Impact of ‘Open Data’ and its Effectiveness forPakistan Social Issues: Learning fromthe UK Experience

Developmental projects are essential ingredients of prosperity and well-being. Every nation has to ensure that her people are living in a perfect and safe sociopolitical environment. However, it varies from region to region and place to place. UK as a country is a big economy which is capable of giving its people the type of security they need. For this purpose, various types of strategies have been emphasized which enable the government to look for the benefit of its people. Open data system is one of these important developments which have been initiated by the UK government to provide huge access to databases. It improves their learning and knowledge, and gives the opportunity to think ‘out of box’. It also enables people to polish their learning skills and take things out of their resources and utilize them fully. Although, there is some compulsion on the use of private data sources, yet it is necessary to know that not all data are confidential. The research looks into the pros and cons of using open data systems and to assess its impacts on the social and political development in UK. The use of open data system is not only beneficial for the people to perform their daily life tasks, it is important to evade corruption and foster great accountability of national institutions. So, there remains feeble chance of witnessing corruption in the society that could cause chaos in the nation. The use of open data systems is important for boosting up innovation and creativity for a developing country like Pakistan. Open data system has been seen playing a big part in establishing a trend of innovative growth pushed by the availability of these resources. The influence and impact of ‘Open Data’ has largely been observed during the recent Coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19) where the government has utilized the data to tackle the disease in Pakistan.

Quality Enhancement of Gladiolus Cut Flowers by the Application of Zinc, Boron and Growth Regulators

Gladiolus, an excellent cut flower is highly responsive to fertilizers, especially micronutrients. Dire need is there to explore the best pre and postharvest management practices for quality production and vase life of plant to cope with market demand. Keeping the aim in mind, a study was conducted to enhance the quality production and elongated vase life of gladiolus cut flowers by applying preharvest zinc (Zn) and boron (B), and postharvest salicylic acid (SA) and gibberellic acid (GA3) during two consecutive years 2010 and 2011. Zinc was applied in the soil media @ 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 mg kg-1 and B @ 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 mg kg-1 in pots under greenhouse conditions. Data on preharvest parameters were recorded for the number of leaves per plant, leaf area, spike length, spike thickness, days to flowering, number of florets per spike, flower size, fresh weight and dry weight of flowers, number of cormels, corm size chlorophyll contents, ascorbic acid contents, zinc contents, boron contents and protein contents. The flower spikes were harvested and placed in glass jars containing distilled water. The postharvest application of salicylic acid at 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg l-1 and gibberellic acid at 0, 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg l-1 in vase solution were evaluated. Data were recorded on postharvest parameters; days taken to open floret, percent florets opened, vase life, percent change in fresh weight, electrolyte leakage, superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and free radicals scavenging (FRS) activity. No significant effect of zinc was observed on number of leaves plant-1 and spike thickness. Zinc @ 6 mg kg-1 rendered the highest leaf area, spike length, spike thickness, flower size, fresh weight, dry weight, corm size, chlorophyll contents, days taken to open floret, percent fresh weight change, SOD, POD, CAT xxiii and FRS activity. Whereas, Zn @ 8 mg kg-1 induced the highest number of cormels, number of florets per spike, protein contents, percent florets opened and vase life. The lowest electrolyte leakage and earliest flowering was noted with Zn @ 8 mg kg-1. Zinc concentration was recorded significantly higher with Zn @10 mg kg-1 as compared to all other treatments. Boron had no significant effect on number of leaves per plant and spike thickness. The highest leaf area, spike length, spike thickness, number of florets per spike, flower size, fresh weight, dry weight, number of corms and cormels, corm size, chlorophyll contents, protein contents, days taken to open floret, vase life, percent florets opened and vase life, percent fresh weight change, CAT and FRS activity were observed with B @ 2 mg kg-1 with respect to control treatment. While B @ 3 mg kg-1 induced the largest flower size, the highest fresh weight and SOD activity of cut flowers. Earliest flowering and lowest electrolyte leakage was noted with B @ 2 mg kg-1 and 3 mg kg-1 respectively over all other treatments. Boron and Zn concentrations were observed significantly high with B @ 5 mg kg-1 as compared to all other treatments. Salicylic acid @ 150 mg L-1 significantly increased the days taken to open florets, percent florets opened, retained higher fresh weight, SOD, CAT and FRS activity over control treatment. The lowest electrolyte and the highest POD activity were observed in SA @ 200 and 150 mg L-1, respectively among all other treatments. Gibberellic acid @ 25 mg L-1 induced the highest days taken to open floret, vase life, percent florets opened, vase life, fresh weight, POD, and FRSA over other treatments. The highest SOD, CAT activity and the lowest electrolyte leakage were noted in GA3 @ 50 mg L-1 over control. This study concludes that application of Zn at 6-8 mg kg-1, B at 2 mg kg-1 imparts greater beneficial effects on growth, production, vase quality and antioxidative activities in gladiolus. Salicylic acid at 150 mg L-1 and GA3 at 25 mg L-1 augmented the longest vase life and antioxidants activity of cut gladiolus and further higher application rate renders non significant improvement.