Like world Pakistan is facing two major threats i.e. environment and energy. Rapid industrialization and urbanization have resulted in elevated emission of toxic heavy metals entering the biosphere. Activities such as mining and agriculture have polluted extensive areas throughout the world. The release of heavy metals in biologically available forms by human activities may damage or alter both natural and man-made ecosystems. Heavy metal ions such as Pb 2+ , Cr 6+ , Cd 2+ Cu 2+ , Zn +2 and Ni +2 , are essential micronutrients for plant’s and animal’s metabolism but when present in excess, can become extremely toxic. Among the renewable energy technologies, solar energy, wind energy, biofuels and biomass conversion occupy the central stage. The current study belongs to biomass conversion to biofuels. It was focused on metal phytoremediation and biofuel production from water hyacinth by using Nanobiotechnology. Soil experiments show the phytoremoval of Pb 2+ , Cr 6+ , Cd 2+ Cu 2+ , Zn +2+ and Ni 2+ in μg/g of plant’s dry weight. Increase or decrease in pH and fresh weight is also discussed. Lead, chromium, cadmium, copper, zinc and nickel showed phytoremoval of 27.91, 38.67, 1.915, 3.38, 13.11 and 24.23 μg/g of plant’s dry weight respectively. Similarly phytoremoval of lead, chromium, cadmium, copper, zinc and nickel in kg/ha is 1582.45, 1053.38, 2852.75, 232.99, 1521.08 and 3449.76 respectively. Hoagland’s hydroponic experiments show the phytoremoval of Pb 2+ , Cr 6+ , Cd 2+ Cu 2+ , Zn +2+ and Ni 2+ in μg/g of plant’s dry weight. Increase or decrease in pH and fresh weight is also discussed. Lead, chromium, cadmium, copper, zinc and nickel showed phytoremoval 19.132, 2.369, 8.888, 4.085, 0.845 and 1.954 μg/g of plant’s dry weight. Adsorption and desorption experiments show phytoremoval (adsorption) of Pb 2+ , Cr 6+ , Cd 2+ Cu 2+ , Zn +2+ and Ni 2+ in μg/g of plant’s ash. While desorption (recovery for reuse) of lead, chromium, cadmium, copper, zinc and nickel in μg/g of plant’s ash. Adsorption capacity is 29.83, 24, 28.41, 29.83, 29.94 and 29.79 μg/g of plant’s ash respectively. The biosorptive capacity is highest with pH > 8.00. The desorption capacity of lead, chromium, cadmium, copper, zinc and nickel is 18.10, 9.99, 27.54, 21.09, 11.99, 3.71 μg/g of plant’s ash respectively. Bioanalytical experiments were performed to assess the metallic concentrations of Taxilian water hyacinth. Some selected microbes from hyacinth’s roots were isolated, xxidentified by biochemical tests and purified by microbiological experiments. Our results show that Thiobacillus thiooxidans, Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, Azotobacter and A. niger are present in the roots of water hyacinth. Thiobacillus thiooxidans, Thiobacillus ferrooxidans and A. niger are commonly well known for metal’s bioremediation. Their presence in the roots of water hyacinth show that these microbes may have some role in metal’s phytoremediation by hyacinth. Azotobacter is generally nitrogen fixing bacteria its presence may shows relationship with nitrogen’s phytoremoval by hyacinth. The presence of Mn, Mo, Fe, Cr and some other metals in nitrogenase enzymes of Azotobacter, is already documented. Therefore Azotobacter’s presence may also be responsible for phytoremoval of these metals by water hyacinth. Three different studies were performed for the nanobiotechnological conversion of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) plant into biofuel. In the first study water hyacinth was saccharified with diluted sulfuric acid (1% v/v at 110 o C for one hour) and fermented by yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). The results show the formation of 55.20 % ethanol and 41.66 % acetic acid. In another experiment water hyacinth was gasified by using Ni and Co nano catalysts at 50-400oC and atmospheric pressure. In catalytic gasification methane (2.41-6.67%), ethene (19.74-45.52%), propyne (21.04-45.52%), methanol (1.43- 24.67%), and propane/acetaldehyde (0.33-26.09%) products are obtained. In third study anatase form of titanium dioxide photocatalyst was used. The reaction was performed at room temperature which gives good percentage of methane (53.19%), methanol (37.23%) and ethanol (9.57%). This study reports an interesting finding that metal contaminated water hyacinth could be used for not only the production of biofuel but also hydrocarbons Present study gives solution of two major problems of the world i.e. environmental pollution and fuel. It also shows comparison of three different phytoremediation technologies and use of water hyacinth as a metal hyper accumulator and a source of hydrocarbon gases and bioethanol. These technologies are cheap and may be developed further for commercial use.
مولانا سید احمد ہاشمی افسوس ہے کہ گزشتہ مہینے ممتاز عالم دین اور سر کردہ ملی و قومی رہنما مولانا سید احمد ہاشمی سابق ممبر پارلیمنٹ نے داعی اجل کو لبیک کہا۔ وہ عرصے سے موذی امراض میں مبتلا تھے۔ ۴؍ نومبر ۲۰۰۱ء کو ان پر دل کا شدید دورہ پڑا اور اسپتال جاتے ہوئے مالکِ حقیقی سے جاملے، اناﷲ وانا الیہ راجعون۔ مولانا غازی پور کے ایک شریف خانوادے سے تعلق رکھتے تھے، ان کے والد حافظ محمد شفیع صاحب نے دارلعلوم ندوۃ العلما لکھنؤ میں اس زمانے میں تعلیم پائی تھی جب وہاں مولانا سید سلیمان ندوی بھی زیر تعلیم تھے اس لیے دونوں کے اچھے روابط تھے، مولانا ہاشمی بچپن ہی میں والدین کے سایہ شفقت سے محروم ہوگئے ان کی پرورش ان کے بڑے بھائی حافظ سید محمد ہاشمی نے کی، نانہال دربھنگھ سے غازی پور لاکر یہاں کی مشہور دینی درس گاہ مدرسہ دینیہ میں ان کا داخلہ کرایا، عربی کی پانچویں جماعت تک تعلیم دلانے کے بعد انہیں کلکتہ لے گئے اور مدرسۂ عالیہ میں داخلہ کرایا جہاں سے ’’ممتاز المحدثین‘‘ کی ڈگری لی پھر دارلعلوم دیوبند میں مولانا سید حسین احمد مدنی سے دورہ حدیث کی تکمیل کی۔ دارلعلوم سے فراغت کے بعد چند دن دہلی میں رہے اور پنجاب یونیورسٹی کے امتحانات دئیے، اسی زمانے میں مولانا محمد حفظ الرحمان سیوہاروی ناظم جمعیۃ علمائے ہند کی صحبت اور قربت نصیب ہوئی۔ دہلی میں مختصر قیام کے بعد وہ کلکتہ واپس آگئے، ان کے بڑے بھائی چاہتے تھے کہ اب وہ کوئی کاروبار کریں لیکن اس وقت تو وہ بورڈ کے مدرسہ ’’ندائے اسلام‘‘ میں مدرس مقرر ہوئے مگر شروع سے دین و ملت اور قوم و وطن کی خدمت کی جانب ان کی طبیعت کا رجحان تھا اس لیے اسی مشغلے میں ان کی زندگی گزری۔ کچھ عرصہ صحافت...
Human beings are innately filled with prejudices and biases. Interaction of these biases and building alternative views involve dexterous efforts. The dialogue approach could be thought of as positive disposition to others which encourages the virtues of neighborliness, friendship and mutual trust and caring. The current paper discusses the importance of dialogue in every field of life, if there is any misunderstanding or controversies among individuals, communities, societies, and religions. Islam has emphasized on the dialogue for resolving the misconceptions. The present study defines dialogue literally and technically by denoting its legitimacy from primary sources of the Islamic Law. The present study mani-fests the differences of several terms relevant to dialogue such as Jidal and Munazarah. It also denotes some illustrations of dialogue from the Holy Qur’an and Ahadith of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). The main focus of the article is on the ethics of dialogue in the light of Qur’an and Sunnah including the conditions and qualifications of a person, who is capable for dialogue in accordance attributes prescribes by Shari‘ah. The conversation must be in a good environment and usage of the words, phrases, and statements have much more importance in the success of a perfect dialogue. The research concludes that an expert and competent person should be selected for such dialogues and recommends that such scholars should be trained in developing strong communication and debating skills in every situation.
From Northern Arabian Sea bordering Pakistan this is the pioneer study on the diversity, density and effects of mangrove energy flux on zooplankton community structure. The study focusses on three aspects; Mesozooplankton (MZ) abundance, Copepod diversity and effect of mangrove energy flux on MZ. The study was conducted at four stations (OC, HS, SBM and HBM) covering the inshore waters of Manora channel. Annual and seasonal variations in density of 21 zooplankton group was estimated with respect to change in habitat with different environmental influences. Density of these groups were high at 5m depth. The Copepods were the most abundant meso-zooplankton group at all stations except at OC followed by cladoceran, gelatinous zooplankton, nematodes and polychaete larvae respectively. Cladoceran was high in density (127700 Ind-m-3) at OC. Salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen and Chl a concentration was found to effect the distribution of MZ. Cladoceran showed strong relation with salinity and Chl a at OC and HBM. Temperature variation effect the distribution of gelatinous zooplankton strong (F=10.22; P=0.008). Highest density of nematode (12133 Ind-m-3) and polychaete larvae (35600 Ind-m-3) were recorded at HBM and HS respectively. Mangrove stations were highly diversified as compare to other two stations. Even though the high abundance was recorded from OC but highest diversity was attributed to the mangrove stations. High abundance and diversity of zooplankton was found during SWM monsoon season. MDS ordination reveals the 80% similarity between SWM and NEM seasons. Highest values of Chl a were obtained in December at mangrove stations HBM and SBM (59μg-L-1 and 72 μg-L-1 respectively). Classical relation of primary producers and zooplankton was recorded at all stations. From September to November the low concentration of phytoplankton biomass was recorded and at the same time the high zooplankton density was noted. Similarity was noted between SBM and HS as SBM receives hydrological influence from HS whereas, OC receives influence from HBM. A total of 69 species of copepods was recorded during this study. 47 species were identified under the order Calanoida, 17 species in order Cyclopoida and 3 species of harpacticoid copepods were identified. Out of 69 species, 23 species has been observed for the first time from Pakistani waters. The family Temoridae, Paracalanidae and Pseudodiaptomidae were the dominant among Calanoid. Within the cyclopoid copepods Corycaeidae, Oithonidae families were dominant throughout this study and 6 species of genus Oithona were recorded xii first time from Pakistan during this study. Euterpinidae family was the most dominant harpacticoid family with the single genus Euterpina acutifrons. Variations in diversity and density was noted between stations. Eucalanus bungii, Eucheata marina and Pontella securifer was totally absent from station HS. Candacia discaudata, Acartia ohatsukai and Copilia vitrea was totally absent at OC. Rhincalanus Sp., Clausocalanus minor, C. karachiensis, C. chierchiae, C. alocki, Candacia sp., Pontella securifer and Calanopia sp. were not recorded at HBM. Effects of mangrove energy flux on zooplankton community was accessed by the phytoplankton production and its trophic partaking to primary consumers which are zooplanktons. Major nutrients concentrations were determined to study the effects of nutrients on primary production. HS, a polluted station, was rich in NH4 and NO3 concentrations as compared to OC. At HBM substantial relation of NH4 was recorded with the phytoplankton biomass. Although nutrients provide energy for the growth of phytoplankton, other physical variables are also responsible for their growth such as temperature, DO and turbidity. Annual findings illustrate that the omnivore zooplankton were the major consumers in mangrove forest among the functional feeding groups of zooplankton. 56% and 59 % space was occupied by the Omnivore group at HBM and SBM respectively. Only 2-4% of the total zooplankton were detritivores. The tidal cycle was covered at HBM to study the mangrove influence. Overall nutrient concentration was high at MT and low at HT indicating outward flux of nutrients from mangroves. The same pattern was noted for phytoplankton biomass. Zooplankton density was high at HT and LTn as during night the zooplankton moves towards the surface. The phenomena of Dial-Vertical Migration was noted during tidal cycle as indicated through the high density of zooplankton during night sampling. The omnivore zooplankton were high during HT and MT. Inverted energy pyramids was formed at LTs where the detritivore zooplankton dominated the other groups. The out-welling of detritus from mangroves might be the possible cause of high abundance of detritivores at LTs. The results reveals that the study area supports high diversity and density of zooplankton. The variations in species composition between stations indicates the effect of environmental influences. The energy flux from mangroves appears to support the high diversity of zooplanktons not only within mangroves but to the surrounding waters outside the Manora Channel.