Monsoon remedies for itchy feet

By: Asma Qayyum With the rapid pace of modern life, productivity and time management have become vital skills for students, professionals, and individuals alike. With increasing responsibilities and constant distractions, managing time effectively is the key to achieving success. Productivity refers to the ability to complete tasks effectively by making the best use of time, energy, and resources. On the other hand, time management is the process of planning and organizing how time is spent on different activities to accomplish goals efficiently. The greatest benefit of effective time management is increased efficiency. People who plan their day and prioritize their most important tasks are more likely to meet deadlines, stay productive, and produce higher-quality work. It also helps reduce stress by preventing last-minute pressure and allowing people to complete their tasks in a calm and organized manner. For example, students who follow a regular study schedule usually perform better in examinations than those who rely on last-minute preparation. Despite these benefits, several factors reduce productivity, including procrastination, excessive use of social media, poor planning, and a lack of clear goals. These habits waste precious time and make it difficult to focus on essential responsibilities. However, with the right approach, these challenges can be overcome through self-discipline and proper planning. There are several ways to improve productivity, such as creating a daily to-do list, avoiding unnecessary distractions, setting realistic goals, completing the most important tasks first, taking short breaks, following a regular routine, and managing time effectively. Research highlights the importance of effective time management. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), planning tasks and managing time can help reduce stress and improve overall well-being. Similarly, educational research by Pan et al. (2011) found that strong time management skills are directly associated with higher study engagement and greater achievement of academic goals. In conclusion, productivity and time management are not just useful skills but essential habits for success. By managing time wisely and staying focused on priorities, individuals can accomplish more, reduce stress, and create opportunities for personal and professional growth. Every second is valuable, and learning to manage time effectively is one of the best investments anyone can make in their future.

By Saif Awan   Water is a tremendous blessing—a truth best understood by those for whom it remains a rare commodity even in this modern era. Across Pakistan, including several regions in Punjab, safe drinking water is still inaccessible to many. Local residents are often forced to travel miles just to fulfill their basic water needs. Even in Karachi, the country’s economic hub, clean drinking water remains scarce. Access to clean water is a fundamental necessity, fully appreciated only by those who yearn for it or those who truly grasp its importance. Among basic amenities, safe drinking water holds the utmost priority. Clean water directly impacts not only human health but also education, the economy, the environment, and the overall quality of life. In Punjab, several regions still lack access to safe drinking water. Settlement clusters in Southern Punjab, Cholistan, Thal, and the foothills of Koh-e-Suleman have historically faced a severe water crisis. For decades, millions of residents in these areas have been forced to consume groundwater that contains levels of salts, arsenic, fluoride, and other hazardous contaminants far exceeding international safety limits. Consequently, gastrointestinal, liver, kidney, skin, and bone diseases are widespread, while children’s physical development is severely compromised. To ensure the public has access to safe, high-quality drinking water, Chief Minister of Punjab Maryam Nawaz has launched the **”Chief Minister Clean Water Program.”** The Punjab government has allocated PKR 8 billion for this initiative in the current fiscal year’s budget. Under this program, 5,600 water filtration plants are being installed across various regions of Punjab. All these filtration plants will undergo digital geo-tagging to facilitate continuous performance evaluation and real-time monitoring. This project is far more than a routine development scheme; it is a vital public health, social welfare, and human dignity initiative aimed at bringing clean water to regions that have lacked this basic facility for years. In several districts of Punjab, poor groundwater quality has been a critical concern for decades. High levels of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), arsenic, fluoride, and nitrates not only affect the taste of water but also inflict long-term adverse health effects. In the first phase of the Chief Minister Clean Water Program, areas facing the most acute water shortages were selected, specifically in Khushab, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rahim Yar Khan, and Bahawalnagar. State-of-the-art water bottling plants have been established in these districts, where water undergoes multi-stage purification in accordance with international standards. This purified water is then filled into 19-liter bottles and distributed to citizens free of cost. This initiative is especially transformative for families who previously had to travel several kilometers daily to fetch water or were forced to consume contaminated water. The Punjab Saaf Pani Authority has deployed cutting-edge, internationally imported machinery for the project. Each plant features an advanced multi-stage purification system combined with rigorous laboratory testing to ensure that every drop delivered meets World Health Organization (WHO) standards. A single plant has the capacity to fill approximately 150 bottles per hour. Operating for just ten hours a day, one plant can cater to thousands of families daily. Alongside this, an advanced management system has been established to monitor plant efficiency, water quality, and the supply chain to ensure an uninterrupted supply of clean water to citizens. A standout feature of this program is that the water bottling plants are powered by **Solar Energy**. This initiative will significantly reduce electricity costs while contributing to environmental conservation, carbon footprint reduction, and the realization of global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Consequently, experts regard this project not merely as a water delivery scheme, but as a comprehensive strategy integrating health, environmental protection, and sustainable development. Another key aspect of the initiative is its tailored design to accommodate elderly citizens, women, and persons with disabilities who cannot carry or fetch water from distant sources. Large water bottles will be delivered to designated distribution points, allowing residents to collect clean water easily. Additional distribution centers will be established in proportion to population density in each district to maximize public benefit. The selection of the four initial districts—Dera Ghazi Khan, Khushab, Rahim Yar Khan, and Bahawalnagar—was not coincidental, but based on scientific and technical assessments. Groundwater in these regions has long been deemed unfit for human consumption. In many areas, TDS levels far exceed global standards, while the presence of hazardous elements such as arsenic, fluoride, and nitrates remains a constant concern. The Chief Minister Clean Water Program is projected to benefit over 29 million citizens in the coming years. Initial results have been highly encouraging, and the government plans to phase this model into other districts, ensuring every citizen across the province gains access to safe, quality drinking water. If the project maintains its current momentum and standard, it will evolve from a government scheme into a benchmark model for public health, social welfare, and sustainable development in Punjab. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s “Chief Minister Clean Water Program” is a direct effort to translate this vision into reality. By delivering quality drinking water to millions in remote and underdeveloped areas, its impact will extend well beyond healthcare to encompass education, the economy, the environment, and overall living standards. The true success of any public project lies not in its announcement, but in its long-term outcomes. If the program continues to maintain transparency, quality, and steady expansion, it holds the potential to become a role model for safe water delivery across Punjab and all of Pakistan. If every drop of clean water protects a family from illness, enables a child to pursue an education in good health, relieves a mother from the grueling task of fetching water from afar, and affords an elderly person a dignified life—then this is not merely a development project, but the beginning of a genuine transformation in human lives.

By Sumaiya Azeem Behind every road accident statistic is a name, a family, a dream that never came true. The next name doesn’t have to be someone we know—but only if we take responsibility. Road accidents do not happen by chance; they happen because of preventable mistakes. Saving lives is a shared responsibility. Road safety is not just about following traffic rules, it is about protecting human lives. Every day in Pakistan, we hear about road accidents on the news. A bike crash near a school, a bus overturned on the highway, and a child hit while crossing the road—these aren’t just headlines. They are the fathers who won’t come back, students whose exams will never be taken, and futures cut short. Roads connect people, communities, and economies. They allow students to reach school, workers to reach their workplace, and families to travel from one place to another. However, road accidents have become one of the leading causes of death and injury across the world, and unsafe road behavior has turned roads into a major global safety challenge. Every day, thousands of people lose their lives or suffer serious injuries; it also causes permanent disability and leaves families with lifelong conditions. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 1.19 million people die every year due to road traffic crashes, while 20 to 30 million people suffer non-fatal injuries, many of which result in permanent disability. Road accidents are a serious public health and economic issue. The WHO report shows that more than 90% of traffic accidents occur in low- and middle-income countries. These accidents cause enormous financial losses. Medical expenses, vehicle damage, loss of productivity, and long-term disability create a heavy burden on families. There are several major causes of road accidents. Overspeeding is one of the leading causes of serious road accidents. When vehicles move at high speeds, drivers have less time to react to sudden dangers such as pedestrians crossing, vehicles stopping suddenly, or obstacles on the road. It also increases the severity of injuries during a crash. The use of mobile phones while driving has also become a growing danger. Texting, making calls, or scrolling on social media can cause more accidents. Responsible drivers must keep their full attention on the roads and avoid unnecessary distractions. In addition, driving after consuming alcohol or drugs seriously affects judgment. An impaired driver may not realize the danger in time or may make risky decisions that endanger others. Strict laws and public awareness are necessary to prevent such behavior. Ignoring traffic signals, unsafe overtaking, driving on the wrong side of the road, and failing to give way are other common causes of crashes. Traffic rules are designed to protect everyone; following them is a responsibility, not merely a legal requirement. Moreover, one mistake by one person creates a ripple effect that impacts everyone on the road. A road accident doesn’t just hurt one person. It breaks a family, blocks traffic for hours, burdens hospitals, and wastes national resources. A helmet, a seatbelt, or a 10-second wait at a red light can save lives. Apart from this, everyone has a role to play: Drivers have the biggest role. They must wear seatbelts, avoid using phones while driving, follow speed limits, and obey traffic signals. Riders, especially motorcyclists, are very vulnerable. They should always wear helmets, avoid rash driving, and use indicators, which also helps them stay visible. Pedestrians also need to be careful. A pedestrian is anyone walking on foot. They should use footpaths and zebra crossings, look both ways before crossing, and avoid distractions like headphones on busy roads. Pakistan faces significant road safety challenges due to rapid population growth, an increasing number of vehicles, unsafe driving practices, and weak enforcement. Improving road safety requires better roads, stronger law enforcement, and public awareness. The problem can be solved by following traffic rules, raising awareness, building better road infrastructure, and utilizing strict law enforcement to help prevent accidents. In short, if drivers drive carefully, riders stay alert, pedestrians walk safely, and the community supports traffic rules, we can make our roads much safer. Road safety is not the duty of one person or one department; it is a responsibility shared by everyone. Governments must provide safe infrastructure, and citizens must make responsible choices. A moment of carelessness can destroy a family, while a moment of responsibility can save a life. By respecting traffic rules and promoting awareness, we can create safer roads for ourselves and future generations. Every journey should end safely, and every single person has a role in making it possible.