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Rise of gastroenteritis during summer
E-marking at AKU-EB
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People’s right to wellness A weekly from Karachi
Special Focus on
Friday,June10,2016 VolIII No4- 5 12PagesIRs.30
Health Education Environment
Experts ask Sepa to enforce its writ By Mukhtar Alam KARACHI: Despite its teething problems and resource constraints, it is essential for the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) to play the role of an effective environmental watchdog to monitor the continued violation of environmental laws in this sprawling metropolis. Highlighting the issues that haunt Karachiites in terms of air and water pollution and other issues, including waste disposal, energy-deficient and not so environment-friendly buildings and industries that miss the environmental sensitivities, the stakeholders from government agencies, industry, business and political concerns, academia, non-governmental sectors and conservation concerns agreed to say “enough is enough” at a roundtable discussion associated with World Environment Day celebrations last week. "We should learn from the past mistakes and form a pressure group which could give strength to the helpless Sepa and at the same time make Karachi a sustainable city,"
appear slow in our style of action, but it should be known by all that Sepa now can show its teeth appropriately.” The issues raised during this conference are years old, but I can assure that Sepa is all capable to handle the violators and has all intention to make Karachi a sustainable city with the support of civil society and the community of experts, Sepa DG added.
Traffic jams
KARACHI: Former MNA Rehan Hashmi, Sepa DG Naeem A Mughal and representatives from trade and industry at a roundtable conference on "Mission: Save and Rehabilitate Karachi," organised at a hotel last week.
said a speaker at the conference. The forum was organised by Sepa, in collaboration with an environmental consultant firm and NGOs related to health and environment. A couple of speakers repeatedly mentioned that Sepa is a “toothless” body. It plays selective under the directives of influential quarters. A senior citizen did not refrain
from saying that the siting directorgeneral of the provincial watchdog who is a suitable person and has got the slot after much aspirations even has to take dictation from some influential quarters siting in Dubai or in the country and to sit ignorant when its comes to implementation of environmental laws. Industries, including tanneries,
textile units and construction concerns were also referred to during the moot which was presided over by Sepa DG Naeem A Mughal for being indifferent to environmental laws. Mr Mughal, however, mentioned that his agency was getting out of shadows and making all efforts to get its writ. “To certain quarters, we may
He also referred to a recently highlighted case of traffic jams in the vicinity of a so-called supermarket and informed the audience that Sepa had been apprehending the issue of traffic mess and other environmental violations associated with a highrise project in Gulshan-i-Iqbal and had even issued an environmental protection order to builders of the project, requiring stoppage of ongoing building activities and commercial operation causing public nuisance till resolution of the issues related to “Environmental Impact Assessment" (EIA) of the building. Continued on page 8
WB to help launch nutrition, sanitation initiatives By Our Correspondent KARACHI: The Sindh government may launch nutrition and sanitation specific initiatives by the end of this year with the financial support of World Bank, it emerged recently. A source in the local government department said that province was working on two separate plans leading to promotion of sanitation and elimination of malnutrition across
the province. It is estimated that 9-9.5 million people in rural areas of Sindh are practising defecation at open places which causes diseases, particularly in children, leading to economic loss to families and government establishments. The open defecation, in addition to causing water and sanitation related diseases, leads to malnutrition and causes cases of sexual harass-
ment and abuse of children in rural areas, the source maintained. According to Sindh Education Profile 2014-2015, there are 21,102 schools which do not have toilets/washrooms, which along with other missing facilities, contribute to drop-out of students from schools. On the other hand, according to multiple cluster survey (MICS) carried out by the Sindh Bureau of Sta-
tistics in collaboration with Unicef in 2014, only 29pc of infants under six months of age are exclusively breastfed. Half of the children under-five years are stunted. Sindh MICS 2014 shows that infant mortality rate was 82 deaths per 1,000 live births and the under-five mortality rate was 104 deaths per 1,000 live births.
INSIDE Editorial ...............Page 03 Health ..................Page 04 SpecialReport.....Page 06 Environment ........Page 08 Education ............Page 09 SocialForum .......Page 10 Mosaic .................Page 10
EXCERPTS
Continued on page 2
.............on page 03
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2 I NEWS
IFriday,June10,2016
Concern over decline in vultures population By Our Correspondent KARACHI: A regional symposium on “Conservation and Protection of Vultures in South Asia" expressed its concern over the reduction in population of vultures in the region and called for stronger measures and combined regional policies for conservation of vulture populations in the wild. The symposium was organised under the “Vultures Conservation Project” being implemented jointly by Baanhn Beli and IUCN under a USAID-funded Small Grants and Ambassador Fund project, in collaboration with the Ministry of Climate Change, Islamabad, recently. Representatives of the government, media and academia, as well as local and regional species and vulture experts from India, Bangladesh, Thailand and Nepal attended the symposium. Speaking at the moot, Senator Saleem Zia of PML-N emphasised that concerted efforts on local, provincial, national and regional levels are required to prepare and implement an effective strategy for the protection and conservation of vultures as a part of fighting environmental degradation. “The regional countries need to learn from experiences of each other to save the the precious species from extinction, which is must to check environmental degradation caused by rotting of corpses (dead animals).” He appreciated the efforts of Baanhn Beli and IUCN strongly and called for stringent actions against the use of ‘diclofenac’ (an anti-inflammatory drug) that is said to have
KARACHI: Senator Saleem Zia, Federal Secretary, Climate Change, Syed Abu A Akif, IUCN Regional Director Aban Marker Kabanji and other experts at a moot on vultures population organised at a hotel recently. .—ST Photo
been a major contributor to the steep decline in vulture population in Pakistan. Federal Secretary Climate Change Ministry Syed Abu Ahmad Akif mentioned that the research conducted in Pakistan on the vanishing of vultures and its verification by regional countries, revealed that “diclofenac sodium” (a nonsteroidal drug) administered in the livestock was the main cause of this sudden decline in the population of vultures in South Asia. “The Government of Pakistan, realising the importance of species responded quickly and banned di-
clofenac production and its use in the country,” he added. In her opening remarks, Aban Marker Kabraji, IUCN Regional Director Asia, said that IUCN as an international organisation with a mix of state, government agencies and NGO members,“brings together a wide range of stakeholders on issues of mutual interest on neutral ground.” She appreciated the efforts of the governments that they have recognised the need to scale-up conservation, breeding and reintroduction programmes, and highlighted the urgent need for trans-boundary Vul-
MNCH
Committed for the Provision and Access to Quality Health Services to Mothers, Newborns and Children of Sindh Province
CMW measuring Weight of Newborn
CMW measuring Blood Pressure of Pregnant Women during ANC
CMW giving T.T Vaccination during ANC
CMW paying visit to Community Women at their door step.
National Maternal, Neonatal & Child Health Program, Sindh WomenResourceCenter NearNavalHeights,Kalapul,Karachi. Contact#021-35224391Fax#021-35650647
ture Safe Zones to conserve vulture populations in the wild. Syed Mahmood Nasir, Inspector General Forests, Government of Pakistan, reiterated the many threats vultures were facing which included shortage of dead animals on which they feed, encroachment by humans in their habitats. At the closing ceremony, Arif Ahmed Khan, former Secretary, Ministry of Climate Change, and now Secretary, Ministry of Interior, also shared his views on the vulture issue. He said that “governments need some policy level decisions across
South Asia, and that drugs, such as the diclofenac needed to be discontinued and that relevant government officials, such as in health, also needed to be sensitised to understand the gravity of the issue. He further said that while efforts were underway the existing situation required stronger measures and steps to ensure that vulture numbers increase. Mahmood Akhtar Cheema, Country Representative IUCN Pakistan, gave an overview of IUCN’s efforts towards species conservation, especially with respect to vulture conservation. Technical sessions included presentations by regional experts who shared their experience in vulture conservation and suggested measures that could be adopted in Pakistan to further speed up efforts towards arresting the decline. Dr Syed Ali Ghalib and Dr Fehmida Firdous, who had conducted a baseline on vultures in Nagarparkar in Sindh, reported their findings during the event and pinpointed areas where specific vulture populations were still to be found.
W a n T e d Werequiretheservicesof reporters,feature/article writersandphotographers acrosstheprovince. Contact:socialtrackpk@gmail.com Cell:0305-2278929 People’s right to wellness
WB to help launch nutrition, sanitation initiatives Continued from page 1
More than four, out of 10, children under the age of five in Sindh are underweight (42pc) and 17pc are classified as severely underweight. One quarter (25pc) children are severely stunted. A source privy to the development said that World Bank was weighing options and measures before sanctioning grants in two nutrition sensitive projects – one named as agriculture and nutrition specific while another one is Saaf Suthro (clean) Sindh (SSS) emphasising water, sanitation and hygiene interventions. Under the agriculture and nutrition initiative, which may cost around Rs580 million, about 20 per cent of the poorest quantile, based on government’s ongoing government income support programme data, will be provided with the seeds, livestock and fisheries facilities along with measures for creation of awareness on the subject of impact of malnutrition, particularly in children and women. Project Director of SSS Fahim Akhtar Junejo said that WB was
ambitious and committed to SSS project in Sindh. Things are on fast-track and it is hoped that SSS would be implemented in Sindh by the end of this year. He said that the project is aimed to promote sanitation and bring behavioural change in the people. It is estimated that SSS will cost around Rs1,500 million and be implemented in 13 districts of Sindh where 50 per cent of the villages which are practising open defecation (OD) will be made OD free. This is for the fact that open defecation is not a reflection of poverty, but traditional and behaviour-related practice, whereby safe sanitation is not a need felt, he remarked and added that under SSS, social mobilisation has also been planned. The project will also ensure construction of at least 200 toilets in government schools in each district. The prospective donors will contribute 80pc of the required budgets of the two initiatives while the 20pc would be provided by the Sindh government, it is further learnt.
OPINION I 3
IFriday,June10,2016
People’s right to wellness
Environmental woes
G
RADUAL environmental impairment of Karachi and in the rest of Sindh is becoming a matter of concern for people. Media reports are full of environmental issues, and despite being highlighted, the government agencies concerned hardly move for weeks. Concerns are being expressed by stakeholders over quality of water being supplied to people which is considered the mother of all diseases. Number of cases being reported to the Out-Patient Departments of hospitals is increasing in Karachi as well as in the rest of Sindh, especially in rural areas. Similarly, delays in the disposal of solid waste, cleaning of sewerage lines and nullahs and fast emergence of slums and other related issues need attention of the authorities in the federal and provincial governments as well as the municipal and civic staff. With the emergence of jungles of flats in several city areas, including the Old City area and Gulistan-i-Jauhar, civic amenities are collapsing, and in certain areas, there is virtual shortage of water, gas and electricity or they remain without them for weeks. People here have started living a miserable life. The transport system of the city is already in shambles, and worn-out and smokeemitting buses and other commercial vehicles are plying without any check. In many cases, the building control authority can be blamed for granting licences to such buildings in violation of building rules. Recent emergence of certain departmental stores in parts of Gulshan-i-Iqbal has started resulting in traffic jams in the evening timings, and has started attracting the attention of judiciary. Apart from this, various streets and roads in the metropolis are presenting a pathetic picture as there is no proper arrangement for their cleaning. Overflowing sewage at many places gives a foul smell, and resultant pools of dirty water are leading to the spread of diseases owing to growth of flies, mosquitoes and other insects. Likewise, sea pollution is increasing day-by-day and has rendered our beaches unsafe and not so attractive for visitors as they fear that they may contract diseases due to bathing in seawater with sewage. The Malir and Lyari rivers, the two major seasonal tributaries, have virtually turned into carriers of sewage, and a major portion of water falls into sea being untreated. The treatment plants at Mehmoodabad, Pak Colony and at Hawkesbay are hardly performing at per the requirements of the city. Moreover, seepages from gutters also make the underground water unsafe for use by the households. Due to shortage of water in the city, a majority of the people are forced to use underground sub-soil water for use in kitchens and bathrooms, so they may be at the risk of contracting various diseases. It is high time that the authorities pay a special attention to civic as well as environmental issues of the city which in turn would ensure better quality of life to the people. It should be the ultimate goal of a government to serve people and earn blessings of Almighty Allah. The recently elected local bodies have to take a major burden on their shoulders in this situation because a majority of the patients visiting our tertiary hospitals belong to rural Sindh who are deprived of civic and health facilities.
EXCERPTS ●
ARECENTdecisionofthePakistanMedicalandDentalCouncil(PDMC) tointroduceaquotasystemforadmissionsingovernmentrun(boysand girlscombined)medicalcolleges--50percentseatsforboysand50pcfor girls--departingfromthepresentpracticeofopen-meritadmissions,has generatedconsiderabledebateinthecountry. ThePMDCstance,reportedly,isbasedonthegeneralperceptionthatamajorityofgirlswhoacquiremedicaldegreeseitherdonotjointheprofessionor theyleavetheprofessionaftersometimeandsitathomesforsocialreasons.
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Obviously,itisthestate’sresponsibilitytoensureequalopportunitiesof educationandtrainingtoallstudents,rightfromprimarytohighersecondaryandbeyondlevels,withoutanydiscrimination.
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IfthePMDC’sarbitrarydecisionisimplementedsoonerorlater,thereare clearchancesthat20percentofthemeritoriousfemalestudentswouldbe underminedorignored,whiletheotherinferiorgoods(malestudents)would beinapositiontogetadmissionmerelyduetothequotaformulations.
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Itissaidthatthemedicalprofessionitselfisthenameofservicetomankind, butkeepinginviewthesituationofhospitalsandruralandsub-urbanand neglectedareas'basichealthunits,andbecauseoflawandordersituation andsocialtaboos,onecannotexpectfromladydoctorstoserveatvillage leveldispensariesorBHUsinamannerthegovernmentexpectsfromthem.
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Insteadofforcingtheprovincestocontinuewiththepolicyof50:50maleand femalestudentratioforadmissiontomedicalcolleges,effortsshouldbemade toplantheirsystematicdiversiontootherfieldsofeducationandtraining.
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Ifthegovernmentreallyfeelsthepinchofbeingshortofdoctors,bothmale andfemales,itshoulddevisecertainincentivespackagefortalentedgirls, includingflexibleorreduceddutyhours,nonightstayoremergencyduties athospitalsand“work-placeharassment”.
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Itwouldbeidealtohavesomescientificapproachandhumanrightembodied admissionandjobpoliciesforfemaledoctors,frequentandlegallycorrectappointments,withoutanyconflictwiththeearlierdecisionsofthesuperiorcourts negatingdiscriminationoruseofquotasystemintheprocessofadmissionsto professionalcolleges.
Social Track editorial, October 31, 2014.
Health&diseases,literacy&education,ecology&environment,housing,nutrition,livingand poverty,mortality&migration,women&genderempowerment,humanresource,energy,water &sanitation,publicutilities,publichealth,populationparameters,labourforce&employment, forest,fossilfuel,globalwarming,climatechange,science&technology,sports&youthaffairs, food&fertilizer,transport&communication,informationtechnology,naturalresources.
Rapid urbanisation & environmental challenges By Syed Nadeem Arif arachi is faced with a number of environmental challenges. The major challenges are air and noise pollution, water scarcity, solid waste, wastewater generation and disposal. All these problems are linked to only one problem ie unplanned and rapid urban growth. Various master plans for urban development of Karachi were formulated since 1952 to serve as guiding documents and provided framework for urban growth in accordance with the requirements of the local government for times to come. The master plans were not fully realised for various reasons, including difficulties in management/control of huge and continuous migration of people into Karachi, lack of provision of housings to cope with the demands of dwelling units for various income level, inability to provide necessary infrastructures and social services for rapid urban growth, insufficient institutional and financial structures for management and implementation of urban development plans and projects and lack of control in geographical conditions for urban sprawl (KTIP 2010). Ultimately the blame goes to civic agencies and local authorities which were unable to cope with the urban sprawl and only developed plans without any implementation.
adding burden to resources of the city. The rise in urban population puts burden on energy and food consumption, ultimately causing environmental pollution, including unimpeded growth in the vehicle fleet which was degrading the road environment and resulting in severe congestion on roads, having already filled capacity, along with serious levels of air and noise pollution. Traffic congestion affects average speed of vehicles and consequently fuel consumption and pollution. Noise pollution from vehicles, especially in residential areas, is above recommended levels. Unplanned vertical developments, which usually rely on old water supply network as well as lack of water supply from KWSB, are resulting in indiscriminate extraction of groundwater to meet the daily requirements of people. The water that leaks through the distribution mains and smaller pipes, particularly the ones that were laid long time before and in the third phase of the bulk water supply scheme for Karachi, creates an underground pool during the supply hours. This serves as a nursery to the micro-organisms, including fecal coliform released by the leaky sewers criss-crossing the water supply pipes. Sewage might enter the distribution system due to vacuum created during idle hours.
Population influx
Solutions
K
In an environmentally-impaired city, like Karachi, population influx is the key factor which contributes to environmental pollution, besides
Y
Presently, land planning and municipal control is fragmented into about 20 agencies, such as six cantonment boards (CBs), Karachi Port Trust,
Port Qasim Authority, Defence Housing Authority, Pakistan Steel, Pakistan Railways, Export Processing Zone, Sindh Industrial Trading Estate, Government of Sindh, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, Lyari Development Authority, Malir Development Authority, cooperative housing societies and private owners, with overlapping powers and functions and utter lack of coordination. There should be coordination between the agencies. A serious implementation of plans is needed. There are few urgent needs of Karachi that should be implemented immediately: 1- Accelerating the occupancy in new developed yet unoccupied housing schemes by providing all the infrastructure services not hampering the existing services of the inner city. This strategy will reduce pressure on the inner city, including the CBs and reduce vertical developments in already deprived inner city. 2- Mass transit system for the whole Karachi that will substantially reduce air and noise pollution. 3- Provision of safe drinking water to every citizen of Karachi by improving/upgradation of water supply network and immediate implementation of K-IV project. 4- Improving intercity collection of solid waste with the development and upgradation of landfill sites of Karachi. This will reduce nuisance on streets while mitigating fouling of Lyari and Malir rivers and their tributaries and also mitigating the street burning of solid waste. (The author is an environmental engineer and MD/CEO of EMC Pakistan Ltd)
How’s life?
ou probably don’t need statistics or scientific research to see how hard life in this society is. There are nonstop incidents and controversies that illustrate the difficulties and adversities faced by contemporary Koreans. Young people fed up with the shortage of decent jobs kill themselves, people frustrated with life wield knives at strangers and couples have no qualms about abusing - and even murdering --their children. Korean workers have one of the world’s longest workweeks, the gap between the haves and have-nots is widening, young people will not get married and give birth to children and many have to work into old age due to the lack of social security. The environment - as evidenced by the worsening fine dust problem - is deteriorating. In short, the quality of life of Koreans is very bad. A recent report released by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development offered another piece of evidence. The Better Life Index, which was based on a survey of 38 countries, put Korea at the 28th place this year, one notch down from last year. Overall, Korea ranks high in categories like education (6th place) and civic engagement (10th). But Korea remains near the bottom in categories like life satisfaction and health, in which the country ranked
31st and 35th, respectively. Environment in Korea was the second worst -- only after Israel -- among the 38 countries. For instance, the level of atmospheric PM2.5 -- particulate materials that causes serious health hazards -- is 29.1 micrograms per cubic meter in Korea, more than twice the OECD average of 14.05 micrograms per cubic meter. Last week, the Korean government announced measures to cope with the growing environmental menace, but many of them rehashed old policies and few expect them to reduce the level of air pollution in the country. The work-life balance BLI also confirmed the hectic lifestyles of Korean workers. It showed that 23.1 percent of Korean workers devote more than 50 hours per week to their job, compared with the OECD average of 13 percent. Belonging to a community is important for happiness in life, but Korea ranks 37th in this category as well: 75.8 percent of Koreans believe that they have someone they can rely on in times of need, much lower than the OECD average of 88 percent. All in all, the OECE report backs up the assertion that Korea is “hell” to live in. The bigger problem is that there seems no easy solution to the situation which is as hazy as the severe fine dust storm we face frequently.
From Asia
--Editorial/The Korea Herald, South Korea.
4 I HEALTH People’s right to wellness
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IFriday,June10,2016
Tobacco kills! By Ayman Sadat KARACHI: Worldwide tobacco use causes nearly six million deaths per year, and current trends show that tobacco use will cause more than eight million deaths annually by 2030, according to Centre of Disease Control. Smoking, as well as various tobacco-made items, likewise kill. Tobacco is made from the crisp leaves of the nicotiana plants. It began in the Americas. However, Europe was introduced to tobacco by Jean Nicot, the French diplomat to Portugal in 1559. It rapidly became a wellknown and a critical exchanged crop. Therapeutic examination made it clear during the 1900s that tobacco use improved the probability of numerous diseases. This is valid for all routes in which tobacco is utilised, including cigarettes, cigars and hand-moving tobacco. Bidis and kreteks (cigarettes containing tobacco with herbs or flavours), pipes and water channels, biting tobacco, snuff, snus, creamy snuff (a glue comprising tobacco, clove oil, glycerine, spearmint, menthol, and camphor sold in a toothpaste tube famous in India), Gutka (a variant of biting tobacco blended with areca nut, catechu, slaked lime and different toppings famous in Pakistan, India and South-East Asia) are all forms of tobacco products which are harmful and killing agents in the body.
The late-nineteenth century creation of computerised cigarette-production apparatus in the American South made conceivable large-scale manufacturing of cigarettes with ease, and cigarettes became rich and in vogue in men as Victorian period offered a route to the Edwardian. In 1912, American Dr Isaac Adler was the first to unequivocally recommend that lung cancer is identified with smoking. The diseases identified with tobacco use incorporate heart attacks, strokes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema and numerous types of tumours. The lungs cancer is the most basic type of disease caused by the utilisation of tobacco. It additionally causes peripheral vascular illness and hypertension. “World No Tobacco Day” was observed on May 31 across the globe. On this unique day, general awareness was given about this essential matter of well-being. According to WHO and the WHO framework convention on tobacco control secretariat (WHO FCTC), "recent moves to introduce plain (standardised) packaging of tobacco products can save lives by reducing demand for tobacco products.” Plain bundling of tobacco items limits or denies the utilisation of logos, hues, brand pictures and special data on bundling other than brand and item names showed in a standard shading and textual style.
As per study held In December 2012, Australia turned into the primary nation to completely actualise plain bundling. On May 20, 2016, France and the UK and Northern Ireland each started usage of plain bundling. Ireland is likewise getting ready to present the measure, while different nations are investigating the choice. As tobacco use is the most widely recognised preventable reason for death, governments must execute successful strategies to anticipate tobacco use (diminishing start and advancing suspension) and automatic presentation to tobacco smoke with a specific end goal to spare lives. Demise registries ought to gather information on tobacco use status to evaluate and screen national tobacco-related death rates. Aside from government, each individual ought to do its own push to stop the utilisation of tobacco.There are numerous ways an individual can quit smoking or quit the utilisation of tobacco. Some of them incorporate, not to convey cigarettes. Be glad that you are not smoking. To get persuaded make a list of all the reasons you need to stop smoking. Keep this list with you, ideally, where you used to convey your cigarettes. When you end up going after a cigarette, take out your list and read it. Drink a lot of fruit juice the initial three days. It will flush nicotine out of your framework.
One doctor for 3,014 people I was stunned to read the figures given in your report (published in the Social Track -- Issue No 2-3 of May 27, 2016) about health status. The annual Health Profile released by the Bureau of Statistics, Sindh, recently revealed that there were 503 hospitals in government and private sector across Sindh in 2014, with 27,843 beds and 16,269 doctors, including specialists and surgeons which is the most horrifying situation. WHO has set a minimum of one doctor per 500 population. It means we in Sindh have six times lesser number of doctors minimum required by the WHO and the UN. Let me share that the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) used to have 70 professors, but now it has merely five professors. It is really painful and pathetic. Will someone look into this situation? K. M. Nawaz Butt, CPSP Karachi
Effects of maternal smoking continue long after birth CONNECTICUT (US): Early exposure to nicotine can trigger widespread genetic changes that affect formation of connections between brain cells long after birth, a new Yale-led study has found. The finding helps explains why maternal smoking has been linked to behavioral changes such as attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, addiction and conduct disorder. Nicotine does this by affecting a master regulator of DNA packaging, which in turn influences activity of genes crucial to the formation and stabilization of synapses between brain cells, according to the study published online May 30 in the journal Nature Neuroscience. "When this regulator is induced in mice, they pay attention to a stimulus they should ignore,'' said Marina Picciotto, the Charles B.G. Murphy Professor of Psychiatry, professor in the Child Study Center and the Departments of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, and senior author of the paper. An inability to focus is the hallmark of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and other behavioral disorders, which have been linked to
maternal smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke. However, scientists did not understand how early environmental exposure to smoking could create behavioral problems years later. Picciotto's lab found that mice exposed to nicotine during early development did indeed develop behavioral problems that mimic symptoms of attention deficit disorder in humans. They then did extensive genomic screening of mice exposed to nicotine and found higher lev-
els of activity in a key regulator of histone methylation -- a process that controls gene expression by changing the DNA wrapping around chromosomes. The researchers found that genes essential to the creation of brain synapses were heavily effected. Furthermore, the scientists found that these genetic changes were maintained even in adult mice. However, when researchers inhibited the master regulator of histone methylation, these adult mice were calmer and no longer reacted to a stimulus they should ignore. In a final test, they triggered expression of this regulator in mice never exposed to nicotine, and the mice exhibited behavior that mimicked attention deficit disorder. "It is exciting to find a signal that could explain the long-lasting effects of nicotine on brain cell structure and behavior," Picciotto said. "It was even more intriguing to find a regulator of gene expression that responds to a stimulus like nicotine and may change synapse and brain activity during development." Courtesy: ScienceDaily
Industrial park at ICCBS By Our Correspondent KARACHI: The ICCBS Technology Incubator and Industrial Park (TIIP) will be launched soon at the International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi (UoK), said a press release. “The main objective of this technology park and incubation centre, which is being set up at a
cost of Rs188 million, is to create and develop supreme quality incubation process at the ICCBS for high-tech business start-ups.” Speaking at a meeting at Dr Panjwani Centre for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD), UoK, last week, ICCBS Director Prof Dr M Iqbal Choudhary said the technology park aims to bridge the gap between industry and universities, and to
fuel up the process of organised development work. He said that the technology park will help create new jobs, uplift economy and speed up development of entrepreneurial ecosystem in Pakistan. At present, 20,000 square feet is being offered for start-up firms and entrepreneurs, he said, adding that priority would be given to startups that address the needs of
large markets, have significant competitive advantage, have excellent teams; whose business model is sustainable; have a longterm commitment to building technology competence in Pakistan through investment in people and intellectual property, and those who aim to contribute to the long term economic vitality of Karachi and Pakistan, provide a number of high value jobs locally.
HEALTH I 5
IFriday,June10,2016
Hearing loss: an important Diet lacking in zinc is detrimental to human, global health concern animal health
“Deafness separates people from people”, said the deaf-blind American author Helen Keller. Hearing loss can have profound effects not only on interpersonal communication, but also on health, independence, well-being, quality of life, and daily function. In 2012, WHO estimated that 360 million people (5·3% of the world's population) were living with disabling hearing loss, while around 15% of the world's adult population had some degree of hearing loss. Disabling hearing loss is unequally distributed across the world, with the greatest burden in the Asia-Pacific area, southern Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. Despite the fact that hearing loss can be prevented and treated, many people with hearing loss in both resource-poor and high-income settings do not seek or receive hearing health care, and the current production of hearing aids meets less than 10% of the global need. Recognising the high unmet need of hearing health care in the USA, on June 2, the American National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine issued a new report—Hearing Health Care for Adults: Priorities for Improving Access and Affordability. Establishing hearing loss as an important public health and societal concern is one of the key messages of the report, whereby hearing loss should no longer be regarded as an individual problem, but must be addressed by actions at multiple levels engaging individuals and families, the healthcare community, non-profit organisations, industries, and government. The report identifies the major barriers to widespread use of hearing health care, including the high costs of hearing health care, lack of insurance coverage, the stigma associated with hearing difficulties and wearing hearing aids, and limited awareness of hearing health and the range of available options. Notably, nearly all of the costs of hearing health care are covered by the individual in the USA. Navigating the hearing healthcare system can be confusing and frustrating for people living with hearing loss, as they can be left with no clear guidance on what will best
fit their financial, health, social, and hearing needs, as pointed out by Dan G Blazer, chair of the Committee on Accessible and Affordable Hearing Health Care for Adults. Accordingly, 12 recommendations to guide and mobilise the efforts of all the relevant stakeholders in the hearing health-care system are highlighted in the report. For instance, all the relevant agencies of hearing health care need to collaborate to improve population-based information on hearing loss and hearing health care, to develop and promote measures to assess and improve quality of hearing health-care services, and to empower consumers and patients in their use of hearing health care. Furthermore, the report acknowledges that evidence on the effectiveness of interventions and outcome evaluation are strikingly absent, and proposes a series of research needs and priorities such as randomised controlled clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of hearing aids and well-designed longitudinal population-based studies that adequately control for confounders to determine the effect of hearing loss on individuals, families, and society. Although initially developed to inform hearing health care in the context of the USA, the report has global implications in terms of prevention and treatment, particularly when addressing hearing loss as an important global health challenge. However, one extremely important
MUNICH (Germany): The trace element zinc has an impact on the essential metabolic functions of most living organisms. New research carried out by the Chair of Animal Nutrition at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has found that even minimal zinc deficiency impairs digestion, albeit without any typical symptoms such as skin problems or fatigue. Hence, short-term zinc deficiency in the diet should be avoided. The test series established that even slight zinc deficiency in an animal's diet impedes pancreatic digestive activity and results in significant digestive impairment, even at an early stage. The study undertaken by Daniel Brugger of the Chair of Animal Nutrition at TUM was recently published in the British Journal of Nutrition. Scientist Brugger charted a new path since all previous studies had compared the functions of animals with clinical zinc deficiency to those of animals that had adequate amounts of this trace element in their bodies. "It is important to note that, in nature, clinical zinc deficiency does not really occur, neither in animals nor in humans," explains lead author Brugger. Hence, Brugger carried out his study on animals with short-term or subclinical zinc deficiency. As the trace element only exists in small amounts in an organism, it has to be consumed by way of nutrition. In piglets, for instance, a clinical or manifest zinc deficiency can -- under feeding conditions applied in practice -- only be achieved after about ten days, explains the TUM scientist. This is why he ended his test series early, after just eight days.
area the report fails to address is the serious health concern of children living with hearing loss. Worldwide, 9% of people living with hearing loss are children younger than 15 years, and the prevalence of disabling hearing loss in children in some low-income and middle-income regions can be several times that of high-income regions. The effect of hearing loss on a developing child is quite different from the effects of hearing loss that occurs in adulthood, with substantial negative influences on children's development and educational achievement. However, hearing loss in children can be mitigated through public health measures such as immunisation, avoiding the use of ototoxic drugs, and early identification and intervention for both acute and chronic ear conditions. Hearing loss has been ranked as the fifth leading cause of years lived with disability in the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013, higher than many other chronic diseases such as diabetes, dementia, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, hearing loss receives limited research funding and public awareness. Global multidisciplinary and collaborative efforts are urgently needed to address the health needs of the child and adult with hearing loss. Hearing loss cannot and must not continue to be a silent epidemic.
The pancreas is the control center for food digestion and energy homeostasis in the body. It pumps zinc into the gastrointestinal tract in order to maintain a consistent zinc level. Conversely, if an organism is depleted of zinc, it reduces its pancreatic zinc excretion to a minimum. The starting point for Daniel Brugger's study was the hypothesis that this mechanism may be related to digestion. Feed digestion is of enormous importance for growing livestock and especially the first few weeks after young animals are weaned from their mothers are of crucial importance. This is a factor that must not be underestimated by farmers. "We proved that there is a direct correlation between the amount of digestive enzymes inside the pancreas and zinc levels in the organism as a whole," explains Brugger. "Even short intervals of zinc deficiency in the diet should therefore be avoided. Given the similarities between a pig's organism and the human organism, we may draw the following conclusion when applying our results to the human body: an egg or two more once in a while can do no harm." Brugger advises vegans, vegetarians and older people to monitor their zinc intake. Among other things, a subclinical zinc deficiency in humans has been attributed to increased levels of inflammation markers and reduced immunocompetence.
– Editorial/The Lancet
– ScienceDaily
How does the metabolism react to a dwindling zinc deposit?
The unnoticed start of zinc depletion occurs without any visible symptoms, but minute changes can be identified in the liver and in the blood. For the purpose of this study, piglets which had just been weaned were fed a diet containing different amounts of zinc to develop early-stage zinc deficiency. --- On one hand, it was observed that the body tried to absorb zinc more efficiently, while on the other, it reduced pancreatic zinc excretion. Since clinical zinc deficiency reduces the test animals' appetite, "various hypotheses were derived, for example, that zinc deficiency had a direct impact on the vagus nerve, says Brugger.
The pancreas requires zinc for digestion
Rise of gastroenteritis during summer By Yusra Irfan KARACHI: Gastroenteritis is the inflammation of gastrointestinal tract, including stomach and small intestine. It is caused by many viruses, bacteria and their toxins which may enter the stomach through contaminated food and water, but the most common microorganisms include rotavirus, norovirus and Escherichia coli. It is also known as gastro flu but unlike flu, its most common
symptoms are diarrhoea and vomiting.
Rotavirus is the main cause of infection among children. The virus first enters through mouth and attaches with the cells of gastrointestinal tract and initiates the malabsorption of carbohydrates and other nutrients and also inhibits the reabsorption of water. This may result in the initiation of watery diarrhoea.
In case of viral infection, watery diarrhoea and vomiting are the common symptoms while low grade fever, abdominal cramps and weakness may also occur. On the other hand, in case of invasive bacterial infection bloody diarrhoea with abdominal cramps is the major sign. The disease can be treated by using oral rehydration solution (ORS) to maintain the water and electrolyte balance in the body and to prevent kidney failure. Children must be properly vaccinated against rotavirus. Health experts suggested that the disease can be prevented to high extent by taking proper care while consuming food and water. Food must be covered properly because flies are the major source of transmission of infectious particles, similarly the drinking water should not be mixed with the sewage water. In addition, hands must be washed properly before eating and after using toilet. The major source of these viruses and bac-
teria are contaminated food and water. The popularity of fast foods among young people is very big dilemma of the country. Since the preparation of fast foods and street foods commonly utilise unhealthy and contaminated water and the consumption of such foods results in the upset of gastrointestinal tract. Another common factor is poverty, because in rural areas sanitary conditions are very poor hence the rate of gastro flu is high in such areas. However, it is mainly the problem of under-developed and developing countries where people suffer from poor sanitary conditions. In Pakistan, many cases of gastroenteritis have been reported each year. It is estimated that the gastroenteritis is the fifth major cause of death among Pakistanis. Especially during summer, the occurrence of such cases reaches its peak.
Due to high temperature during summer, the food spoilage occurs early and people use outside street juices and water very frequently that result in the rise of incidence of stomach flu during summer season. Recently in Islamabad 6,000 cases of gastroenteritis were reported in public sector hospitals last month. Similarly, in Karachi many patients, particularly children, visit public as well as private sector hospitals daily with the onset of summer. As a senior professor of medicine remarked: “Gastro patients report to hospitals of Karachi in the beginning of April each year. In June and July their cases hit peak level.” The major cause of death due to gastroenteritis is the ignorance of disease, kidney failure and lack of information about the disease and its prevalence. Hence there is a need of providing proper guidance to the people about the occurrence, causes and prevention of the disease.
6 I SPECIAL REPORT
IFriday,June10,2016
BUILDING C
E-marking at AKU-EB By Mukhtar Alam KARACHI: The Aga Khan University Examination Board (AKU-EB) aims to provide opportunities to its registered students to achieve their goals by being assessed through a system which is fair and transparent and accepted by local and international educational institutions. High officers concerned stated this to dozens of school principals, representatives of Inter-Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC) and newsmen, who had informative tours of AKU-EB on different days recently and were facilitated to observe the board’s “exclusive seeding and e-marking processes” employed in the assessment of its Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) annual examination papers. The visitors were told that AKUEB’s marking and assessment process not only maintains anonymity of students to the emarkers during the checking process but also preserves the highest level of transparency, fairness and accuracy so that results given to the students reflect the true achievement of what they truly deserve. AKU-EB was established under a federal government ordinance in
2003 and it conducted its first examination in 2007. It operates countrywide, seeing a gradual increase in its enrollment of candidates. In its initial months of inception, the board had to undergo criticism and exhaust its energy and time significantly in overcoming the concerns raised among the academic circles and convincing them that it as an educational entity would always ensure upgrade of capabilities and knowledge of Pakistani students by restricting to policy of quality education and training and updated knowledge base in line with the local needs under an indigenous and financially affordable system. During a presentation on ‘Emarking’, Dr Naveed Yousuf, Associate Director (Assessment) at AKU-EB maintained that AKU-EB examinations are developed in alignment with syllabus prescribed by the federal government and some determined objectives. "While staying aligned with examination specifications, we go for increased cognitive level and difficulty level among students," he said and added that about 70 per cent of the educational institutions registered with AKU-EB are more close to each others as far as performance of candidates
School principals speaking to AKU-EB subject specialist during a visit to the e-marking suite.
in examination is concerned. He further said that students are given right to appeal as well – they may request for reassessment of scripts and re-totaling of marks.
AKU-EB a model board
I received my PhD in chemistry from the University of Cambridge in 2007, where I was awarded the Toby Jackman Prize. Subsequently I was a post-doctoral research scholar at the University of York, UK, and at McGill University, Canada, before returning to Pakistan. Currently I hold a joint appointment as the Director of the Aga Khan University Examination Board and as Assistant Professor in the new AKU Faculty of Arts and Sciences since October 2014. As Director AKU-EB, I oversee teams of experts in assessment, exam development, teacher development, operations and business development.
Can you please give a brief history of aKU-eB?
The need for AKU-EB was highlighted by leading educationalists in Pakistan who were
AKU-EB competency model developed by our team.
What is unique about aKU-eB?
It is important to mention that AKU-EB examinations assess higher-level cognitive skills. The aim is to transform the learning experience from rote memorization to conceptual learning. The goal is not only to impact the students who give examinations through our system but also teaching and learning in schools through examination and assessment practices. The AKU-EB papers are more valid, reliable, fair and transparent and that is what AKU-EB expects from school leaderships, teachers and students. AKU-EB is not only an examination body but also an institution made for the improvement of educational standards across Pakistan.
KARACHI: During a recent visit of the InterBoard Committee of Chairmen (IBCC) to Aga Khan University Education Board (AKU-EB) to observe E-marking system, its Secretary Ramzan Achakzai was highly impressed with the examination system as well as its educational work, such as developing capacity in teachers at SSC and HSSC level. In his opinion, “…This is a model board for the rest of the boards of Pakistan to follow and replicate for the benefit of students!” Director, AKU-EB, Dr Shehzad Jeeva shared this information with a team of ST during an interview last week. The following are the excerpts of the interview:
dr Jeeva, what is your educational background and when did you join aKU-eB?
“The number of claims for review has been very nominal.” He informed the visitors that the board has in-house content experts, who write the content in line with
Dr Shehzad Jeeva, Director, AKU-EB.
unhappy with the sub-standard assessment (rote-memorisation, marking issues, etc) of local examinations at SSC (Secondary School Certificate) and HSSC (Higher Secondary School Certificate) levels. The AKU-EB was established in 2003 through ‘Ordinance CXIV’ of the Government of Pakistan. We conducted our first exam in 2007.
What does aKU-eB do?
AKU-EB is Pakistan’s first private autonomous examination body for SSC and HSSC examinations. It also offers an innovative middle school programme (MSP) which enhances 21st Century learning skills, such as creative thinking, which is essential for students as they prepare for higher learning. The MSP is a project- based learning programme where we provide interdisciplinary projects to students along with assessment rubrics to teachers. The programme is based in the
aKU-eB has started monitoring exam centers via CCTV. Why is there a need for this in your system?
This year the board monitored the exam centers via CCTV across Pakistan. This gives further transparency to our exams and brings more credibility to SSC and HSSC qualifications, nationally and internationally.
do you see many students enrolling for aKU-eB examinations?
I see that many school leaderships, teachers, students and parents are now more aware of the importance of quality education and fairness of assessment (examinations). Now more students are enrolling to appear for AKU-EB exams and I expect to see it grow further in the coming years.
Is aKU-eB affordable for students and parents or is it expensive like other foreign exam boards?
the learning objectives. While underscoring the need to encourage students read books, he pointed out that only different concepts and examples may compel the
AKU-EB was established to provide high quality examinations with credible qualifications to ensure that opportunities are created for students as they move forward for higher learning. We are committed to be affordable and accessible. Yes, the system is slightly expensive as compared to the local exam board systems because to provide good quality there is always a cost associated. Having said that it is very much affordable for middle and lower middle income members of the society. Through AKU-EB students have access to an international-level facility at subsidised rates, while we bear around 66 per cent of the cost.
What is the role of an assessment or examination institution?
The goal of assessment is to ensure that the scores assessed are valid, reliable and fair to all. Another aspect of assessment is that it controls the behaviour of school, teachers, and students. If the expectation from the assessment institution is high, that is, towards conceptual learning, then classroom teaching becomes more engaging, students are encouraged towards conceptual learning and not towards rote-memorisation. More importantly, parents become more confident about the future of their children. I strongly believe that, “assessment is the driving force for new ways of learning.”
What are the essential features of aKU-eB syllabus?
AKU-EB follows the national curriculum of Pakistan (NCP) and develops syllabi for all subjects based on the NCP. The syllabi are unique as it is based on students’ learning outcomes defined across cognitive levels. While in other systems, textbooks are provided and chapters become the syllabus. A good syllabus is an essential communication tool that makes teaching and learning interesting for students and their teachers.
SPECIAL REPORT I 7
IFriday,June10,2016
ST photos
ONFIDENCE
AKU-EB e-markers assessing annual examination papers.
Principal Shahina Ali Raza speaking to AKU-EB subject specialist.
students reading books. Moreover, we just try to assess conceptual aspects and not the skill of students as English is their foreign language, he added. Replying to another question, Mr Yousuf said that only the schools which meet AKUEB criteria are given affiliation. “We help schools raise facilities and meet shortcomings found in their case by our review team before recommending for their affiliation," he elaborated. At a room where examiners were busy in e-marking the answers of candidates of a recently held examination of the board, a key examiner told the visitors from schools that there are remote chances that one particular examiners will get answer scripts of any particular school in bunches at a time. Scripts are given fictitious numbers, one whole script of a candidate is disintegrated and bar-coded and shuffled before handing them in pieces (question-wise) to
from AKU-EB presented a live demonstration of the e-marking process, followed by a comprehensive presentation on the science behind AKU-EB’s assessment practices made by Dr Naveed Yousuf. According to him, “assessment processes implemented by AKU-EB ensure validity, reliability and fairness through psychometric analysis of scores, thereby maintaining international standards.” Procedures implemented for question development, their review and paper setting were also shared with the audience to inform about the rigorous measures taken to ensure quality and fairness to all. Representatives from various institutions, including Al-Murtaza School, Tungsten School of Excellence, MSB Educational Institute, Creek High School, Public School Sukkur, Shahwilayat Public School, Civilisations Public School, Nasra School, Habib Girls School, Habib Public School, BVS
different examiners. “A single examiner has not been in a position to scrutinise one whole answer script of a specific student,” it was further said. In the meantime, an AKU-EB press release said that the board was ensuring transparency, reliability and fairness through e-marking and international standards of assessment. “With a vision to improve the quality of education in Pakistan, AKU-EB is at the leading edge of the science of assessment and examination technology in the country. Its uniqueness lays in the fact that it makes quality examinations of international standard a reality for Pakistani students. “In Pakistan, examination boards serve only in a ‘certification’ capacity, whereas AKU-EB is striving to bring positive international repute to a qualification that is offered in Pakistan." During the tours of school heads and other concerned to the board, subject specialists
Dr Jeeva with representatives from Inter-Board Committee of Chairmen.
Why does aKU-eB provide teacher trainings?
Unfortunately, in Pakistan there are no pre-service trainings for teachers at the beginning of their practical careers. Also, most of the teachers have come from a system where old methodology of teaching and learning was popular such as rote-memorisation. AKU-EB is the only exam board which provides trainings for teachers at SSC and HSSC levels with the aim to inspire excellence in teaching and learning to enrich students’ educational experiences and outcomes. Particular focus is given to teach for a deeper understanding of concepts to develop higher order cognitive skills in students.
are the qualifications of aKU-eB considered credible by universities in Pakistan and abroad?
Our primary purpose is to improve the quality of education by delivering high quality, accessible, syllabi and examinations across the nation, in accordance with the national curriculum of Pakistan. AKU-EB qualifications are recognised and valued by leading higher education institutions nationally and internationally. The credibility of our qualification has been recognised by many higher education institutions in the form of either giving exemptions in their admission entry tests or interviews and at times in the form of scholarships. Moreover, many of our students have also been able to get admission in good universities outside Pakistan. Our qualification is accredited by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and Inter-Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC), thus it does not require equivalency and there are no deduction of marks.
Parsi School, Ghulaman-e-Abbas School, Aga Khan Higher Secondary School, Happy Home School, Saifiyah Girls School, ISAAR Foundation School, Aga Khan School Garden, SMIU Model School, The Kehkashan School and White House Grammar School participated in the orientation tour. Speaking at the occasion, Dr Shehzad Jeeva, Director, AKU-EB, said, “E-marking is not only about scanning, software and e-markers, there is a ‘science of assessment’ behind what AKU-EB does for providing qualifications of international standards that are aligned with the national curriculum of Pakistan.” The AKU-EB communication further said that the board was Pakistan’s first private autonomous examination body for SSC and HSSC. The board also offers an innovative middle school programme (MSP) to help students transition into secondary school through project-based learning.
8 I ENVIRONMENT
IFriday,June10,2016
Safeguard Nature & the Earth By Ayman Sadat KARACHI: World Environment Day (WED) was celebrated on June 5 to improve global awareness to have positive environmental actions to safeguard nature and the earth. Additionally, it is known as Environmental Day, Eco Day or WED in brief form. It is held by the UN Environment Program (UNEP). According to UN, “It is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations (UN) stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action.” Preliminary WED began in 1972. World Environment Day was proven by the UN General Assembly in 1972 to indicate the beginning of the Stockholm Discussion on the Human Environment. Another quality adopted by the Assemblage the same day resulted in the creation of UNEP. It is accommodated each year with a different city and commemorated with a global exposition through the week of June 5. In 1985, Pakistan was the presenter of the
WED and the theme of the event called as "Youth: Population and the environment." Each year, festivity of the World Environment Day is dependent on the theme chosen by the UN to help make the celebration far better by pushing mass people worldwide to greatly be a part of responding to environmental issues on global range. The theme of the entire year 2016 would be “Join the race to make the world a better place.” This season it is being managed by Angola. There are many reasons to observe the WED: to create awareness about environmental issues; to encourage common people and neighborhoods to actively take part in special events as well as become a dynamic agent in producing environmental safety precautions. Let people know that community people are incredibly necessary to inhibit negative changes towards environment-friendly issues and to encourage visitors to make their nearby areas safe and clean to take pleasure from safer, cleaner plus more prosperous future. Now a question arises here that how
new technologies and science are resolving the issue to protect environment? It is a general concept that technology is only impairing the environment. It is totally dependent on what way the technology is used. There are several technologies which can be used to improve the environmental condition. One of the technologies is tissue culturing or more appropriately plant tissue culture. By using plant tissue culturing technology, thousands of plants can be grown without using soil initially. The plant is grown at appropriate age and then planted in soil just to give the natural habitat. These plants are pest resistant and there will be no need to spray any sort of insecticide. These plants are also rich in in nitrogen sources, so there will also be no need to add nitrogen fertilisers as well. Plant tissue culture technology helps cover up the food need. It also helps protect the environment from harmful sprays used as insecticide. Another research which was published
Finding connections to nature in cities is key to healthy urban living WASHINGTON (US): The modern city is a place where a vibrant array of ideas, sights, sounds and smells intermingle to spawn creativity, expression and innovation. We are drawn to the noise, the constant connectivity and the delicious food. Simply put, society is tuned to the pulse of the city -- but at what cost? That's the question explored in a recent Science perspective piece co-authored by University of Washington researcher Peter Kahn. Its authors discuss the growing tension between an arguably necessary role urban areas play in society and the numbing, even debilitating, aspects of cities that disconnect humans from the natural world. "Kids in large cities are growing up having never seen the stars. Can you imagine that -- having never in your life walked under the vastness of the star-lit sky, and there's that feeling of awe, restoration and imaginative spark?" said Kahn, a professor in the UW's Department of Psychology and School of Environmental and Forest Sciences. "As we build bigger cities, we're not aware how much and how fast we're undermining our connection to nature, and more wild nature -- the wellspring of our existence." Kahn, who directs the Human Interaction with Nature and Technological Systems Lab at the UW, and co-author Terry Hartig at Uppsala University in Sweden, point to research that shows the emotional and mental strain cities can have on people. Mental illnesses and mood disorders are more common in urban areas, and while many factors share the blame, reduced access to nature is a contributing cause, Kahn said. "There's an enormous amount of disease largely tied to our removal from the natural environment," he said. City dwellers in increasingly dense urban areas may have little or no contact with the natural world in their daily lives. That void is producing "environmental generational amnesia," a term Kahn coined and elaborates on in a recent book that describes how each generation creates a new idea of what's environmentally normal based on experiences in childhood. If, for example, a child never crawls through the dirt looking for critters, or never cranes her neck to take in the upward expanse of an old Douglas fir tree, she may not see as an adult that forests are degraded or certain species need protection.
To take that a step further, the authors write, "This helps to explain inaction on environmental problems; people do not feel the urgency or magnitude of problems because the experiential baseline has shifted." Packing people into cities, then, can have serious consequences for future generations, the authors argue. There may also be such a thing as too much urban density, if the goal is to achieve access to nature alongside the advantages cities can offer. "I'm willing to say there's a naturalness we can achieve in cities, but not at the scale we're building or at the scale we're headed with many cities," Kahn said. "There's nothing natural about a megacity." There are steps cities can take to introduce nature into the urban core, including requiring buildings to have windows that open to allow in fresh air and natural light; incorporating more rooftop gardens and urban agriculture; and creating spaces within and around buildings to touch, see and smell native plants. But these remedies first require an appreciation for nature in urban centers, as well as the space, resources and collective will to make these changes. Kahn argues that it's more than just introducing nature into urban areas. People must be able to interact with these elements using more of their senses in order to experience physical and psychological benefits of nature, as well as to shift the collective baseline toward better understanding and appreciation of the natural world. For example, looking at an office plant on the windowsill might be soothing, but having a place to sit in the grass on a lunch break and perhaps even sink one's feet into the soil are sensory experiences that can deepen a person's engagement with nature. Thoughtfully designed cities with nature can offer both the stimulation and energy of an urban area and meaningful interaction with a psychologically restorative natural environment. The authors conclude: "Thus, cities designed well, with nature in mind and at hand, can be understood as natural, supportive of both ecosystem integrity and public health." Courtesy: ScienceDaily
recently showed t h a t baking soda is used to reduce the CO2 from power stations. The scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have developed liquid microcapsules and sponges which can absorb CO 2 more efficiently and at a lower cost than current methods. They have created microcapsules that have a liquid solution of sodium carbonate (also known as soda ash) at their core, surrounded by a polymer shell that allows CO 2 to flow through. There are several other methods used worldwide to protect the environment, but it is not only the duty of the government to adopt to these methods, but it is the duty of every individual to protect the environment and make the earth a place worth living for.
Experts ask Sepa...
KARACHI: A section of participants — ST photo Continued from page 1
Commercialisation of roads
He further said that Sepa wanted provincial government to revisit its policy of declaring high density zones and commercialisation of 32 roads in Karachi. Such big decisions of environmental and infrastructural impacts have been taken without conducting statutory EIA, he added. There was a need to discipline the land-owning and civic agencies in the city which did conversion of land-use status of the area in their jurisdiction for commercial purposes without conducting EIA. The institutions related to industries, local government, land development and owning agencies and other sectors should know that environmental laws of the province are applicable to them very much," he said. Moreover, massive commercialisation, including massive construction of high-rise buildings may result in massive environmental impairment, he added. "The Sepa had started enforcing environmental laws in the entire province and in the first stage, it had targeted some 70 major industrial units in the province making it binding upon them to install their own waste-water treatment plants and also prepare environmental management plans," said the Sepa DG.
advisory committees
He also mentioned that Sepa will set up
sector-based advisory committees to take advice from experts while monitoring factories of different industrial sectors. "Sepa will now go beyond consultative approaches to convince industries to abide by environmental laws. We need to take a step further and be strict with all those who directly or indirectly are violating environmental laws either willingly or unwillingly,” he added. Earlier, Rehan Hashmi, former MNA of MQM and chairman-designate of DMC Central in Karachi, senior scientist-cum-environmentalist Mirza Arshad Ali Baig, Engineer Nooruddin, Eijaz Khilji, Rafiul Haq, Gulzar Firoz from FPCCI, Ronald D Souza from Shehri, representatives of trade and industry associations, including Saleemuz Zaman, Engineer Nadeem Arif, advocate Zubair Ahmed Abro, Imran Sabir and Saquib Ijaz gave their intake during the discussion.
Sea pollution
Deploring the depleting environment of Karachi, Engineer Noor said that there used to be a time in Karachi when a visitor would toss a coin in the sea near Natives Jetty and a young boy would dive in and get it back, which is now a tale of the past as sea has become polluted and is full of garbage now. Continued on page 11
EDUCATION I 9
IFriday,June10,2016
Corporate support missing for skill development
KARACHI: Panelists of a discussion on corporate sector role in technical and vocational training for youth at a local hotel. — ST photo
By Our Correspondent KARACHI: Stakeholders at a summit on corporate philanthropy held last week discussed the need of delivering corporate social responsibility for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) for youth in Pakistan. Institute for Advancing Careers and Talents (iACT) organised the summit at a local hotel. The theme was ‘missing in action: corporate support for skill development.” Brian Heath, US Consul-General Karachi, was present as chief guest. The forum commenced with the welcome speech of Sami Ullah Arain, Manager Centre Operations — iACT, while Farhad Karamally, Chief Executive Offi-
cer, Funverks, delivered the keynote address. which was followed by a panel discussion. Mr Karamally highlighted the problems of youth and their positive attitudes towards those problems. While reflecting over how to better align and integrate the efforts of different stakeholders involved in delivering vocational training to youth, the panel discussion focused specifically on defining a role for the corporate sector in improving the overall output of TVET institutions and providing better employment opportunities for youth in service/commercial sector. It was strongly suggested that there should be a group or committee who should work to bring corporate industry and government organisations under one roof to
KARACHI: Participants if corporate philanthropy summit-2016 at a local hotel.— ST photo
support vocational training programmes. The panelists for the event included Wasif A Rizvi, Chief Executive Officer, Habib University Foundation, Michael Paulo, Head C-5, TVET Reform Support Programme, Parvez Ghayas, Chief Executive Officer, Indus Motor Company, Saad Amanullah, former CEO-Gillete Pakistan and Shahbaz Islam, AGM Corporate Communications, Sui Southern Gas Company. Mr Rizvi shared some of the successes achieved by the iACT in offering subsidised career and skill development training to deserving youth, creating a strong basis for corporate support for TVET in future. Mr Ghayas spoke on how industries and corporate services can support TVET in providing employment opportunities to trained youth.
Mr Islam said that it was a collective responsibility of all organisations to provide better training and opportunities to youth. Faheem Bukhari, Head Projects, Habib University Foundation, in his closing remarks said that skill development was crucial for creation of employment opportunities for youth. He further said that iACT provided the educational opportunities along with the job placement facility to the under-privileged youth. iACT is a not for profit career development centre that offers subsidised, innovative and futuristic career and skillbased education, he added, saying iACT was a public-private partnership initiative between Habib University Foundation and the local government.
10 I ROUND-UP
IFriday,June10,2016
Why medical science is difficult? Madiha Shamim
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or those who belong to other fields, medical science remains only “difficult” to them with no further explanation as to why this tag has been rendered to it here in Pakistan. The general perception that has been created is that it is hard to study. Undoubtedly, it is more difficult to earn a medical degree than any other, but the difficulty doesn't lie only within the course books. Indeed it has a lot to do with affordability. The seats in medical colleges are so limited that people with extraordinary grades only are able to manage grabbing one. Changing field at this certain point without one’s consent leaves a regret to last for entire lifetime. So many people complain that they failed in the aptitude tests from few marks and that they had to choose any other field to graduate.
Hence entering medical has remained difficult, because it is like flipping a coin where on one side, there is a bright and desired respectable future, whereas on the other side, it’s regret for entire lifetime. In terms of private institutions here in Pakistan, the universities making business and selling degrees in the name of money are plenty. For those who can afford, there is no difficulty in being entitled as doctor and enjoying all the respect that a doctor receives in this society. However, for those who cannot afford, it’s like having a “do or die” situation where if once the opportunity is missed, it never returns back. On failing to pass the tests or the interviews, one simply has to face the entire family, relatives and neighbours, answering them regarding the reasons of failure. There are hardly any of the families in Pakistani societies who dare to support
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their children on at least stepping up in this tough game when students try to play safe by simply going to the fields of engineering and commerce which are full of opportunities. It is high time that the government should take notice of how difficult for a doctor has it become to even think and decide, if they want to pursue a career in medical science. Apart from establishing good universities and making education available to all those who qualify the merit, the government needs to also open new allied medical fields which the students can opt for in case if they do not want to graduate as a doctor. There should be a strict policy for private universities also, which should make fees affordable so that it appears as if they are imparting education rather than selling degrees.
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The society also needs to understand that one can survive without an engineer, but without a doctor, there may be no obstacle in death approaching the people very easily. If students willing to attempt and utilise their abilities to make some good name in the field of medical are suppressed in the same way by telling how difficult and impossible it is to be a doctor for various reasons, the future generations will not only lack self-confidence, but entire society will face serious setbacks in the field of medicine. It is due to this immense pressure and the negativity that surrounds society regarding the field of medical that most people despite having the dreams and ambitions to achieve it, quit even before trying. However, the truth about medical science, especially with respect to Pakistan has always remained unspoken.
KARACHI: Students of various schools who participated in World Environment Day event organised by SSGC with guests recently. — ST photo
KARACHI: Office-bearers of the Karachi Press Club with KMC Administrator Laeeq Ahmed who visited the Club recently.— ST photo
KARACHI: DMC East Administrator Rehmatullah Shaikh and others offering prayers after planting a tree at the University of Karachi.— ST photo
KARACHI: Sadia Rashid, President, Hamdard Foundation Pakistan, receiving Consumer Choice Award from Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, former Prime Minister of Pakistan, at a ceremony recently. — ST photo
KARACHI: Provincial Minister for Food Syed Nasir Hussain Shah during his visit to Little Master Hanif Mohammad Ground recently. — ST photo
NEWS I 11
IFriday,June10,2016
Lyari boxers honour Mohammad Ali
KARACHI: International boxer from Lyari Ustaad Malang Baloch, former Chairman of World Boxing Federation Prof. Anwer Chaudry, the legend Mohammad Ali, Ustaad Majeed and Ustaad Abdur Rauf Qureshi seen during SAF Games 1989 in Islamabad.
By Umair Razzaq KARACHI: He was a man of faith who fought battles outside the ring. He became a symbol of pride and strength to black people, and was the most adored sportsman of the 20th century. Ali was a legend, a sheer talented boxer, and was the king of the ring, remarked the Finance Secretary of Pakistan Boxing Federation Asgher Baloch expressing his deep condolence over the demise of Mohammad Ali. Mohammad Ali, who died on June 3, 2016, at the age of 74 dazzled the world with his sportsman spirit and skills. Ali had helped introduce new technicalities in boxing and undoubtedly made boxing look beautiful. Ali was not an individual, but a complete institution," stated Mr Asgher during a ' Fateha Khuwani' held at Lyari Labour Welfare Centre in the memory of ' The Greatest Mohammad Ali' here last week. The former international boxers of Lyari, coaches, junior boxers, and referees attended the condolence gathering, recited Quran, offered their grievances and supplications. "A vacuum has created after the death of Ali which is now seemingly difficult to be occupied," added Mr Asgher. "Mohammad Ali's consecutive victories stunned the boxing world. Nobody had ever
seen a quick-foot and agile boxer as Ali," stated senior vice president of Sindh Boxing Association, Abid Hussain Brohi, adding that "we are quite saddened over the loss of a legend personality of all times". Mohammad Ali as a boxer had always been an inspiration to Lyari and to the world as a whole. He had not only put in efforts in modernising boxing, but also had served Islam and worked tirelessly for the promotion of this noble cause. It goes without saying that there had been grave challenges faced by Ali when he was imprisoned for five years when he denied to serve the US Armed forces, headed to war in Vietnam. "Needless to say, Lyari is a castle-fort of talent in all games and as far as Ali's style and techniques are concerned, hundred of our boxers are following the patterns given by Ali," Abid Brohi said. Brohi further said that a recent strawweight boxing tournament, sponsored by the National Bank of Pakistan - was later dedicated to Mohammad Ali as soon as we heard the news of his departure from this world. "Pakistan Sports Board and Pakistan Boxing Federation ought to come forward and organise a mega boxing event to honour 'Great Ali' to leave an ardent message to the world
KARACHI: Boxers and referees reciting Quran during Fateha Khuwani held at Lyari Labour Welfare Centre in memory of Mohammad Ali Clay last week. — ST photo
KARACHI: Mourners lit up candles in memory of Boxing Legend Mohammad Ali. — ST photo
that there are a huge fan following of Mohammad Ali Clay in Pakistan, especifically in Lyari," added Brohi. A navy coach (retired) and international boxer Abdur Rauf Qureshi said that he was very much inspired with Mohammad Ali since he had started his career as a boxer. "I met Ali during the SAF Games 1989 in Islamabad where he had graced the event as chief guest. Ali was accompanied by his wife Yolanda Ali, daughter Laila Ali and his physi-
cian. We stayed there till the closing ceremony and took photos with Mohammad Ali. Interestingly, Hussain Shah was conferred a gold medal by Mohammad Ali," recalled Qureshi. Rasool Baksh, president, South Boxing Association and Fida Hussain, General Secretary, Sindh Referee Judge Commission, emphasised that Ali put a new spirit into boxing and praised the claim once made by Ali "to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee".
Experts ask Sepa... Continued from page 8
Mr Feroz spoke about the use of polythene bags and declared it a menace for city environment. He was also critical of the government for its failure to get rid of the situation.
25,000 trees to be uprooted
Mr Hashmi, said that authorities doing work for Green Line Rapid Bus Transit Service in the city had estimated that some 17,000 trees would be uprooted due to the construction work on the proposed route of Green Bus project while his own assessment puts the number of trees likely to be uprooted at 25,000. He said that alternative energy plant run by bio-gas should be installed at Landhi cattle colony whose feasibility had been made to prevent waste generated there to be constantly dumped into sea causing massive marine pollution in the Arabian Sea. The chairman-designate of DMC Central further said that after assuming his office, he would constitute a monitoring committee having representation of all the concerned NGOs for keeping a check on environmental issues in the district.
Pressure group
Seema Tahir, a media owner, stressed the need for developing a pressure group sort of body which could identify the environ-
mental hazards in the city and take up with the quarters concerned. Dr Baig said that major portion of agriculture land in Karachi had started virtually sinking into earth owing to the unplanned and unchecked activity constantly being done for extracting water, sand and gravel, and other minerals from suburban areas. Such activities have increased aridity of the land, he observed. He said that industrial units in the city could not absolve themselves of the obligation to construct their own preliminary waste-water treatment plants. “We need to ensure an environmental safeguard on priority basis instead of waiting for development of proposed combined effluent treatment plants of the industrial zones.”
KARACHI: Winner team of KMC-KCCA Cricket Tournament with KMC Administrator Laeeq Ahmed recently.— ST photo
Karachi Circular Railway
Mr Khilji said that at the time of independence of Pakistan in 1947, the population of Karachi was about 3,57,000 but the city with so lesser population had a mass transit system in the form of tram service. In 1952, the idea of Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) had been conceived for the first time which was later launched in 1964 while the KCR continued its service in full swing till 1984 when population of the city was between 03 million to 3.5 million while 104 trains had been used for the service on 24 hours basis, he informed the audience that included youngsters and students as well.
KARACHI: Leader of Opposition in Sindh Assembly Khawaja Izaharul Hassan and Senator Saeed Ghani hoisting the national flag at the inauguration of Ramazan League Cricket Tournament, organised by DMC East last week.— ST photo
People’s right to wellness
Friday, June 10, 2016
Multi-sectoral nutrition strategy urged
ISLAMABAD: Speakers of a consultative workshop on nutrition. — ST photo
By Our Correspondent ISLAMABAD: National SUN (Scaling Up Nutrition) Secretariat, Ministry of Planning and Development & Reform, organised a consultative meeting on formulation of Pakistan Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Strategy last week. Stakeholders from line ministries, provincial departments, development partners, businesses, donors, UN, academicians and researchers contributed to the meeting. Stephen Glunning, Deputy Country-Director for World Food Programme, reiterated the need for concerted efforts from all the partners under the leadership of Planning Commission for scaling up nutrition in the country. Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement’s Focal Person in Pakistan Aslam Shaheen said that Pakistan had unique features and there was a need to adopt a two-pronged approach to address the issue of nutrition: economic growth and nutrition-specific initiatives. Pakistan Multi-sectoral Nutrition Strategy will basically be focusing on both strategies. He further said that after the devolution the federating units developed their own inter-sectoral/integrated nutrition strategies. However,
owing to the urgency for an effective and timely response to the Pakistan Vision-2025, Global World Health Assembly Targets, Framework of Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN-2), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Global Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement Strategy, there is a dire need for a comprehensive multi-sectoral nutrition strategy at national level. Multiple speakers from Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Ministry of National Health Services Regulation and Coordination, Dr Shakeel Ahmed, Dr Azeem Khan and Dr Baseer Khan Achakzai said that Pakistan is suffering from hidden hunger and Pakistan Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Strategy was a great initiative to and key for effective implementation in coordination and collaboration among sectors and partners. Later, group meetings were held around thematic areas of governance, agriculture and food security, health, education, WASH and gender/safety nets to deliberate on challenges, strategies required to address the challenges, identifying major steps for achieving the strategies and then fixing responsibilities on stakeholders who would facilitate the process.
PrintedatMazPrintsandpublishedbyMukhtar Alam Khan forMakNewsNetwork,R-331,Block20,F.B.Area,Karachi.email:socialtrackpk@gmail.com.Phone:021-36366759