Areas Of Rawalpindi Research Articles

Spatial vulnerability assessment of urbanites of Rawalpindi to the combined effects of climate change and pandemics using GIS mapping

ABSTRACT Pakistan is urbanising at an extremely high pace and if this urbanisation is left unplanned, it can not only increase the vulnerability of its residents, but it can be the source of high GHG emissions, thereby increasing vulnerability to climate change. Moreover, not all city inhabitants are equally vulnerable to climate change and Pandemics like Covid-19. This study estimated the vulnerability ranking of urban union councils of Rawalpindi through a composite index without assigning weights, considering 20 physical, economic, social and institutional indicators as drivers of vulnerability, with an emphasis on climate change and the outbreak of chronic diseases. A survey is conducted from the urban residents of Rawalpindi, to measure the vulnerability towards climate change and the outbreak of Covid-19. The sample size was 440 households. The results showed that union councils of New Katarian-II, Dhaman and MC Stadium B Block were less vulnerable as compared to other areas of Rawalpindi with the lowest vulnerability ranking of MC Stadium B Block as 404 and the most vulnerable ranking of Dhok Ratta, UC-2 as 895. Densely populated areas of Dhok Ratta were more vulnerable to high chronic disease exposure and death rates. This study concluded that high population density and composition, low healthcare facilities in slums coupled with low income were the main reasons for chronic disease outbreaks in urban areas. Urban planning or master plans can be a solution for such densely populated areas and high-rise buildings with green infrastructure can reduce the impact of the heat island effect.

A Tendency to Lingual Shift in Pothohari Urban-Living Community

In this globalized era, many languages of the world are in the process of language shift. In the Pakistani multilingual context, a rapid language shift to dominant languages is taking place among the indigenous communities. This research paper in particular investigates the lingual shift among the Pothohari community living in urban areas of Rawalpindi and Islamabad by analyzing the everyday speech practices of the native Pothohari speakers. Live dinner-time conversations and semi-structured interviews of the participant families are the main data sources for the study. Karan and Stadler's (2000) Perceived benefit model of language choice and stability provides theoretical underpinnings to study the language situation and unveil the complex social, political, and economic factors regarding language change and shift. The findings revealed that language shift is swift and there is a lack of conformity among the native community towards the heritage language.

EVALUATION OF MICROBIAL POTENTIAL OF RHIZOBACTERIAL ISOLATES ASSOCIATED WITH SPENT MUSHROOM COMPOST AGAINST BACTERIAL WILT OF TOMATO

Bacterial wilt, caused by the soil-borne pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum, poses a significant threat to tomato crops worldwide. This study aims to assess the microbial potential of rhizobacterial isolates obtained from spent mushroom compost in suppressing bacterial wilt of tomatoes. Spent mushroom compost is a byproduct of mushroom cultivation and is known to harbor diverse microbial communities with potential plant-beneficial properties. Tomato leaves that were contaminated were collected from a number of places in the Rawalpindi Area, Punjab, Pakistan. Rhizobacterial isolates were collected from the rhizosphere of tomato plants grown in the presence of spent mushroom compost. These isolates were then subjected to laboratory evaluations for their antagonistic activity against R. solanacearum. Selected rhizobacterial isolates were further characterized for their plant growth-promoting traits. The potential of these isolates to enhance tomato plant growth and confer resistance against bacterial wilt was evaluated through greenhouse experiments. Results indicated that certain rhizobacterial isolates exhibited substantial antagonistic activity against R. solanacearum. Additionally, these isolates demonstrated multiple plant growth-promoting traits, suggesting a potential dual role in both pathogen suppression and plant enhancement. Greenhouse experiments revealed a significant reduction in the incidence of bacterial wilt in tomato plants and increase in the growth promotion traits were observed while treated with the selected rhizobacterial isolates alone and in combination compared to control groups. The findings from this study highlight the promising role of rhizobacterial isolates associated with spent mushroom compost in managing bacterial wilt in tomatoes.

Awareness About the Risk Factors of Osteoarthritis Among Adult Population of Rawalpindi

Objective: To assess awareness about risk factors of osteoarthritis among different groups of respondents according to their educational status. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Urban areas of Rawalpindi and Islamabad Pakistan, from Mar to Aug 2015. Methodology: A cross sectional analysis was carried out amid 210 individuals ranging from 15-35 years from urban areas of Rawalpindi/Islamabad having education status above matriculation. A self-made questionnaire was used and SPSS version 22 was used for data analysis. Results: Study included a total, 76(36.2%) males and 134(63.8%) females. Statistically significant difference of responses were observed when respondents were asked about previous joint injuries (p<0.001), repetitive stress on a particular joint (p<0.001)), family history (p<0.001), congenital malformation of joints and cartilages (p=0.001), metabolic diseases like diabetes and gout (p=0.004) and vitamin D deficiency (p<0.001)whereas all groups of respondents according to education status were well aware about risk factors including increasing age (p=0.761), female gender (p=0.106),obesity (p=0.722), cold weather (p=0.0478) and calcium deficiency (p=0.299). Conclusion: People of higher level of education status were more aware about the risk factors of osteoarthritis as compared to those at lower levels.

HISTORY AND MEMORY OF THE PARTITION OF THE PUNJAB: A CASE STUDY OF THE DISTRICT RAWALPINDI

This paper is an attempt to investigate the violence and the communal riots followed by the division of India, especially partition of the Punjab. The violence that occurred in Punjab during the division of India (1947) is a tragic episode of South Asian history. Almost seven decades have gone since the partition of the Punjab. At the time of the partition, Rawalpindi, Ambala, Multan, Lahore, and Jullundur had the Muslim majority It was the Rawalpindi wherefrom the riots were begun compare to whole Punjab. In the district of Rawalpindi, riots and violence were sparked by three main factors;1945–1946 elections, Direct Action Day, and Khizar Hayat's resignation. More than two thousand people were killed by mob and major affected areas of Rawalpindi were Kalyan Das Mandar, Raja Bazaar, Mai Veero Di Banni, Lal Kurti, Murree Road, Ghaznavi Road, Taxila, Thoha Khalsa, Chaklala, and Kartarpura. Though the episode of the division and violence caused the hatred among the three major communities of the Punjab (the Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus), unfortunately, the people who were the witness of violence in Rawalpindi are dying, therefore, this paper is an attempt to preserve some migration stories. Keywords: Punjab, violence, riots, partition, 1947 migration.

Understanding Consumers Buying Behaviour Analyzing Nestle's Television Advertising Strategies

This study examined Pakistani customers' purchasing habits using Nestle Pakistan's strategy of distributing a few commercials. The majority of businesses employ a variety of strategies to influence or drive consumers to gain a competitive edge. The study aims to investigate the consumer purchasing behavior influenced due to Television advertising. To study the problem, a structured questionnaire was created and a survey research design was applied. Altogether, 320 survey questionnaires based on 5 5-point Likert scale were delivered and collected from the urban areas of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. A regression model was applied. The findings demonstrated that brand awareness, emotional content, and demographics all significantly and favorably influence customers' purchasing decisions. Brand awareness, environmental response, and emotional response to the brand are the study's three statistically significant factors, and they all positively correlate with customers' purchasing decisions. The findings of this study suggest that advertising businesses should take customer consumption patterns and purchasing behavior into account when creating their advertising strategy. According to the study, the emotional and environmental aspects of advertising are crucial to pay attention to because they influence consumers' purchasing decisions.

Role of Psychological Capital Interventions in reducing Perceived Academic Stress amongst University Students

The study focused to examine the role, Psychological Capital (PsyCap) Interventions (PCI) play in reducing perceived academic stress amongst university students. Other objectives of the study were to check the level and prevalence of these variables and impact of different demographics on study variables in our culture. A group comprising of 8 participants, studying in different public/private universities of Islamabad/ Rawalpindi area - scoring high on perceived academic stress scale was selected. In backdrop of theoretical background and the literature review, it was hypothesized that Psychological Capital (PsyCap) Interventions (PCI) would facilitate in reducing the stress symptoms. The study was comparative, wherein; academic stress of students was assessed by applying Perceptions of Academic Stress Scale (PAS) before (pre) and after (post) the administration of Psychological Capital (PsyCap) Interventions (PCI). Format of the study was 4 group therapy sessions; 75-90 minutes session per week. A positive change in the mental health of the group was witnessed regarding presenting problems and management of behavior all the way through these interventions. Post intervention results validated the hypothesis and established considerable diminution in stress symptoms after Psychological Capital Interventions (PCI) administration.

Traces of Phallocentrism, Trauma and Holocaust Imagery in What the Body Remembers and Ice Candy Man

Apart from wars, the Partition of India and Pakistan was one of the most horrific events in human history. Massacres, rapes, and sexual torture were used to promote racial hate, and women suffered a great deal more than males. Many people lost their lives, their homes, and even their identities. Therefore, this essay explores how the horrific Partition era affected the lives of women by turning them into silent victims of phallocentric or male supremacy through the Partition novels from which Shauna Singh Baldwin's What the Body Remembers and Bapsi Sidhwa's Ice Candy Man have been taken. Women were kidnapped, raped, forced into prostitution, and died during Partition. In the Rawalpindi area, where Muslim mobs preyed on women, systematic violence against women first appeared in March 1947. Before further attacks, many Sikh women committed suicide by jumping into water wells to save honour and avoid conversion. Due to phallocentric society's rules, the time of Partition was a traumatic experience for women on physical, emotional, political, social, and sexual levels. These female writers wrote about these experiences through a female perspective, which demonstrated resistance and retaliation against phallocentrism or the male point of view. Because of this, the present dissertation will add new aspects to the established canon of women, trauma, and phallocentrism.

Assessing the Impact of Noise Pollution on Health and Preventive Practices among Individuals in Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Noise pollution has become a growing concern for urbanized and industrialized countries like Pakistan. This study focuses on Rawalpindi, a densely populated city where increasing population and industrial activities contribute to elevated levels of noise pollution. The research employed a quantitative approach; data was collected through surveys and interviews involving a sample of 50 individuals residing in different areas of Rawalpindi. This study examines the relationship between noise pollution and health issues such as anxiety/stress, migraines/headaches, sleeping disturbances and insomnia. Additionally, it explores the preventive practices that are adopted by the residents, including earmuffs, noise-cancelling headphones, and soundproofing. Results indicate a significant association between noise pollution exposure and increased health issues like stress, poor sleep quality and poor concentration, along with many preventive practices adopted to mitigate the negative impacts of noise. This research provides valuable insights for policymakers, urban planners, NGOs, and public health authorities to develop appropriate interventions and policies to mitigate noise pollution and promote preventive practices in Rawalpindi and similar urban contexts.

Assessing the Use of Contraceptive Methods for Family Planning among Married Women of Rawalpindi [urban

Qualitative data from a survey of married women living in urban areas of Rawalpindi are presented here in an effort to better understand their views on contraceptive techniques and the factors that impact their use. A purposeful selection strategy was used to choose participants, and only married women of childbearing age were eligible to participate. In total, 12 focus groups were held in the urban region of Rawalpindi. Some modern contraceptive methods were known to the majority, but overall use was extremely low. The prevalence of any form of contraception, including IUDs, was especially low. Modern contraception is not widely used because of concerns about side effects, religious apprehensions about harming the unborn child, a lack of information, or a lack of access to high-quality treatment according to the findings. The number of young women in the Pakistan who utilize contraception is influenced by social, demographic, and economic factors. Young women’s access to contraception may be restricted unless these findings are included into public health programs. Access to family planning information and services for young women is highly recommended. Key words: Contraceptive Methods, Family planning, Urban areas, Rawalpindi

Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Raw and Packed Milk from the Areas of Rawalpindi and Islamabad: A comparative study

Abstract: Milk is a complex of biomolecules and is a good source of proteins, fats, sugars, vitamins and minerals. Various types of milk available in the market are solid and liquid milk. Solid milk is available in the form of formula milk and liquid milk is raw and packed milk (branded milk) like GM1, OL2, Dp3, T4, H5, Mp6, DO7 and N8. Milk having different additive components like “micronutrients, vitamin and minerals” play a vital role in our daily life therefore it is by kids, adults and elders all over the world. The chemical composition of raw milk not only focuses on its components, but also the treatment, in the case of quality of the raw materials, packing, storage and conditions are very important. Cow milk is one of the major resources contaminated with different heavy metal atoms. Different samples of milk (raw and packed) were collected from diverse zone of Islamabad. The packed milk like GM1, OL2, Dp3, T4, H5, Mp6, DO7 and N8 were collected from different shops of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Result showed the presence of different types of heavy metals in milk samples. The level of zinc in the raw milk samples was high in the Islamabad city as compared to Rawalpindi. The sequence of heavy metals present in fresh milk were detected as Zn> Cu> Cr> Pb and Cu. In packed milk, level of Chromium was different across the world.

Does range of motion measurement and reference values differ?: a multi-centered study

This study is aimed to estimate and measure reference values in the normal range of motion of extremity joints in females and to provide a database for the assessment of impairments related to the mobility of the joints. This observational cross-sectional study was conducted at seven major educational institutes areas of Rawalpindi and Islamabad in Pakistan from January to June 2020 with a sample size of 600 healthy females aged 15 to 45 years and divided into three groups through non-probability sampling technique. In study Instruments, an electronic Goniometer was used for the measurement of the range of motions for different joints and then those ranges were recorded. The questionnaire had two sections demographic characteristics and ROM for both upper and lower limbs. Data was analyzed using SPSS V21. A p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.In the result,Out of 600 participants,there was a statistically significant difference of (p < 0.001) in both upper and lower extremities motion between all the three groups for the measurements and noticeably no significant difference (p > 0.005) between group 1, 2 comparisons for the knee joint extension.To conclude, In most joints, the range of motion increases with age. The transition from group 1 to group 2 was aided by increased hormone participation in growth, an active lifestyle, and generally good health. Because of degenerative changes and joint stiffness, group 3’s range of motion deteriorated, leading to a sedentary lifestyle and lack of physical activity. Standardized biomechanical measurements can help health practitioners, such as physiotherapists, choose appropriate therapy interventions to assess musculoskeletal disorders. To resolve the inconsistencies in the reliability and validity of goniometry values, more research is required.

CHILDREN MIGRATION AND THE EMPTY NEST PARENTS: INVESTIGATING THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND THE ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF THE ELDERLY LEFT BEHIND IN RAWALPINDI PAKISTAN

Pakistan is encountering a massive adult migration that is affecting its social fabric in various aspects. The present study has been carved out in context of the adult migration impacts on the elderly left behind in Pakistan. Particularly, the study examines the social, psychological, and economic reciprocity of the elderly left behind owing to their adult (children) outmigration. It has focused to explore the prevalence of social, psychological, and economic well-being of the elderly left behind, to find out the dynamics of the social, psychological, and economic well-being of elderly left behind by demographic variables e.g., gender, residence, etc. To identify the interrelation of the social, economic, and psychological well-being of the elderly left behind in District Rawalpindi, and considering this, to propose a Tridimensional Model of the well-being of elderly left behind and to suggest some measures to improve the social, psychological and economic wellbeing of elderly left behind. The tri-dimensional model of well-being employed the quantitative research design in order to map out the adult migration impact on parents. The study has been conducted in the Rawalpindi district of Punjab Pakistan. The researcher used the self-administered questionnaire and collected the data from the targeted elderly left behind through the multistage sampling technique. The sample size of the study was 400 elderly left behind from the different areas of Rawalpindi. The study concludes through its findings that its findings there is higher reciprocity between social well-being and psychological well-being, economic and social well-being has a strong association, but economic and psychological well-being has not been found significant. The study suggests there is a dire need to devise policies for the well-being of the increasing elderly population. Keywords: Social well-being, psychological well-being, Economic Well Being. Migration.

Risk Factors of Dengue Fever in Urban Areas of Rawalpindi District in Pakistan During 2017: A Case Control Study.

BackgroundDuring August 2017, increased numbers of suspected dengue fever cases were reported in the hospitals of Rawalpindi district. A case control study was conducted to determine the risk factors among urban areas, dengue serotype, and recommend preventive measures.ObjectiveThe objective of the investigation was to determine the risk factors among urban areas, dengue serotype, and recommend preventive measures.MethodsA case was defined as having acute febrile illness with one or more of the following symptoms: retro-orbital pain, headache, rash, myalgia, arthralgia, and hemorrhage. The cases were residents of Rawalpindi and were confirmed for dengue fever from August 30, 2017, to October 30, 2017. All NS1 confirmed cases from urban areas of Rawalpindi were recruited from tertiary care hospitals. Age- and sex-matched controls were selected from the same community with a 1:1 ratio. Frequency, univariate, and multivariate analyses were performed at 95% CI with P<.05 considered statistically significant.ResultsTotally 373 cases were recruited. The mean age was 36 (SD 2.9) years (range 10-69 years), and 280 cases (75%) were male. The most affected age group was 21-30 years (n=151, attack rate [AR] 40%), followed by 31-40 years (n=66, AR 23%). Further, 2 deaths were reported (case fatality rate of 0.53%). The most frequent signs or symptoms were fever (n=373, 100%), myalgia and headache (n=320, 86%), and retro-orbital pain (n=272, 73%). Serotype identification was carried out in 322 cases, and DEN-2 was the dominant serotype (n=126, 34%). Contact with a confirmed dengue case (odds ratio [OR] 4.27; 95% CI 3.14-5.81; P<.001), stored water in open containers at home (OR 2.04; 95% CI 1.53-2.73; P<.001), and travel to a dengue outbreak area (OR 2.88; 95% CI 2.12-3.92; P<.001) were the main reasons for the outbreak, whereas use of mosquito repellents (OR 0.12; 95% CI 0.09-0.18; P<.001) and regular water supply at home (OR 0.03; 95% CI 0.02-0.04; P<.001) showed protective effects. The geographical distribution of cases was limited to densely populated areas and all the 5 randomly collected water samples tested positive for dengue larvae.ConclusionsStored water in containers inside houses and subsequent mosquito breeding were the most probable causes of this outbreak. Based on the study findings, undertaking activities to improve the use of mosquito repellents and removing sources of breeding (uncovered water stored indoors) are some recommendations for preventing dengue outbreaks.

URBAN FLOODING ASSESSMENT DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE DURING MONSOON SEASON: A CASE STUDY IN ISLAMABAD AND RAWALPINDI

During monsoon season Islamabad and Rawalpindi receive unpredicted intense precipitation, which causes flooding in the areas of Rawalpindi along with Nullah Lai. This study included the qualitative content analysis of urban flooding and analyzed the extreme water events of Nullah Lai for the period 2010 to 2020. The main purpose to conduct this research was to determine the causes and effects of an increase in urban flooding. For this purpose 26 scientific pieces of writing (19 scientific published journal articles, 4 websites, and 3 reports) relevant to the specific concept of the research problem and research question were reviewed and analyzed. The study found the natural climate change, glaciers melting, rainfall, and temperature fluctuations) and anthropogenic (human actions, LULC change, infrastructure, industrial waste etc) factors as the main causes of the increase in urban flooding. Thus, this study suggests installing modern technology to predict intense natural weather patterns (precipitation) and must adopt sustainable and resilient infrastructure to control and mitigate future adverse impacts of urban floods in rapidly urbanized areas.

"Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Buffalo and Cow Calves in Rural Areas of Rawalpindi, Pakistan"

"Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Buffalo and Cow Calves in Rural Areas of Rawalpindi, Pakistan"

Urban Growth Patterns and Forest Carbon Dynamics in the Metropolitan Twin Cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan

The unchecked and unplanned expansion of urban areas has led to the conversion of millions of green areas to gray areas. The recent urban growth patterns of Pakistan’s metropolitan twin cities, Islamabad and Rawalpindi, is a matter of concern for the surrounding green areas. The present study aimed to categorize and quantify the land-use and land-cover change (LULCC) patterns and the corresponding impacts on the forest carbon dynamics around Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Multispectral satellite images for the year 1990 (Landsat 5 TM) and 2020 (Landsat 8 OLI) were used to determine, quantify, and compare the LULCC inside and around the twin metropolitan cities. Field inventory surveys in the reserved forests of Rawalpindi and Islamabad were also conducted to determine the amount of stored carbon in these forests. Our results showed an accelerated annual urban expansion (i.e., an increase in the built-up area) of 16.49% and 26.72% in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, respectively, during the study period. Similarly, the amount of barren land and agricultural land was reduced at an annual rate of 2.08% and 2.18%, respectively, in Rawalpindi and 0.25% and 1.04% in Islamabad. A reduction in the area of barren mountains also occurred at an annual of 2.26% in Islamabad, while it increased by 4.16% in Rawalpindi. The amount of carbon stored in the reserved forests of Islamabad stood at 139.17 ± 12.15 Mg C/ha while that of Rawalpindi was 110.4 ± 13.79 Mg C/ha. In addition, total stored forest carbon was found to have decreased from 544.70 Gg C to 218.05 Gg C in Rawalpindi, while in Islamabad it increased from 2779.64 Gg C to 3548.16 Gg C. Investment in ecological urban planning, sustainable cities, and appropriate land-use planning is recommended to curb the degradation and conversion of the surrounding green areas of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Effect of Seasonal Variation and Meteorological Parameters on the Environmental Noise Pollution in the Selected Areas of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan

The Authors acknowledge the technical support of the laboratory staff at Bahria University. Moreover, the authors also acknowledge the KAUST library services for language editing services.

One treatment fits all: Effectiveness of a multicomponent cognitive behavioral therapy program in data-driven subtypes of perinatal depression

IntroductionIt has been well established that depressive disorders including perinatal depression are very heterogeneous, which partly explain the ineffectiveness of available treatments for many patients. Recent innovations in data science can help elucidate the nature of perinatal depression especially the heterogeneity in its presentation.ObjectivesThe present study aime to elucidate heterogeneous subtypes of PND and assess the effectiveness of a multicomponent cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) across heterogenous subtypes of PND.MethodsThis study was conducted in 2005 in two rural areas of Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Out of a total of 3,898 women, 903 pregnant women were identifed with PND (using DSM-IV) and randomly assigned to intervention and control group. Baseline assessments included interviewer admininstered Hamilton Depression Scale (HDS) and social risk factors. Follow-up assessments were conducted at 6 months and 12 months post-intervention. Principle component analysis was run to reduce dimensionality of the HDS. Two step cluster analysis was then run to elucidate subtypes of PND using the dimensional scores. Thereafter, effectiveness of CBT was compared across these subtypes of PND using multilevel modelling.ResultsPrinciple component analysis revealed a four component solution for the Hamilton depression rating scale. Using these dimensional scores, cluster analysis (average silhouette= 0.5) revealed a parsimonius four cluster soultion of participants with mild PND symptoms (n=326); predominant sleep problems (n=311) c) predominant atypical symptoms (n=80) and d) comorbid depressive and anxiety symptoms (n=186). CBT yielded moderate effect sizes across all these subtypes of PND (cohen’s d &gt; 0.8).ConclusionsMulticomponent CBT is effective across hetergeneous presentations of PND.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Gender, Family, and Politics of Inheritance in Pakistan

There are a huge global and local gender gap in inheritance property. Men hold most material and land resources in communities and families as compared to women. Ownership of inheritance property is one indicator of the empowerment of women. This paper examines the power politics played around inheritance property within families in Pakistan. By using a qualitative interpretative feminist approach, data were collected from thirty men and women from rural and urban areas of Rawalpindi and Chakwal districts. The findings revealed that power played a very important role within the families to keep inheritance property to men. The findings further highlighted that gender ideologies are produced in the family through socialization and reproduced socially through gender stereotypes, beliefs, and social opinions to keep inheritance property within families. The researchers argue that inheritance property within the families is political that embedded power and it is ignored often when men hold power to women and children. This paper proposes to reflect upon the power of men as head of the household in the family in the context of inheritance property.