اسلامی اخلاقیات واقدار کے فروغ میں خاندانی ماحول کا کردار؛معاصرانہ چیلنجز اور لائحہ عمل The role of family environment in the development of Islamic ethics and values, Contemporary challenges, and action plan

Islamic rules and moral values are unique in all aspects. The members of Muslim Ummah have always tried to promote them. At the national level, this duty was carried out by people at different levels whether they were teachers, businessmen or lay man of the society. At international level, some rulers, business professionals and religious leaders played their role. Man's first relationship is with family. This relationship is the cornerstone in the development of a personality.  There has been a lot of change taken place in the family system. In the past, due to the limited necessities of life the financial responsibility was limited to a few people. Media was not that advanced and bold and family members were loving and respectful. With the beginning of advance era, human needs were widened and to satisfy them, women started participating in economic activities along with men. Due to which the child was shifted from his home to day care centre, while the media gave birth to the social media, the stories of compassion and care in home became the past. In the present era, there is a dire need to remove these barriers that hinder the development of Islamic values through balance between income and expenditure, positive and moderate use of media and positive attitude in family. These issues will be discussed under the answers to the following questions. What is the role of family in the development of Islamic ethics? What are the problems faced by the family in the development of Islamic moral values? What are the solutions to the present-day problems?  

Developing Optimal Postharvest Handling Portocols for Cut Polianthes Tuberosa L. Single Spikes

The cut flower industry of Pakistan is at its initial stages of development and growers are producing cut flowers only in open field. Tuberose is heat loving plant and can successfully be grown with little care, which makes it the only choice for the cut flower growers during summer season in Punjab, Pakistan. More often local florist markets become glutted with it during peak production time, which results in heavy postharvest losses and price drop, causing economic losses to the tuberose stakeholders, viz. growers, wholesalers and retailers. At present no valid data base is available regarding the postharvest handling practices being followed by the local tuberose stakeholders. Keeping in view popularity of tuberose among local growers and high market demand in local flower markets, present study was initiated to develop a valid database for postharvest handling protocols by the tuberose stakeholders. Study was completed in two phases, in first phase a survey of tuberose stakeholders was conducted. Survey results demonstrated that all postharvest handling practices currently used by the stakeholders were not as per recommended international standards. Therefore, in the second phase, a series of postharvest experiments were performed to find out best suited postharvest handling practices for cut tuberose spikes, viz., optimal harvest stage, pulsing, packaging materials, storage method and durations, water quality and vase preservative solutions. The study concluded that the best stage for harvesting spikes was when lower buds are fully mature and have expanded but yet not opened. Among various pulsing treatments, 10% sucrose plus 50 mg L-1 salicylic acid for 24 hours proved best for extending vase life. Storage of spikes in water (wet) proved best for storage of spikes up to six days at 4±2 0C. Likewise cut spikes wrapped in polythene sleeves alone or packed in floral boxes lined with polythene stored at 4±2 0C up to 3 days had longest vase life and better quality and this storage period can be extended up to 6 days in dark without any significant loss of quality. Spikes kept in carbonated plus distilled water (1:1) performed best followed by distilled, deionizes and reverse osmosis water for various spike and floret characteristics. Vase solution containing 2% sucrose plus 50 mg L-1 salicylic acid had the longest postharvest longevity and maintained quality of cut tuberose spikes. In summary, vase life of cut tuberose spikes can be considerably extended by following proper postharvest handling protocols.