Gandhi's iconic glasses fetch $340,000

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

A pair of gold plated glasses belonging to Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the famous anti-colonial leader from India, left in a Bristol auction house's letterbox, has sold for £260,000 ($340,000). The item had been dropped off in an envelope in late July, Gulf Today reported.

Earlier this month, East Bristol Auctions estimated the glasses would be sold for around £10,000 to £15,000. However, they have now gone for £260,000. 

The auction house posted a video on social media of the moment the glasses were sold for that price. 

"We found them just four weeks ago in our letterbox, left there by a gentleman whose uncle had been given them by Gandhi himself. An incredible result for an incredible item! Thanks to all those who bid,” they acknowledged.

Andrew Stowe, an auctioneer, had explained earlier this month how his Bristol auction house had come across a pair of the assassinated independence leader's glasses. 

He revealed that a man had dropped them off in their letterbox on July 31 but staff only picked them up when they came back into work on August 3.

Rotarians advised to avoid red-tapism in dealing with journalists

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

A live webinar of Rotary International, held on August 22, highlighted the role of journalists in publicizing the various events and one of the speakers advised the fellow Rotarians to avoid red-tapism in dealing with professional newsmen if the idea was to get mileage for the various events and projects of their organization.

“It’s my personal request to the Rotary leaders of our district in particular to be polite and humble when dealing with journalists. Cultivating relationship is not a bad idea. But please don’t be rude or engage them in red-tapism, which is also against the spirit of Rotary,” Syed Khalid Mahmood, himself an eminent media professional besides being an active Rotarian, observed in his speech during the webinar titled ‘Promoting, Building and Enhancing the Image of Rotary’ and organized by Rotary Club of Karachi Darakhshan. 

“There’s absolutely no doubt about it that we need to build powerful campaigns from time to time to show and tell the masses what Rotary really is. We have to keep reminding them that we are a group of people that unites to work for good and actually rolls up our sleeves and do meaningful projects to help our communities,” he added. 

“Being a part and parcel of the editorial team at the largest media group of Pakistan for decades, I know exactly how challenging and demanding it is for the various organizations and institutions of different sizes and statures to be in the news on a regular basis,” Khalid Mahmood opined. 

“Those with greater public relation acumen or transparent track record manage to get their news in more frequently than others while in some cases haughty, arrogant or rude attitude of some individuals result in the killing of the otherwise newsworthy events which is surely a setback to the organization they lead or represent,” he reckoned. 

“At the outset it must be kept in our mind that the newspaper or the media organization is under no compulsion to publish any particular news item. Just as the visa officer at any embassy or high commission has the authority to reject or accept applications, similarly the working journalists also have a discretionary power what to cover and what not to cover on a given day, depending on their priorities,” he explained. 

“You have the example of a couple of Past District Governors of our District in whose tenure Rotary was in the news most often. And they appear in headline news even today whenever they get involved in any activity, Rotary or otherwise,” he pointed out. 

“The District leaders as well as the Club leaders should not forget the fact that the mileage given to their events through the courtesy of journalists bring multiple benefits to Rotary. You should make greater efforts to have your activities reported by newspapers and news channels as often as possible because the memory of public is short. We need to keep reminding them about our presence,” Khalid Mahmood emphasized. 

“Last but not the least, please don’t live under the illusion that your job is finished by posting your club activities on Facebook page or simply by updating your WhatsApp status with a picture of Rotary event. I am afraid, you will have to come out of your comfort zone to achieve the cherished goals,” he concluded.

Pakistan, China agree to international participation in CPEC

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

A number of important topics were discussed and agreed upon during the foreign ministers' level meeting held between Pakistan and China at Hannan, China, on August 21. 

The two sides will continue to firmly advance the construction of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), ensure timely completion of those projects under construction, focus on economic and social development, job creation and improvement of people’s livelihood, and further strengthen cooperation in Specialized Economic Zones. 

They will also be extending cooperation in industrial relocation, science and technology, medical and health, human resources training, poverty alleviation, and agriculture with the aim to continuously unleash the great potential of CPEC to make it a hub of regional connectivity. 

Both sides expressed satisfaction on agreements reached on recent mega energy projects and look forward to convening the 10th JCC meeting at the earliest possible date to promote the CPEC to make positive contributions to the high-quality construction of BRI. 

The two sides reaffirmed the principle of wide consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits in building CPEC, and welcomed the international community to join in the CPEC construction on the basis of consensus to achieve shared development.

Ways to tackle maternal death highlighted

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

A study by Aga Khan University (AKU) researchers has suggested ways to reduce the burden of a leading cause of maternal death and disease in Pakistan, pre-eclampsia, a pregnancy-related disorder linked to high blood pressure.

Up to a quarter of all deaths of pregnant women in the country are caused by high blood pressure. Yet, there is little awareness among the public and some healthcare providers of the importance of monitoring blood pressure as part of antenatal care practices. 

“There is no word for pre-eclampsia in prominent regional languages like Sindhi. Unlike other childbirth complications, signs of pre-eclampsia cannot be identified easily which limits the chances of early detection and leaves many pregnant women vulnerable to its dangerous complications,” Dr Rahat Qureshi, the study’s co-principal investigator in Pakistan and an associate professor at the AKU, remarked. 

The findings of the CLIP, Community-Level Interventions for Pre-eclampsia, Pakistan study published in The Lancet suggested that community health workers could play an important role in tackling delays in triaging women, providing initial treatment and in ensuring transport to a health facility. 

The study saw lady health workers (LHWs) in Matiari and Hyderabad visit over 35,000 women over a three-year period.

LHWs asked mothers in the intervention arm about a variety of symptoms related to pre-eclampsia and also measured their blood pressure and oxygen saturation levels on the spot.

This information was then entered into a smartphone-based mobile health application allowing a quick assessment of the risk of severe pre-eclampsia.

If warnings signs were noted, LHWs were trained to provide prompt treatment by providing anti-hypertensive tablets and/or by administering magnesium sulfate. They also created awareness about antenatal care seeking and birth preparedness during pregnancy and referred at-risk mothers to nearby hospitals.

The trial demonstrated that the LHWs could use technology to provide accurate referral advice to communities within their homes.

The analysis showed that when there were enough LHWs to provide care there were fewer deaths of mothers, fewer stillbirths and fewer deaths of newborns.

The number of LHWs should be sufficient to ensure at least 8 antenatal care visits to help reduce the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, the researchers added.

The findings also supported the World Health Organization’s recommendation of the benefits of regular antenatal visits to lower the risk of pregnancy-related complications.

The researchers noted that improvements were needed in the quality of care offered at facilities and the availability of key commodities in order to reduce the incidence of women dying during their pregnancy or immediately after giving birth.

“The findings of the CLIP Pakistan study once again reinforce the need to work on multiple fronts to address the burden of maternal and newborn mortality. Addressing this challenge through well-trained LHWs linked to quality care in our referral facilities is critically important in our quest to reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths,” AKU’s Professor Zulfiqar A Bhutta, a co-principal investigator of the Pakistan study, observed.

The objectives of the study were in line with global efforts to achieve targets under goal 3 of the sustainable development goals, ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages, which calls for special efforts to reduce preventable deaths of mothers and newborns by 2030.

Dr Sana Sadiq Sheikh and Dr Zahra Hoodbhoy were co-investigators on the CLIP Pakistan study. The Pakistan study was conducted in partnership with researchers from the University of British Columbia, King’s College London and the Centre for Global Child Health at the Hospital For Sick Children in Toronto. The global CLIP study spanned over 70,000 women in Pakistan, India and Mozambique.

Mir Hazil Bizenjo passes away

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Veteran politician and chief of the National Party, Senator Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo, having served as a federal minister in the past, passed away at a private hospital of Karachi on August 20. 

According to details, the late Senator, who hailed from Balochistan, was suffering from liver cancer. He was shifted to Karachi where he breathed his last in a private hospital. He was 62.

His death was widely condoled. The President of Pakistan, Dr Arif Alvi, while expressing condolences with the bereaved family, said that late Bizenjo will always be remembered for the cause of politics and nationhood. 

Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief of the Army Staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, also expressed grief and extended heartfelt condolences to the Bizenjo family.

Muharram moon sighted, Ashura on Aug 30

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Muharram-ul-Haram moon has been sighted on August 20, chief of the Ruat-e-Hilal Committee, Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rahman declared. 

The first of Muharram will fall on August 21 while Ashura, the tenth of Muharram, be observed on August 30, Mufti Muneeb notified. 

With the sighting of moon on August 20, it has been confirmed that the Islamic Hijri New Year 1442 will now commence on August 21 in this part of the world.

Heavy rains inundate, frustrate Lahore

By Asma Hassan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The heavy monsoon rains, as was being forecast, have lashed Lahore and other cities of Punjab. Life has generally become miserable for people in many areas. 

In Lahore, the rain had started around midnight and lasted for about eight hours on August 20. 

As feared, the heavy rains became the cause of discomfort and inconvenience for the residents of the metropolis. 

Life became difficult even in the posh areas which were also inundated by rain water. Many roads turned into canals and rivers which made commuting hazardous. 

The rains have destroyed the routine life and the traffic flow has been greatly affected. The supply of electricity has also been disrupted in the hot and humid weather. 

The disruption of electricity in particular has caused considerable mental distress for the people of Lahore.

The students as well as the parents have been frustrated by the frequent power breakdowns which prevented them from attending their online classes.

As the educational institutions throughout the country have been prompted to engage into online teaching, because the campuses are closed, electricity has become the main necessity for taking online classes.

With the colossal problems caused by the rains, people have forgotten to enjoy the pleasant moments which are generally associated with it.

There was a time when people waited eagerly for the rainy weather for enjoyment but the miseries caused by rains in the recent times have compelled people to feel scared instead.

It’s being hoped that the concerned authorities will take preemptive and precautionary measures as more rain is being forecast during the next few days.

The government departments must take actions to save people from embarrassment and torture due to monsoon rains. They should arrange for the equipment like suction pumps to drain out rainwater which will enable the traffic running smoothly on roads.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi arrives Beijing

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, has arrived Beijing on August 20 for a two-day official visit to China. 

At the Beijing Airport, the Foreign Minister was welcomed by Ambassador Moin-ul-Haque besides other senior Pakistani and Chinese officials. 

Shah Mahmood Qureshi will meet his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, and hold talks to be focused on various fields including various projects under the second phase of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

New track for KCR within four months

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Federal Railways Minister, Shaikh Rashid Ahmed, has announced that the new track for the much talked about Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) will be laid within four months. 

Addressing a press conference the Railways Minister pointed out that the Mainline 1 (ML-1) project, being implemented under the auspices of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), was a very significant one and, after its implementation, the Pakistan Railways will enter into a modern era. 

To a political question, Shaikh Rashid, known for his farsightedness, asserted that the present government will complete its constitutional tenure of five years.

CCTV camera mounted atop police vans to monitor security

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Karachi Police has prepared elaborate plan to ensure foolproof security for the month of Muharram.

In this connection, 10 police mobiles equipped with state of the art CCTV cameras would be deployed to monitor law and order situation in Karachi. 

These CCTV cameras can capture images from 360 degree security strength will help improved surveillance task.