) has ability to damage markedly bird’s immune system which causes losses to farmers. With weakened immune system birds become more prone to secondary bacterial infections and decrease in vaccine mediated immunity.
Based on clinical findings in live birds and post-mortem lesions in dead one, CIAV can easily be diagnosed at its earliest. Sensitive test to detect CAV is Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), another valuable molecular test for diagnosis of CAV include polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
Poultry farmers should strictly follow vaccination schedule and must consult their veterinarian to control and eradicate this problem from Pakistan.
DR. SYED MAAZ NADEEM, DR. MUTI-UR-REHMAN KHAN
Lahore
UN: dead/blind?
Certainly; Princely State of Kashmir, is internationally recognized (disputed) and its status can’t be altered according to dozen+ UN resolutions. During partition, Lord Mountbatten, fixed two basic conditions for accession of Princely-States – a) will of people; and b) geographic contiguity – documents are lying in UN’s locker safely (!!) Victoria Schofiled, distinguished, British historian (totally) denied the Indian claim over State of Jammu and Kashmir, based on IoA.
It is now more than 100 days passed that curfew is imposed with 9, 00,000+ armed force – highest ratio in history. They are (totally free to do) what they like (!). All major leaders of Kashmir are in prison. Recently; around 30,000 youngsters were taken into custody and shifted to concentration camps – parents are swerving. Raping (3-70yr); blinding with pallet gun; shooting and what not is going on since partition? Alas; UN members are witnessing (lively) in Headquarters – even then, no reaction. Because; Muslims are being killed and UN was/is established without Muslim-representation? O’ OIC is (also) dead!!
After outright occupation State; next step of (Modi & Co) is heading towards marginalizing Muslim through National Registration Act (NRA) as going on in Assam – over two million Muslims aliened for killing in near future. Demography of Kashmir would be altered soon through NRA scheme. So; this satanic planning will impact badly “if plebiscite” held in future. India has already started circulating maps showing Pakistani territory as (her) part. And; due to non-response from UN; UNSC; UNHRC; UNICJ (***) Hindutwa is heading towards more freely-killings!
The Christians, like Muslims, have always been declared by RSS as foreigners. Hindutwa intends to make India ‘pure Hindu State’ akin to Nazi’s “pure Aryan Germany”. Recently, RSS leader Rajeshwar Singh announced ‘Christianity & Islam’ will be kicked out of India by 2021. Oh! Terrorist-Modi; even then, was/is claiming for secularism and UN seems dead/blind??
MUHAMMAD AZAM MINHAS
Tatrinote, AK.
Disability of narcotics control department
Recently, I visited Data Darbar in Lahore, there I saw people lying on surface like they are dead. Upon inquiry, I came to know that they are drug addicts. People were calling them by different name i.e. Jahaaz, F16 etc. This incident exposed the disability of narcotics control department.
People in Pakistan are increasingly becoming addicted to all kinds of drugs including street drugs and prescription drugs etc. Both street and prescription drugs are increasing day by day in Pakistan with high amount of prices.
Due to this non-serious and unacceptable behaviour of anti-narcotics department drug addicts are rapidly increasing in Pakistan and most of the addicts are youngsters. It seems that officials are also involved in this act as there is no evidence of effective measures taken by them. As a nation, this is an alarming situation for all of us. This is most challenging issue in Pakistan. We should reduce its ratio for the sake of human health and their lives.
Use of narcotics is harmful not for the addicted but also has negative impact on the fabric of the society. Innocent and common people become its victims just to taste or to get rid of curiosity.
The efforts of such an addiction can cause dangerous changes mentally, psychology and spiritually to drug addict. The most disturbing aspect of drug addiction is that it is reaching epidemic proportions in Pakistan now.
Unfortunately if this kind of blindness of anti-narcotic forces continues then it will ruin our country much faster than any other problem.
For now I do not see any rapid and effective cure but I hope that officials will take needed actions to eliminate this disease and save country.
ABDUL MUQTADIR
Via email
Poor maintenance of public park
Through the columns of your esteemed daily, I want to draw attention of the authorities concerned, towards the poor maintenance of the public park in NCL Colony. Public parks are the lungs of the locality, where residents come and refresh their tired and fatigued minds. But in our colony, the park is not well maintained or say, not at all maintained.
It suffers due to the utter neglect of the authorities. The residents of nearby Basti are using the area as a public convenience. Moreover, some rowdies create disturbance and do not help in the upkeep of the park.
Miscreants sit and gamble here in broad daylight. They create disturbance and affect the normal health and hygiene of the common man. In reality, the park, presently, is a safety heaven for all types of evil characters. Also, the park has become the favourite halting place of stray cattle and dogs. If no immediate actions is taken, the park will turn into a devil’s den and a cause of nuisance for the colony.
I hope, the authorities concerned will take immediate action in the matter.
Muhammad Sarfraz
Rawalpindi
Harassment and abuse
Sexual abuse and harassment are serious issues that transcend racial, economic, social and religious lines. Worldwide around 40 to 47 percent of sexual assaults are perpetrated against girls who are 18 years old and younger. Most often by a male relative, neighbour, van driver and male teachers in universities.
I feel school, colleges and universities should lay down clear policies and strict laws to ensure girls have a safe and secure learning environment.
AYESHA AHMAD
Islamabad
Friday sale in Pakistan
Friday sale is an informal name for the Friday following Thanksgiving Day in the United States, which is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. The day after Thanksgiving has been regarded as the beginning of America’s Christmas shopping season since 1952, although the term “Friday sale” did not become widely used until more recent decades.
The concept isn’t just American any longer; many other countries have adopted it. The Friday sale wide spread everywhere ,like United states, Canada, United Kingdom, Mexico, Romania, India, France, Germany, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand and even Pakistan and other countries. In 2019, Pakistan celebrated Friday sale on 29 November. If you are a fan of most things, you may be aware of a phenomenon called Black Friday. And so it was that Homeshopping.pk launched White Friday, which is literally the exact same promotion as Daraz’s Black Friday, but with a colour change.
After all, ‘in Pakistan Friday is never black. I don’t know whether this change in colour is going to make any difference to how the public responds. Presumably people are sane enough to just take advantage of solid discounts instead of fretting about such irrelevance.
HAFSA NADEEM,
Islamabad
World Bank loan
An agreement has been signed by government with World Bank for $787 million loan that will be used for development of infrastructure in Pakistan. Pakistan has a very poor history of utilizing foreign loans.
However, it is expected that money will not be siphoned off this time and strict vigilance shall be exercised while spending these funds. The main chunk of loan $382 million have been earmarked for Karachi Yellow Line Project and $230 million for the Competitive and Liveable City of Karachi Project.
Obviously, these projects when completed successfully will simplify the complex and complicated traffic system of Karachi and bring a sigh of relief to citizens of Metropolitan city who are deprived of clean drinking water, fresh air, basic health facilities and majority of children are out of school due to expensive and non-affordable education. These funds will bring some job opportunities for some local people. It is to be seen how judiciously and speedily this money is utilized.
IFTIKHAR MIRZA
Islamabad