Two species of mongooses; small Indian mongoose (Herpestes javanicus) and the grey mongoose (H. edwardsii) occur in many parts of Pakistan including the Pothwar Plateau. They are diurnal, terrestrial carnivores playing their ecological role in controlling populations of snakes, rodents and insects. The current study investigated their distribution, vegetation analysis of their habitat, population, and diet composition in the Pothwar Plateau. Distribution of the two mongoose species was recorded through reconnaissance surveys of the study area, vegetation analysis was carried out by quantifying trees (Point-Centered-Quarter method), shrubs and herbs (by Quadrate method). The populations of the two species were estimated by direct enumeration by minimum numbers alive (MNA) index using capture, mark, and recapture data and indirect enumeration, using active burrows (AB) count method. Diet composition of the two species was investigated by their scat analysis. The small Indian mongoose was found distributed in the vicinity of human dwellings, whereas, the grey mongoose was widely distributed in natural areas with low human activity, however, both species were found occupying the cultivated areas. Their distribution was found restricted below 850 m asl in the study area. Vegetation analysis of the habitat of two mongoose species showed Zizyphus mauritiana with high importance value index (IVI = 101.21) and Acacia nilotica (IVI = 95.13) as major tree species, Zizyphus nummularia (IVI = 90.29) as major shrub and 24 Cynodon dactylon (IVI = 20.70), Peganum harmala (IVI = 19.37) and Carthamus oxycantha (IVI = 18.24) as major herb species. burrows activity of both mongoose species was found highly associated with the Zizyphus mauritiana (50% and 46%, respectively). Average population density of small Indian mongoose was 7.91 ± 0.41 per km2 (by MNA) and 12.49 ± 0.4 per km2 (by AB method), whereas, that of grey mongoose was 7.17 ± 0.52 per km2 (by MNA) and 11.70 ± 0.33 per km2 (by AB method). Live trapped mongooses showed a sex ratio (M : F) of 0.73 (small Indian mongoose) and 0.78 (grey mongoose), indicating more female-biased population in the study area. Burrows depth and diameter as well as body measurements (body weight, body length and tail length) of the grey mongoose (n=72) were greater than those of the small Indian mongoose (n=72). Analysis of scat samples of the two mongoose species revealed hairs, feathers, insect body remains and plant matter and seeds along with some unidentified material. Identification of rodent prey species from recovered hairs showed that small Indian mongoose preys upon three different rodent species while the grey mongoose consumes five different rodent species in the study area. Insects consumed by both mongoose species belong to five different orders. Food niche breadth of the two species varied among different seasons of the year. Food niche overlap between the two species was found to be 0.95. The study concludes that the two sympatric mongoose species vary in their abundance along a gradient of human activity. Ecologically and morphologically, similar species (small Indian mongoose and grey mongoose) living in sympatry in the Pothwar Plateau partition their resources, though resources themselves may vary in time and space and in relation to extrinsic factors.
کہا جاتا ہے کہ انسان کی سب سے عظیم ترین دریافت زبان ہے جو کبھی تصویر کی صورت میں ہوا کرتی تھی،پھر تقریر کی صورت میں ترقی کرتی چلی گئی اور آخر میں تحریر کے فن نے زبان کے ذریعے انسانی عزم و ہمت کی طویل ترین تاریخ کو محفوظ بنانا شروع کر دیا۔یہی زبان قبائلی ،قومی اور ریاستی سطح پر وحدت کی علامت بننے کے ساتھ سیاسی، سماجی اور معاشی رابطہ کاری کے عمل کے ذریعے ان سب کے درمیان فکری روابط کو مؤثر بنانے کا باعث بنتی چلی گئی۔زبان کی اِس فکری بنیاد نے علوم کے مختلف شعبون میں مباحث و نظریات کے متنوع دفاتر کے انبار لگا دیے۔ علم کے ہر شعبے نے مختلف علوم کے دیگر مباحث و نظریات سے اِسی زبان ہی کے طفیل استفادہ کیا۔ یوں تمام علوم کے درمیان زبان ایک مضبوط ترین پُل کی صورت اختیار کرتی چلی گئی۔اِس حوالے سے زبان کی تاریخ کو بیان کرنا اِس مضمون کا مقصود نہیں ہے۔ ماہرینِ لسانیات اور اینتھراپالوجسٹ(Anthrapologist) اپنے بہترین تحقیقی مقالے دنیا کے سامنے پیش کر چکے ہیں۔ اِس مضمون میں صرف زبان کے ثقافتی مضمرات سے بحث کی جائے گی۔
ثقافت کسی قوم کے تمدنی اظہارات کا نام ہے۔ جس میں رسوم و رواج، میلے ٹھیلے،مذہبی عبادات کے طریقے،ادب و شعر کی دنیا، فنونِ لطیفہ،نشست و طعام کا سلیقہ، رہن سہن، آرائش و زیبائش کا ذوق، لباس، گھرداری سے لے کر کاروبار اور گلیوں محلّوں میں بسر ہونے والی زندگی کا مخصوص انداز سب شامل ہے۔ طبقاتی تنوع بھی اِسی ثقافت کے مختلف رنگوں کا اظہار ہوتا ہے۔ یہی اُصول شہری و دیہی زندگی میں ثقافت کے فرق کو بھی نمایاں کرتا چلا جاتا ہے۔ شہری...
"The Cosmic Palette: Exploring Colors in Art and Culture" delves into the profound role of colors in shaping the world of art and culture. This article takes readers on a vibrant journey through history, examining the significance of colors in different societies, their psychological impact, and the ways in which artists have harnessed them to convey emotions, ideas, and cultural narratives. From the symbolism of red to the serenity of blue, this exploration sheds light on the universal language of color that transcends boundaries and connects humanity in a kaleidoscope of experiences.
The objectives of this study are to assess the state of stability of the Banking systems of Pakistan and India and then to estimate how good, bad and worst economic conditions would in uence its state of stability. Our design of study is a mix of the techniques used by independent analysts andnancial system regulators. The model used in stress testing and scenario analysis are employed but in simpli ed form. Pakistan and India have not experiencednancial crisis due to some shock/contagion,therefore stress events and its impact on macroeconomic indicators are not included in the design. Determinants of asset quality of commercial banks are determined and its in uence on Nonperforming Loans (NPL) ratio explored empirically. A bank is termed unstable if its estimated Nonperforming Loans/advance ratio surpasses its equity/advance ratio during a year in a scenario. Scenarios of good, bad and worst economic conditions are developed for stress testing on the basis of extreme values of macroeconomic variables during sample period. Stability of whole banking system during a year in a scenario condition is evaluated on the basis of assets controlled by banks estimated unstable. First we take stock of banking system of Pakistan. During 1998-2001, in normal, bad and worst economic conditions, banks assessed signi cantly unstable are in control of maximum 35%, 50% and 62% assets respectively of the whole banking system. During 2002 and onward banks assessed signi cantly unstable are in control of maximum 6% assets of the whole banking system in normal, bad and even worst economic conditions. Thus it can be concluded that Pakistani banking system is stable since 2002 and can withstand bad and even worst economic conditions. As far as Indian banking system is concerned, Citibank (foreign bank) is the only bank appraised stable after 2006 and also adjudged able to withstand even the worst economic conditions. Almost all public sector banks reviewed are assessed unstable during 1999-2005. They exhibited signs of recovery during 2006- 2011 but adjudged markedly unstable during 2012-14. During 2014, twelve (out of total thirteen) public sector banks are evaluated signi cantly unstable in bad economic conditions. The three private sector banks i.e. Axis, HDFC and ICICI are evaluated to have performed satisfactorily specially during the last four years of the period under review. The instability of the Indian banking system in 2014 is more noteworthy when six banks possessing 30% assets of the banking system are appraised unstable by signi cant margin. The number of banks adjudged signi - cantly unstable is (maximum) two during 1999-2013 but abruptly increases to six in 2014. Results of the stress testing of the banking system of India under various scenarios denote that Indian banking system lacks the potential to withstand any macroeconomic shocks. In any signi cant adverse macroeconomic conditions, the system is expected to collapse.