زاہدہؔ صدیقی(۱۹۴۷ء پ) کا قلمی نام زاہدہؔ ہے۔ آپ برہان پور پسرور میں پیدا ہوئیں۔ آپ معروف شاعر حفیظ صدیقی کی حقیقی بہن ہیں۔ آپ کا ابتدائی کلام ماہنامہ ’’تحریریں‘‘ میں چھپتا رہا۔ آپ ’’تحریریں‘‘ کی مدیر بھی رہیں۔ زاہدہؔ کے دو اردو شعری مجموعے ’’جاگتی آنکھوں کے خواب ‘‘اور ’’دعاؤں کا سائبان‘‘ شائع ہو چکے ہیں۔ اردو کے علاوہ آپ کے دو پنجابی شعری مجموعے بھی طبع ہو چکے ہیں۔(۱۰۳۷)
زاہدہ صدیقی نے اپنی شاعری میں اپنی ذات کو عالمِ نسوانی کے ایک فرد کی علامت کی صورت میں پیش کیا ہے۔ ان کی شاعری اس لحاظ سے بہت خوشگوار ہے کہ انھوں نے اپنی ذات کو اپنے لیے مجلس نہیں بنایا بلکہ اس کی فصیلیں گرادی ہیں۔ اور اپنی شاعری کے ذریعے نوجوان شعرا کو تازہ ہوا اور کھلی دھوپ سے فیض ہو نے کا درس دیا ہے۔ رجائیت ،رومانیت اور عشقِ حقیقی زاہدہؔ کی شاعری کی خصوصیات ہیں ۔ ا س حوالے سے کچھ اشعار ملاحظہ ہوں:
ایک احساس
صبحِ اُمید کی جس کرن کے لیے
ہم سے پہلے بھی کچھ لوگ
تاریک راہوں پہ چلتے رہے
آج ہم بھی
انھی تیرہ و تار راہوں پر چلتے ہوئے
سوچتے ہیں
کہ شاید
کسی روز اپنا مقدر بنے
صبح اُمید کی وہ کرن
جو ابھی تک
نگاہوں سے مستور ہے(۱۰۳۸)
جاگتی آنکھوں کا خواب
زندگی
اک جاگتی آنکھوں کا خواب
خواب جو دیکھا نہ پہچانا گیا
ایک ساعت
آدمی کو اس کے ہونے کا یقین
دوسری ساعت
بکھر جائے فضاؤں میں کہیں
اک دریدہ لباس آوازِ جرس
جیسے اس کی کوئی منزل ہی نہیں (۱۰۳۹)
ترا خیال اُتارے دل و نظر کا غبار
ہر اک بجھی ہوئی صورت نکھر بھی سکتی ہے
...
Objective: The objective of the study is to explore the relationship between body image, self-esteem and academic behavior amongst adolescent girls living in Karachi, Pakistan and simultaneously explore the mediating role of self-esteem in the relationship of the other two variables. Methods: It was a cross-sectional study design with a sample size of 400 adolescent girls belonging to a selected community of Karachi, Pakistan. Pre-validated tools, Body Shape Questionnaire, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and Academic Behavior Scale were used for data collection of the study. The data was then analyzed using SPSS 17. Results: The results proved significant associations between all three variables with p<0.05. Moreover, a partially mediating role of self-esteem was noticed to be causing 74.8% variation in the relationship between body image and academic behavior. Conclusion: As per the study findings, body image, self-esteem and academic behavior of adolescent girls residing in Karachi, Pakistan are associated with each other. It was also concluded that higher body image dissatisfaction may lead to poor self-esteem which in turn negatively impacts the positive academic behavior of the girls. Hence, representing a mediating role of self-esteem in the relationship. Overall, parents, educators, academic professionals, counselors and healthcare professionals can benefit from the study findings to positively play their parts in improving the lives of adolescents around them.
Urban population has been increasing and it is expected to reach 70% of the total population in the world by 2050. It is also estimated that human footprint has affected 83% of global land services. Land use change has been the most visible indicator of human footprint and is dynamic in nature. The population of third world countries has been increasing rapidly. Pakistan being a developing country has also been facing such type of problems since independence. The Lahore Division being a hub of heterogeneous activities has been facing different types of problems including commercial conversion of land uses in unplanned manner. In developed countries, land conversion is taking place in planned manner but in Pakistan it is happening without planning in un-sustainability manner which requires research as it is neglected area of research. The study looks at commercial conversion of land uses and sustainability of urban areas of Lahore Division. This research focuses on the areas of Lahore Divisions. The questions of research include extent of conversion, causes of conversion, effects, actor and driving forces, utilization of funds, public participation, adequacy of standard allocation, adequacy of parking, impact on adjoining areas and existing rules. The research has adopted methodology based on primary data and secondary data for achievement of objectives of research. The research analysed existing polices, land uses extent of conversion, legal/illegal conversion, driving forces/actors and sustainability. It has been observed that commercial conversion of land uses has not been carried out in sustainable way. There has been continuous practice of converting residential land uses into commercial land uses. The authority is ignorant of commercial needs of cities and present commercial conversion policy is not capable to achieve the principles of sustainability. There is violation of rules in the form of encroachments in study area. There is absence of planning framework to monitor the implementation of the commercial conversion policy. There is spread of economic activities along notified roads of ‘A’ category in Lahore Division. The CBD areas of Lahore District, Kasur District, Nankana Sahib District and Sheikhupura District have failed to contain the ever increasing demand of commercial spaces. Traffic congestion and inadequate parking spaces compel the businessmen to move into residential areas. Economic theory supports the trend when economic activities are expanding in city; other areas close to CBD have to be absorbed to accommodate the trend. Many residential houses and bare plots are being converted into commercial use on these roads legally and illegally. The percentage extent of illegal commercial conversion of land uses on selected roads/segments of roads in study area is 60.4% and the overall percentage extent of commercial conversion is 83.4%. The study reveals that negative effects of commercial conversion of land uses are deterioration of environmental, social and economic condition, traffic congestion, shortage of parking, burden on infrastructure and security risks. The major causes of illegal conversion are huge economic benefits for violators, increase in commercial demand, lack of enforcement, easy approach, political involvement, strict rules and absence of proper planning process. The major driving forces behind commercial conversion of land uses are economic development, growth in population, business growth, Punjab land use Rules 2009, market forces, political pressure, revenue generation and increase in income, weak enforcement, planning agencies, Poor master planning and corrupt practices. The actors behind the commercial conversion are land owner, politicians, policy makers, development authorities, public and Government departments, and business Communities. The profit maximization arising from increasing demand of commercial spaces, physical aging of residential building structure leading to obsolesces are contributing factors that give rise to commercial conversion of land uses in Lahore Division. The main problems of study area include shortage of parking space, security risk, harassment of LDA staff, traffic congestion, difficult commercial conversion process, environmental pollution, poor building control, destruction of social life, lack of utilities and services, abuse of land and poor governance. It is suggested that comprehensive planning law with sustainable economic frame work is needed to resolve the problems. There is also an urgent need of spatial planning, proper zoning, sustainability study, monitoring and evaluation study, planning law at national level, value tax, sustainable commercial conversion policy, compact and mixed development, sustainable land use planning, development of planning system and enforcement mechanism which itself guarantee a sustainable commercial land use development. The actors and driving forces involved in commercial land use conversion must play within planning frame work to optimize wellbeing of society. There is need to strengthen system / institution for implementation of commercialization policy and master plan in larger interest of general public for sustainable development.