Return Migration to Pakistan during COVID19 Pandemic: Unmaking the Challenges

In order to contain the spread of corona virus (COVID-19) disease, strict border closure measures have been taken globally. Migrants and refugees are affected across the globe due to such measures. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic recession escalated across the globe which is expected to have serious implications for the migrant workers and laborers. Potohar region was selected to explore implications of return migration from abroad, but the fieldwork halted immediately due to the pandemic outbreak. Since the data on Pakistani migrants is dispersed and scant, it was nearly impossible to stick to the locale for returnees. Therefore, the data for this study was collected qualitatively using exploratory methodology. In-depth interviews were conducted using interview guide as a tool of research. The paper is based on analysis of the narratives based on the experiences of the returnees especially. It sheds light on the state of the stranded Pakistani migrants who have been returning or awaiting repatriation due to layoffs. It delves into long-run and short-run challenges due to return migration, in Pakistan which highly depends on remittances from abroad. Challenges created by sudden end to remittances, entrepreneurial setups and returnees’ reintegration in the society need immediate attention. It is recommended that the state should support and monitor the migrants living abroad, ease out issues in repatriation of the laid off workers, pave way for investment, offer insurance plans, reduce reliance on remittance flow and engage them in Public Private Partnerships for sustainable reintegration.

Synthesis and Biological Activity of Biuret and Dithobiuret Metal Complexes

A variety of bis and tris thiobiureto and dithiobiureto Co(II), Ni(II), Cd(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) metal complexes were synthesized by reacting N,N-dialkylcarbamoyl or N,N-dialkylthiocarbamoyl with potassium thiocyanide and twelve different commercially available amines. These complexes were characterized by spectroanalytical (UV-Vis, FT-IR, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR) and single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. To find percentage composition of atoms i.e. C, H and N present in synthesized complexes were also determined by CHN analysis. The obtained data from UV-Visible, FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and elemental analysis were compared with the reported values which satisfactorily justified the synthesis of thiobiuret and dithiobiuret metal complexes. The structure of five complexes such as bis(1,1,5,5-tetramethyl-2,4-dithiobiureto)nickel(II) 12, bis(1,1,5,5-tetramethyl-2-thiobiureto)copper (II) 24, bis (1,1,5,5-tetramethyl-2,4-dithiobiureto) cadmium (II) 36, bis[(Z)-3-(3,3-dimethylbutanyol)-1,1-diethyl-2-thiobiureto]nickel (II) 48 and tris[(Z)-3-(3,3-dimethylbutanyol)-1,1-diethyl-2-thiobiureto] cobalt(II) 54 was unambiguously confirmed with single crystal X-ray analysis, establishing that the geometry of Ni(II), Cd(II) complexes (12, 36) is tetrahedral, square planar for Cu(II) and Ni(II) (24, 48) and octahedral geometry for (54) Co(II) complexes. Synthesized complexes were considered to evaluate their conductance and results indicate that they possess differential levels of electrolytic characteristics, which indicates that complexes had positive electrolytic behavior, whereas few complexes showed suppressed electrolytic properties. Regarding the assessment of antibacterial, antifungal, protein kinase inhibition, total antioxidant capacity, reducing power, DPPH radical scavenging, xxi ABTS antioxidant potential and anticancer assay; fourteen synthesized complexes were used for antibacterial and antifungal activity, thirty two complexes were considered for rest of the abovementioned assays. Out of fourteen complexes 8, 12, 13, 14, 27, 32, 38 had significant activities against three bacterial strains i.e. Echerishia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa due to NCS containing moieties and 2, 3, 4, 12, 14, 27, 38, 47 possess differential levels of inhibition against Aspergilus niger, Flavus solani, Mucor species and Aspergilus flavus microbes. Out of thirty two said complexes on the other hand, 3, 5, 7, 10, 13, 15, 17, 19, 28, 46 and 1-8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16-19, 22, 28-31, 43, 46 complexes were found as potential agents for protein kinase inhibition and antioxidant activity, respectively. Furthermore, all said synthesized transition metal complexes possessed significant inhibition activity against the cancer cell line. In all, biological findings obtained through the present study indicate that almost all synthesized complexes are promising candidates to combat cancer effect by suppressing oxidative stresses, and as well as anti-microbial activity to control infections. However, further comprehensive animal based studies are warranted to confirm our results to be translated them as drugs/medicines in future.