// Dr. Farrukh A. Chishtie Mental health is far more than the absence of mental illness. This cover story explores how positive psychology, trauma-informed care, occupational therapy, nature-based healing and spirituality together offer a holistic vision for promoting resilience, purpose and wellbeing in Pakistan. By shifting our focus from simply treating illness to cultivating human strengths and flourishing, we can build healthier individuals, stronger communities and a mo

// Sajina Limbu As summer slowly moves toward autumn, many families in Pakistan begin preparing for changing weather, school routines, household repairs, and the coming smog season. September is therefore an important month to think about how our homes, streets, and communities can become cleaner, healthier, and more climate-resilient. Eco-living does not require luxury products or expensive technologies. It begins with simple daily habits that protect the environment while

// Mehreen Khan Guava, commonly known as amrood, is one of Pakistan's most familiar and loved fruits. Enjoyed fresh with a sprinkle of salt or chaat masala, sliced into fruit salads, blended into drinks or transformed into chutneys and preserves, guava combines an unmistakable fragrance and flavour with an impressive nutritional profile. Because it is widely cultivated and relatively affordable when in season, guava/amrood is also an excellent example of how locally available

// Dr. A.A. Quraishy Wild animals have amazing abilities such as speed, strength, agility, and endurance. These qualities help them survive and live successfully in nature. Each animal is specially adapted to its environment and has unique skills. These abilities make the animal world fascinating and full of wonder. I can not furnish a better and more familiar example in grace, speed and endurance than the famous darlings of the Olympics — who wave and fly in space as if they

// Sultan Kiani Public schools play a vital role in fostering academic, social, and personal development. While many factors contribute to making a school a good place to learn, safety should always come first. Educational institutions face a range of public safety hazards and security threats that must be effectively managed to minimize risks. As schools reopen after the long summer holidays, we identify some common hazards and offer practical safety measures to help keep

// Zahrah Nasir Those of you with small gardens, small terraces or just a simple balcony, may sit and dream of growing enough fruit and vegetables to offset the family budget. But even though this may not be possible, there are edibles feasible for you to grow. Creating an herb garden, chemical-free of course, is the ideal way to add zing and zest to favorite dishes and can lift them out of being ‘ordinary’ into ‘deliciously sublime.’ A vast majority of culinary herbs are per

// Shahida Kausar Farooq In today’s Pakistan, childhood is changing before our eyes. It is no longer unusual to see a child as young as 10 scrolling through TikTok, watching YouTube Shorts, or trying to create the perfect Instagram profile. What was once seen mainly as teenage entertainment has now become part of the everyday lives of much younger children. Technology has brought enormous opportunities. Children can learn from some of the best teachers around the world, ex

// Afia Salam The history of environmental development has been gradual, however, with climate change impacts accelerating towards increasing adaptation and protection of its ecosystems and environment. For a geographically diverse country like Pakistan, hosting more than 10 major and minor eco and agroecological zones, one would expect that environmental matters would take center stage. However, Geography is not the sole determinant of the priority list especially for a cou

// Dr. Farrukh A. Chishtie Pakistan stands at a defining moment in its history. While our nation has overcome countless political, economic and security challenges, another threat has steadily emerged over recent decades that transcends provincial boundaries, political affiliations and generations. Climate change has become one of the greatest threats to Pakistan's future. How do we build a lasting defense against this existential threat? It is changing the way our rivers flo

// Zahrah Nasir Summer on its way out and winter yet to come, this is the time of year when the garden takes matters into its own sensible hands and begins to feed itself, organically of course. Those of you with deciduous trees and shrubs in your gardens will know exactly what I am talking about, as those prettily colored autumn leaves dance in the breeze. Anytime now, deciduous trees and shrubs will begin to shed the leaves they have so proudly worn since early last spring.

// Mehreen Khan In Pakistan, dried pomegranate seeds, commonly known as anardana, have been used for centuries as both a culinary ingredient and a traditional household remedy. Their pleasantly sour flavour makes them a favourite addition to chutneys, curries, vegetable dishes, lentils, kebabs, fruit chaat and spice blends such as chaat masala. Beyond their distinctive taste, anardana has long been appreciated for supporting digestion and adding natural flavour without relyin

// Sultan Kiani June 30, 2026, began with tragedy as a building collapse in Lahore killed 14 children, drawing international media attention. The incident occurred when the roof of a tuition center caved in during construction work, trapping several students beneath the debris. Initial investigations revealed that the collapse was caused by negligence, as an additional floor was being illegally constructed on an aging and unstable structure without basic safety measures in pl

// Dr. A.A. Quraishy Monkeys and apes may not speak like humans, but they have their own unique ways of communicating. They use sounds, facial expressions, and body movements to express feelings, warn others of danger, and maintain order within their groups. The signals that animals use cannot exactly be compared to human languages. Whether you speak English, French or Japanese depends upon where you were born, and which languages you have learnt since. However, if you cannot

// Sajina Limbu Climate change may seem like a challenge that only governments and scientists can solve, but many of the most effective solutions begin at home. Every family can reduce waste, conserve water, plant indigenous trees, and create greener surroundings. When millions of households adopt small sustainable habits, they collectively become a powerful Green Defense for Pakistan. Eco-living is not about expensive technology or complicated lifestyle changes. It is about

// Jillian Ambrose From Nevada to Manchester, developers are trialling innovative solutions to clean energy’s biggest challenge. In the deserts of the United Arab Emirates a sprawling clean energy project, stretching across an area roughly the size of 12,600 football fields, will play host to a breakthrough allowing solar energy to power the equivalent of half a million homes through the night. The Crescent Dunes project in the Nevada desert harnesses the sun’s power to heat

// Fiona Harvey in Bonn, and Adam Morton Third of world’s energy needs should come from electricity by 2035, says Murat Kurum, as priorities set out for this year’s UN climate summit. The technology to electrify transport and heating is well established, in the form of electric vehicles and heat pumps, but take-up has been patchy. Photograph: Tang Ming Tung/Getty Images The world should aim to meet a third of its energy needs from electricity within a decade to cut greenhouse

// Dr. Farrukh A. Chishtie World Environment Day 2026 arrived with a message Pakistan cannot afford to treat as ceremonial. This year’s global focus is climate action, with Azerbaijan hosting the international commemoration in Baku. The campaign asks us to notice the urgent signals the Earth is sending, and to ask what signals humanity will send back through its choices. For Pakistan, this question is not distant or abstract. It is already being answered in our homes, farms,

// Sajina Limbu Pakistan’s summer is no longer only about changing wardrobes. It is about surviving heat with comfort, dignity, and responsibility. As temperatures rise, electricity bills increase, water becomes stressed, and outdoor life becomes harder, the clothes we wear can either help us adapt or make the season more difficult. Sustainable clothing is not about expensive fashion. In Pakistan, it can begin with simple choices: breathable fabrics, modest consumption, longe

// Dr. A.A. Quraishy Efficiency and grace are the hallmarks of this amazing bird that manages to outlast most of its peers through use of skills that are matchless. Although the winged community all over the globe is endowed with curious and at times, odd, or quizzical behavior, like the lyre bird of Australia where the mama buries her eggs in sand, instead of incubating them under her wings, the Fisherman is a unique bird altogether. In the case I wish to talk about, our j

// Sultan Kiani Herbal supplements, homeopathy, acupuncture, and chiropractic care are some of the most common complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practices used worldwide. Proponents claim that alternative therapies are very safe and may be as effective as conventional medical treatments. Nevertheless, critics challenge these claims because of safety concerns and limited scientific evidence. This article explores the risks associated with these treatment methods and