Indus Vitals

At KU awareness week, specialists highlight rising resistance, misuse of antibiotics and gaps in policy KARACHI: As the world edges towards a future where routine infections may once again become deadly, experts at a seminar held at the University of Karachi (KU) have warned that Pakistan is already witnessing the tremors of a looming medical emergency i.e. the rapid rise of antibiotic resistance. “If global trends remain unchanged, drug-resistant infections could overtake all other causes of death by 2050—driving the economic burden from today’s USD 66 billion to an alarming USD 159 billion,” a KU press release quoted the speakers as saying. KU’s Department of Microbiology organised the seminar, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) during the United Nations–declared Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week. Featuring the talks, panel discussion and student competitions, experts urged immediate action to enhance the public understanding of how human be...

Stakeholders call for coordinated action KARACHI: Warning that industrially produced trans fats have become a silent but deadly driver of Pakistan’s non-communicable disease crisis, experts at a University of Karachi (KU) seminar have called for urgent enforcement of regulations and stronger collaboration between food authorities, researchers and industry to keep industrially produced trans fatty acids (iTFA) levels within safe limits. The Department of Food Science and Technology, in collaboration with Nutrition International, organised the awareness and training session to highlight the health risks associated with iTFA and promote practical measures for their elimination. The event gathered researchers, policy officials and food safety regulators from Sindh, Balochistan and various national institutions. KU’s Acting Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Haris Shoaib said the initiative was crucial not only for raising public understanding but also for strengthening the enforcem...

Seminar at KU calls for balanced lifestyles, parental engagement, and awareness on harmful substances to safeguard young people IV Report KARACHI: Shedding light on the growing psychological challenges faced by young people, mental health experts and educators have urged interventions such as balanced lifestyles, stronger family and social engagement, and greater awareness of harmful substances. The call came during a seminar titled “Breaking the Silence, Hearing the Youth Perspective” , organised by the Department of Psychology, University of Karachi (KU), on September 3. KU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Khalid M. Iraqi chaired the session, which brought together leading mental health specialists, educators, and students to explore meaningful solutions. Dr Iraqi stressed the importance of empathy and open dialogue, noting that “mutual trust and connection form the foundation for resolving youth issues effectively.” He urged parents and teachers to create safe spaces where young peo...

IV Report KARACHI: Speakers at a seminar titled "Women in Leadership: Summit for Excellence" emphasised the importance of valuing women's insights in the decision-making process to achieve meaningful social and economic development in the country. The event, organised by the University of Karachi's Dr A Q Khan Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering in collaboration with the Organisation for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) Pakistan Chapter and the Pakistan Academy of Sciences, featured dignitaries including KU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi and MNA Syeda Shehla Raza. Prof Dr Iraqi noted that women's representation in decision-making institutions is less than 10 percent, and stressed the need for providing opportunities without gender discrimination. "Our society hardly values advice given by women and does not bother to follow them," he added. Dr Iraqi further emphasised that in any society, political, social...