Latest news with #UniversityofSindh
Express Tribune
14-05-2025
- Science
- Express Tribune
Adapting to climate change
The writer is a Professor and Director of Pakistan Study Centre, University of Sindh, Jamshoro. He can be reached at Listen to article The meteorologists measure following average parameters to find out region's climate: temperature, precipitation, air pressure, humidity, and number of sunshine days. The latitude of area significantly affects its climate shaped by amount of solar energy it receives. The temperature significantly differs in areas near equator and areas closer to poles. Thus, geographical location also influences the way of life. People living in plains are normally engaged in agriculture while people residing in coastal areas prefer fishing, tourism and trade. Nevertheless, abnormal temperature of earth causes global warming and increases greenhouse gases which generate extreme weather and causes hurricanes, droughts and relentless floods. The lack of precipitation over a long time causes droughts, and the precipitation in excess during short span of time causes floods which generate huge economic losses in terms of disrupting economic activities, damaging infrastructure and public property, and causing huge loss of life. It also affects global and domestic supply chain by destroying networks and logistics. The flood disaster reduces agricultural and industrial productivity causing rise in poverty and unemployment. Further violent weather events caused by higher temperature affect eco-system, disturb biodiversity, and push us to move far beyond the stable conditions specially during hotter and drier summers and allow climate change to shape how we live. Different forms of pollution - water, air and light pollution - have become the leading causes of greenhouses gases and global warming. Anthropogenic activities have been the main driver of the global warming which has triggered accelerated climate change primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels that produce heat trapping gases. Clearing of land for settlements leads to deforestation and soil erosion affects the water cycle and disturbs the weather patterns. Excessive use of fertilisers and pesticides in agriculture and industrial waste contaminates water sources, such as groundwater, lakes and rivers, besides polluting the soil. Furthermore, the pollution decreases our green freshwater supplies. Nevertheless, some kinds of pollution, like leaf litter and mud, are natural and unavoidable. Thus, we need to get serious about protecting the environment following the example of US Environmental Protection Agency which sets the limits on the emissions of sum of air pollutants. China has the largest carbon footprints in the world. Nevertheless, with the increasing awareness about the immediacy of monumental climate shift the Chinese government prohibited setting up of new coal power plants to limit air and land pollution. Pakistan has been ranked among top ten countries which bear the brunt of rapidly changing climate. Government has launched various programmes for the revival of native forests and wildlife resources in Pakistan to improve their overall conservation and encourage eco-tourism through community engagement. Pakistan is among the top 10 most vulnerable countries on Climate Risk index. The recent example of extreme weather events is floods of 2022 which affected 33 million people, damaged 1 million houses and increased Pakistan's sense of vulnerabilities. Thus, to live with climate change, individuals and communities need to adopt mitigation strategies like generating power from wind, solar and water which can reduce the burning of fossil fuels as the major source of greenhouse gases. Using energy efficient electrical goods will also help reduce the demand for more energy. Individuals should avoid wasting energy and care for natural resources at domestic level. They should prefer using vehicles powered by electric or solar energy. Government needs to impose heavy taxes on those industries which cross the limits of carbon dioxide emissions to discourage the burning of fossil fuels. Furthermore, policymakers should come up with national adaptation plan to promote forestation, invest in renewable energy, health and public transport projects, and legislate new climate laws to ensure that development projects must be free from inevitable effects of environmental degradation. Plantation must be promoted through youth volunteering. College and university students need to plant trees as one of the requirements for the award of degrees. In the assessment of the individual contributions of civil servants, plantation and community resilience related initiatives should carry weight in their Annual Confidential Reports and their exceptional services must be recognised. Becoming resilient is as important as action to cut greenhouse gases. Thus, Pakistan is also advised by global financial institutions to implement climate adaptation measures. For instance, the IMF has recently approved $1. 4 billion for Pakistan to support government initiatives in building economic resilience to climatic chaos. To reduce the unequal risks of climate disaster in the countryside, cultivators should promote organic foods and crops. Practising organic farming can significantly contribute to reducing the pollutants from pesticides, fertilisers and herbicides which have a negative impact on food intakes. Government should encourage farmers to switch over climate-smart farming by introducing new crops that should thrive under new climatic conditions and that can be planted on rotation basis, and must be drought-tolerant and less vulnerable to extreme climate conditions. The practice of sustainable agro-forestry should be supported to grow trees or shrubs around or among crops. Moreover, promoting ecological industry, restoring coastal wetland and supplying fresh water to shrinking Indus delta will not only increase the economic potential of its mangrove forest for revenue generation through global carbon trading market but also rejuvenate coastal ecosystem and decelerate Pakistan's climate stress.
Express Tribune
14-04-2025
- Science
- Express Tribune
Only 8% of Mohenjo Daro excavated
Renowned historian and researcher Prof Dr Ghulam Mustafa Shar has revealed that only eight per cent of the ancient archaeological site Mohenjo Daro has been excavated, with the vast majority still unexplored. He made these remarks during a lecture at the University of Sindh's Institute of Sindhology in Jamshoro. The event was organised in collaboration with the M H Panhwar Institute of Studies. Dr Shar highlighted the immense potential for new discoveries through further excavation. He added that Mohenjo Daro is not merely a site of historical interest, but a treasure trove of ancient knowledge and cultural sophistication. "Mohenjo Daro isn't just an archaeological site; it is a living archive of knowledge that reflects the grandeur, intellect, and cultural brilliance of ancient Sindh," he added. Challenging conventional views, Dr Shar argued that the language of Mohenjo Daro was neither Dravidian nor related to any known script but was a unique local language that remains undeciphered. He called for a re-evaluation of the site's historical importance, highlighting its advanced system of knowledge, technical education, social structure, and trade networks. He urged the government to allocate increased funding for scientific research at the site and advocated for global recognition of Mohenjo Daro's significance as a centre of ancient learning and innovation. Speaking at the same event, University of Sindh Vice Chancellor Dr Khalilur Rehman Khoumbhati lamented the lack of academic research into Sindh's history, particularly its post-partition period. He pointed to a shortage of credible reference material and stressed the need for collaborative research efforts. Dr Khoumbhati called upon the Sindh Culture Department to take a more active role in promoting historical scholarship. He also announced that, in partnership with the Abdul Majid Bhurgri Institute, efforts are underway to preserve and promote the Sindhi language in the era of artificial intelligence. As part of these initiatives, the University of Sindh will begin issuing academic degrees in both English and Sindhi. Although the policy for bilingual degrees had previously been approved, it had not been implemented until now, he said. The lecture was attended by a number of prominent scholars and academics, including Director of the Institute of Sindhology Ghulam Murtaza Siyal, former Vice Chancellor of the Shaheed Allah Bakhsh Soomro University of Art, Design and Heritage Dr Bhai Khan Shar, Dr Fayaz Latif Chandio, Dr Riazat Buriro, Dr Wazir Ali Baloch, Prof Dr Lachhman Das Dhomeja, and Sajid Qayoom Memon, among synchronised campaign of digital disinformation using a Chinese social media platform to undermine China's $65 billion investment is a clear act of hybrid warfare. CPEC is a lifeline for Pakistan's economy and the flagship project of China's massive Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and any threat to this colossal project should be a joint responsibility. There is a need for collaborative efforts in different domains to counter the weaponization of TikTok by Baloch groups. On the diplomatic level, Pakistan should engage with China to raise concerns regarding the exploitation of TikTok's algorithm against CPEC. The two countries can set up a joint "tech task force" to oversee all CPEC-related digital security matters and coordinate a joint response. On operational level, joint intelligence-sharing mechanisms could be established to track and analyse the origin and spread of anti-CPEC content. For this purpose, cyber surveillance capabilities should be enhanced to monitor radical online activities in real time. The two countries should also collaborate on academic research to study hybrid warfare, digital propaganda, and their implications for national security. They can engage pro-CPEC influencers to blunt extremist narratives besides establishing partnerships with fact-checking organisations to debunk fake news and disinformation campaigns against CPEC. On the monitoring front, efforts should be made to identify and expose foreign digital interference aimed at magnifying anti-CPEC sentiments. Relentless attribution of hostile actors - whether state or non-state - should be made part of the national cyber defence strategy. On the part of TikTok, a local content moderation team should be set up in Pakistan to flag and take down harmful content swiftly. Accounts affiliated with banned groups such as BLA and BYC should be identified and blocked in coordination with Pakistani authorities. AI-driven tools could also be implemented to detect and neutralise emerging digital threats against CPEC. On China's part, effective steps need to be taken to address the algorithmic vulnerabilities of TikTok, ensuring that it doesn't amplify radical or anti-CPEC narratives.
Express Tribune
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Sindh farmers stage rally against new canals
Listen to article The Sindh Chamber of Agriculture (SCA) organised a rally from the old campus of the University of Sindh to the Hyderabad Press Club to protest against the construction of six new canals on Indus River and corporate farming. Led by SCA President Syed Zainul Abedin Shah and General Secretary Zahid Bhurgri, the rally participants demanded that the federal government immediately issue a notification to halt the execution of canal projects, including the Cholistan canal, and the Green Pakistan Initiative, which were threatening the unity of the federation. They praised the Sindh government for passing a resolution in the provincial assembly against the "anti-Sindh" canals and for standing with the people of Sindh. In his speech at the press club where a large number of farmers had gathered, the SCA president stressed that for thousands of years, the Indus River had been a source of civilisation, existence, survival and livelihood. "The five million people of Sindh consider the Cholistan canal and other such canal projects as a threat to their existence. This is because the country's reservoirs do not have enough water to sustain additional canals," he said. Shah pointed out that Pakistan was a federation comprising people of distinct historical and cultural identities. "Therefore, before taking any hasty steps, the federal government must ensure that all constitutional, legal, fundamental, human, democratic and ethical values are respected. Any decisions regarding water reservoirs must be made transparently while considering accurate data and consulting all national stakeholders." As the Kharif sowing season begins, the depletion of water in the country's two major reservoirs, Mangla and Tarbela, has created a drought-like situation in Sindh. "This is the warning sign of a major crisis."
Express Tribune
26-01-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Ban on LLB admissions
The Pakistan Bar Council's recent decision to impose a moratorium on new LLB admissions in several law institutions and colleges across the country, including the University of Sindh, has evoked a mixed reaction from stakeholders. The ban serves as a catalyst for these institutions to rectify their deficiencies and enhance their infrastructure, registration processes, and treatment of tutors, ensuring fair examination results and acceptable behaviour towards students, in accordance with the principles of natural justice. This ban is anticipated to yield better educational standards and a brighter future for law students, ultimately contributing to the advancement of the legal profession. Conversely, the ban has disrupted the education of current students, potentially impacting their academic progress and future prospects, and may be deemed a breach of their legitimate expectations. Furthermore, the ban may have financial implications for the institutions, affecting their ability to provide education and employ requisite staff, and may also be considered a restraint on trade. Prospective students planning to enroll in these institutions are also left with limited options for pursuing a law degree, potentially delaying their academic and professional goals, and may be deemed to have suffered an injustice. In light of these circumstances, it is imperative for the administration to take immediate action to address the issues prompting the ban and work towards lifting it, in order to mitigate the negative consequences and prevent the ban from becoming a double-edged sword. The administration must ensure that the institutions comply with the relevant laws, regulations, and standards, and provide a conducive learning environment for students. As the saying goes, 'when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.' The institutions/colleges must use this ban as an opportunity to revamp their systems, improve their standards, and come out stronger on the other side. Advocate Riaz Ali Panhwar Hyderabad
