Rest Of Pakistan Research Articles

PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS C VIRUS (HCV) IN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Hepatitis C is a significant public health concern across worldwide, especially in Pakistan. Understanding the prevalence of the disease at the regional level is crucial for effective prevention and control measures. In this study, we collected demographic information from study participants, including age, gender, marital status, and, other relevant variables, and also administered a structured questionnaire to know the history of the patient. We used hepatitis C kits to identify the hepatitis virus in patients. In our research, we took a sample of 329 people out of which 31 were positive and 298 were negative. Out of total 329 people,170 were male patients and 159 patients were female. To calculate the overall prevalence of Hepatitis C based on the given sample data, number of positive cases 31 were divided by the total number of samples. Overall prevalence was 9% in Gujrat. Prevalence among Males was 7% while 10.6% among females. Our findings showed that the prevalence of HCV is alarmingly high in district Gujrat as compared to the rest of Pakistan. Prevalence of Hepatitis C among married in Gujarat, Pakistan is approximately 11.27% (30 out of 266 patients the overall prevalence of HCV in Pakistan is 6% while it's 9% in Gujrat). As a result, different levels of prevention are required for these fatal illnesses. Preventing Hepatitis C involves taking certain precautions to reduce the risk of transmission. Practice safe injection practices. Always use sterile needles and syringes and avoid sharing drug paraphernalia with others. This reduces the risk of HCV transmission through contaminated needles.

Detection of asymptomatic Leishmania donovani in healthy voluntary blood donors.

To check incidence of Asymptomatic Leishmania donovani reporting to Armed Forces Institute of Transfusion Rawalpindi. Two thousand (n=2000) consecutive healthy voluntary blood donors were tested for 18s rRNA by Real time Polymerase chain reaction. One thousand (n=1000) subject's permanent resident of Azad Kashmir along with a thousand (n=1000) healthy voluntary blood donors from rest of Pakistan were included. The study was carried out over a period of three months Jun - Aug 2020. Total of 2000 blood donors were enrolled in the study, all were males with age ranging from 16 to 60years. Stratification based on residence, 1000 (50%) resided in the Azad kashmir, 349 (17.45%) were from Islamabad and Rawalpindi, 541 (27.05%) from Punjab mainly residing in Lahore and Multan, 110 (5.5%) were from other cities of Pakistan. Grouping on the basis of age, 55.25% (n=1105) of the donors were 16-25years old, 19.45% (n=389) were in age range of 26-40years old, 15.55% (n=311) were 41-50years old and 9.75% (n=195) 51-60years old. No donor was diagnosed as an asymptomatic carrier. Screening of blood donors for Leishmania donovani is not recommended.

Narrating Pakistani History

Kamila Shamsie writes revisionary historiography of her country. Official historiography erases some very significant areas and experiences which she has tried to recuperate, thus redefining the role of a postcolonial writer in the society. This article examines the relationship between history, memory and experience in Shamsie’s novels, elaborating on their potential to change the collective or individual lives of people in a society that is in the process of transition. Shamsie takes up challenges of putting a chaotic world in order, of recording what official histories erase most often. Her novels are penetrating analyses of Pakistan’s recent troubled history. She talks of the break-up of Pakistan in 1971, of the insecure, uncertain and perturbed times under the despotic rule of Zia’s regime, and ethnic violence in Karachi. History in her novels is not only the knowledge of past, it is also the continuity of past in present. She shows that what happened then is happening now, back and forth, now and then; the conflict between Bengalis and the rest of Pakistan in 1971 and now between native Karachites and Muhajirs or immigrants in the 1980s. Such frictions and hostilities produced fissures in the tight-knit social groups. Shamsie portrays this history painstakingly, as she identifies history as a major sight for the identity formation of any country.

IMPEDIMENTS TO WOMEN HIGHER EDUCATION IN PAKISTAN: A CASE STUDY OF DISTRICT CHITRAL

Education is a holistic approach for peace, progress and bringing change in a society. Women equipped with higher education play a significant role in development of a country. The socio-economic and political uplift of a society largely depends on women higher education. Almost all the developed countries of the world give equal attention and consideration to boys as well as girls education; however higher education in underdeveloped states including Pakistan is the most neglected sector. In developing countries including Pakistan one of the major causes of lagging behind economically and socially is absence of technically qualified and highly educated women. Since its inception Pakistan has faced many serious issues in education sector and the education system has failed to deliver to the aspirations of the people. However, literacy rate in Pakistan since 2014 has sustainably increased from 56 percent to 59 percent, however the ratio and proportion of girls is 43 percent as compared to boy’s 57 percent which is still a matter of serious concern. The status of women education varies in rural urban division in Pakistan. Situated just across the borders of Afghanistan Chitral is the northern-most district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Because of its topology and geographic location Chitral is isolated from the rest of Pakistan. The socio-economic sector of the area was largely ignored in the past, due to which the living condition of people are extremely poor. Among the population of 4 lakhs almost 36 percent of the population live below the poverty line according to a baseline survey (ICUN). Although the ratio of education in Chitral is high comparatively in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but still women face substantial challenges and hurdles in higher education. Women education in primary and secondary level is slightly better than higher education level. Women face many hurdles and issues because of socio-cultural taboos, financial constraints, negative perception of co-education and lack of facilities in in higher education sector. This paper will discuss and highlight the status of women education in Chitral, problem faced by NGOs working for higher education, impediments to women higher education and will suggest recommendation for a better way forward

Cancer Prevention and Control in Pakistan: Review of Cancer Epidemiology and Challenges

With current situation of increasing burden of cancer in Pakistan, this report reviews studies related to cancer burden and cancer prevention and control in Pakistan. Electronic databases used were PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, the University of Adelaide library & AKU library database, to search for relevant articles on the topic of cancer prevalence in Pakistan published in English. We conducted a literature search of published epidemiological and clinical studies relating to this topic up to March 1st, 2020. There is a dearth of epidemiological studies in cancer risk factors, prevention and control. Most studies are hospital based with small sample sizes and underpowered. Epidemiological integrated transdisciplinary research in collaboration with hospitals is needed to find the actual burden, etiology and feasible prevention strategies of cancer unique to our population with focus on low cost screening methods for early detection of cancers and premalignant lesions in our population. There is an urgent need for a centralized national cancer registry to have combined results of cancer registry from Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, Karachi Caner Registry, Punjab Cancer Registry and cancer registries from the rest of Pakistan. There is a need to make cancer incidence as notifiable disease mandatory to have the data of cancer incidence in Pakistan. Collaboration is also needed to work with diverse groups like the National Cancer Society of Pakistan (NCSP), National Cancer Control Plan, and Society of Medical Oncology Pakistan to draft and implement plans and strategies for national cancer control programs. It will help mobilize Ministry of Health and policy makers to address the alarming high incidence of different types of cancers in Pakistan.

Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety among Women attending Primary Health Care in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), Pakistan.

Objective:To assess symptoms of anxiety and depression among women reporting to primary health care (PHC women) in Gilgit Baltistan (GB), Pakistan.Methods:This was a cross-sectional study conducted on PHC women belonging GB including other three provinces of Pakistan. PHQ-9 and GAD-7 were used to assess anxiety and depression. Descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were applied to analyze the collected data.Results:PHC women from GB reported higher level of depressive symptoms (t=7.58, p=0.00) and lower level of anxiety symptoms (t=8.3, p=0.00) when compared with cut-off score. Insignificant differences were found in depressive (t=1.5, p>.05) and anxiety (t=1.2, p>.05) scores between GB women and women from rest of Pakistan. However, inter-province differences in depressive (F=5.78, p= 00) and anxiety (F=4.5, p=0.00) symptoms were significant. Increasing age and lack of education were found significant risk factors for GB PHC women’s depressive and anxiety symptoms.Conclusions:PHC women from GB have higher level of depressive and lower level of anxiety symptoms like women from other provinces of Pakistan. Their demographics should be considered while addressing their emotional problems.

Injustice and Persecution: Forced Migration of Sindhi Hindus in Pakistan

Sufism, secularism, pluralism, and religious tolerance are few for the unique features Sindh had always been known for around the globe. When the rest of Pakistan was devastated by sectarian genocide and targeted persecution, there was much to be learned from Sindh. People of Sindh have always been pluralistic and tolerant, but state sponsored seminaries house ethnic Punjabi or Pashtun Mullahs from Punjab and KPK provinces who target, harass and persecute Sindhi Hindus. The continued incidences of violence against the largest religious minority group Sindhi Hindus have created a sense of insecurity among them. They are subjected to kidnapping for ransom, forced abductions and conversions of their women. These trends forcing the indigenous dwellers to abandon their motherland. The aim of this study is to highlight the targeted discrimination and persecution of Sindhi Hindus which force them to abandon their own homeland Sindh. It also evaluates the underlying causes behind criminal activities and what are the possible motives of perpetrators. This study concluded that state sponsored religious seminaries that house ethnic Punjabi or Pashtun Mullahs from Punjab and KPK provinces are involved in the persecution of Sindhi Hindus. This is a conspiracy against indigenous people of Sindh to convert them into minority on their own homeland. By altering the demography of Sindh, they can undermine the political strength of Sindhis and make them defenseless to protect their natural resources, culture, language and their real and historical identity. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n2s5p11

Regional Characteristics of Temperature Anomalies in Pakistan with Emphasis on Spatial Distribution at Decadal Scale: A Case Study of August (1950s-2000s)

In this paper the month of August was assessed from 1950s-2000s based on the temperature data from 53 stations that covers almost all Pakistan. The temperature coefficient has been calculated by making use of linear regression. The results have been mapped that show considerable variability of temperature at decadal scale in different areas of Pakistan. The rugged terrains especially and rest of Pakistan generally reflect significant temperature variability in the decades of 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s as well. This change in temperature varies from region to region and decade to decade in Pakistan. The temperature anomalies achieved in the country are complicated at local level and did not follow the simple perception that winter months are warming and summer months are cooling. In this study, a geographical approach has been adopted to explain the spatial-temporal dynamics of temperature variation over the study period in Pakistan with emphasis on regional detail.

The Opportunities and Pitfalls of Pakistan’s Trade with China and Other Neighbors

While Pakistani trade with India could give a boost to Pakistan’s economy, there are other neighbors with whom trade could be equally important. We look at this aspect of regional trade and show that promoting trade with the rest of Pakistan’s neighbors could have a significant positive impact on the country’s growth. We show that Pakistan’s trade with these neighbors has grown rapidly over the last 10 years and at present they constitute the largest market for Pakistani exports. We also explain how these exports are not only important in terms of absolute value, they have also contributed to the development of new export products. The overall impact on Pakistan’s economy could well be to raise the trend growth rate for the next decade or so by 2 to 3 percentage points above the historical trend growth rate of 5 percent per annum

Development of an Integrated Model of Regional Economy and the Environment for SEA on Road Transport Sector in Pakistan.

Most of the developing countries face a lack of infrastructure facilities, where the road transport network is one of them. In this paper, firstly Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is carried out for proper decision-making of policies for economic and environmental impacts. Secondly, for the estimation of economic and environmental impacts of this project, a multi-regional Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model is proposed. Thirdly, the impacts of new road network, which connect with south and northwest of Pakistan, is analyzed. It is found that construction of this project is going to change the industrial structure, especially in production of manufacturing sector. It is also observed that remarkable economic and environmental impacts appeared in northwest region than the rest of Pakistan. Finally, the policies for proper decision-making for desired economic and environmental impacts in this project are proposed.

All Paths Lead to the Hot Spring: Conviviality, the Code of Honor, and Capitalism in a Karakorum Village, Pakistan

This paper examines the role of a natural hot spring in a subsistence village economy. The village lies in the Karako- rum-Himalaya, isolated from the rest of Pakistan by high mountains and glaciers. To a social geographer, what is of interest is the pattern formed by the daily activities at the hot spring, which acts as a hub, or focus, of village life. Various tasks and rituals are per- formed here, related to prayer, work, and play, from dawn until sunset. The research is based on participant-observation and set in a phenomenological framework. Three decades ago government initiative changed the original pond, separated by a living parti- tion of willows for men and women, replacing it by a concrete building which now houses the women's room, while the men still bathe in an open-air pool. A 'private' room for elite visitors was also added. The effects of this arbitrary intervention into the pri- vate affairs of the community are explored.

The Outlook for Bangladesh

Soon after General Yahya Khan assumed power in Pakistan in March 1969, he realized that in order to hold the nation together, the government would have to stabilize its explosive East Wing before developing and modernizing West Pakistan.1 In a last ditch effort to strengthen national solidarity, Yahya ordered nationwide elections. The results were a victory for Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his Awami League party, which won 167 of the 169 seats in the national assembly allocated to East Pakistan. Not a single candidate of the Awami League was elected in West Pakistan, however, where Zulfiqur Ali Bhutto and his Pakistan People's Party won 81 of the remaining 144 seats.2 The election results thus demonstrated the striking political gap between East and West Pakistan. Subsequent political developments widened the breach between East and West, and eventually culminated in the war of independence in East Pakistan. The election results startled Yahya and many others, who had underestimated the differences between the two wings. Bhutto threatened to boycott the upcoming session of the national assembly if Mujib's party took power,3 apparently fearing the implementation of the Awami League's six-point program,4 which was considered a framework for secession of East Pakistan. Yahya postponed the national assembly session, and attempted to convince Bhutto and Mujib to govern jointly.5 But Mujib had no intention of sharing power. He had, after all, won the election. East Pakistan was the more populous half of the country, and in his view the question of secession from the rest of Pakistan did not arise. Yahya hoped that further negotiations between Bhutto and Mujib would lead to agreement on a new constitution and the formation of a democratic government;6 but his decision to postpone the national assembly frightened the East Pakistanis.