حدیقۃ العجائب
التحریر چوک کے ایک حصے میں ایک بڑی اور عالی شان عمارت ایستادہ تھی میں نے دکتور محمود سے پوچھا یہ کیا ہے بولے ھذاٰ حدیقۃ العجائب ۔عجائب گھر پر نگاہ ڈالی تو مسافر کے دل میں تحریر چوک کی قدرو منزلت سوا ہو گئی جہاں عصرِ حاضر کے مصری نوجوان بہتر مستقبل کے لیے عصری فرعونوں سے نبرد آزما ہوتے ہیں اور ماضی کے فرعونوں کو بہ طور عبرت اپنی آغوش میں جگہ دی ہے ۔ عجائب گھر میں داخلے کے لیے ٹکٹ لینا ضروری تھا ۔مسافر کو اہلِ فراعنہ کی لاشوں اور لکی ایرانی سرکس کے جانوروں میںکوئی فرق محسوس نہ ہوا سچ کہا میرے رب نے ’’اب تو ہم صرف تیر ی لاش بچائیں گے تاکہ تو بعد کی نسلوںکے لیے نشانِ عبرت بنے ‘‘۔
غیر ملکیوںکے لیے یہ ٹکٹ تین سو مصری پائونڈ کا تھا مصریوں کے لیے ایک سو پچاس جبکہ مصری طالب علموں کے لیے ساٹھ مصری پائونڈ ۔ دکتور محمود نے کوئی جگاڑ لگایااورہم بغیر ٹکٹ کے اندر داخل ہو گئے عجائب گھر کی مرکزی عمارت کے سامنے ایک بہت بڑے دالان میں کچھ ٹوٹے ہوئے اور خراب مجسمے رکھے گئے تھے ،ان کے درمیان میں پیادہ روشیں بنائی گئی تھیں یہ تما م پیادہ روشیں عجائب گھر کی مرکزی عمارت تک جا کر ایک بڑے رستے کی شکل اختیار کر لیتی ہیں ۔یہاں سے ہم سیڑھیاں چڑھے تو ایک خود کار مشین کے ذریعے تلاشی بھی لی گئی ۔صدر دروازے سے گزر کر ہم ایک بڑے ہال میں داخل ہوئے۔ جہاں اہل فراعنہ کے کئی میٹر طویل مجسمے اس انداز میں رکھے گئے تھے جیسے ان کا دربار لگا ہو اور امورِ سلطنت پر اجلاس جاری ہو ۔میں نے ایک قوی ہیکل فرعونی مجسمے کے قریب جا کر دکتور محمود کوکہا...
South Asia and Indian subcontinent have historically been regions of geo-strategic importance. They have been the most sought-after territories for every major World Player in each era. As a result of independence from the British in 1947, Pakistan and India emerged as two sovereign states, however, at loggerheads with each other since their very inception. The two countries have fought four deadly wars (1947-48, 1965 & 1971), including one (Kargil) after attaining the status of nuclear powers. One commonality in all these wars has been the unresolved Kashmir Issue, which remains the sorest point in the Pak-India ties to-date. These wars and many others military conflicts have resulted in the breach of peace for the region causing a much-feared nuclear threat, economic losses, disruption of social and cultural ties etc. For greater world peace, Pakistan and India need to resolve their differences/issues through bilateral negotiations, as war is no solution to any problem. For this purpose, political leadership of both the countries will have to intelligently carve out a plan to achieve the objective of peace and tranquility in the region. Both the countries need to realize that neighbours cannot be wished away. Peace in South Asia is synonymous to peace in the world.
Moringa leaf extract (MLE) is a natural crop growth enhancer being rich in minerals, antioxidants and phytohormones. However, type of moringa and effective storage life of extract was not known. The research was planned to compare the effectiveness of MLE from different landraces of Moringa oleifera present in Pakistan and to optimize its storage life. During first experiment, leaf extracts were taken from three landraces i.e. white seeded moringa (WSM), black seeded moringa (BSM) and PKM1 (Indian variety) and were applied as priming agents and foliar application alone or in combination with hydrogen peroxide, ascorbic acid and salicylic acid on wheat. All the priming strategies significantly invigorated the wheat. Priming was more effective by moringa alone than blending with other compounds. Among the type of moringa as a source of extract, WSM was more effective in reducing the time to start emergence, E50 and increasing the seedling vigor. On the basis of the results, WSM was selected for further experimentations. During second experiment, both priming and foliar application of leaf extract of white seeded moringa alone and in combination with growth promoting substances improved the yield parameters while maximum performance of wheat crop was observed where alone MLE was applied as a foliar spray as compare to control. During third experiment, MLE alone and in combination with growth promoting substance and preservative was stored at low and ambient temperature. Chemical analysis of stored MLE showed that total phenolics and ascorbic acid concentrations were decreased with increase in storage time. Fresh MLE performed better than stored MLE regarding germination and seedling fresh and dry weight as well root shoot length. During the last experiment, fresh and stored MLE was applied as foliar spray to observe the crop growth enhancing potential of stored MLE. All MLE treatments improved both biochemical and yield parameters of wheat as compare to control which received no exogenous application of MLE. The growth enhancing capabilities significantly decreased with storage time under both sowing conditions. Worth seeing observation was, increase in biological and economic yield in late sown crop plants due to foliar application of fresh MLE as compare to control in timely sown wheat. Maximum biostimulant potential of leaf extract of white seeded moringa, alone and in combination with growth promoting substances, was observed regarding seedling performance which were correlated with higher contents of ascorbic acid and phenolics.