Maybe. . .Never the twain shall meet. . .

By Fatimah Mazhar

Ever since I joined this department, I was hopeful that I would learn new things and meet new people, and I did, you know. But one thing that always has bothered me is that despite the numerous attempts to associate with my classmates, I have always felt a gap (rather a “vacuum”) between them and my GROUP (as a fellow BLOG, which uncovers truth, mentioned).

‘Sahafionline’ isn’t trying to get away with anything. Yes, one of the group members did copy material from a particular website, a well-revealed, shouted-out-on-the-loudspeaker issue this has been. But I would again, through this platform, want to make it clear that the issue (as the administrator of the ‘truth uncovering’ blog has propagated to be an intended attempt of plagiarism) has been discussed with our major teacher Ma’am Sadia Mehmood and solved. She was immediately notified. Repeat, immediately notified.

It’s a pitiable sight to read harsh articles relating to the incident that has been solved for good. It seems like a “LOBBY” has started working against Sahafionline. All those classmates, who share a vacuum with us…are now executing a behavior that was just a part of my imagination. I only used to think that we will never be able to connect with each other, and now I am being forced to think that both of us, our honorable classmates and Sahafionline, would never reach to any agreement.

About the post in which various “qaseeday”, (Urdu for admiration), were written for Ma’am Sadia Mehmood, I would like to clear: it’s quite obvious that Ma’am will certainly not grade us higher even if we write a 786 pages book in her admiration and then write a sequel to it. After all, she a university teacher, and knows how to grade students. That article was just an expression of joy over our blog’s “tareef” just like our class fellow from the ‘truth uncovered’ blog published his viewpoint.

My request to my class fellows is to calm down. It certainly does not reflect a good image of them by creating propaganda against this blog. We apologized as soon as we found out that the post was copied.  The interesting part is that some of my class fellows from the ‘truth uncovered’ blog notified us of the incident. We are and will be, thankful to them indeed. When the problem was pointed out, it was looked into and solved. The end. Finished. No one got hurt people!!!

And if it is a retraction you want, please raise the issue in front of the concerned teacher. It would be more…what’s the word… ‘Professional’.

In the end, I would also like to mention that the members of Sahafionline are regular visitors of the two “FELLOW BLOGS”. But somehow Sahafionline is not frequently visited by them. I wonder why. Ma’am Sadia, you asked us to pin point the problems at the university, and trust me, this is a BIG problem.

When we are a class, we are supposed to act like one; I am really disappointed with the kind of reactions our blog is receiving and that too for no reason at all. I again remind our ‘truth uncovering’ blog administrator to investigate the matter and then play the blame game. In fact, in my post, I have reacted to an “Individual’s” action, and not criticized the entire blog. Think about it Mr. Administrator. Think about it.

Smoke-Kings. . !

By Kanwal Naz.

I wonder why there are no 'no smoking boards' in our University for alerting the smoke-kings of our Campus who are not only unfaithful to their own health but are also dangerous for others around them ..

In educational institutes these kind of warnings and boards should be used.

The favourite places of students for smoking at UoK is the PG canteen,backyards of Departments and several other places..

Almost 99% of the people of our country suffers from asthma(condition that affects the air passages of lungs).The biggest cause of this disease is inhalation of smoke which ultimately results in damaging of lungs and several other allergies..Smokers are the people who alongwith shortening their own life span,becomes a source of creating problems for others as well who unconciously inhale the smoke generated by the smokers around them.
.

Its very unfortunate that at present time,smokers mostly are youngsters less than 20 years of age..The reasons are unawareness,bad companies and depression..Among all these reasons the most common is depression..Researches have shown that highly depressed youngsters including male and female both, becomes drug addicts in no time,as soon as thier depression starts but if they get proper councelling ,or if given proper attention and awareness they can prevent themselves from drug addiction and other bad habbits..

Beside this if parents keep a check on their children regularly ,they can very easily save their children with this terrible world of 'DRUGS' but the unconcerned nature of the people of our society is the major source of all these problems..
The University students are addicted to smoking not after they get admiited in Universities and start considering themselves as adults but they become habbitual of such things at the very start of their teenage i.e from schools.

Once I was buying my luch from the canteen and a person passes by with a cigarette in his hand,polluting the atmosphere around me,I went to him and said 'sir,can you please do me favour and move away from here as I cannot tolerate the smoke coming out of the poisonous stick you are holding.' oh I am so sorry for the inconvienience ,he replied and threw his ciagrette on the floor .


By this incident you can figure out the positivity and the humble nature of our youngsters that the guy not only moved away from that place but also threw his ciagrette.This was just an example of an indivisual concern and issue but if we start giving awareness to such people on a large scale, that how they create problems for others around them,they will definitely realise the sitaution and would probably think of giving up..

University alongwith doing so much for the youth should also look upon the issue of giving awareness to them about the harmfulness of these addictions.Beside this, 'Smoking' inside the University should be strictly prohibbited and 'No Smoking boards' should be used for such purposes..But inspite of making possible efforts to stop this thing,cigarettes are being sold at every canteen inside the Campus and students are not at all worried about the strictness for such things as there is no such rule regarding this issue

..

The smokers should realize the fact that their life is on its way to become an ash just like the ciagrete becomes as the time passes..
At the same time I think the addicted people needs a helping hand and our support and guidance.If only, we start giving them a bit knowlegde and try to help them out in giving up this addiction,the problems can surely be reduced and educational institues should also play their part in this regard.

I will surely do my bit,..will you???

Do not force us please. . .

By Sameen Meher

The students of Karachi University come from different countries, provinces and religion. In view of these differences, some like minded people tend to form their political parties in order to support and help their kind. Though it’s not necessary to make these political groups, still it’s alright if this process is carried out peacefully. But peace, is something that is the least concern of these people who set up these students political platforms.

Here I would like to mention some facts about a very famous political group whose female activists are “haunting” the arts girls’ common room. It’s a matter of perspective. Some might think that they are doing a great job, but to me, it’s not a very pleasant sight when I see them criticizing girls, who are not like them, for no reason at all.

It’s good to know that there are some girls who work for a party just because they want to serve their religion. But it certainly doesn’t give them the authority to impose their beliefs on anyone. For instance, you are not allowed to laugh loudly inside the common room, no ipods or mp3 players are allowed. Cell phone chatters are gazed upon with laser eyes. And once you are there and if any spiritual “guftugu” is going on. You must attend it whether you have a class or not, have any interest or not and sometimes, whether you belong to the religion or not. Those laser eyes will slice you into halves if you sit idly and don’t attend their “guftugu”.

I know that this particular political party organizes a grand book fair annually, which is good thing by the way, but why are their activists act so unnaturally when it comes to their principles?

Everybody has a right to their ethics and morals, and no one has the right, I repeat, no one has the right to look down upon the ones who don’t follow your values. It’s not necessary to harass a girl, who wears a ‘hijab’ to join your group. Giving her unlimited calls and persuading her to join your so-called ‘noble cause’ otherwise she is going to suffer in her afterlife.

These spiritual ghosts have made it impossible for any ordinary girl to enter the common room. Same practices are being carried around the Zoology and Chemistry departments. It’s a shame how some people chant “read think learn” and do the exact opposite in their daily lives.

Who let the dogs out???

By Fatimah Mazhar

Dogs are mostly found around the streets, slums, gardens, in front of butcher shops and mostly they are kept as pets. But have you ever heard about dogs residing at a university? If you are a dog lover and you want an admission in the Mass communication department, then Karachi University is the place to be.

The Mass Communication building is situated in a comparatively deserted area as compared to the other departments at the university. Numerous ferns and bushes with tons of grass growing wild make the ideal habitat for stray dogs. When I first had to walk all the way down to my department, I wasn’t aware of the fact that on my way I would have to face three untamed dogs (who looked as if they were hungry for days) and that too on my own. With not a single human being to be spotted on the road, I was almost about to faint when a student van stopped by and the girls inside offered me a lift. They really saved my neck…and I mean it literally. Ever since that day, I never dared to venture out on that road again…at least not alone.

As time passed by, I learnt that those dogs belong here more than I do. It was perfectly natural of them to feel threatened of new “beings” roaming about their territory. I guess they have been living around my department for years. Two years have passed and their population seems to be growing with time.

To all those aspiring students of Mass Communication I have one word of advice: If you hate dogs, you might settle down with time. But if you are afraid of dogs, think twice before you apply. Maybe by the time you arrive, they would become twenty from twelve.

To the authorities, as usual who are numb to everything outside their cozy rooms, it is my desperate plea to take notice of these vicious animals roaming freely about the campus. Dogs don’t like company. It’s better to track them down and move them some place else, before they harm any student. (After all they are four-legged carnivores having fangs not mucus-secreting amphibians). Wake up!

Constant vigilance!!! (Especially for these dogs)

WE APOLOGIZE.

By the Administrator of  SahafiOnline.


Few of our readers rightly pointed out that the matter written in one of our published posts was copied from a site. We apologize for the error and want to make it clear that it was not an attempt of intended plagiarism. Sahafionline wants to assure you all that this will definitely not happen again.

 Thank you for your concerns.

Cafe World. . .

By Sehar Dar.

What name comes into your mind when you think of an institution, where almost 24000 students are being served with various edibles at reasonable prices? The answer could not be other than the canteens of University of Karachi.

Regardless of whether you are a student or a teacher, if you want to have any sort of good food during the University timings then no place is more attractive than "KU Main Cafeteria"c (famous as PG within the campus). Surrounded by trees, a number of canteens are present in this impressive environment providing a variety of food to the students at reasonable rates.

According to an opinion of Sumbul Badar,a student from the Department of Micro-biology proper seating arrangement is needed as most of the students have no place to sit and have to stand while eating which seems quite odd.

Nonetheless, with no specific canteen for every department, students flock to the ones closest to their department at times for just food and at others to chill out or to exchange notes and study materials. Girl students in particular are very fond of the samosas and rolls and take dozen or two home in a raw form to serve at home with tea.

Whether it is the low cost samosas of the PG canteen, Jabbar bhai’s chat, Majiday hotel's daal Sufi's Biryaani or daal with paratha and , if one studies at the University of Karachi then these are the things that should never be missed out.. The food items including "Chinese Rice", "Biryani", "Chaat", "Chicken roll", "Fries" and famous "Aloo Samosa" etc. are usually available at PG. The famous "Samosa" and "Chaat" are specially liked by the students due to their splendid and delicious taste

It has been two years since Professor Dr Abuzar Wajidi has been made head of the team that monitors the canteens. Though he is unaware of the actual prices of food or the number of canteens on the university campus he claims that his team is competent and is taking care of the affair pretty well.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Dr Pirzada Qasim, maintains that he understood that the number of tuck shops on the campus are not sufficient for huge number of students of the University.

He shows his concern about the tuck shops and said "We are trying to improve not only the quality of the food but also the ambiance of the canteens".
The VC also  maintains that "The quality of food and prices are monitored and are looked after, and if someone tries to defy the rules, then he is penalised, fined or his licence is cancelled".

However, few students complained about the poor hygienic condition. Also few students said that though all the food items are sold here at a very reasonable and cheap prices but cleanliness of the place is usually neglected here..

However, the complains regarding the quality of food and hygienic conditions are something that should be considered by keeping a proper check by the KU administration.

But the very important thing is that these cafeterias, canteens and specially "Dhabaaz" are contributing a memorable part to the students' lives. The rush, the trees, and long lines of students buying food are something the students of KU want to remember.

My hats off to 'HER'. . .

By Sana Batool Naqvi.

When we (Members of Sahafionline) started working on Blog,our nervousness was at its peak..and we had two reasons behind this ..

First reason.!..We all were new to the world of 'Blog'
Second reason.!The group members except few did not have the comfort zone that allows to talk freely to each other...

Keeping in mind these major problems,we felt nervous ,troubled and fearful..and realized how difficult a team work can be .

Our biggest concern was to please our teacher who assigned us 'THE' task, as all of us are aware of her capacity for knowlegde and understanding and her ability to think abstractly and profoundly..

We still know that we can't reach upto the level of her knowlegde and there is still so much for us to learn if we want to please and amuse her with our abilities of writing.

For this blog assignment our class has been divided into three groups each having nine to ten members ..few days back our teacher made us aware of the reality that our blog group(Sahafionline) is by far at the third position and is surely going to get the lowest marks..after a prolonged discussion we realized the reason behind our slow progress and our weaknesses..

Being the administrater of my blog group I felt bad ,not because of the criticism by her side,but because of the feeling that I could'nt do my job the way she wanted me to do.
She told me about issues that I should look into . I kept all those points in my mind that she highlighted.. .
With her guidance ,I discussed those issues with all my group members and asked them for suggestions as well as complains ...surprisingly all of them gave me a wonderful response and assured me of their support and co-operation..
Few lines for my team members..

Thank you for the good times.

The days you filled with pleasure

Thank you for those memories

And for kindness,I'll always treasure.



Since that day ,all the members co-operated like never before..all of them kept asking me about their turns,discussed their articles with me and assist me with my job.I got constructive ideas ,suggestions and plans from all the members.

Thank you all for all the things

That mean so much to me,

For concern and understanding ,

You give abundantly..

It was not our group discussion,ideas,plans or anything but it was the crticism  of our teacher that gave us the energy and enthusiasm to work for our progress.

We took her disappointment as a challenge and worked even harder to reach upto the mark of her satisfaction..

And now,we feel that our blog has gained a little bit of her attention and interest as she whole heartedly encouraged our members on their interesting articles and ideas behind them..All this made us feel that we have almost won her heart..

She motivated our team members to write and work even better.She explained the strategy of how to work in a group,how to manage things when we have so many brains and ideas that ultimately leads to arguements..
.
I would like to write a few lines for our repected teacher..

We really appreciate,

how you made us learn thro' fun

Thank you so very much,

for what you have said and done..

For the first time in my life I have realized the importance of criticism by a teacher and how their dissappointment can let  you move ahead with new spirits and challenges and ultimately helps you acheieve your goals..

My hats off to our wonderful ....Ma'am Saadia.

HEJ developed treatment of a disease.

By Zoobia Noor.

Researchers belonging to the University of Karachi (KU) Hussein Ebrahim Jamal (HEJ) Research Institute of Chemistry have developed a herbal ointment for the treatment of a common skin disease, leishmaniasis.

HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry Director Prof Dr M Iqbal Choudhary described the study on leishmaniasis as the first of its kind in the region. This research was conducted in collaboration with Jinnah Post Graduate Medical College Dermatology Department Head Dr Azam Samdani and Dermatologist and Larkana Leprosy Unit In-charge Dr Farooq Soomro.


Leishmaniasis is an infectious skin disease that looks like a wound and is caused by the parasite, leishmania. The disease is transmitted through the bite of sand files usually active in the evening and night. These flies breed in dense vegetation and caves or burrows of small rodents. The infection due to the parasite shows on the skin and the disease usually shows on the hands, feet and face, said Research Officer .

Cutaneous (skin) leishmaniasis is most common in Pakistan and is seen in the people of Balochistan, upper Sindh and northern mountainous areas, mostly in the winter. This disease is caused by a different species of leishmania, including leishmania major and leishmania tropica. In 2001, the biggest outbreak of this disease was seen in districts of Larkana, Sukkur and Dadu.


The treatment of the disease involves the drug pentavelant antimonials but as it has severe side effects as well as the fact that the parasite is becoming resistant to the drug is limiting its usefulness.
Administering the medicine via an injection is painful and the drug is expensive too besides it has side effects, whereas a herbal ointment extracted from garlic bulbs and different plant species has little to no side effects and can be easily applied to the patient's skin.


Sameen , a researcher maintained that five years of research have shown that this is the cheapest treatment, which all patients can afford.

During the primary study, when the herbal ointment was applied to 200 patients suffering from skin leishmaniasis, 150 patients responded positively. This disease can happen to people of all ages but it is usually common in the elderly.

Leishmaniasis affects the internal organs of the body including the spleen, liver and bone marrow. Visceral leishmaniasis is the second most prevalent type of leishmaniasis in Pakistan after cutaneous leishmaniasis," she further said. This disease is more common in rural areas while the parasites may also be spread through blood transfusions and sharing contaminated needles.

People who have cutaneous leishmaniasis have one or more sores on their skin. These sores can change their size and can become larger over time, while some of the sores are covered by a scab. These sores may be painful or painless. In some cases glands also form near the sores.
This herbal oinment do not have any side effects..