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How nuclear science is reshaping agriculture

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Prof Dr Intikhab Ulfat From pest control and crop improvement to water management and food safety, nuclear techniques are helping farmers meet the challenges of climate change and food security By Dr Intikhab Ulfat Nuclear technology is often associated with electricity generation and medical applications, yet its contribution to agriculture and food security is equally significant. At a time when climate change, water scarcity, pests, plant diseases, and declining productivity threaten global food systems, nuclear science is helping countries develop more resilient and sustainable agriculture. Through cooperation between the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), nuclear techniques are increasingly being used to improve crop production, protect natural resources, and strengthen food security. The importance of these technologies is growing as agriculture faces unprecedented pressure from climate change, population growth, shrin...
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Karachi's poor liveability tied to health system gaps: PMA

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Association cites underfunded hospitals and worsening public health conditions, urges coordinated reforms IV Report KARACHI: The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has said Karachi's poor showing in the latest Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) Global Liveability Index reflects longstanding weaknesses in the city's health system and other services that influence public health , urging authorities to prioritise reforms that improve residents' quality of life.                                                           ST file photo In a statement issued on Wednesday, the association said Karachi's position near the bottom of the global rankings highlighted persistent deficiencies affecting healthcare delivery and public wellbeing. The EIU Global Liveability Index assesses cities across five broad categories—stability, healthcare, culture ...
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Dow Hospital receives SHCC regular licence

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SHCC chief says quality standards must be sustained; recent HIV episode underscores importance of infection control IV Report KARACHI: Dow University Hospital has been awarded a Regular Licence by the Sindh Healthcare Commission (SHCC), with officials of both institutions describing it as the first public-sector general hospital in Sindh to achieve the recognition for meeting the commission's prescribed standards for quality, patient safety and regulatory compliance. The licence was presented by SHCC Chief Executive Officer Dr Ahsan Qavi at a ceremony held at the Abdul Qadeer Khan Auditorium of Dow International Medical College's Ojha Campus. The event was attended by DUHS Vice Chancellor Prof Nazli Hossain, Pro Vice Chancellor Prof Jehan Ara Hassan, Prof Sajida Qureshi and Prof Zahid Azam, faculty members and SHCC officials. Presenting the licence to Prof Jehan Ara Hassan, Dr Qavi said the award represented the beginning of a greater responsibility rather than the culm...
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KMC reestablishes two fire stations

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Gulistan-e-Johar station restored after 30 years; upgradation underway IV Report KARACHI: The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has reestablished two fire stations in Gulistan-e-Johar and Bolton Market as part of a citywide upgradation of emergency response infrastructure. Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab, who inaugurated the facilities, said the move aims to strengthen Karachi’s firefighting capacity and reduce response time across densely populated areas. The Gulistan-e-Johar Fire Station has been restored after nearly three decades. Previously, the Gulshan Fire Station covered both Gulshan-e-Iqbal and Gulistan-e-Johar, straining resources. Wahab said the reestablished station will now share emergency response duties, easing pressure and improving coverage for surrounding localities. “Past fire incidents showed the need for stronger infrastructure, modern equipment, and better preparedness,” Wahab said during the ceremony. The reestablishment is part of a broader modern...
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SHCC board in limbo again

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Govt yet to reconstitute commission's key policy-making body months after tenure expiry By Mukhtar Alam KARACHI: Amid growing concerns over healthcare delivery across Sindh, the major policy-making and oversight body of the Sindh Healthcare Commission (SHCC) — the Board of Commissioners (BoCs) — has remained non-functional since the expiry of its tenure earlier this year, raising questions about regulatory governance in the health sector. It is learnt that the statutory BoCs completed its tenure in the first week of February. However, the provincial health department has yet to initiate the process for constituting a new board in accordance with the Sindh Healthcare Commission Act, 2014, sources in the health sector said. The law states that the general superintendence, direction and management of the affairs of the commission, along with overall policy-making in respect of its operations, vest in the Board of Commissioners. Observers point out that such a keybody, comprisi...
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Budget lacks medium-term brain, power relief, tax equity: Experts

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KU AERC seminar says Budget 2026-27 focuses on numbers, not on export competitiveness, tax equity, or long-term planning IV Report KARACHI: The University of Karachi’s Applied Economics Research Centre (AERC) concluded that Budget 2026-27 is missing key structural links to growth, energy affordability, and tax reform, during its Budget Insight 2026-27 seminar held Monday. Speakers said the budget reads as an annual accounts statement, without the medium-term policy backbone needed to address Pakistan’s core economic constraints. Former State Bank of Pakistan Governor Dr Ishrat Husain said a budget must operate within a medium-term policy framework, not as merely an account of income and expenditure. Citing the 2010-11 NFC Award, he noted it had set a target to raise the tax-to-GDP ratio to 15% within five years. Fifteen years later, it remains around 11 percent, he said, adding that setting targets alone is insufficient without practical measures and continuous monitoring. ...
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Experts urge action on Karachi's environmental decline

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KU moot warns implementation gap is worsening pollution and climate-related threats IV Report KARACHI: Environmental experts, academics and civil society representatives have warned that Karachi's worsening environmental conditions reflect a widening gap between awareness and action, urging authorities and citizens alike to move beyond rhetoric and adopt practical measures to address climate change, pollution and unplanned urbanisation. The concerns were raised at the Climate Matters Conference, organised by the Institute of Environmental Studies (IES) of the University of Karachi (KU) in connection with World Environment Day 2026. The conference was themed “Inspired by Nature, for Climate, for Our Future” and focused on the challenges posed by climate change and rapid urban growth. Speakers noted that Karachi, Pakistan's largest city and economic hub, is facing mounting environmental pressures ranging from shrinking green spaces and deteriorating air quality to unmana...
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