The Fracturing of Pakistan

Pakistan’s democratic and civilian groups face various problems: Issues of national integrity, reduction of violence, the creation of a governing consensus among different provinces and ethnic groups; all of these will have to be tackled by the new parliament. But just as important as the restoration of democracy and the end of military involvement in politics are problems of poverty and economic deprivation

Drying dynamics of sessile-droplet arrays

We analyze the diffusion-controlled evaporation of multiple droplets placed near each other on a planar substrate. Specifically, we calculate the change in the volume of sessile droplets with various initial contact angles that are arranged in different configurations. The calculations are supplemented by experimental measurements using a technique that interprets the variable magnification of a pattern placed beneath the droplet array, which is applied to the case of initially hemispherical droplets deposited in four distinct arrangements. We find excellent agreement between the predictions based on the theory of Masoud et al. [Evaporation of multiple droplets, J. Fluid Mech. 927, R4 (2021)] and the data gathered experimentally. Perhaps unexpectedly, we also find that when comparing different arrays, the droplets with the same order of disappearance within their respective array, i.e., fastest evaporating, second-fastest evaporating, etc., follow similar drying dynamics. Our study provides not only experimental validation of the theoretical framework introduced by Masoud et al., but also offers additional insights into the evolution of the volume of individual droplets when evaporating within closely-spaced arrays

Urbanization, gender and violence in Rawalpindi and Islamabad : a scoping study

This scoping study summarizes issues of gender, urbanization, institutional landscape and violence in the twin cities of Rawalpindi/Islamabad. It focusses particularly on infrastructural violence and vulnerability, in terms of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH).The project addresses material aspects of gender roles through access to public services and opportunities, as well as in terms of public discourse, education and media. It provides a resource base for those concerned with gender, social capital, infrastructure and violence across urban Pakistan. The study reviews academic and policy related literatures, combined with media analysis of relevant print and online newspapers, television and radio

Urbanization, gender & violence in millennial Karachi : a scoping study

The study reviews academic and policy related literature, combined with media analysis of selected print and online newspapers, television and radio which are relevant to national and local discourses about violence in Rawalpindi-Islamabad and urban working class neighbourhoods of Karachi. Geographical dimensions of violence can be understood via the concept of vulnerability; the susceptibility to suffering damage from environmental hazards and extremes; and the ability of households and communities to recover from them. The Safe and Inclusive Cities (SAIC) project aims to understand drivers of violence in urban areas of the global South so as to inform evidence-based policy making

Proteinuria in South Asian children: prevalence and determinants

Proteinuria in children is a marker of kidney disease and atherosclerosis, both which are known predictors of cardiovascular mortality. Recent evidence suggests that migrant South Asian populations living in the West may be at higher risk of kidney disease than native Caucasians. However, the determinants of proteinuria in South Asian children have not been explored. Previously, we reported ethnic variation in the prevalence of proteinuria in the adult population of Pakistan. However, it is not known whether ethnic predisposition to proteinuria appears during childhood or whether it is acquired later in life as a result of prolonged exposure to undiagnosed diabetes and hypertension. Analyses were based on a subset of data for 4977 children aged 5 to less than 15 years collected as part of the broad National Health Survey of Pakistan, conducted between 1990 and 1994. Proteinuria was defined as a dipstick positive for protein on a random urine sample. Ethnicity was reported as mother-tongue , which is specific for each of the five major ethnic subgroups of Pakistan: Muhajir, Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun, and Baluchi. The overall prevalence (95% CI) of proteinuria in the children was 3.3% (2.7-3.9%). It was 6.2% in Sindhis, 3.6% in Muhajirs, 2.8% in Punjabis, 2.8% in Baluchis, and 1.0% in Pashtuns (p\u3c0.001). In multivariable analyses, proteinuria was associated with greater height (p=0.007), urban dwelling (p=0.03), lower socioeconomic status (p=0.02), and certain ethnicities (p=0.005). The ethnic variation in proteinuria in South Asian children mirrors variation among ethnic groups in adults. This suggests variations in susceptibility or early exposure to causes of chronic kidney disease, rather than long-term exposure to undiagnosed diabetes or hypertension. Further studies are needed to determine factors in early life that may differentially predispose certain ethnic groups to proteinuria