Dhool Ka Pole

Some of the gossips that spread here are that something miraculous is being carried out in Karachi against the "bhatta khor" or the brutal killers. Nothing of such sort. Lyari was first attempted to be rid of criminals, but as it became clear. all women of the area were made the front line wall to protect and giving the chance of escape. Since the last two days, only sixteen -- yes, just sixteen -- people have been produced in courts, like the ex-interior minister eloped. All those involved in the heinous killings were told to "leave the city" so they did and are enjoying some more comfortable surroundings.

free for all..

are we trying to defend some one or wishing the accused stepping aside....get punished if found guilty...or else shine as hero...yet again...but will they find the courage...or they fear....the only way self accountability first...if not let the law be the decider!!!!its the only way out...all in one line....we can start the trip from right here..Karachi..few hidden talent here too…than Punjab…money laundering….raiwand…poultry….and what not….moving on to Gujarat…co-op scandal…monis elahi…sugar and wheat mafia…and reaching as far as the PM house…now being newly to be constructed…with infinite millions of tax payers hard earned money..haj scandal…..sanctioning…millions to fake advertisers by PM….and thence to….the royal presidential suit….from prison to…..this guy sure is lucky….with BB ..removed from scene…it’s the batees daant ka aadmi….and yes this man is in action now with full swing….won’t even budge to supreme court orders…mard ka baccha!!!!so where we go from here….status quo…killings…corruption….lawlessness…paper parliament…public sector….in shambles….even bankrupt….so what is left…just an egg shell!!!!!!…unless….even that is saved…all will be squashed under the foot…so to shield the handful, we want to sacrifies our …left over country that is still called….lets think about a new name now….Pakistan , was created in 1947.…but what was brought out of that in 1971...must get a new version….name…and we can keep turning the leafs of our history…and present…we must get answer…and that too sooner than later….

I may still defend the last general...or like i remember...from my childhood ayuub khan...A common man was getting sugar for meagre 22pkr...mangoes now outa reach of poor was 25pkr...and i can go on...this is ground reality....4times army...what about...more time the sham democracy...did they change themselves...vote and keep voting...and who is counting....I never came to know...what are the methods....ok i accept...you are so called head of my own country..not yours or your son's as they point to their kids while during speech...this is my country...and land of my son and and so many kids of those poor peasents who are always befooled by...slogan of rooti...and what ever now left on their bodies...more white it appears now...this is not going to be another ...sons country whose daddy just waited for mom to be displaced.may almighty bless her soul...may be it would have been a good chnage ..as she promised...just may be without Mr.100%.....this is ground reality sir.....they are not willing to budge ...correct mistake committed...they get chance...for themselves.. either they start serving..like they are supposed to do..instead of ruling..like they are doing..or pack up and go...in better way...or the same way they go each time...may be thats the only way they have come to know..

Leaking Wikis!

What ever the motives behind leaking viz a viz wikis, so many analysis, anticipations, assessments, back-door generating conspiracies and speculations have come true and well documented. From where were they generated? The horse's mouth.

One thing in all this "typhoon wiki" seems strange; in almost each corner of world, politicians and cronies are put to shame and some or the other kind of embarrassment but biggest and strongest US ally, Israel, has been pardoned and come clean. Why is that? Is the creator of all this a Jew or an American agent himself?

For citizens in the third world -- and that too all Islamic states -- it is a big relief and an eye opener. Perhaps it proves to be a blessing in disguise and their so called ruling class corrects their follies no sooner then later.

Waterborne Diseases

With ever so massive population growth, the scarcity of food, lack of shelter and non-availability of clean water to all is becoming one major global issue for humankind. The water shortage alone, has become life-threatening. People are left with no choice but to consume water from whichever source they can, be it wells, natural rain water reservoirs, offshoots of river banks, man-made wells. The picture turns more pathetic when as is a common observation made in rural areas that human population is consuming water from the same source as being used by domestic as well by wild animals. Add to this, the industrial wastage being dumped so casually into water reservoirs, which can become a source of human as well as animal consumption.

The hazards which can result from such a compromise, are so devastating that widespread epidemics of life-threatening diseases can engulf a massive area of population. It can either result from drinking untreated water or using dirty water for cooking and bathing. One can easily conclude from the situation prevailing, the heavy burden the health facilities have to bear in order to combat situations for which they have not been prepared to handle. This poses much greater concerns in third world countries as compared to developed ones, where not only the authorities make it possible for all the residents a clean supply of water, but also educate people on avoiding exposing themselves from unhygienic water.

International monitoring of situation

- Data of general concerns.

1.1 billion people globally don’t have access to clean drinking water.
2.4 billion people globally are not provided with proper sanitation facility.
2.2 billion people die each year due to water-sanitation and hygiene related diseases.
82 million disability adjusted years are lost annually (DALYS) (R Bos, 2004)

- Data related to specific diseases.

2 billion people are infected with schistosome and soil helmithes,300 millions of these have serious illness resulting from such infestations (WHO report)

1 million people die of malaria each year (largest group being children under 5 years of age) mainly in south Sahara in Africa.

365 million cases/year of acute illness is caused only by malaria alone (pregnant woman are the major group effected)

42 million DALYS by malaria are lost each year as estimated in year 2001

Diarrhea due to multiple causes accounts for 4% of all deaths and 5% of DALYS each year.
In some regions ,specific toxins creat health situations, e.g. in Bangladesh 35 million people are exposed daily to elevated levels of Arsenic, which not only is a health hazard but also shortens life expectancy.

Sources of water pollution

- Contamination by sewage and water treatment residue.

Both surface of land and water sources meant for human consumption get contaminated, when raw sewage overflows, if there is excessive storm water flow, which in urban areas run parallel to sanitary sewer system, resulting in overflow contamination. The grave consequence of such an event is bacteria and viruses like vibrio cholera, salmonella typhi, E.coli, Giardia, Hepatitis, cryptosporidium and helminthes as well as chemical toxins like nitrates, metals etc. polluting the water meant for human consumption, giving rise to epidemics of cholera, typhoid and hepatitis etc.

- Septic tanks overflow.

These are enclosed storage spaces, where sewer is treated before dumping takes place, and it is mostly adopted in rural areas where there is no proper sewer system. This system can fail, resulting in premature entering of untreated sewer into main water reservoirs, which can be future sources of human consumption.

- Sewer lines leakages.

From industrial or domestic sewer, waste water can contaminate drinking water source if the delivery pipes are damaged and leakage goes on unabated. The damage to living being in such situation can be enormous, such as chlorides, micro-organism, organic and trace metals, and other chemicals causing life threatening diseases getting mixed in otherwise safe water sources.

- Contamination from agricultural lands.

In agricultural sector, pesticides are being extensively used, to protect the valuable crops from weeds, rodents, insects harmful to cotton fields, and moulds. They are mostly alachlor, atrazine, cyanazine, metlachlor -- all being potential cancer forming substances in human beings. They easily get into drinkable water source as runoff from lands used for growing crops, especially when the crops are young and can not reduce the concentration of these toxic substances by consuming more and more water and hence the pesticide runoff too.

Specific Disease Condition From Contamination of Water

Water born diseases can be caused by:

- Viruses
- Bacteria
- Protozoa
- Intestinal parasites

a) Viral infections through contaminated water

Adenovirus flu is caused by adenovirus which spreads through improperly treated
water. Symptoms of sneezing, coughing, body aches with moderate to high degree fever are usual present but complication of croup and bronchitis to -- as severe as -- pneumonia can develop.

Treatment: Complete bed rest, increase in fluid intake, steam inhalations, antipyretics to control fever, and in case bacterial pneumonia complicates as
is usually happens, then proper antibiotics to prescribed.

b) Viral gastro-enteritis

Caused by Parvo, enteric, Adeno and Astro viruses, manifest with symptoms of vomiting, loose motions, malaise, abdominal cramps with or without fever.

Treatment: Because there is a greater risk of dehydration, the basic aim of management is quick replacement of fluids, and electrolytes, that can either be done by intravenous route or oral route after control of vomiting.

c) Hepatitis A

This is the result of infection caused by hepatitis A virus in contaminating water for human consumption. It effects human liver acutely, giving rise to symptoms of loss of appetite, nausea, weakness, pain abdomen, vomiting, itching, yellow coloration of eyes(jaundice), with or without fever.

Treatment: Complete bed rest, high caloric, protein and a low fat diet is all that is required. It is a self-limiting condition like most of the viral infections.

In addition to above mentioned common diseases, there are less common ones which can be spread via contamination of water meant for human consumption, such as polio myelitis, caused by polio virus and spreading when feces of infected person contaminate drinking water sources. SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) caused by corona virus when improperly treated water is supplied to population.


d) Bacterial infection through contaminated water

Typhoid fever is caused by salmonella typhi when feces of infected person contaminates water reservoir and when the infected person handles food for human consumption. The main feature of typhoid fever is the stepladder pattern of high grade fever, which is sustained, and never touches the baseline unless infection is controlled by proper antibiotics. Other features include profuse sweating and abdominal pain, with or without loose motions. Rash may be seen specially on trunk.

With the availability of laboratory facility, early diagnosis and prompt treatment, fatality due to typhoid fever is rare.

Treatment: Complete bed rest, high calorie diet, intravenous or oral fluids to compensate for any electrolytes /calorie deficiency, symptomatic treatment with specific antibiotics to control bacterial infection. As part of preventive measures, patient should be nursed in isolation, strict hygiene must be followed, whether the patient is hospitalized or cared at home environment. Washing hands after attending the infected person under treatment.

Dysentery is also caused by different strains of salmonella and shigella group of organisms, when drinking water gets contaminated by sewage water or persons handling food are infected by causative bacteria. Predominant symptoms are frequent passage of stools with or without cramps, mixed with blood or mucus, in some severe cases vomiting of blood.

Treatment: Soft, easily palatable diet, fruit juices, and soups should be given at frequent
intervals to combat the generalized weakness resulting from illness, if there are any signs of
dehydration.

Intentional Tragedies

The events in life that take place suddenly without any pre-amt thought are labeled as accidents, and those events taking course with knowingly outcomes are intentions. Accidents can be avoided but they can’t be prevented! Intentions can be prevented and be avoided.

In our political culture, there is hardly any leader who thrives on good intentions. Three elements in our country’s political chain are synonym; power, authority and misuse. A leader here is defined as one who has all the resources available to him, has people positioned at right places to manipulate at right times, has the uncanny ability to change stance whenever and wherever it pleases and suits his interest.

Most of the political figure of present era we face each day have intentions not compatible with interest of a common man so what they think benefits their personal gains, they intend to achieve. For the purpose of the same, the only way to reach the goals, power becomes their tool. Once getting there, they get authority to manipulate all the rules and regulation coming their way, weather it is constitutional or legal.

The reasons given every time something done at government level, weather be it taxation, price hike of any basic amenity of the common man they justify it “in the interest of the nation” pretext or that “we have taken some painful decision for better future”.

It is a common practice for the so called “ruling class” to ask for big sacrifices from the common man, and when sacrificing their own interest comes into focus ,the privileges are strongly demanded. In the most toughest and trying times the nation faces, they are “the only” cool customers, unnerved, unperturbed by the events. Because even in the worst case scenario, they have the tickets ready all the time to “fly away” to their “home land”.

Time comes and goes. Tragedies occur, mistakes made, but what is learnt from them always remains a big question mark in our politics. For me what has been observed, they never learn for the bad days they leave behind to moan. And history repeats itself for the better, and who benefits this time around is the lone common man. so he thanks almighty for the relief he was waiting for because it is him, who controls every event, every moment. He has given wisdom to mankind but he waits until they poorly and rarely use it.

The one and only reason which is clearly visible to naked eye and mind is the wrong notion of remaining at self created throne for ever and more. Refusing to believe that like every other thing in this universe, culminating to its fateful end, the people placed in power must reach their demise. Now it is upto them to choose between the gallows or the glory!

Happily Ever After

There was a time when getting married was considered a moral obligation and a part of cultural dignity. The male part was taken as a symbol of responsibility and security whereas female was taken as a beatification sign and domestic strength. Long and time-consuming efforts were done to get a pair in making, with the groom’s family visiting the bride-to-be's family, presenting themselves as a best match for the girl. Picture-sharing was the typical presentation formula for both the boy and girl. It was almost impossible for the future life partner to see each other before legally married.

Marriages solemnized during that era were taken as long-term, never-ending relations, where family values, mutual respect and loyalties held the relation together and ever stronger. Personal gains and interest always stood last. The foremost issue had been the happiness and interest of family. Eating together was considered as a sign of ever-growing prosperity. The grandchildren were always the apples of the eye for aging parents. In-laws were loved, cared for and respected as real parents.

But as they say good things always change with time. Values change. Cultural polarization brought change in the thought process. People changed. Values which were once considered against the religion and culture are being taken as a need of time. Traditional inter-family marriages are taken over by inter-cultural marriages. Language, cast, creed and religion remain no bar. The one reason which has brought such a drastic change has been education. Not only it widened thought process but also played a key role in giving new meaning to relationships.

The other reason which played significant role has been ever-blooming electronic media. Talk shows portraying women liberty, working women, movies of different cultures, fashion shows and of course the dramas. Men and women working side by side, getting basic as well as higher education at same institute removed any prohibition which once were significant part of cultural values.

Choosing life partner in such setting has become more common. Still, the parents have to be involved, as we still value our culture and respect elders to some extent. But after getting married, the picture starts to get more clearer, as many issues start creeping into social life. Most common of these is the failure of the new bride to accommodate the in-laws in her life. If she is working, then it is more than complicated. There develops a failure to balance new relations in life. In a culture that we are in, it is not very difficult to understand that parents are to be cared for, loved and respected. This goes for both man and woman. The outcome of such a scenario has a two-prongs effect; either the young lady slowly starts understanding her role and adjusts in new family setup or totally ignores it, making life a bit hard for herself and for her husband. The former situation brings about a better and positive change whereas the latter has all the negative possibilities in offing.

So when we start analysing, it is not very difficult to conclude that the culture and tradition we are brought up has its values different than what is being depicted as modern era needs. The new generation will not have much of a problem in finding a solution. The only thing needed for them to do is to just recall how their parents got along together so many years, loving and caring for each other, bringing up the kids and caring for aging parents. It requires sacrifices from both partners and compromise few times, here and there.

This approach has all the ingredients for what we call long term relations, because no other way one can have a happy life. It’s a give and take attitude which bears fruit of fulfillment, and most of it is giving rather than taking which is more satisfying…

Think Twice!

None of us can deny that they love shopping and getting themselves some new garments, furniture items, kitchen ware etc. but who can claim they are the best shoppers! you can get your self- assessment by going through the following. We can categorize consumers into four different classes:

Class 1: They are the ones who don’t have expenditure limitations. They have a what we call shopaholic nature. Choosing expensive outlets is their target. They look for the most expensive price tag of the items they like, even if cheaper ones are available. To bargain is not in their vocabulary. Not to bargain is what they call is a status symbol. As for the seller, they are the best bargain of the day. They sell may be the most average items for the top price… may be at a few soft drinks cost!

Class 2: They go around shopping with wallet full of cash and with mind full of sense. They know before hand what to buy and the budget for it. They have lot of time and money available to them to shop around, select the best item and buy! As for the cost they put their own price tag! But they are most difficult of customers from the seller’s view. He can’t get much out of their wallets... talking about some extra bucks! So no soft drinks to offer.

Class 3: Their sense of shopping is primarily dictated by the capacity of the wallet and it is has limits! So they go on purchasing on daily or thrice weekly basis. To safe some money is the prime rule. Bargaining they do, but if it doesn’t work, they sacrifice quality to still safe something for tomorrow! And from sellers view they get good sale from this group, because cheaper items come much cheaper, be it grocery, fruits, furniture or electronics etc.

Class 4: This is the class of people that doesn’t shop because they have to earn their living today. They can only go for getting their necessities, the next day. Happy-go-lucky, they are.They toll hard all day long, with no worries at all for the coming day. They are the surviving ones -- the majority in our cultural set up! All they need is two meals a day, a place to sleep and some work for they next day. When they go shopping they aren’t any worry to seller.

So, if you are among the top three, don’t think you are very lucky, think about the unlucky ones; someday that can make you very lucky!