Shrinking Civic Space in Pakistan: Response and Strategies of the Civil Society

This paper focuses the issue of shrinking civic space in Pakistan. The study presents civil society activists’ responses on this issue, highlights their perception, present and future strategies to address this issue, and their effectiveness, as such, as well. Pakistan presents a unique case due to its involvement in the ‘war on terror’ and the consequences being faced by both the state and society at large. Present shrinking of civil society action is directly linked with it. In an attempt to grapple with the problems emerging from ‘war on terror’, the overgrown state is encroaching upon citizens’ space, thus denying the civil society to play its due role which can provide safety for the state as well. The preferred strategies of the NGOs include lobbying with parliamentarians and mobilizing the citizenry about the situation.

Dry Wood Termites and Subterranean Termites As Pests in the District Mianwali

Termites cause destruction to wooden structures and other cellulose containing materials and cause economic loss. Among the different castes of termites, workers are destructive to wood and other cellulose containing materials. Five species of termites (Coptotermes heimi (Wasmann), Microtermes mycophagus, Microtermes obesi (Holmgren), Odontotermes guptai and Odontotermes obesus (Ramber), were found in weeds, herbs, shrubs, trees and soil cores of 40 *40 sq. ft. area from three tehsils of district Mianwali in Punjab. Maximum number of termites were observed in July and August and the most numerous termite species was Coptotermes heimi (Wasmann). In Tehsil Mianwali, the number and diversity of termites is more than Tehsil Piplan and Tehsil Esa Khel. The least number of termites were observed in sandy soil of Tehsil Piplan and Riverine areas of Tehsil Esa Khel. The temperature and rain fall also affect the density and distribution of termites. The maximum pest activity was found in humid and warm environment. For future studies the present work will be helpful for termites control and biodiversity. The effect of environmental factors on the distribution of termites can also be worked out.