UNIVERSITY OF THE PUNJAB
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Mycoflora associated with the biodeterioration of picture walls at Lahore Fort
Get PDFA total of 25 fungal species belonging to 10 genera were found associated with biodeteriorating picture walls at Lahore fort. These included 13 species of Aspergillus, two species each of Alternaria, Drechslera and Fusarium, and one each of Acremonium, Curvularia, Helminthosporium, Mucor, Trichoderma, and Dematium. Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus niger, A. flavus and A. fumigatus were highly frequent and apparently major cause of biodeterioration. No much pronounced variation in fungal flora among the selected sites was evidenced. A great variation in variety of the fungal flora was, however, evident on 7 different type of growth media employed viz. corn meal dextrose agar (CMDA), Czapek’s dox agar (CZA), oat meal agar (OA), malt extract agar (MEA), potato dextrose agar (PDA), rose bengal agar (RBA) and sabouraud’s dextrose agar (SDA). Maximum fungal colony count was observed on CZA while highest fungal diversity was recorded on MEA. The fungal flora was isolated by two methods namely tape plate and scratch method, the later method appeared to be more reliable than the former
Blockade on Gaza Strip: A Living Hell on Earth
No full textSince the imposition of Israeli blockade on Gaza in 2007, a humanitarian crisishas emerged in the region. Gaza has turned into a vast ‘Human Cage’ on theeastern Mediterranean where 1.8 million human beings have been trapped,seems, they have no chance of escaping from their grave condition. Israelioccupation along with its prolonged and comprehensive blockade has beenassociated with numerous violations International Humanitarian Law. Byrestricting trade and people’s movement, the blockade has ruined spectrum ofcivilians’ basic rights and is halting the essential rehabilitation efforts. Theblockade has led to extensive erosion of livelihoods, and a destruction ofinfrastructure and other essential social services. The repercussion for thecivilian population is intense, pervasive and difficult. The blockade put bigquestion mark on the responsibilities of Israel as an occupant to look aftersafety and well-being of civilians in Gaza. The International Community is ofthe view that the blockade amounts to a collective punishment of people inGaza. On the other hand, Israel upholds that the blockade is lawful and isrequired to stop Hamas’s hostile activities and rocket attacks on its cities andto check Hamas arms supply from abroad. However, because of this situationthe common citizens of this thin strip find themselves caught between thefusillades of two uncompromising, hard-headed opponents and paying theexcessive cost in their blood. At present, the issue has become very complexand intractable in the Arab world and can cause threats to its peace andsecurity. In this crucial state, the International Community including the UnitedNations, the European Union and Organization of Islamic Conference seemunable to take effective steps to resolve this prolonged conflict
Effects of Socio-Economic and Political Factors on the Crime Rate in Pakistan
No full textThe present study is an attempt to explore the impact of social, economic andpolitical factors and the event of 9/11 on crimes in Pakistan for the period1984-2013. Three models have been estimated for political, economic andsocial factors separately. The political factors like corruption, law and order,9/11 event, have been found to increase crimes, whereas government stabilityreduces the crimes. The economic factors such as poverty increase crimeswhereas foreign remittances and external debt reduce crimes. In social factorshuman rights, human capital, income inequality and population densityincrease crimes. In short run, error correction terms indicate that there isconvergence towards the equilibrium in all the models in case of any shock.Various diagnostic tests have been applied to confirm the reliability of resultswhich indicate that there is no problem of autocorrelation andheteroscedasticity in the models. The study suggests that in order to mitigatecriminal activities policy makers should focus on political, social and economicproblems faced by Pakistan
Can Pakistan replicate the Sri Lankan Counterinsurgency Model used successfully against the Tamil Tigers in its own against insurgents?
No full textInitially, the paper highlights the characteristics adopted in the Sri Lankan counterinsurgency model that was used successfully against the Liberation of Tamil Eelam. The paper aims to ascertain whether it is feasible for Pakistan to apply the model against it insurgent group – Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan. The paper analyses whether Pakistan can reproduce the Sri Lankan model by taking into consideration Pakistan’s environment; kind of insurgency threat; history; politics; allies; and capability of armed forces etcetera. After analysis, it becomes evident that due to certain differences and in both countries’ scenarios and insurgency types, it is simplistic to state that Pakistan should copy the Sri Lankan modus operandi. However, the paper suggests takeaways that need to be appreciated and applied, from the Sri Lankan experience. It is concluded that Pakistan should continue Zarb e Azb; learn lessons from Sri Lanka; and create a “Pakistani model” that is familiar with the country’s needs
Gender Disparities: Islamization and State Discourses in Pakistan
Get PDFGender disparities and inequalities are the significant traits of state and society in Pakistan, where religion largely manifests the social identity of women. The construction of social identity on religious paradigm further specifies the restraining role of women in political and economic sphere which makes them vulnerable to discrimination of various kinds and victims of violence as theylack voices in decision making processes despite forming more than half of the population of the state. This paper aims to highlight the role of Islamization in Pakistan as a state discourse, making religion a central theme of policy making by various governments and regimes. This primarily augmented the existing gender disparities and undermined the women’s status. This research is anendeavour to enrich the understanding of gender disparities and its relation with symbolic and concrete notions of Islamization resulting in paradoxical development for women in Pakistan. This study argues that the Islamization process did not aim to disempower women and the prime focus of the process was the political intent of legitimacy, although Islamization of politics led tocommence such laws and policies which radically shaped the gender inequalities in Pakistan as an outcome. This paper attempts to explain the course by which politics and religion are intimately infused and this would help to explain the politicization of gender and restrictive laws related to women for fostering the patriarchal ideology in Pakistan
Progress and Prospects: A Holistic View on the Life of Pakistani Female Expatriates
Get PDFThis study provides a holistic approach in understanding the experiences of female Pakistani expatriates working in United States and Saudi Arabia with reference to work life balance. Twenty Pakistani female expatriates are interviewed. 10 of them are working in different sectors in Saudi Arabia and 10 of them are working in United States of America. The findings of the research show the enrichment experiences of female expatriates from a developing country like Pakistan while working in different cultural set ups of USA and KSA. The study reveals the effect of enrichment on family as well as work domain. The study indicates the coping mechanism developed by the female expatriates in different cultural settings to have a better WLB. The research develops our understanding and knowledge base with respect to the experiences of Pakistani women working across the borders in different cultural context
Sino-US Rivalry in the South China Sea: A Hegemonic Stability Theory Perspective
Get PDFThis article is written in the background of the growing Sino-US rivalry in the SCS dispute. It discusses the political, military, and economic initiatives of these countries to save their interests in the region. The South China Sea has become the center of Asia Pacific politics in specific and global politics in general. Its geostrategic importance and huge resources have attracted the attention of world powers in this region. China, the regional hegemon, claims the SCS region as its core interest and provides the basis to its claims based on historical usage and a part of the ancient Chinese dynasties. Though the US is a non-resident state in this dispute its defense relations with other claimant states, its long-term interests in this region, and increasing political and military rivalry with emerging superpower China, all these factors have forced the US to play a significant role in this dispute. This research tries to find out the answer to the research puzzle about the factors behind the growing rivalry between the US and China in the SCS. The research has employed qualitative methodology within the post-positivist paradigm. The study is conducted under the lens of Hegemonic Stability Theory. This study concludes that the prevailing situation in the SCS would further get hot if either side behaves assertively to secure interests in the region. The conclusion suggests that peace could only be achieved if both countries show patience and solve this issue through multilateral negotiations
Transgenerational Trauma and Postmemorial Atonement: A Case Study of Uzma Aslam Khan’s The Miraculous True History of Nomi Ali
Get PDFThis paper undertakes to explore the transmission of transgenerational trauma by means of postmemory in Uzma Aslam Khan’s novel The Miraculous True History of Nomi Ali in light of contemporary trauma studies and postcolonial discourse. It draws upon Marianne Hirsch’s concept of postmemory in 1) The Generation of postmemory: writing and visual culture after the Holocaust 2) Family frames: Photography, narrative, and postmemory and Gabriele Schwab’sconcept of transgenerational trauma in Haunting Legacies: Violent Histories andTransgenerational Trauma. This paper, by using the interpretive approach in textual analysis, seeks to follow the trails of trauma experienced by the second generation of political prisoners of Andaman Islands under the British colonial rule in the text. It investigates how transmission of trauma operates in the text through narratives, pictures, objects, places, scars, language, silence and inherited memories. While mapping the trauma pathways of different characters in the text, the present study also focuses on identifying indigenous ways through which transgenerational trauma functions within a postcolonial geography. The study calls attention to the multitude of effects of ancestral trauma on the post generations living in a colonial regime. While looking atthe political background of the text, the present paper points out the possibility of constructive political activism within society with the production of postmemorial works of art. By using trauma theory and postmemory under the critical lens of postcolonial discourse, the paper deviates from conventional use of trauma studies which mostly focuses on psychoanalytical interpretations. Thisstudy is an attempt to incorporate a decolonized conception of trauma within contemporary Pakistani trauma paradigm
Use of Rape as Weapon against Women by Indian Forces in Occupied Kashmir: A Securitization Perspective
Get PDFThis article is based on the argument that the Indian forces are using rape as a weapon against women in the disputed territory of Kashmir to eliminate the freedom struggle of Muslim population. According to different surveys and reports, more than 11 thousand women have been gang-raped and molested in occupied Kashmir by the Indian forces. The security forces are continuously exercising this weapon of sexual warfare on women as a punishment. The triggering force behind this tactic of sexual abuse is the ideology of Hindutva. Under this ideology, current Indian regime is trying to change the secular status of India into a Hindu State. The Modi government is supporting communal violence on minorities for its political purposes. So, the minority community in India in general and the Muslims in disputed territory of Kashmir in specificare facing state oppression at large. Minorities like the Muslims and the Christians are being termed as “threatening and hostile other” in India. This study investigates how India is securitizing the Kashmir conflict by enforcing sexual assaults against women through its security forces? Secondly, it also tries to find that answer of why the use of rape and sexual abuse are justified as a potent weapon by Indian forces in occupied Kashmir? A large number of security forces have been deployed in Kashmir to suppress the Kashmiri freedom struggle. The security forces are exercising mass rape as a weapon in Kashmir to curb their right to self-realization. Such growing sexual practices have adverse impacts on the physical and mental health of women. In the end, we conclude that such inhumane policies not only undermine the social fiber of the Kashmiricommunity but also it will disrupt the peace of the whole of Southeast Asia
Provincial Demands for Self-rule and Shared-rule under the 18th Amendment in Pakistan: An Assessment
Get PDFThis study analyzes the development in the two basic concepts of federalism by Daniel Elazar: self-rule and shared rule in Pakistan, after the implementation of 18th amendment. These federal concepts would remain the main concern of the present study. This paper has analyzed the expansion as to what extent the 18th amendment has fulfilled the requirements of self-rule and shared rule in Pakistan. The two federal conceptions were the set parameters to approach the 18th constitutional amendment in Pakistan. This historical amendment has converted the entire federal political system to one decentralized and participatory. The federal system was highly centralized and less participatory before the amendment. It has redesigned and updated the entire federal setup. It is a provincial liability now to get an advantage of giving opportunities and enjoy proposed benefits set up by their historic demands by constitutional arrangements. It is recommended on the basis of the findings that federal and provincial authorities should keep the said changes and restore the real federal spirit of the constitution by exercising the proposed changes in the constitution on provincial demands by the federal government