Category: HEALTH

Educate a Woman, Save a Life: Breast Cancer Awareness Must Become a National Priority in Pakistan

Nadeem Ali
Pink ribbon representing breast cancer awareness and women's health in Pakistan

(By Dr. Hira Yousuf Khan, Consultant Medical Oncologist, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, United Kingdom, and Professor Ahmad Nadeem Abbasi, Radiation Oncologist, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi) Breast cancer awareness must extend beyond October and become a year-round national priority in Pakistan. Medical experts are urging families, communities and healthcare institutions to encourage early diagnosis, challenge social stigma and help women seek medical care without fear or embarrassment. Every October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month brings pink campaigns, fundraising events and public messages encouraging women to recognise breast symptoms and…

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Why Too Little Body Fat Can Be Unhealthy?

Nadeem Ali

Too Little Body Fat can affect hormones, temperature control and other essential functions, experts warn. Body fat often gets a bad reputation. Diet culture promotes ways to lose it. Some food products also focus on low-fat choices. Social media has added to the pressure. Many fitness posts promote extremely lean bodies and encourage people to become “shredded.” However, health experts warn that extreme fat loss can create serious health problems. Too much body fat can increase the risk of obesity and other health conditions. But too little body fat can…

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Indus Waters Treaty Cannot Be Suspended Unilaterally, Says Tarar

Kainat R
The Indus River flowing through Pakistan, a symbol of the Indus Waters Treaty 1960 dispute between Pakistan and India

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Wednesday that Pakistan will not let India weaponise water. He maintained that the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) cannot be changed, revoked or held in abeyance by one side alone. Tarar called the treaty an instrument of peace and stability for the region. His comments come as the Indus Waters Treaty suspended by India in 2025 remains at the centre of tensions between the two countries. Background: The Indus Waters Treaty 1960 The Indus Waters Treaty 1960 was signed after years of negotiations facilitated by…

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Faisalabad Wheat Cultivation Target Set at 1.834 Million Acres

Kainat R
Farmer using a Super Seeder to sow wheat in a field in Faisalabad division, Punjab, as part of the wheat cultivation target

Authorities have set a Faisalabad wheat target of 1.834 million acres for the coming season. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Divisional Wheat Committee chaired by Commissioner Dr Imran Hamid Sheikh. Officials were told to complete sowing by November 20, and to ensure that seed, fertiliser and canal water reach farmers on time. The plan aims to make Faisalabad the leading division for wheat farming in Punjab. Background: Why Faisalabad Wheat Cultivation Matters Wheat is Pakistan’s main staple crop, and Punjab grows most of it. Faisalabad division,…

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Teen Skincare: Experts Warn Against Complex Glass Skin Routines

Nadeem Ali

Teen skincare trends driven by social media are encouraging young people to follow complicated “glass skin” routines, but dermatologists say most teenagers need only a simple skincare routine to maintain healthy skin. Social media is increasingly shaping teen skincare habits, with influencers and “Get Ready With Me” (GRWM) videos promoting flawless complexions and lengthy routines involving multiple serums, masks, exfoliants and active ingredients. Dermatologists warn that teenagers may be putting unnecessary stress on their skin by copying routines designed for adults or following advice from social media influencers instead of…

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Micropractices: Simple Ways to Support Mood and Wellbeing

Staff report

Simple Micropractices Could Help Improve Mood and Wellbeing LONDON: People looking for simple ways to support their wellbeing may not need to commit large amounts of time to traditional self-care routines. Researchers and wellbeing experts are increasingly examining short activities that can be incorporated into everyday life. These brief activities, sometimes referred to as “micropractices,” can take only a few moments and are designed to provide a quick mental or emotional reset. One example is laughter yoga, an activity that combines breathing exercises with deliberately produced laughter. During a session…

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Touching Soil and Trees May Boost Skin Microbes and Immune Health

Nadeem Ali

LONDON: Getting your hands dirty by touching soil, moss, grass and trees may offer more than a connection with nature. Research suggests that regular contact with natural materials can increase the diversity of microbes living on the skin and may also support the immune system. For many people, a walk in the park is mainly a chance to enjoy fresh air, greenery, flowers and birdsong. But researchers say the health benefits of spending time outdoors may be greater when people physically interact with nature rather than simply looking at it.…

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SZMCH Fire: Blaze Erupts in Operation Theatre During Surgery in Rahim Yar Khan

Kainat R
SZMCH fire breaks out in operation theatre at Sheikh Zayed Medical College Hospital Rahim Yar Khan

A sudden SZMCH fire broke out inside the operating theatre of Sheikh Zayed Medical College Hospital in Rahim Yar Khan on Saturday morning, sending panic through patients and staff during an ongoing surgical procedure. The blaze started in the electrical wiring and quickly filled the theatre with smoke. Doctors halted the operation at once and moved the patient to safety. No injuries or deaths have been reported so far. Background: SZMCH Hospital and Its Role in the Region Sheikh Zayed Medical College Hospital, widely known as SZMCH, is the largest…

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Punjab Launches Major Hospital Safety Reforms After PIMS Tragedy

Kainat R
Firefighters and hospital staff outside a Punjab government hospital during a fire-safety inspection

LAHORE: The Punjab government has initiated multiple major steps at public-sector hospitals across the province to prevent a recurrence of the incident that claimed the lives of 14 infants at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has ordered an urgent review of fire-safety arrangements, and the Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) has directed both public and private hospitals to tighten emergency preparedness. The push marks one of the fastest healthcare policy responses seen in Punjab in recent years, and it is being watched closely…

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Netherlands Reports First West Nile Virus Death

Nadeem Ali

AMSTERDAM: A person has died in a Dutch hospital after catching West Nile virus in the Netherlands, the country’s public health institute RIVM said on Wednesday. The death comes days after health officials reported the first West Nile virus infection caught inside the Netherlands since 2020. RIVM said last week that three people had likely caught the virus inside the country. Officials have not confirmed whether the person who died was one of those three patients. The health agency has not released further details about the death. West Nile Virus…

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