AIDS

AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is the name of a deadly disease that destroys the immunity system of a person and leads him to sure death. The virus causing AIDS is known as HIV -- Human Immune Deficiency Virus. AIDS became a clinic disease in 1981 in USA. There are nearly five million AIDS patients throughout the world. It is still an incurable disease. Hectic efforts to find a remedy for it are afoot. Without proper blood tests, it is difficult to diagnose it because its symptoms are confused with weight loss, night sweats, profound fatigue, anemia, skin rashes, tumor, episodes of fever, pneumonia, etc. This deadly disease is spreading like a bush-fire throughout the world particularly in those countries where free sex is common. Pakistan is also not free from AIDS. The official count of AIDS patient in Pakistan lies at 5000 and an estimated twenty to thirty thousand. Unless checked on war-footing, the situation will become even worse.

Many factors contribute to AIDS First, it is the result of sexual intercourse with the affected person male or female, Secondly, sharing of contaminated and affected needles, razors and other such affected mothers may pass the virus on to their babies. Besides, prostitution, homo-sexuality, extra-martial relations, pollution of mind, detachment from religion and morality, etc contribute to AIDS. No doubt, AIDS is the curse of God on the modern derailed humanity that has crossed all limits of morality.

AIDS is full of harms and disadvantages. First of all, it destroys a person physically and mentally and ultimately leads him to miserable death within two years. Second, it brings about the loss of the social prestige of a person. Its patient is considered sinful, immoral, pious, unfaithful, unwanted, leper, mean, etc. Third, its treatment costs a lot of money consequently putting a heavy financial burden on the family. Fourth, it can destroy the infrastructure if the country if its skilled and semi-skilled about force falls a prey to AIDS. Fifth, AIDS can affect the cultural development, tourism industry and international image and relations of an affected country. The other countries may boycott such a country resulting in great economic and financial loss to the country. Above all, the fear of catching AIDS at random has deprived the people of mental peace.

Terrorism

In simple terms, terrorism means the use of force or threat against a person or group or country. It is the burning question of today as there is a global wave around. Terrorists of all races and creeds are active individually or collectively, locally or globally in selling death, destruction, horror, harassment and insecurity. Though global war against terrorism has been afoot since the destruction of American World Trade Center on September 11 2001, the monster of terrorism is still very much there.

Almost all agree that widespread terrorism is all due to unjust global political and economic systems, poverty, frustration, injustice, cruelty, exploitation, sectarianism, religious militancy, state-sponsored terrorism, double standard of super-powers, paralyzed UNO, and trouble spots like Kashmir countries in their own way and, hence, resort to terrorism. Unless the above-mentioned causes are removed, terrorism cannot be rooted out. To blame a certain group pr to make some country scape-goat in the name of ending terrorism is only a wild goose chase. Is America not doing the same? Hence better sense must prevail to combat and remove terrorism effectively. Honest and impartial approach of big powers, equitable global systems, distinction between freedom movements and terrorism solution of trouble spots, end of exploration, poverty and injustice, effective and impartial UNO and the policy of live and let live are the keys to end global terrorism.

Unfortunately, American and European print and electronic media have launched poisonous propaganda against Islam and the Muslim World. The Muslims are being branded extremists fundamentalists, fanatics and dangerous for world peace. The so-called war against terrorism in Afghanistan, Iraq, Occupied Kashmir, Palestine and Chechnya is being hands in this regard? These question call for knowing the true significance of Jihad and real responsibility of the so-called Jihadis.

Kalabagh Dam

Kalabagh dam located area
 

Having remained in the cold storage for so many years. Kalabagh Dam is once again in the limelight. It has become crystal clear to all and sundry that the construction of this mega project is inevitable not only for the progress and prosperity but also for the future water requirements of Pakistan. As this project has always met severe criticism, no government could initiate its construction although all the feasible reports and surveys okay ed this project. The present government with its vow to construct Kalabagh and Bhasha dams all costs, has seemingly opened a new Pandora's box. Let us wait and see which way the wind
blows.

The proposed site for Kalabagh is 15 miles above Kalabagh city on the Indus river, with the reservoir in the NWFP and the dam in the Punjab. It would be 11,000 feet long and 260 feet above river bed. Its storage capacity would be 6.1 million acre feet. The total land consumed would be 35000 acres. Punjab sharing 27500 and NWFP 7500 acres respectively.

The need for mega dams like Kalabagh and Bhasha has increased all the more as per future water requirements of Pakistan. First, out of the 140 MAF water flowing annually in the river Indus, only 107 MAF is consumed for irrigation while the rest (33 MAF) goes to drain. By harnessing this water, we can not only generate abundant electricity but also meet our water demands during dry season. Second, the present reservoirs like Terbela, Mangla and war sake are constantly losing their capacity, strength and age due to desalting and unusual wear and tear. Hence, we need new mega dams. Third the small dams are cost effective, short-lived and flood-prone while mega dams like Kalabagh are low cost-effective, long lasting and flood proof.

 Diamer Bhasha dam

Indisipline in our educational institutions

Discipline implies maintenance of order a group through mental and moral training in obedience and self-control. It is the key to the orderly life of an individual, a group, a community and a nation. No society can survive and no nation can protect its independence, i fit fails to instill the values of discipline among its members.

The causes of indiscipline in our educational institutions are various and varied. They have a background. After the partition of India there was a universal reversal of values.They were challenged and scoffed at. The independence brought with it new opportunities - evacuee properties, import licences, sanctions for establishing new factories, etc - for grabbing and earning, by fair means or foul, money and accumulating wealth. This new scenario transformed the society and its values overnight. Contentment gave place to greed and avarice. Men lost all sense of grace, finesse and decorum. Te spirit of fellow-felling, accomodation and self-sacrifice was forgotten. Selfishness and self-interest became the order of hte day.

The United Nations

During the last two hundred years or so the world has seen a rapid increase in the spirit of internationalism. Though the national outlook has not wanted much, but it is gradually being qualified by international outlook. The fast means of transport and communication, radio, television, books, magazines and newspapers, have all helped in creating and sustaining this outlook.

Also, the large-scale devastation caused by the continental and World Wars has made man yearn for peace and helped him to grow out of narrow national grooves. This international outlook and desire for peace expressed themselves in the formation of international peace sustaining organizations. The Congress of Vienna grew out of the Napoleonic wars,the league of nations from the havoc of the World War 1 and the United Nations out of ruins of World War 2.

The United Nations has its headquarters in New York City. It is the direct descendant of the league of Nations and resulted from the deliberations between Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill at Dumbarton Oaks, an estate near Washington D.C. It was formally set up in a Conference of fifty countries at San Francesco in 1945 and it began to operate in January, 1946.

Future of Man

From times immemorial man has longed for the golden age - an age when peace shall reign on earth and contentment dwell in the soul, an age when strife shall cease and culminate in a blossoming of prosperity, learning and art.

Standing on the threshold of the twenty-first century when we survey our world, we are shocked to see what man has made of man. We are terrified by forces which threaten not only man's capacity for self-expression and communal living but the very survival of the species.

Millions of men all over the world are today locked in a battle for survival. Faced by poverty, squalor and even hunger, they are doing their best to keep body and soul together. One estimate shows that some forty thousand people die every day from starvation alone. Then there is the widespread problem of malnutrition which saps the mental and physical health of hundreds of millions more and robs them of a sense of decency and the desire to improve themselves.

Narcotics

One of the most dangerous things which has already the lives of millions of young men all over the world is narcotics. The word narcotics is used for a number of drugs, which it is presumed, make people feel better, albeit temporarily, whereas the reality is quite the reverse. The naked fact is that these drugs, unless, of course, they are taken under a qualified doctor's advice and care, are extremely harmful. That is why almost all governments have declared them illegal. Narcotics are habit forming and one who uses them is known as an addict. He becomes so much dependent on the drug that he will not desist from committing a crime , even a felony, if he cannot get it otherwise.

Narcotics have been given different names in different countries indeed a whole new vocabulary has sprung up, especially in America. The more popular names, which are used for them are "dope" and "drugs". Strictly speaking a narcotics is a drug that produces narcotics a state of numbness, "in which a person loses most or all of his power of feeling and may lose consciousness." He falls into such a deep sleep that he cannot be awakened unless the effects of the drug have evaporated. But there are certain other drugs, they produce quite the contrary effect. A person who uses them cannot sleep, he becomes "more wide awake than ever." These drugs are also called narcotics.

The narcotics pose a big problem for the society. They are now considered an illness. Almost like every other illness, they are curable Arrangements for their treatment have been made in many hospitals of the world. Their victims can be cured in four to six months and they can again lead a normal life provided they keep themselves away from these dangerous drugs.

Science and Technologies

The fruits of science in the shape of technology, inventions and discoveries have fast transformed our way of life. One of the foremost symbols of the march of science is the machine. The twentieth century is indeed a world of machines. More machines have perhaps been invented in the last fifty years than in the entire course of recorded history. They are all around us and help us in a thousand different ways. There is hardly an area which is free from their presence.

  Science has placed at our disposal hundreds of time and labor savings devices. In these days when servants are scare, it has really proved a boon for the working women in particular and the housewife in general. Science cleans the room, washes the clothes, bakes the bread, preserves the eatables, kneads the flour and even washes the dishes. In the office, the work of a hundred men is disposed do by a handful of machines thus saving both time and money. The electric typewriters, the Dictaphone, the intercom, the calculator and the computer perform their tasks with speed, accuracy and neatness.

The Advertising

Advertising has become an integral and essential part of modern society. Whether it is fertilizer for the farmer or a detergent for the urbanity, the message of the advertiser, in one form or another, reaches the consumer in the remotest regions of the country-nay, of the world. Without advertising we should not know the range of products available in any field, to buy or not as we choose. Far from being "an evil thing", the fact that it makes 'notification of choice' freely available ensures a claim that advertising is a cornerstone of any free society.

Advertising is ubiquitous. Until the coming of print the town-crier was the main purveyor of ads to spread tiding of wares, wars, disasters, auctions and wrestling bouts. Even today we come across those relics of a bygone age proclaiming their message to the beat of a drum. So deep and essential is the root-urge to advertise that the first Press advertisements appeared as soon as there were newspapers to print them in.