Karachi- Speakers at a seminar on Friday discussed an escalating nutrition crisis in the country and presented recommendations to cope with the lurking challenges ahead of the federal budget.

The discussion revealed  that 40% of children under five in Pakistan suffer from stunting, while 18% of children are wasted, in addition to more than half of women and children affected by anemia.

Billed “nutrition crisis — challenges and pathways to reform” was organized by the Pakistan Nutrition and Dietetic Society (PNDS), in collaboration with the Karachi Press Club (KPC), bringing together experts in nutrition, public health, and fiscal governance to discuss sustainable reforms and policy integration.

Dr. Asim Bashir Khan, a health economist and public finance expert highlighted major gaps in nutrition financing and accountability, emphasizing that Pakistan’s nutrition investments remain below recommended levels and are often not linked to measurable outcomes.

He called for a shift from incremental to performance-based budgeting, stronger monitoring and evaluation systems, greater transparency in public spending, and clear accountability mechanisms to ensure nutrition policies translate into meaningful improvements in population health.

Professor Dr. Abdul Basit, director of Indus Hospital’s diabetes and endocrinology department, noted that obesity is rapidly becoming a major driver of diabetes in Pakistan, yet current prevention efforts targeting adults aged 30-40 start too late since risk factors are already established by school age, with over 10 million children overweight or obese.

“Risk begins before birth, as maternal health, low breastfeeding rates, and both underweight and overweight newborns all influence future obesity and diabetes risk,” he maintained, calling for adoption of a comprehensive prevention strategy that spans pregnancy, childhood, and adulthood.

Fayza Khan, President PNDS, in her opening remarks, stated that nutrition must be recognized as a cornerstone of the country’s health system.

“We need to integrate nutritionists into primary healthcare, appoint dietitians in hospitals and research institutions, and empower them in policymaking,” she said, adding that the PNDS will continue to advocate for multisectoral nutrition financing, inclusion of experts, and establishment of nutrition positions in research and policy.

Despite strong evidence, nutrition remains neglected in the federal budget, with up to 75% financing gaps at provincial levels, costing Pakistan nearly USD 17 billion annually in lost productivity, healthcare expenses, and human capital losses.

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Read: Marginalized Children Face Health Risks

The post Child Stunting, Maternal Anemia Grip Pakistan first appeared on Sindh Courier.

Amritsar

Department of Sociology, Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Amritsar, organized a one-day seminar on the theme “Music, Modernity and Consumer Culture in Punjab”, sponsored by the ICSSR–North Western Regional Centre (NWRC), Chandigarh.

The keynote address was delivered by renowned sociologist Prof. Paramjit Singh Judge (R), Department of Sociology, GNDU, who connected the ongoing transformations in Punjabi society with the perspectives of Sociology of Culture and Sociology of Music.

He elaborated on the evolution of Punjabi music and how it reflects broader social changes, laying a strong foundation for the day’s deliberations.

Prof. Swaraj Raj (Former Head, Department of English and Dean, Faculty of Languages, Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University, Fatehgarh Sahib) in the plenary session spoke on the popular culture and modernity. He examined this through linguistic analysis.

Two parallel technical sessions were subsequently held. Eminent scholars including Dr. Rakesh Thakur (Associate Professor of Sociology, Post Graduate Government College Chandigarh) and Dr. Jasbir Singh (Head, Department of History, Panjab University, Chandigarh) shared their perspectives on themes such as representation in music, social change, popular culture, and consumerism in the Punjabi context. Dr. Rupan Dhillon (Head, Department of Psychology, GNDU) discussed the socio-psychological impacts of music, with a particular focus on gender representation in Punjabi music. Research scholars from different disciplinary backgrounds also actively participated in the parallel session and presented their views on issues such as digital society, media, and gender dynamics.

A panel discussion was organized under the chairmanship of Prof. Sukhdev Singh (Rretired Professor and Dean, GNDU; Vice Chairman, INTACH). The discussion focused on caste, gender, and class within the broader debate on modernity. Panelists included Dr. Sikander Singh (Dean Student Welfare, Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University), Prof. Maninder Singh (Head, School of Punjabi Studies, GNDU), Dr. Manu Sharma (Head, Department of History, GNDU), and Mr. Saurabh Sharma (Deputy Registrar, IKGPTU). The panel highlighted the impact of globalization, modernization, and masculine culture on traditional and popular Punjabi music, content consumption, and issues related to women and caste.

The valedictory session featured noted historian Prof. Rajiv Lochan (Retired Professor, Punjab University, Chandigarh), who provided a historical evaluation of music, culture, and popular culture in Punjab. Former Chairperson of the National Commission for Women, New Delhi Mrs. Meetu Lochan, also appreciated the seminar and congratulated the organizers for the insightful presentations and expert participation.

The inaugural session began with a welcome note by the Convener of the seminar, Dr. Rachana Sharma, along with the Head of the Department, Prof. Satnam Singh Deol. She expressed gratitude to ICSSR NWRC, Chandigarh for its support, and acknowledged the Guidance, and Leadership of the Vice Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Karamjeet Singh, Dean Academic Affairs- Prof. Harvinder Singh Saini, Registrar- Prof. Karamjit Singh, Dean Student Welfare cum Head of the Department Prof. Satnam Singh Deol, faculty members, research scholars, and participants from various departments. Gratitude was also extended to the North West Indian Sociological Association (NWISA) for being the knowledge partner.

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Read: Punjab Agriculture Faces Challenges

The post Punjabi Music’s Evolution and Social Changes first appeared on Sindh Courier.

Tetova, September 25, 2025

In the academic amphitheater of the University of Tetova, where voices of knowledge and critical thought converge to reflect on Albanian cultural heritage and literary interculturality, the 19th International Seminar of Albanology was inaugurated, bearing the central theme: “Cultural Dialogue between Albanian and World Literature.”

Among the most distinguished voices that resonated strongly in this scholarly forum was that of the researcher of modern and post-communist literature, Dr. Mujë Buçpapaj from Tirana. He delivered a profound and well-articulated analysis on a theme that continues to challenge the collective Albanian consciousness and contemporary aesthetic discourse.

In his presentation titled “The Portrayal of a Grotesque Reality and a Traumatized Communist Society in Contemporary Novels,” Dr. Buçpapaj offered a complex perspective on how grotesque elements, irony, and documentary realism are employed to construct narratives that confront historical silence and reveal the unhealed wounds of a repressive era.

At the center of his study stood the novel The Second Devil by Qazim Shehu, which, according to the scholar, transcends its literary form to become an indictment and an ethical document against forgetfulness. Applying a text-analytical and comparative methodology, Dr. Buçpapaj placed Shehu’s novel in dialogue with works by other Albanian and foreign authors—such as Ismail Kadare, Fatos Kongoli, Flamur Buçpapaj, Bashkim Shehu, Bashkim Hoxha, and the German-Romanian Nobel laureate Herta Müller—to construct a polyphonic map of the experience and representation of dictatorship.

At the heart of his analysis, Dr. Buçpapaj explored how grotesque aesthetics and the ironic rendering of absurd realities become both artistic and ethical tools for narrating, through the metaphor of the Albanian gulag, an existential experience that surpasses the political and enters the realm of human tragedy.

Characters such as Arsen Lipa, a silent survivor of systemic injustice, and Idrizi, a moral figure and symbol of quiet resistance, were examined as metaphors for individuals who preserve their dignity in a world shattered by fear, blackmail, and ideological hypocrisy.

In a detailed comparison with Herta Müller’s The Land of Green Plums, the scholar focused on the stylistic nuances and narrative approaches that distinguish—but also unite—the experiences of Eastern European dictatorships. Shehu, according to Buçpapaj, constructs a simple yet emotionally charged narrative, imbued with bitter realism and an uncompromising ethical stance toward the past.

In concluding his lecture, Dr. Mujë Buçpapaj emphasized that post-communist Albanian literature, with novels such as The Second Devil, carries the weight of collective memory—a past not archived, but continuously returned to, in order to be understood, questioned, and transformed into a more enlightened historical and civic consciousness.

His contribution was met with particular interest by the audience, sparking vibrant debate and deep reflection on the role of literature as a medium of truth.

In an era where narratives of dictatorship are often replaced by silence or fabricated nostalgia, Dr. Buçpapaj’s voice stands out as a clear and unwavering call for truth through the art of the written word.

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Coordinated by Angela Kosta Executive Director of the Magazines: MIRIADE, NUANCES ON THE PANORAMIC CANVAS, BRIDGES OF LITERATURE, journalist, poet, essayist, publisher, literary critic, editor, translator, promoter

The post Echoes of Albania in World Literature first appeared on Sindh Courier.

Seminar on “Climate Risks and Challenges in Sindh” held at SMIU

Karachi, Sindh

The environmentalists, academics, and community activists have sounded the alarm over the accelerating destruction of the Indus Delta, calling for urgent measures to safeguard both the fragile ecosystem and the livelihoods of its fishing communities.

At a seminar titled “Climate Risks and Challenges in Sindh: Regional Vulnerabilities, Emissions Control, and Institutional Strategies for Sustainable Action,” hosted on June 11, by Sindh Madressatul Islam University in collaboration with the Knowledge Forum, speakers highlighted the devastating impact of reduced freshwater flows in the River Indus.

The speakers highlighted that the reduction in river water flow has triggered widespread agricultural land loss, rampant sea intrusion, and a dramatic depletion of fish stocks, placing immense pressure on the delta’s population and biodiversity.

Ali Anjum of WWF underscored the crisis, noting that the delta, home to Asia’s seventh-largest mangrove forests, is facing massive losses due to unchecked sea intrusion, overexploitation of forests, urban land reclamation, and escalating coastal pollution. He warned that the shrinking freshwater supply is intensifying flood risk, land erosion, and the collapse of traditional livelihoods.

The consequences of these changes are stark: The Indus Delta has shrunk by over 90% in recent decades, millions of acres of fertile land have been lost to seawater intrusion, and groundwater salinity has rendered much of the region’s water undrinkable and unfit for irrigation.

Rising temperatures—projected to increase by up to 4°C by 2100—along with erratic rainfall and frequent extreme weather events, are further undermining crop and livestock productivity, driving food insecurity, and forcing rural populations to migrate to urban areas. Speakers at the seminar called for integrated, climate-resilient development strategies, legal protection for freshwater flows, and urgent institutional reforms to restore the ecological balance of the Indus Delta before irreversible damage occurs.

Mentioning land losses in 3 talukas i.e. Keti Bandar, Khharo Chhan and Shah Bandar, Mr. Ali Anjum said that so for 263,272 hectares of land have become baron. Ali Anjum from WWF said that agriculture losses of the area are Rs.4.2 million, fishery losses are Rs.3.5 million and forestry losses (mangroves and riverine are Rs.145.0 million. And if these trends continue for the next 25 years we shall bear Rs.4.1 billion losses. He further said that WWF study reveals that 1.5 inches per day of mangrove land is eroded.

Ali Anjum informed that 450 Million Gallon per Day (MGD) of untreated wastewater by more than 6000 industrial units dumped in mangrove habitats, leading to growth retention and degradation of marine ecosystem. The seminar also drew attention to the alarming ecological decline documented by researchers and community leaders.

Fatima Majeed of the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum reported a sharp drop in fish stocks and mangrove cover, with many fish species now extinct and new mangrove plantations failing due to insufficient freshwater.

Read: Indus Delta’s Predator at Risk

She said that once a rich area, the Indus Delta area is now destroyed, and people are forced to migrate.  Ms. Fatima Majeed said that there were 450 islands in 17 creeks of the Indus Delta, which were most beautiful, but now a few islands have been remained behind. She was of the view that the community living on the islands was prosperous in the past, but due to rise in the sea level and stoppage of Indus water in the delta, these islands have been destroyed and tens of thousands of people have been migrated to other places. She also said that about 4.2 million acres of the land of coastal districts of Sindh has been eroded by sea. She was of the view that the only solution of these issues is to release the water of Indus River into delta.

Ms. Zeenia Shaukat, Director of the TKF, explained about the NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions), which are climate action plans developed by individual countries as part of their commitment under the Paris Agreement (2015) to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. Each country sets its targets and updates them every five years, aiming to increase ambition over time.

According to her, NDCs are critically important for Pakistan because they provide a strategic roadmap for low-carbon development, climate resilience, and international collaboration.

She said effective implementation of Pakistan’s NDCs is essential not only for environmental protection but also for sustainable economic growth and the well-being of future generations.

Dean, Department of Social and Development Studies Dr. Jamshed Adil Halepoto, stressed the need to tackle the environmental challenges effectively.

Dr. Subhash, Chairman of Department of Social and Development of SMIU, in his opening remarks, emphasized that Pakistan is grappling with severe climate change challenges, with the Indus Delta among the worst affected.  Dr. Muhammad Kamil Lakho conducted the session. (PR)

Read: Save The Dying Indus Delta

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Kazan

From May 30 to June 2, 2025, the Republics of Tatarstan and Bashkortostan in the Russian Federation will host the First International Scientific and Creative Seminar titled “Quantum Leap: Artificial Intelligence in Education, Art, and Medicine.” The hybrid-format seminar is a central event within the framework of the I International Forum-Battle “Tournament of Poets and AI”.

Jointly organized by the Kazan branch of the Union of Russian Writers (Tatarstan), the Union of Russian Writers (Bashkortostan), the Public Support Headquarters of United Russia in Bashkortostan, the Kazan State Medical University (KSMU), and Innopolis University, the seminar aims to stimulate scientific dialogue and creative thinking at the intersection of human and artificial intelligence.

Main Themes and Objectives

The seminar seeks to foster interdisciplinary exchange and explore the growing role of AI in various fields. Topics include:

The use of digital technologies and AI in the educational process

Artificial Intelligence in literary creativity: pros and cons

AI technologies in medical practice

Music and AI

AI in visual arts: “I am an artist, this is how I see it”

Philosophical, legal, ethical, and religious dimensions of AI

A Diverse and Thought-Provoking Agenda

The seminar, held at the Public Support Headquarters of United Russia in Ufa, opened with welcoming remarks from moderator Svetlana Gafurova, a poet and journalist, followed by reflections from Olga Levadnaya, founder of the Handshake of Republics poetry festival and chair of the seminar jury.

Pesentations covered a wide range of topics:

Artificial intelligence in medical practice and its impact on future professions (Vyacheslav Mikhailov, Kazan)

AI as a literary co-creator or competitor (Alexander Voronin, Kazan)

The role of emotions in cognitive processes (Andrey Oshnurov, Ufa)

Philosophical and ethical aspects of AI (Rafael Khafizov, Kazan)

Legal intersections with AI (Vera Chernysheva, Kazan)

Literary diplomacy through AI (Inna Nacharova, Ufa)

Travel literature serves as a powerful means of cultural communication between peoples (Ashraf Aboul-Yazid, Egypt)

AI in civic education (Elena Shakhova, Simferopol)

Museum digitalization and AI (Evgenia Raikhlina, Tula)

Creative fears and possibilities of AI (Nelli Kozyreva, Belarus)

Artistic compatibility with AI (Nina Varshavskaya, Kazan Conservatory)

AI’s role in the educational process (Olga Chevela, Kazan)

These insights culminated in a panel discussion titled “Artificial Intelligence: Pros and Cons,” moderated by Voronin. Participants included poets, educators, lawyers, and visual artists from Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Algeria, and Greece—contributing from cities including Kazan, Simferopol, Ufa, Tula, and internationally via Zoom.

The seminar represents a growing intersection of art, science, and society. The program concluded with the promise of continued international collaboration and a planned visit to the innovative city of Innopolis on June 2, as coordinator poetess Olga Levadnaya said.

The initiative is designed to encourage scientific communication, creative collaboration, and a deeper cultural understanding of AI. It provides a platform for educators, scientists, and artists to share research, innovations, and perspectives on AI’s integration into human activities.

Program Highlights

The seminar opens on May 31 with panel discussions and continues with cultural and educational activities, including a planned excursion to the innovative city of Innopolis on June 2. The working languages of the event will be Russian and English.

Organizing Committee and Participants

The organizing committee is led by A.G. Voronin, Chair of the Kazan branch of the Union of Russian Writers and Honored Worker of Culture of Tatarstan. Among its members are notable figures from academia, literature, and the arts, including medical and philological scholars, poets, and performers.

Participation is open to university faculty, researchers, and creative professionals. Both in-person and virtual attendance via Zoom are available, especially for international and out-of-town participants. Travel and accommodation expenses are covered by the sending institutions.

Registration and Contact

Applications are accepted until May 15, 2025, by email to coordinator Olga Levadnaya at: olgalevadnaya@mail.ru. A digital version of the final program will be sent to all registered participants.

This event marks a significant step toward integrating artificial intelligence into the cultural, educational, and medical spheres, signaling a dynamic new phase of interdisciplinary exploration and international cooperation.

Published under the International Cooperation Protocol with Middle East Business | Life Magazine, Abu Dhabi, and ‘The Silk Road Today’, Cairo, Egypt

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Read: Translators and the Artificial Intelligence

The post Quantum Leap: AI in Education, Art, and Medicine first appeared on Sindh Courier.

• Ultra-fast growth, work-holism and daily life with no time to think about marriage or children cause decline in birthrate in Korea
• Media only encourages entertainment and consumption … Panelists from each country emphasize the role of media in overcoming low birth rates

Special Report by Lee Sang-hyun, Tax and Finance News

Seoul

A seminar on ‘Causes of Low Birth Rates in Asia and Countermeasures’ will be held on Thursday, November 7, 2024 in South Korean capital city of Seoul.

Low birth rates are a general trend across the globe, and experts have analyzed that there is no country on Earth where the falling Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has turned upward.

East Asia, where advanced Asian countries such as Korea, China, and Japan are located, is experiencing a significant decline in birth rates, and Southeast Asian countries also showed a birth rate emergency as the regional average total fertility rate in 2021 fell below the replacement fertility rate (2.1) that maintains the population (2.05).

Allen Ng, head of the Macroeconomic Monitoring Group at AMRO (ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Institute), said in a paper to be presented at an international seminar titled “Causes of Low Birth Rates in Asia and Countermeasures,” to be held at the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, “As the level of economic development increases, the TFR will continue to decline and, even in an optimistic scenario, it will not reach the replacement level of the fertility rate (2.1).”

This seminar, co-hosted by Rep. Jin Sun-mee of the Education Committee of the National Assembly and Rep. Oh Ki-hyung of the Planning and Finance Committee and organized by the Tax and Finance Newspaper, has been sponsored by the Presidential Committee on Local Government.

Based on AMRO data and research results, Group Director Allen Ng will present the birth rate, life expectancy, aging trends and outlook, and related policies of the ASEAN+3 member countries, which consist of Korea, Japan, China, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), in a presentation titled “The Demographic Imperative.”

Read: Why South Korean women aren’t having babies

It is explained that a major shock can be prevented to some extent through social structure, religious beliefs, economic prosperity, urbanization and access to contraception, etc. that can affect the birth rate. The case of Nagi Village in Japan, which reversed the total fertility rate from 1.4 in 2005 to 2.7 in 2021 due to culture and norm that emphasizes extended families, will also be introduced.

At the seminar that day, experts from each Asian country will come out and seek solutions to the low birth rate based on social psychology, culture, religion, generational differences, and universal values such as family according to each country’s unique circumstances such as economic development phase, history, culture, politics, and legal system.

Professor Mikito Masuda (Economics) of Komazawa University said in a pre-interview with the seminar preparation team, “When people become wealthy, they reduce the number of children to improve the quality of their children, so the birth rate decreases.” This is in the same context as Group Leader Amro Allen Ng.

Professor Masuda suggested, “If young men and women are given more opportunities to live together, it will be easier to decide to get married, and more marriages will guarantee more children,” and “Local governments should transform themselves into attractive places for young women, and to do this, they should change gender role awareness and culture.” He also introduced an empirical study that proved that low rents and education costs in Miyazaki Prefecture, the second-highest in Japan, are the secrets to its relatively high birth rate. He also suggested a “village education” policy like Nagi Village, which Group Leader Allen Ng cited as an example.

Read: South Korea’s birth rate is so low, the president wants to create a ministry to tackle it

Professor Pham Thi Minh Thuy of the National Academy of Politics and Regional Politics in Ho Chi Minh City said in a previous interview that “Vietnam’s population exceeded 100 million in mid-April 2023, but Vietnam’s total fertility rate, which was 2.01 in 2022, fell to 1.95 in 2023, and the population growth rate will peak at 0 in 2069.”

Professor Pham explained that “many jobs have disappeared due to automation in Vietnam and the unemployment rate has skyrocketed,” and that “competition for decent jobs is fierce, and even if they manage to find a job, they have to spend a lot of money on retraining to maintain their job.” He added that other factors that discourage marriage include the “preference for sons,” gender role inequality between couples, and the burden of childcare for divorced women. He emphasized that “the way to solve the low birth rate problem beyond the law is to have an incentive mechanism that motivates people to work with peace of mind and allows them to donate their talents,” and that “sex education, community responsibility, racial protection, and cultural beliefs should be included.”

The case of Egypt, which has pursued a population reduction policy through family planning for decades unlike Asian countries, was also introduced. Ashraf Dali, Secretary General of the Congress of African Journalists (CAJ), said in a prior interview, “Since the introduction of female contraception in the 1980s, the total fertility rate in Egypt, which was 5.3, has fallen to 3.6 in 1995, 3.0 in 2008, and 2.9 recently, and is converging to the replacement fertility rate level of 2.1.”

The explanation that Egypt’s tradition of early marriage and the idea of ‘preferring sons’ gave rise to a culture of having many children was also notable. “In Islamic culture, controlling births is seen as an ‘act against God’s will,’” said General Secretary Ashraf, dismissing some prejudices that “Muslims have many children to expand their sect.”

Ashraf, who served as the president of the Asia Journalist Association (AJA) until the end of this year due to his experience working in Kuwait in West Asia, diagnosed that “Koreans’ living expenses and luxury goods also increased during the period when national income increased, and they had to work more to maintain a high level of consumption.”

Read: In South Korea, world’s lowest fertility rate plunges again in 2023

He added that “since they spend more time outside, they have less time to spend with their families, and if they are self-employed and have to work all day to earn more money, their daily lives with their families have been reduced even more.”

As a media expert, he criticized that “Korean newspapers and media platforms are very developed, but they are not a means of promoting family values, but are only focused on news and entertainment.”

In addition, he shared his experience interviewing Lee Hee-beom, chairman of Booyoung Group in Korea, and encouraged him by saying, “If companies, the government, and academia work together, Korea can also escape the low birth rate cliff.”

Psychologist Professor Emeritus Kwak Geum-joo of Seoul National University, who will chair the seminar, pointed out, “People think that they won’t be able to do what they want to do when they have children, but the difficult childcare can actually be an opportunity for tremendous self-development.” He pointed out that the environment where one must protect and care for children greatly enhances, multitasking, interpersonal skills, concentration, motivation, patience, and strategy planning abilities, etc.

Read: Pakistan’s population grows by 25 million in 5 years

He explained that the sense of responsibility for children and the constraints of time and space serve as tremendous motivation for the brain, resulting in a literally superhuman – human development process. There are cases where financial difficulties must be overcome, but he pointed out that the complaints of middle-aged people who indulged in spending money they earned when they were young and ended up in their 40s without assets, children (family), or outstanding job skills are definitely not to be ignored.

Professor Kwak said, “It may be more difficult to travel alone with a child to gain diverse experiences, but there are many cases where you learn things you didn’t know through the eyes of a child,” adding, “You have no choice but to make more detailed plans for your child’s safety and education, and leadership that creates motivational energy even when it’s difficult is also born in that desperate environment.”

In addition, Zhou Weibo, the representative of the China People’s Daily Online Korea branch, will introduce China’s low birth rate problem and solutions. In a pre-seminar interview with the seminar preparation team, Zhou Weibo said, “The fact that China’s overall population has been decreasing for two consecutive years is the result of various social factors such as fear of childbirth and economic burden,” and “The Chinese government is actively introducing various policies to address the low birth rate.”

Maria Dimentova, Seoul bureau chief of the Russian media outlet RIA Novosti, will introduce the case of Russia, where the policy of restricting religion (Russian Orthodox Church) during the Soviet Union and the breakdown of families during the economic hardships following the collapse of the Soviet Union have recently led to negative thoughts about the family among the Russian Millennium Z (MZ) generation.

Read – Pakistan: Economic, Social and Cultural Factors behind Overpopulation

Park So-hye, a visiting researcher at the Institute of Far Eastern Studies at Kyungnam University and an expert on North Korea, will introduce the total fertility rate in North Korea, the prospect of entering a super-aged society in 2050, and preferential policies for families with many children.

Lee Dong-gi, head of the Tax Training Institute of the Korean Tax Accountants Association (Certified Public Accountant in the United States), will analyze and present the fact that tax benefits for labor are less than those for the other two production factors by comparing Korea’s tax systems for land, labor, and capital. He will present that, although taxes are not the direct cause of the low birth rate, they are an important area that changes the future of a country’s economy and society in the mid- to long-term.

Read: Why are Japanese starved of happiness?

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Dr. Shailesh Gupta Veer, the famous litterateur, presented his paper on “Nature awareness and environmental consciousness in contemporary Doha poetry”

Lucknow, India

A one-day national seminar organized under the joint aegis of Vishwa Sahitya Seva Trust, Agra and Madhavi Foundation, Lucknow was held in the National Book Fair Auditorium, Balrampur Garden, Lucknow, India in which scholars presented their views on various dimensions of “Nature depiction and environmental awareness in literature”.

On this occasion, the famous litterateur and critic of Fatehpur, Dr. Shailesh Gupta ‘Veer’ was present as a special guest and speaker. He presented the main parts of his research paper on the topic “Nature awareness and environmental consciousness in contemporary Doha poetry”.

He was honored by Sahitya Bhushan Dr. Mithilesh Dixit and other dignitaries present on the stage by giving him a shield, citation, and shawl.

Dr. Shailesh Gupta Veer is a bilingual poet and editor of international repute from India. He is the editor of Micropoetry Cosmos and The Fatehpur Resolution. He is known for his thought-provoking and emotionally charged poetry, which explores themes of love, nature, social issues, and personal growth. Dr. Veer is a respected voice in Indian literature, and his work has been well-received in literary circles.

His poems have been translated into several European and Asian languages. His compositions have been broadcast in many parts of the world. The chief guest of the program was Padmashree Dr. Vidya Bindu Singh, while the first session was presided over by Director’s Editor Dr. Omkar Nath Dwivedi and the second session was presided over by renowned poet Dr. Vishwambhar Shukla.

On this occasion, many books were released and writers invited from other states of the country were also honored. The program was conducted by Prof. Kalpana Dubey and Prof. Subhashini Sharma. The vote of thanks was given by Dr. Mithilesh Dixit, President of Madhavi Foundation and Dr. Mohan Murari Sharma, Founder of Vishwa Sahitya Seva Trust.

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Report sent by Angela Kosta Executive Director of MIRIADE Magazine, Academic, journalist, writer, poet, essayist, literary critic, editor, translator, promoter

The post Seminar on ‘Nature depiction and environmental awareness in literature’ held first appeared on Sindh Courier.

Staff Report

Karachi, Sindh

The distinguished academicians of Pakistan, Russia, USA and UK have shown their concern on depleting natural resources like natural gas, and water owing to increased consumption and growing population.

Speaking at a session on “Integrating Sustainability into Higher Education: Challenges and Opportunities from the Perspective of Academicians” at Sindh Madressatul Islam University (SMIU) Karachi on March 7, they said the sustainability is much needed at all levels for development.

They suggested that each and every one should contribute to sustainability in the field individually and collectively. “Sustainability must be made a part of curriculum of higher education also,” they exhorted.

Dr. Keith Casey Barton, Professor at Indiana University, USA said that the sustainability is a long and slow process, but we should focus on the sustainability for our secure future.

Ms. Shajara Ul Durar, Associate Professor at the University Of Sunderland, UK said that we need to empower students by giving them projects, as the education leadership has to take responsibility of all things.

She suggested that educational institutions should take responsibility to publish social impact reports and that should be made a part of the academia.

Dr. Solnyshkina Marina Ivanovna, Professor of Linguistics at the Kazan University of Russia narrated her success story and social and educational conditions during and post-Soviet Union period.

She informed that that in the educational institutions of Russian Federation mixed courses are being taught to students. She further said without any gender difference we have to contribute to our society and its sustainability. She said her country Russia is rich in natural resources and has brought sustainability in its all areas.

Former Vice Chancellor and present Pro-Vice chancellor of Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro Dr. Muhammad Aslam Uqaili said that the resources we use are no more sustainable. “We are using these resources at the cast of our future generation.”

He said development has the cast to pay. “When we are developing our countries we are not considering how we can provide sustainability to our resources.”

Dr. Uqaili said we have much used our energy resources as a result even in Karachi, citizens are facing shortage of natural gas. “We are looking to reuse and recycle the waste materials, but Germany has now gone to the zero waste.”

Dr. Uqaili further said we believe that universities are agents of change, and these are producing human resources to the society, therefore, for sustainability we have to provide capacity building trainings to youth for sustainability.

Read: Global Research Congress recommends making Culture & Languages part of curricula

Dr. Manzoor Hussain Soomro, ECO Science Foundation said people need to be educated about sustainability. They need to know what are the factors affecting our environment and what the skills and technologies are required to achieve the sustainability without going into SDGs and targets.

He said education as well as SDGs 4 and 5 emphasized that education should be across the board and for all. Therefore, there is a need to transform the society according to the way we think and the way we are groomed. “To achieve the targets we should go back to early child education, then building the tertiary education and then higher education.”

He suggested that in this respect we have to engage the HEC to bring school children, university students, faculty, industry, media and all the stake holders at one platform to play their major role.

Dr. Soomro said we are working in isolation, but everyone must be resilient at these issues and in this respect science education is most important.

Dr. Fateh Mohammad Marri, Vice Chancellor of the Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam talked on the food sustainability and said we know that our natural resources, land, water and forest reserves are limited. On the contrary population is growing, and therefore demand for food has increased. He said because of change in consumption pattern and urbanization there is a huge pressure on natural resources. “Now we have to meet the requirements of the current population and current need of the country without compromising on our future need and without compromising on the interests of future generations.”

Dr. Marri said integration of the sustainability in higher education is also important. He suggested that now the task is to improve production and productivity. “Higher education also needs sustainability.”

“Around 03 percent of our illegible cohort gets in higher education and 90 percent is still out of higher education,” Dr. Marri said and added that we have to make education sustainable for all children.

Read: Global Research Congress: Speakers call for collective work to meet challenges

Dr. Jawad Syed, Professor at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) said that it is important at the university level that we should revisit our priorities, because for these all things students are not responsible, they are our product, hence we have to look at our key performance indicators that how many courses are carrying sustainability.

Dean Faculty of Management, Business Administration and Commerce of SMIU Dr. Jamshed Adil Halepoto moderated the session.

The session was attended by Chairman Sindh HEC Dr. Tariq Rafi, Vice Chancellor of SMIU Dr. Mujeeb Sahrai, national and international scholars, SMIU’s faculty, heads of different academic and administrative departments and students. In the end of the session Dr. Mujeeb Sahrai gave away souvenirs to the guests.

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Tandojam, Sindh  

The national and international experts have said that the Animal Breeding Improvement Program needs to be expanded to achieve better production and commercial results from milk and meat in the country.

They said that 90% of the country’s livestock is used for domestic rather than commercial purposes.

They expressed these views while addressing the three-day “International Symposium and Training Workshop on Caprine Reproduction, Management and Artificial Insemination”, held at Sindh Agriculture University in collaboration with Sindh Higher Education Commission and Livestock Department of Government of Sindh, on Wednesday.

Vice Chancellor, Sindh Agriculture University, Dr. Fateh Marri said that in order to make livestock beneficial in Sindh and to support the farmers, they are working with the livestock department on various research projects, especially on preserving indigenous species through Artificial Insemination technology.

He said that with the support of the Sindh government, they will establish an animal teaching hospital at University to provide facilities to livestock owners with house jobs for veterinary graduates.

Provincial Secretary of Livestock and Fisheries Department Dr. Hafeez Ahmed Siyal said that livestock contributes 63 percent share in total of the agricultural sector in the country’s GDP, yet the health and production of the country’s livestock is not satisfactory, while in collaboration with the university, the experts and graduates are being trained for the genetic improvement of the indigenous breeds of animals and for increasing the production of milk and meat.

Professor Dr. Gerhard Schuler, an expert from Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany, said that various diseases are found in animals in Sindh. It is good to know that SAU and its experts are seriously engaged in the fields of research and academic. He said we can solve the problems through transfer of new technology, joint research and capacity building programs.

Also read: Sindh’s first ever Women’s Livestock Market organized in Tando Allahyar

Dr. Mushtaq A. Memon, professor of Washington State University, USA, said that the Sindh goat has better productivity, but there is a need to improve the breed on a commercial basis, while the survival of better breeds possible through artificial insemination.

Professor of the Department of Animal Reproduction and host Dr. Prashotam Khatri and Dr. Muhammad Ismail Kumbhar and others also spoke.

Also read: Sindh Agriculture University develops new technology for short-period mango transplanting

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Staff Report

Karachi, Sindh

The ship breaking industry in Gadani area of Pakistan’s Balochistan province is notorious for fires, explosions and other mishaps due to lack of safety measures, as these ship breaking yards witnesses fatal incidents almost every year, speakers said at a seminar on Saturday.

The seminar, organized by National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) in Karachi called for the enforcement of Hong Kong Convention (HKC) that would not only bring a change in the lives of ship breaking workers but also ensure a boom in Pakistani economy.

They said ships at the end of their useful life are sold for recycling and brought to ship breaking yards for their dismantling. However, this dismantling process is highly dangerous for the health and safety of ship breaking workers on one hand and environment for the other as these junk ships contain hazardous materials like asbestos, oil, fuel, ballast water and sludge.

“It is estimated that in the next 10 years, from 2023-2032, some 15,000 vessels would be scrapped, doubling numbers as compared with the previous 10 years. It is natural that a large number of these dying ship would reach the third largest ship breaking yard of the world – Gadani. Located across a 10 km (6.2 mile) long beachfront at Gadani, in Balochistan province, about 40 km northwest of Karachi, this yard consists of 132 ship-breaking plots.

The speakers said that in November 2016, at least 28 workers died and more than two dozen others injured in a blast in tanker being dismantled at Gadani. However, such incidents were considered routine in Gadani, where shipbreaking workers faced dangerous working conditions, precarious work, poor wages, and non-implementation of labor law, hurdles in exercising the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining, lack of health facilities and lack of access to clean drinking water.

After the November 2016 tragedy, the shipbreaking workers’ union submitted a draft law to improve safety in shipbreaking yards. Due to the struggle of Pakistani workers and their organizations, the history changed when in December 2023, Pakistan became the 23rd country to ratify the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships. The Convention is set to come into force in June 2025.

In order for Pakistan’s shipbreaking yards to comply with the HKC standards, employers will need to upgrade their facilities, and the Pakistan government will need to ensure the implementation of the same. “As per the Convention, yards are required to have basic healthcare facilities, proper infrastructure as well as proper waste disposal mechanisms,” the speakers said.

The speakers said that in thousands of laborers toil in the ship-breaking industry under poor working conditions with dismally low safety standards.

They said that for decades the workers had been demanding improving working conditions at the Gadani ship breaking yard to save lives and limbs of the ship breaking workers.

Those who spoke included Muhammad Rafiq Baloch, and Nasir Mansoor (National Trade Union Federation Pakistan), Habibuddin Junaidi (Peoples Labor Bureau), Dr. Asghar Ali Dashti (Chairperson International Relation Department, Urdu Federal University), Zehra Khan (Home-based Women Workers Federation), Fatima Majeed (Pakistan Fisher Folk Forum), Bashir Menhmoodani (Ship Breaking Labor Union Gadani) and Washdil Baloch (Assistance Director, labor department Balochistan).

Related news: Fires at Gadani yards prompt authorities to shut down all shipbreaking activities

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