by Ayesha Zia To say, its only human to fear and be anxious.

And everything stays perfectly "normal" until the phobia happens - not a Greek weapon but a word for fear . A strong, persistent and unwarranted fear of an object or situation is what is called, a Phobia. Elevated levels of anxiety or panic attacks are witnessed when individual encounters the phobic stimulus. It leaves an individual distressed and agitated when attempts are made to avoid the object or situation of fear. Phobia can be of anything from heights, cats, pains, spiders, airplanes, blood, germs, darkness, diseases, animals, crowds, performance, strangers ,and even phobia of phobia - sounds funny? doesn't it, is nevertheless true. The preconceived notion that phobia is for life surely needs a check, that it can definitely be treated! But first, lets check out the conditions symptomatic of phobia: 1. Persistent, unrealistic fears of specific objects or situations 2. Exposure to feared stimulus triggers intense fear or panic attacks. 3.Presence of avoidance responses. 4.Diminution of anxiety when phobic stimulus is not confronted. Kinds Of Phobia: 1.Agoraphobia: intense fear of being in public places where escape or help may not be readily available. 2.Social phobia: intense fear of being judged or scrutinized in a social situation. 3.Specific phobia: intense fear of a specific object or situation. What causes such irrational fears? Psychological as well as biological explanations have been proposed that elucidate the reasons behind phobias: 1.Repression of fantasies, wishes, fears and thoughts not desirable for the society into the unconscious which are unacceptable for the patient as well as inadmissible in the society. Thus the person chooses a less threatening stimulus, replacing the original internal source with an external source. The person doesnt want to recognize the underlying real conflict. 2.Thoughts and behaviors exhibited by a person that may cause an intense fear. Such elements include portentous and distorted thinking. 3.Inheritance from close relatives, however evidences for the direct transmission of such disorders are not very strong.

Treatment: 1.Anti-anxiety drugs especially Beta blocker drugs are usually used. They reduce increased heartbeat, trembling, and other symptoms associated with anxiety. 2.Behavioural methods serve as the most productive and effective measures These include exposure therapy in which a patient is exposed to the phobic situations and difficulty level is gradually increased. The role and demeanor of a therapist as well as the client-therapist relationship needs to be benevolent and affectionate, for it to turn out well. 3.Cognitive therapy also helps to a great extent. It works by co-relating with the cognitions and expectancies. Learning is important in this therapy. Problem solving skills are inculcated and anxiety inducing thoughts are identified. Negative thoughts are swapped with positive and constructive thoughts. 4.Coping skills, that include dealing with a bitter past, positive thinking, thinking logically, penning down one's thoughts and a healthy lifestyle, for anxiety are widely accepted to play an important role in overcoming the phobias and are mostly efficacious in treating them. Lead a phobia-free life!!

Madiha Ishtiaque Yesterday, after a vicious cat fight with my friend, with all the clawing and growling, as adrenaline rush began to decline a bit, exhaled out a few jets of frustration, I sat back, trying to think how nice a friend I have been or had the same for myself. Such introspections are important, for they playback all the time you have been wronged or cherished by a friend, but also brings back all the memories when you played mean with your buddy. Wrestled with my conscience, received quite a few boxes and also some comforting pats consoling that I too have been wronged. In that post fight phase, I came to realize a few things, which I decided to add in my charter of friendship, a few things to take care of and expect. And they are: If I had to sum up Friendship in one word, it would be Comfort. ~Terri Guillemets True. And as sorrows and pains are half way near you, your friend comes like a

shield and analgesic to not only protect you but also palliate and heal even the heat of such incidents that may have scorched your skin. The effect being so subtle that the pain is half gone with the mere presence of your friend. A friend is the one who comes in when the whole world has gone out. ~Grace Pulpit Be there for him. And so when one finds the entire world turned against, its exactly when He turns up. Your mate. Telling you that you mean the world for him. So, wheres the loneliness? It ends with his presence. And with that even the most trying times turn easy, and the most difficult fights of the world are won. The language of friendship is not words but meanings. ~Henry David Thoreau Understanding without saying is the best relief only a friend has to offer. Riveting on your face, from your one hello, or the pace of your breath, your friend gathers everything. Without having to contain everything, your friend understands just about everything you feel and are going through. Cherish the friend who tells you a harsh truth, wanting ten times more to tell you a loving lie. ~Robert Brault Yes, its important, that all the love we have for them doesnot impair our ability to point out their flaws gently yet clearly. And no matter how much you hate it, this excercize makes you one of the best ones. That is far better than a hurt caused to your friend from some one else, for his own error. The best rule of friendship is to keep your heart a little softer than your head Dont be over judgmental. And allow each other the relief of little lapses. Its how you understand your friend and learn to forgive his little flaws with a smile. And thats the beauty of friendship, knowing that even if you commit the gravest error, youll always have your friend to go back to, who would never turn his back at you. And to end it on a beautiful thought There is one friend in the life of each of us who seems not a separate person, however dear and beloved, but an expansion, an interpretation, of one's self, the very meaning of one's soul. ~Edith Wharton

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------(Madiha Ishtiaque is the content writer and person-in-charge of the The News Blog. She handles the content development and monitors the social media networking activities of the Blog.) (by Saima Akhtar)

*According to a report in the The Observer, London, Pakistan is facing a massive brain drain as record numbers of people desperate to leave their politically unstable, economically chaotic country swamp foreign embassies with visa applications-The biggest number of applications for British visas, are from Pakistan. Doctors, lawyers and IT professional are leading the exodus, but laborers and farmhands are joining the queues of malnourished people who gather daily outside the US embassy in Islamabad. So far, the talibanizing of Pakistan, madrassa systems, women abuse, and incompetent political leadership are all fruits of this root. Who would contribute to the change and innovation when the best portion of the population has stopped revolutionizing the countrys resources and moved away? YES, my homeland exports not just rice, wheat and sugar it also exports its best creative brains worldwide. And whatever zilch is left behind is not a crowd residing happily, either. They too yearn to break free and fly to the countries where they can have better opportunities, living standards and a lasting motivational level. Every country spends a fortune on its growing brains with one sole objective. They are the proprietors of future development and leaders of the nationalism and motivation for the rest. A nation relies on its manpower by mobilizing and consuming other sources to get the most identified individuals with finest skill sets to reproduce the same sources over again for future survival and advancement. Almost all developed nations get a turnover for the energy and time invested into their finest minds and treats them as asset. The skills of these individuals are further polished and groomed by keeping them around. They are privileged class which receives better and are given best compensations and fringe benefits for their outstanding services. Third world countries can not however sustain the native talent around and therefore can not inhibit this seepage. The cream prefers to move away from the home soil for certain reasons, chiefly due to unavailability of career options, lack of monetary benefits, or chaotic national circumstances.

Ideally speaking, only the finest produce of a nation, should move away! In Pakistan, even the semi-skilled and unskilled workers dream migration for better living. They may and may not be wanted elsewhere, but their hopes, aspirations and dreams get them the indisputable passport to the foreign lands, it seems. Coming back to the real problem at hand, a fully expert doctor, scientist and engineer can not be expected to receive the remuneration after a hard earned education, mental input and capital spent because the planning of the government to sustain him was never there right from the start. Pakistan is one country where the financial predicament is not the only one on the list of reasons contributing to migration of human capital. Political and social circumstances, general atmosphere of uncertainty, economic upheavals and terrorist activities all force them to move away, and ruin the long-term planning and growth of our country. Fear of assassination, threats received by the terrorists makes them flee for good. Departure of the finest human capital costs a country much more than the economic drawback. It deprives a nation from services of the experts who could further develop the remaining lots abilities. They could otherwise have contributed to a far rapid economic, scientific and technological development of the country. Additionally, the uneducated lot behind them would not prosper to give rise to the crime, corruption, killing or terrorism. Our governments have never cared in the past nor are sure why and how fast this process is. Perhaps we are waiting upon a miracle to dissuade the outflow because this is what allows the influx of funds in the countrys treasury. We need to address this situation now or it will be too late to keep anyone around except our highly esteemed statesmen, gentry or the lowermost class which can not get all the money together to escape into a paradise of their dreams. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Saima is a content writer at GEO TV Network

by Absar-ul-Hasan Blessed are those who hold the privilege of accompanying boss to office and being at work with him, on his time, is an added bounty. As they say

there are no free lunches and bosses are always right, it brings us to the conclusion that one might has to wait a little longer, sometimes for a never ending span of time, at the stop next to home. That other seemingly ordinary day, I was doing the same, counting the slowly ticking minutes, glaring at different vehicles and contemplating the sounds they made with respect to speed and of course to their silencers. Also, I never realized that there exists an art form i-e BUS-ART rather buss-art, bright, contrasting, garish colored body, glass less windows and the louder than horn bus-conductor, who never gets tired of telling you the route hasan square, stadium, karsaz, drigh road, malir, landhi landhi landhiiiii-ae Amongst all my mundane activities and observations, there came a man who was arriving at Gulshan all the way from far end of the city, being guided by several, for Agha Khan Hospital. He stopped next to me, asked the same again, like he has been confirming from everyone, just to avoid the fear of being lost or misguided. The skeptic conviction he showed in asking and the knowing nod in apprehending the direction brought me out of my comfort zone. He confirmed with me thrice and then said in a convinced voice ab tou pohanch he jaounga. Like, when things get clear then directions get right on your way. Though his destined location was not that far and he might have confirmed the direction again from someone but he left for where he was directed and left me with an astounding thought. The connection was so plain and simple that I wondered why I couldnt see it earlier. When a person is clear about the goal he wants to reach, somehow or the other, he finds the way, may be with a little prodding from people around him. This mere thought caught me off guard. If such a worldly destiny can be reached with continuous search and guidance, then what about the Creator; the Omnipotent and Omnipresent???? Why cant we get to Him? Why cant we seek Him? Also, to my surprise, I realized that when he goes to that particular location twice or may be thrice, hell get familiar with the surroundings, directions & modes of transport and then he might get there from any and every other direction of the city. Thats how it is, isnt it? I just cant help wondering that when the phenomenon is so simple, why people fight in the world. It would be for the collective good that we realize that although there are numerous beliefs but not everyone, other than our own, is wrong. Others might be seeking God in a different manner. They might be using some different practice, but ultimately the target remains same.

Do we blame someone for using a different route to the same place? If there are more than couples of options for choosing a path, one can use any of them and reach the destination. Same is the case with our Creator. No matter from which direction you start searching for Him, it will lead you to the destiny. Every other way is going to Him. Youll be guided by people around. Your need will become His wish for you. You will find him. You will know that no matter what cult you follow, it is just another path leading to Him. And once you are in the radius, you will be able to see the simple truth that all directions are submerging into one single reality, God!!! Destined you are!

Madiha Ishtiaque

Man takes its due pride in covering a long journey from Stone Age to the Age of light, right from the time a sto-man cracked fire, to the time huge power plants were built to supplement man's everincreasing and indispensable electricity needs. This evolution in fact happens to be a devolution for us Pakistanis. Going down a ladder, from light towards darkness is unfortunately our dilemma that we as nation are going through in quite a lot of spheres. One can practically count the number of hours when bijli is there and one has to rush all the works in that pea share of time one gets in 24 hours. Was it that worse always? Back in 90s, the blurred memories still tell me we had light more number of hours than chips in the lays packet. The recent bizarre electricity crises and recurrent strikes and protests against KESC authorities have spiked a lot of troubles for everyone. Lets see the protracted issue in a nutshell. As Abraaj Group took over KESC after its privatization, from Al Jumaiah group; it took its toll on the pubic pockets. Where on one hand the public purses began to shrink owing to inflation, on the other hand, people started to pay a lions portion of their income to KESC or they wouldnt give at all. And where things were difficult for the KESC subscribers ; it wasnt a happy time for the employees either.Four thousand five hundred employees, which primarily included drivers, security guards, and hard-core labor, were laid off. The measure

was taken in order to cut costs by laying off the extra labor, and increasing the companys already spiked profits, squeezed out of the few bill payers pockets. This extra staff was in fact the backbone of KESC. In case of any fault, this very staff provides technical support under the supervision of the engineers in charge; drive technical support staff to the destination. However, the importance of these staff members took a backseat when the new management of KESC, for the improvement of the level of service they provide, hired around five hundred H.R (Human Resource) personals and senior level management on a salary scale of around three lac each!! When MQM leadership insisted on re-hiring these employees whose livelihood depended on the meager sums they would receive from the organisation, the management apparently agreed upon taking them back but they sure had a plan B in mind. A certain set of terms was set. The workers wont work yet they will get the salary, there will be no overtime given, that used to make a major addition in a peanut sum to their salary, and there would be no medical facility provided by the company. It was surely a mental torture to those hardworking souls who came out and said, hum kaam maangta hay, as they eventually saw the futility of their presence and the shrinked amount they were getting. Not only this, but the troubles it caused the KESC subscribers as it took hours and days for a minor fault to get fixed because there is hardly enough man force around ever . On an aggressive capitalistic mission,as KESC even refused to provide medical benefits to the CBA chairman Akhlaq Ahmad Khan, all the labors and some of the employees came out in protest to not only get this right but all their earlier demands accepted as well. The struggle is on! And where a lot of electric theft has given a tough time to KESC management, the viscous circle also includes KESC evading a huge sum of money of Pakistan State Oil and Sui Southern Gas!! All this apart, where we have really demoted are, our morals and ethics that end up killing an innocent KESC employee who was but serving the profiteering higher authorities. What sort of revenge and justice is this? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------(Madiha Ishtiaque is the content writer and person-in-charge of the The News Blog. She handles the content development and monitors the social media networking activities of the Blog.)

(by Saima Akhtar)

I was really infuriated with this girl at my office. She had several temperamental issues and yes self-esteem is my all-time hit issue, too. She and I had had the worst argument and avoided and hated each other beyond imagination. But suddenly one day, while getting down from the van she said something and I could not restrain myself from participating in the conversation. She had said, I think the salary has come early this month? !!!!! Despite all my disinterest, disliking and revulsion for her, I gasped at the idea and blurted even before I could think, Really! I cant believe it? Which salary batch are you talking about? and uh-oh, I realize my mistake! Too late by now, she is once again on my contacts list, chirpy and happy as forever. Not to mention, that the salary in most companies comes by batches of 25k, 50k and more, respectively. At another occasion, when the next to next month had passed and the salary of the previous to previous month was yet due, I remember borrowing money from so many unreliable and unfriendly people, other than family to meet my daily expenses. Although one benefit of this was that my lunches were financed and sponsored by two very good colleagues of mine and I did not have to work on empty stomach for the whole day, at all. It feels good and goofy at the same time to be paid for a lunch unless you are on a date. Not even your own siblings would pay for your food in restaurants these days, but hats off to those two janbaz companions. They did it! No so fast, the other half of the story is quite saddening. The remaining months lunches for both of them had to be paid by me, for the same reason of their batchs salary mistiming. Thank you finance department for making up flowery stories to keep workers tears, complaints and grievances, at bay. If someone says chocolates and ice creams stimulate the happy hormones in us, I have my doubts to express. An ordinary laborer at donkey cart wouldnt know what chocolate tastes like and probably can never tell it apart from an ordinary toffee. No exaggeration involved, this is my personal experience, my offices janitorial staff doesnt care as much about a dessert as daily bread. Some corporate employees may like to put the idea of traveling to a far-off place

(at least as far as 20 kilometers away from the office), buttressing happiness back in life. I deny this notion too. Traveling in Pakistan for lower middle class can only be a pain in the neck if you imagine the current condition of possible means of traveling i.e. public vehicles, and trains. Flying is still a dream for a vast majority of my countrymen. All luxuries apart, the one thing on which the entire corporate sector unanimously stands together is, the happiness associated with the monthly wages. Pay Day is a general festival for a minority of class associated with the business zone. Every month we rejoice on this day, forget old grudges and embrace and congratulate each other without discriminating foes from friends. Business world has its own norms and salary rules. Most of its victims never hear the good news before 20th of the month when 1 and a half month has already passed to the previous incomes arrival. Some even unfortunate ones receive 2 to 3 months salaries together. One advantage of it is that, the long wait teaches you a good lesson of patience and tolerance and how to keep your expenses in check, while at the same time promoting the culture of borrowing money from others. Scrounging cash from others is after all a common practice for everyone on the footsteps of every governmental and private organization. What other name would you give the bribes, handed beneath the table and to the foreign aid sent for the residents of a poor state? Ok no political talk here. Another time, may be! Companys bigwigs can never realize that most of their employees belong to lower or upper middle class and have no other means of earning. They have no land in their native place whose produce will nourish their dependents; neither are they bandits to make money from illegal means. Monthly wages are their only source of hope to keep their lives going. Or you never know this is what is intended to be promoted? Late arrival of compensation belittles the amount received and creates financial dependability and handicap type situation for earners. Even reasonable amounts of salaries look less, if untimely because by then the budget has already run like a mad horse. The utilities bills are sitting on every piece of furniture in the house in advance for the next month too. Headache and depression are drunk with every cup of tea from the morning till evening.

A quick and simple delivery of funds and money on time to its rightful recipients can take much of the toil away from so many institutes, individuals and even government machinery. This is the reason it is said that a laborer should be paid even before his sweat has dried on his brow. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Saima is a content writer at GEO TV Network (by Saima Akhtar)

Have you ever come across those Becharay Employees who are visualized as donkeys by their bosses and are treated in the same manner, too? Well, they asked for it in the first place. Most of these donkeys are from a humble belonging and their complete attire, outlook, and mannerism speaks for it. At one point or another, they have made the mistake of pitying extraordinarily, whether it is themselves, their colleagues or their bosses. Pitying and additional honesty is where it began from. It landed them in the pit of deceit of some very clever people. And as is obvious, they are not very sharp to go lobbying to their advantage and retaliate for their survival. They are wronged and yet made to feel that they are the wrong-doers and black sheep of the organization and that they are responsible for every trouble caused in the vicinity of work to all and sundry in the first place. They are made to work like donkeys and even then when they are frustrated due to overworking, asked by their bosses innocently enough, I hope its not the less work which is causing you to turn your neck frequently around to observe useless things. Dont you think you should handle that other Big Project, too? This will engage you and divert your mind positively. At this point, completely broken down and the office donkey wants to clear his throat by singing one of the saddest blues or worse perhaps, entertain on the worst of jazz melodies or disharmonies. (Jazz music and I met twice and declared dislike for all times to come.) Work harassment and emotional torture leads the donkey to the extent that otherwise happy in his personal life, he feels like jumping off the tallest building within sight and finish this daily episode of Star Plus.

The donkey has one big flaw in him. He doesnt wear masks over his face. In fact, his own face is the only one that he is carrying and that also with difficulty amidst times of inflation, shameful workplace harassment and humiliation of his bosses, in spite of all his contributions with his potential in the past years. Bosses go party; donkey misses his family event, sometimes his own birthday party at home. By the time he reaches home, everyone is asleep in the drawing room premises. His bosses do Ziarat of the far off Mazaars in some remote areas of the country. He misses his daily religious observations. If he has some problems at home, like an appointment of his wife or child with a doctor, he is missing his work and making excuses to stay away from his work responsibilities. But if the similar problem arises to his boss, this is only human to be away, giving time to the family. After all, family is so important! Appreciation he gets none, criticism plenty! He can not come up with a reply, because if he opens his mouth, he is already wrong. So any argument stated by him is going to be entirely wrong from the scratch. He has no tongue, no eyes, only ears to take command, execute and leave. How much time, labor and pains does the executive take? Nobody cares, after all the donkey is there to work over time with or without his liking. He has 105 Celsius fever, but he is supposed to complete the task assigned to him yesterday. So here he is, sitting with half shut eyes, focusing on his monitor screen. Any flaws pointed out in the report made during Work sickness day, are for sure his mistake. He should not have eaten at the nearby Dhaba hotel in the first place to contract any infection. This is all, his fault, after all. Appraisal time! The donkey is happy; his file is taken during feedback session before giving raise. He has scored a good 89.5 and supposes that now his days shall change. But, when the salary of next month arrives, the donkeys annual increment amounts only, to 3 thousand. Sorry, no funds available with the organization. Be on time, work late, avoid family, be humiliated, lose all hopes of life, executing the impossible tasks, trouble monger, unintelligent, dutiful and yet dumb, grumpy and resentful for no reason, donkey dies every day. And when he finally does, another donkey is found. An intellectual screening, tough interviews and horrifying test, the next donkey is selected.

On the day of appointment, You will flourish here. Our organization is bounding towards success and good name in the market. Even a 200% appraisal raise is not out of question if you are a real hard worker. Bosses are humane and kind. You only need to meet deadlines, coordinate well with your colleagues, please your bosses with quality of your work, and be punctual and regular. Welcome on board!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Saima is a content writer at GEO TV Network (by Saima Akhtar)

They are real. They sit with you in a peaceful manner for almost 9 hours, 5 to 6 days a week. Your very own siblings can not stand your presences, even on weekends for few minutes, ever noticed? They remain with you when you are feeling down during work hours. They stand by you when, some outsider enters the office and says something against you. They may have had a brutal argument with you the day before, but thats an internal matter and can be dealt with, later. Trespassers can never dare to step onto your shared turf. They belong to diversified places, creeds, languages and cultures and even then they gel with you, perfectly. When I started writing this piece of work, some colleagues were of a different opinion. They are the people who think that, workplace is vicinity in which, lions and lambs are always at war, because survival of the fittest is the greatest of all concerns. They are right to some extent. But is it not very true for the family too? Do not we have fights with our own family members when, we live with in them, in the same place? Of course we do, and then reconcile and live happily ever after till the next time we quarrel again. I was nearly thirty when I entered the corporate world, after a long work background of over 9 years, in the teaching. I was intimidated right in the beginning of my career by my peers that I must not count on those individuals around, normally termed as colleagues. They were introduced as dangerous, opportunist, and selfish carnivores who were out there to tear, bite, damage, and destroy in their best self interest, if any. Initially, I was influenced and kept worrying about their very presence around me, conscious of what I ate, drank, did or said.

How long can you afford to be artificial against the people who are your acquaintances on a daily basis, with or without your liking? No matter how much you fake, your true identity discloses itself like a wrapper and, the insides of the packet lie open and exposed to every Seeing Eye. So for me, this idea of faking did not work. I eventually came out bubbly, enthusiastic and intense as I really am. I am not sure whether or not this works for anyone else or not, it did for me. Although the fact remains that I did have a brawl or two or may be few, with some of very sweet people, and all of us regretted it, later. The same people who had been difficult to handle for me, on initial stage of my career, proved useful and handy in tough times. They carried me along, making me learn new things, sharing my moments of bitterness, making me feel important on my special days, having walks, lunches and dinners together, opening up to concerns for each other and much more. They gave me treasure of memories to cherish for a lifetime. When we suffered in the face of no betterment as far as the career is concerned, we lamented and grumbled together, and celebrated our failures later. Success or no success as far as the career is concerned, my life has been a success. If you are reading this article, and I am able to put together all my feelings, emotions and memories in graceful manner, it is thanks to all my professional mentors, colleagues, supervisors and bosses. They knew how to polish the gem in me, if any, and bring out the best shine in me, in their own interest, combined with mine. Our interests became mutual: professional, emotional and mental growth, so that the organization could benefit from it, and simultaneously, I would grow stronger for more work, pressure and life in general. An unusual and rare combination of work mechanism and human compassion has taught me that, corporate world is not as bad as that, and is full of some companions, who are better than friends, in need. I somewhere had read a story and I believe that now. The story goes like this, that there were some friends who rubbed a piece of cheese under the nose of a man sleeping. When he woke up, he smelled bad odor everywhere he went and thought that the entire world was stinking. So if you think there are enemies out there, you must check under your nose. May be somebody has rubbed bad cheese under your nose, too. No robots, they are people and, people are good if you are good with them. Madiha Ishtiaque Sounds funny? Not Really. Right from the first job I

joined until the present job I own, I have tried my hands at many ways to irritate my boss real time. Found most of them having just the right intended effect, got show cause notices a couple of times. In fact I found, the tactics I try intentionally or unintentionally lead to only one end my boss frowning at me, irked in the worst possible ways, speechless at my mastering the divine art of driving him/her up the wall. An angry boss is like no one else, hurt, vulnerable and susceptible to the slightest provocation to anger. Here check out a few ways to serve your purpose best. 1) Mention him/her When shes around: Yes, it just turns them on! My colleague once spoke of her as a fat cow in a gaudy gown .Turned around for a look, and there she was standing. Tight lipped, glowing crimson , more swollena looming outburst of anger before we silently managed to slip away from under her nose. 2) Turn up late even after a warning: And by this I mean considerably late..about an hour or so. And that with a perfectly smiling face, as if the world is still the same even when you are 60 mins late..Act just normal and neat, and then check her out..look how shes turning red! 3) Give him/her work: Every time he/shes a free bee insisting that you work, and get into a verbal discussion with you, give her some work. Look disinterested at best, and ask him to email you what ever is required of you. And look as if you have tons to cover and have no time for her ramble. Check her from the corner of your eyes. Youll see a set of canines grinding. 4) Keep a check on his/her office timing: Yes, time to get even with him. Follow his tactic. Every time he comes late and looks bizarre, tell him how he was needed at work and how the world just turned upside down in his absence. And then ask him in that sarcastic tone, got stuck in traffic? Dont forget to raise your brow as you say so, and keep that cynical gaze fixed. And just see what miracle it does. 5) Dont answer his/her messages and calls: One of the tried and tested ways of vexing him real time bad. Every time youre out on a lunch break or at home, keep your phone on silent. Just dont answer! And when you face her the next time with him growling at you, make a poker face and tell him, your cell was on silent or you just forgot to carry it with you. 6) Deny any Extra work: And just when he woos you for some extra share of work on the same pay, bring your job description, and ask him to look for a clause

that says youve got to do what she she has asked you to. Bring it on the email, Cc HR. Heres an excellent opportunity to prove how overworked you are and are still the victim of being crushed under another pile. 7) Leave without telling him: Yes, this will put him on the brink of precipice in order to be shattered. Leave her/him a message once youve left and switch of your cell. You dont need to take permissions. Youre no slave after all. If theres an emergency youre entitled to leave unlike school going kids who need permissions and passes. What more!! Isnt this enough to piss him/her off and make your way out of the joblock. And if you're still inwrite a feature on an alien boss and post us that. (by Saima Akhtar) Your health is directly proportional to your professional, emotional and spiritual growth Growth of any kind is essential on a regular basis. A farmer plants a seed in the soil, and hopes to see it growing soon. We as human beings are of course far more than seeds. How come we stop growing on our roots and stop spreading our shoots over time? Human nature requires us to be distinguished and stand better than, all other beings and at every things, in our life. We are not expected to act as an average creature in this universe. On the contrary, the universe expects and waits for Us to conquer it. All adversities faced by the germinating seeds are huge for sure. Even then it wants to grow at all cost. Likewise, every human is put into certain hardships by nature to test and try his virtues of bravery, patience and hard work. It is up to us then to conquer all difficulties and climb the ladder of success by all means. There is no if in it; this is what we are born to do. The concept of growth is even more diverse. You are not expected to grow in only one or few areas of your life. You must grow in all directions, with all force and with all enthusiasm. This is about living life to its fullest once your first leaf raises its head in all its beauty against the opposing winds, rains and storms. This is the moment where the universe celebrates your ardor with you. Developing skills is a lifetime process and requires much effort and struggle on our part. In doing so, we lose sight of our health and life. This imbalance leads to a much-disturbed life than before. Stress and overworking always take their toil on us. The result is two faceted: one is the success in sight; the other is the

diminishing physical power. Moreover, during the process, any unnatural hindrances due to our personal indecision or circumstances breed disappointment and have a direct effect on our mental, physical and emotional health. If not carefully handled, this toil of failure can lead to the worst repercussions to be regretted later. Success is a combination of several constituents; a good muscle is one of the advantages that can play a very vital role in achieving it. The difficulty with most is this they do not count health to be as vital. Good health can show in strength of character, courage to take on challenges, and ability to be more original and creative than most others. In short, success is directly proportion to the magnitude of health. None of the two comes alone, if ever! Success brings much of the confidence that leads to a better mental and emotional well being; health can bring success covered in its folds. All intelligent people know it and apply this simple rule to achieve BIG! So next time if you forget it, you know that you are heading in the wrong direction and with wrong velocity. So slow down and take one step each at accomplishments while staying in shape. One inch towards success and one step into health is all it takes to be there. Way to go! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Saima is a content writer at GEO TV Network

by Ayesha Zia What are moods? For many, they are pendulums swinging between the extremes. A dash of happiness can swiftly shift to sharp pangs of pain. Contentment and peace just a while ago does not take long to turn into an adrenaline rush. No need to worry much, these eccentricities are only the characteristics of a normal human machine. However, if the pendulum shifts on the gloomier side of the extreme, is recurrent

and stays there longer than usual, it should definitely ring some emergency alarms, for that is a bit more than just a mood swing its depression. Characterized by intense sadness, feelings of futility that perhaps youre not wanted and are good for nothing type, and recluse your world to only a few inches ahead of your boundaries. The hallmark of depression is a depressive mood itself. Individuals experience prolonged mourning and feelings of dejection. Not only these general feelings but certain thoughts are also related o depressive reactions. Low energy and motivation levels make it difficult for a person to cope up with everyday situations. Work becomes burdenizing and it gets very difficult to make decisions. Induces negativity and pessimism in the patient. Striking behavioral changes are observed in the subjects. Some of them are neglecting cleanliness, reduced speech and body movements and inability to initiate any new activities. Societal withdrawal and decreased work productivity are dominant symptoms of depression. Other Physiological symptoms include loss of appetite and weight, people show disinterest in eating and food seems tasteless. The person may not have bowel movements for days at times. Insomnia and nightmares leave a person exhausted and tired during the day. Some depressed people show hpersomnia or excessive sleep, however for effective diagnosis, depression symptoms should be span for at least two weeks and should represent a change from the individual's typical attitude. CAUSES: Important explanations for depression include separation or loss of a loved one. And as the affection care and encouragement of that person is no longer there, it leads to recurrent episodes of depression. Interpretation of oneself as unworthy may lead to thinking patterns that reflect self-blame, self-criticism and exaggerated ideas of duty and responsibility. Depressed patients are said to have schemas that set them up for depression. Genetic constitution and social conditions cause certain individuals to have a predisposition or vulnerability to develop depression. Stress may act as a trigger to this predisposition especially when individuals lack resources to adjust to the depression strikes. Severe psychological stress, such as the death of a loved one, life threatening medical condition and inability to achieve major goals in life, often precedes the onset of depression. However, its not just social conditions but depression can also be caused by an absence of specific neurotransmitters at brain synapses. Abnormalities in regulation of hormones especially cortisol can also lead to depressive episodes. TREATMENT:

 Biological treatment consists of primarily controlling the level of neurotransmitters at brain synapses. Anti-depressant drugs are used to treat depression. They alter the re-uptake process of neurotransmitters. These drugs have side effects that begin with increased blood pressure, vomiting and muscle twitching and, if untreated result in intracranial bleeding followed by death. Such side effects are a major drawback of anti-depressant drugs, and thus careful monitoring is important. Another shortfall of antidepressant dugs is that they are somehow ineffective during the first two weeks of use, which is a serious concern, particularly where suicidal tendencies are at play. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is generally reserved for patients with severe unipolar depression. It consists of procedures that include applying a moderate electrical voltage to the person's brain for up to a half second. The patient's response to the voltage is a convulsion (seizure) lasting thirty to forty seconds, followed by a five to thirty minute coma. Psychological forms of treatment are used, interpersonal therapy is a short term, psychodynamic electric type of treatment for depression that targets the client' interpersonal relationships. Cognitive-behavioral therapy combines cognitive and behavioral strategies. It involves identification of negative, self-artificial thoughts (cognitions) that occur automatically, to note the connection between negative thoughts and resulting depression, identifying negative thoughts and replacing them with realistic interpretations. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Ayesha Zia is a student of Pscycology at University Of Karachi

By Saima Akhtar Growing old is natural, growing up is optional.? In our day, even old age can be made to wait, thanks to all scientific advancements of the century. Through the cosmetic miracles, though not an everlasting or economical solution in any way, youth can surely sustain for long. There is a much cheaper way for staying young indefinitely, that is, by being happy and lively. Aging is not just a process; it is a state of mind. The typical herd assumes and accepts old-hood, for no apparent reason, before it is time to do so. Aging mind is

much different a phenomenon. Young fellas with old minds are boycotted by the general public. A simple thumb-rule, dont act aged pointlessly. As the old saying goes, Age has no friend but the wrinkles of the mind, so is the way of the world. Do not see world, with the spectacles of the obsolete wit or through glassy walls. It shall bring all forms of wit, excitement and enjoyment, to an abrupt stop. Do not volunteer to slow down when, in reality you can still move on, be cheerful and of use. Stay juvenile, enjoy life, dont complain or find difficulty in adjusting your sails to the winds. This shall add life to your days and eventually add days to your life. Moderately, old chaps cannot see or feel, dripping rain from the other side of the glass. The young oldies behave in the similar manner. Graying hair and vague wrinkles may be treated, but an aging mind knows no cure. Majority of people develop dullness over time due to hostile circumstances. Whatever be the reason, there is always a choice to adapt it or not. Paying with number of days, for maturity is costly. Experience teaches us not to be sorry, but good-humored, along the way. In developed countries, even in sixties, the old age is rejected outright. We in developing countries come across, so many overly mature men and women in their forties, who wear light colored clothes, talk less, work and have no fun. Whatever cultural or social obligations be, it is only unfair to kill originality of an individual, leaving him confused and lifeless, for the rest of his life. Things are there for life, more than life is for things. Its better to age slowly for it gives us a better chance to stop and smell the roses by the roadside and celebrate life now. Philosophy can wait, life may not! Dont wait for the good times, when you wish to show the world what your true spark is. Your true nature is beautiful and deserves to shine now. May be this is exactly what, is amiss, in your side of the world. Age slowly, and live now you are the difference the world is awaiting for! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Saima is a content writer at GEO TV Network by Ayesha Zia To say, its only human to fear and be anxious. And everything stays perfectly "normal" until the phobia happens - not a Greek weapon but a word for fear . A strong, persistent and unwarranted fear of an

object or situation is what is called, a Phobia. Elevated levels of anxiety or panic attacks are witnessed when individual encounters the phobic stimulus. It leaves an individual distressed and agitated when attempts are made to avoid the object or situation of fear. Phobia can be of anything from heights, cats, pains, spiders, airplanes, blood, germs, darkness, diseases, animals, crowds, performance, strangers ,and even phobia of phobia - sounds funny? doesn't it, is nevertheless true. The preconceived notion that phobia is for life surely needs a check, that it can definitely be treated! But first, lets check out the conditions symptomatic of phobia: 1. Persistent, unrealistic fears of specific objects or situations 2. Exposure to feared stimulus triggers intense fear or panic attacks. 3.Presence of avoidance responses. 4.Diminution of anxiety when phobic stimulus is not confronted. Kinds Of Phobia: 1.Agoraphobia: intense fear of being in public places where escape or help may not be readily available. 2.Social phobia: intense fear of being judged or scrutinized in a social situation. 3.Specific phobia: intense fear of a specific object or situation. What causes such irrational fears? Psychological as well as biological explanations have been proposed that elucidate the reasons behind phobias: 1.Repression of fantasies, wishes, fears and thoughts not desirable for the society into the unconscious which are unacceptable for the patient as well as inadmissible in the society. Thus the person chooses a less threatening stimulus, replacing the original internal source with an external source. The person doesnt want to recognize the underlying real conflict. 2.Thoughts and behaviors exhibited by a person that may cause an intense fear. Such elements include portentous and distorted thinking. 3.Inheritance from close relatives, however evidences for the direct transmission of such disorders are not very strong. Treatment: 1.Anti-anxiety drugs especially Beta blocker drugs are usually used. They reduce increased heartbeat, trembling, and other symptoms associated with anxiety.

2.Behavioural methods serve as the most productive and effective measures These include exposure therapy in which a patient is exposed to the phobic situations and difficulty level is gradually increased. The role and demeanor of a therapist as well as the client-therapist relationship needs to be benevolent and affectionate, for it to turn out well. 3.Cognitive therapy also helps to a great extent. It works by co-relating with the cognitions and expectancies. Learning is important in this therapy. Problem solving skills are inculcated and anxiety inducing thoughts are identified. Negative thoughts are swapped with positive and constructive thoughts. 4.Coping skills, that include dealing with a bitter past, positive thinking, thinking logically, penning down one's thoughts and a healthy lifestyle, for anxiety are widely accepted to play an important role in overcoming the phobias and are mostly efficacious in treating them. Lead a phobia-free life!! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Ayesha Zia is a student of Pscycology at University Of Karachi

(by Dr. Anum Nizam) When was the last time you stood in front of the mirror to zap one of those zits? This morning? And even though the rest may look perfectly fine, one little pimple pushes you into depression. With the onset of puberty until the early twenties and in some cases, in late twenties as well, acne issues are a commonly witnessed phenomenon. And so when the young people need to have a boost of confidence and feel good about themselves, acne often leads them to feel otherwise. Impacts of acne are not just physical but psychological as well. Acne-ridden people usually feel less confident, agitated and may start avoiding social gatherings. Lets have a look at the three WH-questions; what is acne, what causes acne and how it can be prevented and treated. WHAT IS ACNE? Acne- a disease of hair follicles of the face and sometimes chest and back. It

triggers off as the oil/sebaceous glands in your skin are over stimulated, producing excessive sebum or oil. This oil then clogs the pores allowing bacteria to breed and swelling the follicle causing pimples, black heads and white heads. And even though there are several reasons for acne, a few of them happen to be very common. WHAT CAUSES ACNE? Lack of proper hygiene measures, which primarily include not taking showers after exercise or physical activity. Hence promoting sebum and dirt to combine together to cause pimples. Adolescence. It is when hormonal changes begin to take place prompting oil glands to produce excessive oil, predisposing to acne. Use of oil based cosmetics on a regular basis and not removing them properly blocks the pores, leading to acne. High stress levels may sometimes contribute to acne. This however still needs to be backed up with more medical evidence. Hereditary factor can be one cause of acne however it is only evidenced in extreme cases. How to Treat Acne?

Treating acne requires patience. After proper consultation with specialist, take antibiotics and continue them for as long they are prescribed. You may also opt for some home remedies like using old toothpaste but never pick or squeeze pimples as this may lead to scarring and make the marks stay longer. Benzoyl peroxide also helps unclog pores and reduces inflammation of the affected skin. Also, Alcohol and acetone are also used in combination in many products for oily skin types

Better prevented than cured!

Preventions: 1.Practice proper personal hygiene. 2.Wash your face twice or thrice daily or when ever you feel like it. 3.Touch your skin only when your hands are clean. 4.Take steam a couple of times a week to cleanse the pores. But dont forget to wash your face with cold water later to close the open pores or they become a portal for dirt. 5.Tie your hair fast and dont let them fall on your face 6.Make sure you take adequate sleep. 7.Reduce stress in your life. 8.Avoid oil-based makeup, and switch to water-based ones. And dont forget to remove them with mild cleansers and exfoliators. 9.Adapt eating proper, balanced healthy diet with foods rich in fibers, low in fats. Fruits and vegetables - excellent sources of vitamin A, C, E fits the requirement and are a must add in the diet. 10.And the last however most important is to drink plenty of water as it washes all the toxins and waste away. Fight Acne, but- with patience!

People who sleep more or fewer than seven hours a day, including naps, are increasing their risk for cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in the United States, a study published on Sunday shows. Sleeping fewer than five hours a day, including naps, more than doubles the risk of being diagnosed with angina, coronary heart disease, heart attack or stroke, the study conducted by researchers at West Virginia Universitys (WVU) faculty of medicine and published in the journal Sleep says. And sleeping more than seven hours also increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, it says. Study participants who said they slept nine hours or longer a day were one-and-a-half times more likely than seven-hour sleepers to develop cardiovascular disease, the study found. The most at-risk group was adults under 60 years of age who slept five hours or

lesser a night. They increased their risk of developing cardiovascular disease more than threefold compared to people who sleep seven hours. Women, who skimped on sleep, getting five hours or lesser a day, including naps, were more than two-and-a-half times as likely to develop cardiovascular disease. Short sleep duration was associated with angina, while both sleeping too little and sleeping too much were associated with heart attack and stroke, the study says. A separate study, also published in Sleep, showed that an occasional long lie-in can be beneficial for those who cant avoid getting too little sleep. In that study, David Dinges, who heads the sleep and chronobiology unit at the University of Pennsylvania school of medicine, found that 142 adults whose sleep was severely restricted for five days as it is for many people during the work week had slower reaction times and more trouble focusing. But after a night of recovery sleep, the sleep-deprived study participants alertness improved significantly, and the greatest improvements were seen in those who were allowed to spend 10 hours in bed after a week with just four hours sleep a night. An additional hour or two of sleep in the morning after a period of chronic partial sleep loss has genuine benefits for continued recovery of behavioral alertness, Dinges said. In the study about sleep and cardiovascular disease, researchers led by Anoop Shankar, associate professor at WVUs department of community medicine, analyzed data gathered in a national US study in 2005 on more than 30,000 adults. The results were adjusted for age, sex, race, whether the person smoked or drank, whether they were fat or slim, and whether they were active or a couch potato. And even when study participants with diabetes, high blood pressure or depression were excluded from the analysis, the strong association between too much or too little sleep and cardiovascular disease remained. Tobacco kills 274 Pakistanis every day while 5,000 smokers are admitted to hospitals in Pakistan every day, said medical experts at Islamabad seminar on

May 31. In the seminar on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day under the theme Hazards of Tobacco, speakers informed the gathering that 55 percent of Pakistani households had at least one smoker. Besides, 1,200 Pakistani children between six and 15 years of age begin smoking every day. Quoting findings of a survey, they said that ratio between young urban male and female smokers had shrunk from 4:1 in 1996 to 2:1 in 2003. They said it was alarming to note that Sheesha smokers were growing in numbers, as certain myths attached to it made it more popular among the youth of today. They said the reality was that nicotine in one cigarette of unflavoured tobacco was equal to 70 regular cigarettes, while a flavored cigarette was equal to 20 cigarettes. Experts said that tobacco consumption was one of the major causes of mortality. Global figures show that tobacco kills one person in seven seconds, they informed the audience. It was informed that use of tobacco led to chronic bronchitis, emphysema, lung cancer, TB and cardiac arrest. In addition quitting smoking could dramatically improve chronic illnesses like diabetes, asthma or kidney failure, they elaborated.

As the fashion and music industries of the country gain more importance, concern has been shown about the lack of adequate publicity and fear among event managers due to fragile security situation, said a report. Many sponsors have pulled out their investments from many events scheduled this year. Recently, the blast that took place at the Peerus Caf during a ghazal night has made the message of the extremist forces clear that they are not in favour of cultural expansion, as they want to impose their own ideology. Speaking at the Ajoka Theatre in connection with the banning of their play Burqavaganza, Faizan Peerzada said there was a dearth of cultural events in Pakistan and that only Afghanistan had participated in the recent Sufi Music Festival this year. Countries including Syria, Algeria, Egypt and a few others had backed out from the event due to security reasons. The already small cultural industry has been targeted by people that promote an extreme agenda in society, he added.

Faizan said that 22,000 people had come to Pakistan in the past 19 years for different events, which had also contributed to the economy. The government should acknowledge this fact and provide adequate security arrangements and backing to people working for the promotion of art and culture, he added. Even when the cultural capital of the country is going through a cold phase, painters have shown persistency in showing their talent as a number of art exhibitions continue to be held all over the city. During this time of cultural uneasiness, the five-day theatre festival organised by the Punjab Lok Rahs at the Ali Institute of Education also received great feedback from spectators. The entertainment-starved crowds of Lahore were of the view that such events should be held at the national level and awards should be given to young performers. On the lighter side, women in Lahore do not have to travel to Karachi to add style to their wardrobes anymore, as the Fashion Pakistan Forum launched its official platform in Lahore by the name of Fashion Pakistan Lounge. The lounge gives space to designers registered with either the Karachi Fashion Council or Lahore Fashion Council. However, the country lacks a united fashion forum, a mother body, which could bring together and manage all the little fashion industries from across the country. Fashion designer, Ather Ali Hafeez said, The idea of having a national fashion body was ideal but the existing bodies are not being properly managed. There is a power struggle going on in the industry and the new comers hit by the celebrity syndrome. Everyone wants to get famous and rich overnight and are neglecting the crux of what fashion is, which is generating new ideas and coming up with new designs.

Did you know a brain hemorrhage is a type of stroke? This can result from an artery in a person's brain bursting and this causes a bleeding in surrounding tissues. When bleeding occurs, it actually kills the brain cells. Did you know that brain hemorrhages are also called cerebral hemorrhages, intracerebral hemorrhages, or intracranial hemorrhages? These two type hemorrhages account for approximately 13% of strokes.

*Causes of bleeding in the brain: The causes for bleeding in the brain and other risk factors can cause a person to have a brain hemorrhages. Here are several factors that can cause a brain hemorrhage: (1) A brain tumor (2) Liver disease can also cause an increased bleeding in the brain. (3) Amyloid angiopathy is another cause for bleeding in the brain. This is usually caused by an abnormality of the blood vessel walls, which occurs normally in older people. A person may suffer from a small, unnoticed bleeds before it causes a larger one. (4) Hemophilia and sickle cell anemia can also cause a blood or bleeding disorder because it can decrease levels of blood platelets. (5) A person can also be born with a weakness in their blood vessels when they are born and they're never diagnose unless the person has symptoms. (6) A head trauma resulting from an injury can also cause bleeding in the brain for people under-50. (7) A weakening in a blood vessel wall causing it to swell and burst and bleed into the brain, thus, resulting in a stroke. This is known as an aneurysm. (8) A person who has high blood pressure is also at risk of suffering a brain hemorrhage, because if it is left untreated, it weakens the persons blood vessel walls and can cause a brain hemorrhage. Symptoms: The symptoms of a person's brain hemorrhage can often vary because of the bleeding, the amount of tissue affected, and the severity of the bleeding within the brain. A person's symptoms may come on immediately or progressively get worse. The symptoms for taking the individuals to an emergency room are: loss balance, a sudden severe headache, loss of coordination, seizures with no previous history of seizures, loss of motor skills, weakness occurring in the arms and legs, difficulty writing or reading, nausea or vomiting, decreased alertness; lethargy, difficulty swallowing, changes in their vision, tingling or numbness and difficulty in speaking or understanding the person's speech.

Sindh Education Department recently decided that there would be no restriction on uniforms in schools and colleges of the province, while ajrak could be made an optional part of school uniform, if desired so by the education institutes. The decision if implemented, while opposed by the city council, will surely create a class difference among the students. A uniform is a symbol of social unity and discipline in

institutions ending discrimination on the basis of students status. Ek hi saf main kharay ho gay Mehmood o Ayaz will lose its real meaning. In Pakistani society, where majority of people belong to middle class, it is hard to make both ends meet due to inflation for many families. Uniform is a kind of protection for them to hide their status (not because they are ashamed of it) in an educational institute, so that they cant be disheartened or become the victim of taunt by their companions (as it is a common practice in colleges). The restriction will create a psychological status shock for many and also give rise to inferiority complex. Influence of modernism can be sky high. Students cant be distinguished at public places or even in their college making bunking even easier for them. One cant understand the logic behind this decision and how helpful it could be to raise educational standards. Perhaps the educational department could explain it well. Our Educational system needs an overhaul not the uniforms. Uniforms should be mandatory and retained for colleges and schools. Pakistans youths are losing confidence in the future and a mere 15 per cent believe that the country is heading in the right direction, while 72 per cent feel economically worse off than a year ago. Only 10 per cent expect an improvement in the near future. The political parties in the country have a lot to be ashamed about given that only one third of the youth believes that democracy is the best form of governance. Pakistans political class is generally viewed as selfish and corrupt. In contrast to this, 60 per cent expressed confidence in the armed forces. This is even more disheartening when coupled with the widespread detachment from the political process: A mere two per cent are members of a political party, while only 39 per cent voted in the last election. In fact, half are not on the voters list. This does not bode well for the future of the political system, and hence for Pakistan itself. These and other similarly ominous findings were established in a comprehensive and exhaustive nation-wide survey carried out recently by the British Council in Pakistan. While only 15 per cent of the youth in Pakistan believe that the country is heading in the right direction, it also establishes that the next generation loves Pakistan, despite the countrys failings. It is also civic minded, with nearly half believing

educations primary purpose is to learn to be a good citizen or to gain a broad understanding of the world. The demographic boom in Pakistan is best encapsulated by the projection that there will be a rise of 85 million people in the next 20 years, which, as the report would put it, is equivalent to five cities the size of Karachi. This increase of 44 per cent is double of the worlds average. Great emphasis is laid on the youth of the country given that half its citizens are under twenty; two thirds have yet to reach their thirtieth birthday. The age group of the study population was 18-29, out of which one-forth of the respondents had never attended an education institution. It is of note that for girls and rural respondents, this proportion rose to over one-third, while half of Balochistans youth had no education at all. The young demographic make-up of Pakistan is, on the other hand, also viewed as a potential positive for the country. With so many young adults, Pakistan has a window during which it can achieve a massive surge in its development, creating wealth that can be reinvested for the future. It is shown that 92 per cent of the respondents viewed education as the way out of Pakistans troubles. However, the report warns that the time to act on this is now. The window of opportunity will close around 2045, by which time the society will be ageing rapidly. During this period, therefore, investment in the next generation will have a huge impact on Pakistans long term prospects. Who could have imagined that in this land of the pure and the pious, not a few hundred but a staggering 7,546 women were raped in a mere 24month span between 2007-2009, coming to a shocking rate of 314 rapes every month. Interior ministry documents placed before the National Assembly revealed this chilling statistic and also indicated the alarming trend of the number climbing in 2008. Notwithstanding the dawn of historical political, judicial and religious revolutionary resurgence, the Punjab province topped the list of women rape cases as a total of 5,903 women were reportedly raped in Punjab. While giving details the relevant ministry did not tell the House about any action taken against those who had committed this crime against the women at such a large scale. The figure placed before the house revealed a sad aspect of these criminal cases as in 2007, a total of 2,355 rape cases were registered in the country with Punjab at

the top with 1,742, Sindh 197, NWFP 154, Balochistan 33, NAs 21, AJK 32, ICT 76. In 2008, a total of 2,794 cases of rape were reported from all over the country. The cases of rape in Punjab saw a huge rise if compared to the previous year as in Punjab alone the figure went up to 2,202 in 2008 from 1,742 in 2007 - a raise of 460 new cases over the last year. So far in 2009, 1,959 rape cases have already been reported in Punjab. In Sindh too the cases of rape went up to 255 in 2008 from 197 in 2007. In NWFP 255, Balochistan 19, NA 6, AJK 38, ICT 118 a rise of 42 cases over the previous year. The trend of rape cases continued to be on the higher side in 2009 as so far a total of 2,497 had been registered with Punjab 1,959 cases of rape, 221 in Sindh, NWFP 118, Balochistan 27, NAs 10, AJK 56 and ICT 106. The sources said the actual number of rape cases would be much higher as these figures were compiled a few months back. Having a healthy lifestyle together with good fashion statement is what everyone wishes. However, it might not always be feasible because of budget issues. But worry no more; here are some tips that can get you the clothes you want and stay fashionable without spending much. Its best that you take care of the clothes and shoes you have now so that you can use them for a longer period of time. Hand-wash your favorite clothes if possible and dry clean which needed dry cleaning. Just a bit of a fashion tip, though used clothes might be considered out of fashion, you can mix them up with other accessories such as belt and necklaces to create a whole new style. Do not give in to impulsive shopping. Yes, you might really like the dress you saw on the department store that is way too much for your budget. Learn to control yourself or else, you might get in trouble. If you cant do this, stay away for some time from fashion stores or you can just leave your credit cards at home. It always pays to smile and greet the people around you, especially the salesgirl. Befriend the girls at the counter and at the stalls. You dont have to get their e-mail addresses or phone numbers. Just make an effort to talk to them and be jolly when you meet them. Who knows? They might give you tips on when the store would have a sale or when the prices go down. Some of the opportunities that could really save us from spending much while

shopping are buy-one-take-one or buy-two-get-one-free promos. This does not mean that whenever you see a sale like this, you would stop and buy them immediately. Rather, share this opportunity with a friend and when you both decided that you like it, buy it together. This way, you got what you wanted, made your friend happy and both of you saved money. Be sharp in getting information about the stores, which are going on a sale. Before purchasing a product, think first. If you dont need it immediately, ask if that product would be on sale soon. If yes, then just be patient and wait until the price goes down. Pakistan is ranked 141 among 182 countries on the UNs 2009 Human Development Index (HDI), which measures achievements in terms of life expectancy, educational attainment and adjusted real income. The HDI forms part of the Human Development Report 2009 a flagship study produced annually by the UN Development Programme (UNDP). It was released in Bangkok and at the UN headquarters in New York on Sunday. Pakistan was ranked 138 in 2008 and 136 in 2007. Meanwhile, India has been ranked at 134 on the HDI, six points down from last years 128. Rankings of other South Asian countries are: Bangladesh 146 (140 in 2008), Sri Lanka 102 (99 in 2008), Maldives 95 (100 in 2008), Nepal 146 (142 in 2006) and Bhutan 132 (135 in 2008). Norway has retained its status as the world's most desirable country in which to live, according to United Nations data released on Monday, which ranks subSaharan African states afflicted by war and HIV/Aids as the least attractive places. Data collected prior to the global economic crisis showed people in Norway, Australia and Iceland had the best living standards, while Niger, Afghanistan and Sierra Leone scored worst in terms of human development. Several Asian countries were ranked in the 'very high human development' category. Japan, staying in 10th, was the only Asian country in the top 10. Singapore ranked 23rd, swapping places with Hong Kong at 24th. South Korea and Brunei came in at 26th and 30th respectively, retaining their previous positions. China made the biggest strides in improving the well-being of its citizens, moving

up seven places on the list to rank as the 92nd most developed country. The United States dropped one spot to 13th. Education Policy-2009 has finally been approved and unveiled. The plan envisages radical change in the education sector with public spending rising steeply to 7 percent of GDP by 2015. It says education will be free in state-owned schools up to matriculation, but high schools will be upgraded to include classes XI and XII. The literacy rate is forecast to go up from 55 percent, which makes Pakistan 160th in the

global roll call of enlightenment, to 85 percent by 2015. Primary schools are to be upgraded from class V to middle level, usually meaning class VIII. There will be a uniform curriculum for state-owned and private schools; and the madrassas will be persuaded to include useful subjects in their syllabi to enable madrassa graduates to get normal employment. Madrassa degrees, needless to say, will be equalised. Schoolteachers who have less than a graduate (education) degree will be phased out and only graduates will be allowed to teach. Teachers salaries will be enhanced to make the job attractive and not let the sector be a refuge of the bottom-quarter of the employable manpower in the country. Islamiat and Pakistan Studies both heavily overlapping owing to equation of Pakistan with religion have already been announced. No study has officially been done on the impact of these subjects on a society that is becoming more and more divided. But the subjects have been reinforced on the assumption that disunity is not because of crude indoctrination, but because there is not enough of it. There is nothing wrong in announcing upbeat development plans. Taking the expenditure on education from the current 2 percent of GDP to over six times more not going to mean anything unless the provinces gear up for the job. As it is, even the 2 percent given to the provinces doesnt get spent. Pakistan is notorious for returning education allocations or eating them up, especially when some provinces have to lean on overdrafts to run their budgets. Upgrading primary schools to middle level and transplanting classes XI and XII from colleges to high schools is going to entail a lot of spending and no one doubts that the increase of up to 7 percent of the GDP will take care of it. Yet it is difficult to ignore the status quo in the four provinces. The biggest flaw in the primary education system is the unwillingness to allow girls to be educated. Female literacy in Pakistan is shocking and compares badly with that of Bangladesh. The outline plan revealed on Wednesday doesnt talk of the problem, but the truth is that Pakistan will not reap the incalculable dividend of civilisation as long as it keeps its girls away from education and doesnt thus raise the quality of the mother in the country. If people would just do four things -- engage in regular physical activity, eat a healthy diet, not smoke and avoid becoming obese -- they could slash their risk of diabetes, heart attack, stroke or cancer by 80%, a new report has found. But less than 10% of the 23,153 people in the multiyear study -- published in Mondays Archives of Internal Medicine -- actually lived their lives this way. "The study has such a simple

straightforward focus on making the point that prevention works in preventing serious disease," said Dr. J. Leonard Lichtenfeld, deputy chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society. "What really has been difficult is trying to figure out how to get people to take notice of the message and engage in healthy behaviors." Healthy factors included never smoking; engaging in physical activity for at least 3 1/2 hours each week; eating a diet low in red meat and high in fruits and vegetables; and having a body mass index (BMI) lower than 30. (A person with a BMI of 30 or above is classed as obese.). Only about 9% of participants practiced all four healthy lifestyle choices, four percent practiced none and roughly 35% followed two of the healthy practices. Researchers reviewed participants' medical records about eight years later, on average, looking for diabetes, heart attacks, strokes or cancer. People who followed all four healthy practices were at far lower risk compared with people who followed none: 93% lower risk for diabetes, 81% for a heart attack, 50% for a stroke and 36% for cancer. The scientists also found that each healthy factor reduced chronic disease risk. Listening to the right kind of music can slow the heart and lower blood pressure, a study has revealed. Rousing operatic music full of crescendos and decrescendos is best and could help stroke rehabilitation, say the authors. Music is already used holistically at the bedside in many hospitals. Not only is it cheap and easy to administer, music has discernable physical effects on the body as well as mood, journal reports. Music with faster tempos increases breathing, heart rate and blood pressure, while slower-pace music does the reverse. Music induces a continuous, dynamic - and to some extent predictable - change in the cardiovascular system. What is your experience and observation?