Aamir Latif

SWAT, Pakistan

Principal Saeed Ahmad’s swift order on Friday saved nearly 900 students in Pakistan’s flood-hit Swat Valley minutes before surging waters demolished their school.

“It was exactly 9 am when I had a last glance at the stream and sensed it was going to burst its banks due to continuing rains,” Ahmad, 59, the school’s principal, told Anadolu. Ahmad ordered an immediate evacuation of nearly 950 enrolled students.

Within 15 minutes, the children and teachers had left. Minutes later, torrents of water smashed into the school, washing away half the building, its boundary walls, and the playground.

“Around 900 students were present on Aug. 15 when the flood struck our village and other adjoining areas,” said Sarwar Khan, a local councilor. “This timely action by the principal saved 900 lives.”

The school was one of dozens of educational institutions destroyed in floods that have wreaked havoc across several districts in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, killing more than 350 people in the past three days, officials said.

Ahmad, who has been serving as principal for 12 years, recalled that the same building was destroyed during floods in July 1995. “There were summer vacations; that’s why there was no casualty,” he said.

“That incident was in my mind when I decided to evacuate.”

Pakistan is ranked among the countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

In 2022, catastrophic floods submerged one-third of the country, killing over 1,700 people and causing an estimated $32B in damage.

Read: K2 Descent Claims Chinese Climber’s Life

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Aamir Latif is a senior journalist based in Karachi, Sindh. He represents Anadolu, a Turkish news agency.

Courtesy: Anadolu Agency (Posted on 17.08.2025)

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Aamir Latif 

Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan

The government of Pakistan’s northeastern Punjab province on Thursday ordered all special education schools in Lahore to send students with conditions susceptible to poor air on a three-month leave from Friday as a deadly smog has already started to choke the provincial capital.

On Thursday, Lahore recorded an alarming Air Quality Index (AQI) of 201 — the second highest in the world, as the government has declared smog a “calamity.”

The government, according to a notification, has banned several pollution-causing activities across the province, including burning any type of crop residue, solid waste, tires, rubber and plastics, as well as vehicles emitting visible smoke and pollutants falling into inadmissible limits.

The early strike by the smog this year also prompted Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to seek coordination with the neighboring Indian Punjab, which, along with the national capital Delhi, has long been facing the same problem.

Read: As winter sets in, deadly smog chokes Pakistan

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)-Pakistan in its latest report has made a string of medium and long-term recommendations to tackle the smog-related issues

They include the capacity-building of farmers on crop residue management, promoting renewable energy sources and enforcing compliance in the industrial sector, use of low-cost sensor-based monitoring systems, which can effectively measure pollutants, mandatory vehicular emission testing, and integrated traffic management.

The report found that key contributors to worsening air quality included vehicular emissions, crop residue burning, industrial processes, and coal combustion.

It also lays out a plan to promote electric vehicles (EVs), enhance sustainable development models, segregate industrial zones, expand mass transit networks, and switch to renewable energy sources.

Read: Pakistan ranks second among countries with worst air quality

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Aamir Latif is a Karachi-based senior journalist. He represents Anadolu, a Turkish news agency.

Courtesy: Anadolu Agency (Posted on 31.10.2024)

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• The daily poem recitation will be aired online through the IAE platforms as well as more than ten other globally acclaimed literary platforms based in Russia, China, USA, Indonesia, Philippines, South Africa, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago etc.

Chandigarh, India

The International Academy of Ethics (IAE), Chandigarh has planned to launch ‘BALAKAVI’, the school level new poets’ introduction extravaganza 2025.

The motto of the ‘BALAKAVI’ mega project is upholding the peace, humanity, ethical values and love towards one another as well as the Mother Earth through poetry.

The project has been initiated, conceived and planned by Mr. Balachandran Nair, the lifetime fellow of IAE.

It has been planned to bring thousands of school students in the poetry recitation project, which will run for 365 days from January 1, to December 31, 2025.

According to the IAE President Dr. Jernail S. Anand, the daily poem recitation will be aired online through the IAE platforms as well as more than ten other globally acclaimed literary platforms based in Russia, China, USA, Indonesia, Philippines, South Africa, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago etc. The team members are Mr. Balachandran Nair and Mr. Vithura V. Asok.

Read: Over 400 Kerala school children brought into poetic mainstream

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Also read: Critical Readings in Children and Adolescent’s Literature

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Attingal, Kerala

The International Academy of Ethics conferred Lifetime Fellowship on Sh. Balachandran Nair, in recognition of his extraordinary work bringing school children from backwaters of Kerala in the poetic mainstream.

A special function was organized on 28th July, at Attingal, Kerala in which more than 200 school kids were felicitated and their books were also released.

Young students getting their books released was a rare sight. This was the result of Sh. Balachandran Nair’s hard work who had ensured the poems of nearly 400 poets from 70 countries, read by 407 young school kids, along with their bios and their own poems. It was a cultural exchange with the people of 70 countries which lasted for 365 days.

It was a masterly stroke to bring the young students in touch with literature. Dr. Jernail Singh Anand, President of the International Academy of Ethics, was the Chief Guest along with Sh. P. Muraleedharan, Ex-Minister of State for Parliamentary and Foreign Affairs.

“It was in view of Sh. Balachandran Nair’s extraordinary services to the world of literature and giving a boost to the idea of ethics that he was selected for the Fellowship,” said Dr. Molly Joseph, Chief Coordinator, of the Academy.

Other guests at the function include noted poets Sai Prakash, from Andhra Pradesh and Dr. Pankajam Kotarath from Chennai, Ashokan Erulandy. Dr. Anand was felicitated with a memento and his own Portrait. Dr. Molly Joseph and other poets were also felicitated.

The visit to Thiruvananthapuram [Kerala] was supplemented with a visit to the Vivakanda Rock in Kanyakumari, which attracts hundreds of visitors every day, and is every visitor’s dream who visits Kerala. (PR)

Read: MORAL CRIMES AND LOSS OF CHARACTER

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Sanghar, Sindh

Presenting a tableau, the SEF School Children highlighted the essence of Environmental Day, inspiring participants with their creative performance at an event organized by Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO), under the NCA-funded “Faith in Action for Sustainable Climate Resilience” project on June 5, 2024.

During the event, women shared their innovative initiatives such as Energy-Efficient Stoves, Nari Climate Enterprise, Large-Scale Tree Planting and Kitchen Garden. They exchanged of ideas and raised a deeper understanding of the importance of land restoration and the development of strategies for desertification and drought resilience.

Six awards were given to women from WSHG of NCA funded project and other role models/ environment contributors who contributed to environmental protection in Sanghar district. These role models were recognized for raising their voices and supporting an eco-friendly environment.

This year’s theme, “Land Restoration, Desertification, and Drought Resilience,” echoed throughout the event, which saw active participation from various stakeholders including the District Administration Sanghar, DDMA and Early Warning System, WSHG Sanghar, Girls from schools, Forest Department, Agriculture and Livestock Department, Education Department, Population Welfare and Social Welfare Department, as well as other NGOs and INGOs.

Sabir Hussain Maher, Chairman of SCAN and In-charge of the Early Warning System in Sanghar, shared insights about environmental loopholes and how we can tackle them with our available resources. He sensitized participants about land restoration and desertification, suggesting some local methods. He described the role of stakeholders in eliminating inhuman practices, emphasizing that the district administration always supports people at our level.

Meer Muhammad, a student, delivered an inspiring speech about the significance of World Environment Day and the collective responsibility to protect our planet.

Ms. Maryam, President of the Women Self Help Group, Padri Goth, Sanghar discussed the crucial role of women in combating climate change through practices like kitchen gardening and the adoption of cloth bags over plastic. Additionally, she shared local wisdom aimed at supporting the environment, highlighting the significance of community-based sustainable solutions.

Majeed Mangrio, Executive Director of SDF, provided a historical perspective on World Environment Day and elaborated on the geographical challenges in the Sindh region, particularly in Achro Thar and Tharparkar. He discussed the monsoon patterns, the white desert, and the alarming rates of deforestation in Sanghar and Umerkot. He passionately advocated for increased tree planting to combat global warming and ozone layer depletion. (PR)

Related news: World Environment Day: Children highlight Drought, Desertification issues

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A great deal of time this topic has been discussed in the electronic as well as print media and other forums but with no desired results.

The children carry heavy bags full of books, which is detrimental to their health. Doctors have warned and advised that heavy bags cause shoulder, and spinal cord problems for little children. The children who are in pre-primary and primary classes take heavy bags that leaves harmful effects on their body.

Medical experts have urged to reduce the number of copies and books of the children studying in lower classes. They have advised that there should be one general for all subjects’ work to be written in class and after they have come back home, the children should make fair work in their copies.

It is observed that parents and children are worried about the issue of heavy bags. All the children have no transport facility to make to school. The parents who take their children by bike or by foot, they face the great difficulty carrying heavy school bags full of copies and books.

The school managements must sort out the issue by considering it seriously. It is advised that the copies which are not necessary for home, after the School closure, should be managed to keep in their respective classes under the supervision of responsible teachers so that some relief could be provided to parents and children.

Also read: ‘School bags should be 10pc of body weight’

A lot of the children don’t have breakfast in the morning before going to school, as a result of which they lose their strength by taking heavy bags on their shoulders. During the classes the blood pressure of the children goes down and vitality falls in summer because of having no breakfast and the heavyweight of the school bags.

 There are many schools where there is no medical facility available. If the student is having a blood pressure or fever or any other medical issue, it could not be managed to examine and check what was the problem? The school managements must take the issue seriously and find out the solution to the problem.

Fawad Hussain Samo

Hyderabad Sindh

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By Nazarul Islam

Nearly two years ago, masks entered our lives, in a big way. A small piece of protective fabric covered our mouths and noses. The mask had come to stay, perhaps for a very long time.

This week the governments all over Europe and America officially announced that all elementary and secondary school pupils will once again be ‘strongly advised’ to wear face masks in ‘communal areas’ such as corridors. The Department of Education has said that the guidance is temporary and will be reviewed in three weeks (when most schools break up for the Christmas holidays).

To some of us, a lack of logic behind this policy is infuriating. Why enforce masks in communal areas but not classrooms, where students spend the majority of their time and transmission is most likely? Why make masks mandatory for primary or secondary pupils but not those who pursued higher education.

Between the 10th and 20th of November, almost the exact same percentage of primary school students tested positive for Covid as secondary school ones (3.7 to 3.5), and we already know that primary school staff are just as likely to catch Covid as secondary school staff.

There is of course an argument that we need to be cautious until we know more about the Omicron variant. However, if the Government is genuinely concerned about the transmissibility of Omicron, and its potential to evade vaccine protection, then it should act accordingly.

We know that fabric face masks have very little effect — their inefficacy means they have already been banned in French schools — and this probably explains why Scottish schools have struggled with outbreaks even though face coverings have been mandatory since October half term.

In fact, according to Oxford’s Prof. James Naismith, ONS survey data on Covid prevalence showed that ‘the Scottish and English approach to masking although formally different since July has made no meaningful difference to Delta.’

On the other hand, more filtered face coverings such as surgical or FPP2 masks give much higher levels of protection: up to 94-95%. If we are going to force students to wear masks (which is far from a given), then surely we should at least make them wear masks that actually work?

In the case of UK alone, this policy seems to be yet another example of the British government’s desire to be seen to do ‘something’ when in reality it is doing nothing; an action that is a distraction from their inaction. For months schools have campaigned for carbon dioxide monitors to monitor ventilation levels in classrooms, and despite the government pledging £25 million to improve schools’ ventilation, latest figures suggest that only 2% of schools have received these.

Yet only 40% of secondary school teachers think their classrooms are well-ventilated, and 7% cannot even open their windows.

I also worry about the return of self-isolation for contacts of the new Omicron variant, and the inevitable disruption this will have on teaching and learning as healthy children are forced to quarantine. What’s more it will hardly help vaccine uptake amongst teenagers (of whom only around 20 percent have been jabbed) — how can we tell them to trust the vaccine and yet restrict and disrupt their lives regardless?

When used correctly masks may well serve a useful purpose, but this halfway house is just performative hygiene theatre.

As one student aptly put it to a teacher this morning, “Here we go again, Miss.”

Nazarul Islam

The Bengal-born writer Nazarul Islam is a senior educationist based in USA. He writes for Sindh Courier and the newspapers of Bangladesh, India and America. He is author of a recently published book ‘Chasing Hope’ – a compilation of his 119 articles.

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By Nazarul Islam

The month of August has brought the usual dread of summer’s end and the imminent return to school, now magnified by the uncertainty of a COVID future and painful memories of the COVID past. As if the increased levels of anxiety and depression were not enough, new reports show our children are behind in mathematics, compared with where they would be after a normal year, with the sharpest declines experienced by the most vulnerable ones.

Math induces anxiety in kids, many lasting far into adulthood. As a mathematician, I constantly sense shame when people discover my profession. Pleasant introductions are followed by confession: “Forgive me, father, for I did not understand algebra.”

With parents having been responsible for a good amount of their children’s education last year, the thought of helping their kids struggle through another year seems overwhelming. This is compounded by the added pressure of knowing that math is the gatekeeper to science and technology that drive much of our society.

After all, the power of mathematics has helped a rover to land on Mars, a computer to outthink chess masters, and a phone to navigate us around the world. And mathematicians have done a good job of showcasing these successes.

Ironically, this very feature of mathematics is its greatest weakness.

When our kids ask why they need to know algebra or trigonometry, we promise them that these tools will be useful. So, students hold their noses and drink math medicine that may help in their technological futures. Not only is this not true (I’ve never used algebra, much less trigonometry, in my daily life), it makes math dreary. Touting the usefulness of math for building spaceships makes one excited about the spaceships, not the math.

Do we listen to Coltrane because jazz is useful? Or immerse ourselves in a Rothko painting because of its practicality? The joy of food comes not from amino acids and proteins, but its look and smell and taste. Humans relish the practical, but we also know that there is much more to life. As Aristotle said, knowledge begins with wonder, but what wonder is there in algebra or trigonometry or calculus?

As it turns out, not much.

Like Beethoven, these mathematical ideas once were trailblazing, but that was centuries if not millennia ago. Yet they still form the cornerstone of today’s math education, designed to serve future generations. No wonder math induces boredom. We need Beyoncé math, not Beethoven math.

Happily, unlocking the pleasure of math is simple: Do what mathematicians do and seek out unexplored, unknown, undiscovered math.

Regrettably, the mathematical journey is imagined as a formidable mountain: The wide base is arithmetic, the skills of adding and multiplying, accessible to everyone. Climbing higher brings us to algebra, geometry, trigonometry and eventually calculus and beyond.

Many of us remember clearly where our bitter journey ended, when the ascent became too unbearable due to mathematical altitude sickness. We believe that new math ideas have been all but exhausted, with a few remaining challenges tucked away in the highest peak.

In reality, math is alive and flourishing, and most of it remains a vast and uncharted countryside. Fresh ideas are constantly being discovered, opening up new and fascinating puzzles. These puzzles allow us to play at the very edge of the mathematical unknown, and many of them are accessible for our students.

Here’s one: Can every even number be written as a sum of two prime numbers?

Even numbers such as 8, 16, and 30 can be written as 3 + 5, 5 + 11, and 7 + 23. But can this be done for every even number? No one knows.

Here’s another: Can six 1-by-1 square tiles be arranged to cover a 2.01-by-2.01 square hole?

We can easily arrange four 1-by-1 tiles to cover a 2-by-2 hole, like on most bathroom floors. But if the hole was just a touch wider and just a touch longer, can arranging six tiles (we can overlap the tiles but not break them) be enough to cover the hole? No one knows.

On one hand, these puzzles might seem silly, with time better spent learning useful math. Yet it’s in prodigal extravagance, not utility, that the wonder of mathematics is found. And as our kids try to solve these problems (and miserably fail, as I have), a deeply encouraging truth will appear in their otherwise anxious hearts: It’s OK to struggle with math since everyone struggles with math.

For the full splendor of mathematics is so glorious, so majestic, that we are all children when it comes to exploring it. And these unsolved puzzles are the great equalizers, helping us realize that we are on the same level as the greatest of mathematicians, all of us staring over the unknown abyss, looking for a way down into the mystery.

With a vacation from math utility, and into wonder, it might be possible to spark mathematical joy in our children in this COVID darkness as they begin a new school year.

Nazarul Islam

The Bengal-born writer Nazarul Islam is a senior educationist based in USA. He writes for Sindh Courier and the newspapers of Bangladesh, India and America. He is author of a recently published book ‘Chasing Hope’ – a compilation of his 119 articles.

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