Social Welfare in the Religions of Subcontinent a Critical Study

Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism are among the major religions of Sub-continent. The present study highlights the fact that public welfare is preached by all of these religions. Giving alms for the sake of public welfare is an important part of various Hindu religious practices. The role of latest reformist movements is also worth mentioning along with the Hindu literature related with social well-being. Arya Sam฀j movement did many activities for the welfare of people. The founder of Buddhism made efforts for the betterment of mankind and used his religion and teachings to propagate public welfare. Buddhism rejected the caste system and played an important and effective role to minimize the sufferings of affected community. In this regard Islam rises to the highest pedestal as the topic of Holy Quran is Man. It focuses not only on the worldly success of man but also his success in the hereafter. Islam has gone a step ahead than other religions as the activities of public welfare are considered worship in it. The rights of human beings are given great importance and they are given no less importance than rights of Allah. Moreover, the Holy Prophet (S. A. W) took noteworthy steps for the welfare of whole mankind without any discrimination and these are highlighted in this paper. Islam also gives lineaments of the methods and modes of public welfare and goes beyond the other Semitic and non-Semitic religions in this regard. This paper explores and highlights the measures taken by the mentioned religions in a comparative manner and also proves that Islamic concept of social welfare is not only limited to human beings but it also enfolds other living beings and even plants. Islam provides a complete road map of public welfare. Islamic society not only progresses financially but it also focuses on spiritual, ideological and social progress. The aim of social welfare cannot be achieved unless equilibrium is maintained between rights and duties. Islam not only stresses on the rights of the weak but also safeguards the rights of the rich.

Quantitaive Assessment of Heavy Metals in Soils and Vegetables Irrigated With Sewage in Rawalpindi Area

Pakistan is suffering from shortage of surface supplies, which is being overcome by the conjunctive use of good quality ground water for growing cereals in irrigated areas and use of sewage/ industrial effluents for raising vegetables in city conurbations. The farmers get good vegetable yields with sewage water as it contains large amount of organic matter and plant nutrients. However, sewage also contains some metals which could be potentially toxic for biological life. The amount of each metal accumulated in plant depends on the quality of sewage used for irrigation. The metals which have been identified in sewage include chromium, cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, zinc, cobalt, magnesium, iron and arsenic. This study was carried out in Rawalpindi area with the objective to quantify the heavy metal accumulation in different vegetables and soils irrigated with sewage. Study was carried out in two different stages. In the first stage, field survey was carried out during 2003 and 2004. During this survey, water samples from different irrigation sources such as tubewells, wells, minidams and sewage were collected. Vegetable leaf samples and soil samples (0-30 cm depth) were obtained from the fields from where water samples were collected. The collected samples were processed following standard procedures and were analysed for lead, cadmium, chromium and nickel. After the survey work, three experimental sites having good quality tubewell water and sewage were selected in Taxila, Rawalpindi and Gujar Khan area. In the second stage, field experiments on the selected sites were conducted in Rabi, 2004 and Kharif, 2005. At each site, three treatments were tested viz, T1 = sewage irrigation, T2 = sewage and tubewell irrigation alternativeely, T3 = tubewell irrigation. Each treatment was replicated thrice following two factor factorial design. The plot size was 10 x 5 meter square. Cauliflower was xx sown in august, 2004 and spinach was sown in November, 2004. Okra and squash were sown in march, 2005. Each field was irrigated with measured quantity of water depending upon their crop water requirements. Water samples were collected before irrigation. Soil samples were collected from 0-30, 30-60 and 60-90 cm depth before and after each season. Leaves samples were collected after 30, 60 and 90 days and fruit samples were collected after 90 days of crop germination. The collected soil, water and plant samples were analyzed for lead, cadmium, chromium and nickel along with zinc, iron, copper and manganese. The survey data showed variation in heavy metals concentration of different water sources. All water samples for lead were within safe limits. Heavy metals in tubewell irrigated vegetables were below the safe limits and in sewage and industrial effluents irrigated vegetables were above the safe limits. Heavy metals in soil samples irrigated with different water sources were below the critical levels. The field experimental data showed that due to sewage application, lead and copper contents were much higher in leaves of spinach, leaves and fruits of cauliflower, okra and squash as compared to tubewell irrigation at Taxila, Gujjar Khan and Rawalpindi sites. Cadmium accumulation in all the vegetables irrigated with sewage at all the three sites were also much higher as compared to tubewell irrigation, but found less than lead and higher than chromium. Like all the heavy metals, nickel showed the similar trend for its accumulation in all the vegetables. The accumulations of all metals in vegetables irrigated with alternate treatment were even lower than those irrigated with sewage and higher than tubewell irrigation. Similarly, heavy metals accumulation in soil and vegetables were maximum at Taxila site, as the sewage used for irrigation was more contaminated as compared to other sites.