Biomass is believed as the only foreseeable feedstock for sustainable production of clean energy. However, it cannot be produced using agricultural lands to avoid the competition with the land for food crops. Hence, the plants/grasses adapted to poor soils (marginal lands) can be exploited for energy production without causing any negative impact. Pakistan is a 6th most populous country in the world, where the total population is even greater than Russia. So, the country has huge energy demands and is passing through the worst energy crisis in its history. Moreover, 64% of its energy requirements are being met through combustion of fossil fuels which is alarming in terms of environmental stability. Hence, it is essentially required to explore alternative, clean and sustainable energy sources. Biomass produced on marginal lands offers a promising alternative. Pakistan has 9 million hectares of salt-affected soils which is unfit for agricultural activity. The present study was focused to evaluate the bioenergy potential of the grasses adapted to this salt-affected area. The thermodynamics, thermal degradation and kinetics of selected grasses namely Para grass (Urochloa mutica), Elephant grass (Permisetum purpureum), Babui grass (Eulaliopsis binate), Mott grass (Pennesetum benthiumo), Egyptian grass (Dactyloctenium aegyptium), Carrot grass (Parthenium hysterophorus), Camel grass (Cymbopogon schoenanthus) and Cattail (Typha latifolia) produced on marginal lands in Pakistan without any fertilizers, pesticide and agriculture practices. All above biomass samples were thermally degraded in Nitrogen environment under three different heating rates (10, 30 and 50) ºC min-1. The thermodynamic and thermokinetic parameters were investigated using iso-conversion methods including KAS (Kissenger-Akahira-Sunose) and FWO (Flynn-WallOzawa). Whereas peak zones were also examined throughout the DTG curves under three different heating rates. Degradation regions were also determined on the basis of degradation of lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose components. High heating values were determined to range from 15-18 MJ kg-1. Similarly, activation energy, Gibbs free energy and enthalpy values of all biomass samples were determined which showed to be ranging from 166-267 kJ mol-1, 166-177 kJ mol-1and 161-262 kJ mol-1 respectively. All biomass samples had first order preexponential factors. Our data showed all biomass samples had remarkable potential to adopt as a low-cost biomass for bioenergy production through pyrolysis.
ماہ گذشتہ میں آکسفرڈ سے ڈاکٹر ڈی، اے، اسمتھ، ال، ڈی کی وفات کی خبر موصول ہوئی ۔ ڈاکٹر موصوف مشرقی علوم سے خاص شغف رکھتے تھے، اور تاریخ ہند کے ایک مستند عالم سمجھے جاتے تھے۔ تقریباً ۱۸۷۰ء میں وہ ہندوستان میں ایک سویلین کی حیثیت سے آئے تھے، اور صوبہ متحدہ کے مختلف اضلاع میں مختلف مناصب پر فائز رہ کر کوئی بیس سال ہوئے پنشن لے کر وطن واپس گئے۔ ہندوستان کے سی (۳۰) سالہ قیام میں وہ نادر سکہ جات، کتبات وغیرہ بیش بہا تاریخی مواد فراہم کرتے رہے اور ملازمت سے سبکدوش ہونے کے بعد انھوں نے تاریخ ہند پر متعدد تصانیف شایع کیں، مثلاً اکبر اعظم، راجہ اشوک کا دورِ حکومت، وغیرہ جن میں سے بعض کتابیں ہندوستانی یونیورسٹیوں کے اعلیٰ نصابِ درس میں بھی داخل ہیں، ان کی آخری ضخیم تصنیف ’’آکسفرڈ ہسٹری آف انڈیاــ‘‘ حال ہی میں شایع ہوئی تھی۔ رایل ایشیاٹک سوسائٹی نے تمغوں اور دیگر اعزازات سے ان کی علمی خدمات کا بار بار اعتراف کیا تھا۔ (مارچ ۱۹۲۰ء)
The present paper explores and introduces a manuscript on i‘jaz al-Qur’ān (inimitability of the Qur’ān) named Nūr al- Īqān bi i‘jaz al-Qur’ān written by a profound South Asian Sindhi Scholar, Maulana Muhammad Ismā‘īl al-Ūdvī. The field of i‘jaz al-Qur’ān has been and is the field of interest of many Muslim as well as non-Muslim theologians and scholars. Many Muslim scholars of the Middle East and the West have written books and research papers from third/ninth Century up to present times. The main and significant reason for this is that the doctrine of i‘jaz al- Qur’ān proves the prophecy of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. This paper argues that Shaikh al-Ūdvī is the first South Asian Sindhi Muslim Scholar, who wrote a separate treatise in Arabic on the doctrine of i‘jaz al-Qur’ān, which is not introduced properly in academic circles of the day. In this treatise, al-Ūdvī has advanced some new and original arguments to support the doctrine and the prophecy of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him.
This research provides an in depth analysis of the course and changes through which Muslim India’s educational system passed through from 1206 A.D. to 1707 A.D. It gives a detailed account of how the curriculum, patronage from Rulers, methods of teaching and learning institutes of five centuries together formed a system of education. Four institutes are identified as the prime centres that played a pivotal role in dispensing knowledge and creating an environment of learning: the madrassas, mosques, khanqahs and private homes of scholars. Their complementary roles are discussed and appreciated. This study also highlights the excellent dynamics between the Rulers, students and teachers that led to the development of a remarkable teacherstudent-ruling elite triad that gradually flourished to become the key element of this system. Finally the attention paid to female education and the provisions made to Hindus in this period are also addressed in detail. This research argues that the system of education was an adequate mix of transmitted and rational sciences. Even without examinations, its ijazah system successfully produced learned students. The system proved at par to prepare its students to seek higher studies abroad. Education, far from being ignored by the Rulers of this period, received their constant attention and support in the form of endowments. Though this system had an air of stagnancy and lacked practical subjects, it was successful in the general education of Indians, in the honest bond that existed between pupil and master, in the numerous literary works produced in this period and in producing encyclopaedic intellectuals whose literary standards equaled those of the Safavids or Ottomans of the same period.