Smog Defence Through Diet

This year record-breaking smog has captured the entire sky above Pakistan especially Punjab province. In addition to wearing N95 masks, staying indoors, and installing air purifiers, experts suggest that our diet can play a significant role in shielding our bodies from its harmful effects. Although liver, kidneys and lungs are among the main organs that naturally cleanse and detoxify our bodies, certain foods, rich in essential nutrients and antioxidants, can also help to fortify our defenses against the air pollutants that we have to encounter due to poor air quality. Continue reading →

Subsidising diseases

Government subsidies are important and provide relief for the poor segment, especially when inflation is hitting hard. However, when these subsidies extend to unhealthy food items, the consequences for public health can be significant. Let’s discuss the health implications of subsidising unhealthy food items. Continue reading →

Unveiling dyslexia: hidden struggles

Can you imagine a world where a child’s learning difficulties are not barriers but stepping stones to becoming a world-renowned scientist, a successful actor, director or a renowned journalist? Albert Einstein, the genius behind the theory of relativity, once said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” If the remarkable minds of Einstein, Steven Spielberg and Richard Branson are any indication, dyslexia may hold the key to unlocking the boundless potential of the human imagination. Continue reading →

Trans-fats: a silent killer

Cardiovascular diseases are considered a major health concern primarily for developing nations. Approximately 17 million people die due to heart disease worldwide every year. According to the recent WHO report on heart attack ratio in Pakistan, 240,720 people died from coronary heart disease in Pakistan in 2020, accounting for 16.49% of all fatalities. Unfortunately, Pakistan is ranked 30 in the world with a death rate of 193.56 per 100,000 people. Continue reading →

Electoral violence against women

Violence against women during elections is a grave issue with a long-lasting impact on women’s participation in politics and public life. In Pakistan, many women face obstacles to participating in elections. These include cultural and social barriers, lack of access to information and resources and physical threats and violence. Women are underrepresented in decision-making roles and have limited access to power and influence. As a result, violence against women in elections undermines women’s equal access to the democratic process, whether as voters, candidates, polling staff, polling agents or elected leaders. Continue reading →

Away from public gaze

Balochistan replaced its ineffective Balochistan Freedom of Information Act, 2005 with a more promising Balochistan Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2021, in February 2021. There can be no doubt that this was a move in the right direction, aimed at improving service delivery, transparency and accountability in governance. Continue reading →