A student of Lahore University of Management Sciences’ (LUMS), Faaiz Arbab has developed a voice-controlled electric wheelchair that can be operated through a smartphone application.
Faaiz is a graduate of electrical engineering program from LUMS and invented the voice-operated smart wheelchair, named ‘GOBEE’, in collaboration with the National Incubation Center (NIC) Lahore and AYEco.
It operates with the help of a smartphone application which has a ‘Call N Go’ feature in it. The wheelchair responds to the voice commands of the user, being able to turn left or right and move forward or backward. It can also be summoned from a distance of 15 kilometers.
Faaiz aims to assist people with disabilities through the use of technology. The smart wheelchair offers Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and a remote control which goes over the range of a 100 feet.
GOBEE is water repellent, anti-rusting, and has alloy rim wheels combined with an anti-sweat technology sofa seat.
National Design Awards (NDA) Pakistan also awarded Arbab with the best Consumer Product Design Award (2018) for his Voice Operated Smart Wheel Chair.
Pakistan Tehreeke Insaf’s (PTI) MNA Asad Umar shared lauded the Arbab’s efforts on Twitter and shared a video of the wheelchair.
“This is just the kind of work that needs to be projected,” Asad wrote.
Innovative work like this voice activated wheel chair by AYECo. This is just the kind of work that needs to be projected pic.twitter.com/Q4DqauXz0U
Roads of Jatlan town in Mirpur district of Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) collapsed after a strong earthquake jolted different parts of the country on Tuesday evening.
As per the details, an earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale jolted Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Lahore among other parts of northern and central Punjab besides Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and AJK.
According to the geological wing of the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the epicenter of the quake was stated to be one kilometer (km) southeast of Mirpur, 10 km beneath the earth’s surface.
People of the areas where the quake was felt, rushed out of their homes and offices in panic reciting Quranic verses.
At least three people were killed and 50 others injured after roads in Mirpur collapsed due to the intensity of the quake. Several vehicles, including passenger buses, were also seen falling and getting stuck in the massive cracks.
An earthquake of high intensity jolted different parts of the country on Tuesday, injuring over 50 people.
According to the geological wing of the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), tremors measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale were felt in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Lahore among other parts of northern and central Punjab besides Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
People of the areas where the quake was felt, rushed out of their homes and offices in panic reciting Quranic verses. At least 50 people were injured and rushed to nearby hospitals in Mirpur.
The epicenter of the quake was stated to be one kilometer (km) southeast of Mirpur, 10 km beneath the earth’s surface.
In a photo shared by his son on Twitter, President Dr Arif Alvi has been spotted picking up trash on his hiking trip with family in Changla Gali mountain resort town of Galyat.
According to the details, the president was seen collecting garbage in a trash bag and then disposing it of in a bin by the side of a road.
“During our treks, we usually take trash bags, but accidentally forgot them, next time will do more [sic],” the president’s son, Awab Alvi, wrote and added that Pakistanis should “behave like responsible tourists when they visit such beautiful places in the country”.
Sad to see tourist take a trek & enjoy a picnic but leave plastic bottles all over the trail – we tried to pick as many as we can pic.twitter.com/QrvroNpFJh
“Everyone gossips,” says Frank McAndrew, a professor of psychology in the United States while talking to NBC News. He discusses a new study that determines how much humans gossip and how it affects them socially – and how there is a right way to do it.
McAndrew said that people who gained social knowledge (aka gossiped) were far ahead than people who were not interested. People who didn’t indulge in discussing other people “were not good at attracting and keeping mates or maintaining alliances.”
Women tend to engage in more neutral gossip than men
Gossip isn’t “inherently bad,” he suggested and in a study with 467 adults over two-five days, researchers came to a conclusion on how to gossip the right way. They recorded conversations that these people had, and classified anything they heard about a person who was not there as gossip. It was coded as positive, negative or neutral. The data suggested that almost everyone gossiped (only 34 out of 467 individuals did not gossip at all) and majority of the gossip (75 percent) was neutral. Women engaged in more neutral gossip than men.
According to psychologists, a “good gossiper” is a person who is trusted with information and uses it in a responsible way. For example, telling a friend information that might save them from a bad investment or a bad marriage. A bad gossiper shares information in order to get ahead or to be plain malicious, discussing a person’s shortcomings or trouble in their lives for the sake of talking.
Hit program based on an anonymous gossip girl
To be a good gossiper:
1. Think twice
Are you breaking someone’s trust by giving away this information or stabbing them in the back? Are you doing it responsibly for valid reasons?
2. Don’t gossip for personal gain
If you have something to gain by releasing information about someone else, don’t do it. You most likely are not doing it for the right reasons
3. Don’t distort facts
Do not exaggerate, add details or change the story. If you have to tell a story, tell it exactly how it happened
To be real, cheating husbands is not an alien concept. Most women will accept behind closed doors that their partners, spouses etc have cheated but they have always been advised to brush it under the carpet and forget about it as “mard ki bhool.” However, things are now slowly changing and more women are coming forward with their stories and more and more dramas are being churned out on the topic.
Blogger Hira Mannan who runs the blog The Mewly Weds recently opened up about being cheated on. Hira’s story sent waves of shock across social media because everyone thought she had the perfect married life.
Taking to Twitter, Hira posted a long thread on how her husband started cheating on her just a few months after their marriage. She said she had no idea how many women her husband had been with but all she knew was that he was on Tinder.
She said this went on for more than a year before she decided to join the dating app herself to experiment. She also shared a screenshot of her account.
Hira then went onto say that she and her husband were a fairly popular couple and it hurts her to think that those who had seen them “goofing around” must have laughed at her for not knowing what her husband was upto behind her back. She added that no one came forward to tell her about her husband’s actions and how it irks her that society protects men.
Hira then went onto share another incidence of her husband’s infidelity and even shared screenshots of her husband chatting with his mistress because “accountability should go both ways.”
Hira revealed that she became pregnant but soon miscarried because of the stress and anxiety. She said that she developed body image issues and was in a constant spiral of depression and even became suicidal.
Hira’s story was met with an outpour of support for her.
It was so painful to even read all your posts. Cant even imagine what you must have gone through. We live in a shitty world may Allah make things easier for you.
I am so sorry. What you went through is nothing less than traumatizing. I am glad you spoke up and got help. Stay strong. It will get better. I know it doesn’t feel like that right now but it will. Hug.
More power to you. I’m sorry you had to go through this and May you reach the right decision about your future. Whatever you decide, you will be fine because you’re strong.
So we are well into the first term of the school year. The excitement is slowly wearing off and energy levels in the morning are not so high anymore (as if they ever were!), and I have started DREADING the morning routine which has now become a blur between breakfast and running out the door. Putting together the school lunchbox for my boys’, aged 6 and 3, is probably THE most difficult task of the day.
In this article, I will share tips and tricks I use for quick and healthy snacks and lunches to suit all types of eaters.
Tip 1: Don’t be afraid of leftovers
Leftovers from dinner the night before are actually lifesavers! Whether it’s daal chaawal (lentils and rice) or chicken saalan curry, if you learn the art of presentation, your kids can eat a full meal in school.
For anything rice-based like chaawal qeema I use the insulated Thermos Food jars. These keep the food warm and fresh until lunch break and act as a bowl to help my kids eat without making a mess.
On days that I have leftover chicken or any other curry, I just take out the meat, wash away the curry and mash it up with mayonnaise to make a chicken sandwich or paratha roll and voila, I have a meal.
And our personal favourite is leftover PIZZA!
Tip 2: Use pasta as an alternative to rice
Giving rice more than 2 times a week means getting rice back in their lunch box. The best alternative to this is pasta or noodles. My quick and easy go-to pasta recipe is:
Boil the pasta a night before along with boiled chicken (with a dash of salt and pepper)
Store it in the fridge
The next morning, warm up a helping of pasta and chicken. Add butter generously and you have Butter Pasta with Chicken for lunch.
Once again, give this in a steel jar or box to keep it warm and fresh and soft.
Tip 3: Make heavy snacks
Let’s address the parents who were rolling their eyes in the above section because their kids would NEVER touch rice or anything they have eaten the night before. Some kids just need more snack-based meals and there’s no reason to think these can’t be healthy and proper meals that can also be prepared quickly and easily first thing in the morning. On days I have not boiled rice or pasta in advance I am saved by BREAD.
Two slices of bread covered generously in butter with a slice of cheddar cheese is my two-minute sandwich.
However, to make this a little more substantial I add anything and everything from the fridge that I know my kids will eat. These can include:
Turkey slices to give that dose of protein (but I would only recommend this once in two weeks as turkey is processed meat).
Those Shaami Kebabs that us desi moms always have stored in our freezers is a great addition also.
(Extra tip: I use my beloved Air Fryer to save frying time in the morning. I just have to defrost the kebabs in the microwave and put them in the air fryer while I get the kids ready. If you don’t have the option of an air fryer, you can fry them the night before and heat them up in the morning to save time).
Homemade or store-bought frozen chicken or beef burger patties with ketchup and mayonnaise on burger buns to make a yummy burger.
(Extra tip: Add vegetables only if your kids enjoy them and only the ones they prefer. You don’t want a perfectly good burger going to waste!)
Tip 4: Eggs are your best friend
Generally, my kids eat scrambled eggs in the morning. But on days I need to give them eggs for lunch (because I have nothing else in the fridge), I give them cereal or croissants for breakfast. And then I use eggs to make the following lunches:
Fry an egg. Toast 2 slices of bread and put butter on both. Grab a slice of cheese. Put them together to make the easiest egg sandwich.
Make two slices of French Toast and add some cheese slices in the box to make it a substantial meal.
Boil eggs during the weekend. Mash. Add salt, pepper and mayonnaise. Store the mixture in the fridge for upcoming school mornings to make a different kind of egg sandwich.
2 minute Egg Quiche: Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a mug. Add 1 egg, 2 tablespoon milk, salt and pepper, any other topping like spinach or tomatoes or turkey. Place broken bread on top and dip it in so it’s wet. Microwave for 2 minutes. Once done scoop it out in one whole piece.
Egg Quiche
Tip 5: Add small bites for a full stomachs
Rice, pasta, sandwich, burgers, paratha rolls – we have covered our grains here. But my kids need more favours and fun things to keep them going during the day.
There are many snacks one can give such as biscuits, chips and cakes. But under the health policy in our schools, chips, chocolates and anything with frosting is a no-no.
I mostly alternate between the following snacks for my kids as I know they will actually eat them.
Others: Plain Cake, Cheese Sticks, Crackers and Cheese, Plain Biscuits
An alternative for kids who don’t enjoy fruits are:
Banana cupcakes
Apple Crumble
Blueberry Muffins
Healthy alternatives for chips are cereals or crackers. I give my boys protein cereals or cheddar crackers for them to nibble at during snack or lunchtime.
Apart from that, I am also a firm believer of water versus juices as they too contain a large amount of sugar. But sometimes when I feel like the food and snacks will not be enough I add flavoured milk or juice for some extra energy. This way they are not weighted by oil or heavy sugars and spend an active day.
Hope these tips help you during rushed mornings for the rest of the remaining term and you are able to feel better about your children’s lunch menu in school!
Zunaira is the author of a blog called From Dresses To Diapers. The part-time blogger and full-time mommy can be reached at her Instagram account.
Following multiple deaths in the province due to rabies, the Sindh Government has ordered mayors, municipal commissioners and other officials to start immediate and effective campaigns for the culling of stray dogs in the province.
According to reports, as many as 13 people, including men, women and mostly children, have lost their lives in Sindh due to rabies encephalitis, a deadly infectious disease caused by a rabid dogs, this year, while as many as 135,000 people have been attacked and bitten by stray dogs in Sindh, including Karachi.
However, the issue gained momentum after a video of a 10-year-old boy who passed away in his mother’s lap due to full-blown rabies in the Larkana district, went viral on social media. The public and media bitterly criticised the provincial government for failing to control the population of stray dogs and arrange anti-rabies vaccine (ARV) for those who are bitten.
In a notification, the Sindh Local Government Department directed local bodies authorities to launch an “effective and well-coordinated campaign” in their areas on a top priority basis.
Officials of the health department said they had been urging the authorities to direct the elimination of stray dogs for a long time but owing to pressure from animal rights campaigners, no decision had been taken.
Meanwhile, Sindh Director General Health Dr Masood Solangi said that he was satisfied with the decision because it was difficult for Pakistan, being a poor country, to afford the expensive anti-rabies vaccine and vaccinate hundreds of thousands of people who become victim to stray dogs every year in the province. He added that the vaccine is imported from India and due to political tensions, the supple of the vaccine is affected.
The dates of Britain’s Prince William and Kate Middleton’s visit to Pakistan have been announced.
According to Kensington Palace’s official Twitter handle, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be visiting Pakistan from October 14-18.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will attend a special event at the Aga Khan Centre on 2nd October, hosted by His Highness The Aga Khan.
The event falls ahead of TRH’s official visit to Pakistan, which will take place between 14th – 18th October. pic.twitter.com/fc0ZyuyLKs
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) September 20, 2019
The announcement also said that before their visit, the royal couple will attend a special event at the Aga Khan Centre in London on October 2, which will be hosted by His Highness The Aga Khan.
The announcement of William and Kate’s visit to Pakistan was first announced in late June. This is their first trip to Pakistan and the first royal trip to the country in more than a decade.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Office welcomed the decision and said that they look forward to their visit.
Government and the people of Pakistan look forward to the visit of the Royal couple to Pakistan next month.
Pakistan and the UK enjoy deep and cordial relationship. The visit will provide yet another opportunity to further strengthen the bilateral relations.
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) September 20, 2019
We march because the climate crisis is existential. It involves us all, but not individually.
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is to convene on September 27. One week ahead of the run-up to the assembly, children, students, environmental activists, NGOs and the civil society are conducting a ‘Climate March’ to draw attention to the crisis.
Not just in New York, but in hundreds of cities across the globe.
Why? The facts are staggering. Since agreeing to reduce greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC) in 1992, the world has only produced more GHGs.
Global temperatures are increasing, with each month breaking
historical records; carbon concentrations in the atmosphere have shot over 400
parts per million – not seen in the past 850,000 years. Back then, there was a
species extinction event. With animal,
bird, insect and plant varieties in rapid decline, we are now facing the sixth extinction
event.
Just this year, there were wildfires in the arctic – something that has never happened before – and the scale of the ice melt in Greenland – 12.5 billion tonnes in one day in July, which wasn’t supposed to happen until 2070.
We are seeing the global climate tilt and lose balance
before our eyes; hence, the march.
We are marching because the everyday discourse in Pakistan
doesn’t register the climate crisis. People don’t know how bad it is or will
be.
Consider this: the half-degree difference between the limit of 1.5°C temperature increase envisioned by the Paris Agreement of 2015 and the 2°C limit envisaged by the Kyoto Protocol, means approximately 150 million deaths by 2060. That’s more than the lives lost in all the wars and battles fought in the 20th Century. And most of these deaths will be due to air pollution resulting from GHG emissions produced in the metropolitan areas of Asia and Africa.
So unless we deal with the smog and air quality in North
India, many of those 150 million lives will be lost in Pakistan and India.
We are marching because of climate justice. By far, the
responsibility of historical GHG emissions rests in the Global North, and
within the hands of only a dozen or so businesses that have made, to paraphrase
Greta Thunberg, obscene amounts of money by destroying the earth.
Pakistan must stand strong with other countries and demand historical GHG inequity be addressed, but that does not relieve the country or us from our duty in the battle against the climate crisis.
Both Pakistan and Pakistanis must realise that climate justice is just as much about equity between countries as the equity within countries. The climate crisis, worldwide, will play out not just between rich and poor countries, but between the rich and poor within every country. The poor in Pakistan are especially vulnerable. Nearly a quarter of the population lives below or close to the poverty line. For so many of our brothers and sisters, a climate event is all that stands between them and one meal a day.
We march because it’s time to declare a climate emergency. We march because the climate crisis is not an “elite” issue in Pakistan or the responsibility of the developed world. We march because students, environmental activists, academics and civil society in 22 of Pakistan’s cities are marching. They prove that the climate crisis is well-known, that our population isn’t stupid and that the folks responsible for running the show should take the climate crisis seriously rather than focusing on the circus presently employed.
We march, finally, because the climate crisis is existential. It involves us all, but not individually. The capitalist, consumerist and fossil fuel-driven economy that has brought us to the brink is too much for individual actions alone. The climate crisis needs collective political action. And it needs it now.
Join the climate march at 3 pm on Friday (September 20).
The writer is an environmental lawyer and member of the Pakistan Climate Change Council.To learn more about the march, follow @ClimateMarchPk on all social media platforms.
