The house did not become empty…

It became quiet.

Nisar Banbhan

Hailing from Village Mir Muhammad Banbhan, Taluka Mirwah, District Khapurpur and based in Karachi, the capital of Sindh, Nisar Banbhan is a seasoned professional with nearly 25 years of multifaceted experience, encompassing 3 years in journalism and over two decades of service in a public sector organization. His extensive expertise spans content creation, scriptwriting, screenwriting, lyrics, poetry, and storytelling across multiple languages, including Sindhi, Urdu, and English. Nisar has honed his skills in writing articles, columns, and short stories, contributing to various national and regional media outlets. Additionally, he brings a deep understanding of program development, educational advocacy, and strategic planning, having led initiatives that promote quality education and foster community empowerment. His passion for literature and education merges seamlessly, enabling him to craft impactful narratives that resonate with diverse audiences while driving meaningful change in society. 

The Moringa Tree

Mother…

After you left,

The house did not become empty…

It became quiet.

The walls are still standing,

The clock still tells time,

The door still opens…

But the house has forgotten

The sound of your voice.

That little pause at the doorway…

“You’re home, my child?”

It still hangs there somewhere,

Like a forgotten prayer

Caught between two breaths.

In the kitchen,

A small stain of turmeric

Rests on the wall.

Everyone sees a mark.

I see

Your fingers.

The cupboard still keeps

Your folded clothes carefully,

As if they are afraid

That if they move,

Your fragrance might leave.

And the pillow…

Every night it places

A piece of your dream

Beneath my sleepless eyes.

Mother…

In the courtyard

The moringa tree you planted

Has grown taller.

Perhaps it was growing upward

To find you.

Perhaps the roots knew

What my heart refused to accept…

That some people

Do not leave completely.

They go underground

And become roots.

When the wind passes

Through its leaves,

It does not sound like wind.

It sounds like someone

Whispering a prayer.

“May Allah keep you safe, my child…”

And for a moment,

I become small again…

A child who still believes

That every sorrow

Can be cured by a hand

Placed gently on his head.

After you left,

I searched for you

In many faces…

In an old woman’s blessing,

In a stranger’s kindness,

In a soft voice,

In the warmth of a passing touch.

But Mother…

A mother’s presence

Has a fragrance

That no other place carries.

People say…

Time heals everything.

Maybe it does.

But some wounds

Are not wounds.

They are rooms inside the heart

Where memories sit quietly

And light a lamp every evening.

Now, before every prayer,

Your name reaches God

Before my own words do.

I say…

My Lord,

The woman who gave away

Her nights for my dreams,

Who hid her wishes

Inside my happiness,

Who turned her whole life

Into a shelter for mine…

Cover her resting place

With Your mercy.

Make her loneliness

A garden of peace.

Give her a smile

That never fades.

And if one day

My journey reaches Paradise…

Let the first face I see

Be hers.

I will not complain.

I will not tell her

How heavy life became.

I will simply rest my head

In her lap…

Like I used to.

Because Mother…

Some tiredness

Does not come from walking.

It comes from living without you.

And that moringa tree

In the courtyard…

Will still be there.

Holding our story

Inside its leaves,

Standing as proof…

That some loves

Are not buried in earth.

They grow.

They become trees.

They become prayers.

They become shade

For all the days

We have left.

Mother…

I still do not call your name loudly.

I am afraid…

What if heaven opens its door,

And you appear with the same smile,

Touch my hair,

And ask…

“My child…

What took you so long?”

___________________

Read: Days Wander Aimlessly Without You

The post The Moringa Tree – Poetry from Sindh first appeared on Sindh Courier.

• Adapted to thrive in Pakistan’s arid conditions, Moringa grows fast, requires little water, and is nutritionally dense in every part – leaves, pods, seeds, flowers, and even roots. 

Ali Nawaz Rahimoo

In the sun-scorched fields of rural Sindh, where the soil is cracked and the air is dry, most families survive on little more than a piece of roti and a simple boiled vegetable. Yet amidst this harsh landscape, something extraordinary is growing quietly, steadily, and full of promise. This is Moringa oleifera, known locally as suhanjna, or the drumstick tree. Once regarded as a modest backyard plant, Moringa is now being recognized by scientists and nutritionists as a powerful weapon in Pakistan’s battle against child malnutrition. The Moringa Tree, also known as the Drumstick tree is nearly entirely edible. It can grow with little water, has multiple times the amount of nutrients as oranges, carrots and milk, plus grows very well in regions of malnutrition. While the aptly named Drumstick, tree has a rather slender appearance, it is anything but frail.

A tropical native, this prolific powerhouse has spread its roots across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and the Caribbean. And now, it seems to have anchored itself in American soil.  Part of a new wave of exotic vegetables, Moringa oleifera (MO) is a botanical platypus. A member of the order Brassicales, it’s a distant relative of both the cabbage and papaya. Its roots taste so much like its cousin horseradish that it’s earned the title ‘horseradish tree’. Its fruit, a popular Indian vegetable, looks like a cross between an okra and a pole bean with the flavour of asparagus. Its cooked flowers mimic mushrooms in taste, while its leaves hint at spinach and lettuce. Its immature seeds are used like peas and if fried when mature, resemble peanuts. In fact, it’s hard to find a part of Moringa that isn’t edible. Even the bark is sometimes taken internally for diarrhoea. But that doesn’t come as a surprise to the locals, who consider it a living pharmacy. Moringa has proven to be a multipurpose arsenal that dispenses some of the best secrets nature has to offer. For centuries, it has been used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat a host of ailments including anaemia, bronchitis, tumours, scurvy, and skin infections.

Drought hardy and disease resistant, MO is a godsend during the dry season, when little food is available. The fresh leaves and branches serve as an excellent source of forage. Indeed, a Nicaraguan study confirms MO’s ability to boost milk production in cows without affecting its taste, smell, or colour. The leaves offer a spectrum of nutrition, rich in vitamins A, B, and C, as well as protein, calcium, and iron. They are so nutritious in fact, that they contain more vitamin A than carrots, more vitamin C than oranges, more calcium than milk, more iron than spinach, more potassium than bananas, and more protein than either milk or eggs! A traditional item in pickles and curries, the raw leaves are also perfect for salads.

Malnutrition – A Crisis Beyond Hunger

Pakistan faces a silent but devastating crisis malnutrition. It affects millions, but its harshest impact is on children under the age of five. According to the National Nutrition Survey (NNS) 2018, the statistics are dire:

• Over 40% of children in Sindh are stunted
• 41.3% are underweight
• 23.3% suffer from wasting (being dangerously thin for their height)
• Nationwide, nearly 10 million children are stunted — 6% of the global burden

In Sindh alone, 98% of children under two years of age do not receive proper nourishment — a number that reflects the failures of both policy and implementation. “This is not just a health emergency; it’s a development catastrophe,” says Dr. Muhammad Ali, Paediatrician. “Malnourished children grow into less productive adults, earn less, and are more prone to illness. It’s a cycle of poverty we cannot afford.

The First 1,000 Days: A Critical Window

Experts emphasize that the most vital period in a child’s development is the first 1,000 days — from conception to the second birthday. Intervening in this window can prevent stunting and its irreversible consequences: weakened immunity, delayed brain development, and increased risk of chronic diseases later in life. Yet, Pakistan’s nutrition funding often focuses on emergency feeding for visibly wasted children, neglecting long-term prevention of stunting. This misalignment has led to persistent malnutrition across generations.  “Proper nutrition starts with the mother,” says Dr. Salik. “Iron, folic acid, iodized salt, and exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months — these are critical. But they’re not enough without broader access to nutrient-rich foods.”

Moringa: A Local Superfoodl Potential

That’s where Moringa comes in. Adapted to thrive in Pakistan’s arid conditions, Moringa grows fast, requires little water, and is nutritionally dense in every part   leaves, pods, seeds, flowers, and even roots.  Just 100 grams of Moringa leaves offer:

• 15x more potassium than bananas
• 7x more vitamin C than oranges
• 15x more calcium than milk
• High levels of iron, protein, and vitamin A

“Moringa is not just a supplement. “It’s a complete, natural food. It supports immune function, fights inflammation, and helps with growth and recovery — especially in undernourished children.” Traditionally used in South Asia to treat diabetes, infections, and high blood pressure, Moringa is now globally recognized as a “superfood.” In countries like India, Kenya, and the Philippines, Moringa has been integrated into national nutrition policies. Pakistan, however, has yet to fully utilize its potential.

A Policy Gap That Costs Us All

Despite the alarming statistics, malnutrition remains low on Pakistan’s political agenda. Health spending continues to lag, and few national programs address child nutrition in a systematic, sustained way. Even worse, recent moves like the 18% GST on formula milk threaten to make infant nutrition even more inaccessible for the poor. Combined with poor sanitation, early marriage, food insecurity, and lack of awareness, these factors trap millions of children in cycles of undernutrition and disease. “The numbers are frightening, but what’s worse is that they’re accepted as normal.  Rooted in Our Soil, Ready for Change Moringa offers more than nutrition — it offers economic opportunity. Its dried leaves can be sold as powder, its seeds pressed for oil or used to purify water. It can be cultivated in backyards, school gardens, and community farms. With the right support, Moringa could provide both sustenance and income for rural families, especially in climate-stressed regions like Tharparkar and Cholistan.  To unlock its potential, experts recommend:

• Including Moringa in school feeding and maternal health programs
• Training rural communities in cultivation and processing
• Distributing seeds via agricultural extension services
• Adding Moringa powder to relief food rations
• Running awareness campaigns on its preparation and health benefits

Read: Thar Desert After The Rain

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Ali Nawaz Rahimoo, based in Umerkot, Sindh is a social development professional. He can be contacted on anrahimoo@gmail.com 

The post The Mighty Moringa: Life-Giving Tree first appeared on Sindh Courier.

By Dr. Mahmood Laghari

Growing seasons and climate

Moringa is an edible tree of “Moringaceae” family which is also known as “Miracle tree” because all of its parts are useful for humans and animals. There are thirteen different species Moringa. Interestingly, all species of Moringa have been reported as edible. However, Morigna Oleifera is native to India and is also cultivated in Pakistan. In this article, we put emphasis on M. Oleifera due to availability of significant scientific research reports on it

Possible uses of Moringa Oleifera

Since the cultivation of M. Oleifera is very easy, hence this tree could be an option for sustainable remedy of malnutrition in poor countries. One can grow this tree in any of the tropical and subtropical regions of the world with a temperature between 25 to 35 °C. It grows well in loamy or sandy soils with slightly alkaline or acidic soil pH. The tree with stands a mean annual rainfall between 250 to 3000 millimeters.

Use as a food

According to a research study by Kasolo et al. (2010) every part of M. Oleifera is a storehouse of important nutrients and anti-nutrients. The leaves of M. oleifera are rich in minerals like potassium, calcium, zinc, iron, magnesium, and copper. Another study conducted by Mbikay et al. (2012) revealed that M. Oleifera leaves contain vitamins like vitamin A, vitamin B such as folic acid, pyridoxine and nicotinic acid, vitamin C, D and E. These studies suggest that about 6 spoonful of M. Oleifera leaf powder can meet a women’s daily calcium and iron requirements during pregnancy. However, the nutrients composition of M. Oleifera can vary with locations albeit the nutrients attributes remain the same. Other reports suggest that calcium is an essential element for growth while, 8 ounces of milk can provide 300 to 400 mg of calcium while M. Oleifera leaves powder can provide 1000 mg of calcium. On the other hand, beef has only 2 mg of iron while M. Oleifera leaf powder has 28 mg of iron hence it could be a cheap substitute for iron tablets for treatment of anaemia. Moringa Oleifera leaves are low in calorific value and can be helpful in the diet of the obese.

Use in medicine

Studies have shown that M. Oleifera has long been used in herbal medicine by Indian and Africans to cure more than 300 diseases. Several studies have shown that, moringa can act as an anti-diabetic agent while, according to Divi et al. (2012) the aqueous extracts of M. oleifera can cure Type 1 diabetes and also insulin resistant Type 2 diabetes in rats.

Studies have shown that M. Oleifera has long been used in herbal medicine by Indian and Africans to cure more than 300 diseases

Studies have shown that moringa can be used as an anti-neoproliferative agent, thereby preventing the growth of cancer cells. Soluble and solvent extracts of leaves have been proven effective as anticancer agents. Furthermore, research papers suggest that the anti-proliferative effect of cancer is may be due to its ability to induce reactive oxygen species in the cancer cells. Other studies have shown that the compounds such as glucosinolates, niazimicin and benzyl isothiocyanate are present in the M. Oleifera leaf extract which are responsible for anticancer activities.

Kirisattayakul et al. (2013) suggested that Moringa is a strong neuroprotectant because of its antioxidants which reduce the reactive oxygen species hence protect the brain. According to Sutalangka et al. (2013) M. Oleifera leaf extract decreases the acetylcholine esterase activity and improve cholinergic function and memory.

Moringa is rich in nutrition owing to the presence of a variety of essential phytochemicals present in its leaves, pods and seeds. Kosolo et al. (2010) have reported that it is common in countries like Benin and Senegal to treat children with moringa. It has been proved effective to treat malnutrition in children younger than 3 years. Immature pods of this tree are rich in fiber (46%), protein (20%) and aminoacid (30%) and are effective in treating digestive problems and preventing colon cancer.

Processing

According to Sallau et al. (2012) maximum fraction of nutrients of M. Oleifera leaves and seed can be utilized with simple processing of boiling with water, as it reduces the cyanide, phytate and oxalate contents. Incorporation of moringa in halawa, pan cake and to other bakery products increases nutrient value and delicacy of the products. It is good in developing protein rich and mineral rich chocolates and halawa. The fortification of bakery products has been suggested to ensure adequate nutrients in children. The mixing of dried moringa leaf powder has been suggested to wheat flour at a mixing rate of 7 gram per kilogram for making soft pan cake (Roti) with enhanced nutritional value.

Preservation

The M. Oleifera products can be preserved by dehydration, which improves the shelf life of the products without change in nutritional value. A report by Yang et al. (2006) shows that a low temperature oven used to dehydrate the moringa leaves retained more nutrients except vitamin C than freeze-dried leaves. Hence, drying can be done using economical household appliance like stove to retain a continuous supply of nutrients in the leaves.

Over doze

An overdose of moringa may cause high accumulation of iron. High iron can cause gastrointestinal distress and hemochromatosis. Hence, a maximum daily dose of 70 g of moringa is suggested to be good and prevents over accumulation of nutrients.

Other uses

The flowers of M. Oleifera are used to make tea with hypocholesterolaemic properties. Moringa flowers are said to taste like mushrooms when fried. Moringa seeds are used to extract oil which is called the Ben oil. This oil is rich in oleic acid, tocopherols and sterols. It can also withstand oxidative rancidity. The oil can be used in cooking as a substitute for olive oil, as perfumes and also for lubricating watches.

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Dr. Mahmood Laghari is Associate Professor and Chairman, Department of Energy and Environment, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam Sindh

The post Moringa – The Miracle Tree first appeared on Sindh Courier.