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Category: Lifestyle

  • Pakistan ranks 99th in Global Hunger Index 2022, faces serious hunger levels

    Pakistan ranks 99th in Global Hunger Index 2022, faces serious hunger levels

    In the recently published Global Hunger Index (GHI-2022), Pakistan has been ranked 99th out of 121 countries assessed for their hunger levels.

    The GHI report, launched in Islamabad on Tuesday, revealed a drop in Pakistan’s score from 38.1 in 2006 to 26.1 in 2022, but the hunger level is still considered serious, reported Dawn.

    The Global Hunger Index is an annual pre-reviewed report jointly published by Welthungerhilfe and Concern Worldwide. Its primary objective is to raise awareness and understanding of the challenges faced in the fight against hunger worldwide.

    According to the report, the combination of armed conflicts, climate change, and the coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated hunger issues, forcing approximately 828 million people into hunger globally. Moreover, it highlights that 46 countries are not on track to achieve even a low level of hunger by 2030, signaling the need for urgent action.

    The regions most affected by hunger are Africa, specifically South of the Sahara, and South Asia, with the latter being the worst-hit. Notably, South Asia has the highest child stunting rate and the highest child wasting rate among all world regions.

    Pakistan, with a serious level of hunger, faces significant challenges in eradicating this issue. As the nation strives to address this pressing problem, stakeholders are urged to collaborate and implement solutions that involve local communities and diverse voices in shaping effective policies for food security.

    The Global Hunger Index serves as a vital tool in identifying and tackling hunger-related problems, and it is hoped that with collective efforts, progress will be made towards achieving a hunger-free world.

  • Indian bride Anju’s cross-border love story earns her a year-long stay in Pakistan

    Indian bride Anju’s cross-border love story earns her a year-long stay in Pakistan

    Anju, now known as Fatime, a 35-year-old Indian woman, has been granted a one-year visa extension by Pakistani authorities to stay in the country, reported Geo News on Wednesday.

    Anju made waves both domestically and internationally for her decision to cross borders out of love, converting from Hinduism to Islam, and marrying Nasrullah, a resident of Upper Dir in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The couple’s union took place last month in a local court overseen by a district and sessions judge.

    In a recent statement, Nasrullah expressed gratitude towards the interior ministry for the one-year visa extension granted to his wife. He confirmed that all necessary documentation has been shared with the relevant authorities and appreciated the cooperation and assistance they’ve received from various Pakistani departments and institutions.

    Anju’s decision to cross borders for love has not only captured hearts but also led to heartwarming gestures of hospitality from the Pakistani community. Last month, Anju was presented with a parcel of land and monetary gifts as an appreciation of her embracing Islam.

    Mohsin Khan Abbasi, the CEO of a prominent real estate company in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, gifted Fatima Rs50,000 and a 10 marla housing plot. A video circulated on social media showed Abbasi visiting the newlywed couple, Anju and Nasrullah, at their home.

    He expressed his intentions during this visit, emphasizing that such gifts were to ensure Anju felt welcome and at home in her new country.

    Anju’s heartwarming journey began on July 22 when she entered Pakistan through the Wagah border, with her beloved Nasrullah waiting for her in Rawalpindi. Originally granted a month-long visa, that have now been extended to one year.

    Under strict security measures, the couple was brought to the district courts, where a judge recorded Anju’s statement and performed the nikkah ceremony. In her statement, Anju asserted that her visit to Nasrullah, aged 29, was entirely of her own free will, and she expressed happiness in marrying him.

    After the nikah, the couple swiftly departed the court premises without interacting with the media, as reported by locals. They later visited the picturesque Lowari Top area, capturing moments of their journey in a video that subsequently went viral on social media.

    According to Indian media reports, Anju was previously married to Arvind Kumar in 2007. The couple are parents to a 15-year-old daughter and a six-year-old son.

    A day prior to her court marriage, Anju released a 40-second video message, urging the media not to disturb or harass her relatives and children in India, as she was in the process of returning home, which she expected to complete within two or three days.

    Anju clarified that her travel to Pakistan was entirely legal and well-planned, emphasizing that she had taken time to make the decision.

    In an interview with Indian media, Anju’s father announced that he was breaking all ties with his daughter. He told media that the family had no idea that Anju was planning to travel to the neighbouring country and marry a Pakistani man.

    In answer to a question, he said that Nasrullah, who is now his son-in-law, had messaged him and shared videos of the engagement, to which he told Nasrullah that he has nothing to do with it. He was very clear that if his daughter was getting married to someone by her own will, what could he have done about it. It’s her choice, he said.

  • Over 50 pilot whales dead in Western Australia beach mass stranding

    Over 50 pilot whales dead in Western Australia beach mass stranding

    In a devastating incident along the coast of Western Australia, over 50 pilot whales have lost their lives, prompting a race against time by authorities to save dozens more of the marine mammals.

    The tragic event, as reported by BBC News, occurred when a pod of pilot whales was spotted approximately 100 meters off Cheynes Beach on Tuesday, appearing tightly clustered, an unusual sight according to witnesses.

    As the pod began to beach themselves, wildlife authorities sprang into action, launching an emergency response effort in a desperate attempt to rescue the stranded whales. Tragically, 51 of the whales succumbed to the ordeal overnight, leaving rescuers with the critical task of attempting to return the surviving 46 to the safety of the sea on Wednesday.

    Dr. Andrew Brownlow, the director of the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme, who recently participated in a similar incident on a Scottish beach, offered insights into the potential reasons behind such mass strandings and underscored the urgency faced by the rescuers.

    The situation has drawn the attention of marine conservationists and concerned individuals worldwide, as the clock ticks for the remaining stranded whales, and efforts to save them continue unabated.

  • Alarming surge in violence against women in Punjab with Lahore at top

    Alarming surge in violence against women in Punjab with Lahore at top

    A staggering surge has been witnessed in violence against women, with over 10,000 cases reported in the first four months of 2023 alone in Punjab.

    Startling data from the Sustainable Social Development Organisation (SSDO), a research-based advocacy firm, reveals that 5,551 women were kidnapped during this period, translating to an alarming average of two women abducted every hour.

    SSDO, through a ‘Right to Information’ request to the Punjab Police under Article 19-A of the Constitution, collected the data, reflecting an urgent need for policymakers and stakeholders to address the issue and devise targeted measures to combat this growing crisis.

    The report revealed that between January 1, 2023, and April 30, 2023, Punjab police registered a total of 10,365 cases of violence against women, alongside 1,768 cases of violence against children. However, the actual numbers may be considerably higher as many incidents go unreported due to social stigma and a lack of trust in law enforcement.

    Lahore took the lead with 1,427 reported cases of violence, with one out of every four victims being kidnapped from the provincial capital. Other concerning statistics include 2,818 cases of physical assault, with Lahore as the primary hotspot (504), followed by Sheikhupura (262) and Faisalabad (225).

    Additionally, 1,111 cases of rape and 613 cases of human trafficking were documented, with Lahore again topping the list with 139 rape cases and 210 trafficking cases. Faisalabad reported a significant number of rape cases at 117.

  • Police ‘reluctant’ to register 13-year-old housemaid torture case against civil judge

    Police ‘reluctant’ to register 13-year-old housemaid torture case against civil judge

    A shocking incident of severe torture on a 13-year-old housemaid, employed by a civil judge in Islamabad, has come to light.

    Reportedly, the police are facing accusations of reluctance to register a case against the judge, reported Dawn.

    The civil judge, a member of the Punjab Judicial Service on deputation at the Federal Judicial Academy for about three years, and his wife, are alleged to have subjected the girl to merciless beatings and burns.

    According to the Sargodha District Police Officer, the young girl had been hired as a housemaid through a contractor for a monthly salary of Rs10,000, about six months prior to the incident. The girl’s family was informed by the employer that they were dissatisfied, prompting them to take her back to Sargodha.

    On their way back, the mother noticed the injuries on her daughter’s body, and they sought medical treatment in Sargodha, where it was confirmed to be a case of torture. Due to the severity of her head injuries, the girl was transferred to Lahore for further treatment, with the assistance of the Sargodha police.

    Upon receiving a complaint and a medico-legal certificate detailing the girl’s injuries, police reached out to their counterparts in Islamabad, requesting them to register the case. Unfortunately, the response from the Islamabad police was deemed unprofessional.

    Following media attention on the issue, the Sargodha police once again approached the capital police to file the case. However, the Islamabad police asked for the physical presence of the complainant at their station, despite having received all relevant documents from Sargodha.

    The girl’s father lodged a complaint with the capital police for the case to be registered against the employer at the Humak police station. Police sources also suggested the possibility of a case being registered against the judge for hiring an underage maid and concealing facts.

    The complainant detailed the horrific condition in which they found their daughter, with injuries to her head, hands, legs, and broken teeth. She revealed that she endured daily torture by the judge’s wife, who sometimes denied her food and confined her to a room.

    In response to the allegations, the civil judge claimed that the girl had injured her own head and that his wife had questioned her about a theft incident involving gold ornaments. He further claimed that the marks on her face were a result of her habit of eating clay.

    This distressing incident has raised concerns about the treatment of domestic workers and the need for swift and serious action against such perpetrators.

  • PIA flight steward goes missing in Toronto

    PIA flight steward goes missing in Toronto

    A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight steward went missing in Toronto soon after he landed in the city. According to a report by ARY News, the flight steward arrived in Toronto from Lahore on Friday.

    PIA administration has said that flight Steward Muntazir Mehdi was on the national airline’s flight PK-798 to Toronto.

    Muntazir Mehdi had been staying with other colleagues in a hotel in the Canadian city.  

    The mysterious disappearance of the steward came to light when he didn’t show up for his flight back to Pakistan. Airline management and Canadian immigration authorities were informed about the matter.

    It is not the first incident of a flight steward going missing in foreign cities. At least 4 flight stewards and hostesses have illegally slipped away in Canada for the purpose of acquiring citizenship.

    The airline authority has also confirmed that last year, a PIA steward, Ramzan Gul, went missing after flight PK-798 landed in Toronto.

  • Dir-Zara? Indian woman flies to Upper Dir to marry Pakistani man

    Dir-Zara? Indian woman flies to Upper Dir to marry Pakistani man

    After Seema Haider and Sachin Meena’s romance dominated headlines, yet another cross-border love story has unfolded between Indians and Pakistanis. This time, the roles have been reversed. An Indian woman has travelled all way to Pakistan to meet her Facebook friend who is a Pakistani young man.

    35-year-old Ms. Anju has arrived in Upper Dir district to spend time with her 29-year-old Facebook friend, Nasrullah. Ms. Anju, hailing from the Kailor area of Uttar Pradesh, holds valid travel documents to visit Nasrullah’s village, Kulsho, reports Dawn.

    An Upper Dir district police officer, Mushtaq Khan, confirmed that her visa is legal, allowing her to stay in the region for a month.

    Ms. Anju revealed that she and Nasrullah initially connected on Facebook, and their friendship eventually blossomed into a deep love, leading her to make the decision to travel from India to Pakistan.

    Both Ms. Anju and Nasrullah informed the police that they are in love with each other and intend to get married.

    Ms. Anju is a divorcee and follows the Christian faith. She arrived in Rawalpindi, from where Nasrullah accompanied her to Dir Upper on July 22. On the other hand, Nasrullah, a permanent resident of the village, holds a BSc degree from Government College, Dir.

    Authorities have confirmed that Ms. Anju’s travel documents are in order, and she has been permitted to stay with Nasrullah, with instructions for him to take care of her during her visit.

  • Study reveals higher risk of depression in new fathers

    Study reveals higher risk of depression in new fathers

    A study conducted by the University College London (UCL) has highlighted that men also have a high risk of depression during the transformative period of parenthood. The research, which analyzed medical records of 90,000 men who became fathers within the previous year, focused on the mental health of new fathers and its relation to postnatal depression.

    Led by Professor Irene Petersen, the study found that men with a history of depression who had previously used antidepressants were 30 times more likely to be prescribed them again in the first year after their child’s birth. It was emphasized that postnatal depression in fathers was not a risk for all men but rather more likely to affect those already prone to depression.

    This study brings attention to the mental well-being of new fathers, an area often overshadowed by the focus on mental health during pregnancy and postpartum for women. It suggests that fathers should consider having a mental health check-up in the first year after becoming a parent.

    According to Professor Petersen, some of the men in the study continued their existing treatment for depression, while others experienced a relapse of depression without a recent prescription. It’s possible that these individuals were more aware of the symptoms and sought treatment voluntarily. The study focused on the use of antidepressant treatment rather than making a formal diagnosis. The research showed that paternal post-natal depression is not a risk for all men but primarily affects those who are already prone to depression.

    “However, having a child might act as a trigger for depression in some men,” he concluded.

    Another researcher and PhD candidate involved in the study emphasized the intricacy of the connection between depression and fatherhood. They noted that previous antidepressant treatment played a significant role in determining whether antidepressants were used in the year after becoming a parent. This could be attributed to some men continuing the treatment they were on before becoming fathers, while others might be more susceptible to experiencing depressive feelings again, which may be exacerbated by the challenges of parenthood.

    The study also revealed that fathers living in the most deprived areas had an 18 percent higher risk of being prescribed antidepressants compared to fathers in the least deprived areas.

  • Meteors, beware; NASA’s DART Mission alters asteroid’s course

    Meteors, beware; NASA’s DART Mission alters asteroid’s course

    In a groundbreaking test of Earth’s planetary defenses, NASA’s DART probe successfully knocked an asteroid off its trajectory, creating a dazzling display of boulders hurtling into space.

    The story was shared by Dawn with images of the historic experiment. Last year’s momentous collision between the fridge-sized spacecraft and the pyramid-sized, rugby ball-shaped asteroid Dimorphos, situated 11 million kilometers from Earth, yielded astonishing results, as captured by the Hubble Space Telescope. The images were released on Thursday.

    Astonishing Aftermath Unveiled:

    Newly released images from the Hubble Space Telescope unveiled the extraordinary aftermath of the DART mission. A total of 37 boulders, ranging in size from one to seven meters in diameter, were sent floating into the cosmos. These boulders represent approximately two percent of the loosely-held-together asteroid’s surface, as estimated in a recent study by scientists.

    Unraveling the Secrets:

    Scientists are eager to continue tracking the trajectory of these celestial boulders, as their movement patterns hold crucial clues about how they were propelled from the asteroid’s surface. The research, detailed in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, offers invaluable insights into asteroid deflection techniques and potential strategies for planetary defense.

    Insights for Future Asteroid Defense:

    The findings hold significant implications for future missions aimed at diverting potentially life-threatening asteroids on a collision course with Earth. While the images might raise concerns about boulder dispersion towards Earth, experts reassure that these specific rocks pose no threat. The successful DART mission sets an encouraging precedent for safeguarding our planet against potential asteroid threats and lays the groundwork for future endeavors to protect Earth from space hazards.

  • School-girl tortured, gang-raped by four men in Islamabad

    School-girl tortured, gang-raped by four men in Islamabad

    A 17 year old schoolgirl in Islamabad was gang-raped by four boys who kidnapped her while she was on her way to school in Sector E-9. The police have arrested three of the four suspects: Atish, Junaid Ansar and Afad Malik while Hassan Shakeel is still at large.

    According to The News, the child’s mother told the police that the girl left for school at 8 o’ clock in the morning when she met a friend of her brother, Atish, waiting for her near the school. Atish kidnapped her by lying to her about an emergency. The boy then took her to village Matiari where three of his friends- Junaid Ansar, Afad Malik and Hassan Shakeel- tortured her. Then, they put a gun to her head, threatening to kill her if she cried or screamed while she was being raped.

    The police has registered a First information report (FIR) under Section 375-A and said that they are hunting down Hassan Shakeel, promising to trace him within 24 hours.